lherstine

Dr. Schulman, i have lost 130 lbs in the last year and 5 months. I have had pain in my port area and have had all kinds of tests done to be sure all is fine!! My surgeon is wonderful and has ruled out possibilities that could be problematic. We have determined that the excess skin and fat apron from my weight loss is causing muscle pull on my port:( i am going to a ps on march 5 to set up surgery. I have bcbs of michigan and am told that they should cover due to medical necessity. Do you think a pannelectomy or a tummy tuck would be advised? I would love a tummy tuck but not sure on insurance coverage? I would just like an opinion from you for when i go to the ps on march 5. I am excited to have either procedure done of course!! Lherstine

I don't think it is a bad idea at all!!! After all isn't the band all about living a new life!!! If you are going on a cruise don't you want to be comfortable eating with the others and not having to worry about getting stuck!!! You have been at this long enough to know when to stop eating and to not over do it!!! Just because you are considering a little unfill doesnt make you bad:) just experienced with your band!! I have had my band since oct. 07 and i am at 3 1/2 cc and i am going to get 1/4cc out wed. Because i feel that i am leaning towards soft foods instead of the foods that i like, due to getting stuck!! Therefore, i am not eating good foods like salads and meat ect. Just mostly protein shakes and mushies, with some exceptions. Go with your heart and get an unfill for the cruise!! You are an experienced bandster not a newbie. Be confindent in your experience and enjoy your cruise, the band isn't about being denied of food it is learning portion control and judgment and it sounds like you are doing great!!!

HI ALL!!! WELL OCTOBER 16TH WAS MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY, I HAVE LOST 122LBS, I HAVE 3 1/2 CC'S IN A 10 CC BAND. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS EXCEPT THE NORMAL GETTING STUCK WHEN I EAT TO FAST OR I AM STRESSED. I AM AT A GOOD RESTRICTION NOW, I EAT MORE OF SOME FOODS AND LESS OF OTHERS DEPENDING ON THE food. I WOULD LIKE TO GET RID OF ANOTHER 38 POUNDS, BUT I AM NO VERY GOOD IN THE EXERCISING AREA. WELL ACTUALLY I NOT AT ALL:thumbdown:. WELL HOPEFULLY I WILL IMPROVE THAT SOON!! I AM STILL LOSING BUT IT IS SLOWER, WOULD BE FASTER IF I EXERCISED NO DOUBLE:embaressed_smile: WELL CONGRATS TO ALL YOU OCT 07 BANDSTERS WE ARE ALL DOING GREAT JOBS!!!!!

I am a faithfull c-pap wearer, i have been for two years. My presure was set on 13 and after 120 lbs weight loss, my doctor has lowered it to a 10 just until i finish my weight lose, then he is going to do a sleep over test to see exactly where i need to be. It is very common that when your weight changes so does your settings. If you haven't wore your machine in awhile, it is also common for it to feel like there is to much pressure. Try to use the ramp setting on your machine and if that doesn't work for you, i would contact your sleep apnea doctor and see if they can temporarly adjust it until you are all done with weight lose. If you are done then you probably should go in for another sleep test to get it set properly.

Dr. Schulman, i am about 44 lbs away from my goal weight. I have stabilized within a pound or two up and down. I am still trying to get down and i am wonder if it is to early to start looking into ps? I am interested in a tummy tuck as opposed to a pannilectiomy (sp?) i have bcbs of michigan and i have went to my doctor already for an infection of the belly button. And i have low back degeneration, which my chiropractor says that the excess skin is aggrevating. Do you know what has to be supplied to get bcbs to pay for the surgery?

bug57, i am right with you and vcompton, i really like crackers, no not the healthy ones but soda crackers!!! i really doesnt matter what is on them just the cracker itself is a problem for me!!! of course i can't just eat a few, but i am focusing on not eating them at all otherwise i eat to many... i go for a fill on wednesday, the 20th i am sure i need one. i can eat alot more than i could even when i am being good. if you like ice cream, try having a spoonful of fat free cool whip or ready whip, it has a similar creamy flavor but only 15 to 20 calories, i have a small amt on my chia tea each night as a treat and it is still low calories. keep thinking thin:drool: lherstine

Hello vcompton & bugs, i have a 10cc band and i am at 3cc's now, i have been at 3 cc's now for 18wks and i am sheduled for a fill next wed. I have been of track as well for about a month, i have been eating some things that i shouldn't but i relize that i am eating more at a setting than i should be. When i first got my last fill i could stay below the 1100 calorie mark even if i was a little bad, like having a few to many tortilla chips with those refried beens. Because the amount i was eating was less, but now if i stray at all it seems like i am over my calorie intake because it is taking more to fill me up. I thought i was at my sweet spot but i guess that either my stomach has shrunk in the band or i was'nt there? Does this make any sense to yous?

I WAS BANDED ON OCT. 16, 2007. AFTER SEVERAL SMALL FILLS I REACHED 3 CC'S IN A 10 CC BAND AND I HAD GOOD RESTRICTION. I WAS EATING A CUP OR LESS OF SALAD ECT. I HAVE WENT 18 WEEKS WITHOUT A FILL, TOTAL I HAVE LOST 114 LBS. NOW I SEE THAT I AM HAVING LESS RESTRICTION. I AM ABLE TO EAT 1 1/2 TO 2 CUPS OF FOOD. I HAVE SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER FILL. IS THIS NORMAL TO HAVE RESTRICTION FOR SO LONG AND THEN FEEL THAT YOU NEED MORE? IS IT DUE TO MY STOMACH SHRINKING POSSIBLY? ALL INPUT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.:thumbup:

I was banded on oct. 16,2007, after several small fills i reached 3cc's in a 10cc band and felt good restriction, i was eating about a cup of salad ect. At a time. This lasted about 18 weeks and i have lost a total of 114 lbs since banding, i am scheduled for a fill next week, i can eat about 1 1/2 to 2 cups now. It this normal after having restriction for so many weeks? Is it due to stomach shrinkage? I would love as much imput as possible.

ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT HAVE PROBABLY HAPPENED TO SOMEONE AT SOMETIME BUT NOT TO EVERYONE ALL THE TIME!!! I WAS BANDED ON 10/16/07, I HAVE 3CC'S IN A 10CC BAND AND I AM ONLY 50 LBS AWAY FROM MY GOAL. I HAVE PB'D AND I HAVE SLIMMED BUT YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY AND CHANGE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, SO THAT YOU DON'T DO THIS. IF I DO THESE THINGS THE FIRST THING I LOOK AT IS HOW FAST I ATE OR WHETHER I CHEWED ENOUGH OR NOT. I HAVE ONLY FOUND 1 THING THAT I JUST CAN'T EAT AND THAT IS BEEF STEAK. CAN'T CHEW IT ENOUGH. THIS IS DIFFERENT FOR ALL!!! DON'T BE AFRAID, THIS IS A LIFE CHANGE HOWEVER, IT ISN'T A BAD ONE, IT IT FOR A HEALTHIER YOU!!! I STILL EAT NORMAL, IT WAS BEFORE THAT I WASN'T EATING NORMAL... YOU JUST HAVE TO LEARN TO SLOW DOWN, CHEW MORE AND RELIZE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO EAT JUST BECAUSE IT IS lunch TIME... YOUR BODY WILL LET YOU KNOW, IN A GOOD WAY THAT YOU NEED TO EAT AND YOU WILL FEEL BETTER THAN YOU EVER HAVE!!! HANG IN THERE, YOU CAN GET THROUGH THE liquid diet AND THEN AFTER SURGERY IT IS ALL UP HILL. YOU WILL HAVE TO EXPECT SOME CHANGES BUT CHANGE ISN'T FOR THE WORSE....!!!!:tongue:

brandyII, I WAS BANDED ON OCT. 16,2007. I HAVE BEEN ON CELEXA 50 MG SINCE BEFORE MY SURGERY. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN EFFECT ON WEIGHT OR NOT BUT I HAVE LOST 100 LBS SINCE THE BAND SO IT CAN'T BE TO BAD. DON'T GET DISCOURAGED, YOU WILL FIND THE RIGHT COMBINATION FOR YOU. JUST REMEMBER THAT THE MAIN REASON YOU HAD THIS DONE IS FOR YOUR HEALTH!!! AND ANYONE ON AN ANTIDEPRESSANT KNOWS THAT FINDING THE CORRECT DOSAGE WILL BE THE KEY TO ALOT OF OTHER THINGS IN LIFE. INCLUDING YOUR WEIGHT LOSS!! KEEP YOUR HEAD HIGH AND KNOW THAT ALL WILL EVENTUALLY WORK OUT!