BabyGotBack

I also found this on my Bandsters yahoo group: "I had to wear one of the abdomen wraps like you describe. I continued to wear it as long as I had port pain. Eventually I would only wear it at night because I had trouble with my port scar hurting when I rolled over in my sleep. I don't think I needed it after 2 weeks. Hope this helps." I wonder why some get one and some don't. I think it is definitely worth looking in to.

I was reading the posts of another board and they had two good tips. 1. In your morning coffee (since some people have trouble eating breakfast due to the band being tight) put in a scoop of chocolate protein powder. 2.At Wal Mart they have a creme called Scar Zone that helps with the scars, but also works very well with the redness and itchiness. She said it worked better with the itch than hydrocortizone, etc. I just wanted to pass this on!!! Audree

I belong to another group and found this post. Is sounds like she is wearing something like I wore after my 2 c-sections. "Besides my insides feeling a little topsy turvey I'm "awiiiight". I'm wearing one of those bands over clean white towels (removed the bandages) but the little sticky tape remains over the cuts. How long do anyone reccommend wearing this thing that feels like a waist girdle? When I take it off, feels like I been trhough a bad stomach workout routine, when it's on everythng seems to stay in order. Can I go a few hours without wearing it? I know it has a purpose, but......." Audree

Thanks,it worked!!!

I was just wondering if anyone who is banded had been advised to weat a medical compression garment or advised against such a garment. I had a tummy tuck 2 years ago and you have to wear one for 6 weeks to hold the incision and reduce swelling. I wore it 24 hours for 2 weeks and then for 4 weeks took it off to sleep. It made me feel so much better to wear it and if I took it off, I couldn't wait to put it back on. Here is a link to a website I found http://www.makemeheal.com/mmh/product/tummytuck/index.vm?procid=11 I was just wondering if I should pull mine out. I will also be asking my doctor. Thanks,Audree

Thanks Bandiva!!! I will have to remeber to ask for a room overlooking the pool. I am very sensitive to noise and a noisy street would drive me nuts!!! Was the spinach at the Lucerna? I love a good spinach salad! I heard that if you eat light and don't have a crazy last supper, you won't have bad gas pains. So, I want to eat as light as possible. Did you only eat the spinach salad before the banding? Are you experiencing gas pain? I am just wondering if it is true about eating light from the pre op to a light last supper and the gas pains correlation. I can't wait to have my awesome experience!!!! Audree

Let's make sure we keep each other accountable!!! I walked 2 hours at Ikea with my kids. I am tired. I also need to get my elyptical in from the garage!!!! What does everyone think about having a daily posting of our exercise and eating, etc??? Audree

Hey Guys! Jules: I love the idea of posting what we exercise and keeping each other to it! I took my kids to Ikea and walked around and chased my lil one for 2 hours. I hope that counts, it's more than I've done in a while. Ddee: Keep up the good work. You will heal soon! Do you where a compression garment? When I had my tummy tuck, it really helped me to where a compression garment (like a girdle) to hold my incision. It felt a lot better. I actually have my old one. Does anyone know if they advise us to wear one with this surgery? When I wore it, it helped with my discomfort and swelling, it felt like it held everything in and kept the incision in. When I took it off, I felt like crap. I had to wear it for 6 weeks, even slept with it for 2 weeks and then took it off at night. Maybe you can get one since you have a bigger incision. Even if mine is supposed to be laprascopic, I am going to ask my doctor about using it. They cost like $80 because they are medical compression garments. They are from the bottom of your bust to above your knees. It zips up the sides. Lab Rat: Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I am really enjoying meeting so many new people and look forward to getting to know you all! I start my pre op tomorrow!!!!!:clap2: Finally!!! Audree

Hi Lynn! Thanks for the encouragement and congrats on your weight loss! For me I will see it as a blessing if I can lose 2 pounds a week. I don't think I want to lose any faster because I don't want to have any excess skin. I already have had a few surgeries to nip and tuck excess skin from one time when I dropped from 240 to 145. I had major bat wings, my skin looked like hanging gum. So, I had bracheoplasty (arm lift) about 2 years ago. They took like half of my upper arm. Now, I need to tone them!!! I also had a tummy tuck and Breast Aug (before the arm lift). I do not want to have another surgery, that was more than enough for me to last a lifetime!!!!!!!:faint: So, I want to tone as I lose and I don't want to have hanging skin. I have heard there are creams and soaps in TJ that people use to tone skin. My friend had given me some and believe it or not it worked. Now, I will ask Dr. Ortiz and staff what they can recommend, if they know what cream and soap I am talking about. Also, has anyone heard of SKIN BRUSHING? I had read on it a few years back and just wondered if anyone has heard about it or done it. You are supposed to brush .your skin with natural boar brisel brushes. It is supposed to stimulate the skin and tone and tighten it. I am going to look into it again and post my findings here. Audree

Hi Liz! That is some of the best news I have heard!!!!!:nervous It is good to hear there are lower BMI bandsters who have lost at a good and consistent pace. I am doing my own little poll on how diet and exercise effect the weight loss and the rate of weight loss. Can you please tell me what kind of "diet", way of eating you followed? What I have found so far, is that those who stick to the doctors advice of prtein first and veggies/fruit plus exercise lose the best. What kind of workout schedule did you follow? Running, elyptical?? Weight training? Did the exercise help with exess skin? Did you use any supplements? appetite suppresants, vitamins, etc What kind of beverages did you drink? Thanks!!! Audree:clap2:

Thanks for the encouragement Jules!!!! Let's keep each other accountable for the exercise. I just can't see to do it. I always need a push and accountability. If I knew I had to answer to you guys to say if I worked out today, I would fee like I HAD to do something!!!!! Have a great day! Audree

I wanted to put something onto my signature using glittermaker. I copied and pasted what was in the 1st box, saying for websites, my space It was a really long code and it said it was too long. Which part can be put on, is it all of it? Thanks,Audree

Can you believe it is going to be 2007????? I can't believe it. I am finally going to be able to keep my New Years Resolution to lose weight "this" year and not ever gain it back!!!! I can really say it and believe it this time. I can really say I am going to get back to the gym and get firm and tone this time. It is going to change my life. I have no energy right now and would take a nap and go to bed early if I could. I get really cranky due to lack of energy. I always feel like crap when I don't exercise regularly. I was a few months ago, and fell of the wagon and couldn't get back on. What is your goal for weight loss??? Mine is hopefully 30 pounds by my 12 year anniversary on July 1st (do you think that is doable for a lower bmier in 6 months?) and the last 20 by my birthday on November 8. I think that is a pretty reasonable goal. How are we all doing on our preops? Mine starts tomorrow. I can have a protein shake for breakfast and a Lean Cuisine for lunch/dinner. I have been drinking my water and crystal light. Talk to you soon! Audree

Who else is beeing banded by Dr. Ortiz besides myself??? Audree

It's great to hear from you!!! I was starting to worry! I can't believe my day is coming, next Thursday I will be driving out!!!! YYYYIIIPPPEEEEE I am so glad to hear you are doing so great!:clap2: My pre op diet starts tomorrow! I can't wait! I am going to go to the store and get my Lean Cuisine's, look for a low sodium boullion at a health store, get my chewable gas x, liquid tylenol, etc. I never thought I'd say this but I am burnt out on regular food. I normally eat very healthy and on a diet, so my body feels so sluggish. I didn't get to start my exercise routine yet. I am going to go for a walk today, get my elyptical machine out of the garage and into the house :rolleyes I have been telling my mom and husband that I have been on the UN-Diet these last few weeks, just eating the things I never let myself eat normaly due to liveing my whole life on this diet to the next. I feel totally ready to take this journey. Thanks for taking it with me!!!! Audree

Thanks! It has been a while. My baby is 5 years old. Audree

Are these like the Mylecon drops for babies when they have gas???Audree

Let's all keep each other in our prayers!:nervous I am getting banded 2 daya after you! I can't believe it. I was orginally supposed to be banded on Dec. 18 and I never thought the day would come!! But, here it comes!!!! Audree

Sunshine: I will be in Mexico three days, I leave next Thursday, Jan. 4, surgery on Friday and back home on Saturday. Your day will be here faster than you know it!!!:bananapartyhat: Audree

DeckedOut: Thanks for the great advice and encouragement. Audree:clap2:

I beleive they let you use there phones to call home. I heard the hotel was 5 Star and immaculate. One thing I heard is that the mattresses are very, very firm, so I was thinking of taking my own pillow (Temperpedic). I called my Cingular carrier and they said if I add on a International plan for 3.99 a month (I can cancel anytime), I will have service and only 49 cents a minute. Audree

I am driving out of Rancho Cucamonga, CA Jan. 4, Thursday after noon to arrive hopefully about 6pm. My hotel accomodations are in TJ at the Lucerna Hotel. They will pick me up Friday morning. I will stay the night and go back home on Saturday. Where are you coming from and what are your plans? Audree

Susan: Are you going alone? You are very brave. I was going to go alone too, but my mom is going to go with me after all. I would love to stay in touch and compare our journeys. What day does Feg. 19th land on. I can see about going on that day too. :nervous Audree

I can't believe it either and I am getting very anxious. Now, I am just trying to figure out what to take so I don't get there and say "I can't believe I didnt take..." I am getting a little scared!!!! Audree

Man, I was on another thread and I questioned this advice, and an all out brawl came out of it!!!! EEEAAAKKKKKK The advice is actually from a British medical website. I think that advice is dangerous. Audree