jjsmiles

Wow Manatee - you look amazing. Congratulations - you must be sooooo pleased!!!! I bet you can stop obsessing about the swelling and puffiness now. Great results.

I have been banded for just over a year (September 25, 2007), but I really started the journey the June before, when I committed to making the changes in my life. Keys to my success: 1. I do not look at this as a diet to be endured, but rather a new lifestyle to be embraced. I do not diet per say (I do count calories), but I eat the way that I plan to eat for the rest of my life. Hopefully when I am done, I will be able to eat a few more calories, but I recognize that I can't go back to my previous lifestyle - that was the ticket to lifelong Morbid Obesity. I refuse to count carbs, and I still consider pizza, chocolate and Cookies basic food groups (only to be indulged in small quantities and not all the time). There are no bad or forbidden foods - just choices to be made. 2. I have taken control of my eating, rather than letting food control me. I am not a victim of obesity but a strong woman controlling MYSELF for the first time 3. I have incorporated exercise as a necessity in my daily life. 4. I write down everything I eat and make myself accountable for my choices. If I want to eat everything in site, I do it, acknowledge it and move on 5. I rejoice in my successes and relish the new me by treating myself to new clothes (or at least new to me clothes) that fit. When people compliment me, I smile and say "thank you" and I recognize they mean it. 6. I rely on the band to help me eat smaller portions and keep me from being continuously hungry. I don't rely on the band to make my eating choices for me or to keep me on track. I have to do that. The band hasn't made me lose the weight. It is just a tool that I have used to my advantage. Good Luck to you in your journey. I am proof that lots of weight can be lost in a relatively short period of time - but only with really hard work and strong committment. Jacquie PS You can see some pictures of me if you go to my profile (click on my avitar) and look at my album in the lower right hand corner. The pictures aren't in order, but they show different dates and weights.

As you are switching things up, could you consider writing down what you eat? I found one of the biggest keys to my success was faithfully documenting what I was eating, including quantitites (I also included calorie counts). By doing this I was forced to acknowlege not only what I was eating but how much. I found it way easier to make better eating choices when I became really aware of what I was actually doing. One of my biggest eating problems is "unconscious eating" - where I think of food and just reach for it - not stopping to see if I am actually hungry or if I could make a healthier choice. Keep your chin up and keep up the good work!!!

My understanding is that it is not uncommon for a ps who specializes in bariatric ps to do a panniculectomy (get rid of the the apron only) in the middle of weight loss for exactly the reasons you express. I don't know how much you need to lose first, and I wouldn't bother going to a ps who doesn't know a lot about bariatric ps or bariatric issues. I noticed you posted on Dr. Shulman's thread as well - he will be able to give you an expert opinion. Good luck!

Hi Juli I ended up having mega surgery on September 9 - one of the 4 procedures completed was a panniculectomy (considered to be medically necessary to reduce possible complications due to excess skin and fat in my abdomen). I can't compare to a full Tummy tuck, that includes liposuction, but I did have muscle repair due to two abdominal hernias. The ps took about 5 pounds of skin and fat (would have thought from the look of what used to be there that it would have been more- my apron used to cover my genitals). I am having fluid and swelling issues, and still have drains, but that said - it is an INCREDIBLE feeling to have the apron of skin gone at the base of my belly. I had the surgery at 164 pounds (I am 5 ft 4 and 1/2 inches tall). I am still in the same size pants, but I no longer have to "stuff" in my belly and my pants actually go in (concave) at the top of my thighs. Who knows - I may get really daring and actually tuck in a shirt one of these days!!!! As said before you will get different answers from ps, but I think if you are pretty close to goal, you should go for it. You are probably the most fit of your life and you are in great health, so the surgery should be at its easiest. It would also be good to have as much time off of work as you need. Couple of notes though: the excess skin and fat they take away doesn't necessarily reflect in your weight loss. I have read from many folks here that they have the surgery, expect to lose a lot of weight and it doesn't happen (I have no idea why). I am currently up about 6 pounds (was up almost 30 after surgery) - and am still not up to eating lots. The other thing you will notice is that when you get one thing "fixed" your other deficiencies get highlighted. I really want to get my arms done (with a possible breast lift) as I am very self conscious of the bat wings. I would really benefit from something getting done to my butt and particularly my thighs (can anyone say shar pei thighs), but I am not sure that my pocket book can justify it. If you can, you may want to consider doing as much together as is safe. Dr. Schulman has a thread here and I know he has talked about what procedures he will sometimes combine. One last note - I don't know where you live but one complication could be doing surgery in the heat of summer. Most ps require you to wear a compression garment pretty much 24/7 for up to 6 weeks. Think of your mother's full body girdle, but worse. I didn't end up using mine (because of other complications and long hospital stay - 10 days), but the one I was supposed to wear went from under my breasts to my knees. I kid you not, it was hideous and may have been terribly uncomfortable in a really hot, humid climate. Good luck in your decision making - there is lots of great information on this thread!!! Jacquie

Yeah!!!! Congrats.

OK this is going to sound incredibly unsympathetic, but for some reason I can't help myself today. It sounds like you have a pretty good setup that you can stay with relatives during your 3 week stay. Other than the first 24 hours (as you clear the anaesthetic out of your system) or so, you don't need to have anyone taking care of you. You will be able to do everything for yourself (how hard is it to make broth or a clear liquid diet anyways). In fact you will probably prefer being able to rest on your own rather than trying to entertain your relatives. Many people plan on going back to work within a few days of the surgery, so you REALLY don't need to have two people looking after you, honestly. Having BOTH your mom and fiance stay with you and stare at the walls for days after surgery seems like way over kill to me, especially while in someone else's home, out of state. I know they love you, but I think there are other ways that are more convenient and less expensive to show that caring. I know that this surgery is the biggest deal ever for you and your family, but it is really minimally invasive and other than getting over the anaesthesia and the first few days of discomfort, it is not that big of a deal (I had way worse pain and discomfort getting over wisdom teeth removal in a dentist's office six months after lap band surgery). The chances of anything bad happening during the surgery are very slim and you certainly want to make contingency plans, but it sounds like you are making a huge issue that is causing great stress, expense and inconvience for people that just doesn't need to happen. Good Luck with your decision.

I just measured by bed wedge and it is the same size as the one Shalee ordered. I would also recommend that you have a flat pillow available. I found that laying on the wedge without extra support under my head made my neck sore, but a regular fluffy pillow was too much (also made my neck sore). I used my fluffy (but firm) pillow under my legs and feet at the same time. It almost made a cradle for my body, with was pretty comfortable. Come to think of it, its kind of like Golidilocks - finding the positions that aren't too hard, too soft, too low or too high, but juusst right

Karey Renewed and Shalee both made great points and I thought I would add my 2 cents worth. I have been following your journey for months now and I know you have had lots of ups and downs and it is really natural, especially as you get near to the date to second and third and fourth guess yourself. Those close to you want to make sure that you are sure in your decision, because they know this is a big deal and they worry for you. You are the only one who really knows how losing a little (or alot) of excess skin and fat can make you feel about yourself. At the end of the day they just can't fully relate, as they have only seen the external battle you have fought. This surgery is obviously really important to you in your journey of self worth and self esteem. You have worked very hard for your results and you are at a time in your life when you can devote some time and resources to achieving your dreams. It is not selfish to want to see the outside you match the you you feel inside. I would guess that after this part of your journey is complete you will be able to turn to other projects again and achieve complete satisfaction in them as well. Maybe try thinking about it this way - you have devoted yourself for years to the projects of your marriage and family and kids and now it is time to spend on the project of YOU!!!! I know you are worried about your brother, but the cruel reality of life is that there are always going to be problems and crisis' that need assistance. You can't always be there to rescue others and maybe one of the lessons of life is that even if we can help out, does that mean we should or that we have to? We all have our own paths to travel and maybe we have to let others get to their own life lessons without us. Only you can decide what you should or shouldn't do. Know that people do support you and understand how difficult this all is. Whatever you decide, it will be for the best. Please take the time to think about what is best for YOU - not everyone else. You deserve it. Jacquie

Ha Ha!! Hey I never thought of that :tt1:. I have read that there is no way to get rid of your fat cells, and I must have millions of them. I vote for peeing them out, but I would be ok with pulling them out with a needle too!!! Jacquie

Go to any medical care supplies place (my local one is called Home Care Medical Supply) - they usually have a couple of different thicknesses (it is a cotton covered really wide foam wedge- thin at the bottom, thickens as it goes up). If you can - try the different thicknesses on a mattress (or on the floor) before you buy. I ended up with a middle thickness. When you first get home, it is uncomforable to lay flat on your back, but you can't really lay on your sides either, so I found this a very comfortable alternative. It also helps because you don't have to try getting up right from flat on your back (abdominal surgery = pain when getting up). I also lay a really flat pillow at the top of the wedge to raise my head just a little from my shoulders. I highly recommend it. Best wishes! Jacquie

Thanks :wub:. Complain away though - they do SUCK big time. :wub:

Cogratulations Renewed, It is really exciting to get rid of the "junk in front". While my waist size isn't any different, when I put on my pants, they just pull on (no stuffing required) and my pants lie flat (maybe even concave) against my body. It is an incredible feeling when you put pants on for the first few times!!!!! I got a panniculectomy four weeks ago along with 3 other surgeries (the panni was the most minor part). Was I nervous - HECK YES!!! Worried? Not really - I trusted that the surgeon's would be able to judge what I could tolerate. The good thing is that I was unconscious and didn't have to think. After all, they are not in the business of killing people, and like you, I was in my best health ever!!! My stats pre surgery were very similar to yours - 5 feet 4 inches 164 pounds on the am of surgery. I had about 5 pounds of skin and fat removed. I am sure you know this already, but with a couple of weeks left, make sure you are eating as nutritiously as possible - lots of Protein. Don't focus on weight loss now - focus on being as strong as possible for the day of surgery. Stop taking any Vitamin E (check your Vitamins to make sure they don't have vitamin E). Stop any advil and aspirin now. The surgeries were long, and I was pretty sick for a couple of days, but make sure you are managing your pain - this is not the time to try to suck it up and be stoic in tolerating the pain. I actually found the nausea and then later heart burn to be worse to cope with. I am convinced I had the flu for a couple of days and THAT was miserable. I am quite happy to take lots of pain medication and go to my happy place :wub:. Move as much as they say you can (or don't if they say don't). A bed wedge is a must have - I used it first to be comfortable in bed on my back and now am using it under my legs (with an extra pillow to even it out a bit) to help bring down the swelling in my legs. I am very excited for you :wub:. Good luck and take care of yourself.

4 weeks in - Started with 3 drains, went down to 1, then none (got pulled out accidently), had to be manually aspirated (drained) 3 times for a total 1350 cc's (not pleasant). They finally had to re-insert 2 drains one week ago (not pleasant). I am still draining out of both drains and feel another pocked of Fluid building between the two drains. Stick with the drains - I know they suck, but better than manual aspiration or the discomfort and swelling of fluid building up.

I had surgery on September 9 - don't try to be the tough guy. Get the drugs - I am taking one percocet in the evenings and sometimes in the morning and supplementing with advil when needed during the day. I can get through my daily pretty well this way - when I tried to go without I was miserable. I have also had really bad nausea and got a heartburn medication prescribed (which I take once a day) and an antinauseal as needed (I have taken it about 5 times since I got out of hospital on September 18). Take care of yourself!! Jacquie

Thanks for asking. Today I am feeling a bit better, although my two drains are still draining and I can feel another pocket of fluid collecting between the two drains, so I am sure I will be facing another big needle when I see the ps again next Tuesday. In the great news part - I have lost 22 pounds of fluid in the last 6 days :wub:. The mega dose of water pills are sure doing their job and my legs are looking much better now. I am sleeping with my legs above my head as well (thanks to the handy bed wedge evened out with a pillow). I am sure draining my body of fluid is what has made me feel like I have been hit by a sack of hammers over the last week. I was really ticked off that I could eat almost nothing for almost a month and be up 28 pounds. I am not trying to lose weight right now, but I am glad to be almost back to where I started - this morning I weighed in at 170.4 - :wub: YIPPEEE!!!! Jacquie

150 plus pounds later and I am still an 8 wide (although they do fit better than before). As well, my breasts have totally deflated, but I have only gone from a DD cup size to a D (although on the bright side it is now a 36 D). :crying:

We all have our own ways of managing this journey and as others have said, it is all ok - it is what makes us comfortable. I have noticed that I have become very socially inappropriate, the more weight I lost :thumbup:. I used to tell people how much I lost, but not what I started at or what I currently weighed. I have been overweight my entire life (morbidly obese since mid teens), so I don't know what is "normal" and I find I have been asking my friends what they weigh so I have something to compare to. Unfortunately for them, they mostly feel obligated to tell me since I have lost so much . This does mean telling them what I weigh now - and they can do the math as they know how much I have lost. The way I figure it for myself - it was pretty obvious to others (even if I was in denial to myself) that I weighed ALOT, and it is also pretty obvious that I have lost ALOT, so why not be proud and loud and share my success and numbers. An interesting by product is their reactions (and even mine). I weigh about the same as many of my friends now (wipee). I think it is semi-hard for them to hear, but I look at them and think I still am so much bigger than they are. I have never seen them as being over weight at this weight, but I still see myself as having quite a bit to lose. My head tells me one thing and I can kind of see it in the mirror (or in pictures), but I am not sure when the rest of me will see it.

You aren't being a baby and I think it is general consensus that a colonoscopy is one of the more unpleasant procedures out there (as is anything that has to do with our bowels), but it really isn't that bad. Get the colonoscopy. You are so much better off to be proactive rather than reactive. I know you are worried because some pretty scary terms have been thrown at you, but it is always better to know what you are (or aren't) dealing with. Knowledge is power. Try to think about it this way - you are just ahead of some of your peers in getting the procedure, but then you will be an expert!!! Your specialist makes his bread and butter off doing this procedure, and he knows the benefit of early detection, so try to think of this a being a good, lucky thing that is happening. I kid you not - the preparation for the test is far worse than the test itself. When you get the test, they will give you a drug that will relax you and chances are you will sleep through the whole thing, or will remember very little of it. The drug (they use different ones) is administered by IV and also kind of works as a bit of an amnesiac. I remember the last time I had an endoscopy (camera down your throat rather than up your butt - hopefully a different camera - ha ha), I thought I was awake for the whole thing, but as time went on I became less and less sure of what actually happened. I will warn you that the preparation is really, really, really yucky. You have to drink this really awful stuff (recommendation: drink it with something really strongly flavored like cranberry juice - have the juice as cold as it can be), and then be prepared to stay really close to the bathroom for the next 8 hours. If I remember correctly they make you drink it again in the morning (I tried to block it out). Make sure you have some baby powder and really soft tissue available!! I can't remember for sure, but you also won't be able to eat solids for a day or two before the test. They need your bowel to be as clear as possible. During the procedure, they will have you lay on your side and they slip in a tube with the camera the length of your large intestine (colon), about 6 feet, they then draw it slowly out and can see everything on the way out. They can detect polyps, growths and other disease and can often treat at the same time. Once you are done, you have to stay for as long as it takes you to wake up. You will need a ride as you will be impaired by the drugs, but there really isn't significant pain afterwards. I know that this scary (terrifying really), but again, I firmly believe when you have the correct information, you can deal with the reality, whatever it is. Try not to get too stressed out over the rare possibilitites - easier said than done, I know. Right now you are in a position of worrying and wondering - in short the place where nightmares begin. Be good to yourself and make sure you have someone you can talk to to help you get through this. If you want to pm me - I would be more than happy to help in any way you think I can. Here is something to think about while waiting: In this strange world, who on earth grows up dreaming of looking up people's butts for a living? Can you imagine talking to people about their bowel movements all day every day? I mean did he like playing with poop as a child? When did intestines become fascinating and exotic? I always wanted to ask my colorectal sugeon what drew him to this specialty - I am not sure enough of myself (or his sense of humor) to do it though Maybe one day I will be brave enough...........(or maybe not) Jacquie

Thansk Amsderb I think it sounds worse than it is - especially now that I am well on my way to getting back to a normal, full life. Drains are positively simple to deal with after everything else. Looking back on it all, it almost seems like God had a plan for me and I had to go through all of this to learn some lessons (hopefully life long), and maybe be an example for others (although I hope not as a cautionary tale of who not to be). Jacquie

Drains can be really simple - I mean I took one out myself (by accident I promise - heck staples are also really easy if you have a sterile remover handy - I could do that as well if I had to). To me, the issue is more if there are complications after the drains are out, or if they aren't in the right places for where the fluids build up. I am pretty sure that most family doc's don't have the needles and comfort or expertise to manually drain a pocket of Fluid that is surgery related. My plastic surgeon was sticking these huge needles in my suture line without batting an eye, but he knew what he had done initially. At the very least, you would need to ensure that your family dr is willing to deal with normal drains and staples that are coming out of country before going. It may not be a big issue, but you don't want to get stuck. The 2 drains that I had re-inserted are nowhere near where the first ones were placed. Remember if you are having a tummy tuck, your incision line is across your entire body (my incision line is actually 28 inches long). To get the drains re-inserted, I needed to be in ultrasound to see the pockets of fluid and they were replaced by radiologists (special dr.'s - not a family physician activity). You need to be frozen, x-rayed and stitched in a sterile envoronment. I remember reading on another site about a Canadian who got banded in Mexico, had some medical issues (that were most likely not band related) and the horrible time she had being lectured and treated really badly (her impression) because the dr's here felt she had compromised her health. I have seen my plastic surgeon 4 times in the last 10 days and have another appointment in a week (would have been sooner, but he is out of town). I have complications though - not sure what would be normal. I would think at least twice - once as a follow up in regards to staples and/or drains and then at least once more. I know there are lots of people who have gone to Mexico for lap band and plastics - maybe you can go trolling in past pages of this thread and get some first hand information? I remember reading from about other folks who absolutely raved about how great their experiences were. I was told to get a compression garment (horrible beastly thing that cost $157), but didn't end up using it, due to the wound vaccumm being used on me and other surgical procedures. I ended up being in hospital for 10 days and it was rather a moot point to use the garment at that point. I do have some swelling above and below the suture line that does not appear to be fluid related, so I don't know how much difference a compression garment would have made. Good Luck!! Jacquie

I understand about the cost- I got really "lucky" in that the panni was considered medically necessary, so the cost was covered by my health care. I know it isn't as complete as a full abdominoplasty, but a panni is still a great procedure and will make a huge difference if you can get it covered through your insurance. You just need to realize that it will cover lower abdominal skin and fat, and not around you waist and mid section. I had to laugh today - I have lost about 20 pounds of Fluid out of my legs in the last 4-5 days and now my thighs have gone back to being "shar pei" thighs (I had forgotten how shrunken they had been with all the swelling) - I now have a flatish stomach, but wrinkly thighs - sigh - I guess it will never end :tt2:. With that compaint though I have to say I would rather have Maxine breasts, wrinkly thighs and bat wing arms than weigh over 300 pounds again!!!! Thanks for your positive thoughts!! Jacquie

You don't suck, you don't need to be ashamed and you can get through this. I have followed your journey and been inspired by you for over a year now and I have to say you have had an incredibly difficult time over the last months and you are only human. I would almost guarantee that your body is reacting to the stress you have been under by holding on to everything you are putting into it. If you think about it, 11 pounds in 6 weeks is not really fat gain (just like losing 5 pounds in a week is not really fat loss). The scales are telling you that your body composition is off by 11 pounds. I would think that much of that weight is Water retention and it will come off again when you are able to get more balance back into your life. Think about it another way - at your current weight and size -11 pounds of fat would mean that not only would your clothes "not fit the same", they wouldn't fit at all. Take a couple of deep breathes - find your happy place and make a plan to help yourself de-stress and get back to basics. The weight will come off if you don't panic and give into the King Dongs!!! Jacquie

Thanks for the encouragement Nip. Congratulations on your weight loss!!!! You have done incredibly well in the last year :smile2: Has your success brought on other changes? Have you been considering any plastics? I will definitely seriously consider getting brachioplasty to fix my arms, as I have huge bat wings that I am very self conscious of. I am not sure that the world is ready to see pictures of my "pre-belly" (in the middle of weight loss). I did a couple of pictures a long time ago, but they also show my ilestomy and hernias, so I think that they might be too strong for public viewing and I am not sure that I have the nerve to go public :crying:. I also don't have a terrific body like some of the others who have posted here, so I don't know that others may be turned off by my results (although I am very happy!!). Jacquie

Most of us have really big head issues that have defeated us over the years. I think one of the keys is to figure out how to work with your strengths and your head rather than just beating yourself up. Therapy has been very helpful for me. Other things I have done: use my strengths - I am really good at planning and organizing - I just needed to figure out how to apply that to me: I now document everything I eat, including quantities. I have to acknowledge what I am eating and be accountable. By writing it down, I have been able to consistently make better choices and/or smaller quantities. Much of what I used to eat was unconscious. I would think of food and would automatically reach for something (anything) to eat. I know that I didn't have a clue of how much I was actually eating. Now I make a conscious choice to eat everything. It doesn't stop me eating, but helps with portion control and choice. Before I eat it - I ask myself- am I really hungry? Will something lower calorie or fat work? Would something to drink work instead? Can I split it in half? Can I get someone to share with me? I try to preplan my eating and menus- including when going out. I still go out all the time, but I think ahead of time of what I can order that will satisfy me but be a semi sane choice. I have learned to really enjoy leftovers - if I have food ready to eat with minimal effort, I am less likely to reach for comforting "junk" food. I KNOW that I am an evening eater -this has been my dysfunctional pattern for 40 years. I could choose to deny myself and berate myself and tell myself that I can't eat after 7 pm and be miserable and angry and then I eat and then I get more miserable and angry and then I eat more (recognize the cycle?). Instead I choose to plan Snacks that will satisfy me and my cravings (everyone is different). I plan for at least 2 evening snacks - sometimes I eat them, sometimes I don't. Favorite choices for me: sugar free pudding, sugar free Jello, turkey pepperoni sticks, chocolate vita muffins, 100 calorie popcorn packs. Please note that my snacks are not about carrot sticks - they are about satisfying me. The snacks are almost always 100 calories or less each. I still eat pizza, cake, Cookies and chocoloate. I DO try to plan for those items and then eat in moderation. If I really want something, I make sure I have the self talk of ensuring that I really want it and then I have it. No guilt, no beating myself up. I also try to choose something that is really high quality, rather than the cheap junk that I used to fill myself up on. Why have Mccains frozen chocolate cake which is really only edible oil products - choose a really good piece of chocolate cake (buy one piece rather than the whole cake). I don't go thru drive throughs anymore. I make sure I have ready to eat or prepare foods at home. After almost a year - I had been thinking about KFC for months - I gave in and went through the drive through. What did I learn? The thought of it was much better than the actual taste - It really wasn't worth it - I can fake fry (bake) chicken that tastes much better. I consider that a very successful experiment If you give in to a craving and it doesn't taste that great - STOP EATING!! For me that was an unheard of concept. I can now have a bite or two of something - if it doesn't live up to expectations - I throw it away. Make exercise a part of your daily life. Find something you can do and just do it. You can start to add challenges when you get comfortable with actually moving. Not only will you feel better and look better, you will also be filling in time where you won't be eating! You know yourself better than anyone. You know you can do this. Sit down with pen and paper and develop a plan that works for you and your needs. Everyone has wonderful advice - pick and choose what will help you and leave the rest behind. Good Luck!!!!!