thintowin
Hi There!
My story starts 1st by telling everyone that even at my highest weight-a size 24, I was happy with my life.
I was raised by a size 5 mom who didn't let me leave the house in the mornings without telling me how pretty I looked or something positive about my outfit. This and my husbands unconditional devotion to me since I was 12 gave me self confidence and courage. I was 27 when I was banded November 2005.
I am a very opinionated person (my sister calls it pushy, ha, ha), and I am not always as quiet spoken as I could be (again, my sis calls me "Mouth"). I decided to check into lapband in summer of 2005, and almost passed out when I got the price (I am self pay!). I then decided to check into Mexico pricing, and went to Tijuana to check out a clinic I found on the internet. It was O.K. but kind of gave me the willies. A few weeks later, I saw a report on the news about Dr. Lopez in Tijuana, & I was hooked. I did all the stuff required to be "qualified" with him for the surgery, the only thing left to do, was tell my overprotective (& also bossy) big sister.
It was the argument from hell for weeks on end, with her telling me all kinds of horror stories. I knew she was doing it out of love, so I listened to her, and kept telling her I would be fine, & I wanted to be healthy. I was petrified inside though!
In the meantime, my friend Mary, who is like a little sister to me, decided she wanted the surgery if we could do it together. Mary was 20 at the time & I think a size 26/28. So, Mary & I took our moms, my hubby & my 2 year old to Tijuana for the surgery.
I was a basket case & still can't believe I actually did it!!!!! GO ME!!!! I speak fluent spanish, and what I remember most about the operating room is the anesthesiologist raving about how good my spanish was, & also about me having to tell the nurses I didn't take off my underwear because of my friend T.O.M. (to much info huh?)...... I woke up & was groggy & thirsty, & soooooooooo happy to be alive!!!!! My friend Mary, had a harder time in the next room over from me. She had fever & was shaking from the anethesia effects they said. It wore off though!
The Oasis hospital has the best fresh apple juice in the world (until you drink it for 2 days straight-then you never want to see apple juice again). The staff was awesome, the docs even better, & the guys at the front desk were cute & helpful!!!!
Mary and I both went to work 3 days after surgery (we worked together). We shuffled around the office, & bless our bosses heart, she babied us to the hilt---I guess it helped that she's also my mom <3 <3.
It's been a hard and exciting year (tomorrow is my bandiversary). I still have a hard time not drinking with my meals, let's face it, I'm horrible about it. I also unfortunately was overfilled on my 2nd fill and got horrible acid refulx. I didn't realize it was from being too tight, until I got feedback from this board. 3 months after the overfill, I went to be unfilled, and am now 6 weeks out from that, and going for a small fill next week. So, I'm not down as much as I wanted to be by my 1 year anniversary, but am still ecstatic.
Oh, and something important......... Dr. Lopez in Tijuana is awesome, but I have been doing all of my followup in Mexicali with Dr. Aceves. My in-laws live in Mexicali, so I combine my trips w/ family duty.
Dr. Aceves is as awesome as Dr. Lopez, and Hospital Almater is quaint and beautiful. Also, Dr. Aceves never makes me feel 2nd rate since I did not band with him originally.........
My brother in law & I were leaving a restaurant the other day, as a very heavy girl was walking in..... My bro in law said, "Jami, that's how big you were!" (not so she could hear of course). I argued with him that I had never been that heavy. Well I was wrong. I went back through my pictures from a quincinera (15th birthday) party in July 2005, & I was BIG! In a Mexican quincinera, the 15 year old girl goes through a church blessing service, & my husband & I were "Padrinos de Honor", like "Godparents". I was dressed in a formal long dress, & it was a tent! **The dress is hanging in the back of my closet, & I have vowed to keep it forever to show myself how my hard work has paid off!
In short, my band, who I call "Benny", is the absolute BEST thing I have ever done that is just for me! I run with my 3 year old, I skip, I wear age appropriate clothes instead of granny stuff, I dance sexier at clubs and can dance like the songs say: "Bend over to the front, & touch your toes..... Wiggle with it.....Shake it Like a Salt Shaker" I sit on my hubby's lap when he's watching T.V. which I haven't done since I was in high school, & best of all I act young again! As for the dancing part, I'm not quite as good as Shakira yet, but hey, I have the nerve to try!
I am glowing, and never get tired of talking about my band to anyone who asks or will listen........... Disgusting huh???? I still want to lose at least another 20 pounds--even though everyone else tells me I'm perfect for my 5'8 height. But my goal is a size 12, I'm at a 16 now. So, we'll see! Thanks for reading my bragging, & I love the losing side of life! Jami
