♕ajtexas♕

I noticed this too!
Everyday I am seeing things get fixed.
Alex and his team are busting their butts! Thanks bunches Alex!! :wub:

im willing to talk about my experiences…. if anyone wants to ask me a question please feel free ….

Calling all vets! Our help is needed.
I know the new site is frustrating and a lot of us have posted less (myself included), but there are still a lot of people that need our support and stories. Let's not forget them in our frustration.
They have questions, we have answers. They are scared, we understand (been there, done that). They need friends, THEY NEED US!
So let's get out there and post. Don't let a topic go unanswered!
Side note: CG I'm talking to you too.......YOU ARE A VETERAN!!!! (whether you will admit it or not, lol)
So let's give back to our fellow bandsters and post!

I'm still here, just restricted to using mostly my phone app because I am in Georgia for the holiday. However, I can now easily see current Lap Band threads (thanks to Alex for fixing this!) so that makes it much easier

Calling all vets! Our help is needed.
I know the new site is frustrating and a lot of us have posted less (myself included), but there are still a lot of people that need our support and stories. Let's not forget them in our frustration.
They have questions, we have answers. They are scared, we understand (been there, done that). They need friends, THEY NEED US!
So let's get out there and post. Don't let a topic go unanswered!
Side note: CG I'm talking to you too.......YOU ARE A VETERAN!!!! (whether you will admit it or not, lol)
So let's give back to our fellow bandsters and post!

Calling all vets! Our help is needed.
I know the new site is frustrating and a lot of us have posted less (myself included), but there are still a lot of people that need our support and stories. Let's not forget them in our frustration.
They have questions, we have answers. They are scared, we understand (been there, done that). They need friends, THEY NEED US!
So let's get out there and post. Don't let a topic go unanswered!
Side note: CG I'm talking to you too.......YOU ARE A VETERAN!!!! (whether you will admit it or not, lol)
So let's give back to our fellow bandsters and post!

I have to say, the "current" tab on the app is now only showing me Lap Band threads. So, I can now easily see new posts without having to see stuff for other surgeries.
Yay! Thanks for the fix, Alex!

We know you won't let us down. I for one am not going anywhere!!!
I haven't posted as much because the Android app is hard to navigate (doesn't filter the different forums and so I get ALL new content) and I don't get a lot of time on my PC (have to share with hubby). lol

Something I noticed over the years.....
When people say they have lost 100 lbs, or some other great weight loss within a relatively short amount of time,.... as great as that is,..... newly banded people should not feel discouraged.....what many of these people do not say is what there starting weight was....
I have observed, that the heavier a person is, the more they will loose....at least in the beginning....sooner or later the Honeymoon is over and then the playing field is leveled, so to speak.....(not always, just me generalization)
Someone who starts out 300 lbs plus.... and looses a tremendous amount of weight early on , is no different than someone with a considerable lower starting weight and loosing a lot less weight initially....
Not saying this is always true, but newly banded people should realize this and sometimes read between the lines...this is NOT a competition for how much we loose, in pounds....
I have lost 105 lbs.....I have not one more lb. left to loose without being unhealthy......the next person may say they lost 100lbs in the first 6-8 months....(Which is excellent) but they may still have 100 lbs to go....
So it's not always about pounds lost, but PERCENTAGES.....
Again, I only say this for the benefit of newly banded people, don't get discouraged by what you read.....

That sucks you had to have a drain put back in! I can only imagine how annoying those are! I'm glad your incision is healing nicely though! Congrats!

I had a Tummy Tuck four days ago (Halloween). Today is the first day that I feel human. This surgery makes the LabBand surgery a walk in the park, lol. I learned a few things that I would like to share (I would blog this but…..)
Day 2 was hell. Extreme pain, I couldn’t get up from sitting without assistance. I hurt from my boobs to my crotch (and have the colorful bruises to show for it). It is really important to stay on top of your pain meds.
Day 3 was better but still needed a lot of assistance. The highlight of the day was a sponge bath and hair washing (Mom helped with this).
Today, I’m human. Last night was the first night I could get out of bed without waking my husband. Pour guy felt like he had a newborn again, up every 2 hours.
So what did I learn?
My doctor did not require removal of Fluid from my band for the surgery, however FOR ME I wish I had about .2cc removed. My band has been extremely tight (borderline too tight) ever since I woke up. Yes I’m on liquids and soft foods. I had to be sure I was staying hydrated and that was difficult. On Friday I considered getting some Fluid removed but the thought of a needle going anywhere near my stomach….. I decided to manage the situation. Things are settling, I was able to eat about 1-2oz of meat last night. So with good management on my part I was able to get through the worst. In the future (if I have the option) I will remove just a little fluid.
The second thing I learned is that I have the most wonderful husband in the world. He had to step in as my nurse, emptying drains, helping me dress, picking me up (yes he can lift me – that was cool).
I will post pre & post pictures once the tummy doesn’t look like a war zone.

Small set back.....
I had to have another drain put in my tummy this morning. My tummy kept filling up with Fluid, tried draining it out twice, just to have it fill again so doc had to put a drain back in, ugh! Doc said it was unusual the amount of Fluid I was still getting but he has had to put drains back in to some patients.
My hip to hip incision is all healed and looks great. My belly button is having a hard time healing (garment keeps rubbing on it and irritating it) so got a script for some cream that should help with the healing and (the best part) permission to go a few hours every night (while sitting watching TV or something) without my garment on.
This set back is frustrating, I know I'll get through it and the results are going to be very much worth it.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Had my 2 week post op appointment today. Doc removed my drains and said everything looked great.
Was able to take a shower tonight. First one in 2 weeks. Man did it feel good.

We know you won't let us down. I for one am not going anywhere!!!
I haven't posted as much because the Android app is hard to navigate (doesn't filter the different forums and so I get ALL new content) and I don't get a lot of time on my PC (have to share with hubby). lol

I had a Tummy Tuck four days ago (Halloween). Today is the first day that I feel human. This surgery makes the LabBand surgery a walk in the park, lol. I learned a few things that I would like to share (I would blog this but…..)
Day 2 was hell. Extreme pain, I couldn’t get up from sitting without assistance. I hurt from my boobs to my crotch (and have the colorful bruises to show for it). It is really important to stay on top of your pain meds.
Day 3 was better but still needed a lot of assistance. The highlight of the day was a sponge bath and hair washing (Mom helped with this).
Today, I’m human. Last night was the first night I could get out of bed without waking my husband. Pour guy felt like he had a newborn again, up every 2 hours.
So what did I learn?
My doctor did not require removal of Fluid from my band for the surgery, however FOR ME I wish I had about .2cc removed. My band has been extremely tight (borderline too tight) ever since I woke up. Yes I’m on liquids and soft foods. I had to be sure I was staying hydrated and that was difficult. On Friday I considered getting some Fluid removed but the thought of a needle going anywhere near my stomach….. I decided to manage the situation. Things are settling, I was able to eat about 1-2oz of meat last night. So with good management on my part I was able to get through the worst. In the future (if I have the option) I will remove just a little fluid.
The second thing I learned is that I have the most wonderful husband in the world. He had to step in as my nurse, emptying drains, helping me dress, picking me up (yes he can lift me – that was cool).
I will post pre & post pictures once the tummy doesn’t look like a war zone.

We're going to turn things around....
Just need a little time, patience and support from our members.
We've made many many many changes since we launched BariatricPal and we don't plan on stopping until everyone feels comfortable again.
Please keep the feedback coming! Throwing out statements like "I hate the new site" aren't very helpful. We want to hear what exactly you don't like about the new site. The more details you can provide, the better! We can and will make changes based on member feedback.
Also, it would be VERY helpful if we had some Veteran members responding to posts that are being left unanswered. It's a snowball effect....

I'm not sure what makes this new forum so uncomfortable but I just don't feel the love anymore. There's something detached about this site and I suspect others feel the same way. I seldom see any of the veteran posters posting any longer.
I see fewer topics started and even then the topics have few replies which devalues the site altogether.
What happened to the "Trending Topics" on the right side of the screen. And the blogs? Now I see very old topics with no reply. Why reply to a topic or a question posted 4 months ago?
And it does seem like many of the forum members who relied on an IPhone app or a Samsung app have now wandered away or just can't navigate this site any longer.
Sorry, I'm just venting. I see other WLS forum members crossing over and most are polite but seems like occasionally a new sleever or RNY'r pops in and posts some nonsense about the band. I'm sure it's the same on their forums where a Bandster posts some ill informed advice or information regarding surgery they know little about. This format seems to encourage this where the old format seemed to have a wall that most people respected.
I'm done. Just sad to see an old friend(LBT) retire and be taken over by a new social media brat.
tmf

I've seen so many posts recently about folks so very worried about the upcoming holidays and how they will be able to manage with the band. Maybe I'm a little off kilter still from my hip replacement surgery but I am so so friggin' excited about Thanksgiving this year. I couldn't care less about how much less I can eat....because I'm thrilled at how much less I can eat. I mean it. Think about it folks....it's what we've all been looking for. We just don't know how to think about it the right way yet. Stop mourning the 'old' way of eating....it's what made us fat and miserable in the first place. Really....embrace the new you, and the new way of eating because it's freaking awesome!!
Last year, I was as big as a house and in horrible pain from my hips and knees. The lapband surgery was looming and I was not a happy camper at all. Fast forward a year and I have new hips....hooray!! My pain is post op only. The crippling joint pain is gone and I am so thankful for that I'd like to shout it from the rooftops. Also....I'm 93 lbs. lighter. I look good, I feel good, and I'm just looking forward to spending the day with my family tomorrow.
The food is secondary...which is what it should be. I will eat and enjoy my turkey and trimmings but I will also feel great when I walk away from the table having eaten my band sized portion and knowing I'm in control of my eating today and hopefully every day afterwards.
To all my lapband friends....have a really great Thanksgiving and I mean it with all my heart.

Banded October 30 and had my first fill yesterday 11/26. Arrived at the office and weighed in with vitals. Escorted to the sonogram room where the nurse got a good look at my port, she mentioned they only sonogram on the first fill visit and notate the depth of the port in the chart. She also numbed the area with lidocane ... and itty bitty pinch. The doctor came in and explained the process of the fill to me, happy with my progress. He felt the port under my skin, had me do a crunch hold position and placed the needle in the port, BTW didn't feel a thing. He drew what was in my band into the syringe that already had my scheduled fill inside, checking for leaks, and refilling my band with the syringe. I got a 1.2cc fill at surgery and 1.4cc's yesterday. For a total of 2.6cc in my 10cc band. I thought a 1.4 cc fill was on the low side, but I would rather have small fills so that I can feel what the restriction feels like. Sat in the waiting room until I drank at least a half a bottle of Water. Then I scheduled my next fill on 12/17. Easy enough. My doctor only required liquids on the day of the fill, today I am back to my chunky foods.
So thankful for my band! Excited to meet the me that's under all this fluff! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Dancing with you!

Welcome! Ask all the questions you want. This site is full of support and information.
Good luck to you on your new healthy life.

What are some of the things you like that you didn't like before the band?
Some of my likes are:
1. Looking in the mirror
2. Standing on the scale
3. Having my picture taken
4. Taking long walks
5. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
6. V8 juice (hated it before my band, go figure)
7. The person I am!
What's you list?

Love the pics. Especially the one with your old pants. You look great, congrats!

What are some of the things you like that you didn't like before the band?
Some of my likes are:
1. Looking in the mirror
2. Standing on the scale
3. Having my picture taken
4. Taking long walks
5. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
6. V8 juice (hated it before my band, go figure)
7. The person I am!
What's you list?

It is a stitch, nothing to worry about. It happens frequently and will degrade.
Good luck on your first fill.