whippoorwillow

Hey folks. There has been some talk of body stockings in addition to exercise as a way to avoid much of the loose skin flaps hanging down after losing weight. Does anyone have knowledge of these? Thanks ww

Hi folks I was banded 8/11 in central Virginia. Everything has gone great. Couldn't have been better. I am away from home for 6 more weeks, and cannot have a fill until I return home. Loss is s-l-o-w. I need a mentor to help me through this phase and beyond. If anyone is willing to step up, I'd LOVE to hear from you! Thanks ww

Wow. You have lost a lot of weight! Congratulations! I am temporarily in Hawaii (work here in the fall and sometimes winter), but I"m from central Virginia. Will be returning there in November and then I will get my first fill. One kid, chronically ill an disabled. Guess why I eat too much? I feel great except that I am constantly aware of my port and it hurts sometimes. I'm not hungry at all, though I get nighttime cravings, most often satisfied with a chocolate protein shake. Eating well has become so easy I don't even think about it. That being said, I still feel embarrassed about my size and appearance and am well past ready to look different. Such a small loss over such a long time is frustrating, even though i have a reason. I'd love to chat with you more about all this! I don't have a lap band buddy!

Fluffy I really like the term, Head Hunger. I suffer from that, too. Mostly at night. I quell Head Hunger by drinking a nice chocolate protein drink, thereby killing two birds with one stone. Because of travel, I haven't had my first fill (in over two months!) so I too am a slow loser, and will suffer under the expectations of those I told before I left on my travels. You can always quote statistics to those who doubt you, because they are not al wine and roses. Check them out! It will let you off the hook. Na slapping around, just realize that this is a PROCESS, and you need encouragement. Chin up! Keep going! ww

congratulations. it sounds like you are getting the feedback you need to keep rolling with it. I am stuck in a kind of paralysis without being able to see my doc or getting a fill. just happy to be maintaing the 12 pound loss and trying hard not to revert to snacking on bad stuff. I don't eat much quantity, but the quality sometimes stinks, because I too don't find much motivation to prepare good meals. Too much trouble to shop, store, prepare, clean up. Keep us posted, and enjoy all that "customer service!"

Oh yes. I'm eight weeks out from my surgery (haven't been filled yet because I'm away), and I now crave all the same stuff i usually did before the banding. At night (my worst time), I still eat some of it. I am really afraid this pattern will dog me for the rest of my life. I can't wait for a fill, to see the effect it has on this behavior.

I'm 7 weeks post op and awoke this morning with severe pain in the port area. It's searing, hot, like a knife, just like is was after surgery. I am afraid to move. The upper edge of the port is more palpable under the skin of my stomach than it was before. I am away from home for 6 more weeks (no way to visit my doc who is thousands of miles away). Does this pain sound familiar to anyone? Talk to me. I am concerned. whipoorwillow, scared in Hawaii http://lapbandtmi.blogspot.com/

You know, this is an important question: does it? Also, in my case, I think I'm on my own since I self-paid. I already gave them all my money--don't know what I'll do.

I don't understand how this can happen either. I called my doctor this morning but die to the time difference all I could get was the NP, who told me not to worry. Heh. Good luck with the clear liquids. Think of it as a jump start! I hope yo don't feel like you're starving. Please keep us updated. In the meantime, I'm going to be sitting around waiting for my port to pop out of my stomach, I guess.

Wow, Kizzie! You have had a real go of it. My port was more sore than I thought it should be from day one. It has only been in the last couple of weeks where I wasn't aware of it all the time. Now it only hurts if I bend over while sitting. I think it gets mashed between my ribs and bra wire. (I don't have your endowment (just a 36DD), but I still need to wear a bra when I leave the house, so there's no question of going without. I don't want to send anyone to the loony bin or to the hospital. ) I had a simple surgery and recovery and have thus far sailed through with no complications. Since I've been away, I haven't had a fill yet, and have lost only 15 pounds, but that's ok with me. All was going very well until this morning, when I awoke with a lot of pain at the port site. No swelling, no redness, nothing but pain. When I walk, move, sit stand, etc. It feels as it did immediately post-op. When I palpate the area, I think I can feel the upper part of the port closer to my skin than it was before. I am VERY concerned. I am away from homw and away from a surgeon for 6 more weeks. Do you have any thoughts? Thanks, and good luck! ww

I'm very interested in this too, s I suspect mine has moved/flipped.

Kizzie Did you have any symptoms before hand?

Jazie Did you have any symptoms to let you know that your port had moved? Let us know how it went.

Well folks, time to wake up. I"m new here, and I tend to shake things up. I"m getting banded on August 11 by Michael Trahan at Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville. If you have experience with him or anyone else at Martha Jefferson Surgical Associates, I'd love to hear from you. I have a BMI of 35, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. I am paying for this by myself and it cost a shocking $18,000. Less than a stroke, but more than a Volvo. I live alone, my family is elsewhere, and I don't want to do this alone. Come back to the FORUM, because I need you now, and I imagine you need each other, as well. WW

I'm wondering how your surgery went. MCV is such a nice hospital. I am hoping you are OK. Please share you r experience with us.

Is it true that when you first have the band put in place there is NO restriction at all?

Ah! Thank you so much for clarifying the mystery!

um....both I guess! I know I"m losing at the right rate. But I lost the first ten pounds so quickly, within one week. Then...nothing. It's disheartening. I'm doing the best I can. Eating right, exercising, and NOTHING. I feel like I'm in this alone. What's the Onederland about?

Hi Reintroducing myself Whippoorwillow from VA, now living for two more months in HAwaii for work. Anyone in Hawaii or VA? I'd love some friendship and support. I'm five weeks post banding and not losing as fast as I'd like. I've only lost ten pounds. Can't get a fill until I return home to VA. Wondering what Onederland is. Hope to hear from you! ww

Can I ask what Onederland is?

It is good to hear that you like Dr. Trahan, who will also be doing my surgery. I have to take my daughter to college 6 days after my surgery (my mother is driving), and then fly to Hawaii 3 weeks later for work. I won't get a fill for three months while I'm there working, so I hope I lose weight and don't have any complications. Dr. Trahan is ok with the Hawaii trip, but doesn't know about the college drop-off trip. I am getting worried about whether I will be able to do it. I am tough as nails, but still--not superhuman. When I come back in November, I will be at every single support group meeting and I will also go to OA, or something like that, because I don't want to substitute one addiction for another and start something else unhealthy. Best deal with this completely. If you'd like to chat privately, you can reach me via my blog, Enlightened horsemanship through touch. I'd love to chat. ww

Oh my goodness. A five year weight history would come from your records, right--not hard to get. What kind of 6 month wlp? Those things are usually required by the surgeon so you'll already have them covered. GOod luck to you. I know it seems like a long time to wait once you've made your decision, but 6 months might be a good amount of time to get yourself mentally prepared, provided you really aren't too worried about a denial. With a BMI of 41, you're on the line. Do you have co-morbidities? I am a 35 (just barely) with two co-morbidities, and a self-pay. It will have been four months from start to finish if my surgery goes as planned on 8/11. So you're not far off. Hang in there!:biggrin2:

If someone gives you the answer to this, I'm hoping I read it. I have mine in my signature, but I don't know how to update it or have it update itself in the signature. Seems like it would be a lot of trouble to upload a new one every day. Ticker page is lacking in info, I think. Anyone out there know how to do this??????

best of luck to you while waiting for insurance to agree! do you have to jump through a lot of hoops! I have heard horror stories.

I've been told that that surgery is so expensive and painful. I'd like to avoid it if at all possible. I hope the protein thing works. Please keep us informed!