Sue Magoo

myellen: I lost 38 pounds before banding, and then 104 pounds from band date to first year anniversary. So, I do think that 112 pounds is possible, but you'll probably have to exercise like a maniac. I've been exercising 1 1/2 to 2 hours per day 6 days per week. Good luck to you. Sue

Julie: How did you make out with your 2nd ps opinion? Please keep us posted. Thank you for sharing because it helps all of us who will go through this in the future. Take care. Sue

Hi Tricia: Is it possible that with no fat in your diet your skin is just getting to be extremely dry? I know that my skin got drier when I cut out most of my fat intake. Hope you feel better soon. Sue

Sarah: Be careful. My doctor always has us on fluids for a day after a fill, then mushies for a day, then solids. Sometimes you can swell after a fill, so please be careful with the solids. I have the small band, so I'm only at 2.5 in a band that holds up to 4 cc's. I'm used to getting only .5 or 1.0 cc's at a time, and my band always feels quite tight after getting even a small fill. One time I was swelling for a week and had to get an unfill. So, be careful with this fill because it sounds like a big one. I hope you don't have much swelling and irritation to your pouch. Take care. Sue

Hi: My port is just below the middle of my rib cage at the top of my abdomen. I am glad it is where it is because it never gets in the way of pants, and the bra doesn't bother it either. Best wishes to you. Sue

Hugs and prayers for BBk. Don't they know who they're messing with? Take care and hope you are on your feet and feeling better soon. Sue

Hi: I had the Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA HMO Blue NEw England. It went through like a breeze. I used to be 324 pounds though so there was no issue about it being medically necessary. Good luck. Sue

Hi Lori: I am 5'7" and I currently weigh 177. I am in a size 12. However, I can wear a medium on the top. I am setting my goal for 170. I want to be comfortable in 12's. Size 10 is too small for me, personally with my large body frame. Good luck figuring out your goal. I didn't know for sure on mine until today and I asked my surgeon if it's okay to set my goal 11 pounds higher than healthy bmi target. He said because I am healthy, those 11 pounds won't matter, so it's a fine goal for me. Take care and best wishes achieving your goal. Sue

Hi: I spoke with my surgeon today about setting my goal. I started at 324 pounds, size 26/28. I am now 177 and size 12. I told him that I feel great and that I wanted to be a size 14 or size 12 before I started this journey. I told him that I wanted to know if there was a big difference between being healthy bmi - for me 159 - versus 11 pounds more. He looked at my chart and double-checked my blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar. He said that I'm healthy so it is fine to set my goal for 170. So, I'll be changing my ticker. Personally, I want to be a size 12 for another reason now that I'm there. If I go to size 10 there will be more loose skin on my lower abdomen and thighs. It will be a very long time before I can have plastic surgery, if I decide to go that route. So, having more loose skin doesn't appeal to me. Good luck to all of you setting your goals. I'm very happy with mine. Sue

Hi: I love Diet Peach Snapple too! I don't know the answer to your question about the psych evaluation. I hope it means that you are a candidate for the lap band. I love my band, and it loves me too. It's life altering. Best wishes to you on your lap band journey. Sue

themis: I weighed about 127 when I graduated from high school. I think that I weighed 140 when I was 26 years old. I used to be 5'8", but with age I'm down to 5'7". Of course I felt great at both of those weights. However, now that I'm closer to being at a goal weight I realize that because I got so big there's going to be so much sag and loose skin that if I got down to 127 or 140 I'd look like a freak! I already look kind of freaky in the lower abdomen and legs. I think that I'll be quite happy at 170 if my doctor is okay with it. I am wearing size 12's and I started at 26/28's. The weight of 170 will be 11 pounds over healthy bmi, so I'm not sure if that will be a goal that he and I can agree on. I'll see when I have my appointment tomorrow. Good luck attaining your goals. Saggy, but happy Sue

Hi: I believe that they want you totally nude under the hospital gown. I'm pretty sure they only uncover what needs to be uncovered. I've heard that they deal with aunt flo all the time. Just let the nurses that are prepping you for surgery know that you have your period and they'll handle it. I'm shy too and it was tough to be naked. I don't think they even lifted my gown before I was knocked out. Remember, they're medical people and they see it all the time. Best wishes to you and a successful band experience. Sue

Goodbyefat: Best wishes to you. Yes, I have lost 110 pounds since my surgery on 7/26/07. 100 pounds in a year is very doable. I think the most important part of it all is to have the right frame of mind. YOu need to be driven to succeed. Follow the bandster rules. Get alot of exercise, and you'll be wearing normal clothes next summer. Congratulations. Take care. Sue

Hi: I wish I'd known that the port can be placed in different spots. I love where mine is and it doesn't show at all even though I'm close to goal. Mine is just below my rib cage in the middle. I wish I'd known that they can use glue to close the wound instead of staples. Best wishes to you. I love, love, love my band. Sue

Congratulations on your bandiversary. Way to go! I love my band too. Keep up the good work. Sue

Paula: I never set a goal with my surgeon. Now I think I want to. My starting weight was 324 pounds. This morning I weighed 179. I'm thinking that I want to set my goal at 170. I am wearing size 12's and 14's now. I think that if I weigh 170 I'll be very comfortable in all 12's and the 14's will be too big. I'm 48 years old. I hope to be a grandmother in the next ten years. Since I started my weight loss program I've been buying size 12's on sale because I thought I'd be happy with that being my size for the rest of my life. I'm meeting with my doctor on Monday. I had originally thought that I would shoot for 159 pounds, or healthy bmi range for my height. However, I don't want to be "thin". I think that if I get down to 159 I'll be wearing size 10's. I just want to be "average". The top half of me is thin now, and I don't want to be gaunt looking. I'm waiting to see what the doctor says about my picking a goal that is 11 pounds higher than healthy bmi. If he has a good reason for me to reach healthy bmi, then I might. If being 11 pounds higher than healthy bmi is okay with him I'll use that as my goal. Good luck with your surgery. I love my band, and you probably will too. Take care. Sue

Hi: You should call the phone number on your blue cross card and ask them. Each employer designs their plan with bcbs. It's kind of like a car - comes with many different options to chose from. Each employer negotiates with bcbs to get the best benefits for their dollar. So, give the number on your card a call. My bcbs copayment for the surgery was $500 because it was an overnight hospital stay. However, when I had day surgery it was only $250. If the money is a big problem, ask your doctor if day surgery is a possibility as long as you have good support at home. Best wishes to you with your lap band journey. I love my band and how it's helped me to become a better me. Take care. Sue

Hey Becky! Post nasal drip from colds or allergies can cause your band to feel tight. So, be careful. My surgeon recommends a slight unfil if someone is really congested. Just for a few days, and then refill. Take care. Sue

You've worked so hard and 180 pounds gone is such a huge reward for your hard work. Congratulations. It's really amazing that you've lost 180 pounds in a year - average of 3.5 pounds per week. We can tell you've been killing those evil pounds with a tremendous amount of exercise, and thanks to your band you've limited your food intake. You should be on your surgeon's website as a success story, or on the Lap Band site. Congratulations again. I got chills reading about your accomplishments. Celebrate! Sue

Hi: I teeter-totter with two to three pounds alot now that I'm getting closer to goal. I'm guessing that is why they tell you to weigh yourself just once per week so that it doesn't make you crazy! Congratulations on your loss. Sue

Hi All: How are you all doing? Any specific questions for this experienced bandster? I hope all is going well with all of you. Let me know if I can help. Sue

Hi: It seems that maybe one of two things is happening here, or a combination. Maybe you are swelling more than usual or your band is too small. The surgeon that I have stopped using the smaller bands last year because he had to reband 3 patients in one month because the smaller band ended up being too tight after swelling. He said he doesn't use the smaller band on anyone anymore. I hope the swelling goes down soon. Please let your doctor know if you are unable to keep liquids down. In a few weeks you'll probably be hoping to have that full feeling again. Until then, follow your doctors orders while you are healing. I hope the rest of your band adventure is a little easier for you. Take care. Sue

Nikole: Congratulations on your 2 pounds per day loss. I'm jealous of that. You're not supposed to feel full from the banding until you have restriction from the fills. I found that after about ten days from surgery I was dying to have something to eat. I called my doctors and he said I could start mushies. You may want to have some Soup more often. Have some fudgsicles too! Call your doctor if you want to start mushies early. He'll know the questions to ask to see if your body is ready for that. Take care, and congratulations! Sue

Hi: I'm not sure if it is normal, but please follow the doctors orders. If you go as high as 101, please call them. It could be an infection brewing that you cannot see. Take care. Sue

lessme: My doctor said not to expect to lose weight until I felt restriction. Luckily I felt it right away, even before band was filled. However, after about 6 weeks the restriction seemed less because I'd already lost quite a bit. I think that they say that a banded patient should lose 1 to 2 pounds per week on average on the first year. Go to your support group. It's really helpful to speak with other bandsters face-to-face. Good luck to you, and please be patient, even though it is hard. Take care. Sue