Skinny_Jill

I was banded in November, 2007 and I finally hit my goal weight at the end of 2011. I started having reflux at night and so I went in and had to get a partial unfill. My original surgeon moved and is no longer in my area so I had to go to a new doctor and he definitely took out too much. I can eat anything and I am hungry all the time. I've gained about 6 pounds but I am really being careful and monitoring what I am eating. I think I have it under control. He won't do any more fills until I have some kind of test to make sure I don't have any damage. I may have to find another doctor. I am having a tummy tuck, lower body lift and breast lift on Thursday so I am glad that I don't have restriction because I don't want to worry about being too tight during the recovery. Maybe you have a leak and that is why you don't have a lot of restriction. If your doc can't access the port he should probably do an x-ray to see where it is and what is going on. Good luck!

Good luck on your surgery. The band is great. Don't worry about the loose skin. You will feel so much better when the weight comes off.

That is good to know. I am ok with the drains. I am just worried about the lipo drainage.

I am having a lower body lift, tummy tuck and breast lift on 06/14 and will also have some lipo along with it. If you've had lipo how bad was the drainage? They make it sound bad. They gave me puppy pee pads to put under me on the bed so I don't get the sheets messed up. That really grosses me out. LOL

I will have 4 drains, 2 from the TT and 2 from the LBL. Does the fluid ever leak out of the drains?

They gave me special Vitamins to help with recovery, gauze, puppy pee pads, maxi pads (for drainage), tape, dulcolax, antibiotic ointment, hydrogen peroxide and a special soap to shower with the morning of surgery. I will post when I get home the day after surgery and let you know how it goes. Good luck to you too!

My surgery is next Thursday. I will spend this weekend doing a good deep cleaning and getting everything ready. I have done so much already but I want it to be as easy as possible and have everything that I need. I've spent over $600 in the past few days buying things that I think I will need. The doctor gave me a bad full of items that I will need but I bought extra just in case. I am nervous but the closer it gets the more excited that I get.

Thank you!

Your band may not be emptying due to being too tight. Do you cough during the night? I had gurgling when I would lay down down and would wake up coughing. I had good restriction and didn't think I wa too tight but I was. Definitely go see your doctor. If that is the case a slight adjustment will help. Good luck!

Karen, Who was your surgeon in Houston? I am in Houston and Dr. Patronella is my surgeon.

You loom great! I am having LBL, TT and BL on 6/14. How are you feeling? Any tips?

Do not feel guilty. I was banded 4.5 years ago and I've lost 92 pounds and I drink every weekend. My surgeon said drinking in moderation is fine. Same for nonbanded. Good luck on your journey.

I was banded by Dr. Spivak and he was great. I was so disappointed to find out that he moved out of the US.

I did not get an unfill with my knee surgery and I was fine. I had to get an unfill recently because I was too tight. I can eat anything and I gained a few pounds but I am now back to following WW and I lost a couple. I will leave it this way for my surgery and just watch what I eat. I don't want to be tight or risk a PB episode after surgery. I was wondering if I needed more fluid out of the band for my PS but based on your posts I should be fine.

You look amazing! Thank you for posting your pics. My TT, LBL and BL are scheduled for 06/14. Seeing the results helps me to realize that I an doing the right thing.

Thank you so much for the reply. I read about your surgery on other posts. I feel much better after your reply. I think my band is loose enough based on your experience. I just read the material from my doctor and the compression garment is supplied so I guess I don't need to worry about that. I have started taking my Vitamins twice a day and added Vitamin C per my Dr. I have been eating pretty healthy because I gained a few pounds so I am watching my weight very carefully. Thank you so much.

I've lost 90 pounds and at my goal weight so now it is time to get my body looking better. I am so excited but also very scared. Sometimes I find myself second guessing my decision. I have feeling that is very normal. Did those of you that had this type of surgery have your band unfilled? If so, did you have it completely unfilled? My band is very loose right now because I had an issue with reflux and I can eat anything with no issues. I gained 8 pounds but I got my eating under control and I lost 4 of those pounds. I am thinking that my band is loose enough. I will contact my band doctor but I like to hear directly from those that have lived it. Any tips on what I need to have on hand to make the recovery any easier? What type of compression garments did you use? Thanks! Jill

As everyone has said you will not "need" plastic surgery but it is very hard to lose a lot of weight and not have some loose skin. I've lost 90 pounds and I have some loose skin and my breasts are very saggy and so is my butt. I worked out a lot during the first 2 years of my weight loss. I even worked with a personal trainer. I am having a lower body lift, tummy tuck and breast lift on 06/14. I am excited and very scared. Everyone is different but I would say that most with a lot of weight loss will have loose skin.

I've lost 90 pounds and I am at my goal weight. I have my first appointment for a TT and breast lift on Friday. I am excited but very nervous. I love these posts because now I have a ton of questions for my doctor. I am sure he will love it. LOL

I was banded 11/20/07. It has been a long but wonderful journey. I lost 75 pounds the first 18 months but gained back 15 pounds and stayed there for about a year and a half. I decided to get serious again in January 2010 and I finally reached my goal weight and I've been at this weight for over 4 months so I think I will maintain this time. I am very careful and if I see the scale move up I get it right back down. I've lost a total of 96 pounds and I am now wearing a size 8 and may be close to a 6. Good luck to everyone!

I had the same problem last year around this time. It got really bad and I went to the band doc and got a partial unfill and that worked. I haven't had it since. If you still have Fluid in your band I suggest you get more out and see if that helps. They took out over 2 cc's when I went in and it was worth it. I have since had a fill and the reflux did not return. Good luck!

Hi everyone! Shortgal - Good job maintaining your weight. I am struggling even with my band. Congrats on the grandbaby coming soon. Momto1plus1 - Congrats on your amazing accomplishment. I want to see the "tiny" pictures. I need some inspiration. My battle - I got down to 144 which was only 9 pounds from my goal. I am now back to 158. Ick! I feel fat again. I must get back to the gym and stop eating out. I've been at 158 for a while now so this is the place that I can easily maintain but it is not the weight I want to be. It is definitely better than 222 but I want that 144 again. I brought my lunch today and I will take 1 day at a time. I hope everyone is well. Jill

I thought it would be fun to post progress pictures. I see the pictures of me now and still think that I look so fat but compared to my before picture I look so much better. The first picture is 12.24.07 which is one month and four days after surgery. The second is today.

Name............Start.......Current...........Goal..........To Goal Momto1......... 151......... 145.............. M................M TxArcher....... 285.......... 278............. 270..............8 Sades........... 189.......... 189............. 180............. 9 Skinny_Jill......157............154..............149..............5

Congratulations! That is very exciting! Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.