Mia26

I am going in for a tummy tuck and mid back lift on Dec 17 and don't know if I should get an unfill or not. I am currently at 6.5cc. When I called to schedule an unfill the lady didn't seem to think it was neccessary. She was more worried about making sure I watch out cause I'm not going to have any restriction. What did other folks do?

Thanks! I am not quite at my sweet spot that's why I don't feel is neccessary to get an unfill....I think I'm going to stay with my current state and see what happens. Folks say you don't have an appeptite for the first week of recovery anyway so I'll just go on a liquid diet....

Hi All! My 1 year was Sept 3rd! I'm down 100 lbs and have tapped out at 6.5 cc in a 10cc band. I have done 2 unfills this year with the most recent at 7cc. I have come to a stand still in my weight loss but that is partly my fault. I have not been to the gym in 2 months. I am however due to have a tummy tuck and mid back lift Decemeber 17 and I am SUPER excited!!! I apologize I haven't read all the postings but are there any other September bandsters looking into Plastic surgery? I still want to lose 30-40 more pounds before the surgery so I can completely go into maintanance phase!

Hi All, I am moving to Chicago in the next couple of weeks and was wondering if I could get any recommendations for lap band surgeons or centers to continue getting my fills. Also, I am looking to get a tummy tuck in December and want to know of any plastic surgeon recommendation in the Chicagoland area. Thanks for your help and advise!!

Thanks everyone!!! I am going to be living on the North side of chicago (near Evanston). I am going to have one more fill before I move up so that should last me until I choose one of your references! I'm willing to travel anywhere within IL for the right surgeon. I'm willing to travel for plastic surgery too but with this new job starting, I don't want to take too much time away in Dec (2 weeks out of work tops). I honestly wish I could go with the Plastic surgeon through my orginial lap band office group in Virginia. I will check out the PS that some of you recommended and pray they are a good fit for me otherwise, I may have to make the trip back down here. Thanks for the welcome! I'm orginially from Chicago so it's going to be sooooo GREAT to come back home PLUS I'm hoping to get my mom to go through the surgery too so I will be researching for the both of us! Thanks again and if you have any more suggestions please fill free to let me know!

I've had 2 fills and I am currently at 4.5cc. I can't tolerate rough meats, bread, pasta or rice. I didn't even notice I was at 2 1/2 hours until I counted it up one day. I usually go in knowing that I have to do 30 mins on elliptal, 30 mins on treadmill and 1 hour on bike with 30 minutes of lifting...didn't dawn on me that I was working out for that long. I only do the lifting for 2-3 days though...depending on my soreness! I thought about the biggest loser but I could never do as much as they do (they work out 8 hours a day!)!! Jillan has them throwing up the 1st day!!!

Hi Bostonlady, I had my surgery on September 3rd. I am currently down 71 lbs. (20 lbs on pre-op liquid diet). I am currently at 4.5cc in a 10cc band. I have stalled 1 week here and there and I think I figured out a trick to move the scale. I currently do 4-5 days of 120 minutes cardio (elliptical, treadmill & bike) and 30 minute upper body strength training. I consume 600-800 calories. Since my last fill I have not been able to tolerate bread, pasta or rice. When I do not see results on the scale, I consume 100 less calories for 1 day then consume 300-500 calories more for 2-3 days then I go back to my regular calorie count on the 4th day. Along with my workout routine, I see the scale move (down of course!) I also switch up my work out routine to make sure my body its getting use to it. Stay Focused! I’ve also gained since surgery but I refuse to let it deter me and keep doing my routine knowing that the pounds will go away! It’s a battle and the fat WILL NOT win!!

I'm glad I found this thread! I was banded 9/3/09 and just developed soreness feeling next to the scar where my port is under...No vomiting so the nurse said not to worry and is guessing its my port. It hurts the most when I seat down for a long time (at my desk at work) and crunch my stomach to bend down (i.e no sudden movements). I have an appointment on 10/9 so I figure as long as it doesn't get worse, I can wait til then (doctor office is 50 mins away). One good thing is that it hasn't stopped me from my workouts! I will keep you posted on what they say!

I am 5 days out and also have sharp pain in my left shoulder! It hurts when I seat down but doesn't hurt when I walk around or when I lay on my right side.. (weird!) Because of this it leaves me to assume its gas pain. I apply heating pad and then an ice pack and well as consistently massaging my shoulder hoping it will someday go away.

So I am on Day 4 of my 14 day Opti Fast liqud diet! I must say that as prepared as I thought I was this, I was no where near ready! My first mistake was not gradually getting myself off of foods. In fact the night before my liquid diet I pigged out (And I do mean PIG OUT) on some chinese food. So the next day when I was on liquids my body shut all the way down. Day 2 was just as bad. Day 3 was a little better and today I am wishing it was day 14 instead of 4!!:glare: I keep telling myself that I am not the first person to go through this and that millions have done the same (whether it was for surgery of other reasons!) I've also heard that it gets better have day 5-6 so I am so looking forward to those days. It's gotten so bad that I don't want to go anywhere or watch anything that has food...which sadly leaves me with very little/ no options! How did you full liquid diet folks get through it or how are you currently coping??

I was wondering if there were anyone bandsters in their 20's? What has been your experience thus far? Have you shared the news with most people? When was your surgery date? What has been some of your goals? etc... This site is very resourceful but just looking for people around my age who have are going through this life change! Hope you hear from you all soon!!!

GOOD LUCK September Bandsters!!!!!

WORK ON YOUR DIET!!!! Especially if you have to do a pre-op liquid diet. Start decreasing your calorie intake now. Stop eating out alot (if you already do) this will help with withdrawals! GOOD LUCK!!

Congrats on all your weight loss!!! What's Concentric dilatation??

I was wondering if there were anyone soon-to-be bandsters in their 20's? What has been your experience thus far? Have you shared the news with most people? When is your surgery date? What are some of your goals? etc... This site is very resourceful but just looking for people around my age who have are going through this life change! Hope you hear from you all soon!!!

Hey Startin 09! I am also seeking counseling as I go through this process. I am 26 and have never been "Skinny" or a "healthy size" so I want to keep reflecting with someone so I don't lose my identity through this journey. YAY Mccall we're surgery twins! My mom is upset because I don't want to tell my brothers or father but I figure I will tell them once its over and I start seeing results. I live and work in MD but my hometown is in Chicago so when I go back for Christmas it will seem like a gradual weightloss for my friends and family. With you being from a small town I can see why your more hesitate to share with anyone... Its not that I am ashamed of the procedure, I am just cautious of the ignorant people that have their negative opinions about the surgery and the people to choose to do it. Let's keep each other posted!!!!

Oh Armywife2009 14 lbs is amazing! CONGRATS! Have you been working out as well? I want to get into the gym by Monday only if I have the energy (very weak right now on this liquid diet!) Thursday will be here before you know it! GET EXCITED!!!!

Hey Vinny09! Congrats on the 15 lbs loss!!!! Wow you have the same weight loss goal as me. I hope to lose 15-20 per month as well! I'm also glad to hear that you recovered well from surgery! When did you start working out again? My Doc is warning me not to get on the ellipical until 5-6 weeks out... Please keep us posted on your progress!

Hey The Cooley! I am on day 3 of my 14 day pre-op Optifast and let me just say I am struggling! I hear it gets better after day 4 so I'm very hopeful!! I haven't shared my decision with alot of people. A couple of friends and family members(2 aunts and my mom). Just had a wonderful conversation with my mom today and she is in full support of me (FINALLY) although she is still very nervous about the surgery. Let me know when your surgery date gets confirmed!!!

I have my pre-op testing tomorrow (Thursday). It consist of... (reading straight from my lab orders) blood work - BHCG(Qualitative) - CBC w/ Diff - Comprehensive Chemistry (CMP) - H. Pylori - Liver Panel - PT/PTT - T3, T4, TSH - Urinalysis - B12, Ferritin, Vit D 25 Hydroxy Chest PA and Laterial, UGI and physical from my primary care physician. From there I have a meeting with my surgeon on Friday to discuss my results! Praying everything is okay and that I am good to go for surgery. Good Luck!

Thanks for the info!

Hey Everyone, My pre-op testing is set for this Thursday and I am soooo nervous!! I have made myself nervous throughout this whole process (with insurance coverage, getting my ideal surgery date, and now with getting medical clearance for surgery!) Guess I'm just looking for some reassurance that everything will go well. I see the surgeon on Friday so at least it will be a fast turn-around

I agree, switch to another doctor. Surgeon's office should know the in's and out's of insurance companies and should be willing to go to bat for their patients! Is there a particular reason you choose this surgeon?

I began my 6 month class in Feb. Submitted to insurance July 24th (Surgeon's office was suppose to submit on July 16th!) I did have to call my insurance company every other day. BC/BS of Maryland state it could take upto 2 weeks and that's just as long as they took for me! I have a feeling that if I had not followed up with insurance as much as I did, I would still be waiting! They actually tried to tell me to wait until next Wednesday but I said they gave me a deadline and they had to stick to it, Friday was the 14th day and I needed an answer! My advice, get a timeline and force both surgeon and insurance to stick to it! GOOD LUCK!!!

Yeah they told me I would have to do the 2 week opti fast. I have started to clean out my kitchen in prep for it! Yeah I have a lot of weight to lose but given my height (5'10) and age I was told that the I could look to lose lots on the liquid diet which in turn will hopefully give me the energy to get into the gym after I get clearance post-op!