Sue Magoo

Hi: When I was on preop diet we could have sugar free liquids of any kind. That's when I had alot of diet peach snapple. Yumm! Good luck with your banding. Sue

9. The pain is so worth it! I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: I had to wear the compression garment 24/7 for the first 4 to 6 weeks and then at night only for up to 3 months. That's what I'm remembering, but I could be mistaken. It's kind of surprising that I preferred having the tight fitting compression garments on for the first 3 months because then nothing would jiggle around and it was less painful by being bound up. Good luck! Sue

Hi: You may want to post your question on makemeheal.com There are alot more plastic surgery patients there. Personally, when I had my tummy tuck I had some lipo too. I had to wear a compression garment for a long time. I'm pretty sure that is standard practice with a tummy tuck, not sure about with just lipo. When my surgeon did the lipo she did it in the mons area too and that part was very painful for a couple of weeks. Hope all is well with you. Sue

Hi: If you're not sure how to prevent from gaining the weight why not get some nutritional counseling? They will let you know how many calories you should be eating at your current weight in order to maintain or give you advice on how to lose a few pounds if that's what you need. Another thing to consider is screw the calorie and/or points counting and just exercise alot. You could try to increase your exercise enough to offset your food intake. Try wearing a pedometer and get in 10,000 steps per day (approx. 5 miles). A third thing to consider is to see your physician and have a complete physical. If you're really eating low calorie and you're gaining then you might have a medical problem. Hope all goes well and you can fight the obesity beast! I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Mimi: Because of issues with nausea post-operatively my doctor and I decided I should be unfilled prior to plastic surgery. Thank goodness I was unfilled because I had wicked dry heaves after my tummy tuck and it lasted for almost a day. So, if you have nausea issues I would recommend an unfill, and if you don't, then you'll probably be okay with a little bit taken out. Don't forget about the swelling that will occur. Best wishes to you with your upcoming surgery. Sue

I'd be mad too. It's so unfortunate that he didn't take it out when you got banded. Did you ask him why not? Best wishes to you to feel better. I had my gallbladder out 9 months after lap band, but I didn't have any history of trouble with gallbladder before banding. A little trick my Sister taught me with the gallbladder removal. My cut was biggest right near the belly button and I had alot of jiggly loose skin there too. That was where I had the most pain after gallbladder removal. My Sister said to where something tight over that area and it held everything in so that I didn't get any jiggle pain. Feel better! Sue

Hi: It sounds alot like a UTI to me. If your Mom won't take you, why not ask a friend to take you. Either find a free clinic or go to your regular doctor and tell them that you're sick and I believe they're supposed to help you even if you don't have any $$$ or insurance. Your Mom may not be responsible for your medical bills because of your age. If you are covered under a medical insurance plan you'll probably just have a copayment and they're not usually too bad if you're just at a doctor's office. It might get more expensive if you end up going to a hospital or emergency room. I hope you feel better soon. Please let us know how you're doing. Sue

It sounds like a slam dunk to me with a bmi that high. However, they may make you do a six month medically supervised diet first. You may want to reconsider who you're getting banded with if they're not on top of the paperwork. You'll be having a very long relationship with your band surgeon's office staff and it's important that they are attentive. You might want to check out your surgeon on this site and ask questions to people who've gone to him to see that paperwork screw ups are rare. Good luck and let us know when you hear back! Sue

Hi: Something new's been happening to me so I thought I'd ask if anyone think it's band related, or if it's been happening to them. The past couple of weeks it has happened a few times including two days in a row. I have been getting light headed and nauseous and have been burping alot when it's time to eat. Then I don't really feel like eating, or I don't keep it down. I've been making sure that I have Breakfast (oatmeal) and have coffee in the morning too. Today it hit me at noon time and after I ate I felt better. Yesterday it hit me really hard at about 4 o'clock. I'd had a light breakfast and Soup w/crackers for lunch. Does anybody know if this is a symptom of a band problem? I'm not preggo (ha ha ha I'm 50)! Any ideas? I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: I think if you have abdominoplasty now you'll need to have it done again later. My doctor recommended not seeing a plastic surgeon until near goal. Also, to be in the best health before this big surgery your weight should be stable with very good nutrition. My weight was steady for six months prior to my abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Good luck! Sue

Fanny: I gained weight after my tummy tuck too. Between May 2009 and November 2009 I gained 20 pounds! EEEEEEEKKKKKKKK! Anyway, my band is still my belly cop. I was grazing and eating alot of the wrong things out of boredom and stress of losing my job that I'd had for 15 years. I fessed up to my surgeon in November and we discussed a plan to get me back on track. I started weighing in at his office on a weekly basis. I lost ten of the twenty in four weeks. The other ten aren't coming off yet, but I hope to get rid of them in March when I clamp down and eat like a really good bandster again. Please know that your band (when properly adjusted) will help you again. My thoughts are with you and I can tell you're going to fight those 12 pounds away! Best wishes to you. Sue

Hi: I have better luck with warm liquids after a stick. I usually drink hot tea with a teaspoon of sugar in it. I hope you feel better soon. Hydration is important. If you can't hydrate, please call your doctor. Sue

Hi: I'm 2 1/2 years out. My bandiversary is in July. I'm so glad that I did this. My only regret is that I didn't get it done sooner! I started at 324 pounds. My first meeting with surgeon was in April 2007. The next day I started my pre-op "modified weight watchers plan". I lost 38 pounds pre-op. I then lost 122 more and got to my lowest weight at the end of 2008. My happiest banded day was on April 23, 2008 when I hit 199 pounds. That was a loss of 125 pounds in one year! During 2009 I was maintaining pretty well until I got laid off and had a tummy tuck and stressed out looking for a job. Between May 2009 and November 2009 I gained 20 pounds by grazing and eating the wrong things. In November I talked with my surgeon and started weekly weigh ins at their office and I took off ten pounds in the four weeks before Christmas. It's so good to know that if we're good "bandsters" we can take it off again. As long as I stay in size 12's and 14's I'm happy. Since I've started working I've been maintaining my weight again. :smile: I hope to lose 5 more pounds in March and then I'll be between 180 to 185 for the Spring and Summer. That's where I want to be. I still carry alot of extra weight in my thighs and calves and probably won't ever lose that without turning the top half of my body into a skeleton. Besides that I already have alot of loose skin on my thighs and hate it and don't want more of that. I never wear skirts and most of the world never sees me at the pool, so I'm okay with keeping my lower half heavy. My health is excellent even if I carry those extra pounds in my legs. I'm 50 years old and considered to be an "average-sized" woman. Just what I love! I haven't had any issues with my band, other than "operator errors" during the seven month period that I was slacking. I did have to get my gallbladder removed in 2008, which is a common problem for people who take off alot of weight. Gallbladder removal was easy peazy compared to tummy tuck in 2009. I did have a tummy tuck. Compared to the LapBand surgery it was ten times more painful, but it also has made me feel so much better about myself. It was alot harder to recover from too. Again, I'm so glad that I did it. There's some pictures on my profile page of me just after lapband surgery and then before and after tummy tuck. Since being banded I found a new activity that I love. It's called trikking. Check it out on www.trikketalk.com It's great exercise and it's great fun! I can't wait for the weather to improve so that I can get back out on my trikke again. Unfortunately it's a fair-weather sport and I'm here in New England. I walk alot when it's not trikking season. I also bought a mini trampoline for indoor jogging/walking while in front of the t.v. I stay active with my LapBand surgeon's support group and this helps me get a motivational kick each time I go. I've been invited to speak to the potential bandsters a few times by my LapBand surgeon. I was also invited to speak to his entire hospital team at one of their quarterly meetings. I think he's very happy with my progress too. I hope all of you 2007 bandsters have a great third year! I know that I will. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: Don't be discouraged. When you're ready to be a "good bandster" those few pounds will drop right off again. I went through an extra stressful year in 2009. I got laid off after 15 years and had plastic surgery and struggled for 9 months to find a new job. From the time I had plastic surgery in May through November I gained 20 pounds. I was grazing and eating the wrong things and eating small amounts way too often. When I got my head back into the game I was able to lose 10 pounds in one month. I got as low as 174 at my lowest, but am happy at 180 to 185. I got too many comments about "have you been ill" and "your face looks so drawn" that I decided that 174 was too low for me. Anyway, I'm between 185 to 189 now and am happy at this weight. I plan to put in extra exercise effort in March to lose five more pounds so that I can be at the 180-185 level for the spring and summer. So, chin up, and know that this will be a short-term thing. Cut yourself some slack and decide on which date you're going to start being strict about your food intake and try to get some extra exercise in. Then, go for it. Until then, relax! It's possible that you need a fill too. I don't know when you had your last fill, but it's possible you need a little bit more. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: I can only feel my band if I'm having issues with it being too tight. I've had to have an unfill because I could feel pain where my band is when I swallowed liquid. I think it was after I had a head cold so it was probably swollen because of post nasal drip. Best wishes to you newbie. I love my band and my new flat tummy. Sue

I hope that everything went smoothly and that you're taking it very very very easy. Rest, rest, and rest some more. I know it gets boring but it's the best way to recover. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: Since the fall I've been walking and jogging on my mini trampoline. However, I love to exercise in the spring and summer on my trikke. Here's a link to check it out. Here's a link to the trikketalk site where you'll see lots of people having alot of fun www.trikketalk.com It works out your body from your chest down, and your arms too. It's so much fun it doesn't feel like exercise. I did a 24 mile ride last summer. Felt like a marathon to me! I love my band and my new flat tummy. Sue

Hi: My port is the same place as yours. I've had my band 2 1/2 years now. I'm very happy with the placement of my port because it's never in the way and unless I touch it I don't know it's there because it's nice and flat there. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Barbee and Allison: You both look amazing! Barbee - you've been through alot. There's so much going on between your body changes and your emotional changes too. You'll be amazed at how much better you'll feel three months out from plastic surgery. I was so exhausted for the first couple of months that it's hard to deal with the emotional stuff then. Chin up, and give it a little bit more time for you and your new body to get reaquainted. I love my band and my new flat belly! Sue

Michelle33: I lost 150 pounds, but have since gained back 14. I got as low as 174, but that was too low for me. I've mostly been hanging in the 180's for the past year. I was 188 this morning. I started out at 324. I know 188 sounds like alot, but my excess weight is all below my waist and when I get down to 174 my top half of me looks gaunt. Good luck to you with your band. I love mine. Sue

Can't say I know anything about your problem, just wanted to send best wishes along to you to feel better soon. Sorry that LapBands didn't work out for you. Take care. Sue

Allie: Sending positive healing thoughts your way. I hope the medicine kicks in and gets you back on your road to recovery. Rest, relax, recover. Take care. Sue

Hi: Postnasal drip, as well as throwing up, can make your pouch swell which makes your band seem tighter. You should call your band doctor and tell him/her what's going on and leave it up to their judgment whether you need an unfill or not. Feel better soon! Sue

Hi Jennifer: Best wishes to you with your lap band journey. My only regret is that I didn't get it done sooner. I did a modified weight watchers program for three months before my surgery. I lost 38 pounds pre-op. It's a good thing to do because it makes your surgery safer. I hope all goes smoothly for you. There are a few bandsters that are alot of help. As you get closer you may have alot of questions. I'll be glad to answer and there are alot of others on this website that will help. Take care. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue