SPEBSQSAlady

Well, after 12 weeks the incision is finally healed, after daily packing with gauze. I have not lost anymore, but am holding. Now the next step is another appointment with Dr. Smith to see if I can have the band replaced. We shall see what happens. Thanks to everyone for your kind words.

Boy am I glad I stopped by today. I had problems with my band and it was removed after 7 months. That was 3 months ago. These photos sure steer me toward getting the band back if the Doctor feels it is feasible. Thanks for the inspiration.

Things went from bad to worse. The drain was removed, but after a few days I had developed a hematoma (blood clot) which my body would not absorb. After a week Dr. Smith cut a 4 inch hole in my tummy and removed the hematoma. Now I have been going in daily to have the hole packed with sterile gauze as it has to heal from the inside out. They are telling me it will be at least another week of packing before it has healed enough not to pack any more. It also oozes continously so I have a huge bandage on my tummy to protect it. BUT, the good news is that I have been without a band for 3.5 weeks and am still retaining my weight loss. Still eating correctly so that is a good thing. Good lessons learned. Dr. Smith still is not willing to make a committment of if I can get another band. We will wait and see after I am healed. Thanks to everyone for your concern.

Things went from bad to worse. The drain was removed, but after a few days I had developed a hematoma (blood clot) which my body would not absorb. After a week Dr. Smith cut a 4 inch hole in my tummy and removed the hematoma. Now I have been going in daily to have the hole packed with sterile gauze as it has to heal from the inside out. They are telling me it will be at least another week of packing before it has healed enough not to pack any more. It also oozes continously so I have a huge bandage on my tummy to protect it. BUT, the good news is that I have been without a band for 3.5 weeks and am still retaining my weight loss. Still eating correctly so that is a good thing. Good lessons learned. Dr. Smith still is not willing to make a committment of if I can get another band. We will wait and see after I am healed. Thanks to everyone for your concern.

Thank you to everyone. I am sure I will visit here often. Jack: I was at an SPEBSQSA convention when this all happened. Maybe if I had been home I would not have gotten as bad, but boy I sure had a good time while there. They are a bunch of fun loving guys and siginificant others. My hubby has been a member for 42 years. I also had to do the 6 month pre-diet, so I KNOW I can do it again and maintain the way I have been eating. Went to the Dr. on Monday and Suzie took me in immediately for a deflate. When she saw the pics, she called Dr. Slicko in and they knew I needed surgery right away. She called Dr. Smith and he was there within 1/2 hour. She immediately started an IV to rehydrate me and pushed in some vitamins and pain reliever also. She sat with me and comforted me most of the time I was there. She was never out of the room more than 5 minutes at a time. As soon as Dr. Smith arrived, he kept checking on me every 5 minutes or so also, and had me admitted through Emergency within an hour. I thought that was pretty good considering how slow hospitals can be at times. I was pretty much on pain meds (drugs can be a good thing sometimes) :smile: and have not really had a good conversation with Dr. Smith as to "why" yet, or any long term damage, but hope too today. Well, folks, I am off to the Dr. to see if he can remove the drain this morning. I will post back after that visit.

Thank you to everyone. I am sure I will visit here often. I received an e-mail from Jack and he is correct. Shortgal: I also had to do the 6 month pre-diet, so I KNOW I can do it, I just had not thought of it that way. Thank you for opening my eyes !! Well, folks, I am off to the Dr. to see if he can remove the drain this morning. I will post back after that visit.

My LapBand surgeon came into the pre-op area with a Starbuck's cup in his hand before my-surgery and he is has a lapband too. I would think he would not drink it if it was not good for us. I drink the full leaded/hard stuff too. No decaf for me.

Wow, Chickie you started just about where I did also. I am working toward getting to 140 at least, but I have a bit of age on you so not sure how I am going to look when I get there. I have a question about vitamins. The Dr. office called me yesterday and said I had a major deficiency in B-12 and needed to start monthly shots of B-12 and to immediately get on a B-Complex supplement. Has anyone else had the vitamin problem???

Way To Go Candle.:tongue::thumbup::tt2::thumbup:

Hey, Thunder, everyone here at good ole' CSC is wondering how you are doing????? Let us know. We are here for you man...

Name: Frangipani Weight loss from day of surgery: 81 lbs Total weight loss: 87 lbs Name: Candle Weight loss from day of surgery: 81 lbs Total weight loss: 95 lbs Name: Salsa Weight loss from day of surgery: 81 lbs Total weight loss: 81 lbs Name: Pammycakes Weight loss from day of surgery: 84 lbs Total weight loss: 86 lbs Name: Ceradad Weight loss from day of surgery: 80.5 Total weight loss: 100.5 Name: KarenG. Weight loss from day of surgery: 74 Total weight loss: 74 Name: NanaRenan Weight loss from day of surgery: 45 Total weight loss: 65 Name: TexasBecky Weight loss from day of surgery: 88 Total weight loss: 98 Name: SPEBSQSAlady Weight loss from day of surgery: 55 Total weight loss: 55 after dialation of pouch I was with no fill for 3 months, but now getting fills and hopefully going to get back on weight loss wagon. Great idea for a site.

Well folks, I have lost the least of anyone posting on this string, but I am happy. I HAVE LOST. I also, do not know what band I have and I am completely empty due to a dialation of the pouch last November. But, I have not gained any back. This site keeps me going. I do not post often, but read every day and get great inspiration and motivation from reading others posts. I am due to go to see Dr. Smith today to see how the pouch is doing and see if he can give me a fill to get back on track and start losing again. The Crazy Eights are doing great...... Hang in there everyone......

Wow, looking at your weight loss, you are doing great even with plateaus! We just need to hang in there and work the band. Thanks for the encouragement. Looks like you should hit 100 for your bandiversary....

I have been told that a 10cc band actually holds more, AND... it sometimes takes a few days for the fill to have an effect on your eating. I don't know why. My band is so tight in the morning I cannot eat until at least 10:00, but at dinner and during the evening, I can eat almost anything I want with no restriction. So I know the band is working, just not all day. Our bodies are all different and react differently to the band, I just wish my body would get it together and be happy all day with the band. You are doing very good with your weight lost since November. It will go slow some weeks and fast on other weeks. There is a thread for slow losers that I find very intersting to read other's experiences.

I feel you pain, :tt2: as I too have been doing everything you have been doing, and have been battling the same 3 pounds for a month. I know I don't drink enough water, but come on! The only words of encouragement I have right now is, without the band we would not have lost what we have so far, and with the band's help, we will lose more once we are over this speedbump.:smile: Hang in there and we will compare soon.

Thanks bunches for the wishes. I am stuck right now on a plateau that I cannot seem to get off of. It has been pretty much a month with no loss, but dang it, I am going to use this tool and get back on track.

I am looking at some of the numbers on the other posters and I also feel I am falling into the slow loser bunch. As my son reminded me, I wanted to lose 100 by my "bandiversary" and I am a little over 1/2 way there at 6 months so hey, there is still a chance... Congratulations to everyone for having such positive results.

Before my surgery I found the issues very informative. I know that some people will exaggerate, but still the issues were there. I am now over 5 months out and think I am doing fine. I have had NO PBing at all. I am losing slowly, but expected that. I could not have done anything better for myself. Hang in there and let us know how you are doing when you come back. I did have dialation of pouch, but did not even know it was there until I went for a fill and the Dr. saw it on the floriscope. No pain what-so-ever.

Pizzi, so sorry to hear of your loss. We lost our 15 yr old cat last Oct to throat cancer. It was very hard and my husband said no more cats. Over New Years we were visiting my son, and his three boys were not very gentle with his 8 yr old cat. My loving hubby said we needed to take Suede home with us to give him a better life in old age, so we do have a cat again. This cat will lay down in the middle of the floor and roll over to have his belly rubbed. He is more dog than cat, but he as settled in and is quite at home with us. It is great to take in an animal that needs a loving home. There are many of them out there who need our help.

make that "but me" even knew. Sorry about the typo, someone walked and I did not get to proof read my memo.

"Whos", WOW you are doing really really great. I went to your page and see that you travel to NY a lot. I did not think anyone but be even knew where Elmira, NY was ! I grew up there.

Since I am on puree for 3 weeks, I ran some turkey through the food processor and mixed it with some mashed potatoes and gravy. My daughter-in-law said it looked like dog food, but hey... to me it tasted like heaven. I also had a little cranberry jelly and was really full. I was pleased with that since I have no restriction at all now. I also lost 2.4 pounds in the last week. I am still not really hungry at all, even after cooking the big meal for my family. If this keeps up, even without restriction, I could be very happy. Hope everyone did well this week and if not, get back on track...... it is a long ride folks.

:help:I had a fill one week ago and after only putting in .25 a month ago, he put in 2.75 cc this time. By Friday I could not drink water:faint:. I went back and in 3 days time, I had developed a "hugh dialation" (as the Dr. said) in the pouch. He immediately, completely, emptied my band. I am on a full puree diet for 3 weeks. If the dialation does not heal by then, I will have to have surgery to repair it or remove the band. He said he hated to do this to me before Thanksgiving, but it was the only option. Now I am confused..... I would have thought with no restriction at all I would be starving. I am not hungry and am eating less than I did with restriction. I don't want to make a mountain-out-of -a-mole-hill, but how do I know if something is really wrong? I am not having any pain. Anyone else who has been though this, I sure would like to hear from you........:help:

It was 3 months for me last Tuesday. Sure wish I had the weight loss others have had, but after years of obesity I will take what I can get. I do not exercise either and I know that would help a lot. I am taking it 10 pounds at a time and sure wish I could break the "4" for 40 now. Getting closer.