Chris S. - L.I.

If any one here even knows what this is (LOL) has any one tried wearing one for the lose skin and has it helped? I was thinking it might help the skin go back where it belongs since it wouldn't be hanging because of gravity.

Speaking of low libido................I thought with losing some weight I would be thrilled to ...you know. LOL. I heard about this product on TV called Avlimil and I ordered some but I am afraid to take it cause of the surgery. I guess I will ask my PCP about it when I see her and let you guys know.

Congrats! You're on your way now. Please take my advise and don't overdo it even though you are feeling great. I am 3 1/2 weeks post op and I was feeling very good but knew enough to take it easy. Last Monday I went to do something by my pool and had to get down on my hands and knees and when I got up I got a shooting pain under my ribs on my left side. I must have pulled a muscle. I emailed my doc and he thinks that's is what it is. It still hurts when I get out of a chair and when I laugh but it is getting better. So please take care of yourself. Just because we only have little tiny scars on the outside doesn't mean that they weren't doing a lot of stuff to us on the inside.

Can someone tell me how long it takes for the swelling of your belly to go down? The doc told me that it can take for up to a year. I'm a little discouraged because I lost 20 lbs. (not discouraged about that!) and the jeans I wore pre op are a little tight on me. I thought with the 20 lbs. gone they would be a little loose. Thanks.

My port is just to the left of my belly button.

Hi. The nutritionist was with the doctor. I had to see her before the surgery and she gave me a booklet about how to eat before and after the surgery. I'm on soft foods now so I had a scrambled egg and 4 crackers for Breakfast, Taco Bell's pintos & cheese for lunch, banana & Peanut Butter for snack and for dinner I will probably have some chicken & creamed spinach. Tonight I'll either have sugar free/fat free pudding or a frozen yogurt bar. I too have 6 incisions the biggest being right next to my belly button where the port is. You will feel better every day. I can say by the 2nd week I felt really good.

Both of you gals seem to be doing great! Congratulations on using your tool well! Can you please tell me if either of you have had fills? I am newly banded 2 1/2 weeks and my doc said some patients never get a fill. Thanks.

I'm a September Bandster also. Sept. 2nd was the day my life changed. I am doing great and I had my 2 week checkup and the doctor feels the same way. I am on the soft food phase and I am being very cautious. I was hungry last night so I don't think I ate enough. Today I will try to follow my nutritionists plan to the tee so I can see how much to eat. I have been walking everyday and I am up to one mile.

I have both the unflavored and the chocolate. I find the unflavored a bit hard to use in anything hot because it can only be warm. But I do mix it with Alba Mix to make it a protein drink. It's not band for that. The chocolate is very good.

Jennifer, I am from Long Island also. Where are you getting your band done? Do you belong to the Yahoo Group, L.I. Banders? There are a great bunch of people there and we get together once a month. I had my band put in on Sept. 2nd at Syosset Hosp. and I am feeling better every day. Good Luck on your journey!

I was banded on 9/02 and I feel better every day. I have been walking every day since I came home and I think that helped. I think you should have your liquids even though you may not be hungry. And make sure you are sipping Water all day. You don't want to get dehydrated. Warm compress helps the gas pain and I bought a cheap massager and I use that every once in awhile. It helps get the air bubbles out of you. Good Luck

Wow, you can really see the difference! You look great! I am only one week out as of yesterday. I hope to do as well as you have !

Surgery went very well. I'm still in some pain but nothing to scream about. LOL Like I said in my post, I had my first full liquid last night....the egg drop soup. I think I'm doing fine with the eating although when I saw a comercial for a grilled cheese sandwich my heart did go pitter patter. It's weird, I'm kinda waiting for the shoe to drop, something to go wrong since everything seems to be going so right. If I didn't vomit yet do you think will? There was a girl across from me in the hospital that was wretching the whole time since she came out of surgery and I keep thinking of her. I should just think good things right?

Egg drop soup is definitely OK. In fact I just had it for my dinner and my surgery was Tuesday. It was in the booklet the nutritionist gave me so I know for sure it's OK.

I received my call today and my surgery will be at or around 10AM on Tuesday morning, 9/2/03.

Well I was denied because they said I didn't have 26 weeks of a medically supervised diet. I gave in copies of my doctor's patient progress notes, you know, the pages they write on every time you see the doc. I didn't have a cover letter. They said they couldn't go through all those pages and they wanted the information all on one page. I called my doc and they were getting a letter together to send with the progress notes again. BTW, these progress notes were from the past TWO years, a bit more then they need. It's in the appeals department now and hopefully will be OK soon. I start on the liquid diet Monday.

Well I made a bunch of calls and had a bunch of letters typed up and sent to GHI and I have been approved. Just wanted anyone having this problem, to take the bull by the horns and make phone calls and don't sit back hoping the doctor's office can take care of this themselves. I'm sure they could, but I did help in getting the approval.

Anybody wana try again tonight at 9 est?

Couldn't make it last night due to the poweer outage.

Can we try to set up a time and see how many people can get into chat? How about 9PM est tomorrow night, Thursday?

MIchelle, Yes my doctor put his patients on liquids 7 days before surgery. I'm hoping it's not too rough although I'm hearing it is. Are you nervous with only 4 days left? I'm afraid when it gets down to the wire I will be a wreck.

I have a date for September 2nd. They are checking with my insurance company to make sure I will be covered. Chris S. - L.I. Dr. Geiss

Can anyone tell me where their ports are and can you request a certain area? I heard some are near the sternum and others are near the abdomen. Thanks

You are such an inspiration to me and you help me believe that this band will help me reach my goal. I was wondering any excess skin you might have had after the weight loss. Thanks.

I am currently taking Wellbutrin SR 200mg and I am in the pre banding stage hoping to get banded in Sept. I spoke to my doctor about this and she said she will give me a script for Wellbutrin that isn't time released so I will probably have to take it more than once a day.