wish412

I have been banded since June of 2006, so I am working on 7 years. The first six were a breeze, maintained my goal weight for five, after reaching goal almost within a year,,but now, here I sit, 40 lbs heavier in the last six months due to 2 complete unfills lasting 4 months all together. One due to to severe reflux, the other due to a life threatening episode with multiple pulmonary embolisms, which also led them to see that my esophagus was huge during a ct scan, so again, another complete unfill. I have had 1cc put back in, and the next fill is Wednesday, so I feel as though I am starting all over again too. So I will also take suggestions along with you, and maybe we both can get ourselves back on track,,maybe we can be of help to one another !!

Congratulations on your wight loss and upcoming tummy tuck,,,,having read your post I thought I could offer you this advice, having gone through the surgery after a 100 lb weight loss,,,,,,,you will not be able to sleep laying flat for some time after the surgery,,I slept in a recliner first then graduated to a bed with my legs propped up on pillows to take the strain off of my lower stomach,,so I suggest you figure out exactly where you intend to sleep, and go ahead and start sleeping like that for a few days prior to your surgery,,,if you don't your back will hurt so much from the change in sleepin position that you will not be able to really get any rest...my back hurt me worse than my front did till I got used to the new sleeping position. I had to sleep like that for about three weeks till I could actually lay straight out again....good luck, and post before and after picks,,if you have any questions feel free to ask!!!!

I am right at four years out to the day,,and have always been called the model band patient,,lost my hundred pounds right off the bat,,the next year got tummy tuck for all the skin issues,,and always stayed the same weight give or take 1 to 2 lbs, for the last 2 years. Back in March I was traveling, and either food or something else caused me to have the worst night of nausea and vomiting,,the shakes, and inability to sit up for about 12 hours,,that hard vomiting from the bottom of your tummy, and this is the first time I have done that since my band. I don't know why, but I just felt something had gone crazy inside, but when I got back in town, I called my doc,,talked to the nurse. She said since I was so far out, that I had enough scar tissue to hold it in place,,but since I could eat and drink,,she didn't suspect any trouble. Well,,,,boy can I eat,,,,and eat and eat!!...I stay head hungry all the time,,my stomach growls again after years of not,,and I have gained nearly ten pounds. I felt I should get it xrayed, but she said it didn't sound serious, so I am just waiting it out. I can eat foods I haven't eaten in years, and haven't pb'd but once since the incident,,but my stomach wakes me up at night with pain if I lay on my side very long at a time... Sorry this is so long, but I need to hear from folks that have had serious vomiting incidents and how it all went after that,,I really am scared to go to the doctor in case I have to lose my band..my insurance won't pay for another one,,any help out there......:eek::thumbup::cursing:

Run jmunk run!!!!!!

Well, that could also depend on whether or not you come home with drains or not,,they are hard enough to deal with under sweats and baggy stuff,,I could not even attempt to put on regular clothes till they came out, and it was still a bit before anything tight went over that incision,,,but you just have to follow what your doctor recommends for your individual type of incision,,all seem to have different approaches to the healing process..best of luck to you, and enjoy that new shape!!!! Miz-boo

If I may throw my two cents worth in here,,,I travel quite a bit, flight, and by car,,and have never had to have an unfill, or even noticed a problem except for two occasions. Once while in Maine I went to an ice cream place, and forgot that I had one of those tummy trimming undergarments, and could not even get icecream to go down,,so while eating, don't wear restrictive clothing,,will squeeze what may already be a tighter than usual band go crazy,,,the other time I was in south Louisiana and had way too much shrimp and cajun stuff, and threw up for two straight days,,thought I was gonna die alone in a hotel room,,so alway make sure you travel with the liquid phenergan or some other anti nausea meds from your doctor so that if you do get sick away from home you can get some relief before the vomiting causes a slippage. Your doc will gladly give you something to carry with you when you travel. I got patches when I went deep sea fishing, but did not need them. Hope that helps some,,and have a great time catching up with friends, don't let the band even be an issue!!!!!!miz-boo

This is just a thought, but after my tummy tuck, when the drains were removed, I too continued to swell, and actually developed a rather uncomfortable pocket of fluid below my belly button. My surgeon took a huge needle(looked like a turkey baister to me), and drew the fluid out. It was a LOT!! After that, no more swelling,pressure, and the recovery finally moved right along. That was at about three weeks out,,so you might have them check you for a fluid pocket...Again,,just a thought,,,,,,

So you are saying that anything you can puree will be ok to do while going on liquids for a streched pouch? I was reading and when I read the post about the bra feeling uncomfortable, I knew why I have been really hungry, can eat a LOT at one time, and only get hung up every blue moon or so.. I am going full liquids for a while, haven't had a fill in a year, but have 3.2 in a 4cc Inamed and want to control this thing without running for a fill all the time. How long should it take for your pouch to stretch, cause all this eating makes my back hurt between y shoulder blades and is quite worrisome....MIZBOO

I am about 2 and 1/2 years out, and I can say that this has not been the easiest thing I have ever done, but it certainly has been the most satisfying to my heart and mind. I am so pleased with my success, haven't had any problems, had a tummy tuck after I lost 100 lbs. and never regret it for more than a few minutes while I wait for that too big a bite to go down. Best thing I ever did for myself to improve my self respect. Never looked back,,,,,miz-boo

Have they added some new people there, I only remember Tammy, Deb, and Betty. Deb was Keilins nurse, Tammy was Hekiers. This nurse practitioner thing is new to me, but I haven't been in quite a while now. I am sure they had more patients than two nurses could keep up with. Let us know how your fill works out for you.

I paid 7000.00 in Texas for mine, planning on getting the boobs reduced and that will be another 6000.00. If it goes as good as the tuck did,I won't miind dishing out for it.

Just to add my two cents worth,,I also had a bad experience with Dr. Hekier, resulting in my not EVER wanting him to see me again, I ask only for Dr. Keilin now, and it seemed ever one in the office seems to tiptoe around him, because they never would bring it to Dr. Keilins attention as we requested be done. My husband was furious, went to the clinic, and was told something would be done to let him know he overstepped his bounds, but nothing ever was said to him or anything else was said to me about it. I really have a wierd feeling about going to support meetings now because I do not want to run in to him, and am really dissapointed in the staff for not standing up for me when they agreed with me that he was very out of line. Oh well, that is my rant for the day. By the way, now that St. Micheals has taken over Wadley , what will that mean for Lapband surgeries , and Wadleys center of excellence status . I think that was some big deal in getting approved for Medicaid payment for lapbands. Also, since Keilin went to St. Micheals, and Hekier stayed at Wadley, how will all of that play out. They are still the only doctors that know anything about lapband patients who may wind up in the E.R. for something. Again, I ramble on.......

I am with you aligamamma(sp?) I need to try to make it to the meetings more often, just went through a time of sort of being bored with it all, but I need to get my head back in the game and lose another 10 lbs. I haven't been since after recovering from a tt and just sort of got my mong on that and off the band. But had a small fill in Febuary I think and am still very tight, but not losing any weight, not gaining though so all is still good. Hope to see you there next month. Mizboo

Is it just me or is there anyone else who finds it difficult to eat while seated, or while traveling in the car. I seem to have a lot of trouble with this, but if I get up and walk around or get out of the car and stand up, the food goes on down. I am almost 2 years exactly out, and this is really getting frustrating......anyone have any suggestions???????Mizboo

I gues it has just started since my last fill in January. I also had a tummy tuck last November too, so I really thought it was due to that, but that is all healed and it got worse when I got just a tweak fill in Jan. Some days it is better than others, but I have only lost about 2 pounds since that fill. I am lower than my goal now, but still not satisfied with the shape of things, and a bit too much fat still.

Julie, not to even hint that I know were you are within your depression, but just as an observation from one who has battled depression since a total mental collapse in 2004, it really seemed that I was over all this, had seen my therapist for what I hoped was the last time, off all meds, and so happy with my weightloss from the band, and then as a treat for all my hard work, I scheduled a TT. I thought I was on top of the world, surgery went great, wonderful results, a bit slow I thought with the recovery, but now I realize that that old feeling of the blues is back. Do you think maybe all the excitement over getting FIXED after all that work could posibly lead to a huge mental letdown when after all that and you have shopped till you are bored, it seemes life is really NOT all that different like you thought it would be. I personally am trying to figure out what the crap I have to be so down in the dumps about!!!!! Hope you pull yourself up and out, and I will try to do the same. Just glad to see that I am not a freaky thing that gets down after geting what they wanted for so long!!!!!! CHin up girl, you are our role model!!!!!! MIZBOO

I had a Tummy Tuck with muscle repair the first week of November, 2007, and here it is now 3 months later, and I wish I could say that it is just a memory, but NOT!! The pain was totally tolerable without meds after 2 days, but those drains gave me fits. I could not sleep in my bed for a couple of weeks, since the drains came out on day 10, and then I got some swelling and had to be drained a few days later. Not painful though, just a nuisance. I could stand up straight by Thanksgiving, as a matter of fact I had my family over for the day, but was so tired, and was bent nearly over by the end of the day. Each day got straighter, but the tiredness still continues to plague me. I feel fine, look great, just a sort of pale white color, and not enough energy to get my house cleaned. I really think it is the winter blues more than any thing else. I am sure you will do just fine, and you will LOVE your new body. We all heal different, so let us know how you are getting along. MIZBOO:lol:

Good Luck to you, and God speed in your recovery. Get well and come tell us all the details, because as you know...inquiring minds absolutely have to know!!!! MizBoo

Julie, I hate to be a pest, but I feel you are the most forthcoming person about this subject by far, what with all the notes, pictures, etc, so here is another question. It has been 6 weeks for me now since the tt, but I still get so tired, and by the end of the day my tummy is bloated, and my upper back aches. How long before you felt like you could go full throttle again? I really need to get back to the gym, but am just not 100% yet. Any advice...... MIZBOO

Thanks for asking Sugarbear, I am doing great..3 weks out now. Went to the doctor on Wenesday, and he said I have just done perfectly, and can go back to the gym on Monday, but I am about to have a new Grandbaby this weekend according to the Ob/Gyn and I may be too tied up to work out. Recovery has been fine, had Thanksgiving brunch for family, anly missed church 1 Sunday, and had family get together last Saturday, so things are fairly normal. My tummy looks unbelievably flat, no stretch marks, and my pants went from 10/12 to 6/8 in just 2 weeks. I have lost 8-10 lbs thru it all, nice perk also. I will post pictures soon as I can get hubby to take some and figure out how to get them on this site. MIZBOO

Did they say what might have caused it to flip so soon after surgery? I really thought they stitched them down pretty good,,,on all four sides,,,,,so they wouldn't move. I am 1,1/2 years out and still worry that mine might flip over. Ever since I had my tummy tuck it feels like it is laying different in my abdominal wall, maybe because they pulled the skin downward from around it,,,, just wondering.....Mizboo

Dr. Hollingsworth did mine, and I must say, that it really looks good!!! I would have been happy with even poor results, but except for some swelling in my upper abdomen, it is even hard to tell I had it done with panties on. I go back on Monday and will probably have to have some fluid drawn off cause the drains are out and their is still some fluid being made and no way out. Sugarbear, when the time is right for you, I highly recommenr him for yours. Talk to ya'll later. Dotta get a nap in cause you can't sleep long at night flat of your back and unable to sleep on your side. MIZBOO

No , my insurance didn't pitch in, because I was too impatient to wait for all the required rashes, infection, etc. they wanted documented. Then after all of that they would only cover what is called a panniculectomy, which is just lopping off the apron stuff, and not repositioning your belly button, and really dressing the area up to look it's best. So I coughed up the money and got it over with. My belly button had just disappeared in my folds of skin, and now it looks like it did as a youngster. I am very pleased so far, even though I am still soooooo tired. Hopefully I will get some pics soon, if it won't gross ya;ll out..........MIZBOO

the tuck was 7000.00 for everything, and had it done locally, so that must be about average. it all was fine, recovery is just harder than expected. But my tummy is flat as a flitter as they say. He removed 3.5 lbs. of skin and fat from just my tummy, and that was quite a bit from what I have read. I will keep you posted. Thanks, and I am really glad to have that done, now on to the saggy boobies. MIZBOO

Had that tummy tuck I have been dreaming of so now I can't keep griping about that tummy that looks more like(as someone else said) their hubby's scrotum than a stomach!! Right now it looks like I had a run in with Jack the Ripper, but got my drains out yesterday so I feel like a new person now. Most all of the pain is from the drains and not the incision as it is fairly numb and will be for a while. I will keep ya'll posted on my progress. Hope all is well with you all, and sorry about missing the meeting last week, just wasn't up to it as that was 1 week since surgery. What did they give away this month, and did anything new happen. Oh yes, how does Mrs. Betty's neck look since her smart lipo work? Talk to ya'll later, I have a fill appt. on Monday, but with all this swelling I have so much restriction I doubt there is any way I will get one this time. Oh well, see ya'll MIZBOO