jczmyjoy

I talked to my dr and he said that I should wait till I'm finished losing. He also said it was about a three year process and not to even think about having anything done till then. (Yikes! 3 years!!??) I understand it's a slow process and i'm cool with that but don't know if i can deal with saggy skin and droopy boobs that long! lol

I was banded 10/1/08 and I still have a good bit to go before I hit goal weight. I've lost about 44 lbs so far but i have been thinking more about "work" done. I would love to have an breast lift and reduction and a tt. I have an "apron" that doesn't seem to go away. Any advice on how much longer I should wait? I go back to Dr. the 24th of this month for 3rd fill and I'll talk to him then but just wanted to see what others thought. I'm concerned that if i have it done now, i'll need it again in the end. Any advice?

I was banded Oct 1,08 and have lost 41 lbs. I had my second fill two weeks ago. I was in need of it. I was at a stand still for 6 weeks. I actually gained 5 lbs. I have lost 7 since my fill two weeks ago. I have been having problems with what to eat. I thought I was doing good eating nonfat yogurt for breakfast staying away from as much carbs as possible and high protien. I thought maybe I should drink protien shakes but when i went for 2nd fill Dr. told me no shakes and no more yogurt. I'm pretty much on meats and vegetables. He told me not to worry about cholesterol and fats right now. What kind of diet and exercise do you follow? I hate exercise but i try to walk and run 3 miles a day. Also, (this sounds gross) do you ever have problems with irregularity? I would love any help you can give me. A little bit bout myself: I am going on 37 and have 2 kids. My husband is a great support but is being deployed to Iraq for 2nd tour in few months and I could sure use a band buddy through my journey. Also, I am from Mississippi. Can't wait to hear back from you!

I was banded on Oct. 1, 08 and mourned food miserably for the first 6 to 8 weeks. I was depressed and cried a lot. My outlook was that it was gone forever! Trying to learn new ways to cook and learning to try new healthier foods was so overwhelming. I think that my emotions were very VERY edgy to say the least! lol I was so sore after my surgery also from the gas they used and that played a big part too. I did a lot of crying and praying. But the more weight I began to lose the better I felt. I was dreading Thanksgiving. I was thinking of all the food I wasn't going to be able to eat. But when the day came I was surprised by my self-control. I didn't really eat a lot ( and we had 2 family meals in one day!). I moderated myself but I did eat the "forbidden" food! lol I thought for sure I would have put 5 lbs. back on but to my delight it was only 2. The day after thanksgiving I went back to my "new" way of eating healthy, mostly protien, and i immediately lost those 2 plus a few more in a matter of a week. I have come to realize that food isn't my "best friend" or "comfort buddy" any more. I am finding new interest to occupy my time. Things I have wanted to do but thought I was to big to do them. I'm starting to live my life again! No more mourning! Just excitement! Don't look at it as gone forever! You can have it in moderation and once in a while! (And I had a small piece of red velvet cake at a christmas party last week! It is my favorite cake! Just use moderation and hang in there!

I had to post again now that i'm 7 weeks post surgery and say that Meschultz is right. I thought I was dying the pain was so bad but one morning after a little while of being up I realized that I wasn't hurting at all. I was getting pretty depressed over it and regretting the surgery but I am so glad now that I did. Hang in there! It does get better! Especially when your pile of "too big clothes" starts growing! lol

I was banded on 10/01/08 and went for my first fill Friday 11/7. It was a terrible experience for me. My Dr. did give me the numming shot but after sticking me 4 times still couldn't find my port. The sticks were not bad but the wiggling trying to find the port was painful. I had to go to the hospital today and he did my fill using xray. This was GREAT! It only took about 5 minutes and was painless. Only problem was that he was only able to put little over 1cc in my 10cc band without me feeling like the water I was swallowing was coming back up. I'm worried I didn't get enough fill. I go back in December for my second fill. Hopefully now that he knows about where it is it will not be as bad this next time. For a first time fill and if you still have some swelling I would suggest doing it by xray. Much easier and painless. I have already lost 30lbs. Don't get discouraged! Stick with it! You'll be so happy in the long run! Good luck!

Your's went really fast compared to mine. I was banded Oct. 1st but I started trying to get approved in March. My doctor's office didn't know how to communicate with Tricare evidently! lol Congrats on the banding!

Katiebugs, don't give up! I started all my paper work in March and fought with the insurance company for months. Like you, I began if this was what God really wanted me to do. It seemed like every door was closing. I can't tell you how many hours I have spent on the phone with them! They finally approved it. I had my first Dr appointment the first of September and was banded on October 1st. Was the ball got going it was really fast! Just don't give up. If God wants this (and He does want us healthy!) He'll provide the money! Short story: Once we had a bill due and didn't know where we were gonna get the money to pay it. It was looking bad. My husband went to the mailbox and there was a refund check where we had somehow over paid a bill to somewhere else. What was so amazing about it was that it was to the penny the amount we needed to pay our other bill! I'm not saying this is going to happen for you but who knows! God works in mysterious ways! Good luck to you!

Glad to know that I'm not the only one going through this. I was banded on October 1st and I am still having terrible pain in my chest. It almost feels like a heart attack it is so bad. I've been taking nexium, gas x, drinking hot tea and walking. I can't burp at all. My shoulder finally eased up a few days ago but the only time my chest eases is when I lie down. I go back to Dr. today for exrays to make sure everything is alright. I can't eat or drink much for the pain. I haven't had a fill yet either. I'm only eating creamy soups and pudding (Ocassionally) Is this normal to hurt so much 14 days post surgery? I'm at wits end. :laugh: I need relief.

Hey everyone! I was banded on October 1, 2008. I am 14 days post surgery. I've already lost 28 pounds since I started my liquid diet pre surgery! Excited to start living life again!:laugh: