ctarantino

ugh! Insult to injury. So sorry you have to deal with that too! Hope you feel better. My dr has me on broth or jello. I can also have optifast or high protein shake per day. I m on clear liquids but so far so good and will have my jello as a snack. Be well!! setting up that one month challenge now. A day late

I'm BACK!!!! Banded and feeling good! Went to hospital at 6 am surgery was around 8am, it was a lil waiing but they rolled me in and kinda sureal laying there for 5 min debating what am I doing? why did I let my weight get so outta control, why am I having this surgery kinda feeling, ya know. The anesthesiologist (sp?) said this will make you sleepy. I said good ive been up since 3:40am...I was O-U-T in a few seconds. I woke up and kept staying up and nodding back out. I could not kep my eyes open. So surgery was at 8, was in recovery by 9:30 and in room at 11am but couldnt remember a thing. The anethesia really knocked me on my ace. I was on/off until about 6pm where I was up until 12. They had me walking every 2-3 hrs. even thoughout the night, so NO sleep. I had a good routine of waking up, going to urinate, doing my walks and getting back into bed to sleep. This morning I felt better, no groggy feeling. I went to radiologist and had to drink something, was cleared. back to room for 15 min, then off to physical therapy. they made me practice lying in bed and walk a small flight of stairs. No problema. Back to room for 20 min. Dr came in asked questions, checked incision and cleared. Home i already took a small nappy and finding the incision sight sore. I had some chicken broth umm good. just resting up and trying to take it easy. Good luck all who went AND those that still have to go. Its not bad and just know you body and listen. I was not prepared for the anethesia and its effects, were all different but take it easy and enjoy. No REGRETS!!!! Cara

Ive heard good things, my friend had him. Im with Dr. Vohra in Hewlett but Dr. Geiss has a good rep

Same to you! Best of luck and let's check in on Friday!

Hi Rachel! Im offering help and suggestions. I am note banded but have reached out for support on various levels. I just bought a great books, Ive asked my friends and family whom have had the surgery and spoken with them all, Ive atteneded meetings and know that the WLS meetings will help me when I am down and motivate me when I am up and down, I have a slew of support and have had to reeducate myself, I took the inititatve to search through hundreds of youtube videos, hundreds of pages on diet and fitness on this board...all with my pen in hand and my notepad to write down things I CAN eat. I maybe the worlds worst eater (okay maybe not the world) but I hated all things that are green (minus grapes) my favorite foods were bagels for breakfast, pizza for lunch and pasta for dinner...ahh all comfort foods and carbies. Ive learned that carbs for my body are NOT good. I would love to eat breads, rice and pasta but my drive to change my eating style has forced me to ask myself do I want to live or die? I had my son almost a year ago and I had gestational diabetes..that was the eye opener I needed. I have learned to not love veggies but deal with it and make the best I can..there are TONS of cook books with foods that I will eat and how to prepare so its not boring or I can mask the taste of things. LOL Today i am learning to eat healthier because I have 2 beautiful children that I want to live for, I want to take pictures with them and not avoid the camera, i want to walk down the street and not slump down o suck in to hide my belly. Write down why you got the surgery in the first place, hold ont that and do your best. We will all have our ups and downs but the surgery for me is a lifechanging event. yes, it sucks that I couldnt diet and exercise before but you better believe that starting tomorrow (my surgery date) I am on a new path to life and health and happiness. I wish you luck on your continued jouney. Cara

I had a c-section on 9-1-10, when i went for my lap consult on 6-24 she said it was perfect since insurance needs at least 6 months of diet attempts and fairlures. I documented 9 months from the time I had the baby and typed it up. If you want a copy of what I typed up send me a PM and I can email it to you. Have a happy and healthy pregnancy and good luck on your lap journey!! Cara

Hi August Banders! I'm so nervous, can't sleep! I'm 8-11 and look at it as I'm getting banded tmrw too :0 I'm a ball of questions, thoughts, my mind is racing with all these things that I want the answers to. It's so subjective how everyone heals and I guess I'm just gonna have to go in and see how my body will take the surgery. I've never had surgery except for 2 c-sections(last one being my son on 9-1-10) I have a nice family beach day planned tmrw followed my a pedicure and massage to put me into relaxation for the surgery. Best of luck to us all!!!!! We went through all these doctors, poking, prodding appointments and have one goal in mind... To lose weight!!! The power is in our hands, it's up to us to leave this shell of a fat body on the operating table and maximize the band as much as possible! We can do this!!!!!!! Prayers for us all!! :-) Cara

Hi!! Im getting banded on 8-11, I wish I could answer this. That's my concern too! My daughter is 3 and pretty independent, my son will be one and that's really hard. I have my husband with me a week and then it's me with 2 little toddlers. Best of luck to you! I just plan on taking it easy and aside from in/out of crib keeping him gated at home on first floor. Im really afraid of bottle feedings on my lap, I don't know how that will feel. Good luck to us!!!!

Yeah!!! Gonna start a challenge for us 8-11 banders or anyone else who wants to join the challenge. Sounds fun!!

Me three! Good luck for us all!!! Anyone wanna do a weight challenge??? One month, lose weight, check in on 9/11??

Hey Banders! We are almost half way through the month. I'm up on Thursday!! I was doing great with opti then I slipped these past couple of days. Its nothing but liquids from here on out. As for protein powder, I have been using ISOPURE in my morning vanilla opti and I have grown very fond of it LOL its weird but I do look forward to it every morning. Best of luck to all being, getting, or considering lap band.

Thanks all for checking in after the surgery! It is helping me so much. My son is Turing 1 this month and my daughter is 3... This is my concern, taking care if 2 little ones. I feel much so much better hearing everyone is doing well on on their way to a healthy and happy lifestyle. Much luck to all!! I'm up this week!!!! 8-11-11 is the day!!!!!!!

so happy to see some aug banders reporting in after surgery an-d doing well. Can you take Gas X to relieve gas pains and aches??- Best of luck to all!!!! Im all cleared and done and ready for Thurs 8-11-11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's go!!!

Im aug 11th too! Had my pre op ALL DAY yesterday and then signed the final consent with the dr. I have been nervous about the surgery but moreso for aftewards. i dont want to go through all this and lose only 20-30lbs. I wanna be successful at this. I wanna make this a life change...forever!!! I am with you about lack of sleep being up all night stressing. I just ordered BANDWAGON, its a good book with high reviews. I also went to the library last night and got a WLS book. Tying to educate myself so much on this sugery is stressing me lol I'm here and we r all here if you need help, support, advice, stressing, venting, etc... BEST OF LUCK and we wil be great!!! it wil be here and we will say "I wish I had done this sooner" like most have attested. Cara

Me too for Aug 11th!!!!! Good luck!!

Hey Banders!!! I'm on day 3 of Opti fast, it's okay maybe I thought it was going to be sooo bad it's actually better. Last night while kids sat for diner I had chicken boillion, it was sooo Delish lol I never had just a bullion cube before and it tasted amazing. My dad came over with of all things pizza for my daughter, he is the best dad/ grandfather but a complete enabler and growing up in an Italian family where we had several kinds of bread at all times didn't help my eating habits. So back to the pizza, I go to warm it up, smell it, okay I took a bite.... Then spit it out! Major victory for me!!! Wishing all the other Aug banders well!!! Tmrw is August and we start, see many of you Post Op!!! Stay strong!!!

What about kickboxing, step, Zumba classes? How soon can u take those kind after surgery? When can u get back into a gym? How soon? Treadmill?? Thanks for help

With the liquid diet... Can you drink water? As much as you want? I start my opti fast on Friday I wasn't sure and also can you eat food like salad or sf jello/pudding? What about protein shakes??? Thanks anyone for info so confused :-)

Good luck today!!!!

Hello and welcome msladyt!!!! Yeah another August bander!!!! It seems depending on dr, bmi, and what your willing to do it all depends. I have a week of opti but want to do 2 weeks to lose more weight. Most I know did have to change eating before surgery such as no sugar, no carbs, high protein. Good luck to you and welcome aboard!!

I just joined my gym, Lucille Roberts, a couple of weeks ago and took the Zumba class on Thursday night..OMG...LOVED it!! whew! what a great workout. One hour of shakin, dancin, and sweatin' LOL I am going again Monday night!!! I have been doing cardio every time I go to the gym. I do arms and back one day. Then next time I go to the gym I work my legs. Also to switch things up sometimes I break up my cardio like 10 min bike, 10 elliptical, and 10 incline on treadmill. GOOD LUCK and have fun. I loaded my IPod with lots of fast moving songs and also if you go to itunes and type in Zumba you can get some zumba songs too! I love the songs in the zumba class so I downloaded them to my pod. LOL Keep on keepin on!! Hope my 2 cents helped

Anyone have a "last meal" like something you need to eat before you start pre op or get banded? I've been dieting and working out but now I'm making a food "bucket list" I'm feeling guilty for wanting to eat pizza, outback blooming onion, and tgifridays sesame jack chicken strips these are my weakness lol I start my pre op this Friday so I'm really excited and almost looking forward to the liquid diet to lose weight. Haha I don't know if I will say that 3-5 days in though lol would you or did you eat your trigger foods before your having surgery??? One last time??

Good Luck everyone!! Im right behind you and starting my pre op next week. I go for pre surgical testing Aug 3rd!!!!! Can you drink Water while taking the opti fast??? Keep up the great work and best of luck to us August Banders!! Just think how much fun we will all have shopping for next summer!!!!!

Wishing you the best of luck on your surgery day and here after!!!!! Can't wait to get an update

Hey 18! It's a hard decision that you need support for with your parents. I played so many sports in High Svhool and was in good shape but my 20's of late night partying, drinking, and eating caught up with my inactive after Hugh school self. I had great fun in my 20's gaining a ton of weight I was 24 at the time and i did manage with a healthy lifestyle, diet, calorie counting and exercise to lose 50lbs I was single, took double classes at the gym and was at the gym 7 days a week!!!! It took a lot of work but lost weight to where I felt good about myself and was fit. I then got together with my husband and eating was the fun thing we did. We enjoyed Wayy tooo much eating lol Here I am at 36 and I am 80lbs heavier than that 24 year old who lost all that weight. I have 2 amazing children and I'm a teacher so full time job and I don't have 2 hrs a day 7 days to be in a gym. I still have my husband but we are being active and both changing our unhealthy lifestyle. For me getting this surgery has helped me want to live and be fit for my kids. The point in my whole life story here, if you feel you can diet and exerciser and lose this weight you should give it a try. If you find in a year you are having trouble staying on a diet and exercise program Then join weight watchers and Definitly get a support buddy because diet and exercise must be a part of the banded life or no band. Obviously that's the key to this whole thing.... Meaning life... Drink your water, exercise, the band will take care of portion control. I wish you luck!! I don't think at 18 I couldve done it! I do know most people say "I wish I had done this surgery soon" final thoughts, I spent my 20's eating and my 30's miserable from bring overweight and allowing it to spiral out of control. I can't go back in time, I can only move forward and I am destined for success, I wish you the same on your journey...in life!! :-)