oldiebutgoodie2

I had no trouble swallowing pills until I hit my green zone/sweet spot- luckily, since the band, I got to delete most of my pills!! But the vitamins and calcium are just too big now, so I found a small round vitamin (generic brand at Safeway) and I get chewable calcium at Costco.

During my liquids only time, I was allowed to do sugar free jello and pudding- I made my own and added a scoop or two of protein powder to each recipe. It was like cheating it was so good! And it really helped adding the protein powder, as my guidelines were 80 grams protein/day.

Hi, Karen, First of all, super congrats on getting banded! I have been banded for almost 2 years, and still burp- not always, but when i do, it is a very good thing! It has served me well as a "pre-stuck" warning! And believe me, it's not fun to be stuck! Secondly, you are so lucky to be filled after 3 weeks! I didn't get my first fill for 2 months. Best of luck to you- it is the best thing that I have ever done for myself!

I looked up cosmed.com- it wouldn't come up. Is that the correct web address? How much did it cost? Thanks!

Wowey zowey! You look amazing! Super congrats!!

I recently had to dig up some "before" pics for my bariatric group, as I am going to be speaking to prospective bariatric patients soon-- hard to believe how we can change is just one year post band. The prior me seems so long ago, and I am so loving the new me. Have to pinch myself when I catch myself in the mirror; every time I get into medium (instead of 3X) tops, etc etc.! Do you have any before and after pics? I just posted this "after"; will re-dig up the painful "before"-- super congrats to all of us for making this great decision for ourselves! Keep up the good work!

I'm just about the same as you- had my surgery a little over a year ago, am down 81 lbs, and 9 to go to goal. Ain't it grand?! Super congrats to all of us. I love that people are continuously losing so much weight with the band--some over 200 lbs! My medical group tried so hard to have me do the bipass surgery cause I had so much to lose. I am going to talk to the prospective bariatric patient class this week and hope I can inspire some of them to go band instead of bipass! p.s. I agree- time to change your screen name- maybe "prior plump dude"! Anyway, super congrats! Keep up the good work!

Would love to see your before and after pics, and know what your dream job is! My surgery was about a year ago, and I also left an unhappy relationship! I haven't gone into faze two like you yet (finding my soulmate!), but hope springs eternal! Thanks for the 2-year inspiration! I can so relate with you how fun it is to go shopping for clothes now! Keep up the good work! Thanks for sharing!

From one grandma to another, welcome to Onederland!!! Super congrats! Keep up the great work! Never too late to do such a wonderful thing for ourselves, right?!

My bariatric surgeon has a group once a month for prospective patients considering bariatric surgery. She asked me to be a guest speaker at her group this month! Has anyone done that?? I need some guidance regarding what to say. I asked her, and she said to just tell my story! But how much should you tell? How long should you talk? Do you give helpful hints about after the surgery (diet, exercise, problems, whatever)? Do you say how much you weighed and what you weigh now (gulp!)? Any helpful hints/ suggestions would be greatfully appreciated. The meeting is this coming Tuesday, and I am already starting to wake up thinking (sort of worrying!) about it! She said about 50 people attend!

Alien, I would love to have a copy of your speech/outline! My email is mamamav1@yahoo.com. By the way, I have read a lot of your entries on this website and seen all your pics- so neat to see your tummy tuck pics- your pics were the beginning of my research before MY tummy tuck! Thanks for the inspiration on that as well!

Thank you so much one and all! Your comments brought me back to when I was sitting in one of those seats about a year ago as a prospective bariatric patient and listening to every word the "success story" person was saying. I don't remember anything she said now- I only remember I could identify with almost everything she was saying, and how good she looked. She was such a big motivator for me. So as suggested here, I will tell my story chronologically- why I did it, how it went, and the many ways it has positively changed my life. Will let you know how it goes, and what most people responded to- for when YOU get to tell your story! Thanks again! I will rest easier tonight!

Amazing information, picture, weight loss success!! Super congrats, and thanks for all the great info about Mexico prices, credibility, etc.

I've got a referral for plastic surgery for my "apron" stomach, and plan to ask about my floppy arms while I'm at it. Has anyone had or looked into plastic surgery since the lapband? I'm interested in any advise re questions to ask the surgeon, what to expect regarding pain during recovery, costs, anything to learn more about it before I take the big plunge! I understand the cost is pretty much out of pocket, but since I have been getting a slight rash under my hanging stomach (gross!), my doctor says she is referring me to plastic surgery because it is "medically indicated." Hope that means insurance will pay for part of it! Thanks to any and all input!

Well, I think I have you all beat on the age! I am 64, and just got a tummy tuck two months ago! And my arms reduced 4 months ago. Like many of you said, it is never too late. Only regret is not doing it all sooner! And I also second the thought that the plastic surgery was my second best thing I have ever done for myself; the first being the lap band. Congrats to all of you who went for it so much younger than I did!! I also am wearing bikini underwear for the first time in my life! Can you believe having an hourglass figure and a flat tummy at 64? I'm still amazed every time I catch myself in the mirror. But no fear, I am definitely not wearing mini skirts or anything! Just looking so nice and NORMAL in form fitting, SHORT-SLEEVED tops for the first time in probably 40 years! Life is good! I am so happy for all of us, and that we are so lucky to have had these opportunities!

Karen, how did it go? Blondie, does your comment mean you already had the neck lift? I would like to know about it, including cost, as I am considering that for my last "urban renewal"! (already did the arm lift and tummy tuck!). Thanks!

Well, it has been 6 months since my arm reduction surgery, and 2 months since my tummy tuck. The arms were nothing regarding pain, and the tummy tuck was not painful either (where he cut and stitiched). What DID hurt a ton for over two weeks was the upper flank liposuction areas! They got very swollen and bruised, and the compression garment around my middle cut into it. Actually pretty painful. But once I got the drain out (not til day 17), I got to wear the full-body compression "suit", so the pressure was evened out, and the swelling went down quickly and thus the pain. But nontheless, I didn't need the prescription pain meds after the 5th day, and kept the pain in check with Tylinol. Most people get their drain out between 6-10 days. So my 17 days was out of the ordinary. But I had three areas of liposuction done, and that is a lot of pushing around with that magic wand, apparently breaking little corpusels, or something! So maybe that is why my drain was needed for so long. But bottom line is, I would do it all over again in a New York minute!!!! I L O V E my new, FLAT stomach, and my hourglass figure!!! I can't believe this oldie but goodie of 64 years is finally wearing underware that is not granny underwear for the first time in my life!

Additional info re aftercare after plastic surgery-- be sure to use scar reducer meds, starting about week 2 after surgery, for 2-3 months. My doctor sells Biocorneum (50 grams) for $120, but I got it on line for $80. I originally got ScarAway 7-inch silicone strips (supposedly a 3-month supply, but because of the long scars on both arms, you have to use almost 3 strips, so it is really a one-month supply). The box of strips cost $58 on line. I like the strips cause they work so well! I noticed a significant decrease in the scars after just this first week! But the downside of the strips is that you have to gently hand wash them daily and let them air dry (each strip lasts one week). And, when wearing short sleeves, you see the strips (they look like long bandaides). I tried the cream for the first time yesterday. The up side is that it is so easy! Just apply a light coat twice daily, let dry for about 5 minutes. But I don't know how effective it is yet. Downside (after one day's use!)-- the stitching goes all the way into my armpits. So there is some rubbing, and the cream feels a little sticky. But it warns to just put on a very thin coat, so maybe I just put on too much.

Update on "wheeling and dealing" for the best price for plastic surgery: I got two quotes from N. Calif. plastic surgeons for a tunny tuck/liposuction, both giving me quotes of $9000. I then got a quote from a S. Calif. plastic surgeon of $5400 (I just got my arm reduction surgery done last month by this surgeon at a significant savings, too). So I went back to the two N. Calif plastic surgeons and asked if they could match the SCal price quote for the tummy tuck/liposuction, as I would rather be closer to home for the surgery recovery (I live in N. Calif). They both came down by $2000! So the cost is now $7000 instead of $9000, but still much higher than the SCal price. So off to SCal again for my next surgery (probably in June). So I guess the point here is that since the cost is out of pocket, it IS possible to get a significant price decrease-- just ask! But it does help to get a written quote from a bonifide offer from another surgeon for them to see-- one of the N. Calif surgeons wanted me to fax them the written quote; the other did not. Just took my word for it! Regarding my arm surgery, I just got the compression bandages--been wearing them for a few days now. Soooo much better than ace bandages! But hot tip on this one-- get a comfortable size. They measured my arms a week after surgery and I was between a med and large. So they got me a large, as they said the biggest complaint is that they are too tight. The large is still restrictive, but what great, even support! Can wear them much longer at one time than the ace bandages (up to 8 hours at a time vs. maybe 3-4 hours at a time).

First of all, amazing that you run 30-40 miles a week!! I can't answer your question about resuming activity, but I did ask my plastic surgery about combining surgeries. He said he bases it on the time under sedation--he has a limit. For instance, he would do the arms and the tummy tuck, but not the tummy tuck and the lower face lift cause I would be under for too long. So guess it is what the surgeon is comfortable with, and you! Remember those total make-over shows a few years back when they did everything in one fell swoop?!

Just had my arm reduction surgery 12 days ago. Love my new arms, even though they still need to be wrapped. But was off the pain meds after two days. One thing they didn't tell me til I called frantically the first night after surgery is that the bottom portion of the arms are numb as well as the top (cutting and stitching "only" occurs between the elbow and arm pit). The numbing subsides gradually, about 2-3 months. If looking for plastic surgery, I highly suggest you go to a few, including out of area. Get written quotes, and then take the lowest quote and go to the dr. you really want and see if they will match the price. i live in NCal and got my arm surgery in SCal and saved $2,500! (was going to be $7000 in NCal, got it for $4500 in SCal). So for my tummy tuck/liposuction which I hope to do before summer, NCal has quoted $9000, SCal quote is $5400. So I'm in negotions with my NCal dr. office to try to get the SCal price. Will post any updates.

OMG! Every time you give me more info, it sparks way more questions! Would you mind writing via regular email? It would be so much faster communication- mamamav1@yahoo.com. But for now, questions!-- I'm surprised you had no drains. Is that unusual, or they only use drains for tummy tucks? About how many stitches did you get? What kind? What kind of scar did you end up with?-- thin? straight?! How long til they took the stitches out? How ofen and how many follow up visits did you have? I'm going 500 miles for my surgery, and two weeks after the surgery, am traveling 3000 miles for 10 days! So how long did you wear the compression bandages? Did the dr. tell you about using ace bandages, or did you think of that yourself? How long did you keep those on? How long do you think it was til you could say, wash your hair or blow dry your hair (arms over the head stuff)? Did your arms look significantly smaller right after the surgery, or did they swell for a few days/weeks like they say the stomach does after a tummy tuck? And speaking of which, why was the tummy tuck so rough?? My one friend had it and said it's like having a c-section. I thought maybe she was minimizing it, so it would be good to hear about your experience. Anyway, thank you thank you again for all your great information! Mavis

So you can use your arms pretty much like normal, the only difference is you can't raise them say past your shoulders? For how long? I broke down and bought a pj set today. And a duster type lite-weight robe that I could wear for sleeping (has snaps). I will be having my friend taking care of me but I'd rather dress myself! So you are supposed to elevate your arms while sleeping? I sleep on my back. Would it work during recovery to still do so, with say a pillow under each arm? Did you have pressure wraps on your arms? Drains? How long after the surgery was your first check up? Did they take stitches out, or do they do that surgical glue now?! Thanks again for answering all my weird questions! But I'm a little apprehensive, and knowledge is power! :-)

Hi, again! I have scheduled my arm lift surgery for Feb. 17th. I started looking for sleeveless or spaghetti strap sleeping garments for during the healing process, and can't find any that don't go over the head (no zipper or buttons except for the pajama type things, and I don't like to wear things around my waist when I am sleeping. So my question is, after the arm surgery, can you get an over the head nightie on (ie., raise your arms enough to get the thing on!)? Thanks again for sharing your experience and info!

Thanks for the info! I checked out priced in N California (where I live) and in SCal (where friends live). They are way cheaper in SCal, espcially in the beach areas!! Amazing! So I am scheduled for an arm lift in Huntington Beach Feb 17th! Cost- $4500. In Sacramento, it was $7000 quotes from two doctors! I decided to do the two surgeries separately, for financial reasons and for the using the arms thing during stomach surgery recovery. The two, total, in SCal will be $10,500. But if my insurance kicks in here in Sacramento for the apron stomach part, the rest (liposuction, saddle bags and bra line) will "only" be about $4500! Sign me up! Again, thanks so much for the info.! I am really thinking about a thigh lift too, and even maybe the girls lifted. Did you get prices on those surgeries yet? The breast lift here (from the SCal dr.) is $5500. I was surprised. Thought it would be less. But I am most interested in the thigh lift cost and didn't ask! Forgot!