Hey 50 & over gang We have a new spot

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I am having a revision because I am tired of the band. I am tired of fills and unfills. I have had a hard time finding restriction. I am either too tight or too loose. I was perfect for about a year and all of a sudden, I started having problems and have had problems ever since. I keep hearing about complications from people who have had their band for several years. I just want it out. With the sleeve, I will have surgery and be done with worrying about restriction or any future complications.

I got tons of Protein, took Biotin, did everything anyone ever told me to avoid Hair loss, and still lost half my hair.

I think surgery is just a shock to ones's system and that is what causes it. Some people say anesthesia can cause it too.

[Lizalee 1]

Good morning everyone. It's finally a beautiful spring day here in Wisconsin. We even have some green grass sprouting! It seemed like it would never come.

Mis Leanne - read your posts a few pages back, and it really struck home with me. I did great until last Christmas, when I moved and my lifestyle changed. I had a small fill in November and it was too much I think. I started eating junk food over the holidays and couldn't stop. When I tried to eat more healthy foods - lean meats and vegetables, they'd easily get stuck. This went on until recently. My band has been getting 'tighter' and I've had more PB's.

So on Monday I have an apt to see surgeon and get a little unfill - hopefully that will allow me to eat more good food choices and I will have to do my part and skip the junk food. I'm optomistic! Butyour post on stretching the stomach and espophagus is a good incentive to me to take care of my band and organs! That's exactily what I'm afraid of - I think I"ve stretched my pouch, and the constant pressure of cramming food in my esophagus I have done (which results in vomiting;PB's) can't be good. Thanks for sharing.

I didn't have those problems before my last fill, so I"m hoping by going back a bit I can get back into the groove.

I have done good this past week, and lost back the few pounds that I had gained over the past 5 months. With Spring here, I am able to get out more. Spent a few hours yesterday reclaiming an old flower garden area from the weeks that the previous owner had neglected. (They put landscaping fabric down, and then mulch. But the field weeds have reclaimed, and now it's 10X the work to rip that fabric out underneath!)

Oregondaisy: good luck with your surgery. When is it? I know that you have throught this through and it's the right decision for you. I sometimes wonder if that wouldn't have been a better choice for me. However, for me, cutting away tissue is non-reversable, so if things go bad, you can't go back like you can with the band. In my job, I deal with medical cases that go bad, so that's just toooo scarey for me! Who knows? Maybe I will be in your shoes several years from now.

I have a new shortterm goal - and I'm 4 pounds closer now- only 36 pounds to go! That makes me happy.

Spring is a new beginning for the plants outside - and I feel like it's a new start for me too.

Elayne - FINALLY you're a banster! Persistence does pay off! Congratulations and welcome to bandland!

Orea - I read way back you have had appendix surgery and have been through quite an oreal. Hope things are going well!

Well, I'm off to watch the girls ride and pull out some more landscape fabric. DH is going to finish rototilling the veggie garden (hasn't been cared for in several years - completely overgrown and quite a job to get it tilled up). Gonna be a very busy day!

Happy Spring.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Cutting away tissue that is not reversible is exactly what I want. I think having too large of a stomach has done nothing but bring me misery all these years. Now I will have permanent restriction for the rest of my life. Isn't that what we were seeking with banding? I was happy when my fill was at the right level when I was happy with small portions.

[Elayne 0]

I'm still sore but not in pain.

The advantage is that I get "excused" from some housework - like pushing that awkward monster Dyson around and up the endless steps of my old Vic.

I just HAVE to get out of this house - and I mean further than the porch!

My husband and I have shelved the separation for a few months so we can take the afternoon off together with very little threat of an argument (or two or five or twenty)

and skip the ice-cream stop.

I haven't tested the band yet - sip sip sip instead of glug glug glug.

Made applesauce last night - only added cinnamon.

Jeesh - I takes more time to prepare fresh apples and puree them than to grow the dang things.

Absolutely LOVE my homemade hummus -

any no-nos about this??

Re-opened my 3 online stores (lolabear, squirrelsintheattic, needleworkattic on ETSY) and made 1 sale already in the Needlework Attic which is my de-stash of all things needlework.

Stitches are getting itchy and the bruises are turning green and yellow - that's a good sign.

About hair -

I started taking Biotin supplements weeks before surgery and I also use the Sally brand Nutri-Ox for chemically treated hair - which is their version of nioxin.

It's minty and pleasantly tingly - apparently it cleans and stimulates the scalp for optimum re-growth and strengthens the existing hair.

The results are not evident until 3-6 months after starting use.

Here's a good article;

Hair treatments: nioxin benefits and uses

[lynnt1215 1]

Elayne- looks like you are right on track with your post-op. Green is good, and itshing is common, I felt like itching all the time. The surgi-strip over the stitches were a mess and couldn't wait for them to fall off. I admit, I did give them a little help after the first week..

Great to hear things are going well

[Texasgal09 0]

Hi everyone 50+..........

I had my lapband surgery on 3/16, and I have lost about 28 lbs. I hope all of you are doing well. I fell this past week and I think it tugged on the realizeband port which is clamped onto the muscle. I am really sore with some sharp pains shooting around my left side, so I am going to check in with my surgeon tomorrow.

I am 56 and obviously clumsy

I live in the Dallas area and Dr. Hamn was my surgeon. Has anyone else gone to him?

I only had a couple of minutes to post something. Will check in later...........

Let's keep in touch!

[jbflorida 1]

Good to be back! Hope everyone is well and happy. I have maintained my weight loss since Oct....and I am feeling healthy and strong. I have never regretted the band for one second!

Next Monday (4/27) I am going to have plastic surgery and I am nervous!!! I am having an arm lift and while I am under, I thought, why not have the girls lifted? Thank goodness, my stomach came back to "flat."---well, flat for a middleaged gal!

Anyone get their arms done? Would love to hear your stories, comments, etc.

Judy

[lynnt1215 1]

Good to be back! Hope everyone is well and happy. I have maintained my weight loss since Oct....and I am feeling healthy and strong. I have never regretted the band for one second!

Next Monday (4/27) I am going to have plastic surgery and I am nervous!!! I am having an arm lift and while I am under, I thought, why not have the girls lifted? Thank goodness, my stomach came back to "flat."---well, flat for a middleaged gal!

Anyone get their arms done? Would love to hear your stories, comments, etc.

Judy

I am looking forward to a Tummy Tuck, I was not as fortunate to get back to a somewhat flat area. In fact it looks like ihave 2 stomachs, a lower (apron) and an upper. Have gotten my quotes and sen the surgeon, just waiting to make appointment to get it done, sometime before October, I hope

Look forward to hearing how things progress in your recovery..

[livn4jesus 0]

My dear friends, yes, you found me out, I have been cheating you. :-) over at FB. I have been keeping up on all things great and small. I have also had a really bad time with a molar that had root canal in and then have to have it pulled. Ater that sucker got pulled, I can't tell you the last time I had such pain. For few days I just laid in bed with the good drugs untill I felt better. Now, today, I am not feeling good. I have just developed severe refux/indigestion and a pain under my right breast that goes around my waist into my back. I don't feel well. I'm wondering if it's gallbladder. Now, I am feeling nauseated. I'll call the surgeons office tomorrow.

Gods Blessings,

Susan

[livn4jesus 0]

Just checking my new ticker

[Elayne 0]

About hair loss again -

(I'm no expert - but just passing along some stuff I heard from a beautician/bander);

NO BLOW DRYERS!

or heated straighteners or curlers or any of those heat things.

And a question or two -

I haven't "tested" the band yet although I get a few NON-productive burps.

I forgot to sip and took several strong swallows of my AM coffee and NOTHING happened.

My weight hasn't budged from 190 - 191 since several days after surgery (a week ago today!)

I know I'm eating (er . . . drinking) far less than the 800 cals prescribed and most of that are Protein drinks.

Of course the band isn't inflated yet - but is this normal?

And -

When I turn 60 on 12/31 can I still hang out here??

[hollyberry8 0]

Good Morning, it is beautiful sunshine here. Lol, now that I know you all a little better I watch to see how the weather is in your locations.

LizaLee I enjoy your posts. We all are more alike then different. Done that landscape fabric pulling out thing, it is a pain…

Good luck Judy from Florida on next Monday. I think I might have that done someday. I will be watching for your posts.

Susan I saw you on face book. I am worried about your Pain, hopefully you got an appointment today… Left side heart right side gallbladder. But still could be either one. Not to be taken lightly. Keep us posted.

Elayne, congrates on the Band yes gulping liquids did not bother me in the least until this last fill. Thanks for the hair treatment site and updates.

I had my fourth fill last week and I think this is pretty tight. The pa even had to take .5 cc out cause I couldn’t swallow Water. It was very interesting… Back on solids now chew and slow is how it is. A lot of times as I am chewing I realize this bite I can not swallow(I don‘t)…. But I am like Janet if I pb it is a short lived and doesn’t go on for more than a few minutes. Thank goodness!!

Every one have a good day!!

Holly

April exercise 11/20

Banded 1/29/09

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[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Elayne, you can hang out here just as long as you want!

And yes, it's normal to not lose weight for a few days or even a few weeks. Sometimes it just takes the body time to adjust to the new weight before it decides it's going to let anymore go.

[JoannMarie 0]

About hair loss again -

(I'm no expert - but just passing along some stuff I heard from a beautician/bander);

NO BLOW DRYERS!

or heated straighteners or curlers or any of those heat things.

And a question or two -

I haven't "tested" the band yet although I get a few NON-productive burps.

I forgot to sip and took several strong swallows of my AM coffee and NOTHING happened.

My weight hasn't budged from 190 - 191 since several days after surgery (a week ago today!)

I know I'm eating (er . . . drinking) far less than the 800 cals prescribed and most of that are Protein drinks.

Of course the band isn't inflated yet - but is this normal?

And -

When I turn 60 on 12/31 can I still hang out here??

I sure hope they let you hang out here. I'm 66 and they are all kind enough to let me hang around! After all, it just says 50 and over. We are over. (but not done!)

Please don't worry about your weight right now. You are healing, still lots of swelling going on (hence the non-productive burping, etc.), and your stomach is learning a new process as you are learning how to feed it. Just follow surgeon's food requirements and resist the temptation to test the band. The healing phase is very important. Most of us don't experience much weight loss in the first few weeks - after your first fill you may have more success, but sometimes it takes a couple of fills for good restriction. Be patient with yourself and your band.

and good luck!

[flowers 0]

Hi, Iv been back from my last cruise a week now, but still getting my weight back under control. I did have a fellow cruiser take a picture of me in Roatan. I still have a fat baby round face, but sure a lot better than I used to be. Calling this a progress picture.