MyNext30Years

I can't recommend based on experience, BUT I'm staying at the Marriot and when I told the patient coordinator that I wanted the Marriot - she said that's the one she would pick. But I've not heard anything really bad about either. Good luck!!!

WOW - Congratulations!!! You are inspirational!

Thanks so much for sharing that video! Right now I haven't been able to find anywhere to do fluoro but because of this video I'm going to start looking again!

Thanks! I looked around the site and couldn't find it.

new size victory ??

Ok, I'm showing my true roots here BUT I have to ask...what does NSV stand for? I can figure out what it means but not what the letters stand for!

I'm so glad you posted this. It gives me an idea of what to expect! I'm glad to hear that even without a fill you aren't able to eat the same amount!

As we lose weight, we also lose actual fat around our stomach which is another reason why we can't just have one big fill in the beginning. I've seen this somewhere on the forum and it makes sense that as we lose the fat cushion around the band, we'll need more fills. I hope I was able to make sense! Mandy P.S. I can't wait until my band!!

Ok, so I scheduled my surgery for 2/24/10 in Nov. I've gained 8 lbs. since then!! AHHHHH So today begins my pre "pre-op diet" diet. I have approx. 7 weeks to lose the weight I've gained and then my pre-op diet weight! I'm also cutting back my diet sodas to prepare me. How did I let this happen??!! I'm going to track my food at http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/ - a great tool for anyone!! Happy New Year to everyone!! Here's to being THIN IN 2010!!!

I like "Thin in 2010" as well...2/24/10 is the date!

I think any time our bodies go through a trauma of surgery it goes into a reaction mode of keeping and then letting go. For example, after I had my babies, I did not lose my "normal" amount of hair for a long period of time (like my body was holding onto it), then about 4-5 mos. later...BAM It was a little disturbing to have a ton of hair keep pouring out day after day for a seemingly very long time. But eventually it got back to normal. After a quick search I came across this article to somewhat back up my claim up there! http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/men/general/081.html Luckily my mom is an RN and was able to reassure me it was normal when it started happening after my 1st baby. Another article w/ gastric bypass - I know it's different than the band but it's still weight loss surgery. This article also says that protein can help. "Why do gastric bypass and hair loss seem to go hand in hand? When many more hairs than usual are in the exogen phase at once, you notice lots more hair on your hairbrush. There are lots of things that can cause a disruption in your hair's cycle: hormonal changes (a dramatic change in diet can cause your hormones to think things are a bit difficult in the world, and they try to adapt), blood thinners (remember the heparin shots you got at the hospital right after surgery?), and the stress of undergoing surgery. Anesthesia is a possible risk factor as well. It is very common for people to notice more hair loss than usual about three months after having general anesthesia." http://www.gastric-bypass-guru.com/hair-loss-after-surgery.html

We had to do the same thing a couple of years ago, only my cat started attacking me while I was pregnant the 2nd time (he was around for the 1st one too.) It continued after the baby was born. It was hard making that decision, but I couldn't let my kids possibly end up on the receiving end. I still have my scars! Anyway, I'm sorry for what you are going through! HUGS, Mandy

I'm curious about this too!

I haven't had my surgery yet (2/24/10), but my sister-in-law used to live in Chula Vista and I've been to those outlet malls! I hope I feel well enough after my surgery to go, although I don't want to buy fat clothes and I don't know what size to buy otherwise. Oh well, I guess I'll have to buy for the kids as usual. LOL

Thank you!! As you can tell with your help, I figured it out!

How do I get my picture to show up on the left of the screen?

Look in the Post Op Diet forum - there's a recent post with ideas and also in the NOVEMBER post in this forum on the last page, there's a post. I just set up my surgery for 2/24/10 and copied and pasted these into a doc for reference for then! Good luck w/ your surgery!

Even if there is a higher risk, just think of all the diseases you are preventing from having the band! To me that outweighs it! Mandy

Carrie, Do you take a certain kind of fiber and chromium pills? Or does the OCC recommend any type or brand, etc.? I have set up my surgery for 2/10 and am trying to get all the info I can! Thanks! Mandy

Funmama, Good luck with your surgery! Let me know how you do! I'm with you, I'm managing now, it can only help! Mandy

Hi Babe! Thanks so much for your honest reply! I kind of figured that would be how it would happen but wanted to hear about it from someone first hand. Another tough thing too is some of my meds make me eat, I'm hoping they sabotage me! I'm just so tired of what I see in the mirror. Thanks again! Mandy

Hello All! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day & if you're a shopper, good luck today! I'm working but doing a little online (shhhh)! Anyway, I'm about ready to set up my appt. for hopefully the end of Feb. and have a few questions about how the lap band as helped in physical and none physical ways. I suffer from depression and definitely have my ups and downs but I was wondering if anyone out there also has suffered and if they have seen a difference since they most likely have a better self-esteem? I'm sure it won't completely go away, but I'm hoping that it'll at least help if I feel better about myself. Also, I know this is probably tied in with the depression, but do you see an increase in your energy level since you've started losing weight?

Ok, so maybe I was wrong about my GP. I called and made an appt. for a fasting bloodwork and then left a message with her nurse explaining that I have tried cutting back, diet, exercise over the past several mos. and it wasn't working and asked if she could write the letter. Her nurse called back and said to bring it in with me at my appt. It shouldn't be a problem. I told the nurse that I was currently signing up for next year's benefits and if she said no then I would be out the money, so let's hope that even if she doesn't agree that she will feel committed now! LOL So now I guess the next step is to sit down w/ Hubby to figure out a date. :-D BTW, I didn't mention (and don't plan to) Mexico! At least not until after I get the letter in my hand!