JosieK

hi vonhelzing, i had a TT and Breast lift in May '09. both my PS and lapband doctor told me i didnt have to have it unfilled beforehand. so i didnt and i didnt have any issues at all. if they did tell me to unfill it.... i would have followed their advice. i also thought if my 2 surgeons had differing opinions...i would follow the lapband dr. but luckily none of that happened. when i was researching before my surgery about this subject...half the people on this site said they were told to do it and half were told it wasnt necessary. anyway good luck with your surgery...it was the best thing i ever did besides the lapband itself. i love my new body josie

hi new girl yes i had the same problem. my band was too tight and i ended up getting aspirational pneumonia from regurgitating in my sleep and it going back down the wrong way. i couldnt even drink Water at night it was not fun since i then had to go on antibiotics for the pneumonia. my band needed to be loosened and i was better. taught me a good lesson good luck josie

hi fanny, this happened to me. i was concerned since one was pointing out a little more then the other one too.... they ended up getting more even about 6 mos out. the boobs are still a little uneven but i think this is normal for all boobs. but ask your doctor and see what he says.... josie

Allie said it best!

hi, i've been reading everyone's journey on their plastic surgeries and have gotten alot of good information for use in mine. since i've gotten so much great help from everyone, i've decided to journey my own upcoming process. i'm scared to death but will not let it stop me. my biggest fear is developing blood clots. this has been my fear since my lapband surgery which was minimal compared to the one i have coming up. just 2 days ago my boyfriend's aunt passed away as a result of one....she was old and had lots of health issues which caused it....but i was spooked a bit by it...was it a sign? luckily dr schulman just posted about this subject and it made me feel better. since being banded, i wanted to avoid PS. the first year i worked out like crazy but in the end i have extra skin on my belly that looks ok with clothes on...and "not so much" with clothes off. i want to complete this journey so decided to have PS. i figured while under the knife i might as well get the "girls lifted" ..... gravity is taking them south. my preop is next tuesday 4/28. i figure i will get alot of answers then. i am looking to rent one of those recliners that lift you up. i cant find one yet but will keep trying. my sister in law is a nurse and will stay with me 3 days. she is normally a sweetheart but turns into "nurse ratchett" when it comes to recovery. so i know i'm in good hands with her. then my cousin is flying in from NYC to babysit me for a week. i'm a baby when it comes to pain... my surgery is 5/11.....the doctor said it will be a 7 hour operation. it is outpatient...so i will go home that day with my sister in law. anyway....just wanted to start this up and any suggestions are completely appreciated.... what was the best advice you got? best products you used? etc. thank you ahead of time josie

funny, funny mimilou ha!!! i just have to figure out how to do it when i get them since they will be physical photos. but i promise.... :bored::thumbup::thumbup:

thanks danny for keeping us posted....

Thanks mimilou and sue, i feel like you guys saw me from start to finish. sue, how's your surgery? you're up to the 6 mos mark as well. mimilou...we will help you through this...cant wait! josie p.s. they are sending me the before/after pics which i will post when i get them

hi, well i had my 6 mos post op (and final) appointment with my PS today. everything went well. he was happy with the scars since they are really very faint now. i was surprised by this since my scars after the lapband was put in..... stayed dark for a long time....weird right? my boobs are really starting to look natural since the swelling went away. i'm glad i didnt get implants. i was afraid they would be too small after the lift but for me...they are perfect. i gained 10 lbs since surgery. long story short...i had my band completely unfilled about 8 weeks after my PS because i was having trouble eating (not related to PS at all). plastic surgeon wants to see me in 6 mos to see if i need a little more lipo on my thighs. he isnt sure if the bulge is from the weight gain or that i need a little more. so i'm hoping i use this to get my act together to get the weight off. i'll be "dipped" if i went through all this (lapband and plastic surgery) to slip back into my old pattern. anyway i am soooo happy i did the plastic surgery since it really finished off the job the lapband started. good luck to all having surgery or are thinking about it. josie

Good luck allie.... Remember to rest, drink plenty of fluids, do breathing exercises and start walking as soon as you can...1step at a time. You have a flat tummy and perky boobs waiting for you on the other side! I'm so excited for you Josie

hi i lost my weight with sparkpeople.com if you have iphone there is a newer one that is good called... mynetdiary.com you can post your food both on your computer and your phone thks and good luck josie

hi i was completely unfilled today. i've been having issues eating sitting down since i was banded. it's pretty weird when i go out to dinner...i have to walk around to eat. while i was losing weight i could deal with this....to do this the rest of my life seems a bit much. i've considered the sleeve...but that is so new and i would like more long term success on that surgery. last time i went to my doctor to explain this issue....he was a little flip with me. he said he never heard of this issue before. so this time i asked to see his nurse. she was the one who figured out that i had pneumonia early on. i guess my doctor was curious why i asked for her and not him so he came in instead and was soooooo helpful. (i actually love my doctor...he is really very good) so we agreed to completely unfill to see if i can eat more easily. he feels i may be able to stay unfilled and maintain my weight. if i cant and i start gaining...i will go back and get filled under fluro. i had my first meal sitting down tonight and it put me in such a good mood. i had chicken which i haven't been able to eat since being banded. i really would like to keep the band and not undergo another surgery... i still love my band and the life i've gotten back since losing weight. i was a prisoner in my own body. josie

Congrats tyhelms... this is definitely one of the best NSV's. it is also a great motivational tool to keep going here's to a "shrinking you" good luck josie

hey mary.... next time...give her a BIG M.Y.O.B tell her you have your own support system. i wish i would have done this years ago...... good luck on your journey josie

Welcome to lapband land.... i'm sure you will feel this is the best decision you've ever made. i had pain on/off for a few weeks after surgery. the fills do not really hurt. my doctor does them best but he has a nurse that's pretty good too. good luck on your journey.... remember to drink Water, eat Protein and move, move, move josie

hi everyone, i weighed in today. lost 4.5 lbs but that was after my 7.5 lb gain last week. so at least i'm heading in the right direction. weight watchers online has boards that have different challenges, etc. i joined one called "NNN-No Nighttime Nibbles" Night snacking is a HUGE problem for me and it's all compulsive eating. i start the minute i finish dinner and eat until i go to bed. to show how bad i can be....i've cleaned out my closets of all sugar...or so i thought. i was dying for chocolate. so i found chocolate icing and ended up eating that like an addict. let me correct that "I AM AN ADDICT" so i joined NNN and it seems to be working. they have some really nice people on there as well. and they are really nice about my lapband. i know these girls on/off for about 5 years... anyway just another tool to check out. this week i plan to journal. that seems to be key for keeping me honest. also saturday i head back to NY for a week. i plan to try to stick with the program as best i can. i'm heading to a barbell class at 5:30 tonight. china: by all means get your fill. this will help you with the physical part of your hunger....the fact that you keep showing up is great. i think if we keep facing this eventually we will get it. good luck.

here's the thread name: " Weight Watchers Online: Support Thread"

hi neesh, there are a bunch of us doing WW. i started doing it near goal but some people are doing it as they are losing weight. i'm doing it to help with the discipline of journaling and to help with head hunger. we have a thread to check in periodically. under search type in "weight watchers" and it will pull up good luck josie

ida...same thing happened to me. i wasnt nervous till right before surgery. what calmed me down was thinking about all the successful people that had gone before me and were glad they did it. they had new lives they were living. this really made me feel better good luck and breathe deeply if you get scared.... it will be the best decision you ever made for yourself (or at least one of them) josie

Nope...i met with my doctor wednesday night for his seminar....i had surgery 2 days later....no pre-op. count your blessings is what i say.... good luck on your journey josie

hi everyone, i still have this after almost 3 years but have gotten used to it. i actually can feel the food finally go through. it's a weird sensation when it pushes through. and after that..... i can eat a horse. in the morning and afternoon i am still a bit tight. so i eat foods compatible to my situation (ie. oatmeal or cheerios for Breakfast, etc) good luck everyone josie

i drank it as soon as i wasnt nauseous

deepinfl...i had very similar experience to you re: hardly any pain with plastic surgery compared to lap band and also not really nauseous with PS compared to previous surgeries. i was deathly nauseous with the lap band surgery. josie

hi lilmissy... dont give up... my doctor had a theory i totally agreed with...he felt if i could stick to a pre-op diet..i probably wouldnt need a band. post surgery the band helped me with the enormous hunger i felt 24/7. for me...pre-op didnt reflect my post-op performance. dont get me wrong...post-op i did have to practice healthy skills in order to take the weight off and i worked hard at it.......but the band helped me. good luck in whatever decision you make.... josie