dragonflier
6/13/2009
WOW..........I hadn't realized how long it has been since I have been here! I had several messages to update my profile, so here goes. I have had many ups and downs with this weight loss. As you may have read, I had my band done in Mexico with Dr. Juan Lopez Corvala. I cannot say enough good things about him. He single handedly changed my entire life! I had 18 months of trying to find a Dr. in the US who would follow up with me. I finally found one in St. Louis, MO, but he charged $250 per fill and the drive was 3 hrs. one way for me. Sadly I gave up after 3 fills, bringing my total to 2.5 cc in a 4 cc band. Of course this barely gave me any restriction at all and I was able to continue eating pretty much as I had before the lap band surgery.The only change I noticed was that I was gravitating more towards fish and chicken because they were much easier to get down than pork or beef, so it was a bit healthier for me. Also I could rarely eat any type of bread, unless it was toast. No more yummy hot rolls for me. Sadly, I kept on going. I had lost down to 198 lbs, then 25 lbs crept back on over the next 2 yrs. I realized that I had not committed to this journey lightly and was going to have to do something to help my band, not hinder it!
I finally found a bariatric surgeon who agreed to complete my aftercare, he was local and my insurance covered all fees! In our first appt. he scheduled me for an upper GI to see the placement of my band and that all was well, no erosion, etc. That went fine. Our next appt. he gave me a fill of .2 cc's. I still didn't feel much restriction. The next month at a follow up appt. he gave me a .4 cc fill, bringing me to 3.1 cc's. This one I can feel! I have lost down to 192 lbs. at this point. That is 31 lbs. since I first saw him in April of this year. I want to mention here that I started out in women's size 24 jeans and now my 12's are falling off of me! :)
Now my surgeon ran into some problems, there are alot of rumors going around, so I am not sure what happened, but sadly he is no longer practicing! I have been assured by his office that they are diligently searching for a replacement for him and I will be scheduled as soon as one is found. As for now, I am eating considerably less than ever before in my life!
I had plastics done in May 2007. What a self confidence booster that was! I have to suggest that anyone thinking about having this lap band done should be putting back funds for plastics, you will need it! I have a friend who did the bypass surgery and she told me QUOTE "When I was obese I never wanted to date because I was afraid of a man seeing me naked, now that I have lost all this weight, I am STILL afraid of a man seeing me naked. All I am now is hanging flesh!"
My plastics were done by Dr. Alicia Sigler also in Tijuana Mexico. She is FABULOUS!!! I had a full tummy tuck and breast augmentation with a lift. I wasn't exactly sure of the size I wanted, so I searched the internet for pics of before and after implants and found what I was looking for. I printed the picture out, took it with me to show her and said "This is what I want to look like." I was AMAZED! She ended up going with 550 cc implants. Now that may seem alot to some of you, but trust me, on my size body they are perfect. You cannot limit yourself to a certain size implant unless you factor in your body frame. I happen to be 5' 7" and have a large frame. Now if you are petite, yes, 550 cc's would be humongous on you.
Anyway, that is what is up with me. Hope you are all doing well on your journey. And remember this is a journey, it is not an overnight fix.
Hugs to all,
Trish
Well I am down to 210 lbs. Which is not exactly what I had hoped for, but I have come so far.
I am scheduled for plastic surgery in May, 2007 with Dr. Macaya in Costa Rica. I will be having a tummy tuck with muscle repair, breast lift with augmentation and lipo to my inner arms, thighs and neck/chin.
After that, I think I will be satisfied if I never lose another pound. :)
I have a very athletic build from doing gymnastics and other sports as a teen. And not to sound like a cop out, but I do carry alot of muscle mass as you can see in my after picture, you can tell it in my thighs.
Will update with before and after pics of my plastic surgery when it is done.
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
