Hi All,

Sorry I have been a ghost again. I have been so busy with work and around the house, I haven't had a moment to even check in and see how everyone is doing.

I hope you are all doing well.

Me and Berpitha (A.K.A. - my beloved band) are off to surgery bright and early tomorrow morning. Once my doc got back from her vacation, she scheduled my LapBand replacement quickly.

The folks at Inamed say that they have never had a case of LapBand leakage at the balloon site. All other leaks have been at the port site... So Berpitha may be the first!!! Unfortunately, she will have to go back to Inamed so that they can check her out. My insurance has approved this new surgery, so I am going back to have the whole thing done ALL OVER AGAIN!

Not sure if my new band will take on the alias of Berpitha2... we will have to see how she responds to her new digs.

Wish me luck. I am a little nervous, but I think it is more because I know what to expect and I really don't know how I will stay positive during the recovery period. BUT, I have a new chance at success and for that I am grateful.

Take care everyone and I promise to check in when I am filling up to it.

Be good and have FUN!!!

Anne: So how are you doing? We haven't heard from you and starting to get worried. I have you in my prayers.

Hey Everyone!

Thank you all for your well wishes. I haven't felt much like using a computer, since I have to do that daily and only took 1 day off for my surgery. Luckily, I had the weekend to recover... but by the end of my work day, I was so beat I just had to rest.

The surgery was successful. I had an endoscopy first and everything w/ my stomach looks great. I feel less pain this time and am trying to figure out if this is because my insides were use to the band and this is not such a dramatic difference than when I was first banded... or if I used my Morphine pump more this time and it helped me heal faster. My only complaint is that I got some serious chest congestion and the coughing has been hard... Imagine my big butt laying over a pile of pillows just so I can cough a couple of times... not a pretty picture

I am on clear fluids the rest of this week and move to pureed next week. My first post-op appt is tomorrow and I think I will bounce back more quickly than the last time. The only weight that has really come off is the excess I gained just before this second surgery. I already know the doc is going to make me wait 6 weeks before my first fill, so this will be my next challenge.

Thank you all for your support.

Anne, so glad that all is well. Please give yourself time to heal! Just try to move around as much as you can - comfortably. That will also help w/that nasty congestion. Take care!

Good luck, Anne. I'm sorry you're even have to do this, but I definitely can relate. I don't think I found the second time around on liquids/soft foods as tough as the first time around. Maybe it won't be too bad for you either.

Take care..

'Best of luck...

So glad everything went well. Here's wishing you a speedy recovery!!

Leatha,

I agree, it has been a much easier ride this time.... pain, food, energy... Not sure why, but I am grateful. I started pureed foods and I even feel like I have more restriction than I had at this stage the last time.

Now, I am looking forward to getting back to the gym... then maybe I will really see the weight begin to fall.

Donali, Maurice, New Hope, Penni, Jennye, Vera, Darci, Neicy, Nancy, Leatha, Theresa, Betty, Michelle (shellyj), Michelle (LaMadam) and Alexandra..... THANK YOU, you all are the best and if I accidentally forgot someone... please forgive me and know that I appreciate you as well.

So sorry it's taken me so long to get around to reading all these posts - so glad it's all over for you Anne, and hope you are bonding with Berpitha ll ! Thinking of you, and hope the liquid phase speeds by for you - take care of yourself and don't be rushing back to the gym!

(((((((((hugs))))))))))

Thanks Bright!

I just noticed how great you are doing... down 65lbs!!! That is fantastic. I think it is time for you to bless us with more of your beautiful before and after pictures.

I will have to wait until I get to solids to know for sure, but I have a feeling that my new band won't have the same affect on me as the original 'Berpitha'... I am going to have to think of a new name if that exasperating experience of over emphasized burps does not return... I am keeping my fingers crossed... how embarrassing it was