Sue Magoo

I hope there's someone on this site who doesn't need theirs anymore that can send it to you. Please someone that doesn't need a machine anymore and has one, please contact this fellow bandster and help them out. I don't have one, or else I would. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Laura: I wish I'd had the boobs done too, but I didn't have the extra $$$ because I got laid off 3 weeks prior to tummy tuck. I'm with Josie and say that if the doctor will do it together go for it. Please discuss the added risk with the longer time in surgery though so that you can make a fully informed decision. Take care. Sue

Laura: You shouldn't plan to drive until at least two weeks postop as it requires use of your abdominal muscles. You may also be taking pain medication still, so it could actually be longer. I can't remember how long I took the pain meds - a week to ten days at night for sleeping only. So, please line up your friends for your first two appointments and then you should be all set. Hope it goes smoothly! I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi Laura: So sorry to hear about your Father passing. I hope that you find comfort in whatever decision you make regarding the plastic surgery. What do you think your Dad would have wanted you to do? I hope your life gets less stressful soon and that you have lots of fond memories of your Dad. Sue

Hi: I had very bad nausea after my band. Then 9 months later I had gallbladder surgery and it wasn't so bad. The surgeon had me use one of the scopolamine (sp?) Patches before the surgery. He told me they would do everything that they could for the nausea during surgery with meds. He sent me home with scripts for zofran and something that I could use by suppository in case the nausea was making me toss all of the oral meds. It ended up not being bad after gallbladder removal. Then, this past May I had a tummy tuck. Had all of the same meds and I had horrible nausea with dry heaves for the first 18 to 24 hours postop. I don't know why it worked with gallbladder, but not with tummy tuck. It may have been because I was having anesthesia alot longer, but I'm really not sure. I have issues with nausea with pain meds too. After lapband and gallbladder I didn't need much for painkiller. After the tummy tuck I took pain meds for about a week at bedtime but I kept up with the anti-nausea drugs while taking the pain meds. Hope all goes well for you. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: You should probably call your doctor if you're wheezing. You don't want to mess with trouble breathing. Hope you feel better soon. Let us know how you make out. Sue

Lisa: Is there a possibility you could start your medical leave early because of the reaction you are having to the prescribed presurgical medicine? I'm sure your doctor would write you a note if you tell her about the bathroom issues. Good luck. Sue

Hi: At night when I want something I usually have sugar free popsicles. If I crave salt I have some microwave lowfat popcorn. Sometimes if I want something sweet I'll have a teaspoonful of sugarfree raspberry jelly. When the weather gets really hot I crush up some ice (bought electric ice crusher - well worth it), pour some lemonade or diet coke on it and eat it with a spoon. It's got crunch and it's nice and cold on a hot day. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: I had a tummy tuck on 5/14 and my surgeon said I could go in the Water 4 weeks post op. I think as long as you don't have any openings in your incisions you should be fine. Enjoy the water! I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: Sorry, but I'm busting a gut laughing about your spanx experience. Especially from when you said you tried putting them on over your head! HA HA Ha. Thanks for the laugh. I bought a spanx type garment at Kohl's and I bought large. I bought the kind that goes down to your knees and up just under your bra. It is the most comfortable one that I have. I have another one that goes just above the waist and that one rolls down sometimes so it's not as good. Perhaps if you just go up from medium to large? Maybe you should go to the store with pantyhose on and try one on before you buy it. They're too expensive to buy the wrong size. I think I paid close to $40 for the better one and $30 for the other. Good luck. I love my band and my new flat tummy. Sue

Hi: I didn't have a program fee and the group I went to does fabulous follow up and has a free support group too. You might want to shop around a bit. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Sounds like you're doing great. It's good when the drains come out because then you don't have to worry about them pulling out, etc. My doc said I could walk right away, so I did. Can't wait to see your pics. Glad it's going so well for you. I'm 7 weeks out from tummy tuck and only have pain when I sneeze. I still have to wear spanx - glad it's not a hot summer! I love my band and my new flat tummy. Sue

Hi: The 4cc band worked fine for me. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: My doctor always recommends 1 day liquids, 1 day mushies, then back to regular foods. If your doctor wants you on 3 days of liquids, then you should probably do at least one day of mushies before moving on to regular foods. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: I got partial coverage from BCBS Hmo Blue New England. They covered the panniculectomy portion of my tummy tuck. My out of pocket cost was $7,000. I'm very glad that I got it done, but it was alot more painful than I expected, primarily due to nausea and dry heaves. I'd do it again in a heartbeat though. I had rashes under my tummy's excess skin. The rashes were documented and photographed by both my band surgeon and the plastic surgeon. It took about 3 weeks to get the approval, but it did get approved. Best wishes to you in getting some coverage from BCBS. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi Jamie: Before being banded I had to do a 10 day liquid diet that was very low calorie. I started to mourn food at that point and that continued until I could have mushies. I just missed overeating and I felt sad about it. During the weight loss period you may start to feel better about yourself because you are doing something that is good for you and your energy level should increase. After you've hit goal you may still feel fat, especially if you have alot of excess skin. I had a tummytuck in May 2009 after losing 140'ish pounds. Since then, I don't feel fat unless I look at my legs. Hope the band works for you. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: It's possible to have restriction from postop swelling. I suggest that you slow down the size of your bites or sips and chew chew chew, just like a bandster that has restriction. Hope this helps! I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: Another trick is to buy some very small bowls. That way your mind will see that your bowl is full and your tummy will get only a small amount. Best wishes to you with your new band. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: Why not be the nice friend who offers to be the designated driver? I don't think wine was on our list of acceptable options until we were on full solids at about 4 weeks after surgery. Good luck and have fun. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Jenzea: I watched the Big Medicine episode you're talking about. I was pissed when they were telling her that a banded patient will only lose 5 lbs. per month. That woman was well over 400 lbs. and she had a huge hernia. It seemed like they were trying to encourage her to get gastric bypass instead of lapband by telling her that the lapband will only have her losing 5 lbs. per month. That woman needed to loose as much as fast as she could because of that huge hernia. I believe that lapband losses average 1 to 2 lbs. per week. When I started my weight loss program (pre-surg 3 mos) I weighed 324. Surgery date 287. One year after surgery I weighed 182. I got as low as 174, but am in the 180's now. I'm happy to be there. Some people will be closer to one pound per week and will loose 50 lbs. in a year, or they could be like me and loose 105 lbs. in a year. Exercise will help too. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

I'll pick healthy and poor. I remember seeing a show about lottery winners once. They all had one thing in common after winning huge lotteries - they all got fat! I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: I don't have experience with the surgeries you are having. I had a full tummytuck 6 weeks ago and the only time I have pain is when I sneeze. I didn't get my energy back until about 4 weeks postop. You might want to check out the website www.makemeheal.com as there are alot more plastic surgery patients there. Good luck. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: I've always been kind of a lightweight when it comes to drinking. Before being banded I would have 3 drinks and I was all done even though I weighed well over 300 lbs. I've only had one drink since my band. Had a mudslide with my daughter when she turned 21. Mudslide tasted yummy but was too thick for me and my band. Ended up not staying down. I think some of the people at my support group say that they drink wine often and don't have issues with it. The men at support group said it's hard to drink beer because of the carbonation. I usually stick to diet cokes when I go out and I stir the bubbles out of them. Have fun, and always remember to have a designated driver. I love my band and my flat tummy! Sue

Bonnie: I am just a touch younger than you. I have to warn you that having this surgery could cause a problem - you might feel 20 years younger after you loose the weight! Not a problem for me now, but it's a possibility. I love my band and my new flat tummy! I started at 324 and I'm in the 180's now. I have more energy than I ever thought I could have. I think it's very important to make sure that you choose a surgeon with great aftercare. I think it can be critical to a lap band patient's success. So, please be careful in selecting the right surgeon/medical group. Because the band will be part of you for the rest of your life you'll have a relationship with your band doctor for a very long time, so pick one that is committed to providing band aftercare. Best wishes to you. Sue

I had a very similar issue with the back aches after eating. Come to find out I had gallstones. It's very common for people who've lost alot of weight in a brief period to get gallstones. I hope you feel better soon. You should probably go to your primary care doctor if it continues. My pain was intermittent and the pain would radiate in the middle and sometimes move up my shoulder on the right side. If you do have gallstones they'll probably remove your gallbladder - pretty easy surgery - very similar to lapband. Hope you feel better soon. Sue