Pamela

Debi, Glad to hear how well your surgery went in TJ. I am heading down there tomorrow and I am getting banded on Friday. I am really excited!! I know the post op diet will be tough but I have been mentally preparing myself for it. However, the pre op diet is what is really hard for me right now. I haven't lost very much and I hope this won't be a big problem :-? Keep us updated on your progress. I love to read this board to see what everyone is up too. I am so ready to be a part of the band team!!

I am getting banded this Friday by Dr. Ortiz. I am so excited and ready for the change. I know that the band is fickle at times but I can't wait to step on that scale and watch those pounds melt away!!! The liquid diet is tough but hopefully I won't be that hungry. It sounds like you are doing good so far. Make sure you chew the heck out of those solid foods and take small bites. From what I hear, it isn't fun when food gets "stuck'. Keep us updated on your progress.

Randy, I am heading to the OCC this Friday for my band! I am pretty excited and still a little bit nervous. How is your post op diet going? I plan to go back to work on Monday as I have a sit down job anyway. So, the pain isn't very intense? Did you have to loose weight before the surgery? I am trying to stick to a strict pre op diet but it is difficult. Good luck to you!

Jelly, Where have you been? Let us know how you are doing with your new band!!

Tina, How are you doing with the band? I hope all is well.

See, you guys already made me feel better about giving up diet soda. Thanks so much!! I am going to try that green tea! Sounds healthy and tasty. You can't ask for more than that. One week from now and I will be banded. Spring is on the way and I am going to be feeling and looking better!! I am getting so excited about the changes to come. Kerri, hang in there and loose that 10 pounds plus some more! You can do it and you have the tool to help. Just avoid drinking while you eat. Let us know how it goes and when you drop that ten. Summer is on it's way ladies and we will be lookin' and feelin' good !!!!!!!!!!! =D>

Randy, Wow, it sounds like everything went really well. You are helping to put my mind at ease. Right now the hardest part for me is to loose 13 pounds by next Friday! Keep us posted on your progress.

Won't that be fabulous if I am not hungry on my way home. I guess I am a little bit nervous knowing that I won't be eating much before surgery and then only clear liquids afterwards. What the heck, I could survive for months without eating. I don't know what I am thinking!

Hi Kerri, :-h I am getting banded on Feb. 9th by Dr. Ortiz. I weigh 265 and I will be so excited when I get to 225. Congratulations! I am ready to not have to shop at Lane Bryant anymore. I need more options. Giving up Diet Coke will be hard for me but I just have to do it. Keep us posted on your success. The message boards have been really helpful for me to determine if the band will work for me. Good luck! =D>

Terri, How is your restriction with the 3rd fill? I read where you didn't have much restriction with the 2nd fill on Jan 5th. How are you doing with the 3rd fill on Jan 30th???

Good to see you back on the boards!! Hang in there and we all hope things start to look up for you!

Jill, Start your own thread so we can follow your journey. I am getting banded on Feb 9th and it is good to read about other people's experience. Good luck to you.

Ummmmm. I'm suppose to loose 13 pounds by my surgery date of Feb. 9th. This is really hard because you have this desire to eat all the stuff that you are getting ready to give up. Not to mention the cold weather doesn't help much. I want to curl up on the couch with "food" for comfort. It's all a mind trip!! I just have to stay focused. Anyway, it's count down time. Yes, I'm nervous and excited. My sister is going to meet me at the San Diego airport and go with me to the clinic. Her husband is all paranoid about us crossing the boarder at night. It's not like we are going to be alone. This is really the least of my worries. I guess I am more focused on the surgery and post op than anything else. I am concerned with my long airport wait and flight on the way home after the surgery. I feel like I am not prepared to feed myself. They don't serve broth at the airport or on the plane. I can't drink diet soda so I guess I will be sipping on water or flavored water all day. Any suggestions?? More later.

Hang in there! This is a big change in your life so the feelings you have are to be expected. I am getting banded on Feb.9th and no matter how much research I do and even when I feel ready for it, I still get nervous. I guess it's only natural. Give it some time and I bet you will start feeling better about it all. Good luck and keep us updated on your feelings.

How did it go? I'm anxious to hear as I am getting banded on Feb. 9th. I am worried about the clear liquid diet afterwards. Keep us posted on your progress.

How are you feeling since your recent fill? Any restriction yet? Did they find a problem with your band? Keep us updated!

Bandiva, Don't stop writing about your progress. I am anxious to hear how you are doing with your new tool. I am going to be banded on Feb. 9th by Dr. Ortiz. I am very excited but also sad about loosing my best friend (food). I really hope that I can look back on this and think "how did I really think that food was my best friend"? I hope that I begin to loose weight and then begin to not miss food. You know? Anyway, I am really excited about my decision to get banded as I am tired of the struggle to loose weight to only fail. It's such a vicious cycle. I am ready to loose it once and for all. Good luck to you!!! Let us know how you are doing. I love to read success stories.

I'm all set to be banded on Feb 9th in TJ!!! Gosh, I am so excited yet so nervous about everything. The procedure itself doesn't make me as nervous as the life style change that I face afterwards. I'm making a list of stuff that I can drink afterwards and I guess I need to stock up on broth, popcicles and what else? I've never been on a liquid diet or puree foods before so this is all new to me. I can deal with soft foods like pudding, yogurt, slim fast shakes but the clear liquids is what bothers me a little bit. I have to bring stuff with me to work so I am scrambling around to make sure I have what I need. I've been trying to loose weight all my life is what it feels like. I have lost some in the past and then gained some back. I am really praying that this band will be the tool that I need to loose this weight once and for all!!!! I am so tired of the up and down yo-yo diets and the failure associated with them. You begin to think that you will never loose the weight. That is why I have finally decided to follow through with the lap band. I know this journey won't be easy with the band but I hope it will be more successful. Wish me luck!!

Let's hope this will have to be your last fill for a while. Surely, they will locate the problem and fix it. Just hang in there. From what I've been reading, the band really does work. I'm getting banded on Feb. 8th and I just have to believe that this will work for me. I hope that your frustrations are put to ease with your upcoming trip to TJ. Let us know how it goes!

Congratulations! Let us know how you are doing. I am getting banded on Feb.9th. I am excited and nervous. Any tips that you can offer are appreciated!

Dori, How nice of you to want to be lapband buddies. However, my date is getting pushed back a week or two. I was really hoping for the Feb. 2nd date but I am still working on the financial part of this. I should have that taken care of within the next two weeks. Good luck to you!!! Let me know how it goes!

I have been researching the Lap Band and I've followed several people's journeys on this website for the past three to four months. Finally, I have decided to get banded. It just makes so much sense to me now. Of course, I would rather loose the weight without this procedure. I have been trying and just can't seem to do it. So, the lap band will be a tool for me to not over eat. I just want to thank each of you who log on to this site and tell us your stories. You have given me so much insight on what to expect after the surgery that I feel comfortable investing this money on my health. Dr. Ortiz sounds like one of the best surgeons for this procedure and at half the cost. I've heard the bad and good stories and know that there is some adjusting to band life. You just have to get used to it and then things start to fall in it's place. The fills can be tricky but once you've got the right amount, everything works out. I will keep you all posted on my experiences once I have the procedure done. 2007 is all about me!! Mind, body and soul.... It's my turn to conquer this battle of the bulge!!! Good luck to you all. =D>

Now that it has been a week, how do you feel? I have been thinking about getting a lap band but after reading everyone's blogs, I have changed my mind. I mean, this sounds more stressful than being fat. But you did it so now it's time to adjust to it. The liquid phase is tough but you will get through it like everyone else. For now, I am going to amp up my exercise program and watch what I eat and see what happens. Good luck to you.

Does everyone weigh themselves daily? I think that is a bit obsessive as your weight will change daily due to water and whatever else. YOU WILL LOOSE WEIGHT. Try weighing yourself once a week or every two weeks. Good luck and don't worry so much about that scale. Just adjust to your new eating habits and try to exercise a little bit. Everything else will fall into place.

I really appreciate your feed back. I am glad the doctor was able to resolve your acid reflux problem. I congratulate your success. I really think this procedure will work for me but I will continue to investigate it more before I make the investment. Again, thank you for sharing your positive results.