summer08

I had my TT May 22. My lap band Dr recommended to pull out 2cc. I'm glad I did, as I have had no episodes of vomitting, which I am very thankful for, as it hurts to cough. I think The decision to have fluid removed prior to surgery or not depends on how you were doing prior to surgery. I was vomitting occasionally prior to surgery and needed to make sure that didn't happen while I was healing. I don't think there's a definitive right or wrong to have fluid removed or not, just depends on the person and how they have been doing.

I am going to ask for an unfill prior to my panniculectomy. I still have problems with vomitting and do not want to take ANY chance of busting out any stitches or anything to mess up my healing.

I have a second appointment with the surgeon tomorrow. First time to talk about only doing panniculectomy. I think my biggest hold up now is going to be when i can get off of work for 2-3 weeks. It is a busy time now. Keeping my fingers crossed! I am ready NOW!

another question....did your pant size go down?

I have never blogged before I started my lap band journey in 2008. i weighed 235 and am 5'7. i was in a size 18. it's been a while but i'm pretty sure i lost my weight within the first year, i think even a little less. i did have quite a bit of vomitting. i had complications; again, it's been a while, but i think the first problem was that my wound was open and had to be packed. i think that was within a month after my band was placed. besides the vomitting, the other problem i had was that i had to have my port repositioned. i think that was about the second year after initial placement. i think initially the placement was fine, but when i lost weight, the skin/port dropped to my waistline and my clothes basically rubbed an opening and i could see my port through a hole in my skin. i would cover it and it would heal, but as soon as i uncovered it, the same thing would happen, so he replaced the port and brought it up higher. even with my complications i am so glad i got the lap band. i lost 75 lbs and am in a size 12. i have recently seen a plastic surgeon and my insurance has approved a panniculectomy. i wanted to have a tummy tuck as well but just can't swing the extra $6000. i am impatient and also fear my authorization may expire before i could save up the money for tt, so i'm going to go ahead and meet with him again and schedule it. i would love to hear feedback on the panni.

My insurance has approved my panni. I wanted to have the tummy tuck in conjunction but just don't have the extra $6000. Please reply if you have only had the panni. Are you glad you did it? Does it look weird still having the "top part". What have been the pros and cons?

Good Afternoon, all! I am interested in finding a thread that people are posting who are much further out than us. We are almost at a year, but I want to read of long term results. I am probably looking right past it, but haven't seen anything. Anyone know where to find that on here?

Hi, Allie! We have only cruised on Carnival and Royal Carribean. I like them equally as well. I think they are probably the Chevrolets of cruises, but we've never been on a Cadillac cruise line, so we don't know the difference, and we love it! Thanks for your suggestions! I hope you get to go on a cruise soon. I remember after we took the first one, I was HOOKED on cruising! I would dream about it frequently!

we are going to the carribean...cozumel, jamaica, cayman islands wow!!...italy! what an experience! i hope you have a blast!

me, me!!! i'm a cruiser! my first one since the band, too. i've been on 5 pre-band. i think this one is going to be so different! my husband has also been banded, so at least we're on the same page. when are you going? ours leaves april 5. less than 2 weeks, baby!!!

hello everyone! wow..it's been soooo long! i am so happy to see how everyone is doing! i am doing good. i am down 55 lbs since my surgery june 5. the biggest size i had in my closet was a 22...today i am wearing a size 10-14, depending on the brand, i guess:) i really can relate to you, love2lose. if it weren't for people saying something everyday, i don't know how i'd feel??? obviously, i have lost weight...it shows in my clothes, the scale, and my measurements....but my eyes and my head tell me different. when i look down, i feel just as "fat" as i always did. alot of times i even tell myself people are just being nice by saying things. i even tell myself, they are going overboard with the comments sometimes. (i think...they would never be saying these things if they saw how i looked without clothes on) my scale still says 180, and that number sounds way too high to me (i am 5'7"). the goal i had in my head is 160, and that is even higher than what a chart would say. i can say i'm so happy that i'm only 20 lbs away from my goal weight...that sounds so crazy to me! i never would've thought i'd finally be there. it is very much a psychological thing, though. i feel like i can now understand how those skelton looking anorexics think they're fat. my husband and i are going on a anniversary cruise in 2 weeks. this will be our 6th cruise...1st since the band. this is going to be very different. eating has always been a huge part of the cruising experience. there is so much food, like just about all the time. i won't physically be able to overeat anymore, so i'm not worried about that i am more worried that i'll get stuck and have to pb, and that can ruin the whole day of eating for me. that's not the end of the world, but it could be embarassing at dinner with a table of people i'll be meeting for the 1st time on this cruise. o...i forgot to mention...my husband was also banded in may 08. bless his heart, it hasn't come off for him as easy as it has for me, but he has enough restriction now that he gets stuck sometimes too. i think he'll be freaking out if he gets stuck at dinner. i could almost see us staying out of the dining room if that were to happen? anyone had any experiences to share?

my doctor has always recommended liquids for me the rest of the day after a fill. once, i was "over-filled", and this last time, he recommended 2 days of liquids.

Hi, fellow June Bandsters! I have lost 27lbs so far. I have had 3 fills and 1 unfill. I am so happy that I was banded! I feel like the band has done exactly what I needed....food is not what it used to be for me. It is not a main focus in my life. Sometimes the weight loss seems really slow going, but I am glad I am not gaining! And I figure if I keep it up at the same rate, that would be great! I can totally sympathize with a previous writer about the weight loss coming in spurts. I tend to hang around the same number for a while, too. I weigh every morning, which some may not agree with, but I guess I need to know. I'm glad everyone is doing so well....keep up the good work!:smile:

Am I understanding correctly that you had a fill in May, and are just now in August having problems with vomitting? I would think if you are just having these problems after this long you definately should call the Dr. I had a fill 2 weeks ago, and ever since my fill, have had many times that I felt like my food gets stuck after just a few bites, then the sliming starts and I have to "throw up" to clear what is stuck out of my esophagus. Is it not different to "throw up"...food out of your stomach, or to "throw up", just clearing the food that hasn't made it to your stomach yet? I haven't called my doc yet, I just thought it's my first real restriction and I'm still needing to break old habits of eating too fast, not chewing enough, and taking too big of bites. Any thoughts?

The same people also did Flywheel. Even a little more amateur in the acting, but a great message!

welcome to the newbies! I have a PRAISE REPORT!!!! God is soooooooo good! I posted a week ago...pretty discouraged, eating way too much. Well, I prayed for days for things to get better, for the band to work, and for me to work with it well. So, I had an appt Monday, and I had lost 2 lbs since my appt 3 weeks earlier (i had my first fill then). Bummer, only 2 lbs, but I was happy it was a loss and not a gain. He put 2 more cc's in my band Monday. He says he normally only puts 1, but he wanted to get things moving for me. ( i had been honest with him about how much i could, and did eat) I finally have restriction!!! Yeah, me!! To be honest, even at his office when he had me drink Water after the fill, I could already tell with the water...but I wasn't saying anything...I didn't want him to think about taking any out!! I wanted to see how it went. I have read many posts about restriction, but I don't think I ever noticed it explained. For me, it is almost like I feel like the food goes down really slowly. Almost like it stays right past the back of my throat for a while. Yesterday, it probably took me 45 minutes to eat my meals, which is good for me...as I was eating way too fast. Tonight I got in a hurry to eat so I could be to church on time. BIG MISTAKE! I now know what sliming is. I probably took 2 bites before it started. When the food is "stuck", I feel like I have to burp alot (not PB, just air burp) and swallow alot. Well, I think I swallowed so much that I couldn't anymore, and I thought I was going to throw up. I didn't want to, but I had a lot of pain in my chest, and I just thought I had to, and there actually came a point where I had no choice...it was coming, like it or not. So, when I did, it was the "slime" I have read so much about. At the time I was thankful because it was really fast, and it made me feel better immediatley, but once I got to church, I kept having the urge to burp (not a loud one, just the one that's "to yourself"), and swallow. I ended up going to the bathroom about 4 times, and it was finally better about an hour after it started. I don't mean to gross you out, but I never really knew what to expect, so I thought someone might want to know. I'm sure I will learn REAL QUICK that I can't eat fast, or too big of bites. Even though when food gets stuck, and it's uncomfortable, that's just me having to change old habits, I am so thankful that I'm already seeing the scale go down again. I was hanging out at 235 before my surgery and I'm pretty sure I'll be in the 2-teens tomorrow a.m. So anxious to get below the 220's. Thanks everybody for being here, listening, and giving support. We didn't stumble upon this by accident! GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!

willbefine, Thank you for your words of encouragement! It is soooo true that the band is not around our heads. That's where my biggest battle is now. When I finish a second plate of food now, I am miserable afterwards, but when I go to load up the second plate, I think I want it. I guess I'm not eating slow enough for the signal to get to my brain that I am full after the 1st plate, or satisfied would be a better term to use. So, now I have to use my head, and ask God to remind me, before I eat a second plate, that I REALLY don't want it. I'll only be disappointed in myself if I go there, and miserabbly FULL! He reminded me last night before I went back for seconds, and I was proud of myself that I didn't. It is very much a battle in my mind. I have lived to eat for so long, and I want this band to enable me to eat to live instead. It is so frustrating to me when I know all the right things to do, and have for years, but haven't disciplined myself to do them. With God's help, and encouraging words from all of you, we will overcome!

Just a comment here about undisciplined people should get the RNY. I can understand that statement now, because I was banded the 5th of June, and have only lost about 12-13 lbs. I have had one fill, and I do believe things will get better. I know the band is only a tool, but I feel like if I want to be losing now, I just need to go on a diet, because the band doesn't seem to be helping yet. I trust my "tool" will start working with more fills. But, back to undisciplined people should get the RNY...weren't most of us undisciplined, and that's how our weight got out of control to begin with? I know for others, there may be other reasons their weight got out of control, but for most, I would think it's lack of discipline? That surgery may have been better for me, as far as being more successful, but I was scared of the RNY. Sorry for ranting, and I'm definately not lashing out at the poster....I'm just in frustration mode now.....I think some have coined this time period, "Bandster Hell"? I am praying for God to help me, to help this band work!

new2me, you probably have already thought of this, but what about pumping and storing some breast milk ahead of time. you can still pump while in recovery, to keep up your supply (even if you discard due to it not being healthy for baby) if you don't have a pump, i would recommend a medela brand. we rent them at my job, and a hospital grade pump rents for only $48/mo, and the kit is $40 (with the tubing and bottles)...so that should give you an idea on cost. good luck on whatever you decide to do! God Bless You!!!

Hi, everybody! One of my wounds (the largest, port wound) is not healing well. I had my surgery June 5. About a week post op it started draining alot. I had bruised badly, so my surgeon just said the bruise was breaking up and draining. It looked bad...like the incision was open, and there was this white stuff in the middle. (sorry if I'm grossing anyone out). He said that white stuff was fiborous tissue my body was making to seal the wound. Well, after a round of antibiotics, and another week (at my 2 week follow up), the Dr decided to cut the white stuff away, which aparently left a hole in my abdomen about an inch deep, and to have me pack the wound with gauze. Thank goodness my husband is a nurse! The Dr told me by my next follow up in 2 weeks it should be healed to the point that we cannot put gauze in the wound anymore. From the way my husband says this looks (I haven't really got a good look at it...I have a weak stomach when it comes to stuff like that), he doesn't really expect it to heal that quick at all. I'm just wondering if this has happened to anyone else, and how long did it take to heal? Also, when you were healing, did you ever use any waterproof dressings, and how well did they work? I would REALLY like to swim, but my husband thinks this wound is too bad even for me to use a waterproof dressing.

from what i have read, it sometimes takes 3-4 fills before you can reach good, true restriction. just be patient, and remember you have taken the step toward losing, and it will come! good luck!

My husband was banded May 13, and I was banded June 5. I think both of us being banded will only increase our chances of success. We haven't been at the same stages of our eating yet, but we will be soon. We have not really held back on telling people. I'm like the other poster, eventually everyone will want to know how I lost all that weight (that sounds so good!!!), and I'm not one to tell part truths. It's only a tool. It won't work if I feed myself ice cream shakes all the time...I still have to work for it, and make changes. So what if the band will help me...it's better than being overweight and unhealthy! So, I guess I don't really care what others would have to say about it anyway. Good luck to you and yours!

Thanks Diamond for the suggestions. I hadn't thought about V8 juice...I may give that a try! Just out of curiosity...you said if I wasn't getting enough protein my body would let me know. I've heard about losing hair, and I think nails getting weak...but are you talking about something else? I am feeling much better. I start back to work tomorrow. I have a desk job...for the most part, so it shouldn't be too bad. My "bleeding" started again yesterday. It is more like a leaking from my largest wound, like clear/red. My husband is a nurse and he didn't think it looked right, so we called to have the surgeon paged. Well, of course another surgeon was on call for him, but he's concerned about infection, so he called in antibiotics for me to take. I have my 1st follow up Wed. My main concern is that my largest incision doesn't look good. I know the antibiotics will fix it, but I'm worried that it may heal uglier. I want to congratulate all the new bandsters, and soon to be banded. I know how exciting it is! Also, congratulations to you who are doing so well with your loss. God Bless You All! Have a great week!

that is awesome! yeah, you!!!

Hi, everybody! I am 35 yo, married 5 years to a wonderful man who was also banded (May 13th), I have 2 children, boy 14, girl 13. I am a Respiratory Therapist. We live about 60 miles north of Dallas, Tx. I was banded on June 5. I have been overweight since I was about 7 yrs old. I got a fair amount of weight off before entering college (to qualify for a scholarship), and also 4-5 years ago, I lost 40lbs on the Adkin's diet. It helped to to see the 100's...that was an awesome feeling, but of course it came back on much quicker than it left! I could not eat that way forever...even though we did it for about a year! I have never been an emotional eater, or even eaten outside of "meal times", but when it was mealtime, I was a bad overeater. I just knew it wouldn't taste as good leftover. I felt like my life revolved around food. It was always, "what am I going to eat at the next meal?" I just love to eat. I couldn't make that past tense, because I'm sure I still do, but I know that nothing will taste as good as thin will feel. The band will control my portions, which was exactly what I needed. I'm glad to have found this thread, and looking forward to sharing this awesome journey with you all! P.S. to the Army and Navy wives...thank you and your husbands! P.S.S to the ex-employee of ?QVC?, my 13 yo daughter is hooked on that channel..it is so funny! She's always calling me to the TV because she just "has to have that ring". I think it is hilarious...but I told her she needs to get a job there someday! God Bless You All!