tztmama

Hello all, I haven't posted for awhile but hae been banded since 9/05, I went from 226 lbs to 145 lbs and am in need of a TT. One dr, quoted me $13,500. I can't afford that! Does anyone know of a trusted surgeon who can do it for less? Thanks in advanvce. Darla

I was banded on 9/26 and although I have lost some pounds but my stomach still feels very bloated. I don't have gas pains of feel like I have gas but still feel very "puffy". Do you think the stomach swells? Is it just gas? It seems like by now it should be going away. Thanks in advance.....................I'm so glad we have this website!

oh well its not working. sorry.

I had my surgery about 2 and a half yrs ago. Im trying to upload pix so here goes!

I have not seen his name once, makes me wonder why??????????/ I have been approved for 2 weeks and still have not been scheduled. If I don't get scheduled this week (I keep calling but can never reach the person in charge of my file) does anyone think I can take my letter of approval to a different dr? It is addressed to Dr. Owens. I'm new at this so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Im in San Diego and since my surgery my insurance has changed. I recently had port pain and called my original surgeon. They told me to find out which lab accepted my insurance and that my surgeon would send in a request for lab work to see whats going on. He is good about trying to save me money. I have Pacificare insurance and my dr is Dr. Owens.

I am sharing what I looked like post Lap Band, pre tummy tuck. I need to get my post tt pics, which I had nine months ago. I have never uploaded pics before so forgive me if this does not work.......will keep trying. It seems that it is not uploading.........oh well, if nothing else I will scan my before and afters...........

Gosh, ladies (and losings DH), I havent been on this site for months and have spent the evening reading Losings' journey, the support, prayer, and love you ladies have sent her AND the unconditional love her DH has shown, even posting for her..........OK Im in tears now, I am just so touched at the support you have here and the unconditional empathy you (we) show for one another. Losing, you are such a brave woman and your DH is such an awesome man. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. The people here are so awesome in there genuine concern, love, and support.........its nice to be back.

I use the PB reflex as a sweet spot too..............though I was the only one. Im thinking about maybe getting a small fill. I still cant eat like normal but perhaps eat more than I should. OK, heres my description; I can eat a sandwich, like from subway, but have to take off the top piece of bread. I can eat pizzza if I chew slowly. I even at a it of chow mein and rice, which I could never do with a normal fill. Does it sound like I need a fill? I was down to 145 and just weighed myself and am at 150.

Im so happy to see this addition to the site! I have not been on for quite some time but its great to keep up with how we are all doing this far out from our surgery dates. Sunsett, HI PARTNER!!! (We had our surgery the same day!)!

Hello! I am down from 226 pounds to 145 and am pretty happy here. I would like to be at 135 but this is fine. Last July I had an extended tummy tuck and am happy with it. I still have stretch marks and some loose skin on my upper abs but its a huge improvement from what it was. I am very happy I had the surgery and hope to always keep my band. I havent had a fill in 6 months. My band fluctuates, gets too tight, then loosens up on its own. I just work with it. Great to see this thread!!!

I told lots of people, friends, familiy, strangers in line at the grocery store. I have a friend at work who had bypass and told our colleagues that she lost weight on a "milk diet". We are all different in how comfy we feel about telling. Either way is good.

I had mine when I was about 152 lbs and my goal was 136 lbs.

I was at 226 lbs, Im 5'4". I now am at 145. I've lost almost 100% of what I wanted to lose and it has been 2 yrs and 1 month since banding. I just got a fill and it is too tight. Ive been unable to keep any solids down. I think that for me, there came a time when any more fill made me sick. Any less didnt provide as much restriction as I would like. I still have some restriction, but only enough to where I must once again watch calories and exercise, which I should do anyway.

I can relate. My pics look similar to yours and now, six wks after my extended tt and lipo to the flanks, I am closer to normal than Ive been almost thirty years. I am not a hardbody by a longshot and I still have my stretchmarks but Im not carrying around all that skin and my back problems are almost gone completely. Best of luck to you.

Thurdsay morning I had an extended tummy tuck and lipo to my flank area. I still have tubes hooked up to me but they should come out on Tues. It was most painful coming home the first day and then the second day I had to go back and that was pretty painful. I have a ridiculously high tolerance to drugs and so I just have to bear it. I peeked at the resluts, belly button looks nice and round, tummy looks flat even though I know it must reallybe swollen, Imm gonna ask my daughter if she can get some pic up for us,. tata

I went in for my three week check up today and my surgeon's nurse is going to make me a disc with my before and after pics PLUS what they took off during surgery. I don't get them for three more months but I am so happy Im getting them to share with you who would like to see! I wont post what they cut off but will post the before and afters. Im happy!!!

Thanks for the reply Pacomomma (love that name). I stopped taking the vicodin a couple of days ago and switched to a non-opiate pain pill called tramadol. It doesn't work as well but I was building a high tolerance to the vicodin. I take aleve if needed too. I went in today for my 3 wk post op and he said everything looks good and I am still swollen. It looks pretty good now (comparatively) so I can only imagine what it will look like when all the swelling is down!! I will try to move a little more each day. Doc gave me permission to walk a mile each day if I want and do light arm weights seated. I'll bet you look great!!! Imagine what we will look like at our 6 month check up!!

I like the idea of this thread/category. I look at my "fat" pictures and cant ever remember being that big!! A couple of my students (I teach 6th - 8th and keep the same kids all three years) even told me they never saw me as being that big. But I was. Now when I look in pics I see (or saw) a big roll of fat around my mid section and loose skin where my double chin was. I just had a tummy tuck to deal with the rolls so I guess I'll have to see how I look in pics now. I still feel fat and am not sure how much more I should lose, if I should lose or what. I am 46, 5'4, and weigh 148 lbs last time I weighed. I seem to not have a self-image-ometer or something. Its hard for me to get a true picture of myself. Maybe I'll check out that book. Thanks for this thread, all. I really enjoyed reading your responses.

Gayle, Congrats on your surgery!!! You must feel like a new person!! You are sooo lucky you didn't have the drainage tubes, they are the worse!! Well, enjoy your new body and I wish you a speedy recovery!