TheGh0st

I'll be watching your thread with interest. Sorry things were so painful at first. Guess I should be gratefull my doc's standard protocol is to hook you up to painpump for the first 3-4 days. I was still sore but at a very manageable level. And if it started to hurt a bit more I could just push a button on the pain pump to send an extra dose.

Hey Steve I'll send you a PM.

OK Julie, but how long are you suppose to be massaging it for? Mine wants me to be doing it twice a day massaging in small circles for one minute then moving along the scar line and doing another minute, etc, etc. It takes me at least 10 minutes to complete and is killing my already sore shoulder. And worse yet at 3 months out he is still wanting me to keep up with the massages. UHGHH!!! I have to admit I haven't been though it has been more like 2-3 times a week for the last month. Please tell me you haven't had to do it for this long.

I am in the Kansas City area so I have no knowledge of these doctors. My only concern would be in your follow up care considering the 6-hour drive you mentioned. Then again 6-hours may not be considered that bad to some people. If you don't think the drive would act as a mental deterrant to your going in for the fills you need and these docs are better than any (if any) that are nearer to you then I say go for it. Just remember this tool can't work if you don't work with your doctor to keep it adjusted.

I'd had my Gallbladder out a couple years before the band and all I remember now from when I had the band placed was that I was absolutely amazed at how much easier the band surgery went. I kept waiting for things to get worse and they never did. I'm not saying there wasn't pain or discomfort, just that it wasn't near as bad as the gallbladder surgery. My only real discomfort was in trying to wear a bra as it rubbed along my port incision. And for both surgeries I was back to work in less than a week. Honestly I think I could have gone back nearly 2 days post surgery. I wouldn't have felt 100% but then I only have a desk job and I have the mind set that if I am well enough to sit on the couch watching telly then I'm well enough to sit at my desk and get paid to look at the computer.

Nancy can back me up on this but I'm pretty sure it is the same as a Lower Body Lift (LBL). As I understand it on a LBL they cut you all the way around the waist. They do it very low across the front just above the pubic line like my Tummy Tuck scar but then the extend the incision all the way around the back until it meets up somewhere near the tailbone I believe.

Julie - What does your father have to say about massaging the scar line? My doc wasn't too big on the creams either and also said not to bother with expensive products like mederma but he did want me to massage a vitamin-E lotion on my scar line twice a day for quite a long time. He says the massaging motion is more important than the lotion and that if done regularly it can help prevent the buildup of scar tissue both on the surface and down deeper. I'm not doing it near as often as he has asked me to now that I am over 2 months out but I definitely think it has helped. My scar line looks and feels no different than if I had just got a surface cut.

quote=Sherrirbgr - Wow!!! You've done great! You've lost 93 lbs! That is awesome! Thanks though it doesn't always feel like I've done well. Especially since I'm still sitting at a weight gain nearly 3 months after my tummy tuck, which should have made me 10 pounds lighter. UGHHH! I think the problem is that when you're 2 years out, and you see all these newbies who have met their goal in less than a year, you just get back in that mindset of "woe is me, I'll never lose this weight!" I know what you mean about beating yourself up. Still sometimes the newbies can also be a good motivator as well. ...which helps you eat that dang Publix chocolate covered brittle, which I swear is CRACK. My "CRACK" was cookie dough icecream but has moved to French Truffles. YUMMM.. the first time I ate one of those I swear I was moaning like I was in the "bedroom". These are nothing like those chocolate flavored wax balls sold by lindt or lindor, these are soft chocolate butter balls rolled in cocoa powder and taste like ambrosia. Lord help me! My only saving grace may be that I've only been able to find them at those temporary Hickory Farm Stores you see around Christmas. I just heard from Dr. Bagnato's office. They want me to come down for an x-ray. I'll call Monday and get it scheduled. What is the X-Ray for? Are you worried you have slipped? Keep us posted.

I COMPLETELY agree! Just because someone has been banded for several years does NOT make them an expert. And I take absolutely no offense to your post. I also agree that there are many emergency (and possibley non-emergency for all I know) abdominal surgeries that are performed without a pre-op diet. Still since this is a somewhat "elective" surgery it is still best for us to give the doctors the best working environment possible. After all if he has troubles it is our body he is working on not his own. I have no idea how much cheating on the diet increases the risks it maybe only a little or it maybe more significant. But what is the harm in telling the surgeon who does know and working with him or her to decide if it is an added risk you are willing to take? Ofcourse I believe this whole threads subject is a bit mute at this point as if I remember correctly her surgery was scheduled for yesterday. I would love to hear a follow up though on if she did speak to the doc or not and if the surgery went ahead on schedule. Here's hoping all is well. I look forward to watching her progress on the banded side of life.

OMG Green that is just plain GROSS! I can't believe what animals people can be sometimes.

Lots of Jello. I think I ate so much Jello and made so many different ways I will never want another serving of Jello in my LIFE. but right now it is your friend at least it gives you something to chew. How about sugarfree popsickles? (sp?) If you can have those it helps.

I can definitely relate to the bending over a trash can drooling like some sort of a mad dog. I use to get this quite a bit too. Though I haven't had it happen for a while now. It isn't really sliming as I understand it. I've slimed as well and it was definitely different. In one you are just producing an overload of very watery saliva when I "slime" it is much thicker and more like mucus. I've been told that both are mechanisms you body uses to try to help get food to slide down when it thinks its stuck. And is probably happening because you have enough food (or liquid) in your pouch that some is now sitting above your pouch in the esaphogus (sp?) or what ever that area just above your stomach is called. Only problem with the body reacting that way for us banded folk is it only adds to the problem rather than fixing it. Best option is to try to (1) chew more (2) take smaller sips or swallows (3) and most important, wait between bites or drinks to make sure there is really room for more before you take another bite.

Sherri - I'm right there with you. These holidays have been terrible on my resolve. Doesn't help that I have absolutely no restriction at the moment and all the local fill docs are completely booked. Oh well, I have a fill scheduled in a couple weeks. It just hard working on will-power alone this time of year. PS - Good to see another new "old-timer" from 2005. We should start a thread to help with support for those with the band more than 2 years. Don't get me wrong I love the enthusiasm of the "newbies" they frequently help kick my own lagging motivation up the rear and get me moving again on this path but sometimes it is also good to talk to someone else that understands what I'm going through at this stage of the game.

Welcome Aboard Nancy. It's good to see a new face from the 2005 crowd. Us "old-timers" still need support too.

Whoo Hoo!!! and Hip Hip Hooray!!!

I'm with the some of the above. I am determined this is going to be my last Weight related New Year's resolution. But alas, my resolution is to finally start some serious exercise as opposed to walking around a mall once or twice a week and calling it exercise. And to lose whatever remaining weight I decide I need to lose. Sorry about being so vague on the second one but I just don't know how I will know what my goal weight will be until I'm finally there. Right now it feels like around 15-20 pounds but I just don't know.

Hip Hip Hooray!! I can't wait to hear what you think of the photographer.

Thankyou for this post. I needed it today.

I completely understand your fears of the surgeon postponing the surgery and having to prolong this "torture" of liquid diet. But as Wasa said this pre-surgery diet is truly not intended to be torture but to help prepare your liver for the surgery. In the long run if the doctor reccomends a small delay isn't that better than the possible complications? Or even just the added anxiety you will have going into surgery not knowing if what you did could negatively impact your surgery. I really know it hurts to consider, but please, be honest with your surgeon, COMPLETELY HONEST. He may still clear you for surgery on Friday and then you can go in without that added stress. Even if he decides it is better to delay the surgery maybe it is more likely that it would only have to be delayed a couple days as opposed to having to start from scratch. You've heard my two-cents. I know it isn't what you want to hear. But it is the safest medical choice. Still no matter what you decide I will be praying for a quick and successful surgery. See ya on the bandside!

Good one Jack (as usual) If the Lakota can actually pull this off and stand on their own two feet as the independent nation that America claims to officially acknowledge them to be, then I say all the more power to them. I do not see this as them calling sour grapes over what has happened in the past near as much as I see this as them trying to take responsibility for their own future. I wish them nothing but the best. And dare I say "H..E..Double Toothpicks, if Clinton (or possibly Obama) win I just might have to consider renouncing my own citizenship and joining them.":heh:

Update on holiday. Stayed at sis' house. We acted as if the conversation never happened for the most part. Though she wouldn't make a commitment until Sat. Afternoon as to wether or not she wanted to go ahead and Celebrate with Dad & us together. DH & I had decided if she didn't we would just drive the extra hour to his house so she was still holding us a bit hostage by not letting us know what her decision was. I know I probably should have just told her we were going and took the control out of her hands, but it was much easier to not have to travel and once she made up her mind we all did have a good time. It really is easier for me to deal with my dad in a larger crowd. .... Got to go In-laws are calling me back to their festivities. Much less stress but terrible Cookies. Suppose that is a blessing in disguise as my band is too loose right now. But that is for another thread.

Sorry all. I've been away from the internet. I'm at the In-Laws now so am able to catch up. As I said my DH & I live about 3 hours away from the rest of our family. (Both Sides) Mom - Great Relationship. She can drive me nuts but what parent doesn't. We talk multiple times a week. We can talk for hours and still not have a clue what we really talked about afterwards if asked. Dad - Not very good. We are practically strangers. Ever since I was in grade school I use to beg my parents to divorce. I hated that they always said they were staying together for the sake of us kids. Made if feel like it was my fault they were miserable together. After I moved out of state Dad use to get upset at mom & I's long phone calls and it was like pulling teeth to get him to come visit or to "allow" mom to come down. Now that they are divorced I'd love to just leave the relationship in his hands. I love him but if he wants a relationship I wish he would work for it. Unfortunately my DH makes me maintain at least some contact with my father even if he doesn't call first. I think I have seen him maybe 3 times this year and spoke on the phone less than once every 3 months. Usually only when a holiday or birthday is emminant and we can no longer put off the call. Sis - (only sibling) in School we HATED each other fought like cats and dogs. We are complete opposites. She is skinny fit and very vane. She has the attitude that she doesn't want anyone around unless everything is perfect. I would rather have fun with people I enjoy rather than worry about getting everything perfect for them. In recent years we had been getting along rather well surprisingly. Though we only see each other 3-4 times a year and don't get to talk too often as our schedules conflict. But ever since she reconciled with Dad she seems uncomfortable with the idea that I haven't. I know it would make more sense that I'd be jealous of her relationship with him but for some reason I'm not. I've never had one with him and at nearly 40 I don't really care if I ever do. I just don't see the need.

Well, I called her. I should have called as soon as it started to bother me instead of waiting a couple hours. Instead I ended up stewing over it until by the time I called her I was practically shaking and ended up crying before I could even explain why I was calling. I told her that even though part of me understood her reasons which were more complex that I had posted, and not all to do with me or my issues, I was still hurt by what she had said. Of course someone had to walk into my office while I was still crying/talking to her. I am one of those people who cry when what I really want to do is punch a hole in the wall (or a face) but know I don't want to face the consequences of such an action. My sis apologized, said she still didn't know what she was going to do about the whole dad/me issue. I said I didn't want her to rearrange her plans just because I cried, but that she should think about how it looked. Knowing my sis, she'll probably stew about the call and then end up being mad right back at me. Uhghhh, I can't wait until the holidays are OVER!!!

Thanks LJM & Enterprise - I think part of me is more hurt than jealous or mad that my sis isn't willing to help make it less akward for dad & I by just letting us all celebrate together. My Christmas with him would be much better if she would just do it with us as our problems with each other (Dad & I) really are much easier to mask in larger groups.

:OFF TOPIC: Paulax, Enterprise I need your help - Please read and comment on my Rant over on the RNR board about my sis. Sorry to ask but I'm about to lose it here. Doesn't help I've had only 3 hours of sleep.