Sue Magoo

Hi: I had my lapband put in July 2007 and had gallbladder removal April 2008. The gallbladder removal was alot easier for me because I didn't have nausea issues afterwards like I did with band. I think the nausea is related to the anesthesia. I found that near my belly button was the sorest spot when I had gallbladder removed and the port sight was sorest with lapband. Both are fairly easy surgeries and I could have assumed most activities within a couple of days with both surgeries. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Laura: Chin up and positive thoughts! I hope your back stops hurting you soon. I'm a side sleeper too. Have you tried sleeping on your side with pillows wedged up on both sides of you? That was helpful for me. Please be patient with your DH because at least he's trying to be helpful. I had to do most everything on my own after the first two days and it's hard. Hot showers might help with your back aches. Hope you feel better soon. It might just be damn boredom and not hormones that are making you be emotional. Take care, and think about the positive side of all of this - a flat tummy and feeling better about yourself! Sue

Hi: Please call your surgeon and tell him about your swollen arm to make sure it's not anything serious. Let us know how you make out. Sue

Laura: You'll heal better if you're sleeping, so please do whatever you have to in order to get alot of rest. I recall that there were some good days and some not so good days for the first couple of weeks. It's important to remember not to overdo it on the good days so that you don't have to pay for it later. I don't think that you should worry about needing to have the pain meds to help you sleep. I took them mostly at bed time the first couple of weeks and then I stopped when I felt alot less pain. Strange, but one of the worst pains that I had was mostly when I was in bed. I cannot sleep on my back, and when rolling to my side or if I slept on my side for a short period of time I would get a very sharp pain down toward my groin area. I think she did lipo down there and there was alot of pain in that area. This groin pain went away after the first two weeks. Rest, relax, rest, relax, rest, relax. Take care. Sue

Hi: I was banded in July 2007. I lost 38 pounds before surgery. I lost 105 pounds from Surgery to 1st Bandiversary date. I have been wearing a size 12 since then and am very happy with my band. I will probably never achieve 159 which is "healthy" for my bmi because I get a scrawny looking face when I get down to 174, so I can't imagine it at 159. I do get hungry occasionally now. I didn't at first. When I was first eating food after banding I had to remind myself to eat because if I waited too long between meals I would have "first bite syndrome". First bite syndrome for me was eating too fast and too large of a bite because I got hungry and this would lead to discomfort. I'm 2 years postop now and my biggest regret is that I didn't get my band alot sooner. I think one of the keys to band success is thinking about it as a lifetime committment and following up with your doctor to keep adjusted to the right level. Best wishes to you in whatever you decide. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: Mineral oil may help with the constipation, and you only need to take a spoonful or two. I had issues with constipation too. Things will work themselves out! Good luck. I hope you love your band like I love mine. Sue

Michelle: From what I've heard you really shouldn't be eating solids yet because you are still healing. I heard that if you don't let your healing occur the right way that you have a much higher chance of slippage or erosion later. I'm sure you don't want that. Please try to eat the pureed foods so that you won't wonder later if you do have a problem whether you made this happen or not. Take care. Sue

Laura: Good luck with the reveal! I think that the boredom was the hardest part after the first 24 hours. I think it's so hard for us bandsters that have lost so much weight because we love our new energy levels after loosing all of the weight and we have a much more active lifestyle. Then, with the ps and there's no activity for a few days. You should be able to walk alot by the end of the week. I tucked my drainage balls into pockets on my sweatpants. I was calling them my "testicles". Silly, huh! Hope you have a great day. Sue

Laura: Wow, eight hours of continuous sleep! That's amazing under the circumstances and I'm sure it will help with your healing. I'm so glad you're feeling so well. Strange, we don't know each other, but I am happy for you. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi again. I forgot to say that with the leg cramps I usually have a half of a banana for a couple of days in a row and the leg cramps go away. Someone told me that leg cramps are a sign of a potassium deficiency and bananas have alot of potassium. Sue

Hi: You should call your band doctor again and tell him that you need a slight unfill. My surgeon said that sometimes with a cold you can get a tight band because of the postnasal congestion. He said that he often unfills or loosens someone's band when they have a cold because they get too tight. Then, a week later when they feel better he fills them back to where they were. Any time you're having a problem keeping liquids down you need to push to get in to see your doctor. I hope you feel better soon. Please keep us posted. Sue

Hi Laura: You look great! I'm surprised that your pain pump is so low. The leads on my pain pump were put in near the top of my stomach and it sprayed the numbing medicine down most of the length of my abdominal stitches that were tying my muscles back together. It felt so good to have immediate relief (especially after a laugh or a sneeze). Did your surgeon tighten your abdominal muscles up toward your rib cage? Now, be a good girl and don't remove anymore of the bandages.:smile: Sue

Congratulations. Welcome to Onederland! I can remember hitting 199 for the first time. I had alot of happy tears that morning. Also, I had kept my weight a secret before then. When I told my Daughter that I was under 200 she said "Mom, I'm so glad I don't have to worry about your weight problem anymore. I'm so proud of you." I didn't realize that she was worrying about me. Continued success to you to obtain your weight goal. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Glad to hear that changing when you're taking the Prilosec from morning to night is helping. I take the generic version (omeprazole) and if I'm having a flare up I take it in the morning and at night, but this happens rarely. You might want to keep an eye on the clock and not have any food after 6:00 too. Just another thing to try if you're still having discomfort. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Laura: I checked your pictures and you look great! Sounds like you are doing all the right things to have the best results. Keep it up, and you'll see that beautiful flat tummy before long. The drains are a p.i.a., but they're helping to get rid of all of the fluid. I loved my pain pump too. Mine only lasted until day 3, but the pain wasn't bad at that point. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Keep us posted and take care. Sue

Scrappy: Have you been wearing a compression garment to limit the swelling? Have you gained weight since the tummy tuck? I am 9 weeks post op and I don't have much swelling. I stopped wearing the compression garments last week. I have a little bit of flab right below my rib cage in the middle near my port. It's not very noticeable, and probably just to me. I'm guessing she couldn't play around with that area because my port was there. I am very happy with the results I have so far. I don't expect much to change. You're only 4 weeks postop so I would give it a little more time. If you haven't been wearing a compression garment, try one that goes right up below your bra to limit the swelling. I've heard that people don't get the final results from a tummy tuck until 6 months postop, so you've still got a long ways to go. I hope things improve for you soon. I'd hate to be disappointed after going through so much. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Laura: Glad to hear you are doing so well. I couldn't have possibly been home the first night after my surgery because of the nausea issues I had. It's nice to hear how caring your plastic surgeon is. There are alot of nice people in this world. Sounds like you have a good plan for day #2. Take care. Sue

Laura: Wow, home already! Glad all went well. Now, go back to bed and just get up to pee for the next three days! Be a good patient for your Nurse (DH). Remember, don't laugh much! Let me know if you have any questions. Sue

Kathy: Try to get them to make an exception, but if they don't, don't give up. Give it time. When I weighed 324 lbs. I couldn't imagine that I would ever be under 200 pounds, but one year after I started my weight loss journey (9 mos. post banding) I hit 199. I'm 5'7". Once you are at your sweet spot you may see that you consistently loose 10 pounds a month. They will add up fast and you could be under 200 before you know it. I am very comfortable at the 175 to 185 level, though my healthy bmi is at a weight of 159. Personally, I never plan to get to the 159. As I loose more weight it comes off of the top and not enough off the bottom so that I look gaunt on my face, and boney in my neck and shoulder area. I don't like people asking if I've been sick, so I choose to stay at the 175 to 185 level for the rest of my life. I was fortunate with my medical insurance because I got them to pay for the panniculectomy portion of my tummy tuck. My band surgeon and the plastic surgeon both wrote letters and submitted pictures of the rash and my overhanging skin. If you look at my profile page you'll see the pics of me the day after my band and before and after my tummy tuck. Best wishes to you and getting your insurance to help with coverage for your panniculectomy. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi Laura: Been thinking about you this morning. I'm sure you're in loopy land now and I hope you're having an uneventful surgery. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Sue

Hi: I've had two surgeries since being banded. I was unfilled on both. When I had my gallbladder out I got refilled the day after surgery. When I had my tummy tuck I didn't get filled again for about ten days and then he didn't fill me all the way back. In fact, I'm still a little shy of where I was prior to tummy tuck. I was unfilled because I have vomiting issues with anesthesia. I hope all goes well for you. Sue

Laura: Doctors vary on this. I was able to shower on Saturday after a Thursday surgery. Please make sure you're not lightheaded before you dare step in the shower. You might want to ask your DH to join you (for support in case you get weak, of course):wub: Some people use shower chairs the first week or so. Sue

Hi Laura: I'll be thinking about you tomorrow. The pain wasn't bad except for when I was dryheaving from the anesthesia. Unfortunately they tried all they could to prevent the nausea, but it didn't work this time. I was so pissed off about the nausea and dryheaving that I turned into a beast (b**ch multiplied by 10). My Daughter and Sister were in shock about how I was speaking to the nurses during the first 8 hours after my surgery, but the dryheaves were killing me (both mentally and physically). After that I was plenty sore, but it wasn't that bad. Because pain meds can give me nausea too I opted to take the pain meds just at night to sleep. You should expect to sleep alot though because you are healing. Please baby yourself and you'll heal better. Take care, and please drop us a line when you are up to it. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow. Just think, in 24 hours you're going to have a flat tummy! I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Chrisann: Strange how different drugs effect different people. I take prilosec and it doesn't make me dopey at all. I take two prilosecs per day when my acid reflux is acting up (one in a.m., one in p.m.). Please call your doctor and ask if you should be doing something else because you still have the acid reflux at night. Have you tried raising the top of your bed so that you're sleeping on a slant with your head higher than your feet? This may help too. You should try to stop the reflux because it can damage your esophogus. Take care. Sue