Band2gether� Lap Band Forums and Support Groups

help... i think skmeghinv is wrong

tmr — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:11:30 GMT

Can the port move? This morning I bent over and Gog a sharp pain in my stomach around. My port area. It has hurt off and on all day. Tonight it has really sent sharp pains periodically and my incision there seems. To be dipping inwardly like its being pulled some. Is this normal or should I worry?
Sorry I cant. Type on my kindle... I meant something is wrong ;) my fingers get happy!

What does this mean?

Serenity55 — Sun, 13 May 2012 22:04:38 GMT

Hi,

For the past couple of days, I've been getting something
in my posts. When I write the post, I double space to indicate a new thought, or paragraph, I guess, but when the post is submitted, there are no paragraphs. What is it? Did I inadvertently do something I shouldn't have? I edit the posts to take the
out, and fix the paragraphs, but I shouldn't have to do that, right? Please help!

Debbie

OMG - I've done it and am at GOAL!!!!

Overlvl — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:02:30 GMT

Holy Cow!! Didn't think I'd ever really get it done, but I got on the scale this morning and I am 1 LBS below my goal. I'm wearing 8's, last summer's clothes are big on me and it is a little shocking. Had surgery 3 1/2 years ago, lot's of plateaus but I haven't had a fill in two years, went through some tough times but I'm here. Now, my mind is wandering to that tummy tuck ...

Not a very frequent poster these days but I knew I could come "crow" a little here and everyone here would totally get it!

And the kicker is - can't figure out how to get my ticker to move :neener: so I guess I'll be 10 lbs from my goal forever LOL!

Surgery date soon

max201 — Wed, 09 May 2012 01:27:40 GMT

I am scheduled to have my lapband surgery on May 24th and I am having mixed emotions. I am excited to see if this will work for me, but at the same time am really scared about the surgery. Does anyone have any advice?

banded april 30,2012

tmr — Sat, 05 May 2012 01:46:24 GMT

I was just banded 4/30. I'm so nervous but even more excited. Ive been doing a lot of reading on here and see there are terms I don't understand... what does Pb mean? Thanks and I'm already loving this site.

Thinlife Surgical Weight Loss- Sudbury, ON Canada

Bandster05 — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:31:29 GMT

I'm not seeing too much information from Canada here- so I thought I would start a thread. I'm from Northern Ontario- we have a clinic called Thinlife Surgical Weight Loss. They are located in Sudbury, ON. My surgeon was Dr. Ravinder Singh. He was wonderful. All of the staff are. Extremely professional and very supportive. The program they have includes everything from seeing a nutritionist and personal trainer to group support meetings and an online component. I had my surgery 11 months ago and am down almost 65 pounds- my goal is 70 pounds for my 1 year! I am just new to this forum and look forward to chatting with more people who have also been banded!

Protein question... any thoughts are appreciated!

lemonzlime — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:48:52 GMT

I have been noticing this for quite a while, just thought I'd see if anyone else has experienced this or know why. I can drink water, tea, crystal light perfectly, goes down smooth (as liquid should) BUT when I drink a protein shake even if its thin, it doesn't go down smoothly, its almost like it hangs up (not to the point of throwing up) but as if it's more a thick shake. I didn't know if its the protein in the shake itself that sends some sort of message when swallowing that 'hey, I'm more then just water'.

I don't have a problem drinking the shake, just wondering if 'protein' makes a difference when swallowing the liquids.

Just curious! :) Thanks

Newbie, gearing up for lifechanging year!

Tru-Brit — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:11:09 GMT

Hi everyone, I'm Rachel: I'm 10 days away from completing insurance requirements and anticipate surgery within 2-3 weeks after that. Have enjoyed doing extensive research on lapband and getting very excited about the opportunity to make such an enormous change in my life. I have 110lbs to lose and intend to devote myself to following all the rules. Have had numerous leg, feet, back joint problems and this will certainly take a load off them. Lots to learn and I'm looking forward to hearing about other people's journeys too. Pleased to e-meet you all!

New...need help

Vickiw — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:37:26 GMT

:sad: so....I guess I have a long story....in may of 2010 I had a lap band placed and went from 280lbs to 180lbs....I was so much happier but of course still wanted to better me. In July of 2011 I found out I was having a baby! Yay...but subsequently got sick with all the yucky vomiting etc. in November I became really ill, I was unable to eat or even swallow water. So after a week of starvation (with an empty band), the surgeon went in to remove my band because it had slipped and being that I was pregnant didn't want to risk the baby. So I had my band removed :-(....I have since had a very healthy baby boy...but I think it has finally sunk in that my weight is steady going up and I feel out of control. My new insurance does not cover the lap band....I can't afford it. I went from 180 to 230 where I am now. I was told I could have the band replaced after I had the baby....and I wish I could. I guess I just need someone to talk about this bcuz no one understands what I am going thru.....my husband keeps telling me that I don't need the band and just do p90x...and I do work out, a lot...if it would have worked out in the beginning I wouldn't have ever needed the band right? I am so scared...

MAY Exercise Challenge

MoOrLess — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:00:30 GMT

JOIN US!!!!

MAY Exercise Challenge!

Come join in for support and encouragement. This works!
It's easy, just check in and post your progress.
Whether you check in daily to list each workout or sum
everything up once a week, it helps with accountability.

Everyone is welcome!

Purple � 5-7 sessions � under 30 minutes � giving your all
and working as hard as you can for as long as you can.
Green - 5-7 sessions of at least 30 minutes
Bronze � 8-14 sessions of at least 30 minutes
Silver � 15-18 sessions of at least 30 minutes
Gold � 19-23 session of at least 30 minutes
Platinum - 24+ sessions of at least 30 minutes

Port and Tubing Question

sweetknee — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:41:08 GMT

Hello fellow bandys !

As most of you know (since I LOUDLY) announced it, I have reached my goal weight. I have even lost a couple more pounds, and I am still working out regualrly. I can get a really good workout in now since I am 115 pounds lighter, and my trainer is working me HARD !

Here's my question. I have always been able to feel my port, and sometimes, it even moves a little, which my doc's PA said was not that unusual, and not to worry about fixing it unless they could not access it. ( I am at my sweet spot, so no need for a fill, and they accessed it just fine last time).

Anyway, last night, I felt my port ( It's kinda the middle of my left side). I happened to move my hands upward a little ( and kinda diagonally), and I SWEAR that I can feel a ridge, that I think is the tube ! I dont have a similar ridge on the other side, so it must be the tube. I can "follow" it with my fingers, but after about 1.5-2 inches, it "disappears" into my abdomen.

I have really been working out my abs, and don't have much fat there anymore, so I am just wondering if that's why I can feel it now, and whether or not that's a problem. It doesn't hurt or anything, but it freaked me out.

What do y'all think ?

Sweetknee Kelli

Literally, starting over.

LapBandBunny — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 05:22:10 GMT

Hi Everyone,

I am literally starting over. I've gone into more detail about my situation on my blog, but the take away is: My doc was behaving badly, and I had to fight to get my records and find a new doc. This took 18 months, during which time I had NO FLUID in my band.

Today, I received a fill under flouro. 4 cc's in my 13 cc band. I feel like I just had surgery (mentally) since it has been so long since I've used the tool implanted inside of me. I have all the things I need for the next few days and am so happy to be getting back on track.

Another hurdle I've been dealing with for the last few months has limited most of my mobility. I have a torn labrum in my right hip, which has been excruciating until the last couple of weeks. I had an injection into the hip joint, and things are getting better so I am going to start walking (slowly) for exercize and will work up from there. I've also been swimming on the weekends, which is my favorite form of exercize.

So happy to be back, doing what you do. :)

Your fellow Bandster,
Nicole

Charleston Support

Remember2Play — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 19:54:24 GMT

If anyone in Charleston is looking for support, please let me know! I would like to get a group together to meet monthly for support and fun! :happy2:

feeling like a failure...

latisanava — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:21:10 GMT

i have my surgery in 3 days and i have cheated. i feel like such a failure, im scared they wont be able to do it now, what do i do ? plz help im freaking out

Long time no see!

Jachut — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:38:39 GMT

Hi guys, its Jachut (remember me?) :wink2:

I see a lot of familiar faces still around. I just thought I'd post a little update and let people know how well the band can still be working (not without challenges though) almost seven years out from surgery.

As some of you may know, in August 2010, I was diagnosed with rectal cancer. This was followed by major surgery to remove my rectum and fit me with temporary ileostomy - just what you want, achieve your dream body, and then have it ruined by having to wear a bag of poo on your stomach. Anyway, thankfully it was temporary, I had it nine months and reversed last July, bowel function is far from normal but I am everlastingly grateful to be continent and cancer free and not have that bag permanently.

I had to unfill for the surgery and chemotherapy, scared the life out of me. It also brought to a head a lot of eating, body and control issues which I am still working on, truly bordering on anorexia. Cancer is such a journey, and you lose all control over what is done to your body, particularly with it somewhere like your rectum, I've had some very humilating and invasive treatments, and my reaction to it was to control what I could - eating. At one point I was 120lb. I'm 5ft 10. I am back to a healthier 140 now.

Unfilling my band was an experience, I found it easy at first to maintain good habits, but when menopause kicked in (caused by pelvic radiation treatment) and my hormones plummeted, I developed the most intense sugar cravings, its how I regained the unhealthy lost weight. I knew it was time to refill - but I never got the same restriction back. A barium swallow revealed the development of a slight pouch above the band - pretty much the same thing as very very slight slippage caused by unfilling and the stupid crazy weight loss. Its not causing a problem, the band is stable, I've not got reflux or anyting so we're leaving it. I just cant get very "tight" which is no real drama for me.

Fast forward a bit and I returned to teaching - my very first teaching job was cut short by the diagnosis - at a new school, life was getting back to normal apart from issues with menopause and depression and stupid bowels and I was continuing to work at all these things. My nice flat belly was a bit wrecked by all the scarring, several hernias and just a general loosening, so my colorectal surgeon suggested a scar revision for the two major scars and sent me on to a plastic surgery. Well - here's the good bit - the "revision" turned out to be a full tummy tuck COVERED by our public health system as it was medically necessary. I'm sitting here three weeks out, swollen, sore and impatient to see my final results - at the moment its about 10 lb extra of fluid and no exercise for another three weeks - and you know how hard it is for me not to run. Yep, I'm still a dedicated runner (and a spinner and Body Pumper). I didnt have a bad tummy or lots of loose skin by a long shot but this is my reward for all I've been through and its going to look fantastic.

I've now kept my weight off for about four years give or take, every now and then I tend to lose a little more. Habits have returned, its much harder to avoid sweets, biscuits, cakes, alcohol etc and I can actually go out and eat quite a big meal now (although I ahve always kept that slight slippage in mind and do NOT push my band). But its still doable with good daily habits and exercise. The only thing I've found is that having the tummy tuck and being off the exercise has made all those anorexic tendencies surface again - Ive just finished with the psychologist and thought we had it back in its box and here I go again - its the lack of control issue.

But all in all, life is good now, I've beaten cancer for the time being (and hopefully for good), i've lost a ton of weight, I have a renovated body, and I'm working in a job I love.

Hope its jsut as great for all of you!

Here's a couple of before photos - sad belly button, and stoma scar (not very visible on the photo), port sticking out visibly and a low down twisted ugly scar that you cant see (I wasnt putting up naked pics, lol) with a big overhang and two giant inguinal hernias that looked like testicles.

Attachment 12565

Attachment 12566

and here's me today, three weeks after. Quite swollen, I havent got my normal muscle definition but I have a round belly button, wow! And my port is invisible, I cant believe it. Its stuck out like a walnut for seven years

Attachment 12567

Attached Images