Sooverit!

Had my surgery on the 2nd and healing well. The body is truly amazing in it's constant efforts to return to health! My cuts no longer hurt but nausea is still a problem. I'm learning that at this point nausea may mean hunger. I go for a Protein drink and it helps with the nausea. No real hunger though!! I haven't had solids since Monday and I feel constantly full!! I feel full after a one sugar free jello! it's great. A few things to remember: Bring Warm slip on Slippers, (I used them while being taken to the hosp. door in the wheel chair and on the car ride) Chap Stick - used before and after surgery to help with dry lips! Bring your own favorite pillow with a favorite pillow case. I used a pillow case i used to use as a kid. When I returned from surgery the sweet nurse had it laying neatly on my head of my bed. It was comforting. Remember to take it when you leave....it will feel like a teddy bear in the wheel chair. Bring warm blanket for car ride home. Purchase or have a heating pad waiting by bed when you get home. I needed it. Have fresh Water bottles by night stand when you get home. You will need to drink a few oz of water every 20 mins. Don't forget to leave your jewlry home :rolleyes:I forgot to take my rings off and had to trust DH with them under that kind of stress! When you get home sleep as much as you can and walk around also when you can. Accept hugs when offered:girl_hug:

Oh princess ...call your doctor as soon as possible about that hon. How does it look? Is it still red or swollen or any dampness around it? I don't have too much pain there but then again only one incision hurt badly after surgery but it may be from the C-section I had that took out some nerves in my stomach I think! But please call...that's what their paid for....keep us posted!

Woke up feeling so nauseous tonight and have been feeling this way for the past 2 days post surgery. Just wondering how long does this last?

I Just remembered I didn't have shoulder pain either! I had every other type of pain including nausea but this is only night 2 after surgery and feeling tons better. I am going to be brave and try a little cup of coffee tomorrow morning. I let you know how it goes.

This was such a great idea for "Goddess" to start this thread for us. It really helped me to read these stories the night before my surgery and now I will write mine. We thought we didn't need to sleep over the night before surgery at a hotel near the hospital as we realized as we had only driven an hour to get there but in the morning we were so glad we did. My husband and I stayed at a Hyatt Suite 20 mins from the hosptial as my surgery was scheduled for 6:15 a.m. A bit extravagant for these hard times but in this case these clean beautiful apt. like rooms were just what the doctor ordered for frayed pre op nerves. We arrived at the hospital a bit early but waited only 5 minutes for the nurse to call my name. I was the first patient for the day and was lead to a large, clean, bright room with 4 adjustable, comfortable looking beds and a bathroom near each bed. I felt relieved as it was much nicer than I had anticipated. The nurse who I was lucky enough to have assigned to me couldn't be nicer or more competent and it turned out that she went to the same high school as me many miles away. I was asked a few of the same questions and before I knew I was shuffling my body on to the rolling bed and a male nurse was covering me with warm sheets. So far so good and I'm still not really nervous. Then like planes on a runway you are parked behind other pateints ready to go into the OR. Each person is assigned their Anethisiologist. The man in front of me had more nurses than than I did as he was going in for heart surgery I believe. I heard him say that his previous surgeon was Dr. Oz.. The (oprah dr. OZ) but before he became famous, the nurses were impressed and commented how we had a celebrity amoung us. The next part wasn't as easy ...I was wheeled in finally to the OR and it still is the scariest looking place on earth. It was a cross between a horror movie and a UFO room ...the lights were a weird green irredencent. I would say either just close you eyes through this part or ask your anethesiologist to be put you out right away as prep makes you uncomfortable - as it did me. My anesthesiologist was a kind elderly aisan man but I think he was a bit too gentle with the anesth. as i woke up:ohmy: while they were taking out the tube. I remembered later like it was a dream . I was grabbing my mouth and coughing very hard and saying I can't breath!! the nurses then shouted quickly to take a deep breath..I did and went back to sleep. :tongue2: I was very alert after the surgery and could move myself to the bed easily. I think the aneth. was light on me because I had some alergies. I think I might have gone back to sleep and woke to my husband who looked anxious but relieved when we talked. I was in more pain than I thought I would be actually. The nurses repeatedly asked the level pain I was as in 1 - 10 ...I always said 8 but the pain did subside with every "nap". I was able to sip water after an hour and have jello after 2 hours. I left after urninating enough to show all was well. We were on our way home by 3:00 p.m. I felt fine on the way home:thumbup: Best to you! Having this amazing devise is worth every minute of discomfort I went though!:thumbup:

Oh thank you for looking it up Princess...I am calling my doc tomorrow. Can you believe it? I'm 49 and had a few irregular periods so i wasn't expecting it the first day out of surgery!! Yikes...i was like just what I don't need now! But I'm learning the lap band isn't for sissys and I'm getting tougher by the day! Wow...you are down 21 lbs. already since the 28th!~~you must be thrilled! Are you having fun trying on clothes in your closet that were tight? I put on a sweart shirt I had that used to be a bit snug to pick up my daughter from school tonight and it fit better than it has already! thanks again for your help!

Thanks so much guys...this is such a great resource. I was wondering if my intense nausea - (learning to spell this word without checking now) which is gradually going away, has anything to do with having my mestrual cycle begin the night I got home! I heard there is more swelling at this time? If it continues I will look into your suggestions ...wish I asked sooner! thanks agian,

Just wanted to mention something I forgot to post. One other thing I would have done guys.. is drink your Water up to the final hour (12 mid night). I wished I drank more the night before as I woke up thirsty and thought it is going to be a long day..even if you have to wake in the night...~ Also keep water bottles near your bed side for you when you get home. 1-2 oz every 20 mins...gets to be a pain if you have to measure every time. I just sipped from the bottles and guestimated. Best to you all!! Sooverit!

hit send too fast ...feel better everyone

I was banded on 12/2 and I am fighting nausea right now. I woke up today to my TOM so that doesn't help. I did have sugar free puddingan hour ago . Last night was very bad I thought I would throw up but didn't. It seems worse in the evening. I am also thinking it's the pain meds...that liquid syrup is aweful...I'd rather have pills I cut up. I have no appetite..and I

Hi Slim Snowflakes...like that one! Just got back from surgery last night. Wanted to share a few things I would have done differently. Water: We were busy getting to the hotel near the hospital the night before surgery and I would have DRANK a lot more Water before 12 midnight. I woke up thirsty and thought this is going to be a long day. Drink as much as you can up to the final hour. Keep water bottles by your bed for when you get home. I like the "smart water" bottles. You won't want to be measuring just have it handy and think what 2 oz is like and drink from the bottle. Pain meds: Make sure you have them when you get home...mine weren't ready and I was in alot of pain. Joanne: I wanted to write this is my note to you but forgot and now i can't find my post to you. Good luck tomorrow !!

There's an important element you are leaving out and that is age. Someone who is your age and is healthy and a 30 bmi well then it's her and her doctor's choice. =Someone at age 50 will find it extremely difficult or impossible to lose more than 50 lbs. I'm 49 just had the surgery yesterday actually and I did it because the weight was piling on every year and wouldn't respond to exercise. Just developed Hypertension also. to each is own I say

Hi Joanne: I'm back! We got home yesterday evening. Everything went as smooth as silk. I could not ask for a better staff and hospital environment. I was very well cared for. We got to the hospital at 6:15 a.m and left around 3:00. I want to tell you one thing I would have done differently though, I would say stay as long as you can at the hospital. This is a major surgery and there's nothing like having nurses check on you to make you comfy and pain meds in hand. Are you having an out patient proceedure? I should have been in the hosp one more day especially since when we got home the meds weren't ready at the pharmists which was my mistake I didn't do this sooner but we had to get the script at the hosp. I was in a lot of pain last night....it was like having a terrible stomach virus with gas and nausea thrown in for good measure! I feel so much better now tho Joanne. I feel thinner already and not hungry in the least and I haven't had solids since Monday. I am sipping on full liquids today. Using my dh's lap top in bed now. Well all the best to you Joanne ..and thank you for the support you gave me aqlong with way it meanst more than you'll know. You will do great and be post op before you know it! YES it is all worth it I feel great already even tho I'm still sore! Stay strong, Love, Sooverit in NY

I am due for surgery for the Lap Band procedure in 2 days. My question for those who have going through this surgery is: 1. Did you or could you bring a pillow to the hospital for the (ugg) gurney? I don't like the thought of laying flat on my back for 2-3 hours waiting for surgery, or is the pre op bed more like a raised hospital bed? 2. Can I, did you bring my own little blanket...I know I'm a BIG baby! :-) 3. Was it okay to bring in a book to read in pre op? 4. How long did it take before you felt like you could go home? My surgeon said I could go home as soon as I felt up to it.

Thanks Restless and Sarah so much. I will leave my stuff for the car ride!

Thank you Carrie...yikes! Cigna is unbelievable...I also read on the web site that they only cover if your co mobidity is not responding to meds. It's amazing how some folks are covered immediately. Well they are now at least covering all my tests and medications! Glad I didn't reschedule after all this! best, m

Thanks Indigo for your sound advice....I am smiling as I read my frantic, ridiculous post about speedy liver shrinking! I didn't think you could actually shrink your liver that fast. I've decided being less stressed is a better option for me for surgery and recovery than worrying about my liver size. The office was closed since TGing. Thank you for your well wishes!

Hi Joanne: I'm glad you weren't on the computer for a while...it's probably a lot more healthy for you to be up and about! I think lately i've been on too much! The fact that it's in my kitchen all shiny and new with an cute Apple logo makes it harder to resist! I agree about the coffee ...the headaches are too much! My post op people told me right off that coffee is fine! Now you have 3 days left and I have 1!! I know you will do great Joanne...you are so generous with support and keeping the focus off yourself. You will be in my heart and prayers as well. I will write you as soon as I can....BTW the more I read, the more convinced I am we are very lucky to have this surgery!! To lose weight on our own after age 50 well you know how that goes.......thanks again Joanne. marg

Dear Lyn: Just wanted to thank you for your post as it is exactly what I needed to hear. With surgery suddenly upon me - tomorrow early morning, I am just hoping I did the right thing or was this lap band one or my obsessions I couldn't put down. You calmed my fears as you are a true low BMIer ! Your advice is great, in fact it's getting a place on the heart of my home...the refridge! Congrats on being a size 8 at age 50 whahooo......you must feel awesome! thanks again, Marg in NY

Thanks for your words Birdie, even though they weren't directed at me, they really calmed my sudden fears after reading other posts about getting ...stuck! I am scheduled for surgery in a day and worrying more about living with the band than anything else!

Oh 32 is pretty low in their eyes...not overseas though any BMI over 30 is considered for surgery. Here in the US you must be over 35 generally and most surgeons won't touch you where I live in LI if you are under a 40 BMI.

This is never going to end with Cigna. Well I was denied 3x with the help of obesitylaw.com. They sort of cut me off after the 3rd denial. I had a too low BMI 37 without co mobidities the approve of. Went through the 6 month diet etc. Now it's still with in the year and I developed HYPERTENSION....I big green light for coverage and I am on MEDICATION for it.. Can I resubmit? My surgery is in 2 days....will I get reimbursed? Should I re schedule the surgery....(Don't want to )

Hi Teresa: You will learn patience with the insurance companies and it will go fast especially with the holidays ect. You do have age on your side...you're metabolism should still be in good order? I ended up paying out of pocket but recently diagnosed with Hypertension which is a green light for insurance coverage! Good luck with all the details ...keep us posted...You'll do fine!.

This is unusual ... I started this journey a few years ago when I was only a 35 BmI and my doctor was all for it ...I think he said they age I was 47 I would be gaining as usually a person becomes less active. In fact every doc I every spoke to was all for it. But try telling a non medical person and they try to talk me out of it?? Go figure...what is your BMI?

Tree ...can you please tell me what is EZ Prep?