Blazn

Everybody and their Grandma knows!! And I wouldn't change that for anything! I love the encouragement I get from everyone!

GARLIC, CHEESE BREAD!!! ( ( (

I'm emailing you my address right now - consider them spoken for!

Well I'm not sure about the pain but it is normal for it to stick out. Are you smaller in the waist? Most people who have a lot of truncal weight can't really see their port. Anyway, the reason why you can see it more when you eat soup or drink is because those fluids go straight through the band into your large stomach. Since the port is over your large stomach as your stomach swells (like with food/fluid in it) it pushes against the port and pushes it out. I have this same problem.

You will love Darlene. I have had 2 fills - the first was 3cc in 4cc band. Large fill but all went down fine. But don't expect a fill that large - it is very uncommon! I had GREAT restriction for about 1.5 months then it kinda started going away but I had also lost 15lbs since the fill and "they" say you need fills as you lose weight because the fat around the stomach shrinks therefore loosing the squeeze of the band. So when I went back (in Moultrie - but still Darlene) I only had 2.4cc left of my original fill so she filled me back up to 3cc and I have wonderful restriction!!

Yay Mona, Glad you've got great restriction!! My second fill is wonderful also - lots of restriction. Maybe you got a lemon because I absolutely LOVE my Dell!!!!!

Truly, It WILL get better after a fill!!! Just make sure you tell your fill doc how much you have been eating and what little restriction you have. I think that helps them decide how aggressive to be. Do not worry. You are in the last stages of bandster hell and A LOT of people gain weight before their first fill!! Just schedule that fill and let the band show you how it can work! Good luck and keep us posted.

Ohhhh, Kim!! You look absolutely beautiful!! I would kill for your legs!!! My legs have never been small - even when I was 140lbs!!

Meeee tooooo!! Just a few minutes ago I was a very bad girl. I ate two bites of pizza and my band (not so politely) said "No!No!!" No more pizza!!!!

Yes, I remember when Ruby Tuesday's came out with a new menu and above every menu item were Calories/Fat/Carbs/Fiber/Protein numbers. That lasted all of a month I think. No one wanted to see how many calories they were eating. For example, a rack of baby back ribs was packing about 1700 calories and 107 fat grams!!! Whew!! Now me on the other hand would love for that law to take in GA. After being banded I printed out the nutritional information for all of our local restaurants so I would know what would be healthiest to order.

Here are some before and after pics of Caitlin Van Zandt in her weight loss journey with Lap band. BEFORE::: AFTER:::

Ok - Caitlin (Ashlee on GL) is really looking AMAZING!! Guiding light has really done a good job with this Lap Band story. I am not sure how much she has lost to date but she really looks wonderful. She has a myspace with a few updated photos. Check it out!! http://www.myspace.com/caitlincodyvanzandt (you will have to be logged in to view the photos - if you do not have a myspace - Then Get One!!! - post your lap band story!!) For you newbies, Caitlin Van Zandt plays Ashlee on Guiding Light (soap on CBS). I think maybe in February, Caitlin had lap band and GL decided to add it to the story line for Ashlee. They have done really well with the story and even went through the common complaints like gas pains and how to excercise and how not to excercise, etc. A lot of the story is on youtube.com but I have not found anything recent.

Cheryl, Bless you heart! First, where were you banded? I am guessing you were banded in the states since you filed it on your insurance. You should call the doctor that banded you. Find out how much a fill is there. A lot of times the fills for the first year are included in the price of surgery and if your insurance has already paid that then you should go there for fills. That is if you need one. As far as everything feeling like it is getting stuck, that would concern me. You need to schedule a follow up with your physician and let him/her look at everything under fluoro to make sure the band is in place. If you are able to eat and drink though I would seriously doubt it has slipped. Back to the fills. If your physician does not give free fills in the first year, find out how much they are. You can always call other physicians and get other price options. There is also a company called Fill Centers USA (www.fillcentersusa.com) that specializes in fills only. Their initial visit is $349 (not including fluoro). Each center charges different prices for fluoro and some do not charge at all. I paid $200 for fluoro in Roswell which made my first fill $549. This company is always an option if you cannot find another physician to accept you as a patient. But I am willing to bet that the physician that did your surgery is going to be your best bet. Just call and speak to someone in billing/management and tell them your situation and see what they can work out. Please keep us posted.

Woooooooooo-Hooooooooo - Hot Mama!!!!

I am ready to wear strappy sandles - where the strap actually fits comfortably and buckles around my ankle!! See the pic..... These are actually on sale for $14.99 at chadwicks.com I may go a head a buy a pair!!!

Welcome to the group!!

Alana, I feel you pain. Although I have never been pregnant, I was off birth control for 3 years without getting pregnant. I knew it was my weight. So in February I made one of the best decisions of my life. I was banded in March and have lost 43lbs in 4 months. I am back on birth control now because I want to get down a little more before trying again. Good luck and keep us posted.

Jann, great story. I am acutally going to see some of my family tonight and I have not seen then since like 20lbs ago. When you are only 5'3" that is a lot of weight. I can't wait to see their reaction!

Wow, Michelle, you really really look great!!

So today is two day post-2nd fill - LOTS of Restriction!!! Praise the Lord!! Darlene actually recommends no solids until tomorrow but she said since she was only filling me to 3cc's like my first fill that I could advance a little faster. So tonight I had some grilled pieces of chicken and a few (very well chewed) pieces of pasta. I could only eat about 1/2 cup and I was stuffed!! WOOOO-HOOOO!!

Whooooo, that looks gooooood!!