Queen Bea

I just wanted to see if there were any other patients from True Results San Antonio. I wanted to know how your experience with them has been past or present. I'm scheduled for surgery 2/21 with Dr Carcamo.

so far so good since surgery. i have had my battles with gas pains in my shoulder but they finally all subsided. i am still getting the chest/indigestion/heartburn pain in the middle of my chest ?? going to ask dr about that. i am hungrier today then i was before and not sure the creamy full liquids are going to keep my stastisfied not liking the hunger feeling now that its back with hunger comes cravings. i get to start on soft foods on friday, yay, but scared cause i havent lost a lot of weight, i think my illusion that this is an immediate weightloss has taken me over (i know its not good). but i am down and hovering on some days, so i am happy with that. have my post op appt tomorrow, hope to get the go ahead to start working out or atleast a list of things i can do. Once again I am very happy for having this February support group, we made it to the end, congrats to everyone for making this first step... i couldnt have done it without you guys <3 Queen Bea

Ok SOS I need to know if this feeling i keep getting in my chest right between my breast is heartburn or indigestion or is it my band, is it something abnormal??? Not liking the feeling it's been like 2 days now comes and goes but does stops me in my tracks when it happens. I've only been taking Gas-X haven't needed pain meds but I started taking it today cause of the pain. Any advice or info would help.

I was the same way, all the way up until the middle of the night last night (surgery 2/21) I was strong and motivated and had no doubts. Then a big bomb of emotions fell on me, what if something did happen, what if there was a complication... what would happen to my children, who would take care of them, what if i was making a selfish decision to have a voluntary procedure and they lost me because of it... I was able to calm myself down after a while. I walked around the house giving them kisses and sending them text to remind them what they meant to me...

My Dr's pre-op diet stated that if you had to have a 'cheat' it needed to be a very small portion of chicken breast or tuna, dry... but to do it seldom. Well I couldnt make it thru the week without doing it here and there. but then again i was drinking the whole 4-5 shakes a day either, i couldnt stomach them and they were making me gag.

Looking forward to hearing how it went Dee257.

what are you using the Body Fortress Protein shots for? i saw them at walgreens, but wasnt sure if we should take them? were you instructed to take them? sorry lots of questions, today was my surgery and i have no hunger, and i had a hard time getting all my liquids in pre-op. kind of scared of losing muscle mass cause i'm not getting enough protein...

I am now banded!!! woohoo!!! I went in to the surgery center at 6am, actually made it there before the staff and had to wait for the doors to open. I signed in and signed my willingness to have any additional procedure needed if the surgeon were to discover anything. I was taken into pre-op area and prepared for surgery. Anesthesiologist gave me the initial sedative before they rolled me in, and by the time we made it into the surgery room I was already woozy. By 7:38am I was placed on the surgery table and the real sedative was pushed into my IV, ooooeeee! that hurt, felt like my wrist was being cut off, but in seconds I was out. Next thing I remember were the recovery nurses trying to get me to wake up, I was freezing cold and couldnt stop shivering, they were having trouble keeping my bloodpressure at a norm so they could start release procedures. Before I knew it they were standing me up and walking me to Radiologist to do the Barium swallow. Next they had me sit and start release procedures. I was dressed and released by 9:23am Yes, total turn around from surgery time to release time was less than 2 hours! I was shocked myself. I found out that I did have a small hernia that needed to be repaired, strange to me becuase I had no idea I had it. I was originally feeling ok... I went to turn my Rx in at pharmacy and then headed home to wait for them to be filled... the mistake I made was to lay down, once I did, the gas pressure started, I had no abdomen pain just the gas pressure and pain in my chest and shoulders. As long as I was up and moving I was feeling pretty ok, I walked around the store for a bit and it was pretty easy, just felt weak and a bit woozy. The hardest part was taking naps, because when I'd come out of one I'd hurt more from the gas pains then when I fell asleep, anything sedentary caused me problems, but I was still feeling effects of anesthesia. I decided to sit up in a more firm chair and sleep sitting up with pillows around me, it made things a lot easier. The worst pain from the gas felt like a cement brick was pressing on my chest and someone had straps and were pulling my shoulders back, and every once in a while an airbubble would move under my ribs looking for a way to escape. I never could release any of the gas, so Gas-X was my answer. By 7:30-8pm I was feeling a whole lot better. Gas-X plus the Pain meds, is all I've taken. I have had no nausea, the only thing I have taken in is Water, and chicken broth. I couldnt stomach the Jello. I had pizza delivered for my kids, since i had no desire to make dinner... the smells were great, but i didnt dare get close to it... I need to drink a shake to fill me up, but i am scared to... I'll try one for Breakfast tomorrow... I hope my accounts of my surgery day helps others... like everyone has said, everybody is different, tolerance of pain, recovery time, meds needed... take it slow, eventually we will get back to our "better" selves and writing to each other about our workout routines Queen Bea

okay so the final hours pre-surgery are here... i feel strangely calm... only feel a bit worried over the fact that i did not prepare myself with as much post-op items as others here have, lol... I check in at the surgery center at 6am tomorrow morning... they said surgery (if Dr. shows up on time) will be at 7:30am... and I should be out of the center and at home by 10:30ish... Thank you February Bandsters who post and respond, you've maked life and this new beginning a lot easier to bear, you've helped answer many of my questions (even the ones i never thought of asking), and you've shown a great support for one another and i am blessed to have had you guys in my life these weeks pre-op. I am more then excited to fill you in on my progress post-op, and though this section is for pre-op i hope that we all continue to stay connected.... To all 'losers' thanks for checking in on us newbies and giving us your support and knowledge, i will see you on the otherside soon

Any idea how to explain the weightloss I mean besides the yo-yo dieting. I wanted to associate the surgery with it without disclosing the lapband. We are always giving each other ideas and support, so other then eating far fewer calories with just will power I don't know how to explain it. I know this sounds childish but I work with all females and do not want my manager holding this over me if she finds out. (and yes she's that type of person/mgr)

Thank you soooooo much for bringing up this post and question. I have been racking my brain over the same issue. I got my time off that I need for my surgery but not without some questions as to why the short notice (I'm self pay and had 1st appt 1/19 and chose 2/14 as my surgery date) She made a big deal that if this had been something on going, why didnt i plan it out better. Yeah my manager ruined my chance at having procedure done on Valentine's day, my one true gift of love to myself. I work in call center so manager approved time off has to be put in 3-4 weeks in advance even if I have the hours available. So now my date is 2/21. She won't ask why I'm having surgery for legal reasons but she sure isn't comfortable not knowing why. I'm real close with my coworkers and usually tell them everything but afraid they'll tell her and she'll try to ream me for getting her to approve "elective" surgery when I could've just waited to schedule it later. I'm going to research the hiatus hernia and abdominal procedures. So if asked I have something to say to the girls I work with.

Thanks for the info ladies and good luck to both of you on your surgeries. I'm on my final countdown... Tuesday is the big day!!! So far everyone has been great, I really like the girls in the main office and Jason the nutritionist, haven't met any of the surgery office staff... Dr Carcamo was encouraging. I went to Feb's support group with Taylor (she's a blast), very informative. It helped settle my nerves to hear from post op patients.

I just wanted to see if there were any other patients from True Results San Antonio. I wanted to know how your experience with them has been past or present. I'm scheduled for surgery 2/21 with Dr Carcamo.

Still on Pre-op diet and I was getting better at it but caught my kids' stomach virus Tuesday and not keeping much in. Talked to surgery-nurse she said to keep up with the fluids and protein shake. And they'll check with me 1-2 days before surgery (2/21) to make sure I'm clear to have procedure. I'm sure I'll be done with virus by then but still stressed over it. I'm self pay and I got days off for procedure and no way I'd be able to reschedule the days off, already had issue getting the days approved on short notice.

Thank you morelgirl. I am definitely going to ask if sipping on broth in between shakes is ok. I just need to cut that overall sweetness lingering in my mouth and drinking Water in between isn't doing the trick.

Thanks for the info Will, but as I was telling MyLuv2Drive, it's the sweetness that gets to me. If it was protein enriched broth I think it would help. I'll be calling my clinic tomorrow to see if there's any alternatives.

Thank you for the info. I'll be calling the office tomorrow to see if I'm able to drink any alternatives to the sweet shakes.

I'm drinkIng the Protein shakes provided by TRUE RESULTS. chocolate & vanilla. They taste fine it's just the sweetness all day long gets to me, which is funny since my vice is sweets.

I am sucking at this protein shake only diet. My Pre-op diet instructions says if I need to cheat, I should only eat a small chicken breast or meat no sides, but to do it seldom. Well I'm on day 5 and I've only made it thru 1 day without a small cheat. I think the sweet taste of the shakes are getting to me. My kids get worried because they see me gag and make 'vomiting' sounds after I've had one. Nothing's coming up but definitely doesn't feel good (its not the taste of the shake that part I like). I'm scared this will be my reaction post surgery (protein shake diet first 5 days). Which I hear any vomiting post op is a no-no. Anyone out there have similar experience or have any encouraging words of advice?

These are the words I need to hear the dead hard truth. If I don't do it, if I chicken out, if I don't utilize the lapband for what it is meant for I will be the same miserable "fat" girl that's been sitting on this couch for years.... Tell your husband thanks.

Thank you for putting this question out here Lou... Congratulations on fighting and surviving cancer. My heart goes out to you. Let the Lapband be a tool for you to regain your self confidence and assist you in losing weight. But as a person who has battled depression for some time, I suggest you seek counseling to help you keep from overeating after the surgery. It's the need to feed your pain you must overcome not an addiction to food that you're fighting.

My nutritionist told me to get started now on working out. He said gradually build up the workout routine. If walking is all I can tolerate do that but add to it each day. He said this will help with post op recovery and post op work outs. It won't he such a shock to my body. If its hard to workout for you start off by stretching maybe a few yoga moves then add resistance. Good luck.

I went to my first lapband support group held by True Results. It was very helpful made me feel more confident about my choice to get this done and get started on a new me . The people were great I love my patient advocate Taylor, she's had the band herself for a few years now and can relate to us. The group is generally meant for post surgery clients but I highly recommend going to one pre-surgery, the q&a, real stories of success and hard times, even a males perspective, made it so real.

Thanx XTA good luck to you. I wish you well. Please post how it goes my date is 2/21.