Spydr

Went to the doctor yesterday for another follow up and my tummy no longer has any Fluid. Yea!!! Here is the newest issue to watch out for: I have developed an alergic reastion to triple anti biotic ointment. It has caused a rash around the incision areas. It happens to a a number of people after using the ointment for 4 to 5 weeks so it is not that weird. It hurts! I am healing and keeping my binder tight. The doc says I can have about 4 hours a day out of the binder. It's like getting paroled! I guess it's all about baby steps. I hope to take some pictures in about a week so you guys can see the progress of the helaing. Thanks for all your support!

I used a different doctor so I don't know about yours. You might want to contact his office and ask if you can speak to any other clients. Some doctors have not only the before and after pictures but testemonial letters and that can be helpful to see. Make sure your doc is familiar with your band and port.

I always put PB and smile in the same catagory. I was about 6 months out before it happened. I thought it was never going to happen to me but it seems no matter how careful you are, the odds are in favor you will PB or smile at some point. It's not the end of the world, it just feels like it! I have learned when it is coming on, I try to relax and just ride it out. Everyone I'm around is familiar with the signs and they just sit back and try to be supportive. I think they are really sitting there going, "damn, glad it's not me!"

I think it depends on how big you were when you started your weight loss. My thighs still touch but it is not the same. They were once very full and firm and would set little fires on the ground as i walked. Not they still brush but it is just empty pouches of skin. I think it looks worse now that the skin is just hanging there. I am planning to remove this skin along with that under my arms in October. All part of the journey for me!

Make sure to have a pillow or two to put on your belly as the seatbelt may ride your port area. My port was lower at first and a pillow gave me some comfort.

I have MS and have to get MRIs more often than I would like. Make sure to tell your MRI tech you have a lapband and make sure the doctor ordering the MRI is also aware. They may need to make changes in the way the shoot it as ther is metal in the port but the MRI can be done. I have to do brain and back scans but have done so with no band issues.

I used to drink a 12 pack of soda a day. I did not ween off pre op. I drank one at 11:59 the night before! I had an addiction to say the least! I did not believe the soda stories but when I tried to drink one and was doubled over in pain about 2 hours, I learned my lesson. I just can no longer process carbonation. Every once in a while, I will have a sip of someone else's soda but the days of a full glass, can or bottle are over for me! It's not as bad as I thought. I get my caffine in coffee drinks and iced tea.

As i was bathing my shower tonight I was struck by an odd occuance. Everyone baths in a certin rythem, You start on side or at the top and works yur way around. I washed my cheast abd then starting to wash my belly. I reached down to pick up the skin that hangs over my bellow and stopped short. There was no skin! I was gone. No smaller but gone. It was at that moment I began to cry because I was reaching yet another goal I thought would never come. I can see my belly button and run my had straight down my body. It feels unreal! It feels strange. My gooddess it feels amazing. My plastic surgery has changed my life along with my LapBand. Let just me tell you out there in band land, the promised land is not too far away from any of us. We have taken the proper steps and are moving forward. Thank all of you who have believed in me as I too believe in all of you!

Thanks guys! I still get a little weepy just thinking about what a hard journey we all have been through. It's times like these we should celebrate. Who has the cake!? :girl_hug:

I have told everyone who will sit still long enough to listen. Screw them if they want to judge what I choose to do with my body. The people who judge my band also made fun of me for being fat. There is no way to win with some folks! I wish others would be more forthcoming with information but everyone has to make a choice for themselves. I want to tell people about the LapBand because it may offer a solution for someone in need. I only wish someone had told me about it sooner. I would hate be a liar like Star Jones and tell people the weight just dropped off me!! Hey, I have a Lap Band! Do you want my doctor's number? Life is good!

I think an 8 is pretty close to what I had. I stayed on the liquid pain meds every time I could for the first week. I'm a wuss when it comes to pain. If you are are really concerned, and from your posts I think you are, you might want to call you doctor's office and ask a few questions. If you trust your doc, you have to take what he says at face value. Just remember, you doc most likely has not had a lab band and can only give you science and theroy. Let him know how you feel even if it does not fall in line with what he says is supposed to happen. You need to be as candid as possible. FYI - I also chewed Gas X often with good results.

I have about 30 tattoos (have not counted in a while) and they look okay. I have lost a bunch of weight and had plastic surgery and they still look good. The only ones that have a difference at this point are the ones on my back. They have come in a bit due to me losing a number inches in my sholders. I will be having the skin under my arms removed and tightened at some point this year and that will change the ones on my upper arms. I too think it's all about location.

My doc also said to go for it when I felt ready. I waited a couple weeks and had a very caring partner who understood that if I had to stop for "no reason" there was a reason! Be careful and have fun!

I hated my scale in the begining and then about 9 months out. There are times it just will not move. My best advice, don't weigh for a week, keep following your doctor's meal plan and you may be surprised at what you see. I know I was! Hang in there, I'm proof it gets better!

I used to have heartburn pre-band but as i lost weight it went away. I have not suffered in over a year. I recently had plastic surgery (TT, breast lift and skin removal) and the last few days I have developed heartburn. I have not been eating too much as of late but the type of food has not changed. Not sure what is causing it but was wondering what remedies you guys have used with success. Right now I have a small glass of milk and works on a temporary basis. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks!

Steph - I am on Medicare. I am told that they may cover the TT but it would takle a long time to get approved and there would be a ton of hoops to jump through. It was a medical need as my skin was splitting open and bleeding from time to time. The breast lift could also be covered due to the back trouble I was having. it seemed like too much trouble and I am not a patient lady! The total of the TT and breast lift was $9500. I paid cash upfront so he cut me a deal. The orginal total was around $11,000. I had been saving since I got band so there was a fund earmarked for plastic surgery. By the way, always ask your doctor for a discount. The worst he could say is no but he may say yes! Davyna - I am a wuss when it comes to pain but i got lucky and had an anastesiologist who understood. I told her I did not want a catheter in once I woke up as I hate pain. She made sure that I felt nothing. If it was in when I woke up, I have no memory of it. The first memory I have after the procedure is opening my eyes and I was sitting in a chair, dressed with a binder on. They say I asked them for a extra 30 minutes to sleep and they let me. I guess I need to send her a gift basket for keeping me so looped up!

berry - Congrats on your Band! Yes, you are normal. Everyone is different so there is no true way to gage your pain scale. You will hurt, you will be hungry, you will cry for no reason from time to time. That's just the way it is. Don't worry, it will pass, I promise! If you are allowed full liquids, have a milkshake. I got one on the way home from my surgery and it made me feel so much better, even though I only had a couple of sips. Take your pain meds and watch some daytime TV. Walk around the house every couple of hours. Prop up and read some trashy tabliods and laugh. This is your time to recover and you are priority one. There are so many people on this site who went through what you did and came out on the other side smiling. Just know that things do get better. I know that may not make you feel better now (it didn't work for me!) but after a few weeks you will be in a whole new place. Best of luck to you!

I just got back from my follow up this week. I hate talking about the bad stuff but there is some. If you have been reading the thread, you saw where I had my drain removed. Although the doctor did agree at the time, I admit I was pushy about it. Well, it seems I had some Fluid built up and he had to drain it. It hurt a little bit but the upsetting part was the amount of fluid. It was just over 160 ccs. That seems like a lot to me but the doctor was not worried. he says it happens sometimes. I now have to go back every day to drain my belly until there is no fluid. My tummy looked a bit stretched out the last few days but I figured that was just how it was. After he drained me, it blew me away! I am tired and still having some trouble sleeping. Although the doc will keep writing pain meds for me, I do want to try to process the pain a little more. I can't keep taking pills forever so I guess it's time for me to "man up" a little more! So today's lesson, leave your drain tube in as long as you can stand it! It will make things better in the long run. I am now headed to the bath tub to soak as I have been cleared to take a steamy hot bath. It's been over 3 weeks and I think I'm due! :clap2:

I just had my TT and lift a few weeks back. Since every doctor is different, make sure to ask if he is familar with the LapBand and port so you don't have issues when they get in. Make sure you understand the aftercare. make sure you have done your homework on the doc because there are question you have that he can't answer. Google his name and see if anyone has written about him online or in any forums. Talk to other patients if you can. That's what I did and it helped me make an informed choice.

I am wondering how much people really want to see on this site. I have some very graphic pictures of my recent tummy tuck and I know some folks would be interested. I also have before and after pictures from the tummy tuck and breast lift. I am naked in these pictures and would hate to be offending others with posting a graphic picture. I don't have a problem with these photos as I would want to see what I planned to have done on someone else and am always curious about other's weight loss journey. My question is, is it best to email people in private or should the pictures be posted for all who are interested to see? Thanks for your input!

As far as the week of bed rest: I was able to walk around the house, go to the potty, sit on the porch and pour a glass of juice. Just one of those activities would wipe me out. It's all about taking things slow. If you push yourself and try to do too much, your body will remind you! It's a lot like to band surgery in that way. Take it slow and easy. I am still having pain in breasts during the day and pain at my hips during the night. I can still function day to day but I have been going to bed early these days. My breasts are all natural, just higher! I'm sure they will sag again one of these days but I am happy to perky ones for a change. The swelling is going down and I can see them drop a bit already. I didn't want to look like a Barbie Doll. I just wanted to feel more "normal". I hope to take some more pictures in about a week and see where things stand. At first it was hard to remove myself from the pictures but I am a big believer in the greater good and blazing a path for others. I wish someone had been brave enough to tell/show me about the LapBand years and years ago. This is my small part that I hope will help others on the weight loss journey.

Missy - My doc is not associated with Dr Jay but he did the plastic surgery on one of Dr Jay's patients who was part of the FDA trial for the band. That's how I found him. Her name is Cynthia and she knits in Dr Jay's waiting roomif that rings a bell. She looks great and has had the band about 7 years. Can't wait until i have that kind of time under my belt.

Julie - I work from home but have to travel to meet clients 3 to 4 times a week. I think you could take 2 weeks off and be right as rain. My doctor had me on bed rest for 7 days. FYI - Bed Rest means stay in bed! There is a reason for this. Make sure your care giver understands that you will need help with everything. This is one of the times when it is okay to be selfish. The only really issue I am having is not being able to sleep through the night. I can manage the pain and still function. I just have to keep my priorites in order and not feel guilty that I can't go out to dinner or drinks at night. I have been in bed resting early and I think it helps.

Ibuprofen causes the lining of your stomach to erode. This is a problem with band as it can cause a slip. When I have to go to a new doc or the ER, I always tell tham I can not have NSAIDS and that seems to cover the bases. If they ask if it is an allergy, I always tell them about the band. For what I understand, you can take a limited amount but I have spent too much money and effort on my band and don't want to do anything to risk it.

I know it seems strange but the last couple of days have been a bit painful. All the never endingd are growing back and it is a strange and sometimes painful situation. Ladies who have had C sections seem to understand the feeling. I have no human children so I was not prepared. Sometimes there is a shooting pain in my belly and on the sides of each breast. The there will be a tingling feeling that comes and goes. The doctor says this is normal as the nerves heal. I'm having trouble sleeping through the night but it is getting better. I'm glad tha doc offered sleeping pills along with my pain killers. I know some people don't want to take a lot of meds but this is one of those times where I think it is for the greater good.