not2big42long

Congrats Leo, Only 24# to go! Woo-hoo:banana Wow Donali and Alexandra, You guys are great. Your insight will come in handy when the plateaus start. Thanks for your comments!!

Wow the day before - Are you excited/nervous??? I had my surgery last Wednesday and it was pretty easy. I woke up with just an IV and these boots that inflate/deflate on and off. I guess they are supposed to help with blood clots in the leg. I had little post-op pain (mainly just the site that has the port). I was able to drink just fine. No problems with swelling. Just like Alexandra said the anesthesia is what takes a while to get over. The hangover makes you want to sleep a lot. But believe or not the walking does wonders. Almost a week later I feel great. Not too much tenderness. Hope this helps....Good Luck....Let us know how it goes. I'll be thinking of you;)

Well I have finally joined the bandsters. I am surprised how well I feel today. I had my procedure on 3/24 and yesterday (3/25) I felt less than perfect. But today (3/26) I am feeling great. A little sore but good. I was so impressed with the after care at the hospital. They talked to me quite a bit about the band and were so positive about the choice I made to have it done. The second day I had a nutritionist visit me and explained all about the diet, and then they had the bariatric counselor come talk to me to answer any questions I might have and let me know about the support groups they have available. It was great, I felt very cared for. Hooray, I'm on my way:banana

Hi Tina, Sorry this is a little late in returning but I haven't looked under this heading much. I just had surgery at Evergreen. I work at Evergreen also and know Dr. Watkins and Montgomery very well. In fact Dr. Watkins was the assist on my surgery. He does so well that he was teaching the doctor that did mine. He says his patients have lost over 9,600 pounds in the last year. He is not only a great doctor but a great person as well. His nurse that does the fills has had a band for 5 years. She has perfected the art of fills. I would have went to him but another surgeon I work with wanted to start doing them and I asked if I could be his guinea pig. He is very good laparoscopically and proved just how good when he did 3 lap bands on 3/24. His average time was 60 minutes and I have had very little pain or nausea. They have a great setup at Evergreen and the money you or your insurance pay's to the surgeon also includes the first year of visits and fills. We also started a new program called Reconstructive choices after Massive Weight Loss. This is so exciting because after you lose all the weight you end up with lots of excess skin. Dr. Dry does what is called a Lower body lift where he makes a circumferential incision along the "bikini line" and pulls down the tissue to remove bumps and lumps and pulls up the tissue from the butt and legs. The patients end up looking fantastic and the scar is hidden under bikini bottoms. This is all so exciting to me. I just might get to have a small tight body some time in the future. If you have anymore questions please ask!!!

Wow!!!!! !!!!! You are remarkable. I just got banded on the 24th and I am so excited. Keep the pictures coming they are so inspirational:Bunny :Bunny :Bunny Thanks for sharing,

100 pounds, how inspirational!!! I love this web site. It it wasn't for you all I might not have gone through with it. Keep up the great work we are all rooting for you.

Yahoo!! Got the clearance for my gallbladder, no stones, I just have a filling defect and it can wait. It might even get better with healthier, lesser eating. I am so excited I can hardly believe it. It's amazing...once you make the decision, you want it done yesterday. :banana

Welcome Brook, Congratulations on getting scheduled. How's your mom doing? It's great that you are taking this step so young. Good Luck and let us know how you do.

Way to go!!!:banana Can't wait to be a part of it all.

"Now I KNOW I shouldn't have eaten this stuff but it was in my mouth and in my stomach before I could even say stop." Wow if there were enough numbers to count how many times I have said that. Your right it is moments like that that has put us in the predicament we're in. But the great part about where you are now is that it is just temporary. You know that next month you can get an adjustment and again it will be easier to say no before your stomach takes over. That is something WE overeaters haven't had before. So keep your chin up and squeek yourself through this month and before you know it you'll be having your fill and gaining back the control. Keep up the good work!!

Hey Alexandra, You are usually so uplifting to others I thought I would try my hand at it when you are feeling down:( I wonder how often this happened before you were banded and how often it happens now. Even though it was a rough day you still got through it thinking already about how good the next day was going to be. It sounds to me like to have incredible control and deserve a bad day once in a while. The best part is you haven't lost the control:) I know when I lose it, it usually lasts weeks and I end up putting all plus more back on. I hope I find in the band what it looks like you found - my "control" back! You truly inspire me even on a throwback day. Thanks for all your comments to me and others,

Hi Mary, Congrats on your band!!! I will join you all in a week:D WooHoo. Where abouts do you live in Washington? I live in the Seattle area. Let us other newbies know about your progress, like you said this is a great site for helpful information. Take Care,

I went today for my pre-op consult and found out that I need my gallbladder out. :cry So.....on Friday 3/12 I am getting it out laparoscopically. Then I find out next Thursday if I can still get the band on the 24th or if we have to put it off a couple weeks. My surgeon said he could do them together but the risk of infection increases quite a bit. He and I decided it's better to be safe and do the gallbladder first. Sorry I am rambling on so. It's just a little disappointing and was quite a shock.

Thanks Debra and Vera, My doctor said the same thing Debra. His concern is that the bacteria from the gallbladder would infect the band. I am private pay and really am frightened of complications that won't be covered. For now I have put off the gallbladder and I am getting a few tests done to see exactly what the problem with my gallbladder is. I agree with you Vera, it would be a lot better to just do them all at once. But and there is always a but, how will I feel if something happens. Lots of decisions....:guess One thing good I found out is that should I decide to have both surgeries at the same time my out of pocket expenses won't be as much because insurance will cover some of it. Woo-hoo:) Should know something by Wednesday 3/17. I'll keep you all posted.

Weigh to GO!!!!:laugh I get banded next week. Can't wait to join you all. Talk about motivation!?!?

Glad to hear all is well after a tough beginning. Take care and let us banded and not quite banded know how you are doing!!!

Thanks for the support. I think I might call him today and see if we can't just try to do it at the same time. I would rather try that then have two surgeries. Thanks Again,

Hi Christina, The same thing happened to me with my friends and colleagues. Comments like "All you have to do to lose weight is stop eating so much and exercise". And other comments like "I'm taking the easy way out" made me second guess myself. It took me almost a year to finally get passed all that and decide for myself that this is something I really want to do. I have told only my close friends that support the idea of the band and of course like you, I needed a ride home so I told my hubby. He is actually very supportive of it. Congrats on being banded and let us know about your journey. This web site is a great source of information and all the people are so supportive. It's nice to be able to talk to people that are going through or have gone through the same thing. Take Care,

YEAH!!! Hope all goes well. Write to us when you can! Take Care,

Hi Texasbelle, I feel exactly like you. I am going to be banded later this month and can't wait.

Welcome, I am new also and I have found that this is the best site. You will find out just about anything you need to know from people that are actually living it. Everyone is always willing to help. It's Great! Hope to see you again,

Weigh to go!!! I am also waiting to be banded and love hearing all these success stories. Keep them coming:D

Hi, Speaking as someone who works in the operating room. The catheter thing is a surgeon preference but usually the pre-op nurse, like Anne said, will ask you to go to the bathroom before. If you do get a catheter, it is usually what we call an in and out, where they just wait for the patient to be asleep, insert the catheter, empty your bladder and take the catheter right back out. How long did the surgeon say the procedure was going to take? At the hospital I work at they take an average of around 45 minutes to an hour, depending on whether the patient has previously had surgery. I'm not scheduled until 3/24 but so far I have had to have blood work, a full physical, EKG, a psych evaluation(which I must say was interesting), a meeting with a nutritionist(where I found out it is true, I do overeat ),and the consult with the surgeon. I am 41 and can't wait to get it done. Good luck with your research.

Congratulations, Wow thats about as easy a time I've read. Maybe your surgeon knows how to bill correctly. It would be interesting to see how he billed. Sounds like you are feeling pretty good. What kind of diet does your surgeon have you on? Let us know how it goes. Take Care of yourself,

Congratulations, Keep us posted on the when and where's. I know I can't wait for mine.