loridee11

Hi Lauren - Congratulations on recognizing this early on and asking for help. I can SO relate. 3 years ago I had a friend pass away and I fell completely off the wagon and gained 60 lbs back. Now I am trying to get back on track and it is so much harder with the time off. Take the advice of our fellow bandsters. Focus on your health --- food comfort isn't real, as soon as you are done eating guilt steps in.

Hi, I actually had the surgery to reduce the skin on my arms - and I recommend not to do it. For me, I dont' think the scars are worth it. I did read about someone who did 10-15 minutes of massage on the arms each day in addition to workign out and saw some good results with that. Good luck with that.

Hi Everyone, I had my band surgery just over 6 years ago. In the first 3 years I did great. I lost 145 lbs, was eating well and working out regularly. I had cosmetic surgery to remove extra skin and was doing great. Then I had some life issues and I stopped working out and watching what I ate (looking back I think I as depressed - but all that matters is I fell back into old habits). Since then I've had 2 deaths of those close to me and moved 3 times, one to a new state. In the last 3 years I have gained 60 lbs back. Part of that is due to the bad habits, and part because I had my band deflated due to night cough before i moved out of state. I have decided to get back on wagon and recently got a fill. I am trying to eat better and really trying to get back to working out. Since my fill I am good during the day. I have some restriction, but can still eat any foods I want and drink as much liquid as I want- just the quantity of food is restricted. However, after I stop eating at night liquid has a hard time passing, and I find that it sits above the band - and if I lay down I feel like it is coming up my throat. Any suggestions? I'd like to avoid an unfill if I can since my restriction the rest of the time is good. Thank you all! ~Lori

Hi All, I'm more than 5 years out with my band, and have a minimal fill (less than 2 in a 4 cc band) I am going to be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in January and am wondering if the altitude will effect my band? I don't want to get halfway up and not be able to eat or drink - but I also don't want to unfill if I don't need to. Anyone know? Thanks, ~Loir

Laura, Thank you so much for posting your pictures and your story. I've been going back and forth on this surgery and I have decided I can live with the thighs. THANK YOU! ~Lori

count me in! I've been at a plateau for a while now. I'm so close to being at goal this will hopefully give me the final push! I think I entered my info in the sheet right! 11 lbs, 3 months. I can do this!!! ~Loridee11

Welcome Viking-Girl, I'm local - in Sandy. I've had my band for almost 3 years and it is one of the best things I've ever done. Congratulations on making the decision. I can't help you with your decision, but i can tell you I slowly weened myself off the Diet Coke and I'm so glad I did. When you're healing the last thing you need to worry about is the withdrawal from caffeine! Let me know if you have any questions! Loridee

Hi Debbie, No coughing spells, and the only time I PB is if I'm really dehydrated because I swell then. Other than that I can eat anything I want, just in a reasonable quantity. I'm about 2 1/2 almost 3 years out. One thing, if you know you are overfilled, I would get a slight unfill. I found when I did that my weight loss picked up. You can eat healthier options (like chicken and veggies). When I was super tight I tended to eat slippery things which are generally higher calorie. Also, I've read that being too tight is one of the key causes for slips... ~Lori

J., I'm so sorry you're struggling. I'm almost 3 years post band, and it sounds to me like you might be a little overfilled. I know when I was overfilled in addition to coughing at night I would have days I couldn't eat, and days that felt fine. Having a 1-2cc unfill solved the problem. I still have help from the band, but no issues. ~Lori

Hi! I had a breast lift and tummy tuck done at once, and I'm so glad. The breasts were basically nothing... I barely noticed them compared the stomach. However, I will be having a second surgery for my back lift and lipo of my thights --- that would have been too much at once. ~Lori

Hi In need of, I had a tummy tuck almost a year ago (Oct of 08) and I am very happy with my results. However, I don't look like a lot of the before /after pictures. I have stretch marks that the surgeon couldn't remove. In addition, I need a revision because the Dr. couldn't get all the skin the first time. Having said that, I would absolutely do it again in a heart beat. I have a belly button, and it's not covered by a flap of skin. ~Lori

Hey Slimmy, I've been off the boards for a while, but I had my band 2 1/2 years ago. I've lost 145 lbs and am about 20 lbs from goal, although I'm pretty darn happy where I'm at. Being as far out as I am I can eat anything I want and can eat too much as well (I could get my band tightened but I get acid reflux if I go any tighter than 2.5 CC's in my 4 CC bnad). For me, the key to not gaining weight is keeping a food journal. I have an App on my phone which adds everything up and calculates exercise calories burned as well. One thing to note, I only weigh once a week because I get obsessed with my weight pretty easily. Your weight fluctuates daily naturally and so weighing daily can cause distress that isn't needed. Not everyone has this problem, but if you are weighing daily please watch yourself :scared2: ~Lori

Hey Karey, Thanks for your thoughts. Yes, Dr. Saltz is doing the revisions and I am confident he will do a fantastic job. I really am very happy with my previous results, this is just a small fix :crying: How are you doing? Last I read you were dealing with a slip - did that resolve itself? ~Lori

Congratulations Shalee! I'm glad to hear the second surgery was a success and that you are feeling well and looking fantastic. I'll be having revisions in December (I have what I imagine is the same butt scar at my T in my scar and the Dr. will be fixing that). ~Lori

I'm not sure exactly how to reply to this, because my initial instinct is that I am a perfectionist because for so long I was a the opposite end of the spectrum. I was always the fattest person in the room and now I am average... I'm still about 25 lbs from my ultimate goal but I did have a tummy tuck and breast lift six months ago, and I'm going to have the rest of the lower body lift and some revisions in December. While the decision to have cosmetic surgery was cosmetic, for me it really did make sense. I am 30 and I had rolls across my stomach that would never go away without surgery. Likewise, my breasts pretty much touched my belly button. However, I also think the other poster is right. At some point I'm going to have to really accept that this is me and I am okay. I'm struggling through that right now. I don't look bad, in fact I probably look damn good, I just need to realize that and accept myself. ~lori

Congratulations!!! I had a tummy tuck about 6 months ago and it is amazing how big a difference it makes! One suggestion I recommend is getting a second compression garment before surgery. You'll need to wear this for 6 weeks but I wish I'd had mine the day after surgery. One of my drains leaked (very common) and I needed to wash it. I swelled up while it was in the washer and dryer on day two and had a very hard time getting into it after. Other than that, just make sure everything is clean and that your pantry is stocked with stuff you don't need to cook. For the first little while you won't want to have to do anything. Oh! And a friend lent me a back massager which made a HUGE difference. Your back will hurt from being constantly bent over and this helped a lot. Good luck, and I know you'll love your results. ~Lori

Hi, I agree that it really comes down to expectations. I hope to have a thigh lift in Dec and even if they aren't perfect, if he draping goes away I'll be happy. Karey, I am so sorry about the slip! Hoping that it will fix itself with the unfill! ~Lori

Hi all, I've been banded for over two years now (wow!) and overall I am VERY happy. I've lost 140 lbs and am only 25 pounds from my goal. I even had a tummy tuck about 5 months ago and that made a big difference. I have found that I am having issues with my food addiction right now. I eat even when I'm not hungry (and I'm telling myself I'm not hungry the whole time I've eaten). In addition, I know I've got some body issues I need to work through. Anyone have a Dr. in the SL Valley they would recommend? I'm actually in Sandy. thank you in advance, ~Lori

Karey - you look fantastic! And I would kill for your arms, so don't be too hard on yourself. ~Lori

Well, the holiday's are officially over, but you wouldn't know it by what I am eating. I gave myself a little to much freedom and ate Cookies and candy and... end result being I gained 4 lbs over the holidays (Not too bad considering). Unfortunately, I am having a hard time getting back on track. I swear, once you start eating crap that's what you crave. So --- what are you tricks to get back to eating healthy? Any good/simple recipes to share? ANy mental tricks you use? Thanks in advance for your thoughts! ~Lori

Hey Crishell! My 2 year anniversary is Jan 11th. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I am about 8 lbs from my initial goal of 180 and am in my initial goal size of a 12 after my high of 330 lbs and a size 28. I had a tummy tuck in October and am feeling pretty good, although I definately got off track over the holidays! I've revised my goal for the new year and am now trying to get to 165 and a size 10 by July when I hope to have a thigh lift and finish my lower body lift. I'm 5'11, so at that point I will be on maintenance. I can't say enough good things about my band, and hope all my Jan'07 friends feel the same! ~Lori

Yeah, it's breaking through that inner fear that I'm not attractive and no-one would think I am... I've got to work on the whole smile thing. I've also been thinking about seeing a physchiatrist for a little bit. I know I still have food issues, and obviously I have body issues. Anyone know where to find someone who specializes in this type of psychiatry? ~Lori

Hey, I was banded in Mexico and had the same issue. I went with fill center USA. They have Dr.'s in almost all states who do fills. Just google fill center USA. ~Lori

I'm 30 years old, single, and have been overweight my entire life. I always told myself the reason I didn't date much is because I was heavy, but since being banded I've lost 140 lbs. I had a tummy tuck two months ago and look better than I did in high school. In fact, I'm down to a size 12 (5'11) and am in as good a shape as most women my age. However, I realize now I have no idea how to flirt or let a man know I might be interested in him. When I was heavy I was always turning my eyes down because I didn't want someone to think I was flirting with them. I thought they would laugh at me... like they could be interested in me. Unfortunately, this has carried over into the new me. Does anyone else find this problem? And if so - don't you wish they had classes on how to flirt? I am tired of being alone and am at a point where I think I could open up if I found the right man, I just don't know how to do that. I still find myself closing off people I don't know... Any thoughts? ~Lori

I agree with others that indicated you should have an upper GI, or at least check band placement under floro. Having a good portion unfilled and letting your stomach rest is a good idea, but if there is a greater problem it's better to know now, get it fixed and more on. ~Lori