Hi! I'm Jaime. I'm 30, single & I was banded on Nov 8th, 2007. I had my surgery at the same place that I'm employed as a Heart Monitor Tech (Nights). I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job. When not working with patients heart rhythms, I float as the House Hospital Secreatary for the Nursing staff and doctors. Don't so much like that job, but it's money.
I was born in Los Angeles, California to a Polish mother & American Indian father. They moved us to a tiny town outside Lincoln, Nebraska when I was 9 years old. I have 2 older sisters, Jackie, 42 & Mary 37, and a brother, Jason, 29 (they're all skinny, built & beautiful). I moved to the Kansas City area when i was 22. I have 3 cats who call me mom: Zoey Anne, 9; Chloe Isabelle, 5 & Daphne Clare, 1. And a TON of neices/nephews & babies of friends' that call me their own.
Dr. Stephen Malley, in Overland Park, Kansas did my band. He's a wonderful doctor and he has the greatest staff in the world!! But most importantly I love my band!!! However, i'm a little frustrated by it right now. So far I've lost 55 pounds. Apparently after reading some posts, I have a weird frame & body. I'm 185 lbs & in a size 16. I've read that some lap banders are bigger & in smaller clothes, it's just so frusterating to me. I've lost my butt (J-Lo bootie), wings (upper arms), my double chin, and my face...but still my middle remains!
I haven't had a fill since the beginning of April. I just don't have the funds for it as need be, as there are family issues & bills that need paid that come before my band being filled. I'm now getting my next fill on 7/3...hopefully a good one, where I won't have to go back to get it unfilled. That's been a problem since day one.
I don't go to any support groups, as they're all on nights when I'm working so I'm going to start looking to this as my support, I hope that's o.k. I have some support from my Aunt & cousin, but as they're small, they don't understand. I have A LOT of support from my co-workers, though. Everyone tells me how great I look, and how the pounds just melted off of me so far. I don't think I look any different though. So far I know of 5 of us here at work that have had the lap band done, and 3 that have had gastric bypass. Only 1 of the 3 bypasses have "worked" and us "banders" are still in the "new throws" of being banded, as I'm the longest banded co-hort. A very good friend of mine had the gastric bypass, and lost a ton of weight, but her doc put her on the wrong meds & had to have surgery to repair a ulcer in her new tummy. That was a month ago, and she's still in the ICU. I'm soooo glad I made the decision I made.
I switched Pcp's because my physician was not supportive of my decision either. She wanted me to have the gastric bypass like her and her husband. She doesn't understand why anyone would get a band and have to go in for a fill when they're 80 years old, when you can just get your stomach cut and be done with it. She refused to see me in the hospital, so, I'm done with her. My new PCP is AMAZING!! And her office is here in the Medical office building at work and she takes early morning pts too.
My boyfriend broke up with me on Valentines day this year. He was with me before I had surgery, but couldn't hang on. So I'm focusing on going back to school, as I start Aug 20th. A 30 year old college student. What the hell am I thinking working full time & college full time. But still...I can't wait!!
So, Nymphs, here I am in all my glory. Nice to meet you. If you would like to get better aquainted with me I have a myspace page where there are pictures of me (before & after-as of 5/3?) and my family. And there's a better description of who I am it's
www.myspace.com/zcjjb.
Thanks for letting me in the "group".
Husker-ette (Jaime)