lellow

Hi All-Stars, I've posted in the cosmetic surgery forum but also wanted to let you know that I saw the plastic surgeon that my bariatric surgeon recommended this morning, and after a lovely long consultation, I'm booked in to have a Torso Lift on the 2nd of April. I had hoped that a simply TT would be sufficient, but as I have loose skin on my hips and back as well as my stomache, the PS suggested a Torso Lift for the best result. So I'm having a 'ring-bark' incision to remove the hanging skin from my tummy, hips and back, plus he's removing the skin on my upper tummy and is knitting my stomache muscles together, to get a trimmer look. So I'm on the countdown to the 2nd April now. I asked about having to be unfilled, and yes, I will be unfilled one week prior to surgery, and then refilled typically while I'm still recovering in hospital. So I'll be unfilled basically only for a week or two. The PS also reckons I easily have about 4kgs of skin to remove (about 9lbs) so this will take me to goal, or less if I'm at goal by my surgery date. So this is it, the last 'leg' to goal and the maintenance phase for me. Wish me luck, guys!

jimmielou, I do have significant amounts of excess skin, not just from weight loss but also from having 4 big babies. I would have had this amount of excess skin even if I'd lost weight slowly, my reconstructive surgeon has assured me. I'm having a torso lift in less than 2 months.

Very true, Jacqui.

Private health insurancers in Australia will pay for banders with a BMI of 35 and up with no co-morbidities, and BMI 30 and up with co-morbidities, pretty much as long as the bariatric surgeon is willing to do the surgery, really. I believe they are of the view that it's best to band a patient with a history of not being able to lose weight rather than wait for them to gain to a point where their health is seriously compromised. To the insurers here, it's better to pay for the band than to pay out for obesity-related health issues long term. The band has an excellent success rate, and I'm sure they long ago realised their initial investment was saving them heaps in the long run. So in that respect, insurance here is different from the US. It's not uncommon to see people with BMIs of just over 30 having the band here in Australia. I saw a girl at my Dr's clinic yesterday, who looked in her early teens, who told me she'd lost 7kgs (about 15lbs) since surgery. She looked like her BMI couldn't have been much more than 30 when she started. She then told me she'd been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and is already off her meds because her levels are completely normal now. The band did for her what medication couldn't - it put her diabetes into remission. At a BMI of 37 pre-surgery (with only about 60lbs to lose) I was told constantly that I didn't look like I needed WLS. But I'd been this heavy for the last 20 years and had tried EVERYTHING to lose weight. Nothing worked and every year I put on more weight. This surgery has done what nothing else has managed to do - which is help me lose weight and keep it off. Why should I have been denied the help I needed simply because I have less to lose than others?

Looks like so far, everyone's had a good week! Liquidbluegal, so glad you got your fill and you're back on track! I got a small fill yesterday (0.25cc) because my Dr decided, from what I was saying, that I needed a small adjustment to ensure I'm well restricted. He also congratulated me on getting to goal (even though I'm still 5 pounds off from it!).

Yep, I tell people all the time that my love affair with food is soooo over. There are fewer and fewer things everyday that I actually really like eating anymore. And even when I crave something, when I actually eat it, it doesn't taste as good as I remember. Like pizza. After craving it for weeks, I had a piece today and couldn't figure out what was so great about it. And I felt awful after.

My surgeon will lapband anyone with a BMI over 30. My BMI was 37+ at it's highest, and 35 at surgery, and gastric banding, combined with exercise, has been sucessful for me. Though before surgery, I of course was looking at all the people for whom it hadn't been successful (or all the stories about how lower BMI patients took forever to lose) and I was sure I was going to be one of them too. None of those fears have been realised. I am 6 months post op and am close to goal (which my Dr set at 70kgs).

It was only 6 months ago I was posting exactly the same thing! Shaggs, you're going to be so happy with this surgery, mate! Good luck to everyone who's just been banded!

My PS said he would reposition my port during surgery, so even after all torso lifting, I would wake up with my port still 3 inches under my right rib. He has a lot of experience with bariatric patients, so it was completely matter of fact for him. :biggrin:

No one can force you into surgery. Your dr can recommend it, just as my Dr did, but in the end, the only person who makes that choice is you. Also when I first came on this site, I found that the majority of people were incredibly happy with their band. If you're saying that you're finding that the people you're talking to are not recommending the band, I can't help feeling like you're looking for the negative in it, which tells me you really aren't ready for it. Me? I love my band. I am 6 months post op and almost at goal. What's not to love?

Good luck today hun with your unfill. I'm still seeing my Dr today but am still unsure if I'll be getting more fill.

ktork, you are amazing! 70lbs and a 5k run! Woooooot!

and btw, you'll be able to sleep on your stomache again in a few weeks. I'm a stomache sleeper too and now sleep on my tummy with no problems. And walking is great exercise. Losing 31lbs is an amazing feat so soon post op, so you're doing really well!

It really depends on how he views food. To me, the lapband did what I needed it to do, which is to satisfy me sooner. So I don't NEED to eat a huge plate of food to be satisfied now. I did find the idea depressing too initially, but 6 months out, my love affair with food no longer exists. I eat to survive now. I eat only when I'm hungry. And when I go to restaurants, I'm NOT the one scoffing my food down like there's no tomorrow anymore, I eat less than anyone else there, and actually feel more 'normal' for behaving like that. I still enjoy food, but it no longer rules my life. So if he's not prepared to give up his bond with food, then yes he's got to think about whether the surgery is for him. Because it's only one part of the bigger picture. To me, it was completely and totally worth it.

you shouldn't be that uncomfortable, so I agree that if it's affecting you that much, you should perhaps see your Dr to see if you can resolve it. BTW I'm back to being loose. My fill is tomorrow and I think I may have a small one after all.

I bought a spin bike and have ridden it pretty religiously at least 3 times a week since I've been banded. I exercise once my kids are in bed.

Oh no Ro, I don't know what's happened, but I so empathise with you. I've found my band to be very fickle recently too. When I was in S'pore it was so tight I could barely eat anything for two weeks. Then when I got back, I booked an unfill but was advised to eat slowly and chew lots and was fine for a week. Then last week, I felt like I lost all restriction and could eats heaps. This week, I'm tight again! In fact today alone, I couldn't eat more than a couple of mouthfuls at lunch, but managed to put away a fair amount (more than usual) of exactly the same food for dinner. I hope the unfill helps you, matey. I'm actually supposed to get another fill this Friday but am not sure whether I'll go ahead with it now.

I had a chat with DH last night, as I know that after my body lift, I will have some obvious (and sizeable) scars, even if they do fade after some time. I wondered if they would be off-putting to DH and whether he would find me attractive anymore. He reassured me that he would find me attractive no matter what, but I can't help feeling he's not quite prepared for the extent of the scarring, and how different I'll look. So I was hoping to hear from those who have BTDT - how did your spouse react to your scars?

Thank you so much for your reassurances Julie. I know in my heart that this is what I need to do, and that he actually would prefer a scar and a proportionate body than all the loose skin I currently have. I've lost all this weight and yet I'm more self-concious of my naked body than ever before. He knows this and he knows how it effects my body image. We also had a few glitches in the preparation for my surgery (my anaesthetist was going to be away and they were having trouble finding a replacement) and it looked like my surgery might be postponed for a few months. It was only when that happened that I realised how much I actually want to do this, and how I'm prepared for the scars and the changes to come. Luckily it looks like the surgery will go ahead as scheduled on the 2nd of April, after all, and I have to admit that my fears about the resulting scars have abated a lot, especially with your post.

accountess, GOOD ONYA hunny! It will be good to get the leak fixed, but in the meantime it sounds like you're making sure you're on the right track, and you can't be anything be proud of yourself for that!

Yes it happens to me quite a lot. Just as an example, after my last fill I went a few days without feeling any real change. Then for the next two weeks, I could barely eat anything - I felt WAAAY too tight. Then I went a week of feeling just right. Then last week, I felt like I lost all restriction, and could eat far more, and got hungrier sooner. Then this week I'm tight again. I booked a fill for this Friday and really don't know if I actually need another fill now. So yes, the band is pretty fickle for me too.

Amazing work, gilta! Your stats are amazing, you have sooo much to be proud of!

I agree with Jachut in that I do see obesity as a sickness. I don't agree that eating too much and not exercising is the only things that will make you obese. I think the desire to eat too much is a symptom of the disease. I exercised moderately when I was bigger (not like I do now, but I was no couch potato either) and it did not stop me from gaining weight, like my sister who is considered underweight, but who doesn't gain despite not exercising a day in her life. Even at my biggest, I could walk farther than her, lift heavier loads than her, and was all around fitter than her. I also now watch her eat almost as much as I used to eat, and easily 4 times what I eat now, and realise I need FAR less food than she does to remain slim. I can't imagine most slim people could live their lives eating the equivelant of a 3yo just to maintain a healthy weight, yet that's exactly what I have to do. Yet another symptom of obesity as a disease. Genetics, pregnancy, hormone imbalance, age etc all play a part in weight gain as well, so not exercising and eating too much isn't the only reason people are obese, IMO.

I agree with Jachut, I bought a spin bike and took up cycling because I had knee and hip issues, so had to find something low impact and non-weight-bearing. The first time I got on the spin bike, I cycled at 45rpm for 10 minutes and felt like I was going to die. But two days later I hopped on again and did another 10 minutes. Then every two weeks, I increased my time, and tried to cycle harder. It took me about 2 months to work up to 40 minutes at 45rpm. I now cycle 40 minutes at 55-60rpm, an average of 37kms per session, and I burn about 500 calories each time. I am getting faster, and am increasing my resistance, every week. But I didn't START out that way. Everyone started somewhere. No one woke up from the surgery fit and ready to exercise. We had to learn. And there are exercises you can do to get there. You might start with walking, but you CAN increase intensity. I used to walk 30 minutes a day and think it was great exercise. Now I power-walk an hour (at least) carrying my 15kg 3yo son on my back in a sling. These are the ways you can increase your fitness. You can make excuses or you can find a way. You have to make that choice.

Thanks for your reply MacMadame, DH has seen pictures already, but I don't think it'll quite be the same when they're on his wife. I hope he means what he says, and that he'll love my body no matter what. I am starting to believe that, to him, a big scar is still preferable to the masses of loose skin I currently have, just from things he has said recently, so am feeling more confident about the surgery after all.