Sandybells

I am a 2006 lapband patient. I have had episodes of constipation and have started taking a half of a tablet of a laxative daily. I get it at Walmart (Equate brand Vegetable laxative..It says on the bottle sennosides 8.6 mg..Senna concentrate.) It is very gentle for me and I rely on it to keep things moving through the weeks. Of course make sure you are drinking enough but for insurance..take a mild one.

Get to the doctor with that situation. I have never had blood in my years of lapband usage! Sandybells

I had my surgery in 2006. Have had a tummy tuck and currently weigh 133 pounds..Medicare paid and what they didn't Tricare (military ins. picked up) I have had a good experience except for early days when eating out. I felt deprived but have since gotten over all that. I now know how to handle my self like a pro. My doctor just saw me for an anniversary checkup and he was thrilled with me and my weight. I don't expect any problems and have had none in the past. Hope this helps! Sandy PS I lived in Sarasota since 1987 and moved to minnesota in 2003. I am very pleased with my band and would recommend to anyone. I should post a new photo. I do look pretty good now at 62 Years Old PSS: I had High blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, depression, just had a bit of trouble with getting through the psych appt. but finally made it. The first pscyh Dr. was being extremely careful. The second one I got much more comfortable with her so made it in a couple months.

In the past, before I had my tummy tuck. I used to put deodorant/antiperspirant under my apron after showering. Be sure it is dry before applying though. It doesn't work 100% of the time. Sometimes if it is extremely hot and humid I would get it no matter what. Some people are not able to use that because of the aluminum in the antiperspirant but it is worth a try. Hope this helps somebody out there! Sandybells

I just had to look up the site where you can see many tummy tucks. Makemeheal.com is good site to check out. Look for Panniculectomy or tummy tuck. Many pictures to see.

That spare tire can be pulled down when they do a tummy tuck and it will be greatly reduced.

I do hope you get banded and can be as happy as possible in the end. I doubted myself all along the way. Frustration can be bad but keep your mind committed and it can happen. I spent a year at 160 pounds and I felt it was just a lost cause. Not so... I got here after all. Keep the faith and keep on with your pursuit of it all. I can attest to the light at the end of the tunnel. Love to all, Sandy

MaRosie and others...For those on Medicare...(it is not really something doctors really want to accept....since the payment rate is so low). In my experience, you should just SIGN THE PAPER TELLING them you will pay for the surgery yourself if Medicare doesn't pay. In the end, Medicare will pay but not preapprove so you are going to wait a very long time (if ever)to get the surgery. The surgeons like to wait YOU out and hope you GIVE up... Don't fall for it... I have not had to pay for anything.... I felt it was a risk to say I would pay but remember that even if you do have to pay in the end....as long as you pay a tiny amount per month it is worth the weight in gold to get it done as quickly as you can. I am so happy to be done with it all. Always remember that getting the surgery is the most important part and the rest is up to you. The band is just part of the solution. It is work to lose weight and commitment is very important. I was at a plateau for about a year. 160 pounds and it just wouldn't budge. Then I got another fill and suddenly it started again. Keep your eye on the prize! It is so worth it and so are you! I have been shopping and twice in the last month and I have been told by ladies who didn't even know me that I looked nice. I had never worn jeans with a belt and attractive blouse tucked in. Well, I have the butt to show off now and it makes all the difference. I was always in elastic waist pants with a shirt covering my belly overhang. Just trust me when I say you will get there. It may take two or three years but it is so much within your reach. Please get the surgery and let me know when it happens. I am here waiting to Celebrate with you! -I have to say that both tummy tuck and the band itself are not preapproved so just agree to pay and then make sure when you go for the plastic surgery consult that you have a rash or take pictures of yourself with the rash and send it or take it in with you to the surgeon. These are all important to getting it all paid for by any insurance. Just remember that when you go in for the consult for either...you wouldn't go in with no weight problem and expect to be approved so don't go in with no rash either. PM me if you have questions as I don't come to lapbandtalk.com so much anymore but I want to help others so PM me to get my attention. I will try to get pictures taken by my husband so you all can see. I just hope to get them posted here as I am not so good with that. Sincerely, Sandybells

For those who may be worried about the pain of a tummy tuck. I had no muscle repair but skin (apron only removed). As for me, the pain was so unbeleivably minimal that now after a couple months I can honestly say I don't remember the pain. I have heard of those WITH muscle repair who had a great deal of pain so just remember...I had NO muscle involvement. Do wear the compression garment as it does help in support of the new you and pain will be minimized. (I still wear it on occasion just for kicks as it reminds me of where I came 'from'.) I bought some of the waist cincher type midsection girdles without the panty bottom. I bought a couple before surgery and bought with old measurments in mind. Well, I took several inches out of them with my sewing machine to fit my new after measurements. Since I am 61 years old.. my waist is not as small as I would like but still it is so far from my former 48". My measurements are 38 32 37. Sounds not so good but I still feel pretty awesome for my age. I weigh 121 lbs and at... 5 ft. 1 in. I feel pretty darn good. Hope this encourages someone out there!

I was banded Feb. 2006. I have just had my tummy tuck (June 26th, 2008). I am pleased as punch to inform all that Medicare and Tricare paid for my surgeries...All of it Lapband and Tummy tuck. I was unsure that it would be but just received all the paid receipts this month including tummy tuck. I had underbelly rashes to let you know that it helped the cause of having it paid for in the final billing. I did not have to resubmit anything. It was all paid right away without any questions. I know many people wonder whether it will be covered but in my case it has been and I am thrilled with my results. I also had gall bladder scarring that increased the risk of tummy tuck complications. No problem with the healing after all. My results are not symetrical but my stomach wasn't symetrical to begin with. I am 61 YO so I did not request or receive a new or replaced belly button as I felt it was an unnecessary wound to heal. If anyone has any questions...let me know! I now weigh 121 lbs and I am so happy with my new look!

I am scheduled for June 26th, 2008. I will be having the traditional surgery but with the special consideration for my gallbladder scar. The first consult made it clear that they couldn't do much about my bulge right above the belly button. I have an extra bit of fat on the opposite side from the scar due to the revision I had on the scar a few years ago. They took out some of the fat under and around the scar but it left a bulge of fat on the other side from the scar. I want it to be more symetrical by removing that bit of fat. They have decided to go ahead and incise above the belly button which was not in their original plan. In my second consult I made it clear that I want that fat gone or reduced somehow. So they will do the above the Belly button incision and then if needed will do liposuction later as is deemed necessary. I am 60 and so want this to make me look as good as possible for my remaining years. I didn't get the lapband just to look almost good. I don't expect to be gorgeous but at least look and feel as good as I can. Since I am paying for this I want it to be much improved.

I am scheduled for June 26th, 2008. I will be having the traditional surgery but with the special consideration for my gallbladder scar. The first consult made it clear that they couldn't do much about my bulge right above the belly button. I have an extra bit of fat on the opposite side from the scar due to the revision I had on the scar a few years ago. They took out some of the fat under and around the scar but it left a bulge of fat on the other side from the scar. I want it to be more symetrical by removing that bit of fat. They have decided to go ahead and incise above the belly button which was not in their original plan. In my second consult I made it clear that I want that fat gone or reduced somehow. So they will do the above the Belly button incision and then if needed will do liposuction later as is deemed necessary. I am 60 and so want this to make me look as good as possible for my remaining years. I didn't get the lapband just to look almost good. I don't expect to be gorgeous but at least look and feel as good as I can. Since I am paying for this I want it to be much improved.

I had requested they take as much of my pannis as they can. The first consult he only told me he would go just below my naval and down somewhere between my pubic mound and the navel. That would mean a minimal amount of my pannis would be gone. Just enough to reduce the droopy pannus but not at all address the upper bulge I have above my belly button. I had asked him in a letter if they could do a fleur de lys incision. He didn't like that as he said the blood supply to my lower stomach would be put at risk. So I agreed to a second consult. A second doctor looked and said he believes they could go above the naval and remove more than the first consult had led me to understand. So he said if after the surgery I am still not satisfied they could consider Liposuction if the bulge is still too much for me. (My bulge sticks out further than my breasts. Not attractive at all.) I am 60 but I still want to look better in my clothes. I will not have a belly button after this is done but I will not expect to wear a bikini at this age. My biggest concern in all was in my old age I do not want to be relying on a caretaker to wash and care for my underbelly being unhygenic and infected. I know they do not take care as I DO. If I am unable to care for myself...I want easy care...no special notes for caretakers who may or not pay attention to these special requirements. If anyone is as concerned as I am, Please mention this to your doctors so they understand your special needs. It could make a difference in how they submit it to your insurance. I hope this is clearly explained this time. I will not have the fleur de lys but the regular across the lower abdomen and over the hipbones type of incision. Wish me luck! Thanks for asking for clarification because I do want to help others who may need this information.

I just went for my second consultation with my PS. I was not happy with the first consult. I have a huge scar from old-style gallbladder surgery. At the first one he said he couldn't cut up too far to make my very assymetrical belly more flat. I have a bulge on the left side above the waistband where fat has accumulated and will not go away with diet. He said he could take out just below my belly button and then not so low above the public bone. Not good as an outcome for that problem area. So I went back and he called in another surgeon and they concurred that if they take my belly button and all along that line but considerably higher than the pubic mound they can get the bulge that bothers me so. (It sticks out further than my breasts) I will then look at later liposuction if the bulge that may remains bothers me and my vanity. I will never wear a bikini at 60 years old & no I will not never need a belly button. They have to be very cautious about blood supply to the scarred area so it presents special considerations. I just thought this might interest someone else if you have a scar that prevents too much skin tightening in certain areas. I think I will be very happy after this done. Right now the bulge is so bad if I wear a highrise girdle my midriff bulge rolls down the top of that girdle and does no good. It just makes it more prominent! Yuck! Plastic surgery scheduled for June 26th, 2008...Can't wait! Sandybells

I think we need to hear from someone who has passed this point of tummy tuck and just what can we expect after. Will we need to continue fills indefinitely? I feel hungry way too often but have put off getting a fill because of pending Plastic surgery. I sure don't want to lose headway because of this.:wink2:

I am old timer here and don't know how to see the photos of Plastic surgery patients after surgery...Can anyone help me? I am going in June 26th and need to see the possibilities!

I had my lapband surgery Feb 23, 2005. At that time, neither Medicare or Tricare would preapprove so I had the surgery and promised to pay if they did not pay. It was a gamble at the time. (But in the end I did not pay a penny.) Recently, we saw one of the nurses that head up the program and she said both Medicare and Tricare are on board with paying for surgery. What criteria they use I don't know but I think if you have two comorbidities and are around 35 BMI +... you are very likely to be covered. I started out at about 211 pounds and 5' 2". Now I am down to 134. I am scheduled for panniculectomy June 26th, 2008. Again, I don't know if either will pay but it is going to be done and hope they do pay. My surgery involves no muscle tightening. Just remove excess skin. No Liposuction. It will cost about $5500 total here in Minnesota. Hope this information helps someone out there. Sandy

Yes, I am and will have an appt as soon as I can get one. My apron is small but it still makes my clothes fit poorly. I will probably wear a size 10 pants when I get it done. Right now I am in a 12 -14 and want to wear smaller so that the legs are fitted better. I also want to wear dresses that hang properly. No more out of the pants blouses and shirts for me once I get it done. No more elastic waistlines. I want to be contoured for once in my life. Yeah, I want it all!:tt2:

I truly feel younger now than I did at 30. I have the freedom and the body I only wished for then. I am so ready for PS to change my tummy. I went to a PS seminar the other day and boy am I excited. I really think I can get away with $6000 in our area. Not cheap but better than I expected. You young things are just too insecure to know how really fun aging can be. I really can eat cheaper cause of the seniors menu. And with my band I can share that with my DH so talk about saving money. The perks of aging are just wonderful. My father refused to order off the seniors menu because his age bothered him. Well, It doesn't bother me at all. Bring it on! My kids are all grown or as I like to call it 'Groan' cause they have all the problems that are behind me. Eat your heart out young things! You only think you have all the fun! I don't have to worry about getting pregnant. I don't have to worry about what my friends think because we are all comfortable in our own skin. I could care less where you buy your clothes because I can wear whatever I like and my friends don't wonder if I bought 'it' at the right place. Don't sweat the small stuff! It is so unimportant and one day you too will know that. Ladies and Gents of the silver generation. Get the band and start living your life anew. It's a wonderful life!:tt2: I almost forgot to add I am 60 and 1/2. Remember the days when you couldn't forget the 1/2 year. I am there again.

Ang, Jump at the chance as soon as you can...It is worth everything to look back and see where you have been and know where you are going.

I haven't been on here in a long time. I am 60 years old and got my lapband Feb.2006. I started out at 211 and now I am at 135. I am finally within my goal for getting a tummy tuck. So thrilling to be this close. Hope everyone is still with us that I used to see here. Penny? Anybody not still among the living? I remember Penny had her band removed. Hope everyone is slim, sexy and whatever they want to be if not pregnant.... Sandybells :cry_smile:

BARILLA Plus Elbow Macaroni has 10 grams of protein. We like it!

Barilla brand has 10 grams of protein per serving. I was tickled pink to find this the other day. I usually skip that aisle but happened to go down and spy this product. Hope it helps someone!

We bought a fondue pot for Christmas and have decided it is our new fun cooking process. We had tiny morsels of chicken and put them in heated broth instead of oil. Allow to cook for 2 minutes and then dip in favorite sauce. It slows down your eating because of the time required to cook each piece. We will be trying shrimp, steak, fish, meatballs, plus potatoes that have been parboiled. This allows time for your brain to get the full message with the time between bites. You could marinate any of these meats and that would enhance the taste. Try it you may like it.

We have a Chocolate fountain also that we took to a party and I stood over it and I ate not one bite. Amazing, Huh? If anybody knows of anything that could be done in a dessert fondue pot and is safe for the lapband, Please let us know! Low calorie, of course! I really have no ideas for that. Sorry!