bluetigereyes

Congrats! Its a fantastic feeling isn't it! Since you havent exercised in a couple months, start slowly, since the surgery you will get tired faster, listen to your body and work up to where you were before.

I think its common, although cant give details. I got banded on Dec 22nd and get a pain in my left side, near my belly button, when I exercise or walk long distances. Its painful, but not enough to stop me.

I work in an office with about 100 women. I specifically chose NOT to tell them about my surgery. I had my band placed on Dec 22nd. Many people here are rail thin and there are a few that are heavyset like me. I have only confided in a couple of people that I would say are my close friends at work about my band. I had one find out when she looked in my Medical Record (I work for the hospital where I had my band done) and when she confronted me about it, I turned her in for a HIPPA violation. My family is VERY supportive as are all of my friends. I have one person that was supportive when I was thinking about the band (for over 3 years) but when I finally had it done her whole attitude changed. Well, I figure, with people like that, they are not TRUE friends and do not need to be a part of my journey. She is my ex-husbands sister and I thought she was a friend, but has proved otherwise. I dont see her that often, so as the months pass, the weight comes off, and I start looking better and getting healthier, she is the one that will realize that she has missed out on being with me through this amazing journey. Many people think having bariatric surgery is a quick fix, we all KNOW its not. The band is just a tool to assist us in the journey, we still have hard work and dedication ahead of us to bring out that beautiful, healthy person that is hiding inside us all. I would love to keep in touch with you after your surgery...let us know how you are feeling and this board is great if any questions come up.

OK, I have to admit, I have sat here and read this ENTIRE post from beginning to end. I have laughed and I have cried. I know the emotions that everyone has felt on here. My first husband cheated on me, but to this day denies it (He lives his life in a lie and is proud of that fact, sad to say), Luckily he is in my past and I dont ever have to deal with him. I recently got divorced (last April) due to my 2nd husband not being totally honest with me (He didnt cheat, but still lied to me way too much). I just got my band on Dec 22nd, and waiting for my first fill on Feb 1st. I feel amazing, although I need to get in for my fill because I can eat anything and everything with no restriction right now. I want to say CONGRATS on getting engaged and your pregnancy. What a wonderful time in your life. You deserve happiness after everything you have been through in the last couple of years. I sincerely hope the cancer has not returned, but with your strength and resolve, if it has, you will overcome and be that much stronger. Thanks for sharing, I'm sure at times it was difficult, but this thread has helped MANY I'm sure. Deanna

I have to say, I feel great! I am not having any issues. I went for my first post-op visit last week and was told that I can start my mushy stage this week. So, I'm looking forward to a little more solid foods. I do have to admit, I have cheated a couple times and had 'real' food with no issues. I was careful to chew extremely well and take small bites. Other than a little gas, I felt normal. I am concerned since my appetite has returned. I am looking forward to my first fill. I know that I need the restriction in my band because the hunger can be oerwhelming at times. And a protein shake only lasts for about 4 hours before Im starving again. I know this is normal, and just take each day as it comes. I'm happy with my progress and know that when I start getting my fills I will feel much better and not so hungry. Thanks to all of you on this forum, its great to have people of all stages of this process to bounce ideas, comments, and suggestions off of. I have learned so much and appreciate you!

Congrats! I was one of the few lucky ones, my insurance doesnt require prior auth. I went through all of the steps, but when the nurse called for the auth, they said it wasnt required. I got my band on Dec 22nd, and got an email from my insurance today with the EOB showing that they have processed the doctors claim and paid it. I will have about $300 out of pocket. The hospital just billed, but all my co-payment is for any out patient surgery is $50, so I'm really happy. I know if the doctor got paid, then everything else will be paid without question. Hopefully you will get your surgery date soon and take that step towards a new you!!!

Congrats! I have had my band for 2 weeks now, and I can say that it took about 10 days from surgery for my appetite to return. I find that if I have a protein shake in the morning, it really does help me not be ravenous all day long. The nurse told me at my post of check on Wednesday to add a little oatmeal to my protein shake, it would hele me feel full longer. Well, I tried that this morning, and I will NOT do that again. I'm nauseated and feel like I have a brick in the pit of my stomach. Oh well, I guess if nothing else, that will keep me full the rest of the day!!!

My Dr told me to limit the sodas. Also, because of the carbonation, they can make you very unconfortable. One suggestion I was given was to let it get a little flat before drinking it, totally flat soda is disgusting, but if you let it sit open for about 30 mins, it does dissipate some of the carbonation and make it not so bloating. I was not told to wait a certain length of time after my band was placed, and I have to admit that I have had some diet coke without problems. I go in for my first fill on Feb 1st, so I'm sure after there is some restriction in there it will be a totally different story for me. I have gotten to the point that I prefer Arizona Green Tea anyway (I use the tea bags so I can have it without sugar and calories), I go through ALOT of tea everyday which is fine with me.

I had my first post op visit yesterday. I am now 2 weeks post op. I told the nurse I've been having some mushy's but she told me I have to go back on liquids for another week, my dr is VERY strict about that....so back to liquids for one more week. My first fill is scheduled for Feb 1st, I cant wait. I was told I could go to 'normal' food 4 days before my fill, but for the 2 days before my fill, keep a food diary so the dr can judge how much needs to go in the band. I've lost 4 lbs since surgery, which is ok, not as good as I had hoped, but I just look forward to getting my first fill and seeing how I feel after that.

I cant wait until I get my first fill. I was banded on Dec 22nd, and I feel absolutely NO restriction. My hunger has come back and for whatever odd reason, I find myself craving chocolate. The strange part about that is, I NEVER want chocolate. I have never been a big chocolate person, but since I got the band, I crave it. Good thing I get my protein shakes in Chocolate, but I have been wanting M & M's like there is no tomorrow. I think I need to feel some restriction, I see my dr for my post op today, so I am going to get my first fill scheduled at that time. Hopefully I wont have to wait 4 more weeks for the fill!!!

What a terrible thing to happen. Just be there for your friend. He is going to need your love and support when he gets back.

Dr. Anderson did my band on Dec 22nd. He was my surgeon for my gallbladder a couple years ago as well. I would totally recommend him (and St. Als is awesome as well)

I just got banded on Dec 22nd. I started the process in 2008 and gave up. Then Oct 2011, I decided I wanted to go for it. Everything fell into place and went SO smooth. I lost 24 lbs before my band was placed (between Oct 23rd and Dec 22nd), and I feel great. I am now almost 2 weeks post op and feel amazing. I am now looking forward to my first fill so I can feel some restriction. Good Luck Tiffany You can do this!!!

I was banded on 12/22. I lost 24 lbs before surgery, but since surgery have only lost 1 lb. I am on 'mushy' foods and doing extremely well. The whole process went extremely smooth for me and I have to say that I feel amazing (almost like I never had it done!) I have been worried that I'm not losing, but seeing all the other posts and many people are not losing before the first fill is reassuring. I go to the dr. tomorrow for a post-op check, but not for a fill. I am going to talk to him about scheduling my first fill and seeing if I can get some restriction to see the weight come off. I tend to be on the inpatient side, but I know that I have to learn to be more patient, and this is a great test for that haha. I took my 'before' pictures the morning of surgery and I cant wait to look at those pictures next Christmas and see the amazing changes that will be coming.

New Year...new YOU! What a great way to start the new year. I have had my band for a week, and feel great already. 99% of the pain is gone and I feel like myself again. I'm going to see if I can sneak away and get to the gym when I get off work today. For now it will just be treadmill and bike, but its a start. Good Luck!!

Walking is the best. I got my band on 12/22 and I had ALOT of gas pain. I put a heating pad on my shoulder that hurt the worst and that seemed to help too. Just remember, for every 10 mins you sit, walk for at least 3-5 mins. It gets the gas moving and coming out.

Everyone reacts differently to Anesthesia. The surgery itself only lasts for about 45 mins, so you are no tout very long.

Take a deep breath, dont let things get the best of you. My insurance approved me within a day, some Insurances will get back to the surgeon right away, others take longer. If you communicate with your doctor about the concerns with your insurance, they can speed things along and try to get it done before the ins runs out.

Good Luck! I just had my band placed on Dec. 22nd. I originally started the process back in late 2008, completed my 6 months supervised weight loss, etc. Then, I got discouraged. I couldnt lose the 10% the doctor wanted me to lose, I was having a hard time in my personal life, and totally lost momentum. In October 2011, I decided (since I was at my highest weight EVER) that it was time to get it done. I met with the surgery coordinator, she is a complete god-send!, Got started on losing my pre-surgical goal (she said if I wanted to have it done before the end of the year, I could lose 5%, or 14lbs). I got all my pre-surgical testing complete within 30 days. Then came the scary part, making sure my insurance would approve the procedure. The doctors office called my insurance and faxed them all the documentation, they responded back that they do not require the pre-certification and I was cleared for surgery. It has now been 6 days, I am feeling great, and at times think it is all too good to be true because everything went so smoothly this time. I get this feeling that I'm going to wake up and it will all have been a dream. Prior to surgery, I was able to go from 274 to 253, in just about 2 months. Since surgery, I have lost another 5 lbs. Dont give up hope, you can do this! Good luck! Deanna

I too was banded on the 22nd. I havent had any depression or crying, but I so have a little tightness in my chest. I know I've had ALOT of gas (mostly burping) since the surgery. I have progressed to having thick liquids (anything I can suck up a straw) and depending on what I have it settles well. Last night, had a bowl of soup. Ate about 6 bites and I was stuffed. My biggest challenge seems to be drinking enough. I have a hard time drinking while I'm at work. I have lost 5 lbs since surgery, according to my scale this morning. When I started preparing for surgery I was 274 (I'm 5'3"), for the first time in a VERY long time, I'm under 250! I was 249 this morning. I feel great. My only question is, I still have the bandage over my port site, should I leave it on longer? There is quite a bit of dried blood on the gauze and I just worry about leaving that against the incision for so long. It is covered in Tegaderm so no water is getting to it.

I was banded on the 22nd of December. I can tell you that I am STILL having alot of the gas issues. Every time I eat, I get gas. Don't let that scare you. I know the hematoma is a scary complication, but it is relatively easy to fix. Keep in contact with your surgeon and if you have a coordinator that you have been working with, let them know as well. This is only a minor hiccup in a lifelong success. Next year at this time you will look and feel amazing! I told my kids last night, that next Christmas, I'm going to put on my jammies from this year so we can all see the incredible difference a year makes.

I also had my band placed on the 22nd of December. My incision sites are all really itchy (which is typically a good thing because they are healing). Today my incision where my port is is also VERY tender. This is my first day back to work after surgery, so I'm just wondering if its because I'm not up and walking as much as I was at home. My surgeon told me that the incison where the port is will be the most tender because its a larger incision and they do some tunneling of the port under the skin. I'm hoping that by the end of the week, I'll be feeling much better around the port site as well. Keep me posted on how you are feeling.

I didnt have a problem overeating over Christmas, which was a true blessing! I had 1 packet of Cream of Wheat (made thin) and I did eat 1 bite of a sugar free chocolate pudding pie (without the crust). I was more than satisfied. I am now 5 days post-op and really feeling great. I was not hungry last night, so I didnt eat dinner, well, that kind of backfired on me, I woke up at 2 am starving! I did wait until I got up at 5:15 to have a little breakfast, but I know better not to skip a meal again. I plan on having a vanilla yogurt for lunch and if I'm still hungry, I have a protein shake with my name on it as well I stepped on the scale this morning, I'm down 4lbs since surgery. I am so happy!

I just had my surgery 3 days ago, I can tell you, I am a little sore, but nothing horrible. I feel much better when I get up and walk around because they fill your stomach with gas, and trying to get all that out is the hardest part. your shoulders may hurt from the gas too. Just keep moving. Also, dont try to eat anything right away, stay on clear liquids the first couple of days. I am just now progressing to a protein shake and I got a little light headed and nauseated after drinking it, but didnt throw up, which is a good thing. Good luck, dont let people scare you, do what YOU feel is right.