wintobethin

I will try and answer all of your questions... Cost - FREE, insurance covered it. But I had to have reason besides hanging skin. I was having trouble with rash in summer. Pain - I had my surgery done Monday morning at 10:00, took no pain meds in hospital (they kept asking me). I have taken 1 1/2 pills since I have been home, today is Wednesday evening. I have a VERY HIGH PAIN LEVEL, which is good since I have had over 50 kidneys stones in the last 25 years!!! It is more uncomfortable then pain. The pressure garmets SUCK!!! I have one drain which feels like it is pulling all of the time, but I keep checking it and nothing is pulling on it???? I have to empty the drain several times aday, ugh! They told me to keep stupped over like a little old woman for a week so there is no pulling on the incision site. I have been sleeping on the sofa, esasier to get up and use the restroom. My appitite is good, too good! I stepped on the scales but didn't see any weight loss??? They took about 4inches of hanging skin off clear across by belly. I don't think they took pictures, but my husband did before I had surgery. NO I AM NOT POSTING PICTURS, SORRY, JUST SOME THINGS I WON'T DO ON THIS COMPUTER! I go back on the 30th of Sept. to have the drain removed and just general check from surgeon. I hope this anwers some of your questions. If I have missed some just ask. Oh, yes, I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN!:smile2:

I just had a Panniculectomy this past Monday 20th. So far I am happy with it. I just wish he could have done the TT as I wanted it done. But he told me that the Lap Band port was in the way and he would not touch that. I am in compression garments for 4 weeks and doing well. I was cut from hip to hip for the Panni with one drain. He did not have to move my belly button and I did not stay over night. I was given the choice to stay but I hate over night stays at hospitals, can't rest!!!! If you have any questions give me a shout!:rolleyes2:

We are retired Military and I have had a couple of major surgeries done by the military. I had a reduction done about 25 years ago and I have had many compliments on the quility of the work! So I have no fear of the military, bsides I have worked for the military hospitals and they pick the best of the crop out of med school.

Wow, you look GREAT! I am going in for my first appt. with plastic surgeon next Tuesday. It will be self pay, kind of scared on the prices, don't have a clue on what a TT cost???? Had breast reduction done about 25 years ago and loved the results, wish I had it done in high school. Wish me luck on this journey.....

I received my referral from my GYN for a TT. Went to referral office to get appt. with surgeon (military hospital). Was told I had to go off base. The next day the base referral office called and said they had an opening next week! I took that appt slot, now just waiting. I had heard from someone on this site that the base will charge you and it can be anywhere from $1800 to $8000!!! Is this true??????? :thumbup:

Does Tricare cover a TT at a military hospital?

Has anybody had a TT done at a military hospital and tricare covered it? They covered my band a year and half ago. Now I have a huge piece of flesh that hangs over my pubis.:biggrin:

I was banded a year and a half ago. Yes, my band did feel tight in the morning and I couldn't eat anything. My nutritionist told me to drink a glass of milk for my protein, that worked and now I am finally able to eat breakfast early morning

I told friends and family. Family is very upset with my weight loss and are not talking to me!!!!!!!! How childish is that, they need to loose a bunch too!!! I am proud of what i have done and don't regret a minute of it, so there!

I need some advice on how to handle family members who are jealous of my weight loss. MOST of my family members are way over weight, and now most of them have stopped talking to me and my husband. We have both lost 70+ pounds each. I had lapband 01/15/09 and he had the sleeve done on 02/16/10. We are so proud of our selves but some family members think we are cheating by doing the surgery. Please tell us what to say besides SHUT THE HELL UP!

I was banded on Jan. 16th and had a gain or two during this journey. It is okay, please don't be mad yourself. Hang in there and it will come off!!! I just went to see the diet clinic and she handed me a great list of foods high in protein, that helped alot. 2% cottage 1/2 cup has 9 gms of protein, plus I eat refried beans with a little cheese, love that for my lunch, just hang in there.

Hi everyone! Yes, I have finally made it over the hurdel, I am in 190's. I feel so proud and so does my DH! It has been years since I have been below the 200lb mark. I have lost 45lbs since Jan. 16, 2009. I have gone down 4 pants/dress sizes and have had so many compliments from family and friends. I attended a wedding last weekend and had gone and had my hair highlighted and walked up to one of my cousins who didn't even know who I was!!! She acted kind of mad at me for changing looks, oh well, I am soooooooo HAPPY, way to go Lap Band what a wonderful tool you are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:wink2:

How do you handle family and friends who are jealous of your weight loss? I had my band put on Jan. 16, 2009 and have lost over 40lbs. I had a cousin come up to me at a wedding yesterday and commented about my weight loss. She said "I heard you got the band". I don't see why you did that:cursing:!!! Look cuz I was 100lbs over weight!!!! Heading for Diabetis, and heart disease, no thank you!!! I told her how much less I was eating and she said well why couldn't you do that without the band? I had other people at the wedding tell me that I looked GREAT and that I was glowing:thumbup:!!!! I hope that my idot cuz heard the good comments! But, like I said, what is a good come/back to her! By the way, she is about 150lbs over weight or more:ohmy:! It just upset me a little of her negative attitude! She is in her mid 60's (age). Thank you!

Banded on Jan. 16th and have around 3.5cc in 10cc band. I still burp and fart like there is no tomorrow. Sometimes husband gets mad at me, but truthfully, I think he is jealous! I don't eat gassy foods either and it still happens, I can drink water and burp and fart from that?????

I received the (3) shots while I was in the hospital and that was it. Had to stay over night because of Sleep Apenea so on discharge they came in my room and shot me again before I left to go home.:scared2:

I was banded this past January and have had 4 IBS flare-ups with each one getting a little more painful. But I also have severe diverticulosis, so not sure if it is the band causing more problems or not?????? I did ask my surgeon before the surgery about the diverticulosis/IBS becoming worse and he said, there has been no studies done on this issue.:ihih:

I had my surgery Jan. 16, 09 and every fill I get is only 1/2cc, that is it! I go about every 4 - 6 weeks and the doc is very careful about the amount of fills he puts in. I am down 35 pounds.

Has anyone else gone through a COMPLETE Health Exam before the banding? I had to make sure my GYN exam and Colonoscopy were done before the doctor approved the banding! Anybody else had this issue before they were approved?

Had my gallbladder out 8 months before I had my Lap Band surgery. The doctor said that my gallbladder had so much scar tissue wrapped around it she thought she was going to have to do an open surgery instead of Laprascopic. Thank God she got it out and I was driving my car the next day! I was at church camp 9 hours from home when the pain hit. It was in the middle of the night and I thought I was going to die! My roomate got up and tried to comfort me and I told her to go back to bed, I would die in peace! LOL The pain under my chest was worse than child birth, couldn't even sit up!!!! OMG! Never would wish that on anybody!

I too am tricare and I am 5'4" 237, and was accepted at the base in Dayton. Only needed Psych, dietician, ekg, blood and that was it! Banded Jan 16, 2009, have lost 34lbs so far............

Hi Amie, I was banded at Wright Pat on January 16, 09. I have Dr. Dock. I really like him a lot and I have not heard of any complaints about him. There are two Lap Band docs but can't remember what the other doctors name is, sorry! I live in Franklin Township which is about a 40 minute drive to Wright Pat. We use the base hospital for all of our medical issues and have never had problems there. I found out at one of the Lap Band meetings and Dr. Dock was the speaker that they don't do tummy tucks, which I want done eventually. But, they will do them if you pay for it. hmmmmm, have to check that out, when I have my weight off. Dr. Dock does my fills and he goes SLOW at this, 1/2cc at a time, that is it!!! I think I am up to 2cc right now and doing okay, still not at the sweet spot thou. Good luck on your move and maybe we can meet someday! Jan

The first three times I had a fill my doctor used the lidocaine but this last time (Monday, May 11) he used a spray freezing stuff and that was it. I really don't think I need that either but that is how he does it. I didn't have any pain meds after surgery at all, could not believe how great I felt!!!!!!!!!!! Had gallbladder surgery last year and only took one pain pill the whole recovery time!

Thanks to all for your "HELP" in my freeze on weight loss. At least I know I am not alone in this battle! My first 30lbs were also from dieting NOT from the BAND!!! Come Monday morning at 8:00am I will diffently ask for a fill. Like I said he only puts in 1/2cc each visit, that is the way he does it and he won't change! I can't conplain as the band only cost me $15.00! Thank you Tricare!!!!!!!!!!!!:thumbup:

Has anyone else been stuck at a certain weight for 30 days with no moving on the scale? I was banded on Jan. 16, 09 and have lost 30lbs. but that's it! I have not lost anymore weight for over 4 weeks now. I am going in for another fill this Monday, that will make it 2cc. The surgeon is going VERY slow with the fills. I am just getting a little irritated with the slow weight loss. I do go to the YMCA, but haven't gone in over a week (putting in new flower beds, and yard work are ENOUGH for me at the end of the day)! My future daughter-in-law wants to get married in my backyard by the pond so I have been working my BUTT off digging and planting, but my weight won't budge!!!!!:thumbdown: Yes, I do drink my water.........

Hi Moondust, I haven't forgotten about getting together at the Dayton Mall, was just there today for a quick shopping spree (15 mins.) lol, but had to hurry home to fix dinner! See you soon! Jan