PhotoNut

Hey Linda - An avatar is a picture or image you choose to appear by your name. You can upload your own picture or choose one that is available for you on LBT. If you click on User CP at the top of any LBT page, you will find more options to Edit Avatar and Edit Profile Picture (which shows as a larger image when someone looks at your profile). An NSV is a non-scale victory. Such as discovering youre pants are too big, or that you now fit in a theater chair with little effort, or that you are no longer on blood pressure medication, or that you can run up a flight of stairs. Benefits of weightloss that are more than just a number on a scale. Hope that helped.

Is it right in the middle? Like just under the breastplate? If so, that's where the liver retracter goes in. Mine's tiny. Hardly noticable now, and I was banded a week before you. Got any pics to share of it so we can have a better look? Or is it just something you're feeling under the skin? Er.. sorry, you said on the left. So.. Im a bit confused I guess. My port is on the right, just under my ribs. On the left I have an incision scar that's about an inch long. The surface of the scar is kind of hard, moreso than my port scar. And you say its tender to touch? After all this time, that sounds fishy to me. Has your Dr seen it during follow up appts?

Oh please do that now! *pinches nose* *grin* Just teasing. I think you should be fine as long as your incisions arent open and icky. You wouldnt want nasty bath Water to be floating into open skin. Of course, if you're really in doubt, give your surgeon's office a quick call and ask.

Welcome to LBT, Iman. This forum is full of really super people who have had their bands removed for one reason or another and they will be able to give you some excellent advice and information. I'm sorry you're band didn't work out for you, for whatever reason. I wish you the best in whatever you end up doing.

About those PBs. They don't always mean a stitch is broken or that the band has moved. It is my understanding that a slip means the lower stomach has come up through the band a bit and by letting out all of the fill, there is a chance it will slip back out and after healing the fill can be replaced. Of course, broken stitches and bands moving out of place can and do happen, but nowadays I believe that a slip is referring more to what I just described. I'm sure that there is no textbook description of a slip, as we are all so different and each silp can result in different complications depending on the individuals circumstances and stomach shape/size. PBs also cause irritation and swelling to the esophogus and over time can lead to more serious problems which would require the band to be removed. I'm sure that those who have experienced slips can give us more details... in fact they have on various threads. Like Donna said, chew your food carefully. Do not swallow until it's practically goo in your mouth. Take small bites, and don't allow yourself to be distracted while eating (driving, tv, computer, etc). If you avoid foods which are most likely to be problematic to bandsters, and you are very careful to eat slowly and chew well... chances are you'll not have to suffer a PB.

Better today! We just got home from the gym and tanning. I did a whole two minutes on the eliptical machine... I'm so proud! *laughs* Did some time on the bikes and lots of work on my arms and shoulders.

Very happy for you, Mandy! You can know I'll be praying for everything to go smoothly and for your move to be a real blessing for your family. *hugs*

Love the new Avatar chickie-boo! Looking up with a big smile. Awesome! Your plan for the food and Protein shakes is right on. Trying to do that for more than a couple of weeks would be way hard! I'm not going to be able to walk today. We waited too long and the family has me now. We are going to the gym in a few minutes. But! If I can meet you to walk between jobs, let me know and I'll do my best. I'm happy to see this renwal of determination, Kayla! *big hugs*

DeAnn, Mandy (piercedqt) just posted some great advice on another thread that reminded me... put a heating pad on your sore back/shoulders. If you want to see the rest of her advice, its on this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=18208&page=2

When I first started taking the chewable vitamin C, calcium, and Centrum, they made me gag. Now, they are a treat. Like candy. I don't even need water with them! I know, I'm weird. hehe

Thanks everyone! Clothes do not lie. The scale can be discouraging at times, and I've heard so many people say they don't FEEL any different, but we can't deny the way our clothes are fitting - or rather, NOT fitting! DeAnn - I'm so sorry to hear that the gas is bothering you so much. I remember going through that and it really does suck. I also couldn't get down 1/2 cup of any liquid in one sitting for about a week. The swelling will go down soon. Just keep sipping all you can, and move around a lot to help with the gas. Grats on your NSV Kristin! Love y'all!

Yesterday I realized that there are no size 16s in the womens department. I also realized that shopping at the other end of the store feels like being in a completely different store. Ah, I also realized that while I CAN wear a pair of very low cut flared jeans in a size 16, it doesn't mean I SHOULD. *laughs* I'm not 17 anymore.. what a drag!

It's Sunday, it's raining, it's the day I weigh, and it's finally moved! The scales showed a 2.5 lb drop today. I broke down and bought some new shirts yesterday and I bought a goal outfit. I'm feeling pumped again. Watch out people... the NUT is back! *cackles*

It's about time! Yay! You're going to to so well at this! Can't wait to welcome you to bandland when you get home. *big happy hugs*

Tricia! *laughs* Great minds think alike. Didn't see you there, kiddo. Sorry.

Looks to me like you just have some extra "Enters" in there. Go into your siggy edit, get your cursor at the end of the line that says "VG band/5 cc fill" and hit delete on your keyboard until your ticker is up higher. Then, scroll all the way to the bottom and hit backspace on your keyboard until your cursor is at the end of your ticker. That should remove the extra lines.

Hi Margo!! I missed you! I saw you post on another thread and was instantly excited, saying, 'There she is!' Sorry you've been under so much stress with your sis. Sometimes I think it's harder for the onlookers who love us than it is for us to go through the tough times ourselves. (hope that made sense) Hopefully your sister will get things worked out. In the meantime, don't forget to take care of you! Glad you're back! *hugs*

Hi Macy! Welcome to LBT. Where are ya from? You've posted on an Idaho thread and you're welcome to keep on posting here but if you want more folks to see your intro and get to know more people, go to the Introductions Forum and start a new thread.

There you are, Dody! I'm sorry to hear you've been so sick. What a bummer! *hugs* Actually there is a fill center in Eagle! Good news for you huh? There are quite a few people in the Idahobandsters group who weren't banded here. Although you're right about Cahn and Anderson not touching you if they didn't band you. However, they did say in the seminar that if it were an emergency they certainly would help. They just won't do fills and normal follow-up stuff. Anyway, it's good to see ya back around Dody. Take care of yourself and keep us posted on the progress, ok? *hugs*

I'd be willing to bet that all of us had that thought of "OMG, What have I done to myself???!!!" It's very normal, and I promise that each day gets better. And just about the time you realize you're feeling better you'll be blown away by your weightloss and that's what its all about! *big hugs*

Grats on your NSVs and thanks for sharing them. NSVs are always so motivating. You must be feeling great about how things are going. Just imagine how much better it's about to get! Cheers! TexasTerry - Love you siggy!!

There are only two surgeons in our area (Boise) who do the lap band and they both work in concert with one another, even using the same nutritionists. So, unless Kayla goes out of state, she's stuck with the order to lose the 10 pounds. How do I know? I'm here too and her surgeon is mine as well. Kayla, I know it's been tough for you. Very frustrating and discouraging and I had also wondered if something wasn't trying to tell you that now's not the time. I can't say whether it is or isn't but I am here to help all I can. Don't be discouraged by the delays, maybe you just needed this time to really get your head on straight about what you're going into. It will take commitment on your part and it's not something you'll never have to work at. It takes determination and I know you have it in you. Do you have to wait a whole month to weigh in again? Or can you call him and say, "I've lost 10 pounds, let's get this party started!"? You are a strong woman, evidenced by the way you are handling your current working situation. I know you can do this. Forget all you've been through until now and focus only on the NOW. Ten pounds is easy to lose. You've gotten some good suggestions so far. I'll add start drinking 4-6 bottles of Water a day to flush out the water you are retaining. Get creative with those veggies and fruits, add some tuna or chicken to your salads. Get off the lean cuisine meals and enjoy the flavors of fresh foods. You can do this, Kayla.

Instructions on attaching pictures to your posts: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=17595

Hi Tidge, welcome to LBT and to bandland! Sure you'll feel normal again. I'd guess the pain in your upper back is from the gas they used in surgery to inflate your stomach. It puts a lot of pressure on the diaphram which often hurts for days if not weeks afterwards. It's also very typical for the pain in the diaphram to appear in the shoulder or upper back, so all's normal already. The port area, well, its just going to be more sore than the rest because the port has been sewn into the muscle tissue and the incision was larger than the rest. We don't feel the stitches in the stomach because there are no nerve endings in our stomachs. Which is helpful. Some people do get right up and take off with their lives the next day. I certainly wasn't one of them. It took me a couple of weeks. Just take this time to get all the rest you need. Getting up and moving around, while not the most comfortable thing to do, will help you recover more quickly and help that gas pain to subside. Also, be sure to keep sipping your Water. It's important to keep yourself hydrated. Finally, you should go into the Introduction Forum and post a hello to everyone. You'll get a lot more visibility there. You're welcome to keep posting in this thread,but chances are only us few from Idaho will see it.

Hi Maria and welcome to LBT. Grats on your surgery date. I haven't read anything on Dr Garber. I was banded in Idaho - a bit of a ways from NY.