Sue Magoo

Hi folks. I have a question for those who have had their tummies tucked. How long did you have to wear a compression binder? Mine's been 24/7 so far and just wondering how long this goes on. Do they have you wean off of it? It's a pain in the neck, but it's also almost a comfort because it keeps things held so tightly. I'll be following up with doctor tomorrow, just thought I'd ask about it ahead of time so that I know what to expect. Thanks. I love my band! Sue

Hi: No need to worry. Soon after tummy tuck you can change your name from LV my Labs to LV my Abs. Sorry, couldn't resist! Sue

I saw parts of the show. He made such a huge transformation! I didn't feel slighted at all by them saying that he did it without surgery. Good for him. I hope that he doesn't do what 95% of people who lose weight do - gain it back. It seems that he has changed his life dramatically and still has alot of physical activity, so he probably won't gain it back. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: I think that a compression garment may help for a temporary solution. A panniculectomy and/or tummy tuck will probably be your long term solution. I don't like to run. However, since I've had my excess tummy skin removed it's alot easier to run and I do on occasion. I usually run a little, walk alot, run a little, walk alot. I guess they call that intervals. It's amazing what a difference getting rid of that excess skin can make. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

You may want to consider swimming for exercise. It's low impact and you can burn a bunch of calories while swimming laps or swimming in place. I think it helped me alot my first summer after being banded. As far as the sizes go, they fluctuate so much at the stores. I think they're just trying to make us crazy. If you keep on losing the sizes will go down. I think it took 50 pounds for my first size down. It gets to take less as you go down in the sizes. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: I think people can get too thin. My personal experience was that I couldn't think about getting to my bmi healthy weight because I would be way too thin on the top. As it is, my collar bones are too prominent. When I got to my lowest people kept asking me if I felt alright because I was looking tired all the time. I think that being 20 pounds over a healthy bmi is okay for me. I asked my doctor and she said that as long as my blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol were fine and I felt good that the 20 pounds over bmi is probably okay for me. My legs were heavy before I even gained weight so I shouldn't be surprised that they're still heavy. Sure would be nice if we could lose it where we want to, and keep it where we don't. Shucks! I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: Eating regular is a new "regular". I can eat almost anything in a very small quantity. I have to eat very small bites and chew them to death or else I get very uncomfortable. The only time I got stuck bad was with tuna salad - it compacted in my pouch and got me stuck. I can eat tuna now, just have to wait a few minutes between bites and I usually put it on saltines to make something crunchy go down with it. I don't eat bread unless it is toasted dark. That way it is crunchy enough to go down easy, and not "ball up" in the pouch. Watermelon - yes, yes, yes! I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

I like the location of mine - dead center just below center of rib cage. The only way I can feel it is if I touch it. It never gets in the way of bending or clothing. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi Laura: I had oxycodone for pain. I had four different meds for nausea - one of them was a suppository in case the vomiting started I could take it via suppository. They put the scopolamine (sp?) patch behind my ear before surgery. The IC Promethazine for nausea worked for me. I never had to use a suppository. She also prescribed ic ondansetron odt. I tried that once and it was horrible. That one had to stay under your tongue while it disolved - actually made me gag because it was so horrible tasting. The IC Promethazine was my miracle drug when I was home. I had to take it half hour before pain medication because I get nausea from the oxycodone. Unfortunately, no matter what they did for me the first 24 hours I still had nausea and dry heaves. I think it was from the anesthesia. Thank goodness for the pain pumps (both for pain medicine and the one for the anesthetic that dripped inside over the stitches). I think one of the most important things to do is to baby yourself and rest rest rest! I know this is hard for us bandsters because we're loving all of the energy we got after losing the weight, but it is so important to rest while you are healing from the plastic surgery. Take care. Sue

Laura: I'm so excited for you! I'll be thinking of you this week and wish you the best. Are you going to have one of those anesthetic pumps that puts the anesthetic over the abdominal wall when you push a button? I think that was the best thing. Mine only lasted for three days but it was great to give it a push before getting up. I hope your doc has one for you. Take care. Sue

Hi: My doctor allows diet soda and beer, but the beer in moderation. I love diet soda and drink 1 to 2 every day. I have to load up a cup with ice and stir alot of the bubbles out of it. In addition, I can only take sips. If I try to swig it down it comes back up with a bit of slime and discomfort added. I didn't drink soda until I had been banded for a couple of months. I started my second beverage addiction during that period - snapple diet peach iced tea - yummmmmmmmooooooo! Like the others said, follow your doctors rules and you should do fine. I love my band and my new flat tummy. Sue

Hi: I just wanted to say that I'm sorry you've slipped. Thanks for sharing your experience because it may prevent others from having the same problem by hearing how you think your slip happened. I hope that your doctor works out a good solution for your problem. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Riane: You are very welcome. Best wishes to you in your weight loss journey and new healthy lifestyle. Sue

Hi: I hope your drains come out soon. It's so much better when you don't have them anymore. Just gotta give time for all of the draining, then before you know it you'll be enjoying your flat tummy. It's so worth the wait! As far as the binders go it could be several more weeks before you are able to stop wearing the binder and can start wearing a spanx-type garment instead. I had my tummy tuck almost two months ago and I just went two days in a row without wearing a spanx and I'm not swelling, knock on wood! I love my band and my new flat tummy! Take care. Sue

Hey Riane: You might want to search on the NSV threads to see if someone says they got to come off of their cpap machines because they probably could give you theirs if they don't need it anymore. Good luck finding a machine. I hope someone gives you one. Sue

I hope there's someone on this site who doesn't need theirs anymore that can send it to you. Please someone that doesn't need a machine anymore and has one, please contact this fellow bandster and help them out. I don't have one, or else I would. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Laura: I wish I'd had the boobs done too, but I didn't have the extra $$$ because I got laid off 3 weeks prior to tummy tuck. I'm with Josie and say that if the doctor will do it together go for it. Please discuss the added risk with the longer time in surgery though so that you can make a fully informed decision. Take care. Sue

Laura: You shouldn't plan to drive until at least two weeks postop as it requires use of your abdominal muscles. You may also be taking pain medication still, so it could actually be longer. I can't remember how long I took the pain meds - a week to ten days at night for sleeping only. So, please line up your friends for your first two appointments and then you should be all set. Hope it goes smoothly! I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi Laura: So sorry to hear about your Father passing. I hope that you find comfort in whatever decision you make regarding the plastic surgery. What do you think your Dad would have wanted you to do? I hope your life gets less stressful soon and that you have lots of fond memories of your Dad. Sue

Hi: I had very bad nausea after my band. Then 9 months later I had gallbladder surgery and it wasn't so bad. The surgeon had me use one of the scopolamine (sp?) Patches before the surgery. He told me they would do everything that they could for the nausea during surgery with meds. He sent me home with scripts for zofran and something that I could use by suppository in case the nausea was making me toss all of the oral meds. It ended up not being bad after gallbladder removal. Then, this past May I had a tummy tuck. Had all of the same meds and I had horrible nausea with dry heaves for the first 18 to 24 hours postop. I don't know why it worked with gallbladder, but not with tummy tuck. It may have been because I was having anesthesia alot longer, but I'm really not sure. I have issues with nausea with pain meds too. After lapband and gallbladder I didn't need much for painkiller. After the tummy tuck I took pain meds for about a week at bedtime but I kept up with the anti-nausea drugs while taking the pain meds. Hope all goes well for you. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: You should probably call your doctor if you're wheezing. You don't want to mess with trouble breathing. Hope you feel better soon. Let us know how you make out. Sue

Lisa: Is there a possibility you could start your medical leave early because of the reaction you are having to the prescribed presurgical medicine? I'm sure your doctor would write you a note if you tell her about the bathroom issues. Good luck. Sue

Hi: At night when I want something I usually have sugar free popsicles. If I crave salt I have some microwave lowfat popcorn. Sometimes if I want something sweet I'll have a teaspoonful of sugarfree raspberry jelly. When the weather gets really hot I crush up some ice (bought electric ice crusher - well worth it), pour some lemonade or diet coke on it and eat it with a spoon. It's got crunch and it's nice and cold on a hot day. I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: I had a tummy tuck on 5/14 and my surgeon said I could go in the Water 4 weeks post op. I think as long as you don't have any openings in your incisions you should be fine. Enjoy the water! I love my band and my new flat tummy! Sue

Hi: Sorry, but I'm busting a gut laughing about your spanx experience. Especially from when you said you tried putting them on over your head! HA HA Ha. Thanks for the laugh. I bought a spanx type garment at Kohl's and I bought large. I bought the kind that goes down to your knees and up just under your bra. It is the most comfortable one that I have. I have another one that goes just above the waist and that one rolls down sometimes so it's not as good. Perhaps if you just go up from medium to large? Maybe you should go to the store with pantyhose on and try one on before you buy it. They're too expensive to buy the wrong size. I think I paid close to $40 for the better one and $30 for the other. Good luck. I love my band and my new flat tummy. Sue