kareyquilts

Dr. S: Hi, it's been a while since I've posted on here. I'm going to pm you soon about an idea I have, but right now I'm trying to get my health up to speed. My lap band has prolapsed and I've recently been diaganosed with lymphedema. My orthopediac doctor sent me to a specialist (had knee surgery in December). When I went to see the occupational therapist she said that I probably developed the problem because of the liposuction and thigh and butt lift that I had in October. With that background in mind, I'm wondering how common this complication is? I'm not trying to place blame and it doesn't matter which procedure caused the problem, but I'm wondering why my ps didn't recognize it. How do you know when you have swelling from the procedure and when it becomes abnormal swelling? The therapist said that this will be a life long issue for me with compression stockings, special exercises etc. Do you know if that is true? My husband thought that the lymph tissue could repair itself in time? I'm not looking forward to a hot summer wearing nylons all the time. If there is no cure, why bother with it? I wanted to get my inner thighs done and the lymph specialist said that it would only complicate my lymphedema. What is your opinion on all of this? Is lymphedema a common complication of liposuction and plastic surgery? Should I seek help from my plastic surgeon or would he only refer to a specialist in this area?

Juli: It is a tough surgery. I totally understand, but you made it through and everyday will get better. When I had my LBL, I had some incisions open so I had to have bed rest for almost a month. I thought I would go mental, but now I have a waist and a nice tight butt (even if I do say so myself). It was well worth the pain, but it's certainly not for sissies! Thanks for sharing your experiences, it will help others. Hugs!

Susan: What a pain for you. So sorry. My guess would be that your old time surgeon didn't like you going to Mexico for you last surgery? Whatever the reason, so sorry for the hassle. It's not what you need when you're not feeling well. Wishing you the best! Ruthi: Congratulations on your upcoming surgery date.

Ivansmom: So sorry about your slippage and losing your band. This is my second slip and I am upset about it too. I didn't realize how much my band was helping me regulate my food intake until I got another unfill. Baah! I will find out on May 6 if my band has miraculously gone back into place. If not, I plan on getting a sleeve in June. I have gone back and forth about what I would do, but I have finally decided. The sleeve has a lot of advantages. There are no fills for one thing! It is a restrictive procedure and it doesn't interfere with digestion or cause malabsorption. Removing a large portion of the stomach removes the ghrelin hormone and so your appetite goes down or away. The down side is that they remove a large portion of your stomach! It's a more difficult procedure than the band and there aren't as many doctors that know how to perform it yet. It costs about $10 to 15,000. If you go to the home page of Lapband Talk you will find a section on revision and alternative surgeries and there is an entire section on the vertical gastric sleeve. The people on the threads there are very nice and really know their stuff. If I have to have the procedure, I'll probably start a thread on there just to get some support. Wishing you the best with your decision, let me know if I can help in any way.

Thanks for the information. A soft diet gives you lots of options. It doesn't sound too bad!

Susan: I did notice you were gone, but just thought you were busy, so sorry to hear of your gallbladder problems. I had several gall bladder attacks before I finally agreed to surgery. It was extremely painful. I went on the medication that Elisabeth suggested for over a year after my first attack and the stones never changed, but they were large stones. Multiple surgeries suck, especially when you had to have 2 surgeries for your sleeve. Sending you hugs!

Elisabeth: I'm supposing that your doc gave you a list of "soft foods?" I'm wondering how tuna salad is soft? Did you blend it? Is it because it is juicy? Just wondering, diet seems a little different than the band. Thanks.

Susan: How long does it take you to drink/eat something like the protien shake you described?

Jackie: Thanks for your input. Restriction is good and so is choice. I know from having the band that cheating is always possible. Hope you enjoy this forum!

Tracysmom: Congratulations, very exciting news! You're going to love it!

May 6th is when I get another fluro to see if my band moved back into position. I'm not holding out a lot of hope, but if it has, I will probably mess with it a little longer.

Elisabeth: You are so right. It reminds that even though I am very near goal, stuff happens and I do think that I need a tool and it seems that my band is not going to work for me any more. I'll know for sure May 6th. I do think that I'm going to get the sleeve. I don't think it's wrong to recognize that I need the help. Maybe, I should look it as I'm strong enough to know what I can and can't do. You're doing great. Thanks for the thoughtful feedback.

Lellow: Thanks for the pm. You're pictures look awesome. You're a beautiful woman. You are going to have a lot of fun clothes shopping, everything is going to look great! Enjoy the flatlands and keep on healing!

Head hunger is a very interesting phenemnon. Emotional eating is also another issues. What have you all found to replace food, when you feel upset? I think it would be a wonderful miracle to feel full on a small amount of food. Getting my mind to also be satisfied is going to be a skill that I will really need to develop and work on. I have always been a volume eater, probably why I did pretty good with the lapband (120 pounds lost). But I still have many many food issues. It really is tiring some times to deal with. Glad to know that at some point everyone feels more normal with there eating. Not sure why all of this is pysching me out so much! Anyway, glad for your openess and willingness to share.

Mac: You said that going to regular food was harder, because you expected things to be normal and they weren't. How were they different? Are they back to normal yet?

Juli: I, too, remember how happy I was that I had done so many squats. It really helps to get up and down when you can use your quads and gluts. I bet the arms feel a lot better nw, don't they?!

Jackie: Hi! I'm a pre-op. I currently have a slipped band (2nd time), I am trying to decide if I should get the sleeve for maintance. I have pretty much decided that this is what I will do. What are your issues since you almost to goal? How is your hunger? Do you find it easy to eat around the band? Do you exercise? Just wandering how life is for you with the banbd? Thanks!

Good luck with your decisions! I wish you the best!

I happy your on to full liquids, you're making me dread the clear liquids part, but I guess it all goes by quickly! Glad you're feeling better.

Okay Lellow, I feel so honored to be on your list and reallly want to see your pics, but I don't know how to find your album. I know it must be obvious since everyone else is commenting on your wonderful results. Could you please let me in on the secret? Thanks! Glad you're up and even got out on an outing!

Juli: Glad you survived. The arms are hard to deal with, but they will feel much much better very soon! Enjoy the numbing effects of the drugs and rest as much as you can. It will all be better in a few days! Welcome to the flatlands!

Elizabeth: Enjoy your tomato soup tomorrow!

Brit: I am in a similar situation to you, but I have slipped twice (had it replaced once) and waiting to see if my band goes back into place. I've also lost 120 pounds, but without a fill, my appetite has really picked up. I have appreciated my band, but takes an incredible amount of dedication and determination to make it work. I know that everyone on this thread will encourage you to go for the VSG and it could very well be the way to go. I might be heading that way myself. It is a very big decision. Are you just sick and tired of trying to deal with it? The fills and the dependence on your doc's cooperation can be a real pain. Losing most of stomach could be too. Maybe you should give yourself some kind of timeline to sort it all out? If that seems too diffiuclt or you feel too fed up than maybe you are ready for the sleeve?! I wish you the best and will be following your journey!

Elizabeth: Thanks for the daily updates. I find it very comforting to see the normalcy of it all. I hope that makes sense. It's making feel that I can do it and I appreciate that so much!

Serious: It sounds like you have a good attitude and will adapt and learn the things that you need to to be successful. I remember when I first got the band and started on mushies. The nurse told me to eat 4 TBPs if I could, but if I felt full to stop. I never felt full, but I thought what a miracle if I could feel full on 4 tbp of food. I guess you're experiencing that miracle.