leatha_g

Very good letter, Alex! I'm sold!

Good luck Terry! I truly hope they find absolutely nothing wrong! I'll keep you in my prayers! Leatha

Welcome Sissyfaye!! Sounds like you've GREAT loss so far! Please don't be discouraged by regaining a few pounds in your initial healing phase. This happens often! As for your first fill. Who knows? Some feel restriction immediately, some have to go back in a couple of weeks and try for more fill. Personally, I felt restriction with each of my fills, including the first! Either way, I think it's good to ease up on it, especially since you're not used to the restriction and still getting to know how your band and your body work together. Better to have too little restriction than to be over-restricted right off the bat! Remember, this is not a race, as long as you are losing 1-2lbs per week (average) then you are right on the mark. So far, I think you've already surpassed that! Go slow. Eat your Protein, drink your Water and walk. It will all fall into place and you'll be amazed! Remind me where Buna, Texas is? I'm in Plano. Leatha

Thanks SissyFaye! I reckon I'm doing as well as can be expected. Right now, I still have alot of pain in my largest incision. It's still a challenge to get on and off the bed/couch when trying to lay down, but it is getting better. I hope today is a better day. Yesterday was a sort of down day. I was sleepy and uncomfortable wherever I was. Sitting too long or laying too long anywhere wasn't working and I was so sore walking wasn't pleasant either. lol, although, we all know walking is supposed to be the key. Seems to me I felt better than this the first time around. :sick One good thing - the scale says I've lost 3 lbs, so I guess that's what it's all about. Good luck to you also! Leatha

way to go sue!! you beat them with their own BS. lol. love when that happens! leatha

Click on the link above and answer the questions?

Got his email, will that help? don.mills@inamed.com

I haven't read it, but I've been reading Jessie Ahroni's take on the band for nearly 3 yrs now on Yahoo Groups. Jessie is probably the most knowledgeabe person in the business and is banded as well. She is definitely no-nonsense, but full of good information. I'm going to break down and get the book soon. Leatha

the 9cm band only holds 4ccs. the 11cm band will hold much more.

Welcome Blossom! Good luck with your surgery! Leatha Plano, Texas

That's really great Darcy!! It is amazing how quickly you start feeling better and I think most of us understand about those personal hygiene things. That was one of my clues it was time to do something. When one can't safely get in and out of a bathtub or wash all their parts when they get there, this is a problem. Wiping is another. Our arms are JUST so long... Those were some of my very first NSV's. Noticing my hips didn't touch both sides of the bathtub, cinching my seatbelt on the airplane, crossing my legs. I'm still working on being able to climb stairs with less apprehension. It takes awhile to find your center of gravity when you are losing weight. It's those little things that you notice that make you proud that you have taken the step to regain your life back!! My coolest NSV so far was when I was doing my first monthly weigh in/measurements at Curves. I reached up and put the weight thing on 200 before I got on the scale and the woman said, 'There is no way you weigh 200 lbs!!" I'm so proud for you!! Keep on keeping on!! Leatha

Good luck Debra!! Let us know how things went when you feel up to it!! ((((DEBRA)))) Leatha

Thanks Darcy! That's a good one, isn't it? I had nothing of the kind with my first surgery. I'm still not too sure why I had to have this one? lol. Worst part is that it's right on the bottom of my rib cage and I think sometimes it's spasming? It seems like it tightens up right on the bottom of my rib cage and is really uncomfortable. Getting up and down from the bed or couch is very very hard. I'm hoping today will be a better day. I wound up sleeping on the couch most of the night because it's just too hard to get off the bed. :think I'm sure hoping he didn't stitch this thing to my ribcage.

Good luck tomorrow, Debra!! You'll do great! Be sure to update us when you're feeling up to it!! Leatha

In my opinion. There is no, I repeat NO complication from the band that is any way form or fashion nearly as bad as those from a bypass can be. I just had a new band placed on Friday, due to slippage and had a hiatal hernia repaired in the process. My intestines are still intact, my body's capability to absorb nutrients is still in working order. I still have my whole stomach and no staple line to break. If I got erosion, I could take the band out and still have all my parts. I could also still decide to do the bypass if I absolutely had to. If I did the bypass first, I would have none of these things and no way to reverse it once it's done. Also, there is supposedly a window of opportunity with the bypass where you can lose weight. Then, the body learns to adapt to the changes and will allow weight to be gained back. With the band, I can have it adjusted and continue to lose or maintain my current weight, without the window limitation. I wish you much luck with your decision! Leatha banded 5/29/03 - Dr. Wetter/San Francisco Slippage repair - 07/16/04 - Dr. Veninga/ Texas 250/190/140??

WOWEE!! You are awesome Donali!! That's Onederful!!:Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :banana :banana :banana :banana Leatha

Here are some things I posted on ObesityHelp.com, regarding things that might help your recovery. Sitting here 2 days post-op (AGAIN) I can think of a couple of pointers that might make things a tad easier. I don't know what your weight and physical condition is right now, but anything you can do to strengthen your stomach muscles before you have surgery would help your recovery. The way the incisions are make it pretty hard to get up and down off your bed or even your couch. I'm at home right now and can't really lie down because there isn't anyone here to help me get back up once I get down.. lol. It really hurts having to use those stomach muscles to pull yourself up from lying or sitting. Another thing that helps alot. A small pillow used for coughing/sneezing/pulling yourself up and down. Sometimes, the hospital offers you one, but they usually aren't that big a help. I've found that if you take a flat sheet and fold it up pretty compactly in a square, then take tape and tape it where it will stay together, it makes for a much more solid support and not too large as to be a nuisance. Believe me, it helps if you suddenly need to cough deeply or sneeze! Also, practice some deep breathing exercises to help your lungs prepare for the surgery. They will give you a little breathing apparatus called a Spirometer after your surgery and make you inhale with it over and over to exercise your lungs. This helps to keep from getting pneumonia, but I think if you'd really concentrate on it BEFORE the surgery, you'd do better AFTER the surgery? Understand? Make sure you have all the things you need for a liquid diet to begin with. You won't be wanting to shop immediately afterward. I went out and bought Atkins shakes, 'Nectar' Protein Mix, sugar-free Popsicles, Beef/Chicken broth, sugar-free Jello, Crystal Lite drinks, bottled Water, green tea, ice cream (if you dare). I was told that it was okay for this phase because the purpose is to be healing, not losing weight. As long as you don't over-do it, it shouldn't hurt much. I also bought several 'Soup At Hand' by Campbell's for variety. Gax-X, any Liquid Pain Killer prescriptions. Try to have them on hand Before you need them! Neosporin and dressings for your incisions? I asked my dr for a prescription for Phenergran, just in case I ran into any nausea. You do NOT want to be vomiting at this stage. Just some insight from a fresh post-op, as I sit here and try to breathe in this darn thing... lol.. Good luck to you! Leatha

Congratulations Janis! I'll be sending good thoughts for an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery! Leatha Plano, Texas

There is a very good book out just recently, by Jessie Ahroni. She is a Nurse Practitioner who has been banded over 5 years herself. Jessie is very very no-nonsense, but probably the most knowledgeable in the field. She does fills, etc in Washington state. You can find the book at www.amazon.com do a search on 'Ahroni'. I understand you can even purchase an 'online' copy.

It's so much more comforting when you have a Dr. that isn't above actually communicating with you. So many times they act as if they are on a different plane than the rest of us humans. My new Dr. called me personally, twice on Thursday before my surgery. On Friday, he came in the pre-op room and sat down with me and my daughter as if he were a family friend and just talked with us. That sure helps! I'm really glad you found this guy! Leatha

try this again.

Well. I don't know how this turned out at 4:40am, but I can't compete in the bra thing just yet. lol. There's no way I could put a bra on right now. This thing is right on my ribcage and it HURTSSS!! :sick I hope it's not too unclear and huge, but I'm no good with the photo stuff.. We'll see.

You've had a tough time, Lisa. I don't know how you've managed the port infection and holding down your jobs too. I applaud your tenacity. But, I also love Alex's gentle way of approaching what could not only be a big issue for you mentally/emotionally but could also affect your band. Alcohol is an irritant which you probably don't need right now and it does cancel out any good antibiotics might be doing. On the other hand. I know all too well what you mean about 20 yrs ago. Keep your chin up! ((((Lisa)))) Leatha

I think this is a great thread Alex. In truth, the lapband is still new and we are really pioneers. Some of us will go through some trials and tribulations and we'll have to rely on our banded friends and our doctors to guide us through them. Hopefully, whatever it is that we face, may make it safer and easier for those who come after us. I've lost 60lbs this past year with not one minute's problem. So, I hit a stumbling block. Do I still think it was worth being re-banded to lose the remaining 40-50? Yes! I love my band! Without it, I was headed up instead of down, with no hope of ever having the discipline to lose the weight myself. Right now, I'm sore and battered and bruised, but by the end of this week. I'll be feeling much better and back on the road to losing the rest of my weight. I could have never said that without this band. So I am grateful and hopefully, my little bump in the road will make the road smoother for those coming behind me. Leatha

Way to go Jeannie. Isn't it fun cleaning out closets? It took me forever to finally get to a place where even the people around me were saying I couldn't wear some of my clothes again. Then, I had a next size down, so I tried to hurry and wear them, but even they were too big. I'm now into clothes I wore 3 yrs ago, before my last size change and I'm on my way to NOT having ANY clothes to wear. I guess that's what it's all about, huh? Congratulations! You go girl! Leatha