Sue Magoo

My surgeon required us to be on a strictly liquid diet ten days before surgery which was like a laxative for me! then no liquid after midnight night before surgery. Best wishes to you. Sue

Hi: Make sure you're not eating too fast and try not to wait too many hours between meals. Chew until it feels like mashed potatoes in your mouth before swallowing. If liquids are going down fine you're probably not too tight, but if you have trouble with liquids or are getting heartburn you might be too tight. Slow down and chew like mad and see if that makes a difference. If not, call your doctor because you may need a slight unfill. Please let us know how you're doing. Take care. Sue

1. Only that I didn't get it done sooner. 2. I didn't know that I would have staples. 3. I had 2 weeks of vacation. 4. I felt normal after about 4 weeks. Takes a while for energy level to return, then it just goes up and up and up! 5. I recommend that you take measurements before starting and take monthly measurements afterwards. There are times when the scale slows to a crawl, but you'll notice that you're improving still by checking your measurements. Best wishes to you! Sue

I've heard that frequent heartburn can cause a hoarse voice. Please let us know how you make out. Take care. Sue

Hi: My scars faded quite nicely. If you're really concerned about the scars you may want to consider the single incision lap band surgery. I'm not sure how they do it, but I think they do most of the work from your belly button. Sue

I disagree. My rashes were pink, and came back a few times, but I did not have ulcers. Go to a doctor that deals with post WLS patients and you'll have a better chance of getting any insurance coverage. Insurances vary so much. Best wishes to you. Sue

Congrats on your continued success!

Hi: I recommend that you find a plastic surgeon that has dealt with alot of patients with weight loss surgery. If you look at www.makemeheal.com you may be able to find somebody in your area that can recommend a surgeon that specializes in plastic surgery for post weight loss surgery patients. Good luck! I got coverage for a panniculectomy but paid for the upgrade to tummy tuck. I'm very happy with the results. Take care. Sue

Hi: I'm almost 4 years out. At 3 years out I had a slip and got my older band replaced. The older band (alot smaller) had more complications than the current one. Overall, I'm still very happy with the results. I started at 324 and got down as low as 174. I got up as high as 208 when my band was slipped, but I'm maintaining down at 190 for six months now. I think that the lapband requires alot of follow up with your surgeon. Luckily my surgeon is great and I didn't mind all of the follow up. Pick someone that you will want to see for the long-term. Take care and best wishes to you. Sue

Lena - So sorry to hear about those muscle spasms. Hope it resolves quickly!

Hi: I had issues with spicy foods just prior to my gallbladder attack. Hope that's not what you're headed for. I would have pain after spicy foods, or after something with a little bit of fat/grease in it. Good luck. Keep us posted. Sue

You really should call your doctor. Something is going on that shouldn't be. Maybe you need a slight unfill? Maybe you're having a gallbladder issue? Maybe it's something else. My lapband surgeon is wonderful. He says "if it's a pain between your knees and your neck he wants us to call". Your band shouldn't be causing pain. Please take care and let us know what happens. Sue

Hi: Congrats! It is definitely the icing on the cake after losing so much weight. There will be pain, but it will be bearable. Ask your doctor if he/she is sending you home with a pain pump. Makes it much easier for the first few days. I know the pain and I would do it over if I had to (but never will have to). Take care. Sue

Lena: So sorry that you're still in such pain. Remember, when there is pain it's best to stay on top of it by taking your pain meds at regular intervals because it's harder to chase the pain away than it is to keep it at bay. Take care and think about how good mashed potatoes will be when you are feeling better:) Sue

Hi: First band July 2007, slipped sometime last Spring, new band July 2010. Starting weight 324, lowest weight 174, went up to 208 when band was slipped. Now maintaining around 188 to 192. Still love my band because it's my belly cop. There is so much left to the responsibility of the bandster - making the right choices, getting some exercise. Can't maintain without doing the right thing at least half of the week . Best wishes to the rest of you. Sue

If you go to my profile page and look at my pics you'll see what I looked like after losing 150 pounds. I'm about 10 pounds heavier than I was then, but you'll get the basic idea on how a lower belly looks after losing alot of weight. Good luck to you. Sue

I had the old, small band. I had a slip and got a newer band with insurance coverage. The first band was July 2007 and second band was July 2010. Sue

Hi: Location, location, location. It really makes a big difference. My tummy tuck was $21k, but luckily insurance covered 2/3 of the cost because of a medically necessary panniculectomy being covered. I paid the difference to upgrade to a tummy tuck. Very happy with the results. I'm in the Boston area where medical costs are very high. Best wishes to you. Sue

Zeniada I had this problem when I started solids too. I was trying to eat too fast. So, I got a one-minute egg timer (www.unclesgames.com) and made myself wait for the timer until I could have another tiny bite. It made all the difference to me. I actually bought five of them and had one at work, one at desk, one at my best friend's house, etc. I think there can also be a problem if you wait too many hours between meals. I found that if I went more than five hours I would have a problem, so I started to have a healthy snack late afternoon to hold me over until dinner. It's definitely a learning process and we're all different, so what works for one person may not work for the next. However, it's so worth it in the long run. I was wearing a tight 26/28 and these days I'm wearing a comfortable 14, or a tight 12 Best wishes to you. Sue

Julie: It might have to do with gravity. Your swelling could be dropping to the lowest point of your abdomen. My doctor did some lipo in that area when I had my tummy tuck and it's not chubby anymore Give it some time, or complain to the surgeon that you're not happy with that area and could he do some lip there? Good luck. Sue

Hi: My rashes were very red and visible in pictures that both of my doctors took. It was a little bit swollen too. It really hurt and itched. The rashes weren't because of the area being dirty it was because of the folds rubbing against the skin underneath the fold. It was just raw from the chafing. Hopefully you will get some insurance coverage. Have you already called your insurance company to see what their requirements are? Sue

Hi: I had a problem with rashes. I showed one of my band doctors and he got all excited and said "that's how you get insurance to cover a tummy tuck". He took pictures. I called my primary care and she recommended a plastic surgeon. I had a rash when I went to her appointment too. My band doctor and my plastic surgeon worked together to submit it to BCBS and I was fortunate to get approval for a panniculectomy, which was considered to be medically necessary. I knew I wouldn't be satisfied with the results, so I asked the plastic surgeon to tell me how much out of pocket it would cost for me to get the full tummy tuck. She did some lipo too and lifted the mons area a bit too. I'm in the Boston area where medical costs are outrageous. The full cost of the tummy tuck was $21k. My cost for the upgrade from panniculectomy to tummy tuck was $7k. It may take a while, but please take pictures and go and see your doctor when you have a rash. It may save you alot of $$$. Good luck! Sue

Sandy: I had gallbladder issues about 9 months after being banded and had it out. It's an easier surgery than the band. They'll usually do it outpatient and my band was with an overnight stay. One thing I wish someone had told me is that when you have lost a bunch of weight and have a jiggly belly it really hurts after the gallbladder surgery when it moves. So, you may want to wear something that fits tightly after your gallbladder surgery to keep the jiggly down. Feel better soon! Sue

Mousek: Sorry to hear that it's painful and slow. Hope things improve soon! Sue