nbjen

You can also see Dr Fox Sr in Auburn. He also has a new surgeon starting this month. Their number is 253-472-9872. I hope you feel better soon!! I'm not sure how much an appointment is but to have a fill appointment was $225.00.

You also might try Washington Bariatrics in Renton near Valley Medical center. My Doctor was Dr Earl Fox and to see him I have to travel to Richland but the place in Renton said they would take me as a patient.

Does anyone take the birth control pill yasmin? I'm suppose to start taking it this Sunday because of irregular bleeding but I'm scared because everytime I've taken birth control pills I've gained weight. My body got really out of whack right before surgery and then again last month so I had to take provera and then I'm suppose to start Yasmin. I was going to just let my body work it out as I loose weight (42 lbs since surgery) but bleeding for 6 weeks straight is NOT fun!!!

I'm not sure if this would help but with my Doc you can have liquids up to 4 hours before a fill and then nothing until the fill, then liquids for 48 hours... If you still can't keep even liquid down then I think you need to go back and maybe get a small unfill until it settles down... Keep us updated.

I love this show too... Can't wait for next week because they said they will have a band patient but there will be trouble because her husband doesn't want a "skinny woman"... Hah!! I would like to know what the Melina band is too... I wish they would have said, the patient said that it was 10 years ago; maybe it wasn't adjustable? Great thread!

Kalamazoo- When I went to my seminar in January '07 before I was banded my Doctor told our group that poeple that had the reflux surgery could not have lap band..... Not sure if that's his opinion or what as I didn't think much about it because it wasn't a factor for me. My Doctor said he had that surgery and couldn't have a lap band because of it. Maybe you should do some research and find other people who have had lapband and the reflux surgery.... Good luck, I can't imagine how you live with it because I do have reflux but it is okay with medication. Good Luck!!

Hi Everyone, Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have been trying to keep up on reading post's but then run out of time when I want to post one plus this site is a lot slower than it used to be before all the advertisment's.... Anyway, congrat's Dawn - don't over due it and rest!! The gas didn't hit me until about 4 days later too. I already had my first fill last Thursday - wierd!!! It was pretty quick, my appointment was at 9 am and I was out of there by 9:35 am. I lost 16 lbs in the last month and I'm down 32 since April 17th; the day I started my pre-op liquid diet. I'm still nervous about being successful even though I'm loosing becaue I'm at a weight I was at for a long time before gaining so much the last few years. Then I start worrying about if I loose all the weight and then will I be left w/tons of extra skin and need a lower body lift.... Ouch!!! I don't think I could go through with it! Anyways, clothes are feeling loose now and I think I've gone down at least one size and that feels great! My blood pressue is also down so I'm curious to see what my blood work will show in a couple months. I have high cholesterol and my blood sugar was kind of borderline (no suprise there!). Sorry for not posting but I have been reading and sounds like everyone is doing so well

You look awesome!! Good job! I'm just starting my journey and seeing your success is so encouraging!

Hi Wendy - your pain will get better. I forgot to add that I had a bag of frozen veggies and kept that on my port site and used the heating pad on my back. That really helped me! I think the first 4 days were the worst since I needed help just to sit up. I had myself propped up on the couch with tons of pillows. Sue - Dr Fox is out of Tacoma and does surgery at Auburn Hospital. He has a support group once a month in Tacoma but it's too far for me to go on a week night. Can anyone go to Dr Oh's group? Well gotta go... have to get my daughter out of the bathtub and I still have to wash her hair - so fun w/a 3 year old!!

Wenjea & Pinenut - thanks for updating us!! I promise each day you will feel better. Just keep taking it easy and don't rush yourself. I agree that after my surgery I couldn't have imagined having to fly home on an airplane from Mexico. I was so glad I didn't go that route!! This is your time to heal so let your body do just that Sue11 - I hope your doing ok on your liquid diet!! I'm still hanging in there but it's so hard when you read about people getting mashed potato's 2 weeks after surgery!! 6 more days for me and I get to move on to pureed food!! Yah!!! And I have DR Fox out of Tacoma. I'm still on 3 protein drinks a day and clear liquids only. Getting sick of it!!! But I've come this far so I'll keep going!!

Hi Sue! I know exactly how you feel.. How is your hunger going? It seems so long ago that i was where you were at. Tomorrow is my last week for clear liquids since surgery. My Doctor does 4 weeks of clear liquids after surgery too. I just keep trying to remind myself that this is the only time I have to do this. For fills he has me only doing 48 hrs of warm liquids afterwards. So stay strong - you'll make it!!!

Good luck Pinenut!!! It'll be over before you know it!! Keep us updated! :) :o :o :o :o :P :P :P :P :P

Hey good luck Wendy!!! You'll do great!!! I hope you sail through!!!

Mer - congrats on 30 pounds!!! You must feel awesome!! I'm only at 21 lbs loss and I think I can already feel different walking around and doing physical things. Keep up the good work :youcandothis:

Hi Wendy, Don't worry about your weightloss; it's still happening. When I first started the liquid diet I was loosing everyday and now it doesn't move for about 2-3 days and then all of a sudden it's down 3. You are doing awesome and your body is ready for the surgery. 20 pounds is huge and Dr Oh is going to be happy with that! I only lost 8lbs when I had surgery and Dr Fox said my liver looked great and my surgery was easy. So hang in there, it'll drop soon. Only two more days to go and then you'll be in Bandland :youcandothis: Good luck

I was banded 4/27 and still have pain bending over, especially picking stuff off of the ground. But I wouldn't say it's intense. It gets better each day. I think it's my port area healing. Sometime's it feels like there is a huge lump in there. It's on the left side of my rib cage so when I lift my left leg up to put on my pants or socks it still hurts. It does get better each day so I'm not worried. You should call your doctor just to give yourself some peace of mind. You are the consumer!

Hi Kitty and everyone else! I was banded on Friday April 27th and thought I would return the next Wednesday, well I wasn't! I had a post op appointment on Thursday in the morning and then went to work until 5pm, I didn't get to work until about noon. That was reallly hard. Friday was easier as is each day that goes by. Today is the first day where I felt the most comfortable driving (bending down adjusting the seat, reaching forward ect), mostly the bumps in the road don't bother me anymore. I also reacted to the Iodine and my steri strips so when they came off I had large bumps that itched like crazy. Now I'm much better and feeling almost 100%. So hang in there everyone!! I'm about 13 days ahead of you and it's great now. I'm still on Clear liquids only though so for me that is the hardest part right now. Good luck and each day you will feel so much better. Oh, and this weekend I'm able to lay on either side or my stomach w/out much pain in the port area. BM's took me a few days but it's still loose I think because of the liquid Protein diet????? Good luck and take it easy and rest :eek:

Hi Everyone, I was two weeks past surgery yesterday!! So that means only two more weeks of clear liquids! All my steri strips are off (with some help) and I must of had a reaction to those as well since underneath them it was red and bumpy and now that they have been off about 24 hrs it's not so itchy. Wendy - I still don't really feel like myself. Maybe it's the liquid diet. Physically I'm feeling so much better each day but I still have pain where the port is and right above my belly button. It's pretty sore by the end of the day. I worked all week though and made it through. I think because my Doctor does that stitch to prevent a hernia is what the pain is beside the port. Also, don't worry about what you ate; you've been doing so well and the goal is to loose weight before surgery to shrink your liver and that is what you've done. Pinenut - You should just keep your date. It's so hard to make this decision!!! I just wanted to get it over with. I think you'll be glad when it's over. No more second guessing yourself. And welcom Elivah, I would just do all your research and make your decision. I think both Dr Oh and NWLLS are highly reguarded. But your right Dr Oh does have a strict liquid diet after the surgery and so does my doctor. Mine is one month clear liquids w/3 - 30 gram protein shakes per day plus 4 childrens chewable vitamins and 1500 mg calcium plus 2-3 quarts of water. The water is the hardest for me to get in! Mer - Have fun traveling w/your hubby, sounds like fun! Well have a great Saturday everyone, I'm off to Costco to get stuff for Mother's Day. We're having a brunch at my house.... I wonder if anyone will want to trade my protein shake??? Hah!

Hi Startin'Over - Welcome! We have the same Doctor. I was banded 4/27/07. I'm two weeks out today. Good Luck and keep us updated!

Wendy - stay strong!!! Your doing so well and I know how you feel about 45 more days of liquids!! I feel like I was just where you were and look now I only have about two more weeks left, you can do it Just think how much easier the surgery will be. I only lost 8 lbs on my pre-op diet but my Doctor said my liver looked great and he didn't even have to move it (good I guess) and that I was a super easy surgery. I wouldn't have felt like visitor's. I was on that pain pump and then when I came home I just stayed on the couch for about two days. You will probably want one person there to help you though. Everyone's experience is so different and you may feel fine like some people here. Good luck and I know you'll keep going - because your already doing it!! Becky - My doctor see's patients from Mexico so you might be able to go to his support groups too. Dr Earl Fox, I would have to check when they are exactly but once a month at the La Quinta Inn in Tacoma.

Sorry I haven't posted much but I have been reading everyone's post's as much as I can - I sneak it in at work too (shhhhhh)... Michelle - I'm so happy for you!!! That is really good news, I'll keep hoping and praying for you that it all keeps going well! I had a heparin shot in my arm and had a huge bruise (after surgery). I forgot it was there and wore a short sleeve shirt yesterday and I had about 4 people ask me what happened, hmmmm I said I had a shot because I was deficient in Vitamin D (how stupid) It was the only thing I could think of at the time and I really am deficient!! hah! Laura - I'm taking phentermine (sp?).... I was banded 4/27 and my hunger returned about 1 week afterwards right in time for my post op visit. My doctor had no problem giving it to me and said he would still prescribe it for me until I got to my goal weight. It makes a huge difference w/my hunger and energy and it's pretty cheap. Mine was only $31. I hope you heal soon and get that fill. My next appointment is June 7th and might get a fill. I'm almost two week's out and still on clear liquids w/3 protein shakes, I have two more weeks to go before I can move to full liquids/pureed soups. That is the biggest reason for the phentermine. Have a great night everyone!!! I love reading your post's!

Hi Beckie, Welcome!! I was banded 4/27 and am now starting to feel so much better! I'm still sore; especially the port site. I also had a reaction to the iodine and now some of my steri strips have come off and the skin is all bumpy so I think I might have reacted to those too. Good job on your weightloss although these weeks post op are for healing. Are you still on a liquid diet? I'm almost two weeks out and still have two more weeks of liquids before going to full liquids. Are you steri strips off? I think I read somewhere in my paperwork that I can start using Mederma for scars at two weeks. Good luck and I hope your 100% soon

Hi Janell, I just saw your post and I was banded the same day. I'm just now starting to feel great. My doctor does some extra stiches to prevent hernia's so I think that is why I had so much pain. I went back to work last Thursday but wish I could have had all last week off. I've only told 3 people at work so I didn't want too many people to notice me being gone. How do you feel now? Are you back at work? I'm still on a clear liquid diet and 3 30 gram Protein shakes a day and have to do that for 4 weeks after surgery so I still have about 2 1/2 weeks left - ugh! Congrats on being banded!!

Welcome! Keep us updated on your progress

Hmmm, not sure what that would be... I was banded 4/27 and I have a hard lump kind of long and narrow where my port it. I'm guessing it's my port that I'm feeling plus the swelling. I haven't tried to move it - too scared!! It's still tender.