kareyquilts

Just remember that you're the same good person, no matter what your weight. Good luck with your appointment. I hope you can get the insurance to pay, but it's worth it no matter how you have to get it. Keep us posted when you become a lapbander!

Luluc: Thanks for the reply. Treadmill is just as hard my knee right now. The doc said to use a bike or ellipical. It's the weight on the joint. I tried the walking sticks today and I think they helped, but I think I'm going to have to go to a spin class or something. I just have this very good friend who like to go walking. Maybe I can talk her into something different. We'll see. Ceradad: Sounds like your doing awesome. I'm so happy for you. Isn't it great when you can see the results of all that hard work! I went to pilates today and had an awesome work out, I'm still not back 100% from my surgery, but today, anyway, I could see that I can and will get there. I'm going to be traveling the last 2 weeks of June and then I'm going to have the big push to get the last 20 pounds off! I'm actually looking forward to it!

Adr: I have lost 95 pounds. It took me about 15 months to lose it. I want to lose 15-20 pounds more. I've gone from a size 22 to a size 8. I love my band. I feel like it has saved my life. I was pre-diabetic, had pulmonary hypertension and a bad knee. I feel like a new person. I don't wake up every day feeling bad about myself. That being said, the lapband is a great tool, but it is just that. I've had to watch what I eat and exercise. I exercise 6 days a week. But the band gave me the confidence and the structure that I needed. I knew that when I lost the weight it would be permanent. I committed to a new life style. Pretty scary, but the best thing I've ever done (beside marrying my husband and being a mother). You can learn more about me in the cosemtic surgery section on the thread entitled, "kareyquilts, tummy tuck, lipo, breast lift," etc. Let me know if I can help you.

I actually had my tummy tuck, lipo, etc. from a Brazilian plastic surgeon here in Utha. He is wonderful. I would recommend him to anyone with no reservations. His name is Renalto Saltz. You can google him and learn a little about him. His website isn't the best, but you'll get some idea.

This conversation made me remember that my friend went and bought some disposal pads to under me while I was in bed. I was bleeding a little (just a little, don't panic) from the lipo and the drains and kept soiling the sheets. The pads seemed to make everything feel cleaner and fresher. Towels would work also, just don't know if you want or care if you get a little blood on hotel towels. As far as cravings and appetite go, I didn't have much appetite for a week or so after surgery. I would just have the salt free crackers, jellos and puddings to take with your meds, maybe some canned broth or soups, tea, etc. I did enjoy a little rice pudding. Before you know your appetite will be back!

Thanks for starting the new thread! Walked 3 miles today. My knee is really bothering me and my ortho doc said to stop walking and start using the bike or the ellipitical. I walk with my friend everyday. It's really more social than for exercise. I'm very frustrated. Think I might try waking sticks before I stop walking altogether. I've heard they take pressure of the joints. Anyone know anything about this?

Godsend: So have you started using your machine? How do you like it? What did you have to pay for it? I would really like to buy a reformer, but I'm not sure I know enough to use it correctly yet. More info please!

I got my toliet seat riser at Rite Aid. Find a Walgreens or probably any pharmacy would have them.

BJean: You handle bed bugs with a sense of humor! Also, put all your things into plastic bags (so the little buggers can't breath) and then when you get home, wash everything in hot water. If you get bed bugs in your home, you need to take everything apart (they like to hide) and disenfect. In case your mattress in plastic for a while and call the exterminator. Thanks for your positive feedback. I'm off to work out.

Thanks! It was a great wedding. It sounds funny to say you have a son in the circus, but he's awesome. He juggles people on his feet and catches them. He also does a wild trampoline act and something called "banquine" which is kind of like human pyramids, where they jump up and out off each other up to 6 people high. He was our problem child and we're so thrilled that he has found himself. He's wonderful and what he does and loves it. Who could ask for anything more?

Sorry about the oversized pictures. I tried to resize them, save them as other formats and couldn't get them smaller. Very frustrating. If anyone can clue me in, I would appreciate it~:confused2:

I've finally caught my breath after the wedding. Started back with the trainer and pilates. The weight training is easier than the pilates. My new stomach muscles are very weak! I'v lost some strength and am probably lifting 10-15 pounds lighter than before the TT, but I know it will come back. We've got one more trip to see our son perform in Cirque du Soliel in Montreal and then in July I'm going to work VERY VERY hard to get the last 15 pounds off! I want to post some more after pictures and maybe a scar picture since it's been 3 months (can't believe it went so fast!), but since I haven't taken them yet, I thought I'd post a couple pictures of my DD at her wedding.

I agree with Aubrie. The band is a little fickle and needs babysitting. Go by the amount of food you can eat and the feeling of restriction that you have or don't have.

I also do pilates on the reformer and love it. I just had a low profile port put in 3 months ago, along with a tummy tuck. I started back to pilates this weeks and I have to say that it is harder than it was, and I do feel some pain at my new port site, but it's definetely doable and I know it will get better. The stomach muscles are very weak after the muscle repair with my tummy tuck, but I'll just keep plugging along. I'm going to google gyrotonics. Haven't heard of it in Utah!

Don't forget ice packs.

Mylapspirit: I had my pictures taken in front of the nurse, the PS wasn't there. That made it a little easier, but it is definetely not that fun. That being said, I'm getting much more comfortable standing nude in front of the doc and nurse, since I have had to it so many times (lots of check ups). It's worth the embarassament!

Frangipani: I would order a special pillow elevating pillow from Make Me Heal. It will help a lot. I would also bring a toliet seat riser. I couldn't have survived with out it and they are very inexpensive. Bring salt free crackers, little containers of jello and pudding to take your meds with. Make sure you have your pain meds filled before your surgery. I would bring a small bucket in case you are nauseated and some paper cups to empty your drains into. Consider an eye mask to block out the light, so you can rest better in the day. If the hotel doesn't have a DVD player, bring a small cheap one with the necessary cords and a supply of DVD's you want to get caught up on. By the time you are released from the hospital you will be over the worst of it and might be start getting bored. Check out this website for other ideas: Nourishing Don’ts: What Not To Eat Before & After - Make Me Heal Wish you both lots of luck. You are going to be so happy that you did this. Hope you have a lap top, so you can keep us all posted.

Gerry: I do think that lipo is sometimes done on the face and under the chin. I haven't had that, but I did have Thermage after I had lost about 50 pounds and had developed the jowls. It totally took care of my jowls. It made a huge difference. From what I understand, Thermage results are variable depending on how much collagen or elasten you have in your skin, but I found it to be a great treatment. It's uncomfortable to have done, but there is no down time and your face looks plumped up and nice afterwards. The total affect of the procedure can take up to 6 months, however, because it works on the underneath layers of your skin. I bet Dr. Schulman has some before and after pictures on his website. Check it out!

Dr. Schulman: You're the best! Thanks for answering my questions. It's obvious that you enjoy what you do. NYC is far away to go for a peel, but maybe not for a facelift! Your pictures are a great help too. So many decisions... When you lie down to look at the face, does that include what a neck lift would look like? This must be a tricky area, because I haven't seen too many that look that great afterwards (not that I've seen a lot)! I guess that my neck bothers me the most, a lot of crepey skin since I've lost weight. Sounds like I have options for the fine lines on my face, but surgery is probably the only option for the neck?!

Julie: I'm wondering if you would be a candiate for the Smart lipo? They use a laser and it's suppose to also tighten the skin. You might want to google it. My PS doesn't like it, but that doesn't mean it's not good!

Dr. Schulman: Thanks for the prompt response! Do you ever get any sleep? I'm wondering about doing some sort of ablative laser to get rid of all the fine lines on my face. Do you have any articles about this? My lines are fairly fine, would this be overkill? Can the laser be combined with a surgical facelift? Are there any long term consquences to an ablative laser? I know I'm asking alot of questions, please bear with me. A local dermatogoly office is advertising a fractional ablative laser. They are claiming that through a series of sessions you can get the same effect with less down time. It's really hard to sift through all these claims because of the profit motive. One last question (sorry, this may be too much). How do you know when you are ready for a surgical face lift? Can it be done too soon? Thanks!

Dr. Schulman: Thanks for the tips about bruising and the lycogel make up. I also read your article about non-surgical facelifts and found it to be very enlightening. Too bad you're so far from Utah! I had my touch up with Juvaderm yesterday. The ps filled in some more of the vertical lines on my lips. I went off all my vitamins, fish oil and aspirin for 2 weeks before. I still have some bruising and swelling. The bruises aren't black this time. I've been icing, using arnica, etc. I have some puckering and a bumpy spot on one side. How can I tell if this is an overfilled area or just some localized swelling?

Step: I have that same feeling about my thighs, once the tummy was gone! Glad you're doing better!

Julie: I just saw my PS yesterday for my 3 month check up. It goes fast, doesn't it?! He is going to do a little lipo on my upper tummy when I get my back side done. Of course, I would like to lose 20 more pounds, so I may not need the lipo when I go to get the back side done. It's really a process and it takes a lot more out of you than you think, doesn't it? I just finished a Pilates class and I really suck. I think I'm worse than when I first started pilates. The stomach muscles are so weak, but my instructor says that all of this is normal and I'll build back up soon. UGH! Anyway, glad you're doing better!

BBK: I'm 3 months post op and I still wear a compression garment when I exercise. I wore one everyday for the first two months and then started to wean myself off. It was more comfortable to wear one, not so many funny feelings in the tummy area. Good luck with everything. Sounds like your coming right along!