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I dont have a fill yet, I can feel my port. Actually I can still see it pop out.. Like under my skin, not "really" popping out... you know what I mean... hehe

I react badly too to the glue on the bandages.... When I removed them ( a week after surgery as indicated) they peeled the skin off, so i was left with worst scars from that than the actual incisions. Maybe she developed an allergy?

yea! its kinda icky. i have chicken skin lol. it kindad freaks people out

Turn Loose The Kate. Oh, Yeah! I like that!

I have people that are telling me not to have weight loss surgery that has had it themselves and were successful. I can't understand why some individuals would discourage ME IN that way. They had it and did fine, so my question is why would they tell me YOU CAN LOOSE IT THE NATURAL WAY!!! I'M SO SICK OF HEARING THAT! WHY DIDN'T YOU LOOSE IT THE NATURAL WAY. SOME PEOPLE ARE SO FULL OF IT!!! I'M JUST SAYIN THAT'S ALL!!!

my neighbor was over swimming last wk - she's had RNY & has some excess skin - her suit was way cute, she got her's at: junonia online shopping for plus size women's clothing and activewear.

I have had a complete unfill twice, and still managed to loose weight. The reason is that I maintained my Bandster portions, and did what little I could to exercise. Your current issues seem more to be with your faulty thinking and relationship with food. If you could revise your thinking into seeing eating as self sabotage of the progress you have made to date, and recognizing that telling yourself "NO", you will not eat out of control, it goes a long way to help you through challenging times such as you are experiencing now. It is very easy for us to become our own "self fulfilling prophecy" when the self talk messages are negative in nature. If you dispair and tell yourself you have no self control, you will be correct, because you have given yourself permission to eat to your heart's content. If you tell yourself I will empower myself to maintain my weight, and not allow my faulty thinking with regards to food to rule me, then you will overcome your feelings of helplessness. The band is a highly self empowering tool. You have been quite successful thus far. Don't throw any of that success away because of your mindset. Remember, just because you can eat more than the allowed portion does NOT mean that you should. You can do this...if you want to. Only you can determine your path by your choices.

First of all, I never thought to myself, I may want it out before I ever got it. I did have some fears of course, I think that is natural. I know you are asking the people who wanted it or got it out but I wanted to tell you how I feel now that I am a couple months post op. I have absolutely no regrets at this point and I am thrilled I had the surgery. I was a person who for the last three years couldn't even yo yo diet. I was just heading up the scale period. Oral steriods for a skin condition and thyroid disease made it totally impossible to lose weight or even maintain weight. I am on my way down the scale and wouldn't change my experience so far for anything. Not saying I haven't worked hard for it because I have but at least now I have results which I couldn't get before. I think it is ok to be nervous and have fears but I also believe you have to want it bad enough and be willing to take whatever conseqences come with it (bad or good) and deal with it when it happens. If I have problems down the road then I will handle them when I get there. I hope you find the answers you are looking for and can decide once and for all if the band is right for you. Good Luck!

@@sbrick firstly thanks for posting this! I don't have any advice or experience regarding the switch from band to sleeve but your stats are almost spot on to mine in regards to your starting weight and your goal weight. Since you've not had any Fluid put back into your band can you start with that? It worked well for you once and it can again. Maybe do some research on other band specialists in your area and find one your comfortable with and start with a small fill and work your way back to that sweet spot and then you'll be back on track. If it were me that is where I would start. I think this would 1) help eliminate some of the stress you're feeling regarding whether or not you'll be approved. 2) if it does work then you don't have to put your body through another surgery. 3) if it doesn't work for whatever reason you haven't lost anything. These are just my thoughts and what I would do if I were in a similar situation. I've been on the fence for about a year now regarding having excess skin removed and actually this morning was doing some additional research on this. May I ask you a question? When they did your cosmetic procedure, I'm guessing by your post that they didn't remove any fluid that was in your band prior to surgery? Research and weigh all of your options before making a decision. You will make the right one for you I'm sure! Good luck with everything and keep us posted on how you're doing!

Sounds like your band is too loose. Is your band back to where it was before the doctor removed all of the fill? Eating dense proteins first is a good start to control hunger. What does your doctor say?

Hey Everyone! After a good night of rest, I am feeling so much better!!! Dawg & P'Nut: Good call!! You were right on with the diagnosis!! Next time I'll skip the long 6 hr drive to see my Doctor & just consult YOU!! Sunta: Thanks for being so concerned about me!! I saw that you checked back here several times. So sweet of you!! To answer your question about the blockage - Once the saline was taken completely out of my band & I drank the Water, everything that was blocking the way went right through. The doctor said that the skin of the hotdogs do not chew well even if you chewed them 100 times. They're just rubbery & it's like I had a rubber stop clogging my band. He suggested that if I really wanted to eat another one to peel the skin off first. I assured him that I would just completely stay away from them!! I DO NOT want to go through that again!!!!!! Just to clarify, the hot dog was probably long gone from my throwing it up. However, the swelling, inflammation & bleeding had already gotten to the point of no return & the band had to be unfilled to fix the problem. After reading other posts about several other people who have had slipped bands, I feel VERY, VERY blessed. I don't know why or how come mine was just blocked!! The black vomit to me was a dead give away that my band had slipped. I think it was all the prayers & white lights everyone sent my way. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! My doctor didn't charge me for the visit either!! I only had to pay $30 for the needle. That was also a blessing. After weighing in this morning, I gained back 2 lbs. from all the milkshakes, cream Soups, ice cream & yogurt I ate. Oh well!! They sure did taste good!! Anne - So sorry you had to have surgery for your slipped band!!! Did you by chance eat a hot dog?!?!?!?!? :speechles Here's to a fast recovery. I am officially banning Girl Scout Cookies & Hot dogs from my diet for the rest of my life!!!

hey bright i know exactly how you feel about 'feeling like your failing' i still feel just as fat as i was in may! everytime i see a person i havent seen in a while and i get that 'you look like your loosing' i smile and say thanks but i dont feel it! we'll get there!

I HAVE A DATE!!! JUNE3rd!!! Its been a battle for 8 months now with insurance Co./ I gave up & said "I win!! I'll pay for the darn thing myself!." So that is what I will be doing. I already gave the old MC a swipe yesterday & put done the $5200.00 to start & hopefully that wedding gown will sell soon & maybe a few other things:0) I start the liquid phase on friday & will be doing the full two weeks even though the Doctor only requires two days of a fast. I just got off the phone with my Mom & finally decided that I am done deciding--i.e. I have been thinking this thing to death & its not only holding up my life in general but also I've been gaining more while waiting for insurance & other monies. Enough was Enough:0) The only other stummper was my Doc yesterday suggested the RNY. Showed me AMAZING photos & said I would be 100 pds down in 9 mnths & because I was young & relatively healthy that I was a great candidate. He said the way he does it there is no malabsorbtion & that skin will sag because of stretching & age, not how fast you lose it. Not only that it would be $2500.00 less because the hospital (believe it or not) is less than for the lapband. He went over all the problems the band can raise & said he has just fond that his RNY patiences have much greater success than his band patiences do & in a Much shorter period. I must say he maid Excellent points & had me thinking for the last 12 hours. BUT I am done thinking- Its the band for me! I know its harder than RNY ( both R hard- I know)- But I think that will make me feel more successful in the long haul(At least I hope) Also even though he said RNY was reversible - the band is so much more easy to reverse. It took awhile to put the weight on so two yrs to take it off isn't all that bad. Plus I would be able more readily to have a child quicker w/the band they say because of it being adjustable. Can you tell I am still nervous on my decision?? Nervous & happy at the same time has I am sure all of you were. You know some of my decision process was made WITH YOU GUYS in mind. Its true - I thought "what about my band family?" They have been the best support I have had so far! I mean it- I know when the poop hits the fan- my internet family will be there. Since I am a "closet bandster" that support is all the more important to me! Thank you one & all! So let the count down begin!!! ((crying)) I have made the commitment & I"LL SUCCEED!

I tried my best to go for walks at the park a few days after getting home on 4/15 surgery date was 4/13. I could say I was walking 30 minutes 4 times a weeks. After my post up 2 week follow up I was approved to start doing exercise such as walking on a treadmill and elliptical. However, I've felt really lazy and tired a lot more than the first few days after surgery so haven't really done much exercise. At my last appt I was told I was slightly anemic. I'm worried that maybe i'm more anemic as I am having symptoms like pale skin, dizziness, and am so tired! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Mine is right below the 1/4" layer of skin. It sticks out like a big lump! Like there is a golf ball there. I can rub my finger around it and feel every nook and cranny, including the tube. But that's what happens when all the fat on your belly disappears, and your stomach gets rock hard.

As my day draws closer, the more nervous I get. I know that it will be worth it all in the end. That is the only thing that is keeping me from canceling the surgery. It doesnt help that my support group thinks that maybe I should try one more time to loose the weight without the surgery. I coming close to being my highest weight, again.... I have never been sedated before. I am a control freak and being sedated is not an easy idea for me to get use to. I know the day of the surgery I am probably going to make myself sick worrying. Now I wouldn't say that I am eating everything in sight. I do have that mentally of I gotta eat this before I am not able to again. On Friday my hunny is taking me out to dinner to celebrate Valentines Day and the last Big Juicy Steak I will eat for a very long time, if ever. My doctor has not put me on a diet before the surgery. I would like to say today was SIX WEEKS without a cigarette!!! My motivation to quit was the surgery. I was fine with the cravings till today when I worked my mind into a nervous frenzy about the surgery. Its funny, what made me quit is what is making me want a drag real bad!!! HA Ha ha.....:heh:

I have not had nausea with my TOM but it has changed a lot since surgery. Pimples, worse, cramps etc. When we loose weight the fat that is burned releases lots of stored estrogen. I hear that it balances back out as the weight loss slows down.

candace, aha!! Sorry to hear that but... you're not alone. And I bet it really is the TOM at work. I'm 2.5 wks out and last Friday, I actually went to see my surgeon because suddenly I felt so much worse. The pain around my incisions got worse -- inside, not just on the skin -- AND I was suddenly unable to eat the food I normally ate w/o upchucking. Normally I eat about 2oz of tuna for breakfast; the day I felt so bad, I ate 1.3 oz and couldn't keep more than half down. I ate two tiny tiny coffee spoons of yogurt and BLARP, up it came. With the bitter after taste of my medicine, too. So, I figured that it was doctor time before it got worse. Dr. prescribed cold Water and cold liquid food for probable swelling... and if I didn't feel any better the next day, an x-ray... and probably days in the hospital, urgh, cuz that's what they do here. Then of course I realized Aunt Flo was paying me a visit. The timing was too perfect to be coincidental... I really believe that's what caused it. I get bad cramps and, shall we say, "digestion effects" from the cramping so I guess it's not farfetched to imagine the cramping and pain affecting things higher up on the "food chain," like my new baby sleeve. The cold water & cold liquid food for 2 days really helped me. So did ibuprofen. While my "ladytime" (hee) is not over, I can eat normally again and no barfing. So I didn't have to go get the x-ray or go to the hospital (yes!). Maybe you could try the cold water and cold liquid foods (like cold potato Soup, or gazpacho, or sf pudding). I hope you feel better! *drinking cold water right now*

Thank You for the complement! Yes I can remember when I was worried about how much weight I should loose and how fast it should come off. I can remember working out like a feind... That stress however has been long gone. And may I say Looser28 you have a georgous face... no wonder you hubby lose you..who wouldn't? PaulaX yeah I think I will hover around this weight... for the longest I never thought I would ever see it. I am glad that you all see me a success. I needed to hear that.

4.5 years out... now I have someone to look up too... I am fortunate in some respects I dont have much hanging skin... a little lipo would do me... maybe a thigh lift... but hubby says no way jose'!

I totally get what your saying. I just recently went under 200. The feeling is amazing:) I'm really excited to hear you are off your blood pressure meds after loosing part of your weight. I was just talking to my husband last night after my weigh in at the Bariatric Clinic. My BP used to be around 160/80's and 90's, sometimes even higher at times. That is one of the main reasons I decided to have this surgery, especially after being admitted a few years back with over 200 BP reading. All I could think was I am too young to die at 40 over something I could learn to control and now as of yesterday I showed 110/72. Hopefully now I can start to get off the two BP pills I take everyday, that would be awesome. Good Luck to you.

Don't give up, I got a Lap Band and I have alot to loose, look at all the other people on this site who have done so well, some lost over 150 pounds with the band. Maybe you should change your doctor. Do whats in your heart

Yeah, you certainly do have a supportive husband. Good for him. What I want to ask you is why do you give the impression that you're mainly doing this for your intimacy? Whenever I tried to loose weight and that was the main reason (it's not a bad one *grin*) it seemed like I failed. I have gotten to a point in my life that I'm tired of hurting, wheezing, and squeezing into things and I'm finally doing this for me. Selfish? No, it will be a benefit to both of us. But I think to be successful you're going to have to deal with why you're there in the first place and start loving yourself a little more. I really hope that all goes well with you. It's great that you have a way to get the surgery done. Since you mentioned that you have Kaiser I assume they don't do it up there. I have Kaiser too and even though they are painfully slow the price is right.

this is my first post on any lapband forum in a very long time. every time i posted the fact that in a very long time. since banding i got questioned and lectured on what i ate and when. i objected and suggested that i had asked specific questions and did not ask for nutritional advice. i got basted. so ,although i dont want to make anyone angry or censure you, please , in order to support me (if you want to), just listen respectfully and try to share your experiences with me. i was banded in Mexico in nov 2004. i have yet to loose any weight. i even returned 6months later because my port had turned. i have a lapband which states on the registration card will hold 4cc's saline. about 2months ago i visited my naturopath and she filled me from 4.3 cc;s all the way to 5.2. im sure my band is in place. i have severe restriction i cannot eat solid food without having to throw it up due to the pain. sometimes i can chew it very finely and it will go through but not much. i am also a vegtarian so im talking about bread tortilla, Pasta etc.lettuce. my situation is that due to a broken spine and 5level fusion i have been bedridden since 2003 i am taking high doses of oral narcotics an have a pain pump (im having it removed it doesnt work). i was previouslyvery active (an indoor jock , dance, callenetics, body building, pillates, animal training and volunteer work , worked full time as employment specialist but was never sedentary) now im up about 5min of every hour. i am 60yrs old and i weight about 186 i was 5'3 but am shrinking. always weighed about 103 until 98 when i fell. i realize that my age, post menopause, lack of movement and opiates have wreaked havoc on my metabolism, but what i dont understand is the big question "why am i so hungry". i learned to count calories when i was 12 . i have had a weight problem since then so believe me i know how to diet i was successful at all of them (incl pregnant womens urine injection) until i stopped whatever process i was using. on phen fen and wellbutrin i maintained my weight and knew what it was like to eat like a "normal human being" instead of my last meal, i knew what it felt like to not be hungry and obsessed with food. i got the lapband because i am a compulsive overeater. not cause if didnt know how to diet. this is why its so frustrating when the only advice i ever get on these forums (never this one all the yahoo) "what are you eating" and all this other dieting advice. ive gotten so frustrated that ive suggested right before leaving that" why would all these people who weight over 300 lbs and had dieted their whole lives think that they could continue "dieting" and they would be able to keep it off just cause they were banded." i hated being cruel but i felt no-one would stick to my issues. i also said if i wanted nutritional advice i would go to the professional sources i had always gone to and not to failed dieters. i just didnt like that people presumed that i hadnt read and understood every available piece of literature including professional medical abstracts from medline, medscape, pub med and inamed. please ,if i seem self rightious to you i apologise and you can just ignore me. i just really need to be responded to respectfully. i got a lapband because of one reason. i believed the pamphlet, that my hunger would be less than before. i just need to know why even at being overfilled like this i havnt lost weight and im still just as hungry. sometimes i think its cause i didnt weigh all that much to start and since i had watched my weight since i was 12 i was already calorie and fat and carb retricted. but i still have yet to experience the one big promise. "diminished" (not lack of) hunger. (like i once experienced on phen fen and wellbutrin) i hope there is someone out there who will be able to share a similar experience with me. its bad enough that ive lost everything in my life to chronic intractible pain, but to travel to mexico twice, drugged and in pain, alone, have 2hospital trials for a pain pump and an implant and fills from the band and in my pump every month for 2yrs (both have a port) and then having the pump fail and the band not do what it promised. im pretty frustrated. thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and respond and not discussing food intake. (lol) i realize im sticking out my neck here ive just been reading for the last 6months. be gentle. love, susan p.s.i always say to people that they shouldnt stand next to me cause an anvil might fall on their head.

I guess I'll just have my scar pierced. It could probably accomdate about 6 small rings or 4 larger hoops. Are you serious with the horn implants? I think just considering doing it with a guy with horns qualifies you as a wild woman! Lemme ask you this: I was still leaking yesterday morning, but when I changed my gauze in the afternoon, it stuck to the wound. So I left it there. It's a quarter inch square of gauze and it's plastered like a cast to the wound, so the leaking has stopped. I was going to leave it until it falls off naturally, but my husband is worried that fibers from the gauze might get trapped in the wound. Odd, but that's how the keloid on my shoulder started. After getting shot with a b-b gun, a fragment of the b-b metal got trapped under the skin and caused a cyst, which was removed leaving the kiloid. I read about some stuff called Suprex, which is a patch you put on the kiloid. I'll try it as soon as my port calms down. It's really red and tender yet.