lafevretj

I had a TT, liposuction of flanks and hips with a hysterectomy on 4/27. I have two drains and an abdominal binder was applied immediately after surgery and has been in place ever since. Most of what I have read indicates that placement of the drains and use of the abdominal binder is the norm. The binder has helped tremendously by supporting my abdominal area. It still hurts every time I get up (but mostly aches) like I have done about 1,000 crunches. I am taking 1 5mg/325mg percocert every 5-6 hr. My belly is fairly flat and I don't have any of the fluid accumulation. I had to stay in the hospital for 3 days due to the hysterectomy and think that has helped with my recovery from the tummy tuck too. Best luck to you!!

I just found out I need to have a hysterectomy due to a fibroid tumor that is prolapsing through my cervix. I asked my gynecologist if he had ever had a patient who had both procedures combined and he said that he had and they had good results. He coordinates with the plastic surgeon and as long as there are no complications (such as excessive bleeding) everything should go well. I was just wondering if anyone had ever had both procedures performed at the same time? I know this would save on the cost of the tummy tuck since you would already be covering the anesthesia and OR costs with the hysterectomy, not to mention only going through recovery for one surgery instead of two. I am still about 30lb. from where I want to be and am wondering if it is too soon for a tummy tuck?

I had a fill before thanksgiving (had a total of 7.5cc in my 10cc band). It was fairly tight and about a week ago I began having reflux. I should have listened to that little voice in my head telling me to make an appointment for a slight unfill. This weekend I was only drinking liquids and felt like I had something stuck. I began vomiting (even after swallowing my own saliva). I went to the ER and luckily the chief surgical resident has been working with my bariatric surgeon for the past few months and was unable to help me........a complete unfill .....to let my stomach rest until I can see my doctor this week. I am keeping track of everything I put in my mouth and will still follow the band rules. I haven't worked this hard for the past two years to start gaining back even one pound back.

I have been mixing the skinny cow chocolate milk with the unflavored unjury (couldn't stand the unjury in anything else). I can't even taste it now and I am getting 31gm of protein.

I have had three fills since being banded the 1st of April and currently have 6cc in a 10cc band. With each fill the doctor put in enough flulid to completely occlude my band, then had me drink water and would remove fluid from my band until I could drink comfortably (he never removed the needle and re-stuck me).

You sure have done great!! I have been banded since the 1st of April and started at 230lb. So far I have lost 40lb. and have been at a standstill for the past few weeks. I started working out more frequently and my weightloss actually slowed (probably building muscle). How frequently did you get fills? So far I have had three and have 5cc in a 10cc band. How many calories did you consume daily and what was your activity level during your weight loss? I would love to get to 125-130lb, being 5'2" this is a good weight for me. I would appreciate any helpful hints you may have.

My first fill was done under fluroscopy standing up (3.5cc). They filled me up to 7cc, which completely occluded me, then had me drink until I felt the fluid go through (at 3.5cc). My second fill was in the office and was 1.5cc (using the protocol you described) which makes a total of 5cc in my band. Both were painless and brief.

I was banded at the beginning of April and just had my 2nd fill. My first fill was 3.5cc and today I got 1.5cc. My doctor lets me decide where I want to be, he originally put in 2cc today, but when I drank water I had discomfort, so he backed off to 1.5cc. I am in a study that measures the pressure in the band (many people have restriction with different amounts of fluid), but the study I am in is trying to determine if the pressure is the factor which determines the best restriction. I have lost 32# since being banded and feel this is a healthy weight loss. I don't want to be restricted to the point I can't eat a healthy diet.

I was on no special diet diet prior to surgery, just a light dinner the evening before and nothing by mouth after midnight. My surgery was completely uneventful and I was up walking around immediately after returning from recovery.

You really should report this to your physician asap. Your symptoms could represent a variety of issues and the only advice you should take is that of a medical professional.

The day befor my surgery was scheduled I received a letter from my insurance company stating they would not approve an overnight stay. I called my surgeon's office and told them about this and they changed me from over night to same day surgery. After my surgery I O2 saturation was staying low and I required oxygen, so they kept me overnight. My insurance did cover the over night stay and I only ended up paying $68.00 of the $34,000.00 hospital bill.

My surgeon didn't require a pre-op diet either and my surgery went fine. My post-op diet was very similar to what you will be doing, it wasn't hard at all. I haven't PB'd once, and have tolerated all foods I have tried. I weighed 232 on the day of my surgery and have lost 32lb. since that date.

My insurance company went by the BMI before the 6 month physician supervised diet. I was very worried about this because I started with a BMI of 40.

Are you sure your physician put 10.5cc in your band, or did he put 1.5cc in your band? How many fills did you have before this?

I had my first fill this week and it was absolutely pain free. I couldn't believe I worried so much about it. They numbed me with lidocaine and when they inserted the needle into my port I never felt a thing. MY doctor injected the fluid until I was fully occluded, 7cc then began removing fluid and had me swallow barium as he did this. When I got to the point where I could swallow without discomfort and felt like I had restriction he stopped, I ended up with 3.5cc. I plan to take my fills in small increments so I don't end up overly restricted and have vomiting or reflux. I haven't "pb'd" yet and am able to eat some meat (chicken, tender beef).

Why should you feel ashamed or embarrassed about having a procedure done that can end up improving your health, or even saving your life? Most people I work with and all of my family know I have had the procedure. I am willing to answer all of their questions concerning it and hopefully can help someone else if they may be considering this option. It is the best thing I have done for myself healthwise and I am reaping benefits physically, socially, spiritually, and emotionally. There are ignorant people who feel that people who have the lapband done are taking the "easy way out". But, if you have had the procedure done, you know how much work and effort it takes to make this tool successful. It certainly doesn't do it by itself.

My hospital bill was $34,000, with the lapband itself costing $9,000. I only had to pay $60.00, my insurance paid the rest.

Welcome to another buckeye! I am also a nurse from Ohio and was banded at OSU on April 3rd. I absolutely love my band and have had no problems adjusting. Good luck with your surgery, I hope everything goes well.

Name: Tammy Date banded: 4-3-08 Pounds lost: 23 since banding date How do you feel? I feel great!! Have adjusted well to my new way of eating and do not feel deprived at all. This is the best decision I have ever made.

I always take my chewable Centrum vitamins with food. I tried taking them without and felt nauseous.

I had difficulty taking deep breaths due to pain on my port side for about a week after surgery. I know it differs with each individual.

A friend of mine had the same issue with her band. She said the pain was terrible and the surgeon wasn't going to schedule her for two weeks. She finally convinced them how much pain she was having and they worked her in the next day. Since this was such short notice she didn't receive pre-approval for the procedure (which was $33,000). Her insurance (Aetna) initially refused to pay, but she finally got everything straightened out and they are submitting for pre-approval after the fact. What I couldn't believe was the cost of this procedure was only $1,000 less than my hospital bill for the lapband. Good luck with you insurance troubles.

I have lost 18lb. since being banded on 4/2, no pre-op diet.

I was also banded on 4/2. My husbands birthday was on 4/12 and instead of having birthday cake I had birthday mousse. I used the recipe on the side of the dreamwhip package and made it with skim milk and fat free pudding. I only ate 1/2 cup, but it really made me feel like I was having a treat.

I was only able to eat about 1/3 cup of pudding over a 30min. period when I was 4 days post-op. Did you eat this slowly?