Penni60

Lauri and Michelle: THe pain is so minimal it is soooooooooo worth it. The only pains I experienced was from the GAS. SO take some Gas X or Mylicon tablets or drops for the gas pains. The incisions are so small and the only one the even gave me the smallest discomfort was the port incision. That one is about two inches long. MINIMAL pain I tell you. The port incision pain lasted for me for less than 4 days. The gas pains lasted for about a week but it got progressively easier over those days. On the last three days of the gas pain it was almost nonexistent. By the way, you can still function with all this pain. You can still dress yourself just slower. You can still take a shower just use a shower chair and only do that for the first day or two. I was swimming in a pool the third day of surgery. I had no stitches my surgeon used the glue to hold my incisions together. So no stitches to come out later. Pretty awesome. No heavy lifting for however long the doc tells you. I didn't do anything like that for at least two weeks. I took it easy when I got home. I did get up and walk some around my neighborhood. I did not do anything too strenuous. The walking helps get rid of the gas actually. You should try to get up as soon as you can after you get out of recovery. It will aid in your healing and clearing your head from the surgery and clearing of your lungs as well. Hope this all helps. Good luck guys Come back and check in after your surgeries. Hey did you guys put your dates on the calendar???

Thanks guys. SHould be fun.

I was wondering what happened to you. I am sorry to hear about your husband though. I will keep you and he in my prayers. Keep us posted.

MIchelle: I will keep your son in my prayers. I know you must be thinking the worst given what you have been through in the past so me telling you to think postively will seem meaningless but it is said with all the passion I can give you. Postive thoughts coming your way. Have they tried Epogen to boost his immune system? That might help fight off whatever it is that is giving him fits now. What was his initial diagnosis. SOrry once a nurse always a nurse. You dont' have to answer this if you don't want. It won't hurt my feelings one bit. Love you big time. IN my prayers daily.

Not sure how many know we actually have a calendar for posting events, birthdays (which the website does for us), and things like bandaversaries. Let's all go and post our banding dates. This will be someplace for all of us to go and see who is getting banded this month. Ideas, suggestions, Etc.

Kim: Please do come back and keep us posted. Good luck and HUGE CONGRATS!!

Bright said: Penni - I will defo bags you my guest room if you get here!! Not even sure what that means but hey I will be there. I just gotta plan the vacation time. THat would be next year though. LOL!!!!

Lisa: I take liquid Vitamins. Then I drink a protein drink so I get the best of both worlds. www.vitaminshoppe.com Look for Source of Life Vitamin Liquids. I love it.

Blossom: I would give yourself this weekend as well. But in the back of your mind get your ducks in a row and call that office as soon as it opens on Monday and demand some answers. Also, does his office have a support group that meets regularly? Maybe you can contact some of those people and see if they are satisfied with the after care. That is SOOOOOO important to your success on this journey. It isn't the MOST important factor but it does play a part. If they are this way now pre-surgery I have to agree they might be this way after. You certainly don't want to have to jump through hoops when there is a problem. Keep us posted. Be researching other surgeons in your area. You can also call your insurance company and see if they will require you to refile. They might surprise you and say NO.

Megan: Just let me say WOW! Your post brought tears to my eyes. I can so relate to exactly what you posted. It is a struggle every day for me to not revert back to my depressed woe is me way of thinking. I have to stop and think about all that good that has come out of me losing some pounds and inches. You are a true inspiration and a model for lapbanders everywhere. I use the term "lapbanders" loosely to include all of us that have a band of some form. God does work in mysterious ways. Thank you so much for sharing. You are so blessed.

SIGNS on the way!!

Lisa: Dr. Billy and I discussed the Fisher issue as well. He said that Fisher won't take on Mexico patients cause of his personal issues with people going to Mexico period. It "might" have to do with Med Mal Insurance but I get the impression it is more of a personal issue.

I agree Dublin with a stopover in Houston is a great trip. That would mean a looooooooooooong weekend oops that would be a week. LOL!!!

WOW does not even begin to express my emotions. Good for him to change his life. It makes me wonder though if he is losing weight with the 1200 calorie diet and has lost 300 lbs already and has to lose another 400 lbs before he can have the bypass, then why get the bypass?? If he proves to himself that he CAN lose weight just by exercise and dieting then why get the bypass?? Am I missing something here?

I talked at length with Lisa earlier and gave her all the updates on what Billy said. Yes I had my drool bucket in hand. He is such a sweetie. I was waiting for him and when he walked in he just stared at me and said, "I thought we took care of you with your last visit." LOL!! such a sweetie. Anyway, he suggested Lisa call the Vegas doc Frances Teng, MD. This is the same doc that refused to see her the first time. But Billy is going to call him since they are best friends, IT IS GOOD TO HAVE FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES. He is going to tell him to take Lisa on as a patient and treat the wound and then see if he will order an endoscopy to see how the band is doing. Billy seems to think it could be erosion causing all the problems. If so then the band must come off. Lisa and I both discussed her options if that happens but we are taking it one step at a time. She is calling Teng tomorrow and see how far she can get. I told her if she can't get through to get them to see her then for her to call Billy's office and let them know. So we will see what happens from there. Billy said he would be happy to see her if she elected to go that route. He said it was awful what has happened to her and it makes him angry to see anyone not be taken care of properly. I had a fill about two weeks ago. I asked him the same question Teresa about it being that long and showing up now. He said it can happen. So there ya go. I have noticed the slowness of the website as well.

OK back from my appointment. SIGH!! OK Dr. Billy seems to think I am allergic to the ONE needle that is used for the fills. He seems to think that is causing the redness and tenderness. He is gonna try a different technique next fill and see if that works. I will have to take 50 mg Benadryl before the fill then he will use alcohol instead of betadine and then take 50 mg Benadryl after the fill. I will be flying high for sure with all that Benadryl in my system. LOL!!! And because I will have that Benadryl in my system I will need someone to drive me there and back. SIGH!! I also talked to Billy about Lisa's case. I took a pic of her abdomen and explained what has been going on. He was very sweet and suggested several options, even offering to get involved on a personal level. I don't want to go into specifics here till I speak with Lisa about what he said. I will come back and fill all you guys in then.

Thanks for the other avatar pic. I have Cherokee, Choctaw and Iroquois in my veins. So pick one! LOL!!!

I have always wanted to go to Ireland.

WHOO HOO!!! AWESOME Job keep it up. I am so jealous.

Vera how did you do that? I woke up this morning and the redness was gone. The soreness is almost gone. TOO weird. I am still heading to see the Dr. though. Maybe he could do some testing or whatever. I would like to have an xray to check placement actually. All things to discuss with him today. Lisa I will either call or email you when I get home. Thanks guys for all your support. It really means alot to me and Lisa.

Must be something in the air. MAJOR sweet tooth tonight as well. It doesn't help that I made my son some Peanut Butter chocolate oatmeal Cookies and he hasn't even touched them yet. What gives??? SIGH!! Oh and Miss Lisa got the Palm Pilot today. HUGE THANKS. And a Big boink on the head coming since you elected to put some candy in the box as well. WENCH!!! Love ya

I was able to get in 30 min on the recumbent bike. Even though it bothered my port area each time I did a turn on the bike. OH WELL!! Got that exercise in though. LOL!!

Too funny. Of course I will discuss all this with Billy. I will report back as soon as I know something. I tried to rub off the makeup but John won't let me. He said you were getting way too much attention on the boards. LOL!! Carol: not sensitive to Chlorine. If so I would have seen this right after Jamaica trip. NOTHING there. Not sure what is causing this redness again. IT just pops up every so often. Billy was puzzled the last time it came up. So might just get some antibiotics and treat and see what happens. UGH!!

Hey I am game to post boob shots. LOL!!! I bet Delarla would too. LOL!! Donali you first!

A couple of questions: Who is doing your surgery? Where are you getting it done? Are you getting a LAPBAND or MIDBAND? It makes a difference when looking for a fill doc. Some docs won't take Mexico patients and then the ones that do take them won't take Midband patients. Contact Inamed if you are getting a LAPBAND and they can help locate some docs in your surrounding area that do this procedure. www.inamed.com As far as Midband I can't give you specifics on that. You should set up aftercare before the surgery anyway in case of emergencies. I asked my surgeon that placed my band for a list of docs that take his patients. Be careful though some people have been given a list and the docs they contacted would not take them after all. SO do the research before getting banded. Good luck and hope this helps.