marfar7

Nioxin can be bought at any hair salon or beauty supply store. I used it as a prevention, never did lose any hair. Not sure if that was the reason, but it can't hurt. It's kinda pricey (about $25), but your hair is worth it! Marci

18 mths? Good grief. I will have gained back every lb I've lost by then (actually, I won't - just sayin). I'm hoping they can do it the same day. My dr is 3 hrs away and my husband has to stay in a hotel while I'm in the hospital. It'd also be cheaper to do it just once. Thanks for the info everyone! Marci

But I'm terrified. I'm definitely a rule breaker (hence the slipped band 3 1/2 yrs later from frequent vomiting. Never did learn how to eat slowly). My band had a minor slip last year, my dr took out 1/2 of my fill and it worked. no more reflux, so he decided to leave it alone. In the last year I gained 21 lbs. I HATE dieting, why I got the band in the first place. So I've been on the fence for months whether I wanted to just go ahead and revise it even tho I had no symptoms. This past Friday nite, I started having stomach pain. Not bad, just bothersome. Monday nite (after having constant pain for 3 days) it got unbearable and I ended up in the hospital. My band was herniated (a bad slip). They unfilled my 6cc and told me I'd need a revision. My band dr is 3 hrs away, so I haven't been seen by him yet. I called the insurance girl at my drs office and asked if revision would be covered under my Medicare. It is, even tho my bmi is now 27 cuz it's a complication. They don't cover plication, however, which is what I wanted with my band - to improve my chances of future slips. She talked a little about the sleeve (which is also covered) and said most band patients convert to the sleeve. Like I said, I haven't even talked to my dr about it yet so I'm not sure what he's gunna say, but I started doing research on the sleeve today. I loved my band. Helped me to lsoe 104 lbs. But it's so much maintenance - always going 6 hrs round trip for fills/unfills/tweaking and alot of money involved (Medicare only pays for fills for the first year) and worries about slipping. The sleeve doesn't require maintenance, does it? How long do you spend in the hospital? Is it like gastric bypass where over the years your stomach can stretch back out? Whats the difference between GB and the sleeve? Any and all info is greatly appreciated!! Even tho I'm only about 28 lbs from my 135 goal, I know I'd gain back every lb that I've lost if I don't have a tool to work with. I proved that this past year with less than optimal restriction. I never did learn how to eat healthy - the band just stopped me from eating too much. Thanks! Marci

For the first 100 lbs or so, I weighed once a week, never even thought of weighing everyday, actually. Now, 3 1/2 yrs post op, I weigh everyday. I also like to keep close tabs on my weight before I gain 5 lbs. Doesn't always work tho. Like this past year, weighing myself everyday didn't stop the 21 lbs gain this past year! Do what feels right for you. Can't stand seeing the scale and not stepping on it Marci

I LOVE Kens Steakhouse creamy caesar dressing. Didn't know it was actually a restaurant. You can't put salad dressing in a regular sprayer, you have to buy one of the olive oil sprayers (about $20 at target) and put any dressing in there. Personally, I think the ones that come in the sprayers on the grocery shelf are gross. I would buy an olive oil sprayer and spray it on, if you're looking to cut calories. Or just dip you fork tines in the dressing first before stabbing the salad. Thats what I do. You get a taste of the dressing but not many calories. Marci

Don't you just luv it??!! Congrats!!! Marci

I'm researching the sleeve after having a band herniated (bad slip). They unfilled me completely yesterday, but I'm tyring to wait till after my Alaskan cruise in 3 weeks to have a revision. I use Medicare (who's really strict) and I just called my office insurance lady to ask her about revision. They will cover a revision if I have complications, but they won't cover plication + band (which I specifially asked for), it's too new. But I can revise to the sleeve or gastirc bypass. Since I'm only 30 lbs from goal, I think GB is a little too much for me. But she did say if I had complication, Medicare would cover a revision or convert to a new surgery. And if Medicare covers it, you're probably does too. Good luck! Marci

Missy, You look fabulous! I'm so impressed! I didn't even think 200 lbs in 15 mths was even possible. But you did it. Showed me! WTG, girl! Keep it up! Marci

My personal experince with a slip: Last year, I started having nightime reflux. I got RX Prilosec from my dr and took OTC Zantac also. Plue popping Tums like they were candy. Nothing helped. Had to sleep propped up on 3 pillows and still had acid coming up all night. Finally after about 3 mths, I went to my band dr. He said I had a small slip and took out 1/2 of my 10cc fill. No more reflux. 4 wks later, he put back 1cc. still no reflux but also no restriction. He put in another 1cc. Reflux that very nite. So he took out the previous 1cc he put in and said I can live with a small slip as long as I no longer have symtoms. No more reflux. Then, last Friday, I started having abdominal pain. Nothing really painful, just bothersome. Led my normal life for 3 days with stomach pain. Got really bad on monday nite and found myself in the ER at 3 am. After a CT, it showed a large slipped band - actually herniated. They emptied my entire band and now I have to have a revision done. Talked to my drs office today and they said it can wait (as long as my band was entirely empty) till after I get back from my cruise to Alaska in 3 weeks. Thank God. I really didn't want to be on liquids only during my cruise. Thats my personal experience with a slip. Hope you don't have one. It's a pain (literally!) Marci

So, Friday night, my stomach started hurting. Not nausea, just a pin in the upper middle. Mostly a nagging pain, nothing I couldn't live with. In fact, it was reminiscent of diverticultitis I had almost 3 yrs ago. I wouldn't do anyting till it got worse. Fast forward to yesterday, it was still there. 3 days later. Hate going to the ER or my Dr unless I'm actually dying. Since it had nothing to do with my band last time, I was sure it had nothing to do with it this time either. Told my husband before bed that if it wasn't magically better by morning, I would go to the dr. At midnight, I woke up in agony. I laid there for 3 hrs, trying to give my husband more time to sleep, then woke him up. Finally, I was going to the ER. They got me in right away (not normal for an ER). AFter labs, the dr ordered an antinausea drug and a pain med via iv. By this time, I was vomiting, something new - I hadn't been nauseous at all till now. It didn't touch the pain. So she gave me Ativan, I guess to sedate me a little. Went for a CT (ended up vomiting the whole liquid contrast up) but they got their pics anyway. The dr finally came in, felt around, asked me questions and asked me how much Fluid was in my band. I really had no clue, after the minor slip fiasco last year, with unfills/fills/tweaks, I had no clue how much was in there. Welp, it WAS my band. Big time. The top part of my stomach was herniated over the band, causing strangulation. There was no one on staff that could even take out any fluid. No one knew how to do it.I was there for hours, finally getting a little more comfortable with the 2nd dose of pain meds and sleeping off and on. Waiting for the surgeon to say to send me over. The discharged me and sent me across the street to the general surgeon who also does lapbands. Saw his PA. Very nice female who showed me a pic of my US. Can't believe I suffered with that for 4 days. Anyway,she told me I'd need a revision. Finally, someone finally said it! I've been told this whole past year that my band was so slightly slipped, it just needed a small unfill and as long as I got rid of the symptoms, it would be fine. She proceeded to totally unfill me. I had 6cc in my 14cc band. She sent over the paperwork to my surgeon (whom is the only one Medicare would pay for otherwise I would just stay here) and he'll call me in the am with an appt - for my 6 hr trek. I'm praying (and hard) that he'll leave me unfilled for a few weeks before wanting to do surgery. I'm leaving 3 weeks from today on a 7 day Alaskan cruise and really don't want to be on a liquid diet during that time. The PA didn't see why not, since the swelling was already down. I'm feeling great now, no pain at all. Just got up from a 2 hr nap. Guess my band made up the decision for me - to actually have surgery and start from scratch, rather than continue on with a less than optimal band. If you have abdominal pain, please don't be a hero - get it checked before 4 days. Before the pain is so out of control you just want to die. Wish me luck in waiting till after my cruise. I can't cancel it and take another - they just don't work that way. Looking forward to being on the cruise without an restrction at all! I know, I know - still have to follow the rules so I don't gain 40 lbs back. Marci

Exactly! I tell my husband I'm sick of eating and he says "How can you be sick of eating?". It takes alot of work to first cut up ur tiny little bites, then chew the crap out of them! I usually get sick of eating before I actually get full. Marci

I drink a glass of wine or a margarita about 3-4x a month. The first glass of wine I had post op (about 3 mths later), I was tipsy at about 1/2 a glass! After the first glass tho, it didn't affect me that way again. I add it into my daily calorie intake. Marci

WTG!! Doesn't it feel great? I'm now in a 10 (from an 8 last year) cuz of some gain, but I WILL fit back into those 8's soon! Congrats! Marci

WTG! Amazing! Now you know thats only the first week, right? Just like on The Biggest Loser, the first week is always the biggest. You will start losingmore slowly now!! Congrats! Marci

The day after surgery, I started walking about 5 minutes at a time on my treadmill. really slowly. About every 4 hrs or so. Then, after a few days, worked it up to 10 minutes several times a day. Within a month post op, I was able to walk 30 minutes twice a day, at a moderate pace. Just go slowly, but keep walking. Not only will it help with the gas, it can prevent blood clots! Marci

My guidelines were: *No pre op diet whatsoever. Was told to eat a light dinner the night before *4 weeks of full liquid *Regular diet as tolerated. No mushies or soft food 7 weeks is an awfully long time to get real food. But as others have said, follow your own drs recommendations... Marci

Don't forget that you can't drink while eating. That makes spicy food a problem for me. I still eat it (and crave a drink of Water for the full 45 minutes afterwards!) Spicy food should be fine for your band. The food doesn't actually come into conatct with the band. Marci

My dr says no food for 2 hrs prior. But I go on an empty stomach, scientifically it makes more sense. They can tighten the band tighter around an empty stomach (IMHO) Marci

Mine is on my left side, about 6" lower than my breast. It's very pronounced now that I've lost a bunch of weight. My husband says it's my littler "alien"! Marci

Everytime I get a fill, around my port is sore and bruised for a couple days. Not bad, not even enuf for Tylenol. Just bothersome. The time the dr had to poke me 12 times was a HUGE bruise and hurt a little more! If they don't offer (most do), ask for some lidocaine. It'll be a tiny, tiny needle that will numb the area for the bigger fill needle. My dr automatically does this. Marci

It took me 4 mths to get there too (3rd fill). I lost about 75 lbs the first year, 25 lbs the 2nd. The last few are definitely the hardest to get off! Hope that answers your question Marci

I've seen it 3x today. What the heck?? Marci

I'm with toomuchfun...it took 4 mths till my 3rd fill to finally feel it. I didn't lose but maybe 3 lbs during this time cuz I ate just as I had pre band. Patience is the key. Some people it takes from 2-6 fills before they feel any kind of difference at all. It WILL happen. Relax and follow all your rules... Marci

I saw this on 19 Kids and Counting (the Duggars). They do this. With 19 kids, I guess you have to pinch every penney you can! Marci

I was so happy to finally shop in Old Navy again! When I was in a 14 (down from 22), I was ecstatic. When they started hanging off me, I went straight to a 10, skipping right over the 12's - WOW! So, yes, I know the feeling! Get rid of those jumbo clothes today! That way you don't have a choice of gaining it back! Marci