Sue Magoo

MaryRose: You should probably see your doctor if you're having pain. Maybe you do have a hernia. Maybe it's something else. I got some help with insurance paying for a panniculectomy that I upgraded to a tummy tuck. It was still expensive, but well worth the $$$. I was able to get partial insurance coverage because I had documented (pictures too) recurring rashes. I've heard of someone on this site that had help with their plastic surgery cost because of a hernia repair being combined with their tummy tuck. So, go see your doctor and then start talking to plastic surgeons. You may want to ask bandsters that have been through plastic surgery near you to recommend a surgeon. Best wishes. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: My doc normally keeps patients overnight and then does a barrium swallow in the morning before release. I'm glad that I stayed overnight because anesthesia and I are not friends. It makes me nauseous and I had dry heaves most of the night. The nurses handled that better than my daughter would have! I warned the doc that I needed all that they could give me for nausea and they did, but it still was a problem for me. Most people are not as sensitive to anesthesia as I am. However, I'd do it over again because I love my band and love living in a much healthier body. Sue

Hi: I started at 324 pounds. I had no idea what my goal would be in pounds. I set a goal to be in size 12 clothes. I can wear most 12's and all 14's now. My healthy bmi would be 159 pounds. I have gone as low as 174 and people were asking me if I was ill. It's amazing what a difference ten pounds can make on someone's face. I looked gaunt at 174 and am healthy looking at 180 to 185. I choose looking healthy. I carry alot of my weight in my legs and it seems that if I were to lose enough to make my legs normal-sized I'd be looking like a skeleton from the waist up. So, I'll just wear pants and look healthy:wink:. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: I think that having your mind in the LAP-BAND® mode is what makes people the most successful with their bands. You really have to be ready for the changes that will make your weight loss successful with the band. I didn't have any complications (except gallbladder removal after 9 months) with my band and I lost most of my weight in 15 months. People can make poor food choices and graze with the band. I was grazing for about nine months and gained 20 pounds back. Once I made up my mind to get back on track I lost ten pounds in a month. So, it's great to know that my band was there to help me to get back on track once my mind was made up. I only have one regret with the band. I regret that I didn't get it done alot sooner. Best wishes to you. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Wow, wow, and wow! Your pictures are very inspirational! Congrats on your success. Sue

Hi: On the negative side, my surgeon stopped using the smallest band because he had to reoperate on three people in one month because it ended up being too tight after surgery when they swelled. He used to use the smallest band for women and the larger bands for men. Now they use the larger bands for everyone. On the positive side, I have the smallest band. I found it was easy to get to my sweet spot at first. Now, I've not had a fill for over six months and am in the green zone most of the time. If I could just get past the "grazing" habit I got recently I'd be great. As it is, I'm ten pounds higher than I should be. I may need a small fill when I lose those ten pounds, but I doubt it. Best wishes to you. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Jackie: I don't have any issues with my port. I was banded July 07 and had a tummy tuck in May 09. My port is up near my rib cage in the middle. It never bothers me. I think it was the perfect place to put it. It's too low for my bra to hit it and it's too high for my waistbands to hit it. Good luck with your band. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Puddin: You're beautiful and an inspiration to all! Congrats on your success. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Sorry folks. I've been there and tried everything. It really comes down to this. Your loose skin probably won't go away unless you have surgery. Remember, when you're working out you're building up muscles and burning fat. The built up muscles might take a little more room inside your loose skin, but exercising doesn't eliminate the excess skin. I've heard that if you lose 100 pounds you're probably going to need plastic surgery to get rid of your excess skin, or learn to live with it. There are alot of "Spanx" type of garments that will hide the loose skin well under clothing. I wish you the best with your band and your new body. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi Amber: I've only been banded 2 1/2 years, but I can totally relate to some weight gain. I gained 20 pounds between April 2009 and November 2009. I got laid off and between the stress eating and the bored eating it all added up. The first ten pounds came on between April and September. I was really okay with those ten. The second ten came on in two months. I was not okay with the second ten pounds. I fessed up to my band surgeon. I didn't need a fill. I needed to be accountable to someone besides myself. I asked if I could go in for weekly weigh ins and that way I would have to face someone else. I usually go in and weigh in the day that the surgeons are in the o.r. so that I don't have to interfere with their patients' appointments. I just weigh in and they leave a note for my band doctor. He usually sends me an email later in the day. I've lost ten of those twenty pounds since November 19th. My biggest problem is night time grazing. I started going taking long baths with good books again. I also started going to bed earlier again. Between these three things I was able to lose ten pounds in just over a month. I'm giving myself the next month to lose ten more. I start a new job mid January. I hope that will help with my eating because I'll be alot busier. I knew that I didn't need a fill. I was grazing. If you don't need a fill, then you need to get back to the basics. Do you exercise? That will help to get you back on track too. Best wishes to you with your upcoming wedding. I'm sure you'll be a beautiful bride! By the way, I'm 5'7" too. I would be a wrinkly twig if I got down to the weight you are hoping to get down to. But, I'm also twice your age. I just want to be more comfortable in my clothes and get below 175 again. I'm very happy at a size 12. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Mellie: Have you considered talking to your lapband doctor about this? Perhaps he/she can give you a discount for your follow-ups because you will have to pay cash. It's worth a shot. If you're not comfortable asking this in person, why not send him/her a note asking them about possible discounts. It's very unfortunate that these things happen. I was laid off in April and my new COBRA plan stinks. I haven't had any fills or unfills since switching to my COBRA plan. Thank goodness I have pretty much maintained without any adjustments. Best wishes to you. Sue

Hi: I was able to get partial coverage for my tummy tuck because of a recurring rash in the folds of my excess skin. I went to my lap band surgeon for a fill and showed him the rash. He took some photo's and I scheduled an appointment with a plastic surgeon. I had a rash again when I went to see the plastic surgeon. Between both of their pictures and some letters that they wrote I was able to get approval from BCBS for a panniculectomy. I had to come up with the cash for the upgrade to a tummy tuck which has a better cosmetic result. So glad I did it. As long as you can get it documented by a doctor it could help you in trying to get plastic surgery. Besides that, they'll give you some medicine to help with it. Hope it feels better soon. Sue

Kevin: Welcome to Bandland. I've been with Dr. Adam for almost three years now. Very good group over there at Surgical Weight Loss Specialists. Let me know if I can help with any questions. Sue

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing this NSV with everyone. It's these positive stories that made us consider getting banded. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Congratulations! It's such a great feeling to finally be in the 100's. I cried like a baby, full sobs, when my scale showed 199 for the first time. Keep up the good work! Sue

Kate: Your pics look great! You're never going to have to wear a bra. I'm extremely jealous! Great to get the drains out too. Now you can have baths and feel like a human again. Enjoy the new body! Sue

Stacy: Congratulations! I started at size 26/28 and now I'm wearing 12's and 14's. I'm comfortable and healthy at this size. When I started I couldn't have imagined being in this size either. Thanks so much for sharing your story with everyone. It's stories like yours that keeps everyone motivated because we can relate so much. Best wishes to your continued success with your band. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Jessica: I suggest that you call and ask for another fill now. You won't get the benefits of the band until you reach the "green" zone and feel satisfied with eating about 1/2 to 1 cup of food and feel satiated for 4+ hours. I also suggest that you take a look at fit day, or my daily plate, or one of those programs if you really want to analyze what you are eating. Maybe you need to make some different choices. I wish you well with your band. It's very hard at first, and I cannot imagine how I would have felt at the beginning if I had been gaining. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Annie: Good luck with your new start. Sounds like you're off to a good start. Sorry about the insurance thing. That definitely stinks! Keep us posted on your progress. Take care. Sue

Fanny: Wowed 'em is right. You look terrific! Enjoy the new body. Sue