Kennedy Conway

I must be missing something with the web address for smartbandsters.com. Any help? Thanks.

Hi Dragonflygirl, I'm sorry that happened for you & hope you are recovering your energy & strength after you had it out. I'm looking to get mine out to but have relocated & haven't found a good surgeon within 4 hours drive yet. Best of luck on your ongoing journey to weight management. One thing I read today on the Biggest Loser newsletter tip for the day was: The Biggest Loser tip for the day - The First Step "Making peace with your body is the first step to a healthier lifestyle. Start with self-nurturing. Aim to give yourself at least 20 to 30 minutes of private time every day and do something that makes you feel better in mind and body." I don't suspect that is an issue but wanted to pass along the tip anyway.

Hi Lolagirlie, I hope you have found the solution to your painful port. I'm 1 1/2 years out & have EXCRUCIATING pain but I think I may have extenuating circumstances. Best of luck to you & please let us know how things went at the doctor.

My favorite is chocolate Unjury made with nonfat milk, sugar free English toffee syrup & LOTS of ice blended until it's a 'granita' consistency.

My choice was TELL NO ONE! What I do with & for my body & weight is my own business. Other people's opinions weren't my reasons not to reveal it. Part of my nature is one of self-containment & self-reliance. That figured into my decision.

I also had a lot of painful gas. I truly understand why babies with 'colic' cry. I felt like it too. Gas X didn't help, nor did any Fiber additives. I was told NOT to take them but I think every doctor is different. I had a LOT of 'productive burping' which is gross & 'sliming' which is even grosser. Now with no fill I have less gas & I'm taking care of business with healthy choices & exercise. While I still have EXCRUCIATING port pain so will have it removed as soon as I find a surgeon. It's been since September of 2007 so I think I gave pain a long enough residence in my body. I hope you will find some solutions & the best of luck to you.

Ditto for me. Sadly I'm 1 1/2 years out & have port pain but the gas & nausea have been better since I had ALL the fill removed. Throwing up is still brutal even with minimal restriction. Best of luck to you.

I have sympathy for your ankle swelling. I committed to my 20 minutes exercycle & some days my artificial knees 'bark' at me afterwords. Glad you're doing all the other exercises. Do you use the Swiss ball. There are some 'killer' exercise videos on sparks.com.

Wow, 62 pounds is great! Keep up the good work. Gentle hugs back to you.

Thanks for your response. I've had nothing but pain for almost 1 1/2 years. I have no fill, but the port area is excruciating. Best of luck to you.

I've had a CPAP or biPap for eight years. I won't even lean back in my recliner or say my prayers without putting on my mask. Four years ago I had a malfunctioning machine that put me into a coma for 5 or 6 days. I was intubated & had double pneumonia & a collapsed lung & got put on dialysis. It was truly unnerving & the machine I have now has an ALARM that goes off when it stops working. My most recent test was last month & during the 'testing' period I stopped breathing 100 times in 60 minutes. Exhausting. I never thought I'd beg to have my mask on but I did. Unfortunately losing weight did not lower my pressures. The machine is set at 25/20. Best of luck to you.

Congratulations on your success! I'm 61 but 'used to look a LOT younger'. When I got to my lowest weight people who had known me for many years started commenting that I 'looked' older. I finally realize I could respond with: "I may look older, but I'll LIVE longer".

No, I would not, nor would I recommend it to a friend. I'm sure my 'extenuating circumstances' have interferred & I'm waiting for a removal.

Yes, my band is unfilled & with diligence, planning & effort, I'm losing weight steadily again. Everything worthwhile in life takes effort. For me it's all about MIND SET!

Hi Roy, I wish you the best of luck & return to as much as health as possible considering your circumstances. I'm 61 years young & am sorry to have had it done. That's only my personal experience. Check my profile for details.

:confused: On my own with Portion Control & exercise had successfully lost from 406 in January 2007 to 346 in August 2008. I was continuing to lose weight but HUNGRY all the time. I had investigated gastric bypass in 1999 & again in 2002 but it wasn't a risk I was willing to take at that time. The complications for someone with Lupus were astoundingly bad.:thumbdown: I had a friend go to a lap band seminar in June of 2007 & told me all the WONDERFUL things they learned.:biggrin: I went to a seminar in July 2007. I scheduled my appointment the night of the seminar but with insurance approval I couldn't have the surgery until August. My rheumatologist warned me about lupus complications but approved me for surgery at my insistence(sp?). My bad! I flew through the surgery without a glitch & only MINIMAL pain. :thumbup: I continued exercising by walking 10,000 steps a day without fail & riding the exercycle for 25 to 30 minutes daily. I had a big adjustment with lap band eating. It was awful not being able to drink with a meal or immediately after meals.:eek: After a few months, my port began to protrude & be extremely painful. :crying: I continued to loose & reached 261 before I couldn't stand to touch my own port area with an elastic waistband. I continued to see the surgeon & he was wonderful. I had a CT scan to determine if my body was rejecting the port & while there was some slight inflammation, he didn't believe it was infected. He thought the port might need to be relocated. I gained back up to 300 pounds just to be able to 'pad' the port & be able to tolerate the slightest touch any where near there. He gave me a cortisone injection in the area surrounding the port. It helped for a few days until the numbing agent wore off. I'd planned to get another in October 2008, by then my weight was up to 320 & quite frankly I was embarrassed :blushing: to go in since the first shot didn't really help. I moved away from the area in November 2008. By January 2009 I gained to 333. Needless to say I was very disappointed in myself. Now I'm unhappy after having pain for 1 1/2 years. I'm looking for surgeon to remove the whole thing but finding it a difficult process. The one I visited wanted $1,600 for 'out of network' expenses & I paid a non-refundable $500 to have him scare me out of my mind with a potential 'disaster'scare story. I had an egd & there were no leaks or erosion but he wanted the full balance before he'd operate. I wrote a personal check but that wouldn't work for their 'office policy'. I cancelled the surgery because it seemed the primary concern was MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!! My wellbeing took second place to the $$$ discussion. To have the lap band surgery initially, my insurance covered EVERYTHING except co-pay. Medicare picked up most of that. Quite frankly, I was doing better on my own with diet & exercise & in retrospect, I realize that hunger was simply 'fat burning' off my body & a good thing, not something to AVOID AT ALL COSTS. By exercising my legs in the hot tub, walking & riding the bike 15 to 20 minutes a day, I'm back down to 318. I hope to find a surgeon nearby that won't be so focussed on the financing. It's not that I don't HAVE the money, it's a matter of principle with me to have my health as a doctor's priority. I have ZERO fill in my band now! Other than when I have the flu & have to vomit, I have no restriction at all for eating. It's painful to throw up because even with only the band in place there's still a minor restriction.:w00t: Anyone out there who has lupus & banded? Any recommendations for surgeons in the Las Vegas, NV or Phoenix, AZ area for having it removed?

Thank you Dennis for your response. I really appreciate it. It's good to know that it CAN be in place without a port. I'll have to investigate if my insurance will cover it. They were willing to cover the total removal so should be thrilled to remove only part of it because it wouldn't be such an extensive surgery. Good job with your 35# to go. Bravo for you.

Last Monday I made the decision to get on the exercycle when I first woke up in the morning (after a potty break). I was able to start with 10 min, advance to 15, then 10 twice in intervals because of my artificial knees. Thursday through Saturday I rode 20 minutes unbroken. This morning I made the mistake of doing some cleaning first & had to make it be 5 minutes, then 15 minutes then 20 minutes. As long as I keep moving, I feel good about my choices. Does anyone know HOW to insert the exercise measurement ticker here? Thanks.

I was surprised to see that someone else had Fluid retention with refined carbs. I thought I was the only one that did. It's actually worse for me than having salt. Thanks for sharing. Best of luck to those who are struggling. I hope you will find your personal solution. I know from personal experience: "When all else fails, persistence prevails!"

I'm new here & made an introduction in the proper thread. However, I have port pain ALL the time & am looking to get it out. Best of wishes to you & much success.

Unfortunately I had a benelli lift 10 years ago & following a nightmare of areola reduction, brutal scars & loss of sensation, I would NOT do it again. I wish you the very best in your choice.

I'm sorry you've had this awful experience. Unfortunately, I've had a similar one. My rheumatologist approved the band even WITH my having lupus, but in retrospect it was not the best decision. I hope you can find resolution.