BrooklynBandster

Hi, Dr. Schulman! Here's my story/question: I had a full abdominoplasty and bilateral brachioplasty two weeks ago today, on February 17th. I've been healing really well, and had two drains inserted in my abdomen. One was removed about a week post-op (my surgeon requires that the drain output be under 30cc/day for removal), but after the first one was removed, the second one started gathering a LOT more fluid. It had been gathering about 45cc/day, but now it's back up to 75cc, and it's been there for five days straight. It just doesn't seem to be letting up. My surgeon fitted me with even more compression garments, so everything's nice and tight, but the drain output just isn't decreasing anymore. I'm worried that she'll have to pull the drain before the output is low enough, and then I'll have a seroma. My question: is this typical? Is it normal for the drain output level to remain the same for this long? Is there anything I can do to help decrease the drain output? I tried tightening my binder, but then as soon as I loosened it again to go to the bathroom, the drain bulb filled up within seconds. I'm worried, and I hate this drain, but I hate the idea of a seroma even more. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

Hi, everyone - I rarely, rarely post, but today was my weigh-in morning and I'm so excited to see that I've broken the 100-pounds-lost mark. I started at 312 and am now at 212! I know that when I was considering the Lap Band, and even in the first few months after I had gotten it, it really helped me to read posts about people's experiences and how they had succeeded, so I thought I'd post a little bit about my experience. Of course, this is only my experience, but I thought it could be useful to those who are gathering stories. - I have a small AP band, and I've lost count on how many fills and unfills I've gotten. I tend to only be able to take fills in increments of .1 cc, which is inconvenient, but hey, it works. - I eat anywhere from 1/2 cup to 1 1/2 cup of food at a meal - my restriction varies pretty wildly, depending on my mood. And I'm estimating - I don't measure. I eat low-carb but not no-carb, and try to avoid foods (like wheat) that I know will send me on binges. Lots of Protein, lots of veggies, lots of fruit. I DON'T do sugar-free (I'd rather just not eat sweets) or fat-free, or even low-fat. I'm a believer in whole foods, regardless of their fat content. - For the first eight months or so, I didn't really exercise. Then I hit a plateau, and now I go to the gym and work out HARD for 30-40 minutes every other day. I've even been running a bit. It's just insane that I can run now! - My original goal was 200 pounds, but I think I'm just going to keep going. I had just never let myself believe that I could be anything less than 200 pounds, but I think I'd really enjoy moving through the world with even less weight on me. - My ankle pain (one of the major reasons for the surgery) has completely gone away. It was debilitating before; I couldn't walk two blocks. Now I speedwalk for miles. - I can eat pretty much any food I want - steak, shrimp, etc. - as long as it's later in the day. I'm careful for the first half of the day, which is when I'm most likely to PB. - I don't count calories. To me, calories aren't much of a health indicator. So I try to go by whole foods, my known blood sugar responses to foods, and portion control. - I dress so differently now, and it's not just a difference in size. I have lovely clothes that I selected for their ability to take me through several sizes, and I take pride in getting fancied up. - I have a hard time, sometimes, seeing any difference, especially in my face. But then sometimes I'll try on an old pair of jeans, or I'll catch my reflection in the side of a building, and I'm just shocked. - I can cross my legs! And I have a collarbone! - I can tell that I'll probably want a brachioplasty when I'm done losing weight. I never thought I'd get plastic surgery, ever, as I've worked long and hard to love the body I'm in, regardless of/inclusive of size. But this is something I think I'll want. - Having the band has taught me a lot about how I want to live. There are times when I know - I KNOW - that if I eat one more bite, I'll throw up. And I consider it, and very occasionally, I'll take that bite anyway. And then I throw up. I refuse to feel shame about this, but I do feel like it's a pretty strong indicator of my relationship with food, my respect for myself, and what I need to keep working on. - This board has been a constant source of information for me - kind of a touchstone. I really encourage newcomers to read lots of people's experience, but also know that yours will likely be different from theirs. There are a lot of different ways to go about this journey, and none are more valid than others. I stand by my approach, though it flies in the face of what many people say one should do during a weight loss attempt. It works for me, though, and I'm happy about where I am, both in terms of my body and my eating. I wish everyone all the very best of luck with their journeys! -BrooklynBandster

Thanks, everyone! To each of you who's waiting to be banded - it is within your reach. The time goes by more quickly than you'd think. It's hard work, but not as hard as if we didn't have the band. And Melissa Anne - I agree, running and crossing legs are big deals. And soon you'll be there!

Hi, friends! I'm a longtime lurker, first-time poster. I'm just really excited to share with y'all that I had my surgery on April 21st (almost five months ago) and I'm down 55 pounds! (Started at 312, now at 257.) It's all happened so quickly, in a way, yet I'm impatient for the rest to come off. But I know how lucky I am, and that not everyone has such a successful first few months with the band. Just to give a snapshot of my journey, for those who're interested: I didn't really start losing until my third fill (I have a large AP Band). I'm currently at around 6 cc, and losing pretty steadily. I try not to eat much wheat or a lot of other starchy things, but I'll do whole grains when the mood strikes. I also don't do low-fat or sugar-free; instead, I try to go for whole, unmodified foods, and when desired, foods that are sweetened with things other than high-fructose corn syrup. (This is more about overall health than weight loss for me.) I'm at a point now where the band doesn't restrict me to tiny portions as it does for some, but it serves as a kind of reminder of what can happen if I really go overboard. I feel like I'm doing most of this myself, with the very real and important backup provided by the band. Anyway, that's my story thus far! Feel free to share yours as well... -A

Thanks for the support and congratulations, all! I'm feeling really good, and I have a sense of control over my life that I've been missing for years. Maybe for my entire life. Nick - I think what you're going through is completely normal. I had the same experience when I switched to solids, as do most people on this board. I wouldn't worry at all about it - your body just needs to adjust to you being back on solids. The weight loss WILL start again, believe me. It may start before your first fill, or it may not. For me, I regained a few pounds once I went back on solids, and then SLOWLY lost them (maybe .5 pound/week?) until I started getting fills. At my third fill, I overdid it a bit and had to get a small unfill, but it was a valuable experience because I knew what it felt like to be too tight or too loose. If anything, I might be a LITTLE too loose now, but I'm OK with that. I know all of you beginners are going to do great. Just remember that all the advice everyone gives you (aside from the basics bandster rules like chew a lot and take smaller bites) is based mostly on their experience, and everyone's experience is slightly different. You'll figure out what works best for your body, as long as you're careful while figuring it out! -A

Hi, all - I'm being banded next week, and I'd love to hear from all of you who are at or near goal about what's been the best thing (or things) for you! More energy? Nicer clothes? Tell me everything! (I know this kind of thread has been posted before, but I figure there's always more room to revel in your achievements, right?) :biggrin:

...is fat in your diet. Really. I think a lot of people experience problems with dryness partly because they eliminate fat (either altogether or nearly so) from their diets. We need a little bit of fat. This may or may not be you, but I thought I'd throw it in there!

Hi, all - after many months of trying to get insurance approval, I was finally banded yesterday at NYU. I came out of the surgery in very little pain...none of the shoulder pain that a lot of people have, no gas, nothing. Today, I'm home from the hospital, and I feel all sorts of pain - gas, port site pain, general soreness, etc. I know it's just going to take a little time for those pains to fade, but I'm feeling lonely and scared...did I make a mistake? Will the pain stop? Will I be able to tell when I'm full? (On these clear/thin liquids, I can't really tell if I'm full or not.) I sure do wish I could eat a burger and fries tonight. But I can't, and I won't. Is anyone in a similar boat? Or have you been in a similar boat before? Any words of wisdom are much appreciated! -listenhard

Thanks, LJM. It's a good thing I wouldn't even be able to swallow the burger, because it's definitely calling my name! I'm hoping some sleep and a day or two will bring this pain down to a more reasonable level. And even though I don't like painkillers, I did take some - it helped me sleep for a while this afternoon. I'm going to try to be patient with this process! It'll all be better soon, right?

I know a lot of people ask themselves that question before they get the band, and now here I am, asking it too. I'm scheduled to be banded in a few weeks, and I'm definitely ready...been thinking about it and researching for about a year, went through the insurance approval process (with a few setbacks), got approved, I'm ready (at least, as ready as I can be) for all the changes in the way I'll have to eat. But will it really work? Will I lose 20 pounds and then not lose any more? I have about 120 pounds to lose, and I know I'll feel so much better when I do (and even when I've lost half that), but I'm just so worried that I'll be one of the few for whom this just doesn't work. Anyone else going through this, or been through it? Any words of inspiration and encouragement are super-appreciated!

I've heard from some people that you don't need to actually go to the nutritionist/dietician every month, but I wanted to be on the safe side, especially because I didn't have a full weight history (it had to be five years when I started my diet). So I went to the nutritionist 1-2 times each month, and had the nutritionist write a letter documenting each of those dates and the major themes/behavioral changes we discussed. Done and done.

Thank you, everyone, for your wonderful and wise words. Keep 'em coming! I have all the information and know what's ahead of me...I think this is something I'm just going to have to go through and experience for myself. Scary but so exciting.

Hi, all - I just found out that I'm approved by Aetna! And they told me less than 24 hours after my file was submitted! This all comes on the heels of a four-month delay from my original surgery date due to other health issues, so I'm just really excited...I was expecting to be denied at least once, after all the horror stories I've read. 3-month multidisciplinary diet program, one year of doctor's visit, and a letter documenting my weight from an exercise therapist the year before. I'm so happy. And a little nervous. Now it's finally real. :sad_smile:

Hi, all - I'm eager to hear what anyone's experience is with being a cancer survivor and getting the band. When were you treated for cancer? How long did you wait after treatment to get the band? Has anyone experienced a recurrence while having the band, and if so, did you have a band removal? I've recently been diagnosed with a reproductive cancer and had a full hysterectomy. I may or may not have some radiation treatments, but after that, I'll be done with treatment, and seem to be doing really well. I'm trying to figure out how long I should wait before getting the band, which I had been planning for many months before the diagnosis. After this health crisis, it seems clearer than ever to me that I want to take charge of my health and my body as soon as possible! Also: if you are NOT a cancer survivor, but had other major surgeries or medical treatments, how long did you wait afterwards before getting the band? Any other thoughts? Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Hi, pumpkin - I noticed that you said you had a hysterectomy five months before being banded. I had a hysterectomy a month ago, and had planned to have my band in January (though obviously I'll have to delay it now). Did you wait five months because you were told you had to in order to recover? Were there any other treatments you were undergoing at the time? Sorry to ask so many (personal?) questions, but I'm hoping to make contact with other people who've had hysterectomies AND have the band!

Wow - I'm also scheduled for January 21 with Dr. Ren! We're lap-band twins.

like Ilene says, it does have the rep of being a kind of bariatric mill, and the last two times I've been there I have to wait out in the hall for an hour as there were no seats. that said, the care is excellent. i had my surgical consult with dr. ren this last week, and she was wonderful. i think it may have been the best, most respectful doctor's appointment i've ever had. i almost cried with gratitude at being treated like a human being!

Hi, all - I'm not banded yet, but I'm well on my journey to having insurance cover it. I've been feeling sad lately because I'm starting to have a hard time envisioning this change as something that comes from a place of self-love instead of self-disgust. There are so many images out there that tell us that fat people are disgusting, unworthy, unattractive, etc., and I've worked hard to fight against those ideas my whole life. I'm in a place now where I want to make a change in my weight, not because I want to be teeny-tiny, but because I want to be able to walk easily and travel and enjoy my thirties and forties. Yet I'm stuck on feeling like I should do this the "natural" way (not that it's ever worked before), or that I should just love and accept myself as I am, or something along those lines. I see the progress you've all made with yourselves and it's totally inspiring. Have any of you dealt with feelings like these?

Thanks, everyone. I know you're right. And Gayle, I know that what you're saying is true - I want to truly have my thirties and forties as the best time in my life, a time to explore and enjoy without fear. (Well, at least without SOME kinds of fear.) This is what keeps driving me forward: the prospect of a life that's not (literally) weighed down as mine is now. The idea of fitting into all those cute clothes is nice, yeah, but it's not my priority. I want to feel good. That's the bottom line. It's funny, because I've done other things before that certainly weren't "natural" to lose weight - pills that gave me an irregular heartbeat, starving myself against my better judgment - but I never felt as guilty about those as I do about the prospect of this little band. I guess it's the surgery thing more than anything. My major issues right now are feeling self-love around this. Betsyjane, I really appreciated what you said about finding a new kind of natural, and being gentle with yourself. I'm just working so hard every day to come from a "feeling healthy IS self-love" place, instead of an "I'm a big fat slob" kind of place.

Hi, all - I'm considering getting banded, and live in NYC. It seems like everyone recommends the NYU group. I meet all of their requirements for surgery, except for one: the six months of medically supervised dieting. Don't get me wrong - I've absolutely dieted for at least six months at a time, several times - just not under the direct supervision of a doctor. But do I need to do it again before they'll consider me? Has anyone dealt with this issue before? Thanks in advance!

Hi, all you friendly and helpful folks - I need your help. I've heard from some sources that Aetna requires documentation from a physician of each of the past five years of obesity, and from others that they didn't need this. (I don't have that documentation, though I've been obese for over 20 years.) Is this going to stop me from getting coverage? Also, I've now heard that a bunch of people have gotten approval using the 3-month multidisciplinary diet/exercise program. For anyone who has: did you need documentation from an exercise specialist, nutritionist, PCP, and mental health person? Or just the last three? And if I've been seeing a therapist for years but she's not in-network, could she still count in that program? I appreciate all your help in advance! :ranger:

Hi, everyone - who here has done the 3-month medically supervised diet, exercise, and psych program to get approved by their insurance (as opposed to the usual six months)? Have you been successful? If so, what did you do? If not, what reasons did they give? Thanks, all!

treen, that's amazing! 2 days, wow. congratulations! i have a bunch of questions for you about your process with aetna, if you don't mind. did you do the three-month or the six-month supervised program? did you see the nutritionist et al monthly or weekly? what did you submit from each of them? i'm starting my process this thursday with the supervised program, and am hoping to be able to do the three months.

wow, a YEAR? it's really amazing the hoops they make us jump through. but congratulations on starting your journey!

Thanks, everyone. I've heard from so many people who've had enormous problems getting covered by Aetna, and others who got approved with no problem a few days after submitting. So much of it seems to be just up to the whim of whoever reviews it. So frustrating.