deepinfl

PS..one thing I DID do was to make very very clear that I ALWAYS get sick from anaesthesia..ALWAYS. I must have said that 20 times and they kept telling me they would make sure I did not. Okay, so for the first time EVER whatever they gave me worked and I did NOT get nauseated from the surgery at all. BTW, I know it's unusual, but I also didn't have any pain and I needed NO pain relief!!! When they said what was your pain level, I looked at them and said I don't have ANY. I had a lot from the lapband surgery after I got infected, but this...slight discomfort..NO PAIN. But, that's probably unusual. One note: I started iron pills, heavy doses of protein and vitamins 6 weeks in advance. That way when I lost the blood, and you DO lose a lot of blood with lipo, I did NOT have to have a transfusion. I was the only person there staying in my recovery center that did not have to have a transfusion. So, do your homework beforehand and it will save you a lot afterwards. And, if you don't want a transfusion, take the iron (I can't usually take it because of the runs, but I just put up with it), take the vitamins, take the protein drinks and TELL them you do not want a transfusion unless it's an emergency. D.

I did NOT get a "defill" before my tummy tuck, lipo and thigh lift. I went to Costa Rica on the advice of my bariatric surgeon. It was a GOOD choice. The price was great, the doctors wonderful, the clinic spotless and modern. I am now 3 weeks out and if it wasn't for the "airplane" flu I caught on the way back I would be great! But, I did NOT get a "defill", I could not see the reason, and I was TIGHT. There is swelling to be sure, but I did not notice any difference in my band. The biggest hurdle with the band was actually the PORT because when you wear the compression garment for 5 weeks, the port sticks way up and I have to keep massaging my midriff over so that it sits "down" and behaves itself. Otherwise, it can be a little touchy being squished like that. Good luck!! Denise

Please be sure to keep us updated so we don't keep worrying!!! Good luck!!! D

Dr. Lackey no longer does surgery in Sebring. You can go to Dr. Grossbard in Zephyr Hills (Tampa). QUOTE=deepinfl;1259212]Dr. Lackey has moved to an office behind the Lakeshore Mall. Also, my understanding is that he isn't operating in Sebring anymore, but I haven't confirmed that. Somebody just told me that, so take it with a grain of salt. I"m so glad that he did my surgery, it was one of the best things I ever did!!!

Sandie, I hope it turns out to be nothing. I was having a LOT of port pain and tubing, it turns out. The lapband surgeon told me to go to Costa Rica and get a tummy tuck and when they pulled the skin back they could fix the tubing and the port. Well, I did and so far, so good. Only problem is that the tummy tuck is nice and tight (GOOD!) but it makes my port stick out even more..kind of like an alien. :thumbup: Oh well, I think (hope) it will be worth it. Won't really know until I heal well enough to start back to the gym. I think everything was kind of stuck in the fat before and then it had no fat and was just kind of wandering around (the tubing). At least that's the way he explained it. My surgeon said that the port is attached to the abdominal wall with just a couple little sutures. I hope you didn't rip yours!! Denise

Your pictures look AWESOME! My understanding is that you will still have swelling till 5 months so imagine then because you are WOW! now!!! Are they not making you wear compression garments? Are you getting lympathic massages? Just wondered. Thanks for letting us in on this, that is such an awesome result!!

Go to Costa Rica. I'm going on the advice of my lapband surgeon!! Just do your homework and go some place reputable. You are going to be paying a lot less money.

Good luck!! I'm heading to Costa Rica next week for tummy tuck, lipo on waist, hips and saddlebags and upper thigh lift. Scared but excited! I hope your surgery went really really well!! Denise

I was banded 1 1/2 years ago. I am having similar pains, in fact this is my 3rd "bout" of it. Pain is below left lung, feels like stitch only BAD, trouble breathing. 2nd bout bought me 2 days in the hospital and they said it was "weird" and must be asthma. I kept telling them it felt like my port. Now after all the posts I'm wondering if the tubing is pushed up under my ribcage. I have done the "exercises" that they say make it better, but no. I have had my gallbladder out, the pain was the RIGHT side and my back and it didn't feel anything like this. Gallbladder pain for me, was much worse right after eating, especially fatty foods. This left side pain doesn't seem to be dependent on whether I eat or not. Let me know how you go please.

I guess nobody is answering this thread anymore. Anyway, this is my 3rd bout with this, 2nd time ended up in hospital for 3 days. Couldn't breathe. This week going to a more experienced bariatric surgeon to look.

I know this was awhile ago, but I was wondering if you resolved the problem. I have had this pain off and on but never like this (since the surgery) and never more than a few hours (since surgery). This is the 2nd or 3rd day and I am so short of breath and the pain under my left rib around the port side is incredible. I'm going to stay on liquids a couple of days. I am wondering if I pulled something when I was doing some weights at the gym Friday and Saturday. I was doing twisting with a weighted bar and I'm wondering if I ripped out a suture or stretched it or something. Very painful! My doctor has quit doing lapband surgery in our town due to hospital issues so I'm kind of between the rock and the hard place also. If it lasts a couple more days, I will go to the doctor. I am self-employed and don't have health insurance any more. Sigh. ANYWAY, just wondered what had become of you???

Dr. Lackey has moved to an office behind the Lakeshore Mall. Also, my understanding is that he isn't operating in Sebring anymore, but I haven't confirmed that. Somebody just told me that, so take it with a grain of salt. I"m so glad that he did my surgery, it was one of the best things I ever did!!!

You are right, I need to detox. It was like that before my band, if I started even 1 M&M then it was a whole bag again and again. I'm like an alcoholic with sweets. It started when I started running half-marathons and they had chocolate after at the end. I thought I EARNED it and ate them and it started the same old patterns. You are definitely right, I definitely need to detox.! THANKS!! D PS..good luck on your goal, you are almost there!! :thumbup:

Is anyone having trouble keeping their weight down AFTER their initial loss to goal? For over a year I never "cheated" once, etc. now I seem to do nothing but crave sweets. I'm trying not to eat them, but my weight is creeping up a bit and it worries me. I can't do this roller coaster thing again! The band is working, I get full quickly but I'm not sure why that I did great and now I am craving all the "bad" stuff. I'm still exercising, etc, but losing the confidence that I had when I first started the lapband life. I thought about getting a fill just to put me "back in the mood", but then I thought that was dumb since it's obviously still working as far as controlling the quantity of what I eat. Anybody have any suggestions on how to get back on the track?

My friend had the surgery the same day as me. Actually we became friends at the hospital! Anyway, she is 63. So, go for it!!!

I have that left side (rib/lung) pain every once in awhile after more than a year post op. I'm having it right now and it lasts for days. I go on liquids and that usually helps but this time it's not doing anything. As for your liver, your liver in on your right side and when it hurts usually, but not always you have referred pain on your right side. That is not to say that it can't be that, but I understand what you mean. It is most painful. Sometimes I think that when I'm lifting weights at the gym I'm moving the band around because my port sticks through the skin sometimes more than others and when I'm having a bout of that, the port is really protruding outwards. I'm just hoping it goes away before a half-marathon I'm running next week!!! D.

You know, it's funny you mentioned YOGA. I tried it and it wasn't the downward facing dog but a side stretch one and OWIE. My port area hurt for days. I tried it again and same result. I have since given up the Yoga. Maybe some of us have it positioned in a place that is affected by yoga positions. Who knows? I have the same problem with crunches. Oh well. D.

Good luck! I was banded here in Florida (I am Australian but live here) on February 18 of last year (2009). I have now lost half of my body weight (lost 59 kilos). I don't think I will ever wear a bikini because I have too much loose skin, but I go to the gym 3 times a week and getting ready to do 5 since I am getting a personal trainer for strength training for 2 days a week AND I have taken up running and have entered (and completed) 2 half-marathons and several 5K's. It's a whole new life and you are going to LOVE it!!! Best of luck to you. D.

Congratulations! You are an inspiration to us all! D.

PS..unfortunately I throw up a LOT! I do not overeat. I'm going to have to have some fluid removed from my band. Still..all the throwing up and my band has still not slipped. Hopefully it will stay that way and getting some fluid removed will stop some of the barfing...

My doctor gave me the video of my surgery. It would be very hard to make the band slip, although certainly it IS possible. These days some of the techniques have been improved and the angle they place the band has changed slightly also. This is SUPPOSED to keep it from slipping as easily. If you are supposed to be on soft foods, though..you really need to get back on them. Saying that, it is certainly understandable on Thanksgiving if you fall off and it doesn't sound like you went crazy or anything. Just be better today and now you know that a holiday can be a problem so prepare in advance for Christmas. NO food you put in your mouth is going to make you feel as good as dropping another size in jeans is going to!!!!

Get some GAS-X strips..they work really well. However, saying that, I still have gas (it wasn't really a problem before) and I was banded 2/18/08. D.

I think I would rather go to Houston.....thank you for having more than 1 in the year!! D.

That sounds really cool! The only issue I can see is that it is COLD up there that time of year!! brrrrr...don't have as much insulation these days! :thumbup: I would love to come, I will have to see if my budget will allow me. Thanks! Denise

Good luck on reaching your goal. That is why I had this surgery, to MAINTAIN the weight. I'm like you, have been down before and back up (and I added a few to that). The whole purpose of this one for me is to get down and stay down. BTW my Mom is on Nutrisystem, she said the food is horrible! She is losing however. I think the worst thing about my skin now (older) is everything is succumbing to gravity, it's all falling towards the earth. waa!:redface: