JosieK

thanks foofy for the insight. on top of this i am on estrogen and had to stop it for the surgery due to potential for blood to clot. i went back on estrogen last week and feel much better thanks again josie

hey steve, you caught the essence of this board.....you made me laugh so hard i hurt my stitches..... keep 'em comin' josie

hi pnw are you self pay or insurance paid? insurance companies have requirements that lengthen the process. i was self pay and even then found doctors to vary when i did my research to find a lapband doctor. i went to the doctor's meeting/presentation on wednesday night and had my band put in friday. my doctor didnt have pre-op diets. his feeling was i wasnt successful at dieting to date, so his approach was to get the band in and then offered great counseling to develop the skills. i'm glad i found him. the first doctor i went to started with the ekg's, psych, etc. i never pursued this one....luckily through this site i found my band doctor i ended up with. this has just been my experience.... josie

hi i ran out and bought a magic bullet when i was banded because everyone on this site talked about it. i never stopped using my basic hamilton blender. i gave the magic bullet to my niece and she loves it to make baby food for her baby so i think it's a good appliance.....one of many josie

hi neon this is very common and in fact if my doctor hadnt told me post-op that he found a big hernia and repaired it...i never would've known it not a big deal....at all josie

mrgrta: great results!!!!! josie

mrgrta: you really have helped me by sharing your journey.....you are also making me to think getting off my butt to exercise might be a good idea. at least starting my arms which really need toning thanks again for your help openag: thanks for your well wishes josie

hi my port did stick out after i lost weight. it was placed in the center of my chest under my breasts. my plastic surgeon just buried it a little more when i had my recent surgery. re: sex...11 days after PS. my port never interfered just in my head josie

jeni...good luck tomorrow......

hi sue, glad you are healing well too. re: groin pain...i'm getting weird "twitch" kind of pains in my belly and different places. my boobs are also burning a little and the doctor said that's good. means the nerves are working again. (easy for him to say that ha!) re: your band....so you had yours unfilled? i kind of wished i did too. neither my band doctor nor the PS said i had to do it. i'm not having an easy time eating between slight nausea and the band has tightened a bit. the upside is the weight loss but the downside is i'm getting tired of not being able to eat consistently. oh well as you say all for the sake of beauty!!! mrgrta: yes i have to say being engaged changes things. it's so funny how men and women are so different on this subject. my fiance' said nothing has changed since our 3rd date. he knew we would get married. me on the other hand....i wanted the ring. some of my girlfriends have said they felt the same way. i think he is just happy i'm so happy. BTW.....how are you feeling???? josie

hey sue, believe it or not my doctor told me yesterday i could switch to spanx. i thought i'd have these things on for life. they do help me with support so i will leave them on for another 2 weeks then switch to spanx. you are right...they help with the "hourglass" shape. i now know what it is like to be in a straight jacket ha! josie

hi common-sense wise....i knew about the extra skin before surgery. i actually took this as a challenge and worked my butt off (exercise-wise) to avoid PS. well low and behold.....the exercising definitely helped.....but not to the point where i felt comfortable. i'm 16 days post PS. i did it 2 years and 2 months after lapband. my main concern was a tummy tuck. so while i was doing that i decided to get "the girls" lifted. i LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my boobs. and this was a surprise since i wasnt so concerned about them beforehand. in fact when i was still on the post-op drugs...i was showing everyone ha! i'm normally a shy irish girl. josie

hi everyone, feeling so much better. in fact last thursday night i had such a bad headache. i ended up taking vicodin. after that night...the depression lifted. i had the stitches removed yesterday (ouch) actually wasnt as bad as i anticipated. i'm liking what i see so far. i'm glad i did it all at once since i'm not sure i would do a second operation. i'm having a small problem with nausea. i gained 10 lbs at the operation. i've lost that plus 4 lbs. the doctor said i can do all exercising except abs/chest. mainly cardio, arms and legs can be done. i'm tired today so i know i'm not out of the woods yet.... i have some good news....i got engaged monday night. a total surprise. my feet havent hit the ground. i was teasing my plastic surgeon and told him he was responsible for my engagement. altho' Sam (my fiancee) told me he was happy the way i was.....but do whatever i want to make me happy. mrgrta: thank you so much for your email and concern....i'm so glad the depression lifted altho' i know i'm not out of the woods. i think i was just so surprised it came so early in the process. take care all joanne

hey sue, it's funny you say about the curves...before i went to bed last night i looked in the mirror and i saw mine coming out. i thought wow...this is why i did it. i cant wait to start exercising. my energy in the afternoon wanes...and that is when i am getting the blues. i am really trying to focus on nutrition. i am nauseous and havent been eating so that isnt helping the "teary feary" from staying too long. i think we expect ourselves to be back to ourselves too quickly. have fun this weekend...... josie

hi julie, i have to say you've been a power of example to me since the day i had my lapband done. you continually plodded along in so many areas of your life and achieved great things. you are also so positive and direct to the point in helping people.....i like that you look so cute in your graduation photo. you should take another one same as that one and add your bicycle in the photo. that would be your trifecta (degree, weight loss and cycle achievements) i must say i've lost my mojo for cycling and want to get that one back....i may have to join you guys on that thread once i get better. anyway.....thought i'd email to you what i've thought about you and your journey for the past 2 years josie

hi sue, my doctor said the drainage had to be less then 30 cc in a 24 hour period. i had 2 days of under 30 cc's and i called and they took them out. the one that wont deflate sounds like maybe there is a hole in the bulb or maybe the connection between the bulb and the tube is not good. definitely call the doctor....and keep us posted on how you do hooe all is ok..... josie

you guys are sooooo great! southern missy. i love the flasher. in fact i am still flashing my boobies. my niece was so embarrassed today when i flashed. i forgot about the openings in the compression garments....oh well. i used to be a modest irish girl before this. sue..i love it..the teary feary. re: energy....did your surgeon have any ideas? i have been drinking my Protein bullets but to be honest when i had lapband surgery and didnt have energy...i just had to rest and rest some more. maybe try to enjoy it...it is so rare we can pamper ourselves. tracymom. you are so right. it is funny how we are each having a different experience. probably good so we can pull from each other's strengths. when i had the lap band...physically i was wiped out for 2 weeks. so i thought i would have a similar experience in this surgery. i felt better today. only 2 teary moments as opposed to 24 hours yesterday. i am heading to austin on friday for my nephew's graduation...then to baytown, Tx for my boyfriend's family's crawfish boil and gizzard fry. i know this sounds like alot but we have a guest house we stay in and i can rest the whole time if i want. anyway i will keep in touch.....hope everyone continues to feel better each moment! josie...

hi everyone, thanks for all the feedback and well wishes. today is day 8. physically i am still feeling fine. i'm off all prescriptions and on liquid tylenol. i am only taking it at night so i can sleep comfortably. i had my drains taken out today. my major issue...... i cant stop crying. in fact as i am writing this i am welling up with tears. when i went to get the drains out....i saw the doctor. he said it is common and part of it is from the drugs, anesthesia (spelling?), but he also said there are studies about serotonin levels being changed with major surgery, etc. even having all this info...i still feel so bad. there was a woman in the next room that was 6 weeks out from her surgery and she had depression still..... i know this is temporary but when i am in the middle of it....i feel like i will never get out of it. i am also having trouble eating from being nauseous. so that isnt helping either. the upside...i have good energy physically. if i could only turn off my mind.... i'm sorry to be such a downer but i think i thought the post op depression would come later on. i'm thankful that physically i feel good. and my "girls" look so cute now. they are smaller just from the mere lift (i didnt have implants) but i dont really care. at least they arent pointing towards the antarctic anymore marquint: sorry i didnt answer you. i actually didnt get my PS right away. i reached goal within 10 mos of being banded. i then tried for a year to workout to avoid surgery. i weightrained, cycled i even rode the MS150 here in texas. the working out really helped with the weight loss, toning, etc but it didnt take away the excess skin on my stomach. so i had my surgery 2 years after being banded and 1 year and 4 mos after reaching goal. if you look around this site and www.makemeheal.com..you will find so many different answers to this question. i will say i went to 3 consults before choosing my doctor. and each one was surprised i was at goal and was glad. they mentioned some people come in beforehand and expect too much from the plastic surgeon. i had estimates from $13,500-$25,000 for the same surgery. i chose my doctor based on the pics i saw of his surgery on other patients on both this site and make me heal. lellow: thanks for letting me know how you are doing. i will say i did have a few moments today where i was wondering why i did this.....7 weeks you are doing great. juli: too bad you didnt live a little more south ha! i could lend you a few. i have to say my 4 are a good group to handle. i have 2 huge newfoundlands and 2 mini-dogs-a border terrier and yorkie. you know the little ones run the show ha! now mix in the 2 other dogs (my boyfriend's and his father's) and i really identify with the movie "yours, mine and ours" with lucille ball. ha! anyway girls...i really feel better hearing from you guys. i dont feel so alone. i'm going to sign off and get some sleep. thanks again josie

hi everyone, had a good day...altho' i think i'm pushing too hard. so tomorrow i will slow down a bit i walked my dogs for almost 2 hours. of course it's at a snails pace but i was moving. i also took my first shower without help. then a shopping trip to target. i am off pain meds and am now taking tylenol liquid. my doctor doesn't give pain pumps and i have to say...i didnt need it. i was surprised when he first told me this (that he didnt give the pain pump). i really dont have much pain except when i wake up. i'm usually stiff and can work that out by walking around. i'm still weepy. i had 2 crying jags today for no reason. i will say i feel better after i finish crying. i do have the postop blues a bit southern missy: ha...you gave me a good laugh re: flashing. the compression garment they give you has an opening for you to go to the bathroom easily. when i go out naturally i put shorts over the "girdle". i keep worrying that my butt is sticking out. it is so weird. mimilou: re: "big reveal" i have a doctor's appt next monday. so i guess after that. altho' my drains have slowed considerably and he may want to see me sooner. so after i see him i will do the post op pics. pennreporter: i think the younger they are the better they do...so thats a big positive. actually i had a TT but only 4 inches in back werent cut. so it was almost all the way around. i think following the doctors orders are key. plus i found reading about the people that went before me on this website has helped tremendously. i gained alot of strength from many of these women anyway i'm going to sign off now....i have 4 dogs of my own (One just fell in the pool) and my boyfriend has me watching his and his father's dogs. so they are keeping me busy. which is a really good thing. so i have to let them out and then go sleepy time. have a good night everyone josie

hi everyone, thought i'd give an update. i still think the lapband surgery was harder to deal with then this one. i realize this was much bigger but i haven't had nausea, i've been dealing with breathing exercises better, etc. yesterday i walked the dogs a half mile, my boyfriend reminded me that when i had the lapband and couldn't walk 1/2 block without getting dizzy and winded....i had an extra 100 lbs on me. today i'm not having such a great day emotionally. i'm crying alot so i'm going to try to get off the pain meds. i do pretty well on tylenol so i will start that tomorrow. pain wise i'm doing ok. i know i still have a long road ahead but so far so good. i really thought i would be a big baby and i guess i'm tougher then i thought anyway i have a funny story......my dog babysitter came to drop the dogs off after daycare. so i asked her if she wanted to see "the girls" and she said...."you showed them to me yesterday ha!" ANYWAY I AM REALLY HAPPY WITH THE BOOB LIFT. THE REST OF ME IS SWOLLEN AND I LOOK LIKE A BOY sorry for caps...didnt realize i hit the key and am too lazy to type over josie

hi lellow congratulations and thank you for all the help you gave me. you are definitely a success story both as a patient and more importantly as a person thanks again' josie

hi everyone, well i have to tell you i am sooooo happy with "my girls" they are nice and perky. they are a bit smaller but i dont care. i'm sleeping alot which feels real good. i had a little bit of a downer today from anesthesia....but no big deal. i'm trying to wean off percocet. juli....my belly button is much better now. the ooozing has subsided altho we keep putting bacitracin on it. mimilou.....if nothing else....the "girls" make me happy. i cant really see much on my belly since it is swollen still. i did take a shower yesterday so that felt good. marquint....i really wanted to avoid plastic surgery. i worked out like crazy to try to avoid it but i needed it in the end. i had my lapband put in 3/07. i lost my weight in 10 mos. i worked hard at it...ie. journalled food, exercised. i even rode the MS150 between houston and austin. after all that i realized i had skin i would never get rid of. may 08 i started visiting plastic surgeons. i saw 3 altogether. and decided on dr adam based on the results the people got that went to him. not sure if you have orientation for lapband or plastic surgery. if it's for the lapband.....probably focusing on the lapband first would be best. anyway good luck on your journey josie

thanks lellow and mrgrta, i just took a shower and feel like a million dollars. wonders what a shower can do. i'm so excited....my "girls" are quite perky... i've gained 10 lbs but i know that's Water weight. he took 5 lbs of skin off and 4 lbs of fat through lipo. anyway i will keep you posted josie

hi sue, not to worry. i still think the lapband was worse at this stage. i did have a foley for urine. i loved having the cathteter since i didnt have to go to the bathroom. but he took it out today. i was outpatient so maybe that's why they gave me it. i went to my drs. this morning for him to check everything out. my belly button was ooozing but he said no big deal. he liked the color of my skin. on a scale of 1-10...the pain is at 3-4 (10 being worst). so dont worry. they give us plenty of drugs. he doesnt use a pain pump. instead he gave me percoset, valium, phenergen and antibiotics. i dont take all at once naturally. my doctor didnt unfill me. i sure feel good eating wise now. my band has given me trouble from day 1. i will pm my phone number in case you want to talk joanne