Frangipani

Wow BBK, I'm sorry to hear about the pneumonia and all that you had to go through yesterday. Take good care of yourself and get lots and lots of rest. Sending all the very best wishes your way. :tt1::smile::Dancing_wub:

Beautiful work Dr. Schulman! It amazes me how many different things can be done nowadays, and it's great that you are taking the time to explain and show us some of these new techniques. I'm very intrigued by this and it looks fabulous, but for me, I think I still prefer the perfect shape and symmetry of an implant. My only real concern going into this is that I get the right size implant because I don't want to go much larger than a small "C" cup (anything larger would not be commensurate with my look or body type). My Dr. is thinking 400cc silicone implant, but this still seems a bit large to me..............

Thanks Esmerelda :thumbup:! I really appreciate all of the helpful feedback I have gotten in this thread. I just received an email from my bariatric surgeon and he told me that if I don't want an unfill, I might want to consider going on liquids for a few days before the surgery to reduce the risk (very slight according to him) of aspiration while under general anesthesia. But I also think I recall my other surgeon telling me that the anesthesiologist will usually suction out the pouch of his banded patients prior to surgery (???). JSIL, good luck with all of this. It sounds like you've attended to every last detail. Please keep us updated with your progress. I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday. Thanks again everyone! :biggrin::smile::biggrin:

Grace, congratulations on your weight loss, but with all due respect exercise isn't just about weight loss, it is also about having a healthy body. There are so many benefits to exercise that they are actually too numerous to list here, and a person cannot be considered truly healthy unless they engage in some sort of regular activity. Furthermore, there are scores of people out there who are thin, but unhealthy. In fact there is something called "internal fat" which is fat that accumulates around the organs, but cannot been seen, the way subcutaneous fat (i.e, fat below the skin that you can see and that most of us have/had) can. Nowadays many Dr.'s believe that being thin and sedentary can put a person at a higher risk for mortality than being slightly overweight and active. An inactive, sedentary lifestyle is not healthy -- period. And the vast majority of us "big losers" exercise hard and often, and we are reaping the amazing mind and body benefits of doing so. I agree that sometimes you need to alter your activity or your diet to break a plateau, but I will never ever believe that a Banded patient should eat a Krispy Kreme donought and drink a Coke to do so. This is simply bad advice on so many different levels............ Grace, I'm really not trying to flame you here, I just do not think that the underlying message of these posts is beneficial to those of us struggling with weight and health issues.

ROTFL :biggrin::biggrin:! You guys are too funny!!! This thread is really entertaining me tonight, with my insomnia!!! Want so bad, I'm in the same boat. I never had very much to start out with (B cup), but always liked what I had when I was at my proper weight. I was therefore quite chagrined to discover that just to restore what I once had, I will need to have both a breast lift plus an implant :thumbup::thumbdown::biggrin: I talked to four different surgeons about this and they all told me the same thing. Having large breasts is just not me and is not commensurate with my look or body type, but dammit there is no way I am going to spend big $$$ for a B cup (just doesn't seem like a good value does it?), so I am "moving up" into a small "C." West Coast Fat Guy, don't feel bad, my husband has never been overweight and has been a total workout and diet fanatic for his entire life, and even he has moobs (but a wonderful head of thick hair) -- it's just one of those things that happens in the genetic wheel of fortune. That's why God created plastic surgeons!!!

I struggle with this one because I would like to keep this private. So many people (including many of those in the medical community) don't understand weight problems (i.e., want to blame it on "character or psychological issues"when it is glaringly obvious that this is largely a physiological, metabolic issue in response to our modern environment and lifestyle), and therefore do not understand weight loss surgery. However, I am frequently asked nowadays how I lost weight and when I am asked that question by someone who has a weight problem, I feel a responsibility to tell them the truth. The exception to this is my husband's family who don't know and will never know about this (per my husband's wise suggestion). They have been harshly judgmental about my weight problem and ironically just as bad about my weight loss. My mother in law's response to my weight loss was to tell my husband (in an email sent to a box that we both share) that he must be very happy about this because "no man wants a heavy, overweight wife at his side." They live very far away and I don't see them very often (for obvious reasons), so its fairly easy to keep the secret from them -- and at this point, they are probably just about the only people who don't know.

You're welcome Becky! Well, still haven't heard anything from the Dr. but I did talk to both Dr.'s surgical coordinators and June 11 is a possibility for both, maybe. Will update once I have a definite, confirmed, date.

I just returned from session #2 of Couch to 5 K. This time I went to the track at one of the local high schools. Have I told you guys I hate running? Well, I do........ BUT! I am determined to stick it out until I am 100% certain that I hate it. 2/3 of the way through my workout I got a nice, big blister from my new running shoes too :smile:........... EOW (end of whine). Have a good one everybody! :smile::smile::w00t:

Hi Everyone! I just started the Couch to 5 K program this week and am headed out to the local high school track to do session two of week one right now. I must admit, I pretty much hate running at this point, but I won't give it up until/unless I give it a fair chance. Hopefully, I will learn to enjoy it as many of you seem to have done. Talk to you all again soon -- have a great evening! :smile::smile::smile:

I am getting SO BORED with my playlist lately, which is why I was looking through this thread again. Time to buy some new songs!!!! Here's a great "cardio tune" one that I don't think has been mentioned yet: Days go By -- Dirty Vegas. I am going to check out some of the other suggestions listed here too !

Thank you so much JSIL! :smile::frown: Wow, surgery next Wednesday!!! Good luck with that and keep us posted -- what are you having done?

Having a fill done under flouro solves so many problems, including this problem of painful fills and missing the port. It also takes much of the guesswork out of the fill itself, as the Dr. can see the restriction right then and there (which is not to say that the fill might not need to be tweaked because you stomach begins swelling almost immediately after the saline is injected). I have had all of my fills done under fluoro, and truly wouldn't have it any other way. The last time I went in, the Dr. took a look and told me that I had enough restriction and was able to show me as well. I also like the fact that every time I go in, the Dr. can see my band, my stomach, and my "pouch" and confirm that everything is okay............

Hi Candle, Wow! What a difference!!! You look fabulous!!!! I don't know how tall you are, but I'm guessing that you are a shorty like me (5'4''), and I think we petite chicks need to drop down into to 30 BMI range to really starting noticing the difference. The advantage to that is once we start dropping below this, every pound we drop thereafter makes a HUGE difference. I have dropped several pounds since I took my picture, and when I look at that picture now, I can see the difference. Congratulations on your wonderful progress!!!!

Becky, I hope you get your situation sorted out too! If your Dr. looked at this just a few months ago and everything was okay, it sounds like this very well might turn out to be a non-issue. Also (and this is obviously just my own opinion based on my extremely limited knowledge of these things), even if it turns out that there is an issue with your band, I wonder how important it is in terms of your PS. I mean you are at goal now, so perhaps this won't hold up anything, and the band issue (assuming it even exists) can be addressed later. I called my Dr.'s office this morning and, as I suspected, he had (and continues to have) an emergency situation he is dealing with. I would guess that an oncologist often has unexpected things that come up, and when I think about my small problem in relation to the true health crises that many of these women are facing, I know that I must be as patient as possible, even though it is SO hard for me to do so!!!! I actually feel a little badly about putting in a follow-up call this morning, given what I know now about the emergency situation. If my surgery gets pushed back because someone else has a much more pressing need, than I just have to go with that (strong reminder to my extremely impatient self)..............

Hey Shrinko De Mayos, I just had to check in because I love your name -- so cute, funny and clever!!! Congrats to those who have been banded so far and good luck to those who will be soon. The Band is a wonderful thing, next year this time you will be looking fabulous and feeling so thankful that you did this! All the best to you! :thumbup::smile::biggrin:

Hi Bandster 1007, I'm so sorry to hear about all you have been going through lately. There are some excellent GYN specialists out there, and maybe you will want to consider talking to one, as it sounds to me like you have some fairly complicated issues.

Well, as my long-suffering DH will tell you, nagging is truly my specialty, so no problem Salsa -- I'm happy to jump on your case any time :thumbup:! Thanks for the advice regarding changing up my routine. I know that's a good idea, it's just that this long cardio worked so well for me for so long, I hesitate change it, even though I know I must sometimes. Double-header Thursday tonight. 30 minutes pilates/abdominals class, and a one hour Yoga class. Enjoy your evening everyone!

Thanks Becky! Have you heard anything yet????? Thanks for the support Salsa :smile::ohmy:! Jody, awwwww, thank you so much for those incredibly kind thoughts and compliments!!! I think I will let Judi ghost write any books for me, as she truly is a very gifted writer! I am SO sorry that I missed my Dr.'s phone call last night because now I am unable to get a hold of him to anchor down the details of the myomectomy. I know that he is a really busy guy and I did leave a message for him first thing this morning, but no call back as of yet. At this point it's doubtful that I will hear from him today since it's already 7:00 P.M in our time zones. My concern is that we won't be able to get the two Dr.'s schedules together when it is convenient for me to have the surgery done, which will then push this whole process back several weeks (or possibly even months). I have been working on this whole thing for some time now and I am quite anxious to get this show on the road!!!!

BBK, Still thinking about you and sending you very best wishes. I hope the pain is starting to go away -- or if not, I'm hoping that you have ample supply of good drugs, and are resting comfortably. :biggrin::smile::thumbup:

Hi Lexy, Thank you for the excellent and insightful feedback. I do tend to vomit after surgery. In fact, I vomited just before and immediately after my Lap Band surgery -- which couldn't have been a good thing, but apparently didn't cause any problems. (Sorry if this is a little gross talking about this.) Anyhow, you brought up a really good point that I had not considered. Thank you!!!! :biggrin::smile::thumbup:

Whoo Hoo Kat!!! Congratulations and Good Luck!!! You really planned this out in a great way. Having a wonderful vacation with your friends is an excellent way to distract yourself from any pre-surgery anxiety. I am SO jealous that insurance is covering this for you. I have excellent insurance BUT (and this is a huge but), my policy has a weight loss exclusion, so my Lap Band surgery was not covered. Because my hanging skin in the abdomen area doesn't seem to be causing any medical problems, I didn't even bother trying to get it covered. I know your medical problems related to the hanging skin must have been really bothersome, but looking back, I bet you're glad you had them now :biggrin:! Look forward to hearing from you again soon! :thumbup::smile::party:

Congratulations Indigo Girl!!! You did an AWESOME job with this and you look fabulous!!!! I'm was banded a month later than you and am still plugging away. I had more weight to lose, so it will take me a little longer, but you're right, this Band really does work!!! Happy Dance!!! :biggrin::thumbup::party:

This area of the board is so awesome because you can often get answers straight from the doctors themselves, as we have right here in this thread! Jachut you made some good points too. I know that everything can be fixed beautifully and well, but I do worry about my body looking like a road map when it's all done. Extensive scarring is definitely an issue that concerns me, but I haven't really considered this question in enough detail to know for sure whether it's an acceptable trade-off for having everything fixed to satisfaction. Right now I am just focusing on getting the high priority PS done, so that I don't feel like all of this effort to get the weight off has been for naught. Jachut, you are one lucky lady -- you did come through this with flying colors. If I looked as good in a bathing suit as you do, I would be saving a lot of money! Dr. Schulman, I read someplace that it's a good idea to do the inner and outer thighs in separate surgeries because addressing these areas simultaneously can adversely affect the result. Is this true?

Hi Sweety (and I can tell that your screen name fits you well, you are a sweety :redface:). I am just waiting to set a date and work out some details for a LBL and breast lift with augmentation (yes it's true, even B cup breasts need a little lift sometimes :cursing:). I plan on starting a thread once I get everything all set up. Have a great night, I look forward to following your progress!!!

Hi Misty, I hope that it came through loud and clear in my post that this is a personal decision. It was really not my intent to imply that there is a right or wrong answer to this, I just wanted to share my point of view as a person who has already traveled to Mexico once for surgery, and one who thoroughly considered whether or not to have a major surgery such as LBL done there. (And this is the only point on which we disagree, this is major surgery and just about any Dr. will agree with me on that point.) I'm glad that you had an excellent experience in Mexico and I'm very happy for you. I too had an excellent experience with surgery in Monterrey Mexico, just last August and I cannot say enough good things about my Dr. his staff and the hospital where I had my surgery. Have a great night!!! :cursing::smile::redface: