marshallmg

I haven't written for a long time, but I was banded on 2/7 and had my second fill today. I felt pretty restricted after the first one for a few weeks, then nothing at all. When I went back for my second doctor visit after my first fill, he told me to come back in a month and he would see if I needed a second fill. I guess by the look on my face, he knew I wasn't happy about that, so he said come back in two weeks. I gave him another look and he scheduled me then to come in today for my second fill. I have a 4cc band and my first fill was 1.5. I'm not sure what it was today, I can really tell the difference. I've lost 40 pounds so far and hope to lose about another 60. I feel a lot better and have more energy than I did pre-op.

I was banded on 2/7/07. I am on "soft food" now and I'm doing well. I can also have a piece of toast with my egg for breakfast. The first day I tried it, I only had a couple of bites and it felt like it was stuck in my chest. After that I haven't had any problems with it. I've been eating string cheese eggs and lowfat cottage cheese along with homemade potato soup and yogurt. I got some chili from Wendy's the other day and put it in my food processer. It didn't look that great, but it really tasted good! I've lost 24 pounds since my pre-op diet, what a great feeling! I might make some chicken salad today and put it in my food processor today and have it with some crackers.

I have Connect Care, I know other insurance companies have different policies, so you'd have to check yours. Good luck.

I don't think my surgery took much longer than an hour. It took a little longer than normal because they discovered I had a hianal hernia and had to fix that too. I did spend the night at the hospital, I think they require it. All I had in the hospital was ice chips, then in the morning before I went home they brought in some jello and apple juice. The pain wasn't too bad, just where my incision was from the hernia. I had a stress test, but didn't have any history of heart problems. I think they just require it for the surgery. I had to have 6 months of documentation from my family doctor showing I've tried weight loss. This was a requirement my insurance company said I needed, not necessarily the doctor's office. I'm now one week post-op and have lost 20 pounds with the pre and post op diets. I'm really glad I made the decision to have the surgery. Good luck!

My nutritionist said that I could have milk with my post-op diet, so I've been drinking skim milk with protien powder and either sugar free chocolate syrup or half a banana and a spoonful of peanut butter. I keep trying to fool myself that it tastes good, but it doesn't. I can't make anything with protein powder that I like. My sister brought over some broth today from some onion soup that she made and it tasted great! I also cook a can of vegtable beef soup and strain it, drinking the broth. It tastes a lot better than the plain canned broth. Mary

I'm now 4 days post-op, surgery on 2-7, and I'm starting to feel better. We went grocery shopping yesterday then to the furniture store and bought a new mattress. I was tired when we got home, but it felt good to get out. I've been walking a lot around the house, but still have that bloated feeling. I've been using gas-x strips that seem to work pretty well. I made a protein shake yesterday with milk, half a banana and a spoonful of peanut butter. Tasted pretty good, but still has that "protein taste". I also warmed up a can of vegetable beef soup and drank just the broth. It has a lot better taste than just plain chicken broth. I'm still sleeping in my recliner most of the night. I had a hianal hernia they fixed too, and I think they made a bigger incision for that since it's about 4 inches long. The rest of my "bullet holes are all only about an inch. The long one is the only one that bothers me, I can hardly tell that I have the other ones. It's nice to know I'm not the only one experiencing these kind of problems. Mary

I had lapband surgery with Dr. Cudjoe on Feb. 7 and it went well. All of the staff at the hospital and at his office are very friendly. I have a follow-up with him next week. I had to have 6 months documentation from my family doctor about weight loss and also had to have the endo and psyc exam. I had a stress test too. The worst part of the endoscope was the gross stuff they spray in your throat to numb it. I think a lot of the pre-testing has to do with your insurance company. Good luck! Mary

I was banded on Wednesday and while my surgeon was doing my lapband, he found a hiatal hernia and repaired it. I think I might be a little more sore than if I didn't have the hernia repair, but he still went through with the lapband surgery. Good luck! Mary

Hi All! I'm all set for my surgery on Wednesday, Febraury 7, wish me luck! I've got a refrigerator full of sf jello and broth laced with protein powder and crystal light laced with benefiber. I'm really looking forward to the surgery. I have 3 sisters who have had bariatric surgery, the latest one was lapband. I call them my very own support group. :nervous This sight is the greatest, I've spent several evenings reading all the posts, what a lot of great information. Good luck to everybody! Mary

Well, this is my second day home from the hospital, had my surgery on Wednesday. I had a little set back when they found a hianal hernia during my surgery and repaired that too. I guess that's why I'm a little more sore than I thought I would be. I've been drinking lots of fluids and walking alot. Had a hard time sleeping in the hospital so I walked there at night too. I've been sleeping in my recliner since it seems more comfortable than my bed for now. My husband is my "nurse" today, but he had to go get two teeth pulled this afternoon, so we're not the most fun couple right now. My two best friends right now are my small pillow to hold on my stomach and my tylonol with codine. Mary

Thanks for all the notes of encouragement. I think I'm really ready for surgery in the morning. The only thing I'm worried about is that I'm not really worried! I'm hoping everything works out fine and I'm really looking forward to losing weight and all the good things that go with it.

Thanks for the info. I'll make sure I have my heating pad ready. I had my pre-op meeting today at the hospital and I asked them for some anti-nausea medication for after surgery since the last time I was "put under" it made me sick to my stomach. They said they would give me some in my IV after surgery. I have a box of Gas-X strips for when I get home.

I'm scheduled for my lapband on February 7, can't wait! I can't believe it's finally here! Good luck to all the rest of the February surgery folks! Mary:)

Hi Margi, I'm from Midland and have surgery scheduled in Alma on Wednesday, February 7.