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My understanding is the diarrhea comes from getting rid of the fat. The fat doesn't just disappear into mid-air, so we mostly poop or pee it out. Usually around ovulation I get constipated and after ovulation I get very loose stool for a couple of days. I usually see a woosh when the loose stool happens and it stays off. I don't have IBS but going from constipation to having the opposite problem has started happening now that I've been sleeved. I've always had constipation problems before surgery since a very young age and surgery has only made it worse. I now mix fiber powder in my protein shakes to keep me regular and I go every day or two. I drink lots of water

I havent been on since posting "just wanna kick myself in the arse". I have done some serious self evaluation and feel on top of the world! I was discouraged due to low self esteem, no support system, couldn't get a fill, finding out I had 2- 1cm seromas (like what the hell is that? right! my thoughts exactly. lol) and poor communication between surgeon and true results. Now 45 days post op I wouldn't do it over again but it made me stronger. When I went to my first fill I found out I lost 8 lbs more than where they expected me to be. 281 before, 260 on the 6/27th and 257 today-(5inches and 2 sizes down). I was told to slow down because loosing it too fast will cause my skin to sag. I was going 5 days a week from 5/27-6/20 for about an hour. I drink 2-4 liters of water OR crystal light a day. I would be lying if I said I eat right every single day so I will not lie I will not say what I eat or ate unless asked for everyone is different but I will say I ONLY DRINK WATER OR CRYSTAL LIGHT NOTHING ELSE! I eat lots and lots of fish. I decreased my gym activity before I was told to because my work load increased so I am still active. Since being told to go 2-3 times a week it seems like my motivation is leaving but the weight is still falling off. The few things I try to do are park far from stores (regardless of the heat) and I take the steps (no mater how long it takes me). So I strongly suggest being more active. Get a pedometer and challenge yourself. I still have trouble with my diet but Im starting to think if I did everything by the book I probaly would have lost double the weight, Oh well! I'm not perfect but I'm striving just to be better. I forgot to mention I had 2.2cc already in my 10cc band and 2cc was added. I don't feel any difference but I will be pateint.

Not that I know of, but check with a medical prof to be sure. I've had bloodcots (superficial) and my mother has been hospitalized more than once with DVT. In both of our cases, we probably would have welcomed some numbness because blood clots *hurt*. Even my little superficial ones - the whole area was red, and an angry red over the area of the actual clot. Seriously, you could see exactly where the clot was, just by looking at the skin, and you could feel heat radiating like a sunburn. And I swear, a gently breeze blowing across my skin hurt, let alone anything touching it. My mother with her DVT - I can remember her literally crawling on her hands and knees from the car into the house because the pain was too great to stand or walk. So I personally wouldn't associate numbness with a clot, but I'm not a doctor so that means squat.

I completely understand. I went to Salvation Army today as I am down to one pair of jeans and they are starting to get loose. The last pair of pants I bought was a size 20. I found a pair of 16 and yes a pair of 14. Not to snug and I still have a muffin top ( I don't think I will ever lose that body feature) and a XL turtleneck. I have not been in these sizes since before my daughter was born and she will be 22 on Monday. I am loving my sleeve.

Hey everyone, Just wanted to check in and see how you're all doing?? I can't believe it's the day after tomorrow. Are all of you ready? In my hospital bag I've got a change of loose clothes for going home, a few basic toiletries, Gas-X thin strips, a pack of fresh wipes, and a couple of magazines. What are all of you bringing?

Hi guys I'm new here. I had my procedure done 1 week ago and go in for follow up today with my surgeon. I did wonder about extra skin from weight loss. I have several co -workers that have done the lapband and so I have seen the good, bad, and ugly of it. I also have co-workers that use these wraps and have seen some awesome results as far as tightening and toning. Yes Water and eating healthy need to be done to see and continue seeing good results, So I'm going to try the wraps with my weight loss to try and help with my skin. I'm just curious if anyone else has done this? I originally wanted the 100 cal 14 Gram gluten free Protein shake from my coworker and was sold on the wraps because I had seen results from several coworkers. I've lost 23 lbs and I'm 3 weeks in from preop diet. I'm still supposed to stay on liquids for 4 more weeks and today get full liquids!!! I'd appreciate feedback especially from anyone who has done anything like this!

I am glad to have found all of you!!!! I am having the same experience of loosing very slowly or not at all some weeks. I thought I was doing something wrong since the other patients in my DR's office banded the same day as myself seem to be well "ahead" of me. I keep telling myself it is not a race, as long as I get there and do not gain it is OK. However, that does not change the fact that I get upset and discouraged. Sometimes I feel like I am too conservative on the fills? I am scared to be too tight since I travel from PA to Denver to see my doc and worry something will happen after I get home. I do feel restricted and I eat healthy small meals 99% of the time. Does any one feel this way? Glad to know there are others out there that are going through the same thing:smile:

mypov..... BTW...I'm 5'2" and weighed 295 at my highest. We're about hte same size sounds like. I began in a size 22/24 and am already down to a loose 18 pants and 20 top.I feel great!! llewis

Today is my last day of "freedom" and eating like a pig. Last night me and a friend went out for a last meal. I ate the biggest steak i could. I was going to drink some cocktails but then just was not up to it. I'm scared the band will not go onto me and its a failure. I am scared i never wake up from the operation. I have even had astma attacks today. I am ready for this change, i am willing to do it, i want to do it, its the right time etc Tomorrow morning at 6.30 i will book into the hospital and start my new day my new life and hopefully my new me. I will be able to actually keep down every kilo i do loose not pick it up plus another 10kg as after every diet. I weighed myself this morning i was 142.1 i've already lost weight in the last week yet it feels like i am eating more than ever. No matter what i eat, tarts, ice cream it just does not satisfy me. it does not make me happy, there is no pleasure. I have so much support from friends and family and my bosses, but now im wondering maybe i have put to much pressure on myself now because everyone will be watching me. Maybe thats a good thing maybe thats a bad thing. I wish it could just be over and out. Done and dusted so I can go home and start doing what i have to.

Melissa, what kind of injections are you giving yourself? I've had two ports removed already. I had an open leaking incision for 8 months. I'm really curious, so please write back. I can share this with you in case your doctor didn't mention it, but the whole reason my wound wouldn't close was because the tube was too close to the surface of the skin, so if your port is right there at the surface, it probably won't ever close till they move it. Also, I just found out that even thought the doctors in Mexico said the Fluid wasn't infected, my new American surgeon said there was most definitely bacteria in the fluid. So when the slid the brand new port through the area, the new port became infected and caused the same problem. Let me know if you want to talk on the phone - since I've been through so much with ports. Good luck.

I went to my internist yesterday for my 3 month follow-up visit. I am "officially" in ONEderland by her scales - 198 1/2 pounds. YEA! 54 1/2 pounds lost in 3 months. And my bloodwork was great - my cholesterol is normal - and I have been of all cholesterol lowering meds since 2 weeks before surgery. My "good" cholesterol and "bad" cholesterol were both where they needed to be. I haven't had a report like that in many years (and many pounds ago). The only problem was I am anemic - so she doubled my Iron supplement from 1 to 2 per day and told me to start working beef into my diet. I have faught being anemic my entire life - no matter what I weighed. She took me off of one of my two blood pressure meds and plans on getting me off of the other one soon. My blood pressure was running from 100 - 110 sytolic and from 55 - 70 bottom number (word escapes me) and my pulse is in the 60's. On the subject of me being in Puberty Hell (separate thread) - my hormones tested normal. She didn't want to raise my estrogen supplement - said it would make the mood swings worse. She didn't want to lower the amount, because she says the dose I'm on will help keep my skin supple and elastic. So - basically I am going to tough it out and work through these damn mood swings.

I really cannot tell from the picture, but if you give it time to heal, you should be able to feel the port beneath the skin. Longest incision.

thats a grear average and very achievable, do you find that walking is helping loose inches as well as kg ? cuz i know alot of ppl when the loose the scale weight its a while before the loose inchs

Nothing for weeks, then bio-oil as my skin was so dry and rubbed it all over my belly.

I am in the same boat but my doctor said that is what is holding the skin together so I will leave them on until either they fall off or doctors says to take them off,

I really don't know how this works, but I will try. I don't know how you get all that info to come up where your name is. Like age weight date of ban installation, etc......... Any help would be great. My friend back in NY told me about this web site, and I have been reading around it. WOW, it is really cool, I wish I knew about it a lot sooner. When I first moved to florida (About 2 years ago) I had had my Lap-Ban in a year. I was in dire need of an ajustment. Ended up going back to NY to get one, and was doing good for a while. Now last winter I needed another ajustment and could not find any doctor down here to do it. I live in Citrus County, about 1 Hour north of Tampa on the coast. Not a booming city to say the least (we don't even have Starbucks !!!!!). The nearest big city is Ocala, and that is not really that big as far as city's go. I did find one doctor there and he would not ajust anyone who he did not install the lap-ban on. So after a lot of work I found the obeisty clinic just out side of Tampa. Now I am going there. My name is Butch and I have had the lap-ban since 2-18-02, a long time as far as a lot of people on this web site, so far. I started at 600 lbs and the doctor wanted me to lose 50 lbs before he would do the dirty. So tape over mouth I lost some weight, it was close to 50 lbs. more like a strong 35.... I did my best, sorry to say. But he did the install and as of to date I am 390 lbs. Now to me this is a 200 lbs loss. I could do better if I could do more excersize, but the only stuff I can do is in the Water. You see.... if I walk too much or try to do too much my back starts to kill me. I have this huge lump of skin and fat hanging in front of me, it's like having a 150 lb tool belt on, or a 150 lb apron. Anyway, I need a an ajustment, and thats all there is to it. Now for a qustion that I have been bounceing around in my big fat bald head...... Before I had the lap-ban we had classes every month. Now one month a Plastic Seregon came by and told us about a lot of things we could do as we lost weight. One was like a tummy tuck but like to the 10th degree. They cut you across the pelvis and up the middle to above the belly button. It was like hard core, but now it seems worth it. If I did not have this "Tool Belt" out in front of me, there is a lot more I could do. I might have to lose more weight but no biggie. Any help with a Plastic Seregon would be a great help to me. And I will be in touch with..... Ya'all. Thanks in advance, Butch

Congrats...that is a major accomplishment! I, like Candle thought am a little jealous of the skin...Mine is NOT so pretty! To have done this, you had to have changed your ways, and that should be admired. You truly do represent what the band SHOULD be used for.

These are natural thoughts. You might be angry when people look at your differently and/or say you're too thin. I certainly get that. [Esp. since the DS kind of redistributes the fat around your body on many of us.] I never had much of a bust before so that hasn't changed for me. But I have no butt. And very think skin on my arms, etc. (It does make it easy to draw blood which is a good thing. They never have trouble seeing my veins, lol.) My face is also very thin. Little fat there anymore. We're all different, but many often have a different fat distribution on their bodies. As for clothes, many use thrift shops or heavily discounted outlets during the heavy weight loss phase. It's true you won't be able to wear the clothes you have now (possibly some of the shoes -- I went down a full size and couldn't.) Regarding recognizing yourself in the mirror: most don't. They still think they look big. I've found it often depends how long you've been big right before you have surgery. For instance, I'd lost a lot of weight in the mid-90s (ah, Fen-Phen ) and kept it off till the early 2000s. Then I got really big again. So it was only about 5 years that I had it back on before I had the DS. Therefore, when I had the DS and the weight came off, I saw it right away and knew what I looked like. Still do. Others I know were big for 10, 20 years. They seem to have a much harder time realizing what they look like now, post DS. Just a theory I've floated around, but often seems to fit. Friends and family: it's hard to say. I told no one except my immediate family and physicians. Still haven't. It's a personal choice and certainly not one for everyone. POSTOP: Thanks for your reply, I sure appreciate you! I have been overweight for a good part of 23 years. I did the FenPhen thing to and dropped down to a size 6. I was running every day and although my weight was 145 I was skinny as a rail due to the exercising. As soon as I dropped the pills the weight started to creep up again. I was always trying this diet or that diet and never got back below 170. About 2004 is when I really started to creep up again and have been over 200 lbs ever since and as of about 5 years ago I creeped up even further to where I am now. I have been overweight so long that in the back of your mind you wonder if having surgery is going to be a quick fix like FenPhen again. You know the fear of losing it all and then so fearful you will regain it that you do everything to the extreme to avoid that happening again. I am so nervous right now and I am only 3 days out before surgery. I noticed you had surgery in 2005, can you tell me how has life been for you for these past 10 years? Has it gotten easier to maintain the weight and keep it off? And is there anything you can advise to a newbe to this procedure?

These are natural thoughts. You might be angry when people look at your differently and/or say you're too thin. I certainly get that. [Esp. since the DS kind of redistributes the fat around your body on many of us.] I never had much of a bust before so that hasn't changed for me. But I have no butt. And very think skin on my arms, etc. (It does make it easy to draw blood which is a good thing. They never have trouble seeing my veins, lol.) My face is also very thin. Little fat there anymore. We're all different, but many often have a different fat distribution on their bodies. As for clothes, many use thrift shops or heavily discounted outlets during the heavy weight loss phase. It's true you won't be able to wear the clothes you have now (possibly some of the shoes -- I went down a full size and couldn't.) Regarding recognizing yourself in the mirror: most don't. They still think they look big. I've found it often depends how long you've been big right before you have surgery. For instance, I'd lost a lot of weight in the mid-90s (ah, Fen-Phen ) and kept it off till the early 2000s. Then I got really big again. So it was only about 5 years that I had it back on before I had the DS. Therefore, when I had the DS and the weight came off, I saw it right away and knew what I looked like. Still do. Others I know were big for 10, 20 years. They seem to have a much harder time realizing what they look like now, post DS. Just a theory I've floated around, but often seems to fit. Friends and family: it's hard to say. I told no one except my immediate family and physicians. Still haven't. It's a personal choice and certainly not one for everyone. POSTOP: Thanks for your reply, I sure appreciate you! I have been overweight for a good part of 23 years. I did the FenPhen thing to and dropped down to a size 6. I was running every day and although my weight was 145 I was skinny as a rail due to the exercising. As soon as I dropped the pills the weight started to creep up again. I was always trying this diet or that diet and never got back below 170. About 2004 is when I really started to creep up again and have been over 200 lbs ever since and as of about 5 years ago I creeped up even further to where I am now. I have been overweight so long that in the back of your mind you wonder if having surgery is going to be a quick fix like FenPhen again. You know the fear of losing it all and then so fearful you will regain it that you do everything to the extreme to avoid that happening again. I am so nervous right now and I am only 3 days out before surgery. I noticed you had surgery in 2005, can you tell me how has life been for you for these past 10 years? Has it gotten easier to maintain the weight and keep it off? And is there anything you can advise to a newbe to this procedure? You're in for some ride. Post DS life has been pretty good. I did have to have my gb removed (2008) and hernias done about a month ago. Right now I'm having some issues b/c I had to have an antibiotic shot with the hernia surgery and antibiotics are tough on DSers. I find it easier to keep the weight off post DS because I can eat as much Protein as I want. And I do. I eat every couple of hours; whenever I want. When I put on a few, I just eat more protein and drink liquids. The trick is to eat and eat and eat protein. It really helps you lose and keeps you satisfied. I always have nuts, cheeses, cold cuts in my home. Nuts are always in my bag, too. I will often go to McDonald's or some other ff place for a snack. I order a triple w/cheese & catsup. I just eat the insides and throw away the bun (too filling, don't want the carbs [usually], and the carbs give me gas & I don't want that at work, lol). My advice is be most concerned about hydration for the first few weeks. Sip, sip, sip. That's so important. I got dehydrated at about 6 weeks out. It's not uncommon. Food is less important. The week after surgery my breakfast was 1 tsp. of scrambled eggs. That was it. Couldn't eat another bite. Nowadays, 3 eggs with cream cheese and salami (it takes 2 sittings to eat it, though). Also, try to walk. I walked around the floor that first night in the hospital. I walked 4x a day in the small garden near my apt. It was tiring, but important. Best of luck to you! These are natural thoughts. You might be angry when people look at your differently and/or say you're too thin. I certainly get that. [Esp. since the DS kind of redistributes the fat around your body on many of us.] I never had much of a bust before so that hasn't changed for me. But I have no butt. And very think skin on my arms, etc. (It does make it easy to draw blood which is a good thing. They never have trouble seeing my veins, lol.) My face is also very thin. Little fat there anymore. We're all different, but many often have a different fat distribution on their bodies. As for clothes, many use thrift shops or heavily discounted outlets during the heavy weight loss phase. It's true you won't be able to wear the clothes you have now (possibly some of the shoes -- I went down a full size and couldn't.) Regarding recognizing yourself in the mirror: most don't. They still think they look big. I've found it often depends how long you've been big right before you have surgery. For instance, I'd lost a lot of weight in the mid-90s (ah, Fen-Phen ) and kept it off till the early 2000s. Then I got really big again. So it was only about 5 years that I had it back on before I had the DS. Therefore, when I had the DS and the weight came off, I saw it right away and knew what I looked like. Still do. Others I know were big for 10, 20 years. They seem to have a much harder time realizing what they look like now, post DS. Just a theory I've floated around, but often seems to fit. Friends and family: it's hard to say. I told no one except my immediate family and physicians. Still haven't. It's a personal choice and certainly not one for everyone. POSTOP: Thanks for your reply, I sure appreciate you! I have been overweight for a good part of 23 years. I did the FenPhen thing to and dropped down to a size 6. I was running every day and although my weight was 145 I was skinny as a rail due to the exercising. As soon as I dropped the pills the weight started to creep up again. I was always trying this diet or that diet and never got back below 170. About 2004 is when I really started to creep up again and have been over 200 lbs ever since and as of about 5 years ago I creeped up even further to where I am now. I have been overweight so long that in the back of your mind you wonder if having surgery is going to be a quick fix like FenPhen again. You know the fear of losing it all and then so fearful you will regain it that you do everything to the extreme to avoid that happening again. I am so nervous right now and I am only 3 days out before surgery. I noticed you had surgery in 2005, can you tell me how has life been for you for these past 10 years? Has it gotten easier to maintain the weight and keep it off? And is there anything you can advise to a newbe to this procedure? You're in for some ride. Post DS life has been pretty good. I did have to have my gb removed (2008) and hernias done about a month ago. Right now I'm having some issues b/c I had to have an antibiotic shot with the hernia surgery and antibiotics are tough on DSers. I find it easier to keep the weight off post DS because I can eat as much protein as I want. And I do. I eat every couple of hours; whenever I want. When I put on a few, I just eat more protein and drink liquids. The trick is to eat and eat and eat protein. It really helps you lose and keeps you satisfied. I always have nuts, cheeses, cold cuts in my home. Nuts are always in my bag, too. I will often go to McDonald's or some other ff place for a snack. I order a triple w/cheese & catsup. I just eat the insides and throw away the bun (too filling, don't want the carbs [usually], and the carbs give me gas & I don't want that at work, lol). My advice is be most concerned about hydration for the first few weeks. Sip, sip, sip. That's so important. I got dehydrated at about 6 weeks out. It's not uncommon. Food is less important. The week after surgery my breakfast was 1 tsp. of scrambled eggs. That was it. Couldn't eat another bite. Nowadays, 3 eggs with cream cheese and salami (it takes 2 sittings to eat it, though). Also, try to walk. I walked around the floor that first night in the hospital. I walked 4x a day in the small garden near my apt. It was tiring, but important. Best of luck to you!

Its right there under the skin I think it will always be a little tender to touch. I know it is tender when they look for it to give me my fill. Good Luck!!!!!!

I couldn't feel my port after surgery but I had a gigantic bruise in the area since my pre op nurse thought it would be a good idea to give me my Lovenox in my lower abdomen... Anyhoo, 72 pounds later I can easily feel my port under the skin. When I touch it I feel pressure, not necessarily pain or tenderness. Since you're only 3 weeks out from surgery, your port site is still healing, so I wouldn't worry too much.

Each person and their weight loss is completely different. I lost weight after being banded with it completely empty. 6 weeks after my second fill I was down about 50 lbs and a year later I'm down over 100lbs. Some people lose faster than others and some people don't start loosing for a few months. Hope this is helpful!!

Love Love Love my band! I had my band surgery May 4th 2011 have lost 80LBS!!! I wanted a Thanksgiving fill but lost 9lbs this past month so I didn't get one which is probably best. I know we go through some problems but most are related to our rules and I don't mind because this is what I signed up for my weightloss has been effortless with the exception of the gym where I work out hard! We have to work with our band not figure out ways to eat around the band or get an unfill to gorge ourselves on vacation! This behavior defeats the purpose! The more I loose the more I feel empowered by my success!!

I know people that went shopping the next day. But I've also known people that were down for 2 weeks. There's no way of saying how you'll feel. Do yourself a favor and make sure your life is in order before you go in case you're forced to go back to work. At least when you get home you'll have already cleaned and stocked your house after work all you need to do is plop on the couch. Also, make sure you have plenty of clean, loose clothes. You'll be swollen and bloated, and ANYTHING around your waist could be miserable. I lived in dresses and sweats - no bra for me either since it rubbed against one of my scars. Be prepared, just in case.

My husband gets those on his hands and has a prescription to put on his hands when it flares up. The doctor said even though he sweats (his hands are almost always clammy) there's something in his sking that keeps the sweat inbetween layers of skin. Maybe that's what you have.