ghostbuster

I don't post often, and I don't come here often enough, especially when things are going good, and they are going pretty good. However, I developed a big adhesion on my port scar which tugs at my skin, especially when I am running or stretching. It can feel like someone is trying to rip my skin off from the inside. So I am having a little revision done this next Monday. Not only will they be releasing the scar tissue though, my doctor is also going to move my port (already a low profile) behind my abdominal muscle. This move is scaring the bejebes out of me! Just because I know they will need to go through muscle for adjustments which means pain and lidocain and it's a little scary. I'm also pretty sure the muscle will hurt like crazy after the surgery. The pain and recovery are not that frightening to me, and certainly not a reason to delay or put off the procedure. But has anyone else had this problem? I'm including a picture so you can see. In the middle is my belly button and over it and to the left is the scar, it looks like a second belly button! To the right is a tiny scar for the original surgery. So please let me know what experience you have had with port revisions or ports behind the muscle, can you still see it / feel it sticking out?

I am definitly in. I would also prefer NYC but either one is fine.

Thanks for all of the support everyone. Annie - I did write that original post on a down day. I'm not going around hanging my head and bemoning my social life. It's just... not what I expected. But things keep changing and all I can do is hope for the best. If you asked my friends they would probably say I was confident and fun, but like a lot of people, I'm a good actress. I often feel unsure and self-conscience. It doesn't matter how much I tell myself I look good. I won't believe it till I get some back-up. The proof is in the pudding, when I get a date, I'll believe that guys see me as more than the funny fat friend that is great at hooking them up with other girls.

Wow, that is a lot of advice to take in. I feel like I should try to condense it down into a list. I do try to be positive in my thinking, I really do. But every now and then I pull out all the decorations and have a pity-me-party. I wish I had the guts to ask a guy out, the fear of rejection thing is huge. Plus, I just want to feel like someone wants me. I know I could ask a guy out and we would have a great time. I just want to feel wanted is all.

I took off 2 full weeks. I had only expected to take off 1 week but I always have a hard time just recovering from the anesthesia. Plus I live in NYC so I have to walk and climb stairs EVERYWHERE so I just wasn't up to getting around yet. But when I did come back to work I felt really good and I was glad that I didn't look sick and helpless because I told everyone I was getting an cycst removed from my ovary and they were all really nice to me and didn't treat me like an invalid, but helped out when I needed it. Like picking up something I dropped on the floor (because bending over will be death!) and lift anything heavier than my water bottle. I did not want to risk a flipped port or tear any stitches.

Sorry to be a Debby Downer, but, here goes. So the weight loss has been pretty slow but consistent, so I don't have to many complaints there. I guess I just hoped that I would get skinny and maybe guys would notice me and ask me out. That does not happen. My guy friends and most of the guys in my "social circle" will tell me how great I look and compliment me over and over, which is great, but it gets really old when you just want someone to back up that compliment with a date. Is that too much to ask? Maybe I need to move somewhere where no one knew me fat. I'm an easy size 12 now and I guess, I just hoped for a change. Maybe some of my "fat" issues was that I was hidding behind my weight. I could always say that I didn't date because I was fat, but I can't say that anymore and it scares me a little. Maybe it's just me that guys don't like. How sad is that. I swear I hear violin music in the background. I'm sorry to be so cheesy about this, I guess I'm just wondering if I'm the only one feeling this way...

Hello Dr. Schulman, I've mentioned before that I have an adhesion from my port scar. Is it normal that it causes pain when I twist or bend or strech? If it is causing pain do I have a chance of getting my insurance to cover the surgery to fix the adhesion. It does look like an extra belly button, but that's really not the main problem. It's hard to exercise when you feel like you are tearing you insides out everytime you jog. Any suggestions? Or how much should I expect to pay if I just had to get it done at my own cost? - Thanks!

Thank You, Thank You! Hopefully I'll be close to my PS goal weight in the next few months!

Hello Dr. Schulman, I have a few questions about TT/LBL's. Does a LBL always include a TT? I have been lucky enough to hardly have any loose belly skin, but I do have quite a bit of skin on my butt/hips/thighs that I want to get rid off and it seems like a LBL would be the way to go. I plan on having kids someday so I didn't really want to do to much of a TT since it will probably just get all stretched out again in the next 5-10 years. Also, the scar for my port incision seems to be "stuck". It looks like I'm growing an extra belly button. Have you ever seen this before? Would I have to get a TT to fix that? Also, if I were to get a LBL/TT could I get my breast done at the same time? Sorry, I have been all over the place. I'll sum up Does a LBL always include a TT? Is it worth it to get a TT if you plan on having kids in the next few years? The scar from port is "stuck". Have you ever seen this before? Would I have to get a TT to fix that? Can I get my breasts done at the same time as the LBL/TT? Thanks!

Congrats on getting the surgery, it is the best decision I ever made, I wish I did it 5 years ago.

You are well on your way, good luck! Be ready for a rough and glorious road.:cursing:

Yeah, you haven't even gotten near insane yet. How about this, I'm starting to think about Plastic Surgery and when is the right time to get it so I don't end up too skinny...TOO SKINNY...not a sentenced I thought would ever enter my vocab!!

Wow 87 pounds?! I'm IMPRESSED!! You are doing great.

Congrats to you! It is so much work to get where we are, people who haven't been banded don't always understand...It's just great to make any progress!!:scared2:

:biggrin: I have never been so excited to be overweight. My BMI hit 29.9 today and I am no longer obese! Thank you lapband!!:biggrin: I have hit so many plateaus and this has been a lot of hard work, but putting on a pair of size 12's at the Gap is a sensational feeling!! So worth it. To everyone out there who is loosing slowly or hitting total plateaus, keep on working, it's worth it and you'll feel great!:biggrin:

Hi Dr.S, I've noticed that you emphasize getting to goal and staying there for a few months before having PS. My question is this, how much weight is the extra skin? Should I factor that in? My Goal is 130, should I go in for PS around 145? I think I will need a major LBL, a BL, and Inner Thigh. It's a wierd thought for me, but if I waited till I was at goal and lost 15 pounds with the surgery, I could end up too skinny. Also, my arms have not been a big problem, would a little bit of lipo create loose skin? So it would really be better to do nothing? And for those of us with deflated breats, would getting an implant do anything to creat or add to shoulder and neck pain from a life time of heavy breasts? Thanks for your input!

Nothing. I drink water all morning from the time I wake up all day. I usually put a lemon propel packet in the water for flavor, but I don't usually eat until 12 or 1. My doctor suggested this, she also said I shouldn't drink protein shakes in the morning. She said "do you think skinny people drink a protein shake for breakfast? They don't."

Not at all dry. It is in a delicious sauce, it is great!

I don't remember, there was a Savory Tomato, Lemon Peper, Herb & Garlic, Mayber Sweet & Spicy?,

I am sure I am not the first person to mention these. But I just found them on Saturday and I am already in love! The "Starkist Gourmet Seas" ready to eat tuna. It comes in like 5 different flavors and a resealable lid and when you are already thinking, thank you starkist, they add a little fork so you can take it on the go. They are 3.5 oz, Perfect. Delicious, Perfect. They have 5, count them 5 different flavors, Fabulous! They are only 100 calories and they have 16g of Protein. They have a little more to them then just tuna, they have a little sauce and a little onion or tomato. At Target they were just $1.39 each. You can't beat that price for a whole lunch in Manhattan!!

If you are continually sliming and having food come back up, you are way to tight. I have been banded for 10 months now and I have only had that happen once or twice and I went back to the office to get a little unfill. I take a small pill every morning and even though it is smaller than an eraser I chew it up a little. It's easier and faster than crushing the pill before hand and then it goes down easier. I'm so good at it now, I can chew up 3 ibuprofen like it's candy. Pills will always be a problem so you should really talk with your doctor about finding a solution. Maybe you can get your medication in a liquid perscription? Or get a pill crusher, or suck it up and chew a little. Good luck.

How old were you when you were banded? I am looking for the oldest person (at least ont his site) to be banded. I was 29, and I think it would be great for my mom but she is 63. Is that too old? I would love any input.

It sounds like she need a little more educating. Also, considering some of the more personal issues with having a lap-band, getting fills, wierd eating habits from time to time, it would be very difficult to try and hide that from a roommate. Perhaps you can have a little discussion about respect and why it's none of her business that you are having the surgery, you don't need anything from her except respect.

So it turns out I just tore a muscel by my ribs from coughing so hard when I had bronchitis, it's been two months now and it is almost totally better. I hope everyone gets thier issues figured out.

I'm going in to see my surgeon on Thursday. I'm a bit worried, but the pain has begun to subside a little. One of my med school friends suggested i could have actually cracked a rib from coughing so hard while I had bronchitis, and I did specifically feel a Pop when I coughed really hard at lunch about a week and half ago.