Sue Magoo

Hi: What you've mentioned is called an unfill. I've had to have small unfills two times because I became too tight. One time was because of a head cold and post nasal drip. The other time I have no clue. If your band is too tight it can cause alot of problems and actually cause you to gain weight because you'll just eat slider foods. Don't be afraid to have a little taken out if they suggest it again. Good luck with your weight loss. You've already lost 67 pounds so you must be doing alot of the right things. Sue

Hello Southern Charm: The more threads I read, the more lucky I know that I am because the LapBand surgeon that I have is so much more patient and customer friendly than alot of them. I would look for a surgeon that is a little bit more flexible in their scheduling for your future care. Or, learn to live by their schedules. Best wishes to you. I feel bad that you'll be in "bandster hell" for so long. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Annie: I hope you feel better soon. Does your doctor have you on any medication for your heartburn? I take prilosec and it does a pretty good job. I've heard that Protonix is the best medicine for gerd. If you're not taking anything ask your doctor if there's something he can prescribe for the heartburn. Sue

Fanny: We'll all be thinking of you. Best wishes to you for your upcoming surgery and recovery. Remember, there's a reason why they say to rest, rest, and rest. You'll heal better and recovery quicker. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Stevee: I have issues with being accountable to myself too. I have gained 20 pounds in the past six months with boredom and stress of being unemployed. I recently called my band surgeon and told him that I was struggling. My band is just right - green zone. My head is in the problem. While in the same size my clothes are getting too tight and I don't want the 20 pounds to become 30. He and I discussed my issues and we decided that going in for weekly weigh ins might be just what I need. So, two weeks I went in to face his scale. Last week I went in again and I was down 4.5 pounds. This week I'm hoping for two more. I hope to lose all 20 pounds by the end of January. I believe that once I am working again it shouldn't be a problem, but while I am home too much I am struggling. Best wishes to you getting back on track. I hope you start to love your band again soon. I already love mine again.:smile: Sue

Hi Skinny: So tough to be back at work so soon. I hope for the best for you. While I was reading your post about your first day back to work I was wondering if you're still wearing a compression garment or binder. I found that it helped alot with the swelling if I kept it on all day and didn't take it off until bedtime. It also helped keep everything in place for those unexpected sneezes. I wore mine for about 3 or 4 months. I'm sorry about your son making you worry. That's our job as parents isn't it? Hopefully he'll listen to your advice and do the right thing. If not, maybe it will work out for the best anyway. Like 10 to 16% of Americans I am unemployed. My company was closed in April by the new Parent company. I had three weeks of rest before my tummy tuck and unfortunately I've had six months of rest afterwards too. I'm very anxious to get back to work and have been trying very hard to get a job. There aren't many jobs out there for my position at this time. I am hopeful that things will turn around soon. I was okay with being laid off in the summertime, but it's so boring now and I really want to work. It's too easy to eat when bored and am now weighing in at my lapband surgeon's office weekly so that I can be accountable to someone besides me. I've gained 20 pounds since being laid off. I took off 4.5 the first week I weighed in (last week). I am hoping for two pounds a week until I can take off the remaining 15.5 pounds that I don't want to keep. I'm not changing my ticker because it's just a small bump in the road that I'm getting over in the next two months. Have a great week getting back into the groove. Take care. Sue

Hi: I'm guessing you should have very little discomfort after two weeks post op. Please give your doctor a call and explain what's going on. Hope your pain goes away soon. Sue

Hi: You should call your insurance company and ask them for a confirmation number for the surgery that you are approved for. Write it down and save it. I remember I got a letter in the mail, but it was weeks after I heard from the person who coordinates the surgeries at my LapBand doctors office. Best wishes to you on your band journey. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: While transitioning from 26/28 down to sizes 12 and 14 I discovered Salvation Army Thrift Store and Savers. It gave me something to do that was cheap and entertaining. I could spend $20 and get alot of stuff. I started buying things there in my current size and also my goal size. I had alot of size 12's and 14's by the time I got to goal and most of these items cost less than $5 each. They just require washing or dry cleaning. You'll be surprised at the things that you can find in these stores and they are priced amazingly low. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: I didn't have much to start, and had less after losing 140 pounds. My experience has been that the tops of my boobs have "emptied out". You may want to start socking away a few bucks if you want full and perky breasts once you're close to your goal weight. Best wishes on your band journey. Sue

If you can't even keep Water down you should probably go to ER because you'll become dehydrated which is very serious. I think a couple of the symptoms include thirst and dark colored urine. Please don't fool around with dehydration. I'm concerned that with symptoms like you are having they made you wait 3 weeks to get in to see them. I am very fortunate that my surgeon's office says to call 24/7 if you're having any issues and if necessary they'll come in to the office overnight to do an unfill. They say if you're uncomfortable for more than 20 minutes give them a call. The aftercare is just as important as the surgery and without a good aftercare team it's hard to succeed with the band. I hope you feel better soon. Let us know how you make out. Sue

I hope you continue to feel better each day. Just wanted to give you a heads up that sometimes iron pills can cause constipation. If it's not one thing, it's another. Best wishes to you. Sue

Hi: Walking has so many benefits. You get fresh air. You get rid of stress. You burn calories. If you are walking at a fast pace and holding in your stomach muscles it works out your muscles too. Another benefit is that you can't take your fridge with you :thumbup:. I started at 324 pounds and let me tell you my feet hurt every day. I walked during all of my breaks at work. Twice for 15 to 20 minutes and then during my hour lunch. I also walked after work too. I made sure I walked at least 5 miles six days per week. It really helped me to lose 125 pounds in the first year of my new life. I used to walk because I had to. Now I walk because I like to. I found another exercise I love. It's called trikking. You can check it out at www.trikketalk.com I started trikking when I got down to about 225 lbs. It's a fair weather type of sport that I enjoy very much. I did a 24 mile trikke this past summer that was the most I've ever worked out. I found that listening to my MP3 player with fast music helps me keep my pace. I use a pedometer. Two days ago I walked 20,800 steps. That's almost 10.5 miles! I hope you and your band become friends with an exercise because it makes loosing the weight much easier. I wish you well. Sue

Hi: Remember, we are our own worst critics. Other people probably don't notice your neck lines at all. I started at 324 pounds. I think I had 3 chins. I'm now down to only one, but I do have the start of a turkey neck right where my neck meets underneath my jaw. Oh well, still alot better than it used to look. I couldn't tolerate my hanging skin on my lower abdomen, however alot of women get a few wrinkles and a turkey neck, so I can deal with those. In cold weather climates we can wear turtle neck sweaters to cover up our necks for about half of the year. Hope you find a way to be at peace with your body changes. I love my band and my new flat tummy. Sue

Allie: Amazing how exhausting having a shower can be. Sorry you're not getting your drains out yet. They're kind of a double-edged sword. On the bad side they're uncomfortable and inconvenient. On the good side they're sending all of the excess Fluid out. I had issues with constipation too. A teaspoon of mineral oil for a few days made me regular again. Take care and rest up. Sue

Hi: I'm not sure if it will help post lapband, but when I was postop from gallbladder removal surgery I put on a spanx-type undergarment. It kept everything in place so it couldn't jiggle at all which helped me alot. If you do try this, make sure it goes well above your incision area and make sure it won't be rolling down. Best wishes to you to feel better soon. Sue

Hi: Sounds like you need to go see your band surgeon. It sounds like you may have an infection. Get better soon. Please give us an update after you see your surgeon. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Skinny: I got a fill about 3 weeks after tummy tuck. My port is just under the center of my rib cage. My doc has us lay back and arch our backs so that he can get easy access to port. I had to wait until I thought I could stay in that position without hurting too much. Glad you're doing so well.:biggrin: Take care. Sue

Hi Allie: You've been through a rough time so far. I hope you continue to feel better. Remember, rest and relax helps with the swelling. Another thing, be careful about losing too much while you're recuperating. You need good nutrition to help with the healing. Your pic is fabulous. Can't wait to see updates. Take care. Sue

Vicky: You look fabulous! Congratulations with your weight loss and surgical makeover. Sue

Skinnyjeans: Thanks for the compliments. :thumbup: About Thanksgiving......I hope you're not doing the cooking. That will surely be too much for you at this point. Remember, baby yourself now, better results later. Take care. Sue

Hi: I am jealous because you live in FL. I live in MA and it's cold and there are lots of hills and leaves on the ground. I love to trikke but cannot again until the Spring because of this weather. I started trikking when I was 48 years old. It's alot of fun and it's low impact. I know there are alot of trikkers in Florida. In August I did a 24 mile ride. Check it out if you're looking for an exercise that is fun and it can become a healthy addiction. Here's a link to the trikke website I like. www.trikketalk.com Let me know if you end up trying it. Best wishes to you with your weight loss. Sue

Hi: Simple is best. Why not "I'm having my tummy fixed so that I can be more healthy." Best wishes to you. I love my band and my new flat tummy. Sue

Thank you. :thumbup:

I saved a pair of my old 26/28 jeans. I can fit into one leg of them. I get a kick out of looking at them. Sue