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Can't message properly now but I will Asa I get proper chance. Doing ok now. Heavier than I'd like but dealing with it. Xx thanks mammajamma

Hi. I was banded july 2013 and was really successful. I lost 170 lbs in just over 11 months and felt incredible. I embraced exercise in a huge way and lived and totally loved my life. I then choose to have a full TT. I had lots of stretch marks and an over hang. Had my band fully deflated for my op. Not sure but they may of left in a cc or two. I got necrosis (when the flesh dies around the incisions) was in agony. Had to have further surgery and a wound vac. My recovery took months instead of weeks. I was informed inadequate diet was to blame for my healing difficulties 4 weeks post op and I was to eat more. So I did. And gained 30lbs over 4 months. I was on a total exercise ban until my scars fully healed as they kept reopening. I was depressed still am and sadly turned to food. I've had 2 refills the first did nothing the second made me too tight so I had most of it taken out again. I feel totally lost. I found it so easy originally and now I can't even seem to make good food choices. I am exercising again now but my fitness is really poor in comparison to before. I'm starting to feel pretty defeated and desperate. If you can help in any way I'd really appreciate it. I know I have to muster my own motivation etc but even a slight nudge in the right way might help.

Lisacaron thankyou for your message. I did lose really fast. The first week after being banded I lost 14 lbs. I exercised an hour at least every day and gave up lots of foods. I never ate emotionally I felt so uplifted and positive. I only had one gain in a year and it was following a hormone injection and the following week I had a massive loss again. Then my focus was this wonderful surgery. A body I was proud of. I maintained well I was in green but reintroduced a few things the occasional chocolate bar, icecream bag of crisps. But as I was doing such high intensity exercise my weight was stable. When I was deflated I ate like before. Huge mistake. Then as I had more and more problems I turned to food. I need to go back to abstinence for a while I think and only reintroduce foods when I'm fully fit. I also need to see this as a lifetime change not a diet. Diets eventually fail

Hi Julie if I'm honest the only questions I ask were could I die... And was my tummy going to be flat and not sit on my legs wobble and be sweaty. I didn't look into possible bad outcomes. I was imo young, super fit at the time. I did have very stretched skin. Only about 1 in 10,000 gets my problems. I've had c sections and this was nothing like that. So much worse. By my surgery date I was so thin my overhang was pretty small. I had 3•5kg of skin/fat removed. A relatively small amount. I'd ask about drains I had mine in for over 3 wks. I'd ask about width of scars mine are pretty thick. I had a reaction to the thread they sewed me up with. My body kept rejecting it and new areas opened up. I'd ask worse case scenario outcome. I'd also advise stool softener. Tmi but it was an issue. If your having just a horizontal incision I believe it's even rarer for the wound to dehiss and become necrotic. Wear a good binder or support underwear. I didn't. Be prepared to feel totally zapped. It floored me for 3 months. But I've read a lot of positive outcomes. Look on real self. It's a great site. Lastly good luck.

Thanks so much for your kind words. They mean a great deal. I'm going to go back to basics. I'm due to have an adjustment Wednesday so that might help and I'm seeing my surgeon Thursday to discuss the issues I'm having.

Hey girl I'm right there with you. I gained nearly 30 lbs post surgery I had a tummy tuck. It didn't go well. I fell into bad comfort eating habits I'm really struggling to break and get on track. I was in the green zone pre op and felt awesome. Now I feel totally disgusted with myself but can't seem to kick start myself back on track. Totally understand. Just going to try to do one day at a time.

I only noticed cold drinks from the fridge made my band feel tighter

Hi there my circumstances are slightly different I was only banded 16 months and had my band fully deflated for my TT. I had a fill 6 weeks post operation and went back up to 7cc. Got a huge bruise on my port. Never did before, burped a bit but absolutely no restrictions whatsoever which surprised me. Had another fill 4 weeks later up to 9•5cc (had previously pre op been at 10•75cc's comfortably and doing great) it was excruciating. Reflux vomiting pain in my back and shoulder. Had 1•5 removed. Instant relief but no restrictions really and my weights soaring. Due to poor choices and will power as well as quantity. Going this Wednesday for a refill will let you know how I got on :-))

Hello july bandsters. I was banded July 3rd 13. Did extremely well lost 170 lbs and had a tummy tuck in September. Since then things have really gone down hill. I had my band fully deflated as I was having full TT. Vertical as well as horizontal incisions. They re inflated it at 6 wks post TT. But it was agony. My port was practically bursting through horrible painful scars. So I had it deflated some. Which helped but I became starving depressed and gained 21 more lbs. my new tummy is saggy again and I know I'm eating horribly. But can't focus long enough to start to lose again. Any help ideas I'd be so grateful. I'm really unhappy. :-((

Hi there its been months since I was here but I had skin removed in sept. I was 7lbs heavier than my goal weight when I had surgery. They removed about that much weight in skin. I had a fleur de lis TT. They recommend to me to be at or around goal. That way you get a better result. Good luck

I was banded July 3rd 2013 and had fantastic results. 170lbs gone forever. So much so that two weeks ago I had a full tummy tuck. Removing nearly 9lbs of skin and fat from my tummy. I was in the green zone before my surgery my band at 10•5cc I had to choose carefully but where that failed exercise made up for it. I'm an exercise junkie. Prior to my op I had my band released to 1•75cc's. And now the skin on my abdomen is so tight eating even small portions is a real challenge. I feel painfully bloated after a few mouthfuls in the mornings. Evenings are slightly easier, I can eat a reasonable amount. Has anyone else had this procedure or any ideas? I'm definitely not going for a fill anytime soon. Originally I thought it was because of the aggravation from surgery but it can't still be that now surely. Thanks xx

Haha I'm flying out of knock back to the UK in pretty sure I'll be safe they aren't very technical there

I've just had a full tummy tuck 3 weeks ago. I'll share by email. I'm not brave enough to go public just yet. Pm me and I'll send pics

The time flies. In a blink it's been a year for us both. I loved your blog candid and honest. Onderland is so close. Can't wait to celebrate it with you. I hovered at 201lbs for ages. Then finally hit 199. My greatest accomplishment so far. Your doing amazingly and I'm delighted to be your friend. ????

Thanks for sharing I just had FTT last Monday. I have about 20lbs had 20 lbs of skin for removal. Had 3.6kg removed so far. Having breasts arms and thighs done over next 18 months. Starting weight 350 lbs ish. Current weight 180lbs. Quite tender but worth it will add pics soon. ????

Had abdominoplasty last Monday. Everything went great so far. 3.6kg belly flop gone forever. Delighted with results. Will post pics before and after when bandages off and drains are out.

Hello there all you fabulous July bandsters. I've not checked in for a while. I've been furiously exercising for my FTT. I had it last Monday the 15th of September. It's very uncomfortable but not too much pain. I still have drains in which are very sore but apart from that after 8 days feeling tired but delighted. Had 3.6kg of skin removed. Had my band deflated from 11cc down to 2cc for surgery. It still swelled so much for 2 days I couldn't drink. My skin was very stretch marked so I wasn't expecting miracles but my new tummy is looking amazing. Being checked tomorrow I'll keep you posted on progress. . It does/did take more out of me than I expected and I'm really physically fit. Now fitting UK size 12. US size 8. From size UK 34 or US 28... I love my band

Omg you've just described how I'm feeling right now to perfection. My get up and go got up and scarpered. I too was in the red for about 6 weeks. I tried to get used to it but couldn't had a big aspiration. And the eating commenced. I was close to goal and have gained 14lbs. And even the horror of watching the scales rise nearly daily isn't curbing my one woman eating fest. It'd be easy for me to say " ah your family will love you whatever which I'm 100% sure they will" because that not going to change how you feel about things or ease your anxiety. We all want approval and acceptance from others. As for poor choices I'm winning on that score. Well into 3000 calories a day again nearly. And can't make myself stop. Just try to focus on the positives and maybe have only one day a week you eat whatever you fancy. I'm trying towards that. Anything I can do in support I will. I'm a way better supporter than I am practitioner right now. X

If I eat granola or eggs I get that pain it's wind in my case. I take deflatine and it goes.

My band was tight following fills. If I ate too fast and aggravated my band it'd get tight. It was tighter in the mornings or if I drank iced drinks. Exercise made my band tighter at times especially core work. Can't comment on totm as I don't have periods. But if you can't eat in the mornings I'd be cautious because I could eat pretty big still at night evenings so had a small fill. Which caused me to be too tight and after a few weeks of sliming and vomiting I had to have quite a big infill to allow the swelling being sick had caused to settle. I was at 11.5 in a 14 band. I'm at 10 now and really hungry again but that's better than being sick. I was due another refill but I'm having skin removal surgery in a few weeks so there's no point. Good luck let us know how your getting on .

Whoops technology malfunction that sent too soon. Try not to worry. Is it following a fill?

I did have similar pain it was wind from certain foods.

Omg my ladies have gone!!! Total spaniels ears!! Lol. I went from a 58JJ to a 34 droopy d. All skin no substance. But to be fair it's only been in the last 25lbs lost a massive cup size difference has been obvious. Keep the faith they will/should shrink. Ps get your ass in the gym. It makes you feel great xx

My band is my best friend. It totally saved my life. I went from 350 lbs to 185 in a year. A bmi of 50 down to 22. I couldn't walk properly. Wash myself, wipe my bum properly. My existence was horrible. I would happily of died. I had no future or hope. However now I'm loving life. I'm fit healthy slim-ish. I feel better no IBS. No heartburn, sores on my skin. But it's not without sacrifice. I count calories everyday. Workout 2h a day. And have a lot of loose skin. I'm having a TT in a month. Then boobs and arms finally thighs. I still want occasionally to eat rubbish and have gained at times. Chocolate and icecream are killers. But I wouldn't change it for anything.

Thanks George. Will do. And I am terrified about having my band emptied. But not as terrified as over eating with a fresh tummy tuck would make me. Missing exercise will be the hardest thing. I workout every day. I'll post before after pictures