HoosierDoula

I neglected to mention Dr Chris Jones is in Carmel, IN. I can't say enough good things about him ..his wife is a bariatric surgeon too Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

Well I can recommend another Dr Jones who is AWESOME!! He specializes in bariatric patients and just did my tummy tuck 6 weeks ago. His office is wonderful and he is just a great dr, truly cares about his patients. Dr Christopher Jones of Sando Jones Aker ..you can look at their website..sandojonesaker.com. GOod luck, let me know if you have any other questions. Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

I'll be 6 weeks out tomorrow. I wasn't prepared for just how big of a deal this really is. I'd done my reading and whatnot but I could pretty much do NOTHING but sit for weeks and the whole "why did I do this to myself" was pretty intense for quite some time. I'd say just in the last 10 days or so have I felt myself coming out of that. My emotions have really been up and down but mostly down. I'm now happy I did this but just the feelings of utter uselessness and helplessness for the first several weeks were more than I was anticipating. Also ..the swelling ...I am still dealing with that..majorly. Of course I knew there would be swelling but I had no idea how bad it could be. Also, be prepared to feel like your belly button has been sewn to the back of whatever chair you are sitting in! LOL Took me a while to get used to that. Only other thing I can warn about ..back pain! I didn't expect my back to hurt so much from walking funny but it REALLY did, and still does if I don't wear my second skin (my compression garmet). Overall ...remember this is MAJOR. Give yourself time and know the emotions that come with this surgery can be pretty overwhelming. But it gets better ...slowly at first. At 6 weeks now I am still moving slowly, tire easily, and swell ALOT ...but I'm starting to see how great I'll look. They took 11 pounds from me during surgery. Oh ...guess I should tell you to be prepared for not fitting into your clothes either. I've only been wearing jeans again for a couple weeks and I can only wear them for a few hours at a time or I'm hurting. I also went up a size for a while too ...but I have now dropped one size from before surgery and think I'll probably drop one more before all is said and done. It was much harder than I was prepared for ...but in the end I know it'll have been worth it. So, good luck to you ...take it slowly. Can't wait to hear how things go for you. Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

Just thought I would post a quick update ..things are pretty quiet here in the October Group! Yesterday was 15 months for me. .I am down 125 pounds with about 12 to go to my goal. On Dec 17 I had an extended tummy tuck and am still working on recovering from that ...very slow process ..I am almost able to stand up straight! My surgeon removed 11 pounds during surgery and I've lost about another 9 since then..can't complain about that. I am still loving my band and my decision to go down this road! In fact the night before my surgery I spent the night in the hospital with a good friend of mind who had LapBand surgery with my surgeon that day! I have 3 other friends going to see my surgeon in the next few months ...I told her she needs to give me some serious points for that! LOL Hope you all are continuing to succeed! Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

I am so excited to finally be posting here! I just got off the phone from scheduling my surgery! I will be having an extended tummy tuck on December 17! I have struggled with this decision..having lots of guilt issues mostly. Spending this kind of money on myself when I have 6 children, it's right before Christmas, etc. But when I look at myself in the mirror I don't feel like a person who has lost 113 pounds because of this big belly still there making me still look like an almost 300 pound person in my head anyway. I've worked so hard and I still have a little more to lose. .hopefully will get very close to goal before my surgery. My bandiversary is a couple weeks away still and I've come so far. I've done a lot of reading here and followed most of your journeys. I so appreciate you sharing your stories and hope mine will be helpful to someone coming along the path behind me. I look forward to everyone's advice and wisdom as my date gets closer! Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

Ok yea ...yesterday was 3 weeks post-op and I am totally in swell hell! When does this peak?!? I feel like I am going to split open! I look like I am wearing a cup or something!! I am feeling better finally ..still not totally standing up straight and man do I tire easily, but I am able to do a little more everyday. I'm going to try to post some before/after photos. The befores were taken the night before my surgery ..the afters were taken this past Saturday. I was 181 the morning of surgery(17th) and 162 the day I took the afters.

OK ..tell me how long I can expect the numbness to be so intense? And what about this "ken doll" stuff ..how long do I have to put up with that ..it's icky!?! I feel like Frankenstein right now! I am beginning to feel a little better and have been able to sleep a little better but I constantly feel like I am ripping myself in half. ~Susan

Someone is truly testing me! Not only am I trying to recover from this surgery that has really kicked my butt, but all 6 of my kids and my dh got a stomach bug! The kids were puking every few minutes all around me. I was scared to death it would hit me too, and it did ..only it affected me from the other end if you know what I mean :thumbup: Anyway ..because everyone was so sick I ended up driving myself to the surgeon yesterday. They took the stinking plastic off finally ..that felt good, I can actually take a deep breath now. He said everything looks great! He wanted to leave the drains in a few more days, which was fine, I was more concerned with the stupid plastic wrap. He did tell me he would come in on Christmas Day if I stopped draining and he'd take them out for me as a present :sad: I don't think that will happen but I have another appt next Tuesday and I'm sure they'll come out then. I do have a little of the "Ken doll" thing going on but it's just swelling and I can live with that. I was super stupid and decided to stop by the store while I was out yesterday. I can still barely walk, what the heck was I thinking?!? I was in there over an hour and was so exhausted. Carrying my purse hurts right now let alone lifting bags of stuff. I also had the very pleasant experience of the stomach bug hitting me while I was in the store ..and of course I was walking around hunched over the cart so there was no hope of stopping it. ..so I had to hit the shower as soon as I got home and I pretty much collapsed after that. I am taking it easy and not doing much of anything. I am finally feeling better after a miserable evening yesterday going back and forth to the bathroom all evening. I got on the scale this morning and am down 16 pounds from my surgery one week ago today! (that was fully dressed with full drains ...so I expect it's a little lower than that!) WOOHOO ...at least there is that to be happy about! ~Susan (still too tired to care about my siggy)

I don't know ..and I wouldn't call it special, it's driving me crazy!! lol I was able to peel a little corner of it up today ..I didn't take it off although I was sure tempted! I can tell it isn't going to feel good when it does come off! It's so tight over my belly button there is an air pocket there! lol I know I've swollen alot today because I was more comfortable yesterday and now the stuff is so tight again I can barely stand up. My back is sore from being so hunched over with this stuff ..if not for it, I could stand much more upright. UGH! I go see my dr in the morning ..praying I get rid of as much as possible! ~Susan (too sore to care about my siggy) lol

Yea, I've talked to several people who had 4-6 drains so I am very happy to only have come out with the two. I am feeling better today but I think I've got some swelling going on because I am seriously uncomfortable in this stupid saran wrap again and it has to be that ..the stuff is so tight I can't take a deep breath! I PRAY it come off tomorrow ..if the drains have to stay in I can live with that (although I am praying they come out too! LOL) but this wrap stuff is more than I can take! My drains are not putting out much at all ..I was told to empty them every 4 hours and I might empty them every 14 or so and there has not been more than 30ml in either one of them since yesterday. .I'm hoping that means they'll come out too! ~Susan (too sore to care about my siggy) lol

Thanks for the well wishes ..I came through surgery just fine. I've struggled the past few days as I am sure those of you who have been here understand. I knew it was going to hurt but did not expect this kind of pain. I did not tolerate my meds well and have had to go off them altogether but I am doing ok with it. I would feel so much better if my body weren't so tightly wrapped in this saran wrap like stuff ..it's killing me!! I ended up having the full 360 done, my dr was very happy with the results and I know I will be too ...I am just so over feeling like my belly button has been sewn to the back of the chair I am sitting in through my body!! He told me they took off 11 pounds of skin and tissue which far exceeded my expectations! I got on the scale today out of curiosity ..in full clothes, binder and full drains I was 10 pounds down from surgery morning so I expect it to be even better in a couple weeks. I do have 2 drains that are driving me crazy but I am thankful to just have 2 I guess. I go for my post-op on Tuesday morning and if I can't get the drains out yet I just PRAY they take this saran wrap off because I'm going to go crazy if they don't!!! :biggrin: ~Susan

Well ...tomorrow is the big day! I am actually going to the hospital tonight to spend the night with my girlfriend who is having her Lap Band surgery today (with my surgeon and everything!LOL). So I am staying with her tonight so my hubby doesn't have to get all the kids up at the crack of dawn to drive me up there (about 40 minutes away) ...so I'll just get up and go check myself in in the morning! LOL I'm a little anxious knowing I'll be alone for most of the day, it'll be late tomorrow evening before my family can come up to see me...and the nerves hit me yesterday so I am a little jittery now ...but so looking forward to the results that I hope to see from this. I am still disappointed I didn't get to the weight I was hoping to before surgery, in fact I gained a couple of pounds what with all the candy baking I've had to do the past few days! LOL But ..hopefully this surgery will kick start the weight loss again and I'll be at goal in a few weeks. So ..I'll see you all on the other side I guess! Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

Ok, I have a question for all those of you who have had the TT. How close to your goal were you when you had your tt done? What was your weight? I was hoping to have dropped 10-15 pounds before surgery but it just isn't going anywhere! All the weight I have left to lose is in this belly and while I am sure the surgery won't take it all off ..I am upset to be this far over my goal with surgery 9 days away now. I have about 22 pounds to goal total. Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

Thanks Karey! It's 2 weeks from today now! YIKES! I am exercising like crazy in hopes of dropping a few more pounds before the big day :cursing: Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

Thanks for the advice Karey! My husband is taking a few days off to help and the kids will be out of school for break. I have total faith in my surgeon and am glad to be using him ..he is married to one of the bariatric surgeon's in my dr's practice and bariatric patients are his specialty so I trust he really knows what he is doing. Gearing up to rest alot just a week before Christmas isn't easy but I know I have to do it. Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

My pre-op appointment went well today. Filled out all my paperwork, wrtoe 3 very large checks (oy!), had some lovely before pics taken and then spoke with my surgeon. He thinks I will probably have the drains (yuk!) but is confident I'll do well. I had to take my 3 year old twin boys with me and he gave them a new toy ...breast implants! LOL They had a good time hitting each other with their boobs on the way home! LOL So....2 weeks from Thursday is my big day! Any words of advice for me in these final couple weeks? Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

Well folks ...my date is quickly approaching! I go for my pre-op appointment tomorrow! I have been following those of you who recently had your surgeries and I have to say, I am getting very nervous about this. My dr is performing a new procedure where drains are not required and I am PRAYING I qualify for that because drains are one of the things I am most nervous about ..I have 6 kids who don't all understand they can't jump up on Mommy!! I had hoped to drop about 10-15 pounds before surgery but alas I am stuck on another plateu and the weight is not moving. I have vowed to exercise at least 30 minutes everyday leading up to surgery ..I have really let that slack lately and I'm feeling it now when I do workout! I hope this helps move the weight a little in the 2 weeks I have before the big day now. So ..any words of advice would be greatly appreciated as I gear up for this! Thank you to those of you who have shared your experiences thus far! Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

I had a very happy bandiversary yesterday! I am down 114 pounds! Going from 288 to 174 ...from a size 26/28 pants to a 10/12. ..from a 3X shirt to a Medium! I have worked HARD and have a ways to go yet but I am so happy to be where I am today! I have a tummy tuck scheduled in just over 2 months too!! Here are some before and current pics. The black shirt pics were taken on 10-5-07 just before I went in for surgery. Pink sweater pics were taken 10-5-08!

Yesterday was my bandiversary and I am down 114 pounds! I have a 14cc band and I think I am at about 8ccs. I have not had any problems I guess ..other than a plateau here and there. I have about 24 pounds to go. I have a tummy tuck scheduled for Dec 17 ..hoping to lose at least 15 before that date. I have worked very hard to get here. I stick to the rules for the most part but have learned I can handle being a little more "normal" here and there ..including eating out, breads, sipping pop every now and then and having some ice cream every once in a while. I see my surgeon and the dieticians once a month and that certainly helps keep me accountable. I work out 5 days a week at least and I normally do an hour a day. I have gone from a 26/28 to a 10/12. Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

Well, yesterday was my one year Bandiversary so I thought I'd post my progress pics too Black shirt pics were taken on the morning of 10-5-07 and the pink sweater pics were taken 10-5-08! Down 114 pounds. ..from a size 26/28 to a 10/12!

I am officially one year out as of Sunday! I am down 114 pounds now! I started one year ago weighing 288 and am now 174. I wore size 26/28 pants and a 3X shirt. I now wear 10/12 (mostly 12..lol) and a Medium shirt. I LOVE this band!! Before pics are in the black shirt (obviously..lol) and current pics are in pink. Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

Hey New Girl! I'm from Indiana too! Where in Indy are you? Where are you going for surgery? Who is your doctor? I have to tell you this is the best thing I have ever done for myself. .I do not regret it one second! Sure, there are bad experiences posted here and there but I think the positive stories far outweigh the bad! My doctor would tell you I am not the typical lapband patient ..in fact I hear she is talking about me in her seminars now But I am just a few days away from being one year out and I am 113 pounds down! I've gone from a 26/28 to just about being able to get into a size 10! I can't tell you how many people don't recognize me, how many people still compliment me everytime they see me, and just how good I feel overall. I've worked HARD to get where I am. ...I followed the rules, I attend support group, I see my doctor and the dieticians on a regular basis and I work out 4-6 days a week. This has been the best thing I've ever done but it's also been the hardest. The band can help you get there but it sure takes a lot of work and determination on your own part to see success. Don't let all the bad stories get you down, if this is the right path for you, go down it ready to work and with the right attitude and you'll be a great success! Best of luck to you! Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

Do what you think is right and don't let anyone scare you! Well gosh, I appreciate the concern from this person but would ANYONE really go into this without thinking it through first? Of course I have thought it through, have consulted with a surgeon I feel I can trust and have talked it over with my family. I am so sorry to hear about your friend but something else had to have been at work for her to have died so suddenly and whose to say it would not have happened even if she did not have surgery? I've gone through several surgeries in my life time and have never had an adverse reaction. Some of those surgeries were necessary, some were not. All surgery comes with risk..I am nervous but more in anticipation of the recovery period than anything related to the surgery. Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=

I am 7 months out today and I hit the 100 pound mark yesterday!! I can not believe that 7 months ago I weighed 100 pounds more than I do now, it's unreal!! I am loving my band. My goal is getting closer and closer. It feels so wonderful to shop for regular sized clothes, to not worry about fitting into movie theater seats (not that I get to go to the movies with 6 kids ..lol) or restaurant booths, to get compliments everywhere I go and to just feel good about myself for the first time in years!! Hope everyone else is feeling just as good about their bands!! Susan =n=n=n=n=n= Mom To: Hannah, Logan Lance, Hayden, and the TWINkies Mason & Morgan =n=n=n=n=n=