renee

Ok, this is really weird. I have no idea what is going on with my band! I had a fill put in about 3 months ago, 2.5cc. Was a bit tight and since it was hard to eat much, I ate what I could, which was of course crap. Then I went on vacation and had my calories in liquid form of frozen drinks but I was always able to eat at dinner. Then somehow magically my restriction eased. Mind you, I lost almost nothing. Came back from vacation and went to see my doctor and we put .25cc in. Week later restriction kicked in and I couldn't do it. Went to take some out. So I should have had 2.75cc in, right? No. Barely 2.25cc. Took out .25, left me with 2cc. This was last Monday. Today I went in to put some in. There was barely 1.25cc in left. We put in .50cc. OK, this is simply weird. Fills are really easy, no fussing around that could result in punctured tube or anything. Am I leaking somewhere? Anyone else had an experience like that. Even the dr. said that that seems like quite a bit of Fluid gone for such short time. BTW, I gained about 5 pounds in two weeks of having no restriction. Devastating, especially when you are shopping for a wedding dress. Cannot quite get excited about anything. Sorry for wenting. Renata 02/06/04 205/178/135 +5 pounds for now

Hey Jennye, I'm sorry your date didn't work out. I thinks it is great that there are different people with different likes and dislikes out there and unfortunately you guys didn't click. I guarantee you it is because there is a better match for you out there!!! I dated people from Match.com before and despite the fact that some of them were really nice guys, we just didn't have the chemistry. And yes, sometime it was me not wanting to go out again with a nice looking guy, not the opposite. Then I met my current boyfriend and we both just knew it was IT. I really believe that we didn't fall for anyone else and no one else fell really for us because we were supposed to meet. We talked about getting married next fall and are living together. He is so supportive, believes that I look amazing and tells me that all the time. That is what you want from your boyfriend and hopefully future life partner. I wouldn't settle for any less than that. If someone isn't sure how he feels about your body, he should not apply. Hope he buys your condo and hope you meet your MATCH very soon. There are many amazing guys out there, unfortunately you have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince. Sending good wishes your way!!!! Renata 205/179/135 02/06/04

Michelle, I am so happy for you!!!!:banana What an incredible journey, 100 pounds since August! You must be so PROUD of YOURSELF! We want more pictures girl! Renata 205/183/135

Hi everyone, Sorry for being MIA for a while, too much has been going on. As some of you might remember, shortly after being banded in February, my port had flipped and I had to have another surgery to fix it. I'm a self pay so it took a while to coordinate al the details. My dr. is fabulous and worked out to do the correction at the surgical center, without charging me his fee. He filled me to 2cc at the time of the surgery. With that I had just a tiny bit of a restriction and the following week he brought me up to 2.5cc. I definitely understand the PBing, sliming and all of your other terminology now! Ouch, you learn your lesson pretty fast. So I'm back on track after a major set back and feel very excited about it. Now on a personal note: I met an incredible man and we have been dating for the last few months. One of the most difficult moments of my life was explaining the surgery to him. Obviously, I couldn't avoid him seeing my scars at some point . Well, I told him and his first reaction was puzzlement ("you are so beautiful...I don't understand...I love your body..") and then unbelievable support. :Bunny I have met his friends and his family and will meet his parents next week. We have been pretty much living together for about three weeks now and have talked about our future, kids, life and all. I know he is "The One" and he knows that I am "The One" for him too. He told me he loves me and I love him too. We are going to Mexico for my birthday in two months and will be moving to his new house sometime in the summer. It is amazing how things sometime just fall into place. I never understood what people meant when they said "I just knew.." Well, I just know...that my life will be so happy with him and that he will be my best friend forever.. My friends, who never liked any of my ex-boyfriends absolutely love him. I'm just so happy I could fly right now and wanted to share it with you. Renata 02/06/03 205/183/135

I just got back from my first fill appointment and am absolutely devastated. My port has fliped to about 90 degree angle and even though my dr. spent about 90 minutes trying to get to it, it wasn't going to happen. I'm black and blue and sore beyond belief. I started crying right there and cried all the way back to the office. I'm a self pay and this means another few thousand dollars to correct the port. He is looking into doing it in the surgical center to save his patiens some money but that will not happen for several weeks. I have absolutely no restriction, spent so much money and feel so cheated right now. I'm sitting in my office with tears rolling down my face and everyone wonders what has happened. I just want to scream. Anyone else with similar experience. How did you guys deal with it? My dr. told me that in a few months we'll look back and it will jus be a minor set back. He said he will give me a good fill, between 1.5 and 2 cc and it will go great after that. I guess I just need to hear that it will be fine. Thanks for letting me vent. Renata 2/6/04 205/188/135

> A friend shared this with me. Thought you ladies would enjoy. > > > I have just been through the annual pilgrimage of torture and > humiliation > > known as buying a bathing suit. When I was a child in the 1950's, the > > bathing suit for a woman with a mature figure was designed for a woman > with > > a mature figure - boned, trussed and reinforced, not so much sewn as > > engineered. They were built to hold back and uplift and they did a > good > > job. > > > > Today's stretch fabrics are designed for the pre-pubescent girl with > a > > figure carved from a potato chip. The mature woman has a choice - > > she can either front up at the maternity department and try on a > floral suit > > with a skirt, coming away looking like a hippopotamus who escaped from > > > Disney's Fantasia or she can wander around every run-of-the-mill > department > > store trying to make a sensible choice from what amounts to a > designer > > range of fluorescent rubber bands. > > > > What choice did I have? I wandered around, made my sensible choice and > > > entered the chamber of horrors known as the fitting room. The first > thing I > > noticed was the extraordinary tensile strength of the stretch > material. The > > Lycra used in bathing costumes was developed, I believe, by NASA to > launch > > small rockets from a slingshot, which give the added bonus that if you > > > manage to actually lever yourself into one, you are protected from > shark > > attacks. The reason for this is that any shark taking a swipe at your > > passing midriff would immediately suffer whiplash. > > > > I fought my way into the bathing suit, but as I twanged the shoulder > strap > > in place, I gasped in - my bosom had disappeared! Eventually, I > found > > one bosom cowering under my left armpit. It took a while to find the > other. > > At last I located it flattened beside my seventh rib. The problem is > that > > modern bathing suits have no bra cups. The mature woman is meant to > wear her > > bosom spread across her chest like a speed hump. > > > > I realigned my speed hump and lurched toward the mirror to take a full > view > > assessment. The bathing suit fitted all right, but unfortunately, it > only > > fitted those bits of me willing to stay inside it. The rest of me > oozed out > > rebelliously from top, bottom, and sides. I looked like a lump of play > dough > > wearing undersized cling wrap. > > > > As I tried to work out where all those extra bits had come from, the > > pre-pubescent sales girl popped head through the curtains, "Oh There > you > > are!" she said, admiring the bathing suit...I replied that I wasn't so > sure > > and asked what else she had to show me. > > > > I tried on a cream crinkled one that made me look like a lump of > masking > > tape, and a floral two piece which gave the appearance of an > oversized > > napkin in a serviette ring. I struggled into a pair of leopard skin > bathers > > with ragged frill and came out looking like Tarzan's Jane pregnant > with > > triplets and having a rough day. I tried on a black number with a > midriff > > and looked like a jellyfish in mourning. I tried on a bright pink pair > with > > such a high cut leg I thought I would have to wax my eyebrows to wear > them. > > > > Finally, I found a suit that fitted...a two piece affair with shorts > style > > bottom and a loose blouse-type top. It was cheap, comfortable, and > bulge > > friendly, so I bought it. When I got home, I read the label which said > > > "Material may become transparent in water." I'm determined to wear it > > anyway.....I'll just have to learn to do the breaststroke in the sand.

I had my surgery on February 6th. Four weeks later I went to my first fill appointment only to find out that my port flipped and my doctor had no way to access it. Since I'm a self pay, I had to make a decision about the corrective surgery. They can do it in the hospital or they can do it in the surgical center. In the hospital they can do it immediately; however, for twice (or more) the amount it will cost at the surgical center. The catch: my dr. is not yet registered with the surgical center and it is taking quite a bit of time to complete all of the documentation. So basicaly I spent a ton of money on a surgery and now it is not doing anything for me. I'm getting really depressed, sad and frustrated. My port is hurting and it pushes against the waist of my pants, making it pretty uncomfortable. I just want things to be fixed and get really jealous reading some of your posts about fills and restictions and all that comes with it...it sucks! I know it's a question of time, but I waited for so long, I don't want to wait any longer... Thanks for leting me vent! Renata 02/06/04

Hi Al, Please let us know how everything went. Fingers crossed for you! Renata 02/06/04 205/187/135

What an amazing difference Michelle! You look so happy on those pictures. Congratulations! Enjoy the hiking trips! Renata

Awesome! Congratulations, you must be so happy! Hard work pays off! Renata

Sassay, We are almost band-twins, being banded couple or so days apart. I see you had six!!!! follow up appointments, I had one! What is it that your doctor does at your appoiments? Is it something I'm doing wrong? Not insisting on something I should? It is all so confusing. I haven't lost any weight after the first two or so weeks after the surgery, actually it seems like I gained a couple. Without a restriction I'm not realy forced to follow any bandster rules, so of course I break them. I try to be good but I'm not getting anywhere. Well, I can't really eat sooo much anymore, but still too much to stop after three or four bites. More and more I realize that in my head I don't really believe this will work. I know it has worked for thousands of people, so why should I be someone who won't succeed, right? I just somehow don't believe that I will be thin. Ever. Lots of people get really mad at me, saying I wasn't so heavy to begin with and tell me to stop whining. Well, I know how it feels when your skin itches like crazy from stretching, I know what millions of stretch marks look like. I know how it feels to cry in front of the closet, to kick the wall, to change 10 times and still feel like a giant sausage... I know what it feels like when the zipper on your pants explodes. I know what it feels like when you cry from the pain of your tighs rubbing together. I know what it feels like spending months organizing your best friend's wedding only to spend most of it hiding outside with cigaretes and never wanting to see a single picture for fear that I might be on it....Oh, God, when you write it all down like this it looks so bad...... Anyway ladies, thanks so much for your kind words. This site has been saving me. I'm sure there are so many people that feel exactly the same way! THANK YOU! Renata 02/06/04 205/187/135

Do you feel there are more post surgery complications with U.S. based doctors, since they have quite a bit less experienced than European or Mexican based doctors? How many of you had post surgery complications: e.g. flipped ports, sliped band, etc.? My port is flipped at 90 degree angle and inaccessible for adjustment. I need to have another surgery to correct it. I'm self pay and it is not going to be cheap. My dr. is U.S. based. Thanks for your opinions. Renata

Sue, that's a very interesting study. If I understand correctly, the location of your port makes quite a bit of a difference with regards to likelihood of tilting or flipping. Mine is on the left side, just bellow my rib cage. I've seen several people refer to a scar in the middle of the torso just bellow the breast as their port scar. What is the most common location? Where do you guys have yours? BTW, my dr. is looking into signing up with a surgical center in order to cut the price of the surgery to fix the problem. It's probably going to be about half the price of doing it in the hospital, which is really helpful. Waiting for the paperwork and the appointment is unbearable though. Oh well.... Renata 02/03/06 205/187/135

Hi Marsha, I'm not sure how my port flipped but I have a good reason to believe it was during yoga. I went to a class about three weeks after my surgery and it turned out to be a bad idea. It wasn't really painful and I had no idea until I went for the first fill last week. I'm going to have it repaired and I'm not supposed to do anything (no gym, skiing, picking heavy things..) for 4 weeks. If I only knew this before... I love my gym, love my classes and since I felt pretty good, I thought I'd give it a shot..a little expensive, since I'm a self pay.. Renata 02/06/04 205/186/135

Hi Colleen, I'm sorry that you are so frustrated. It sounds like your doctor should not be a wls surgeon, or at least he should not do lap band since he doesn't want to work with his patients. I noticed you are in Stamford, CT. Have you looked at fill doctors in Westchester? It is closer than New Haven and I'm sure you'll find someone who will take your insurance. Hey, I'd even consider self paying to get it right. It's a small price to pay to save myself! I had a surgery with Dr. Artuso in Dobbs Ferry and he is so great. My port is unfortunately flipped and I am waiting to have it repaired. Yeah, I'm frustrated too... Hope everything works out for you great! Good luck! Renata 02/06/04 205/186/135

Holly, I just went to my first fill yesterday. If you read my newest posts, you know it was a disaster. My port has flipped and I need to have it repaired. Anyway, I asked my doctor about eating before adjustment and he didn't see it as a problem. He wouldn't recommend a huge lunch, but something small is just fine. Hope that helps. Good luck! Renata 02/06/04 205/187/135

So week 1 is behind me, I guess the most painful part should be over then. The surgery was fairly uneventfull. I woke up pretty sore and have remained sore since, although it is nothing compared to the first couple of days. My bruises are healing and I hope that the scaring will be minimal. I have had tremendous problems with my left shoulder. Many people seem to reporting the same, which is supposedly a result of the diaphagm aggravation and having been "inflated" in order to perform the surgery. My pain has been really severe on occasion. I suggested to my dr. that maybe I have low pain treshold, he disagreed since I nver once complained about the cuts and stitches. Vicoddin hasn't helped, so he prescribed Neurontin, which helps with nerve pain. I feel a bit of a difference, but the pain is still there. (Gas-X and walking didn't help either). Just hoping it will go away soon, but it has taken my mind of off my other pains definitely. With regards to eating, or shall we call it drinking for now, I have done ok. Clear liquids are pretty hard to live on, so I introduced go-ghurt (really runny yoghurt) to my diet. My dr. doesn't have a problem with it and told me to move to the next stage (pureed veggies, mashed potatoes, etc.) Very happily I did. I haven't been able to tell if I'm hungry, since my tummy is still sore. I started knitting at night when I watch TV. I was a snacker at night and this really keeps my hands occupied. Tomorrow I'm going back to to the gym for the first time since the surgery. I'm really excited, even though I'm not yet able to go back to the classes. I'd like to walk a couple of miles and see how that goes. Well, I'm rambling. Hope all of you are doing great and thanks so much for your support. Renata banded 02/06 Dr. Artuso 205/192/135

Misty, I have PCOS and got banded 3 weeks ago today. For years I went from one doctor to another until finaly a colegue of mine figured out that it is PCOS. I was seeing endocrinologist who prescribed Glocophage XR. I lost 20 pounds but basically ate very little and had constant runs, hence 20 pounds of Water weight. My frustration boiled over once I realized I'm in the gym almost every lunch hour, at least 3 nights and still ended up gaining weigt. My skin was itching (stretch marks!!!), clothes were tightet and tighter and i was misearable. I got pregnant, which is a small miracle when you have PCOS and gave birth to a still born baby boy (my angel Lucas ~i~). I decide to get as healthy as possible and make sure I can one day be the mommy I want to be. Healthy, attractive (well, yes I suppose I'm vain but aren't we all) and happy with my body and everything else. I'm at the beginning of this journey. My first fill will be in the next couple of weeks and I'm still eating soft foods. I lost 18 pounds to date, which makes me very happy, although some of it will probably come back once I can eat a little more than pureed Soups. Hope you'll make the right decision for yourself. I'm hoping that with the right diet (very little carbs) and the band, I will be at my goal of 135 within 10 months. I am working very hard to get there! Renata banded 02/06/04 Dr. Artuso 205/187/135

I was banded not even two weeks ago on 2/6. Ever since the surgery I've had pretty severe pain in my left shoulder. Couple of days ago I started to feel pain under my rib cage on my left side. I cannot yawn or take really deep breath without tears in my eyes. I read your posts about what you found helpful and walk every day for at least an hour every day in the gym. I also walk with my puppy every morning and every evening. Well, it hasn't helped. I stretched, did some weight training (within limits), took warm baths...nothing seem to be helping. Thinking about possibly swimming being helpful...anyone's thoughts? I'm sitting in my office high on codein right now, but there would be no way I could do it otherwise. On top of everything, I got hit by a car in a parking lot last night (I wasn't in a car), and as you can imagine that didn't help the situation at all.. I expected the pain and being uncomfortable, but never once could I complain about the cuts. It's all the other issues that seems to be bringing me to tears. So any thoughts on swimming? Any other ideas? On another note, when did you get your first fill? I'm asking my dr. to do it 4 weeks after the surgery. Any thoughts on that? Thanks so much! Renata banded 2/6/04 Dr. Artuso 205/189/135

Thank you so much for your responses. Well, yesterday I left the office at 5 pm and was in bed by 7.30. Slept like a baby and today I feel sooooo much better. Hope it will last. I think I will stay away from weights and eliptical trainer for a couple of weeks. One thing I do find quite surprising though is that despite of not eating anything substantial (still on liquids) and definitely eating very little, I haven't lost an ounce this past week. I have PCOS and try to stay away from sugar, however, it is fairly difficult during the liquid stage. Seems like everything you can eat has sugar in some form in it. Does anyone have any suggestions? Million thanks! Renata banded 02/06/04 dr. Artuso

Hello everyone! So I did. Got banded by Dr. Artuso last Friday (2/6) in New York. Last few days have been pretty sore and painful. I can definitaly feel the port incison the most. It makes me move, especially sit up/down, lay down and get up a bit of a challenge. Silly question: has any of you had prblems with your shoulders after the surgery. I feel like someone has pulled my shoulder or twisted my arm...resulting in a piercing pain. I have asked my dr. and nurses about that. They told me that in order to the laparoscopic surgery, they need to "inflate" the patient somewhat and there can be trapped air buble that causes the pain but that will go away shortly. Any opinions or other strange experiences? Otherwise I'm doing pretty good. Had yoghurt for lunch today, which was first not entirely "liquid" food, which I'm not sure its ok just yet. Otherwise plain liquids. I'm down about 6 pounds, assuming all Water weight. looking forward to all that hard work that will follow. Hope to be back to my step class and skiing in no time! Any fedback from any of you guys is very welcome! Renata banded Feb 6, 04 Dr. Artuso - New York

Hello everyone, I'm so glad I found this group and I learned so much from all of you so thank you. I have made a decision to be banded few months ago and did a lot of research. Since I am smaller than most people that get the surgery, my INS wouldn't cover it. I have PCOS, hardly ever ovulate and the only way to relieve me of some of the symtons is loosing weight. Well, it is not that simple if you have PCOS. I excercise every day, bike, treadmill, weights, classes...I rollerblade, ski and swim....but I of course eat as well. I'm always up and down ten pounds around 205 ponds. Highest ever has been 212 and I believe my girlfriend didn't order her wedding pictures where you could see me on any of them. I don't blame her and am quietly grateful. I recently lost a baby boy and my boyfriend. Don't really want to talk about it just yet, maybe one day. Found myself on the slipery slope of food addiction. Couldn't sit in fron of the TV or a computer without something to eat. BUT, those days are over now!!! Anyway, I looked at going to Mexico but decided at the end to have the surgery in NY, since the follow ups/fills are so important. My surgeon is doctor Artuso. Well, you guys seems like a great group and I'm looking forward to getting to know you. Looks like we'll be in this for a loooong haul. Renee to be banded on 2/6/04 Dr. Artuso

PCOS = Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome It has all kinds of nasty and anoying symptoms, e.g. hair all over, acne, skin tags, weight problem, no ovulation, irregular or no periods, infertility. Many women with PCOS loose their babies during pregnancy. My son Lucas was born at 20 weeks in November. It took doctors years to diagnose me. I am on Glucophage XR, taking 1,500 mg/day. It helps a little, but weight loss should have major impact on most my problems. I'm one of the lucky PCOS sufferers with no acne, no major facial or body hair issues and I'm looking forward to getting rid of the rest of the issues. Renata

Hi Chris and Holly, Thanks so much for your welcome. Dr. Artuso is at the Dobbs Ferry Hospital - New Image Weight Loss Center. I have read great things about him and I'm hoping to become one of his happy patients. I will keep you updated on my progress and look forward to hearing about yours! Renata