princess_n_thep

My opinion is that life is too short.... so go with the biggest dick.

I am going to attempt some answers as my opinion: 1) I want more children and I am affraid that the lap band can cause problems. Can there be problems during delivery? many bandsters have healthy happy children and have no effects from the band. Generally when you get pregnant you will have an unfill and basically just have a bracelet for your tummy. 2) I am scared of having excess skin. Has anyone else had a problem with this? Yes, this is a hazard of weight loss, but the health outweighs the sagging skin. Plus, with cosmetic surgery, the fix is a snap! Also, it depends on your individual skin type too. Some people don't need any work done at all. 3) I am really scared I will regret it. The only thing I regret is not really realizing that the band is long term NOT lifelong. It is not designed to be with you forever. The general time frame of the band is 2-10 years. And it might need some "maintenance" during that time. 4) I will be misserable watching people around me eat the foods I enjoy, and not be able to have them too.I grieved food for about 4 months. After that, nothin'! It was amazing to me that I didn't care anymore when just 1/2 a year before I couldn't even dream about not being misreble without food. You can still eat a lot of the food you enjoy, just in smaller portions. 5) Can you feel the band, does it hurt? When I first got my band I was aware of having had surgery, soreness and that something "foreign" was in my body. However, it went away within a few weeks and many times I don't even think about it. How I explain it to others is this: It's like the first time you used a tampon. At first it was kinda uncomfortable and you knew it was there, but before long, it was your absolute choice and necessity! 6) I am diabetic. Higher risk of getting an infection. Any diabetics had this done. Most bandsters lose their diabetic status within the first year. 7) The doctors I am going to use have only done either 450 or 550 lap bands! They are are from Texarkana Texas? Anyone used doctors from this area? Nope, can't help with this one. Try going to the Texas forum and see if someone is in your area and send them a message? Most people here are eager to help and are very nice.

I posted this eons ago but thought maybe it needed to be revived as of lately there have been a lot of repeat questions: Anyways, I would really really really like to suggest that we all take a moment and do a thorough SEARCH before posting threads. I find myself repeating answers that have already been answered elsewhere. I don't want to ignore the newbies as I know they are excited and starting their journey, but at the same time, the site is overflowing with duplicate, triplicate and quadruplicate questions. So I thought I would offer some SEARCH HELP for searching the Lap Band Talk site for information: To do a search on LBT: 1. In the bold bar is a row of links. (UserCP, FAQ, MembersList, etc.) 2. Find the one marked "Search" 3. Click on it and it will bring down a search entry bar 4. Put in your common words you are searching for and click on GO 5. You can also do an "Advanced Search" by clicking the link below the entry bar within the actual search box. 6. You may have to try different key words to find the information you are looking for, and sometimes read through some posts. But often times, while researching, you answer other questions you have and haven't asked yet. Please don't think I am ragging on newbies. I just want LBT to be a pleasant place and easy to maneuver. I really don't mean to offend anyone. It isn't just newbies, it is all of us sometimes. Heck, I even do it once in awhile and shouldn't. But it is just pure laziness. And if I did upset anyone, I am truly sorry, that was never my intention. I just wanted to try and help.:nervous

Do a quick search with the search tool on this site. There are a ton of us with alert bracelets and those old threads will have links for where to find them. They also tell what is told on our alert tags.

Do a VERY GOOD SEARCH on this website for patients of Dr. Lopez. MANY have had very serious complications. Good luck with your journey!

Congratulations! I hope you have a very healthy pregnancy and baby! All I have seen is: complete unfill for the length of the pregnancy, 2 weeks recovery after birth, refill band.

Mine does for blind sticks (and I even got my band in Mexico). But they make me pay first then fill out the paperwork, submit and wait for the money (minus a minimal copay). I am not a fan of blind sticks so I prefer to return to TJ for my fills under flouro. Actually costs less. P.S. Mine is BCBS of Arizona. States differ.

I think Dr. Grossbard is in Orlando??? Try going to the Florida link from the home page. Maybe PM someone in your area?

Welcome Mary! I hope you find all of the info you need here. This site has been my home since banding and people are so helpful here. Good luck! (and give your man a hug from all of us for being so supportive!)

The actual band is actually under the bottom of your sternum bone if I am right. Anyone else know? No, my "band" doesn't ache after a fill. I feel a bit "bubbly" but doesn't ache. Call your doc maybe?

Straws for me. No problems. Just be careful you don't take too big of sips because straws are deceiving and can make you drink faster. Plus, remember for optimum results no drinking 20-30 minutes prior and after a meal, so why the need for any straw at all?

My solution idea is to CHATTER. Talk, talk and talk. Eat some, maybe push the food around, make it look like you ate more than you did. My suggestion for food would be the soup. I know this is going a bit far, but I know of a "closet bandster" that would "pocket" the food in her napkin and she took huge bites to make the most out of her "pocketing". Although if you get caught you will have to come clean (which happened to her) because someone will think you have a serious eating disorder and may try and get you help.

Well first things first. BREATHE! It is okay, we all have fallen off the bandwagon once or twice (or in my case all the time). Don't try to completely take yourself off of your delicacy. Why not try to substitute? How about fat free popsicles or sherbert? Sorbet is good too. Sorry to hear about your string of bad luck.... but remember, when one door closes another one opens. Think about the good things that have happened! You have lost 40 frickin' pounds dear!

Maybe gas from foods you don't normally eat? Try a Mylanta chewable.

Once a month, we have a "girls night" Wii party. It is great! Laughs, fun, exercise and bonding.

Okay, it's Thursday.... and even us lurkers about your "situation" want to know! Hope all is okay and it is nothing to be worried about!

(got this in my email and it is now my screensaver! enjoy!) In this life, I am a woman. In my next life, I'd like to come back as a bear. When you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that. Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too. When you're a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while your sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that. When you're a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that too. If you're a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He also EXPECTS that you have hairy legs and excess body fat. Yep, that settles it, I am definitely going to come back as a bear.

I recently got a PM from someone who wanted to know what the "garment" was like after lipo that you have to wear for 6-8 weeks. Well girls and guys, let me tell you it is NOT comfy. Here is a pic of the second stage garment that I must wear until the end of this month at least. I don't wear it "out" but I do wear it around the house, sleeping, typing on this computer, etc.... The first stage garment looks the same it is just thicker spandex material and doesn't "pull" on but zips and fastens down the sides and is below the knee. All of the garments have a "pee hole" in them so that you just sit and pee (which took me forever to get used to) and don't have to remove the garment. When the garment is not on, the numbness comes. It does feel awkward to have it on, but feels better to have it "holding things in". Hard to explain. And to answer another question... yes it is a bit strange to post my pics on the internet like they are, but then again, knowledge is power and I feel I am just merely educating others on things. We should all know what a boob looks like so it shouldn't really be any surprise. If you don't know what one looks like, then woooot wooooot, I just popped your cherry on that one!:clap2: Anyways, here is the pic of the contraption they call a second stage garment after lipo......

Okay, so I can't sleep. I am obsessing I think. I got to thinkin'...... what if arms up and arms down natural makes a difference because of the implants? So here is a pic of arms down. Still a big difference? I need some male opinions too guys. I won't think your creepy. But I do need honesty. Thank you everyone for understanding that I can see a difference, I just don't know if I am being too judgmental because I am biased.

Okay, so I can't sleep. I am obsessing I think. I got to thinkin'...... what if arms up and arms down natural makes a difference because of the implants? So here is a pic of arms down. Still a big difference? I need some male opinions too guys. I won't think your creepy. But I do need honesty.

DH "says" they look fine, but then again, I didn't do them for him, I did them for me. In clothes they look fine and I really don't notice a huge difference except in pictures (the way others would see it). I am not saying that a lot of people see me naked. Ok, so maybe I am a bit of an exhibitionist. Ok, ok, ok, so I am a big exhibitionist. I just don't feel comfy showing these off with they way I see them in pictures. I mean, look how many of us refused to have pictures when we were fat because of how we actually looked when we looked at them? ((sigh)) I have an appt on the 30th but I know what he is going to say..... "they need time to heal, give it 6 mo-a year". But why would I want to wait for the scars to heal? Its kinda like those free trial infomercials. Who wants to go through the headache after the free trial to fight for their money back guarantee?

I am really upset about the fullness difference. Hubby says it makes them look more natural and they are fine, but I hate them when I see it in a picture. I just don't think I spent $8k to be lopsided! What do you think??? Should I have them redone so they are more full and match better or am I being an obsessive idiot???? I want to know your TRUE feelings. The poll is anonymous!

Here are my scars under the breasts. The pic is close and the line is actually really thin and cut nicely. It is healing well. But I still want to get the left one redone. Hubby says the size difference makes them look natural, I hate it in pictures. What do you all think? Have them redone or like them the way they are now????????

Here are the 3 week after lipo. I am only slightly bruised and a bit lumpy.

I really do like them but I really don't like the look of the right breast. I may have him redo it. It should be fuller. I don't think I am really swollen anymore on the left. Anyways.....