donali

"Dog ear" and drain incision....

Oh, BRIGHT!! Thank you - that was my first OUT LOUD BELLY LAUGH of the day! Teresa, I think Bright's idea is a famous one - maybe a foam rubber suit? lol I can't even IMAGINE the pain from a broken bone. Lordy, I better not think on it too much or I'll faint here at the computer. lol Okay, brazen hussy that I am, and since I missed out posting on all the nudist threads, and because I have been insanely jealous of DeLarla's purple bra... Here's a pic that includes all the scars, and the "girls" as well... lol

lol... This is just MY guess. I could be wrong, you know...

Hey Lady!!! Nice to see you here, even if it's because you're in pain... Shoulder pain is generally a symptom of referred pain from the diaphragm. My guess is that since you're experiencing the pain after you eat, your full pouch is pressing up against your diaphragm, and causing referred pain in your shoulder. Try stopping a bite or two earlier and see if the pain doesn't reappear? Since you say it appears about an hour after you eat, I'm assuming that means the pain also goes away. About 2-3 hours after you eat? Once your pouch empties again? This is my suspicion...

Well, I bit the bullet and am now stitchless. Yes, folks - I pulled them out myself, and didn't feel sick/nauseous/faint even once, which is pretty amazing for me. Particularly since I had to dig around for a couple of them, deep in the trench they created. So - all the incisions look great except for the biggest one, which was not sewn flat edge to edge. The bottom edge comes up above the top edge, and the left side has excess tissue on the bottom, creating a little puppy-dog ear flap. Does that get cut off? Will it eventually re-align properly? I know my bikini days are long over (actually, never HAD bikini days... lol) but all the other inicisions are going to be barely noticeable. This bigger one, though.... ick I'll take a pic when I get home tonight, and you all can ooooh and aaaaah and give me your best guesses.

Darcy - Did you flush the meds through with lots of Water last night? Sounds like when you took your liquid pain killer that there was a pill still in the pouch that blocked the stoma, and therefore your liquid meds backed up on you. The pouch is really only a swallow or two big - so if the stoma is blocked it's easy to get backed-up really fast. Sticking to liquids is a good idea for today. And unless you have been vomiting, it is unlikely that your band has slipped. Feel better!

Hi Penni - It's been just 10 days... I wonder if there is any reason I need to go back to TJ? I suppose I should, just to make sure all is alright. Sigh. Plus Dr. Carmen promised to get me some affordable Ectiva (Mexican equivalent of Meridia) to help me manage my hunger once it kicks back in. But it does creep me out watching the black threads disappear into never never land... lol

Hi Penni - Yes, I know Diane. No, she is NOT the American liason for Dr. Lopez's office, although I told her at the meeting yesterday that I wished she were. She does work for Dr. Lopez in that she refers patients to him for a commission, but she is not affiliated with BeLighter. I don't suppose I can take the stitches out myself before they really disappear and therefore hurt when removed? I'm not scheduled to have them removed until Saturday. Okay, I'll be honest - they're creeping me out. lol I've never had topical stitches before, and it's freaking me out seeing them disappear below the skin. See, my body's even trying to absorb my stitches!!! It does not want ANY foreign objects in it! lol

Hi Birdee! Thanks for the message - I sent Sherry an email and responded to her posts. I'm doing well - about 99%. My stitches look like they're being absorbed by the surrounding skin - is that normal? Anyone? lol I can still see the knots... Went to the San Diego bandster meeting yesterday - it was bittersweet... I didn't cry, though - you all should be proud.

At 205, I score "You're a social menace." Of course, there WERE a couple of questions they didn't ask... lol

My youngest sis swears by the NoAd brand self-tanner. You can get it at WalMart. I bought a couple of bottles, but haven't used it yet!

YAY!!!! Congrats, Teresa!!! Whoo hooo!

Hi Kyleigh!! Welcome!! Good luck with your search!

Darcy - what everyone else says is sooooo true! Anesthesia and crying often go hand-in-hand. I was all weepy on Saturday, but couldn't even cry 'cause it hurt to bad... lol Sue's advice is right on - once the anesthesia is out of your system, and you're feeling more like yourself, get that doctor off to the side... Even if you have to make up a fictitious friend who was turned off by the office staff. Hey, you know what? YOU'RE BANDED!!!! Whoo hooo!!! :D

Hi Cindy - I really feel for you. The good news is, YOU ARE BANDED!!! The bad news is, you ARE going to have to do some headwork about your eating. You should still be able to eat the things you like, but in moderation. The sad reality is, you are going to have to find a way to choose more nutritious things about 70% of the time. Do artificially sweetened things satisfy your cravings? Lots of time substituting a similar tasting but fake sugar item can satisfy the cravings. The problem with the high glycemic items like sugars and white flours are that they spike your blood sugar, which raises your insulin, which stores fat, and puts you in a continual cycle when your insulin crashes back down again. You sound as though you could use some emotional help (counseling/therapy) to learn to deal with some of the non-physical aspects of obesity. You ARE going through many changes all at one time, which is VERY VERY stressful - even when the changes are good, like a new marriage. It is still very stressful. And when your coping mechanism is food, and you're trying to deal with that as well, things get really complicated. You need to acknowledge the "head" part of your journey, and be willing to solve some of those problems. Having an adequate fill will make that a whole lot easier. Here are some tools I learned when I went through compulive overeating therapy: http://lapbandtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=434 Hopefully they can help somewhat. Most of all, you need to be gentle with yourself, and KNOW that you ARE going to solve this problem. It will take time, and requires ACTION on your part, but you WILL do it! Hang in there! We're here for you! Please do not give up or feel hopeless. This is just a down phase, and you have the power to turn your life around, and your band will help you do that.

Oh, Marie!!! What a heartbreaking weekend, I am SO sorry!!! First I would advise giving yourself a little time to adjust to your new status. But once you are emotionally ready, there are lots of possible ways to meet new people. One of the best suggestions I've heard has been to join groups that do the things YOU have a personal interest in - even if you don't meet a partner, you're bound to make some friends that have something in common with you. Another popular (these days) way is the online thing - Yahoo! personals has an overwhelming number of singles in every area. Check it out! There's also match.com and eharmony.com - I think there's a friends.com, too... I remember seeing something about a friend matching service. Best of luck to you, and again, my heartfelt condolences during this sad time of change... (((hugs)))

Wow, Lori - I sure hope you're a writer! What an intro on your web page! Congrats on your success, and welcome!!

Count me in! Alexandra, it's about a 5 hour drive from SD to Vegas. You may want to check out flights from here, though - I think you can find some pretty cheap. It's a boring and tedious drive... I'm going to try and fly, but keep me posted in case I drive - you're welcome to tag along with me if I drive. Teresa, here's the link to Jessie's book: http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/...n=0-595-31114-8

I understand what you're saying, Alexandra. But at the same time, I know there are still a lot of docs who don't know that the band exists, and therefore cannot campaign to get insurance to cover it. I think it's a wonderful idea, Megan, to have Oprah give equal time to a less risky WLS option. I am always disappointed to see coverage after coverage of the bypass, with nary a mention of the band. And maybe giving the band a higher profile in everyday media would get someone to compile more current and meaningful stats. And maybe if more docs knew about and supported the band, more U.S. docs would offer it, at more competitive prices, and fewer people would have to get banded far from where they lived, and all banded people would have access to better aftercare. Maybe this is just a pipe dream on my part?

I could guzzle Water until my last fill. I don't think we have to worry about stretching our pouches unless you're backing stuff up into your esophagus - that's why I didn't force water down faster after fill number four - I could tell I was drinking faster than it was draining. Look at me - "our pouches".... I guess I meant "your pouches... Guzzle on, Alexandra! But stop if you feel it backing up. My humble advice/reassurance...

Yay, Janie!!! congrats congrats, all around! Welcome back, "grandma"!

Congrats, congrats, congrats!!! You're at goal, if I remember correctly? You go, girl!!! Whoo hooo!

Not being a student of human physiology, I don't know what all is under that area of skin, but it does seem as though it is easy to get the port in a position that's uncomfortable. I hate to agree that it's likely your port, and that the likely remedy is a reposition. Looking forward to hearing Dr. Billy's opinion!! (All this time I though "Billy" was the doc's first name... lol )

Hi Ruth - My story is long, and doesn't have a happy ending (as far as the band), but I absolutely LOVED my band, and have no regrets. The vast majority of people have no major problems with their bands. I think being banded has been the easiest, most painless way I have ever lost weight - for the first time in my life, I felt "normal" about food. There are risks, of course, and I fell into the 1-3% who experience erosion, which meant I had to have my band removed. So although that really DOES happen, it doesn't happen to very many people. You do have to be emotionally ready to change your relationship with food - the band helps you to change the relationship, but you have to let it help you, and you have to change your thinking about what food means in your life. You also have to make a conscious effort to eat more nutritiously. Again, the band somehow makes that easier for most people. Being banded was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend it!! http://lapbandtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2256 http://lapbandtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2288 http://lapbandtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2406

Hi Tina, and welcome!!! You're doing great!