Shackwacky

6 days here too! And yes! I would LOVE a scrambled egg, or a some soup or something not designed "to run through a straw" --- bleck! .....On the plus side I lost six pounds this week, so a pound a day Hang in there all.

I had surgery last Wednesday, and today (Tuesday) was my first day back. Eight hours felt like 15 and by the end of the day my incisions itched, by tummy hurt and my back ached --- and I couldn't take any pain meds all day as I had some seriously thinky stuff to do and didn't want to mess up. It's do-able, but if you can swing a few extra days to heal, you really should. Best of luck to you.

Oh me too --- that stabbing "I have to burp" feeling that is followed up by absolutely nothing!! I was actually considering trying something carbonated, but I think that is probably a bad idea. Walk walk walk.

I was banded on Wednesday the 7th. I am on day four now, and I feel like I am starving all the time. I have tried Protein drinks, popsicles, juice, gallons of Water (I have no restrictions when it comes to liquids), thinned out Soup, broth, decaf tea and full caf coffee. Milk and yogurt. The only thing I can get down without a hitch is the water, and apparently that is a good thing. But I make a small amount of soup (very thinned out) and sip the whole thing, and right away I am in the kitchen looking at everything that looks good. I think it might be in my head --- well, I am pretty sure some of its in my head, as I have been a vegetarian for years now and my son's ham slices look delicious! I keep thinking "another week of liquids!???" I want apples, and toast, and fajitas, and ............ How to calm the hungries?

So I made myself some cream of tomato and pepper soup, thinned it down with water, and added a shake of nutritional yeast. Sat at the table, ate very slowly, and when I was done (full.....didn't get it all in) I washed out the bullet cup, put my dishes away, and left the kitchen. It is leaving the kitchen that is going to be hard I think, I have lived in my kitchen for all my adult life. I am sure half of my extra weight I have gained tasting whatever it is I am cooking at the time, the other half from eating it once its all done!! I feel a steep learning curve coming on. Thanks for the replies

Kelly Jo, I was banded the same day as you! I am beyond having my period, but if it were me I think I would give the surgeon a call just to be sure. They can tell you whether its normal or something to call your OB about. How are you feeling otherwise?

I was banded on Wednesday, on Friday I flew home -- six hours in the air. Aside from being really uncomfortable due to gas and incisions and being post op, there were no issues. People fly for the surgery all the time.

I was banded this morning! Right now I am pretty sore and pretty stoned >>>> but knock on wood things seem to be going exactly as planned. Bit of pain in my shoulder and I feel like someone is stepping on my belly, but just to the point of uncomfortable. Does that make sense? I am glad to be here, and glad to be on the other side BEFORE CHRISTMAS

I am a go for the 7th. Nervous...happy.

Squeezing into a 12 does indeed sound like fun. Congrats on your progress so far

Well one week from tonight I will be flying into Toronto for my surgery. I am both excited and terrified, elated and ambivalent.... And lots of other as yet unidentifed swirling emotions -- whatever it is I seem to live on the verge of tears or laughing and I am never totally sure which one is going to show up at any given moment. Like PMS, but I'm a lot older now so it's harder to explain to coworkers I had an excellent visit with my GP today, he has been trained by my surgeon to do fills and follow ups. He was VERY reassuring, and he really believes that this is a great option for me - and I left his office feeling far better! (Have been having ohmygod-what-have-I-done moments). I am so looking forward to the day when my body is the size my mind has always thought it should be. I am looking forward to my feet and knees not hurting so much, and to clothes that fit. Normal blood pressure, being able to bend over to tie my shoes. I want to have my picture taken when I am not hiding behind my kids --- I still don't have a before picture, must remember to do that. I am wishing my husband could have come with me, but I have to travel for the surgery and we can't both be away at the same time. So I am thinking it's going to be a lonely trip but that also might just be me feeling sorry for myself. I want to say thanks to all of you. I haven't posted a whole bunch, but I have read and read and read and read. And thanks to your efforts, I have a much better idea of what to expect, what not to expect, what goes down, what comes back up, what you can drink (and how much), who to tell and who not to tell, what to do when you're out on the town, where to find cheap clothes and how to handle gas and sleeping on your back. Thank you all

Aww that's awful. Sorry you had such a terrible time.

I am with shellymariposa --- any long term low-bmi'ers? I am getting my surgery in one week, and would love to hear how you have done! Shellymariposa, how did the surgery go and how are you feeling?

Thoughts? I have had a consult now with both, and both seem equally, ummm, equal I am self pay and travelling a very long distance, so I am worried about getting the most value I can. Things like after care, ever had to come back for anything, fills and defills.... I am doing this in November of this year, I just have to make a commitment to one or the other in the next few days. Would love to hear any experiences and/or words of wisdom. My doctor would be Dr. Yau at Slimband or Dr. Cobourn at SWLC. Thanks!!

I think I have almost all my ducks in a row and my surgery is booked for the first week of November. I am wondering about the in-hotel nursing care though, has anyone used the service recommended by SWLC? My husband can't travel with me (has to work/watch kids) so I will be alone in TO. I need to have someone pick me up and stay with me for the night after surgery, and SWLC included a pamphlet for Homecare that I can call. They are $20 per hour plus mileage to the hotel, which is fairly dear considering the amount of hours I will need someone ---- Did you use them? Any tips to minimize this bill? Thanks.

I am wondering if I can get away with just having someone for a few hours instead of all night, has anyone else travelled in and used the service?

TFM - glad things went so well for you!

I am being banded, but they tell me I can't leave the clinic by myself and that I should have someone around for the first night. Yes, it does sound expensive -- and since I am self pay it's all adding up so quick.

Very interesting article Tom, thanks for that. I made my appointment with SWLC and am happy with that choice. My interactions with them felt more doctor/patient and less salesman/customer. My appointment is set for November and I am anxious to get the surgery behind me.

Oh I'm not offended either (t'was me that brought this up in the other thread). I was just surprised to see proseletyzing in the "general discussions" forum. Carry on, by all means.

I am an atheist and I am new here. This post/thread has me wondering, would it be an issue if I started threads in the lap band general discussion area insisting that there is no god, and that we all need to learn how to trust in ourselves and in one another because we are all on this planet together and in the end we are all we have..? I don't mean to be contentious, I would just like to clarify whether or not a belief in a supreme being is a necessity for board members. Ideas?

My nutritionist says not to touch the Atkins Diet with a ten foot pole. To hard on your body long term.

I just read that statement in one of the Low BMI'ers thread and thought, "wha?". I am a vegetarian, and for 90% of the time I stick only to whole grains, plain veggies, unaldulterated, sauce free, unprocessed foods. (The other ten percent is for when I eat out, or travel ----- amazing how hard it is to find real food sometimes!) From my consult and my talks with SWLC, I believed that I could continue to eat the way I do now, but that I would be limited in the amount of food I eat. Is this not so?

Oh that is good to hear. I will find a way to eat my asparagus though....celery and broc stalk I can totally live without. I would think new asparagus cut up tiny would be okay? And salads --- whew. Could not survive without my salads.

Oh --- asparagus being on that list makes me sad Thats my favorite summer food! I just read back through my pre-op literature and still can't find anything on specific veggies. I really need to get some more information on this! What about salads? The white stuff is not a problem, I gave up white rice and white breads already, and prefer whole grain Pasta to the mushy tasteless stuff.