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To be Banded tomorrow!!!

Well... it's the night before I go into surgery and get "banded!" :clap2:   I've been on the "pre-op liquid diet" for 2 weeks, although i did cheat a few times. Nothing really major, just some popcorn one night, and on a couple of other nights a bit of protein like a bite of chicken or ground beef - really tried to stay away from fats knowing that the objective was to "de-fat" my liver before surgery.   My actual journey started last December when I went for a mini physical with my pcp. I had been thinking of the lap-band since November and had done some research on the net - so I mentioned it to my Doctor.   He said he thought it was a really good idea for me and recommended that I look into the NYU Dept. for Surgical Weight Loss. He had other patients that were doing very well on their program.   I went to their website: http://thinforlife.med.nyu.edu and found that the first step was to attend an information seminar.   I went to the seminar expecting to see maybe 20 or 30 people and there were more like 250 people!!!! It was run by Dr. Fielding - the same Doctor on the NYU website videos that I thought were so informative and well done.   He was great - warm, smart, well spoken - and he himself had gotten banded 7 years ago. This was a real sign to me that if the Doctor had one himself - he was talking from real experience...and what could be better or more reliable than that?   The next step in the NYU program was to see their psychologist - Dr. Warren Huberman. I called for an appt the next morning and he called back with an opening that evening which I jumped at - I thought it would be months and months before I could see him with the holidays coming up.   He was terrific - I shared my history of yo-yo weight battles and other aspects of my life. He said he thought I was the prefect candidate for Lap-Band.   Next was a full physical from my pcp in January after the holidays. The next step was to make an appointment to meet with the NYU Nutritionist and had a couple of other physical checks with a great Medical technician in their office. This happened in February.   I have to say that everyone at the offices of Dr. Fielding (and his wife and partner Dr. Christine Ren) is terrific. Very warm and friendly.   My next stop on my journey was my appointment with Dr. Fielding himself in early March. This meeting went very well - he is as easy to talk with as I had imagined. I am very happy that he will be doing my surgery.   Then I really lucked out - there was an opening for surgery less than 3 weeks later - on March 26th. This meant I had to schedule my pre-admission testing and that my insurance had to clear.   I am very happy to say that both of these actually did take place without too much anxiety (although the insurance clearance came on Thursday - 4 days before surgery!)   - and so I find myself sitting here the night before I go to the hospital to get a Lap-Band placed inside me to help me finally get my physcial act together!!!   My next entry will be post-op... wish me Luck!!!  
benbax

benbax

2
 

Day 6 Post Op - Update

Sunday April 1st :update:   Well, it's been 6 days since my surgery. :clap2: The day of surgery was okay if not a bit frustrating.   I had to be at the hospital at 12:30pm - and expected that I would probably be taken into the operating room around 2 or 3pm - but had to wait until after 5pm. :bored   Woke up in recovery in that icky state of 1/2 in and 1/2 out of it - hearing someone say - "deep breaths - make sure you take deep breaths."   Eventually came out of anesthesia - pain was actually minimal - not bad at all. At one point got a bit of pain med - and later a bit of anti-nausea med. Had a moderate head-ache - but the nurse said that was most likely caffeine withdrawal - I agree.   Because of my sleep apnea - I ended up in the PACU - Post Anesthesia Care Unit (I think) which is kind of like a ward - not a semi private room or anything.   My nurse was great. I didn't sleep very much at all. :tired On Tuesday morning the physician assistant checked my incisions, etc. and went over the post op procedures and I was released.   I have to say that Tuesday was fine as far as pain goes - Wednesday got progressively worse as far as that burning chest pain :flame: (gas) goes - and actually that's been my only real discomfort all week.   The incisions are fine - the port area being the only tender area - but those gas pains are pretty tough - burning chest toward left shoulder - very much like bad heartburn.   It's odd because it really comes and goes - a heating pad helps at times.   Did not have a BM until Friday - a bit constipated - and have had one minor BM on Sat. Strange because I had diarrea for 2 weeks during the pre-op liquid phase. :omg:   I am not really hungry - completely tired of slim fast optima - blech already!   I made some organic chicken broth but just couldn't bring myself to eat it - a thin organic tomato soup I heated yetserday was better.   The Special K Protein water seems to be one of my favorites as I know I have to drink continuosly so this makes sure I am getting a little protein with my drinking.   Also Whole Foods frozen fruit juice pops are great. Finding sugar free popsicles a bit boring.   I think I need to get up and walk around more often - to help get rid of the gas (so many people menitoned that on this site).   Was hoping to go back to work tomorrow - but I think Wednesday is more realistic - hopefully the chest pains will be almost completely gone by then...    
benbax

benbax

2
 

Update April 25th

:update: April 25th - still feel great but seem to be stuck at -30 pounds.   I think that my stomach must have been swollen after surgery (which makes sense!) and made the band tighter and made me feel more restriction.   Now that my stomach is healed - the band must have more room, since I'm able to eat more and I actually feel a bit hungry :hungry: - even an hour after eating.   I've pretty much kept to 1,000 calories per day - so I'm not gaining back - I'm just maintaining.   My first fill is on May 2nd :clap2: and I'm hoping that causes more restriction.   So far I've been able to eat pretty much anything. With things like bread I just make sure I chew like crazy. There have been a couple of times that I've felt a bit stuck - usually if I've taken too large a bite or something has been a bit dry - but haven't slimed or pb'd thankfully!   So far so good - just hoping the fill gets me back on the losing track!        
benbax

benbax

3
 

Day 16 Post Op - Update

:update: I feel terrific! :clap2: I have more energy than I have for a long time - everyone keeps telling me they can see a difference and that my skin looks great. I'm sure that's from eating healthy food!   I've been eating soft foods and basically seem to be eating less than half of what I used to eat and getting that "full" feeling.   I've only had one slightly uncomfortable moment after eating- I think i ate a forkfull or 2 more than I should have. I felt "Thanksgiving full" and needed to take a 10 minute walk and then felt much better.   I've had a small glass of white wine before a couple of dinners (Dr. Fielding actually recommended that) - and have gone to restaurants a couple of times - soft fish, some pasta with cheese - chewed well, eaten slowly, and at least 1/2 left on my plate when I finished - such an odd thing for me to do.   No bread, a teeny bite of someone's dessert - but I don't have those sweet cravings or needs that I used to have.   Food just doesn't seem to be the obsession it once was!   Toward the end of the day I seem to get a minor pain in my left shoulder - I've been reading the posts and apparently others have this as well.   It is NOTHING like the 6 day post op chest pains - that was the absolute worst part of this journey and when you think about it - not too terrible!!   I've started logging info on fitday.com and it looks like my average caloric intake is just under 1000 for the past week which I think is pretty good.   Funny - but since I've started eating a bit more I am hesitant to weigh myself - I'm afraid I may have gained a bit back which apparently is very common once you get off liquids - something about water weight coming back.   I have my first fill on May 2nd - and I'm looking forward to seeing (feeling) what it's like.   Also planning to start exercising next week - probably the stationery bike...that should help too.   Bottom line is that I really feel great!!! :clap2:  
benbax

benbax

1
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