Karen12345

Hey Jill! Glad to hear you are doing well. I've started using the scar silicone tape today. It was very expensive but my doctor says it works. How many drains do you have? Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Okay, so I had the surgery 4 weeks ago and I still have a drain in. My incisions have healed beautifully and the Fluid is pretty clear with no odor. I went back to work after a week and I've been way too active since day one (moving around, getting up and down, driving, shopping, etc). I keep trying to quit but I can't. I get nuts. My mother died recently and my grown son isn't speaking to me and I'm feeling very depressed. I cry a lot and I'm not a cryer. I just don't feel mentally strong enough to go thru the nicotine withdrawal. The doctor is blaming me still having the tube on my smoking. I think it's more my moving around too much. Is 4 weeks really a long time? Has anyone smoked thru this and how was it for you. If you want to tell me all the dangers of smoking, please save it. I can assure you that my doctor, friends and coworkers haven't missed any of the horror stories. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

It took me 2 1/2 years. Some months losing a lot, some months not losing at all. I've kept tweaking my diet and cutting out things and adding foods that are nutritious. I've exercised regularly ( mostly walking) and I understand this isn't a diet. It's the way that healthy people live. It's just a tool. We have to decide that we are going to change our thinking and then keep working on that. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Yep! I did! I was 322 and lost 170 lbs and got down to my goal weight of 150. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I am currently in the heights but moving to spring branch for about a year to live with my brother and be able to save money for getting my legs and arms done by dr quiroz. Where did you have your surgery? Karen Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

So okay y'all, thank you so much for the encouragement. I quit smoking 2 days ago and got that final drain out today. My doctor had been so frustrated with my smoking, as she was pulling it out she was describing the horrors that would happen if I smoked a cigarette. As quickly as the Fluid went away when I stopped smoking, it would come back if I picked it back up and without a drai, it would be bad. So I'm not smoking! Feeling a little nuts but she assures me it's just the nicotine withdrawal. I am so happy to be drain free! Thanks again! Karen Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I tried cold turkey and I couldn't do it. Then they gave me Chantix and that was a nightmare. The doctor gave me Xanax to try to alleviate the side effects of the Chantix and that was horrible. I'm off both now and on Wellbutrin and I'm actually hating the cigarettes... I have a couple left and if I don't smoke them, I'm gonna throw me away tomorrow. Yeah, the compression garment does make it feel better in the beginning. Now I'm not hurting anymore, I'm just wearing a freaking tight girdle 24 hours a day! It's been a month. It won't be much longer for me. I really am starting to feel a little more hopeful. Keep us updated on how you are doing. Where are you? Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Hi Josie! My daughter lives about 10 miles west of Katy and that's quite a drive! I work days.... Let me know if you know of any good lapband support groups in Houston. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Thanks Jill and Tracey! Yeah, I have never had a problem with depression until now. I have this tube in me and I have to wear the compression garment 24 hours a day. I came to this site because others here understand all of this. It's really helped a lot reading what others are going thru and occasionally whining and venting. I'm used to exercising every day and I can't do that now. I know that as soon as I can go for my regular 3 mile walk, that I'm gonna be back to my normal happy self. Jill that's great you were ble to quit. How are you doing? Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I weigh every morning. I went a few months onetime doing the not worrying about it thing and after 3 months I thought surely I had lost about 30 lbs. to my horror I had only lost like 2 lbs. never again will I try that! I've lost 170 lbs. (was 322 now 150) so I figure that if I've got issues that allowed me to get over 300 lbs, if maybe I'm a little OCD about the scale it's okay. The trick is not getting nuts when it goes up a few pounds. I try to just keep on track. I try to think of what "normal" weighted people do. They go up and then they just watch it for a few days. Hope that helps. Be kind to yourself. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

What a great topic. I've been banded 2 1/2 years and been thru it all. I went for a period of months drinking daily but I stopped losing weight so I stopped that. I've lost 170 lbs and just got my abdominoplasty a month ago. They gave me oxycodone and I really think I started to abuse those so I stopped. I've gone thru 6 wardrobes in 2 years so the shopping thing almost feels like a chore now. I like to meditate like someone mentioned earlier. That's been the biggest help in changing my compulsions. But the food compulsion is definitely still there! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Josie, I'm in Houston and would love to meet. Where are you? I'm scheduled for the breast lift/augmentation and neck lift on Aug 9th. Still recovering from abdominoplasty. Karen Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Yay! Are you staying there at the recovery boutique? How is it? Do you have the morphine drip in your IV? Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I've lost 170 lbs and just had my tummy tuck here in Houston. I was prepared for lots of pain but it hasn't been bad at all. I went back to work after 10 days (half days only). I still have a drain in and I'm having to try to take it easy. That's been the hardest part. I'm going to Mexico for the rest of my work but didn't want to risk getting the biggest part done so far from home. The tt has changed my life! I can now wear cute underwear for the first time since being a teenager! And omg, belts! I just bought a couple and can't wait to go shopping! Karen Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Nope, they have a little cap on them and you empty them out. My Fluid is starting to come down after 3 weeks. Yay! Maybe I'll get it out this week. It really limits what I can wear with it pinned to me! I'm still wearing the compression garment for another month. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I can't wait to see your pics. I'm 3 weeks post op and had the same surgery. Horizontal and vertical. I'm doing great! Still have one drain in. Now that the swelling is going down my lapband port really sticks out! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Thanks y'all! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Limply? How did that happen Kimaly! Darn spellchecker! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Limply, good for you. I'm having a breast lift with implants and a neck lift in August and people give me a hard time about the neck lift but I have to see it all of the time and I'm paying for it, so I really don't worry about what others think. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Skinny Jill are you going to have the drainage tubes in? I'm 3 weeks post op and I still have 1 in and I'm still producing Fluid. But I don't have any swelling or complications. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I read that exfoliating the skin (I got those scrubbing mits at Walgreens) and soaking regularly in salt baths helps. Also getting all of your Protein is the best way. My skin was great the first 120 lbs lost but by the time I lost 170', it was a mess. I don't know how old you are or how much you have to lose... Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

I'm hoping to go in August. I don't have a date yet. Need to get them the down payment. Yeah, it was more in Houston for my stomach than it would have my my stomach and breast lift with dr Quiroz, but I was nervous and didn't want to travel so far. I don't have anyone to with me. The other things will be a breeze and I see now that I could have done this in Mexico and been able to travel. Let me know how it goes. Karen Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Kimaly, I am having a neck lift and breast lift with augmentation in August by Dr Quiroz in Tijuana. The total cost is $7900 with anesthesia and facility charges. It will be extra for the recovery boutique. I have a lot of hanging skin on my neck and my poor breasts are flat as pancakes. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Skinny Jill, my Surgeons name is Camille Cash. She's just great! Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

Danielle, I never found out how much weight she took off but I know it was a good chunk. I had been maintaining my weight for several months at 153 and then 3 weeks before my tt, I had a complete unfill. Due to nervousness about the upcoming surgery and finally being able to eat, I gained up to 165 on the day of my surgery. When I went home from surgery I was the exact same 165. So I don't know if it was swelling equal to the fat she took off or what. It's 2 1/2 weeks later and I'm down 5 lbs. Somthe answer is I don't know. She didn't tell me and I've never asked. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk