Lioness81970

Hey Jennye - I see Dr. Burhop at Brookfield Surgical on 172nd and North Ave. Glad to know yours was pain free!! Hope I can say the same for mine next time!!!

Hi Sassaay - no of course I will answer your questions. That is how we learn and if it hadn't been for this board I probably would have gotten the RNY done!! Well I honestly don't know what happened. As I stated the doc is very experienced so I knew that wasn't the problem. He used the flouro so he had no problem whatsoever locating the port. The problem was that he couldn't get the needle INTO the port. (wrong needle maybe?) So he kept proding and poking until it actually went in. It was only one initial poke but I think him moving the needle around is what caused all the blood. You know how if you have a cut and you keep picking with it it tends to bleed more? I think that's what caused it. Apparently he didn't use enough of the numbing med cause I felt every time he tried to put it in the port!! Honestly when he was done I was so shaken and had the sweats (and just so darn glad it was OVER) that I didn't even ask him what happened. The only question I asked was "How much did you pu into the band?" lol - I know, I know - but that was the only thing I was really concerned with!! Sorry I couldn't be much help but I'm still learning too!

Right now I am currently on the full liquid diet. I am pretty sure of what I can eat but did have a question about oatmeal and grits. Are these allowed during this time or does that come later?

Every one of us here can attest that although we knew we needed to loose weight it was ultimately US that had to make that determination. When I was preparing for surgery my husband said to me " I don't want you to do this. I love you just the way you are and it doesn't matter to me if you loose the weight or not." My response? "I know that but I am doing this for ME." Although I do understand what you are saying, she has to be the one to make that decision. It sounds like to me that she is either 1.) in denial 2.) truly believes that she doesn't eat as much as she does or 3.) is truly happy with how she is. My suggestion is that you either avoid the subject with her or just allow her to have her opinion as it is and don't try to change it. After all, only she can. I mean I know if someone would have come to me and said that I needed to have surgery to loose weight before I was ready I would have told them to take a flying.......well you can figure out the rest. Don't let this ruin your friendship because it very well may.

Hey everyone. I went back to work today - took an extended vacation from work after being banded. Anyways, when lunch hour came people asked me where I was going for lunch - I was notorious for being the "food getter" cause everyone always knew I was going SOMEWHERE for lunch. Well I suprised them all!!! Now keep in mind that I have ZERO restriction and I can eat anything - and I do mean ANYTHING - and wont be getting my first fill until Jan 5th. I could have easily went to Panera Bread and got a sandwich and soup - they have the BEST food I have ever tasted........but to make a long story short, guess what I did. I went down to our company gym and got on the TREADMILL for 30 minutes. I couldn't believe it myself. I had brought 2 chicken wings and a leg for lunch - only protein - and I stuck with that!!!! Wow - I never thought I could do it. All the while I am telling myself "you can have it - you can eat anything right now. You won't be able to do that after you get your fill". And when it came down to it I passed. Now guess what's going through my head? Guess how much money I am going to have to spend on a NEW WARDROBE since I am not going to be eating out for lunch anymore!!! That is so much better than eating!!!!

My list of things I look forward to (of course being healthy is #1 on my list): *being able to play basketball with my son *being able to shave my underarms without leaving hair there cause I can't see it *being able to clip my toe nails without having some help *being able to go to an amusement park or movie theater and actually fit into the seats *having a swimsuit that doesn't have the skirt attached to it and feeling comfortable to wear it in public Oh there are soooooo many things that I look forwad to but I would write a book if I listed them all.

it's so good to hear your voice - or should I say - read your words. I thought you abandoned us!!! Thanks for letting us know you're still here!!! It wouldn't be the same without you!!!

Donali - u are beautiful!!! U can really see it in your face.....glad you are so "inconsistent" cause it seems to be working!! LOLOLOL

So Jennye - dish the dirt girl!!!! I have been waiting (patiently I might add) to find out what happened......... :D

well everyone - my butt no longer hurts. lolol Anyways, that evening, my kids wanted some taco bell - or taco hell for the unbanded person - and I thought AHA!!! the answer to my problem. It was at that point that I remembered Taco Bell would go right through me so........I bought a bean burrito and a bowl of beans - and Voala!!!!!!! I no longer have that problem any more - LOLOLOL. But I think I will get some prune juice just in case!!

Ok - now that I have everyone's attention, I have a question........is there ANYTHING that anyone knows about that can help me ease this constipation QUICKLY??!! I used to be very regular until I had the surgery but of course now I don't go but maybe once a week if that. I have been drinking plenty of liquids - mainly water and don't know what the problem is. Can someone help me please?

I found this really yummy recipe on the Smart Bandsters website when I was thinking of things too eat. I was a little skeptical of trying it but I did and was pleasantly suprised....even the KIDS loved it!! 1 can fat free refried Beans 1 can enchilada sauce Salsa fat free plain yogurt - I chose to omit this Put it all in the blender and heat in the microwave. I added a spoonful of fat free sour cream to the top. It was SOOOO filling and SOOO yummy. Hope you like it!

I guess I wasn't one of the lucky ones cause about an hour after I woke up I was STARVING. I was ready to KILL for anything to eat!!!

well I just started using my great GoodWill find. I will be 3 weeks post op tomorrow and I just started using a Nordic Track that I picked up at the GoodWill for $4!!!! I don't have much endurance - as I'm sure you would understand that - but I have it in my dining room and everytime I pass it I hope on even if it's only for a few minutes!

Al - we all understand this more than you know. Just to ease your frustrations, let me tell you my story of being banded. Now that I think about it, it's kind of funny but at the time I thought it was the end of the world......... I was banded on 11/25. My surgery was scheduled for 12:30 but my doctor was running behind on another surgery. They didn't come get me until almost 1. Now keep in mind that I was SOOO tired (couldn't sleep the night before) and was STARVING!!! When they came and got me I gave my husband a kiss and I was off. I got to the prep room and they started my IV........and then I just waited! When I looked at the clock 1/2 hr had passed and all the while I have these crazy thoughts going through my mind. At that point I sat up and said to the first person I saw there " Take this IV out of me. I changed my mind and I WANT TO GO HOME." I really thought I did want to go home but it was just my mind playing tricks on me. They went and got my nurse and she talked to me. Finally she said she was going to get the anesthesiologist so I could talk to him. When he came to me he sat on my bed and held my hand. I told him I was scared of not waking up after the operation and I didn't know if I coud do this. He said to me " Everyone that comes in here is nervous and scared to a point and that's to be expected. If you really don't want to do this we can get you out of here BUT if you are just scared we can give you something to help relax you and take away some of the anxiety." So I said ok - if you think it will help then do it. Whatever he put in my IV had me feeling SOOO much better in a matter of 2 minutes. I'm telling you if he wouldn't have done that I would have been AWOL. They would have had a search party looking for me Anyways after that I don't remember much about what happened. I just remember him telling me about the breathing tube that he was going to put in me while I was under to make sure I was breathing fine. Then he said something to me that really put my mind at comfort. He said " You won't be alone. I will be right beside you every step of the way making sure you are FINE!!!" Maybe mine was an extreme case of being scared but we are all scared none the less. I just wanted to share my story with you so that you know you are not alone. When you do get to that point, just make sure to tell them your concerns. They are there to help you. If I would have done that I probably wouldn't have been the bundle of nerves that I was. If that doesn't help ask for DRUGS!!! lololol. Everything will be fine!

Hey everyone!! Was banded on 11/25 and I am soooo happy!!! The whole process went very smoothly!! I did get scared when they started prepping me for surgery to the point where I told them I had changed my mind and wanted to go home!! But then the anestheseologist came in and talked with me. I told him I was really scared and he asked me if I wanted something to calm my nerves or if I really wanted to leave. I told him I just needed to calm down and he put something in my IV and WOW - I felt 100 % better!! After that, all I remember is waking up in recovery and them saying everything is all fine! I am just suprised at how well I feel. I have been taking it easy - I know better but I feel really good!! I do have some gas but it's not painful at all and the only pain I have is where my port is. All the other incisions are fine. I only really need to take my pain meds when I am getting ready to go to sleep. Can't believe I have made it to the other side!!! WAHOOOO!!!!

I have to second that entirely.....I guess I ws one of the lucky ones cause when I decided to have the surgery my husband said "I hope you aren't doing this for me cause I am going to love you regardless of the way you look." That made me feel really good and when he said that I knew he loved me for ME!!

Hey everyone - I had my 2 week checkup today and have been given the ok to move to pureed foods for the next week and then to soft solids for the week after. My first fill is scheduled for Jan 5th and the doc said it will be done under floscopy(sp?). He said that the way they do the fill is completely fill it to capacity and then withdraw 1cc of fluid - total resctriction will be 3 cc's in a 4 cc band. So what I am thinking is that I should have pretty good restriction when I leave the hospital. Has anyone ever heard of the doc doing that before or has anyone had their band filled like that before?

Hi Skyhunt - when I had my surgery I took pajamas and a robe - didn't want my fanny hanging out of the hospital gowns for the world to see - slippers, a book, and toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.) I also made sure to leave my wedding rings and all other jewelry at home. HarleyKat- what type of pre-op diet are you on? I had a full lliquid diet prior to surgery and I am sure that cheese wasn't on it.

Congratulations!! I love reading your posts - they always make me smile and then think about thigns - I mean really think. As a new bandster I am reading all the posts knowing that knowledge is power and the more power I have the beter I will do!! Once again, thanks for the insight and shedding the light at the end of the tunnel!! YAY!!!!

I have a question - did anyone else get a RX for Prevacid after being banded? I got one and when I called the nurse and asked her if I really needed to take it she said yes for the next couple of months. She never really gave me an explination as to why I needed to take it but that I did. Can someone shed some light on this?

Hi Marcia - I got my approval in 12 days. My doctor's office actually called me before I even received the letter from the insurance company and set my date. Seems that they received the letter before I did.

Hi - I also have UHC - EPO and I had my surgery on 11/25. They approved me with no problems. From what I hear, UHC is very band friendly so that is a good thing!!!

Hi Sheila - it sounds like the same letter that I received. When I called UHC they said that is the standard letter that goes out when they are issuing a pre-authorization. The person that I spoke to said that the reason they state it's not an approval for claims paymnet is because nothing has been done yet so they can't authorize payment until the actual surgery has been done - that is where the claims part comes in. Hope that helps.

Caroline - I can so totally sympathize with you. The hunger pains are the worst!! It literally hurts!! Since I was banded the same day as you I don't have an answer for you but am looking forward to the replies just as well as you!! Hang in there - we will do GREAT!! The worst part is over!