smilinggirl

Ok, I have cruised this site for a little while. I haven't really had much interaction with people who are local to Vancouver lower mainland. I am less than 2 weeks away from my surgery date. I am travelling to Puerto Vallarta Mexico - alone! I am feeling a little vulnerable now. I am plugging along with my pre-op diet and attending my "bootcamp" workouts 3x/week. I would love to interact with others and add some people to my friends list. Anyone out there?:bigear:

Ok, I am a newbie. I am curious what the heck is "Onederland?" Is this when someone gets their weight down into the 100LB range? (Under 200 lbs)?

2.5 weeks for me. My hubby kept asking how I was feeling. I wanted to make sure it was great for him also, we had some fun positioning too!

So glad to hear Dr. Arsendau was awesome because I have my first fill with him in 2 weeks!

Hopefullyhappy, perhaps you can look up a local support group meeting for banded people in your area? I am recently banded and I will be attending my first meeting this month. I do agree with Honk that you should try to halt your drinking. Try drinking one, then sip on water. We are all in a new way of life and it may take time to change our previous lifestyle choices. I attend bootcamp for exercise, perhaps you can join a dance class? I know it is hard to keep a journal, perhaps you can write down your thoughts at the end of the night when you realized how much you were going out per week and over indulging in alcohol. That may help identify a pattern. I am finding I am getting better at organzing my house and watching less TV than before. I too struggle with watching choices but I remind myself that I can begin the day with a fresh new start. Don't beat yourself up, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and remember you are walking a new pathway and it isn't always mapped out for ourselves. Hang in there chickita! Best of luck to you! Dena.

I was banded March 15th and my Doctor suggested 2 weeks pre-op liquid diet, 1 week post op clear liquid diet, 2nd week post op liquids with thicker substance like skim milk and yogurt. The third week post op is mushies. Well I got to day 23 and I was needing protein. I had some cottage cheese. I had no negative responses. I have now the go-ahead for creamy soups. I even enjoyed sugar free pudding. I think as long as you listen to your body, and don't BP, you can have what ever variation you can handle in small doses. I have to remind myself to drink fluids more frequently. Perhaps drinking watered down juices and protein drinks may aid your hunger? Hang in there everyone is in the same boat, we all are second guessing ourselves. Yes, we made a great decision for surgery, now be patient and remember this will get better

My whole entire experience is out of pocket; including the surgery. I am sure the psych eval is minimal. I would pay it and hope for re-imbursement; if not, you haven't slowed down your surgery path. (A small price to pay to get going with your "new beginning") Best of luck to you. Dena

Miss Avery, I am pretty much feeling alone also. I have made a few contacts on this site. I was banded 6 days ago in Mexico. I live in Canada and opted to travel to have surgery without a long wait list and red tape b.s. I weigh 212 LBS and am 5ft 4inches. I am returning to work tomorrow and I too could use a buddy. Add me as a friend and we can chat!

I appreciate everyone posting their thoughts. This is one topic I am stewing over. I am 5ft 4inches and was just banded almost 1 week ago. Today I weigh 212 LBS. I have the number 135LBS as my goal. My husband scoffed and said it would be virtually impossible to attain! I wanted to shoot him! I haven't an idea of what I would look like at 135LBS as it has been years! I began to second guess myself. My first mini goal is to get under 200 lbs and be the weight I met him at. I am wondering if any of you had a discussion from your doctors telling you what your goal should be? Is my goal unrealistic? I think 1 year to obtain it will be work, but I am certain I can do it. I want my hubbie to "Eat Crow!" I wonder if he feels threatened by my lifestyle change? Anyone else having this issue?

Ok, I just read something.... I am Day 11 pre-op diet and yes I am loosing weight. I read that some people gain weight from the actual Lap Band at time of surgery. It seems to be significant. I am wondering if this mainly extra "gas" weight or bloating from surgery and/or the band. Does anyone know something about post-op weight. I know we shouldn't jump on the scale right away. I am just curious as to what to expect.

Rather funny, my scale needed a new battery. I got a new one today and my husband was upset. He thinks I shouldn't weigh myself frequently, only monthly! Well I couldn't choose that! After I got the new battery today, my husband jumped on the scale and reported he needed to loose weight now too! ha ha:)

Thursdays are even better for me! Dena

Ok, here it is....I was nervous for nothing!!!! I had an awesome experience in Puerto Vallarta Mexico. My surgeon was Dr. Armando Joya and assisted by Dr. Antonio Espinoza. I went to Mexico the day before my scheduled surgery. At the airport, I was picked up via taxi and brought to the Krystal Vallarta hotel. I had a beautiful room and a kingsized bed all to myself. The room was updated and had a gorgeous marble tile and rainshower faucet in the shower. I had a TV and a nice balcony view. The front desk had information about where I was to go and when I was to meet the Dr's assistant. I had a letter with money enclosed to pay for the taxi service to the hospital (San Javier Marina Hospital). The hospital was a quick 5 minutes away. Upon arrival, I was hit with the scent of popurri! Not the usual gagging smell of antiseptic! That was weird! It smelled like apple/cinnamon! I had to chat with the Dr.'s assistant (Natalie) about everything and she answered my questions and I signed the necessary paperwork. I was escorted to a private Suite and was instructed to get "Full Monty" under a gown! Great sense of humor! I then waited a long time watching TV. Eventually I had blood taken for the necessary pre-op check and an IV placed on my left wrist. Kudos to "Christina" she was able to get it on the first try! The nurses joked that it was her very first IV and I was her first official patient! It was interesting that 2 nurses and Natalie were present at that time. I think Natalie wanted to make sure I was confortable. Pretty much all stafff spoke excellent english and I tried to speak as much spanish as I could remember. Many staff wanted to converse in English for practise I think. I had the usual EKG done, a visit from an intern to check my vitals and a visit from a psychologist (which really was a pep talk) and then I waited. I waited and I waited. I had a nap, I waited longer. I was moved into a smaller private room and then I met my surgeon, Dr. Joya. What a young looking doctor in his 40's. We had a discussion about why I wished a Lap Band over a Gastric Sleeve. I started to feel panicky that he didn't wish to do my surgery. He was stressing the Band is not the end-all answer to weight loss. He wanted to confirm I was going to my share of work of exercise, proper portion control and life style habit changes. Then he said he would see me for surgery in approx. 45 minutes as the hold-up was the wait for the blood work results. Everything was great. Ok, the good stuff.... I was told, "It is time" and rolled into the O.R. Everything was modern, tidy and sterile. I had a nervous heart rate for about a moment and then I heard music, "Mony Mony, by Billy Idol", I smiled and commented. It was mood music for the anesthesiologist! I loved it! Then more tunes came up. Everyone introduced themselves and smiled. I noticed I had 3 Doctors and 2 nurses in the O.R. with me. The anesthesiologist put something in my IV line and I commented it was kind of cold and then I said wow, I feel good! The next thing I know, I lift my head and I am looking around wondering when things were going to get started. I noticed I was in a different location, "Wait a minute" I thought, I lifted my gown and saw bandages. I missed it, they already finished! Ha ha I didn't feel neauseous or anything. I wondered how much time passed. I had everyone laughing with me afterwards. I was rolled back to my room. I immediately phoned my husband long distance with the phone in my room, and he was so surprised. He said Natalie had phoned him when I went into the O.R. and that was only 30 minutes previously! He said I sounded "stoned" but he was very happy to hear all was well. I made another quick call to a family member. I remember everyone posting to walk ASAP to help with reducing gas pain, so I walked pretty much immediately. I kept walking every 2 hours for 30-45 minutes and then rested up. I thought I was going to groove the marbled floors with my IV pole, and was wondering if the nurses thought I was a cooke! They understood why I was walking as much as possible. Through-out the night nurses rotated and checked my IV and gave me pain injections in my IV. I kept saying I was fine, but it was "Doctor's orders" along with antibiotics. Dr. Joya checked on me in the early AM and said I was a perfect case. I had done my pre-op diet and didn't cheat, I lost weight from that and my liver was a normal size. He remembered my request for minimal incisions and had placed the port through my bellybutton. I had 4 small tiny incisions under my boobs and one minimal one on the bellybutton with sutures. I had an Allergan LapBand placed as my medical history was no problems and he wanted to make sure I had no problems with my band regarding slippage, etc. He wished me good luck and then I took a picture of us together for my records. I showered up myself and had a liquid meal: tea, consomme, jello, apple juice. The hospital had the pharmacy fill my RX for antibiotic, pain, and Nexium tablets. The cost was approximately $94.00 US Dollars. I returned back to the hotel. I changed into a bathing suit and lounged around the pool reading. It was great! I found I had little gas pressure, but occasionally my chest felt it and in my back. Approx. 30 hours post op I was a little uncomfortable, so I took my meds and had chicken broth and went to sleep. No problems. Dr. Espinoza came to my hotel room to check on me the next AM and remove the dressings. I looked great! He told me he had sutured me up and we laughed about my vanity of wishing little incision scars. I took a picture of him and I was given a written report and booklet of my band used for surgery to pass on to my after care doctor here in town. I came home on the plane 2 days post op, not too bad a flight. I showed off my incisions and my husband was very impressed with the surgeons and my experience. I totally am happy with my choices and highly recommend Dr. Joya in Puerto Vallarta! Best of luck to all considering this choice of weight loss surgery. Remember to do your work as well and you should be very happy with your results. Don't cheat, you are only cheating yourself! :welldoneclap:

I leave tomorrow AM for Mexico. My surgery is the following day on the 15th. 2 weeks pre-op liquid diet and my hubbie says I am cranky today. Yes, nerves play into it. I am wishing a solid meal soon; I know it will be 3 more weeks away. Man, this is mind-over-matter! To quote Star Wars: "Let the Force be with you" I need to laugh it up! I opted for a "sensable" bathing suit vs. something that was unflattering. I can only imagine wearing a bikini again and actually having a flat tummy! That is on my "Bucket List" for next summer! I am fearful of the unknown-common side effect, excited for the future, and so pleased my dream has come to fruition! I am not so computer savvy, but I hope to make up a blog and keep you all posted. Thank-you all for the kind and encouraging words.:plane: Just a few hours before leaving for the airport!

Thanks for sharing. I was very curious about this; it was quite surprising. How are you doing now? What band type did you have placed? PS I added you as a friend

Welcome Tracyy! I too am being banded on the 15th. I am almost 2 weeks of liquid pre-op diet. How are you finding it? I live in Canada, a few minutes from Vancouver, how about yourself? I will be going to P.V. Mexico for surgery. I leave on the 14th.

Thanks for sharing, my day is coming up, only 3 more sleeps!

Ha ha ha ha ha, that is hilarious! Great visual also! :drum:

Hi there, I am Canadian. I just came across your post, I live around Vancouver. How did your surgery go CarmenPookie?

It is a wonderful feeling. I am almost 2 weeks pre-op diet and have lost weight also. I have had people notice also and comment. I felt elated when I tried on some clothing items and realized it will be fun to go shopping when I really start shedding the pounds! Best of luck!

:Dancing_sorry: Well today is day 3 of my pre-op diet. Each day seems to get better. The first day was really rough! I discovered how important it is to continually drink fluids and water! I discovered I don't care for broth! I am drinking Premier Protein Shakes from Costco and they are actually a geat find. I also like The Fibre 35 Diet Fit Smart Shake - Chocolate Creme (Purchased at Alive Health Centre). I gather by the time my surgery date of March 15th arrives, I should have dropped a few decent pounds. I am trying to think positively about my surgery; I suppose I am worried about the few weeks afterwards during healing. I am not liking the broth! Ewh, Yuck!:frown:

Well, maybe I am just slow or something, I realized I should water down the broth! That is much more bareable! Today is day 11 of my pre-op diet. I have lost weight and people are noticing. Today I wanted sooooo badly to eat! I was cranky also. I guess nerves are settling in now. 4 more days until surgery. I need to write in a journal, I better note it down. Best of luck to you all!:wink_smile: