clayverde

Well, I'm not done with my weight loss journey, but the difference is so significant that I thought it was time to post here. I recently went to a routine appointment and was shown the picture taken by the doctor's office at the beginning of my journey. Actually, she thought she had the wrong patient picture at first because she didn't think it was me!! Even I was shocked at the picture - so here are a few pictures that show some of the before and after. The only thing I regret about the band is that I didn't do it sooner! I love my band and even with hassles, etc. it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I hope this helps as much as these pictures helped me when I started out and needed to see the proof that this could work. Good Luck! Claire Before and After

Hmm... that is very interesting and I never thought of that. Especially because I am about to make an appointment to go get a fill!! I'll have to think about that one now. I wonder if it could also be too loose? It feels like I'm hungry a lot of the time it is happening, so maybe it is actual hunger (but I'm eating enough and the right stuff, etc.) because the band isn't tight enough and I never feel full? I dunno.... I'll update the post when I do get the fill and we'll see what happens!

You know, it DID occur to me that maybe this was how it has always been, but all the fat and skin muffled the sound - especially because I carried all my extra weight on my tummy and they removed 14 lbs of skin and fat!! But then I realized that I can feel it on the inside too, the rumbling and vibration can get pretty loud and strong, and while it has happened on and off since I got my band, lately, it seems to be all the time AND more severe then I had ever experienced. It is moderately annoying and mildly uncomfortable, but I was mainly concerned that it might be a symptom of a problem or something. I figure that I'm going to see my Dr in a few weeks anyway and I'll mention it then. But then I thought about the board and realized that it might be a really common thing with a simple fix, I just had to ask - so I did! I will also DEFINITELY agree that I'd rather have a loud flat tummy than a quiet fat one!! But if I can manage to keep the flat one just a bit softer, that'd be nice too!

Hi all - I have had the band for a few years now and have lost lost of weight and I had a tummy tuck about 12 weeks ago now (BTW - LOVE it, best money ever spent!!). Anyway, I have been having major problems with loud noises and gurgling from my tummy. It doesn't seem to be connected to what I'm eating (but I am terrible about noticing that kind of thing), and it is often, but not always, accompanied by gas. I kept thinking that if I was able to get rid of the gas (which seems to get trapped at times since the surgery), the noises would stop but they don't seem to be. So now my stomach is gurgling away all the time and is VERY loud. Like strangers noticing and asking if I'm all right! Is this normal? Should I be trying to pinpoint a food that is the culprit? Is this just life with the band? Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions and/or just plain old complaining would be welcome!! PS - annoying and uncomfortable enough to finally post something on the boards, not even close to making me want to get rid of the band - I LOVE my band!!!!!!

The surgeon's post care instructions said to "remove dressing and reapply as necessary." But I wasn't sure what was necessary or not and what to replace it with. And it did say to not shower, that question was more my own wondering. And I think that until I have my drains removed in a week, the point is just to make sure I don't leave the same dressing on the whole time. I don't actually touch or adjust the drains or anything (well, beyond the emptying and measuring.) I was nervous seeing the incision and touching it to gently clean it, but it didn't hurt (much) and wasn't as fragile as I was afraid it would be. (Nightmare images of touching it and it "unzipping" were just that - nightmares!) I did end up calling the on-call surgeon anyway (my husband agreed with canadagirl33's thinking and said - we just paid a butt ton of money for this surgery, completely out of pocket, so if we need clarification, we ARE going to call for it!!) and he was nice about it. He said to remove the dressings, clean gently and reapply new gauze bandages only if the incision was weeping, but if not then to just put the binder back on. So I ended up just removing the dressing, gently cleaning and then binder back on. Thanks for the help and comments!!

I had a full tummy tuck on the 15th (yeah!!) and I was told a few days after the surgery to "take of the dressing and clean the wound". So here we are and it seems much more complicated than that. We (hubby and I) opened up the elastic compression bandage and found a large white dressing that wraps all the way around me. Does this just come off? What's under there? What is the best way to do this - recliner or standing up? Do I have to replace the dressing? Or just clean it up and then put the compression on again? Spongebath - what exactly can't I get wet? If I'm cleaning the whole area with soap and water, why not just take a shower? Questions that should have been asked before but weren't thought of until now, which is of course a sunday afternoon and so nobody to call except the emergency dr, and I don't think these questions constitute an emergency. So please, bandsters unite and help me figure this out!! Thanks!:smile:

Hi - I have Triwest and I am waiting right now to find out if the panniculectomy was approved. I was told that it is normally approved given the amount of weight loss and excess skin that I have. I keep checking the website, but it still says under medical review. I have high hopes that it will be decided quickly (the approval process for the lapband surgery was just three days) but who knows? The surgeon was very clear with me that he has never seen an insurance pay for the leg or arm lift. Any portion of it. I know that a breast reduction will be covered by Triwest, but I'm not sure if that surgery would also be a breast lift or what. The surgeon I am using works at the same hospital that I had the lapband done. He has worked many times with lapband (and other weight loss patients). He feels strongly that any and all possible surgeries I would consider doing should be done individually and with time between them. He said that patients like us can often have a higher rate of complications - he feels that keeping the surgery time limited and focused on one thing helps reduce possible complications, etc. Plus, he said that it is very difficult to know exactly what the skin and shape will look like when it heals. So he said it helps to let everything heal and settle and then take a look at the boobs or arms, etc. So, for instance, when he takes a look at my boobs AFTER the tummy tuck, he will have a better idea of what the size and shape, etc. of the boobs will be best especially in comparison to where my belly is then. What the proportions will be. (I hope that I'm making sense there... I understand it but I'm not sure I'm explaining it well.) While I am of course anxious to get it all done and done RIGHT NOW, I am of course also concerned with my health (what point is having a flat tummy but a massive staph infection??). Also, as soon as he explained about wanting to take each new surgery be able to see exactly what will look best in relation to what my tummy actually looks like, instead of what he thinks it will look like once the swelling goes down. And, frankly, this allows us to save up money for each new thing. Anyway, so the tummy tuck is definitely NOT covered by Triwest but the panniculectomy often is if the surgeon provides pics and evidence of the medical necessity to remove it. Of course he recommended the tummy tuck for a few different reasons (the repair to the abdominal muscles, the fact that the tummy tuck removes more skin and fat than the simple panni, and the additional lipo etc gives a better looking final result) but of course that is not covered. We were able to talk to the hospital and (hopefully!) Tricare will cover the panni and my husband and I will pay the difference to the tummy tuck. That way, I get the results I want but my insurance covers at least a portion, which is what made coming up with the money for the difference much easier. Obviously, I'll keep you updated as I get approvals, etc.!! Good Luck!

Hi - congrats on all your weight loss! I too have had my band for over a year now and love it. Everything has changed for the better. HOWEVER - losing weight does NOT solve clinical depression. I did have terrible self esteem and depression issues due to my weight, the way I was treated, the things I couldn't do, etc. And that part of the depression has improved enormously. But I also have clinical depression and found that I have had more issue with it since I have lost weight. Mainly because as you lose weight, your hormones keep changing and adjusting which in turn means you need to keep seeing a doctor to change and adjust your depression meds to reflect that. For me, my husband actually notices the signs of depression sooner than I do and lets me know so I can make an appointment. This helps manage the depression better than waiting until it is a real problem and THEN trying to get an appointment, etc. Given the wait time for appointments, the potential time of insurance approval, and the time it takes to adjust to the new levels of depression meds before seeing any results, it is crucial to stay on top of it. That being said, the band in no way made any of those issues worse. And because it did alleviate so much depression associated with the weight, the issue of managing the depression was easier as well. And once you get to the point where the weight is much slower to come off or you hit goal, the meds are pretty steady as well and you see MUCH improvement in every aspect of your life. I hope this makes sense! Good Luck!!

HI - I'm another vote for Lose it! app. I love it!! Not only is it free (yeah!!) but it is actually a great program. It has a huge database, you can add items and even break it down into individual servings, AND, especially good for us bandsters, you can break down the daily info to keep track of fat, protein, etc. per day and even per week. I highly recommend it! Good Luck! Claire

I just passed my one year anniversary and I have lost a total of 85 lbs!! While I have a way to go still, the difference is amazing - people I have known for years barely recognize me. I can't wait to lose the rest and have been losing slowly but surely, so I am (for the first time) really confident it is just a matter of time until I get there!! Claire

Hi - just had to add a quick reply - I was terrified and the morning of the surgery I was so sick to my stomach. It was a relief when they finally knocked me out! Everyone had great advice for you, but here is my two cents: Get prepared - fill out the living will info, create a will (doesn't have to be a lawyer visit - do some research on the net and you can create a valid one yourself), etc. That helped me because I felt I was actively DOING something to prepare for the worst case scenario. Do lots of research - the more you know, the better you'll be. I looked at the risks of death associated with obesity and they are astronomical compared to death by the surgery. Know your doctor and hospital - they had the lowest numbers in the state, which also helped reassure me. Finally, talk to and look up posts, profiles, etc. of people who have succeeded with the band. This really helps remind you that not only is the surgery worth it, but what you are really looking at to accomplish and how your life will be so different when you achieve that goal. I look back now and laugh because this surgery and the aftermath were almost ridiculously easy. (I mean, it was painful, etc. BUT compared to how I was living every day before - overweight, tired, achey, lonely, excluded, etc etc. - the surgery was a breeze!) I let my fear of the surgery keep me from doing this earlier and now that is the ONLY thing I regret! I wish I had done this so much earlier. I love my band and, aside from my husband and my children, it is the best thing I have EVER done for myself. I have been happier now than I've been in years. My husband, family and friends constantly comment that it is like "getting the old Claire back". Just keep thinking that what you are going through now IS the hard part - it gets easier after this!! Good luck!!!

I no longer have those pains, but I distinctly remember them right after the surgery and lasting for quite awhile afterwards. I tended to have the pain as a sharp, aching in my left shoulder. I remember being told at the time that it wasn't uncommon. There is some nerve that runs right near the area that the band is put in that runs up the chest and to the shoulder. With the surgery and inflammation, etc., that nerve is irritated which causes the pain in the shoulder. I was so nervous I was having a heart attack!! Eventually it went away, and now I only occasionally have that pain after I get a fill (which again makes sense if it is a nerve irritation thing.) But you always have to be careful - you don't want to dismiss it if it is a real heart attack! No matter what, I'd bring it up to your doctor and see what he/she says. Hopefully, this will help ease the panic factor to help better figure out if this is a serious issue or the aches and pains of having invasive surgery! Good luck!

Hi all - I have been very lucky and never had a problem with any foods getting stuck all the time or foods that I just can't tolerate. But yesterday and today I ate some home made granola (rolled oats, oat bran, wheat germ and nuts, etc) and both times right after I got terrible stomach aches. It felt like my stomach was inflated and trying to get bigger but couldn't. Or like I have tons of gas trapped in there but that isn't the case - no gas, just that too full feeling and pain. I didn't eat a lot of it at all, so it isn't literally too much food. Has anyone else had a problem like this? Any ideas on what could be causing the problem? Thanks for the help!! Claire

Hi Jessica - first of all - CONGRATULATIONS on such a great job with your weight loss! So don't be too hard on yourself, as you have already accomplished so much. As to some tips - here are a few that occurred to me after reading your post: 1. Try to have some meals ready and waiting for you when you get home AND some things that are still good but very easy to prepare. I find that when I am hungry and tired is when I have the worst time staying strong! So I try to have a few healthy frozen meals, a few small meals in tupperware in the fridge, and a few easy things to eat that are still within my acceptable foods. My favorite is actually cottage cheese with a Target brand pineapple salsa. It is super fast, it is very high in Protein and low in fat and it tastes good. Another good choice are almonds. If I am starving before dinner, I have a handful of almonds which help soothe the pain and tide me over while I get my real dinner together. 2. Find some substitutes that satisfy that sweet tooth. Again, I am addicted to having something sweet right before bed. I normally have either sugar free cocoa (which is sweet and warm and choclatey but still okay) or I have vanilla milk. For that, I use my low fat milk and add some splenda. Then microwave it for about 1 min to 1 and 1/2 minutes then stir in some vanilla. It is sweet and yummy but not bad for the diet. Hope those help!

Hi all - I love my band and have great results. The main issue I have now is to fill or not to fill. Right now, I have never PB'd and I have only occasionally gotten that stuck feeling, which goes away pretty quickly (well, it doesn't FEEL quick!). So the issue is that I can easily eat more than the 1 cup the doctors advise me to eat. I am good about not eating a lot, but I would say I generally eat about 1 and 1/2 cup to 2 cups of food per meal. So I would normally think get a fill, right? But at the same time, I don't get hungry between meals, I often could even skip meals without feeling hungry, I'm not uncomfortable ever after eating the larger amount, things still sometimes feel stuck and I'm still losing weight at a steady and comfortable rate. So then I wonder if I should just not rock the boat - if I get another fill, will it lead to more problems? And I've been at this same fill amount for about 4 or 5 months. So do I go with the I'm eating a bit too much and try to get a small fill? Or do I go with the All the other issues (feeling comfortably full and still losing weight) and let it be for now? Thanks for any advice you guys can give me!!