I'm still here

OH! And I forgot to say I turned 40 on June 19th, 2007

Hi Everybody ~ I am Lynn and I had my surgery one-year ago yesterday, on January 12th, 2007. I have lost 42 pounds which my doctor is very pleased with, but I would like to lose 15-20 more, so my plan is to bump up the exercise. He keeps telling me that when you have less to lose it comes off slower, but this has felt like watching paint dry . . . I live in the Houston area and was banded by Dr. Spivak in Houston. I can't say enough good things about him. I would highly recommend him to anyone (friends - family, etc.) who were considering the procedure. I have 2.5 ccs in my 4.0 cc band and have been trying to decide if I am a little too tight and need to have a tiny bit removed. I have an appointment to do that on Tuesday, so hopefully I'll know for sure what I want/need to do by then. My restriction has been 'finicky' these past few days and I need to be able to get a little food down, preferably before 9PM at night! I am hoping things will level-out and take care of themself with no intervention by me . . . we'll see I guess. I too am glad to find this group - there is great support on this board. Good night ~

I agree Julie - CALL the nurse !!!

I think you are ENTITLED to a pity party honey! I'd be having one too if I were you . . . I can NOT imagine going through all you have and staying as 'upbeat' as you have been. It is time for your body to say, "damn girl, give me a break!" ha . . . I know you will feel 100% again soon and just think, when you do - you are going to look FABULOUS! I wish I had as much of the journey under my belt as you do, but until I do, I'll just keep reading yours. You are an amazing book of information; and as I have said before, I so appreciate your willingness to share. Rest as long as you need to and feel better soon! We are all rootin' for you!

I hope I didn't over-do it . . . I just did 40 minutes on my treadmill and so far feel great! I have been fighting a sinus infection and didn't feel like working out yesterday, so I pushed it a little today. My plan is to start out slow, walking 20-30 minutes a day for the first couple of weeks and then add time and increase the incline. I would like to lose about 10-15 more pounds and don't think it is going to happen without exercise . . . .

I forgot to say that the doctor told my daughter that the worst thing for her incision was the SUN. She told her to use a moistuizer with SPF on her incision whenever she is going to be outside for the first year . . .

I heard that same thing yesterday from another surgeon . . . I took my 14 year-old daughter back to see her surgeon for a 2 week follow-up appt after she had a cyst removed from her throat. She asked the doctor how soon she could start putting "Mederma" on the scar and her surgeon said the same thing - that there really is nothing that works to make the scar less visible. I wish she hadn't told her that, because my daughter had in her head that it would help. As it is, she looks like she survived a mugging and ended up with about a 2 inch scar right across the front of her throat! I am sure with time the swelling will go down and the incision will be much less noticeable, but my teenager wants it gone YESTERDAY! I have used Vitamin E oil on my band incisions and after a year, all but the port incision are barely noticeable. I bought Mederma, but didn't like the way it smelled.

I'm in too . . .

OHHECKWHYNOT ????? OK - I am in too !!!! I need to have to answer to someone with regard to my exercise routine (or lack of) and maybe if we have something sort of 'official' that will keep me honest. :bandit Just let me know what I need to do to get in on this challenge. I think it will be fun and motivating to all of us. Afterall . . . we are all in this together. There is no way someone who isn't banded could ever understand any of this, right ??? :phanvan My poor husband tries, I'll give him that . . . Ok, so here's to 2008 . . . It is going to be OUR year !!! :clap2: Yay us !!!

Chickie ~ Would you mind sharing your specifics about the TT? Your tummy looks awesome! How much did you lose before TT? Etc. Anything that you don't mind sharing I'd love to read. I am really considering this procedure. Thanks, Lynn

I want that tummy!!! :clap2:

Julie ~ I am sitting here reading your recent posts and found myself smiling . . . It occured to me that you describe your PS experiences the same way I would, say . . . . a mani / pedi appointment . . . ha :eek: You are a real TROOPER honey !!! You're courage is amazing and your willingness to share your journey speaks volumes about the kind of person I just bet you are. I wish we lived closer, I'd like to hang out with you. I bet we'd be friends . . . Thank you for answering so many questions for so many people and, in a large way, taking some of the fear out of it (PS) for alot of us. I am going to schedule some consult appointments after the first of the year, but I am not sure I would have, had I not been able to read all of your experiences. Thanks again for sharing, I will continue to follow your and enterprise01's journeys. Good night ~

I am curious about this procedure too . . . I am anxious to see what other bandsters have to say. Thanks for posting this question. Merry CHRISTmas !!!

Ohhhh - I feel for you . . . DRAMAMINE worked wonders for me, both during my second pregnancy (my doctor recommended it) when I couldn't take the 'big' stuff because of my little one at home that needed to be supervised and also after my band surgery. You can find it almost anywhere - Wal-Mart, Target, Wal-Greens, CVS, etc. I buy the generic brand at Wal-Mart and it works just fine. I hope you feel better soon . . .

I am in awe of you Julie! Congratulations . . .

Honey! Look at you !!! Awesome . . . :clap2:

Fully clothed in my docs office too . . .

I hate that! We had a family of reindeer (that my uncle who is now deceased made for my kids) stolen from our yard a few years ago and I think about it every year at this time. I swear if I ever see those adorable reindeer in someone elses yard it won't be pretty. I agree with what has already been said - file a police report first and then wait for them to come back . . . Paintball gun, airsoft gun, Water hose - I made those threats when our house kept getting 'wrapped' with toilet paper a while back and amazingly . . . it stopped. I think my teenage daughter put the word out that her mom was not laughing anymore.

This one brought a smile to my face . . . my kids are older, but I remember these days. Merry Christmas . . .

Your arms are so TINY !!! You must be sooooo pleased . . . I can't wait to see them in person soon at one of the meetings. :clap2: Heaven help you with that compression garment - that thing resembles a straight-jacket . . . :omg: I can't even picture in my head how in the world you are getting in and out of it on your own - ???

Yeah - I definatley (sp?) got the feeling something had happened . . . I was there and everything was FINE exactly ONE week before . . . It just makes me sad - she was always so awesome to me.

Me TOO! It was soooo wierd - I was there on a Tuesday and had a fill but needed more, so I called the following Tuesday, asked for Patricia and was promptly told 'she doesn't work her anymore . . . ' I said, 'excuse me?' Again, 'she doesn't work here anymore, can I help you???' I was so shocked and disappointed . . . And perplexed ??? I asked Leslie what happened, but didn't get any info from her.

Talk to Wanda Chase who is the director of Dr. Spivak's wellness program. Call Dr. Spivak's office and ask them how to connect with her. There is also a patient of Dr. Spivak's who posts on here and just had surgery with Dr. Heller. Her screen name on here is enterprise01 . . . Go to the plastic surgery thread and look for her thread on there . . . I'd give you the link to it, but I don't know how. Wanda leads the support groups at Dr. Spivak's office on Tuesday nights - she is very open about her surgery and I am sure would be happy to talk to you. Dr. Spivak is my surgeon too, isn't he the best?!!!

I agree with everything you said Tonya - 2008 is going to be the year !!!

I have wondered the same thing . . .