GR8

Your first visit -- most likely will be a picture - weigh in - vital signs - review your health history - listening to heart and checking circulation - and feeling your rib's and gentle probing on your stomach. Perfect time to ask ALL the questions you might have of him. If self-pay you can make the appointment right then, if looking for insurance approval -- that depends on them - some take 2 weeks and some need special documentation. You can start right away with losing weight -- more you lose before surgery the easier surgery will be and the band will help keep it off! Gina

Please try not to barf! You have stitches that need to heal. You don't want to rip them out and have the band slip.

Hi Marg -- Gina here again. Click on the person's name -- such for me "GR8" this will bring up option and choose Private Message. Keep smilin'

Hi Margi again! Let me walk you thru the ticker thing. 1. click on someone's ticker - it will take you to the website to create yours. 2. click the box that says: "Create your own ticker" 3. click the "WEIGHT LOSS" or "EVENT" (your choice if you want to track the weight loss or count down to the surgery -- or count from the date you had surgery.) I am going to assume you clicked "WEIGHT LOSS" for the following steps. 4. click the ticker bar you wish to have as yours (there are 13 pages of designs to choose from - to see another page just click the page #) once you have decided - click "NEXT" 5. click the ticker slider you wish to have as yours (there are 7 pages of designs to chose from) once you decided - click "NEXT" 6. complete this page with your options - password; tracking by change of weight or showing actual weight and lbs lost; your target and starting weight; current weight and weight date; your height - click "NEXT" 7. highlight the code in the first box - starts with "[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/..." copy it (right mouse click - copy) 8. goto your "EDIT SIGNATURE" on your lapbandtalk and paste it (right mouse click - paste) 9. preview signature -- then add spaces and additional content as you wish. Let me know if you need more help -- or if you have questions regarding these instructions. Good Luck!

go to: http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/search/en/query.jsp?q=ids&intsource=main or call them at 1-800-223-1216. $29.99 for 12 of the 43 gram bullets -- I use 2 a day. I put the 2 of them in a 16oz water bottle - add water to the top and drink a third at B-L-D. I have a coupon -- that the website didn't recognize but I called them and they did honor it -- "Save $10 on any purchase of $50 or more" promo code VSC-3123 -- received it from my doctor's office - it also is a "Supplement and Grocery list for Gastric Bypass Patients." (Feel free to use it as well!) Good Luck!

I read everything under the sun on Gastric bypass 9/2006 - decided I would see if I could follow the diet -- lost 8 lbs -- in a few weeks -- and decided I could do this program -- went to the free seminar for the gastric bypass end of Sept. I decided I was getting the Gastric bypass -- but unable to until after March due to $$$ -- continued the diet and by xmas -- lost total 30lbs. I got off the strick diet - started enjoying my diet soda's and such -- decided no need to suffer the last few months -- keep the weight off and stable through early March. Made my appt with Doctor to discuss if I would be a successful patient and which surgery. He said sure - perfect canidate for either - the risks were less with lapBand - so I made my surgery appt that day -- took home the materials -- and back to starting my diet/program again - just a month to surgery -- Started the preop 3wks out replacing 2 meals a day; then 2 weeks out all three meals with Protein shakes. Ended up losing additional 16.6 lbs. Had my surgery 4/9- weighed in 1 week after - and lost additional 6 lbs. SO TOTAL lost 52.6 -- due to my decision to have SURGERY. I am scared to look now at the scale -- if I don't lose I get very disappointed and frustrated.

Hi Janine: The first week of being banded -- you can work on anything that can be done from the home - such as phone calls following up and confirming - arts and crafts (that don't require lifting over 8 lbs) and ... I think you will be fine as far as the wedding day -- if I could foresee any problem, it would be what size for the dress you will be wearing. You can start immediately eating as if you have had the surgery and start the weight coming off immediately. I did and been banded 1.5 weeks and lost 55 lbs. I felt it helped the transition to being banded. The weight loss also shows up first in your face -- so the pictures will be showing the new you coming through. You really missed a great meeting tonight -- it was very informational for anyone wanting to lose weight -- even without sugical assistance. :eek: Gina

Donna -- you are doing great!!!!! Thanks for sharing your story. Have a great Anniversary. Gina

Ava, I was having problems at night -I would fall asleep and then wake up gagging/drowning-then I stopped drinking after 8 pm and it stopped. I will keep you in my prayers -- and I am looking forward tot he day i can have food -- on liquids now unitl 25th Doctor appt. Gina

Hi Ava -- I did great. It has been 8 days and no issues to speak of. Hope you are doing good as well. Keep up the good work! Gina

I am only 8 days out -- but would -- at least at this point of my new venture. Gina

It looks GREAT or should I say GR8. You are welcome. Keep up the good work - you are doing great. Stay strong - this is a tough time for all of us. Have a GREAT day! Gina

zevesther: Are you keeping a food journal to take to a dietician and talk about this? I definetly would suggest this -- I can understand how frustrated you are feeling -- and that can make the whole situation even worse. Please consider talking to a professional about this asap. Good luck & keep in touch! Gina

Zannie- I am doing well - ending my first week. I am so proud of you -- keep up the great work! I haven't gone back to Protein shakes just yet -- I have been doing clear Protein diet (2 - IDS New whey Protein 42g vials with 10oz water) and crystal light green tea. The protein shakes I was doing as preop diet - made me so full -- 16oz had 35 grams of protein -- there is no way I could get 80g a day in. I will be sure to find you and introduce myself! Gina PS: You can check out the IDS New Whey Protein's at: http://www.nextag.com/ids-new-whey-liquid-protein/search-html

I purchase mine at "The Vitamin Shoppe" 12 vials for $29.99. It does qualify for the clear liquid diet per my doctor. I have to cut it with water due to it has lots of flavor - and this good. To find the product check out: http://www.nextag.com/ids-new-whey-liquid-protein/search-html. Enjoy!

I had my surgery 4-9. I was told #1 get hydrated (goal 6 - 8oz) water or non-calorie/non carbinated beverage. #2 get protein in --(goal 80grams and work towards 100 to 120) So what I have done is bought the IDS new whey protein - they are 3oz; 42gr of protein. I take 2 add to 16oz water bottle and continue to fill with water. That is my 84 gr of protein each day -- then I drink a 32 oz bottle of Crystal Light Green Tea with Raspberry flavor. ( I have finished my protein 3 days in a row and come close to finishing my Tea 2 days.) I have 1/8 - 1/4 cup ice cream some nights as well. Good luck

You are doing wonderful! Thanks for referring me to this thread. I had no idea Dr Terracina used the VG brand. Learn something new each and every day. Can't wait to meet soon at Support Group.

Good luck Bubbles -- you will be great!!!!!!!

My surgery went good overall. I was banded Monday - so laughing is out -- laying down in bed or the couch is still out as well. The struggle is getting the liquids in -- slow and easy. I did get 42 grams of Protein from when I arrived back home from surgery to last night. Today my goal is 84 grams. They want 80+ each day as my goal. If you click my name "GR8" then click "see all posts" -- then look at the one titled "PAIN - Surgery" or something similiar. That was a response of my whole sugery experience I posted yesterday. The little discomfort from surgery is well worth it! Good Luck to you! Feel free to ask anything. Gina

I was just banded yesterday. My doctor told me that he would be using the 10cc at my preop appt. I was confused as well. He said 98% of the time he uses the 10cc. He would only use the 4cc on a small anatomy.

I arrived at the hospital at 7am - they put me in a private little room that shared a bathroom with the room on the other side of it. I was asked to put on a gown - with the opening in the back-do not tie closed. Also white compression stockings that were extremely tight - that went up to the knee, no toes. And they had slipper socks with grippie bottom for me to put on over that. The nurse - came in - signed consent forms, then stated that she would be giving me a shot in the tummy to prevent blood clots. (it didn't hurt - felt like a sting). Took my vitals, then she inserted my IV - (that needle hurt going in and stung until I went into surgery.) She took a tube of blood out through it to do another comparison of my preop to confirm my blood type incase blood would be needed. (My doctor told me he has never needed blood.) Then they started the IV bag of fluids with antibotic's and such. The Anestigiologist visited as well as the doctor - who made sure that my DH or I didn't have any last minute questions and stated they were right on time. He just finished one and they were preping the room. They wheeled me into surgery room -- had me scoot to the operation table and put the mask on and I went to sleep. *** I woke up to someone saying my name - she took my vitals - and they brought my DH in for about 20 minutes (he immediately put chap stick on my lips - they were dry and cracked. I asked for ice chips - my mouth was like cotton candy - sticky. -- They sent me to xray. They made you scoot onto their table -- OMG that hurt. Took xray - and then an upper GI -where you sip this BAD tasting stuff and they watch it go down. I was taking small sips scared to death. I ended up taking so much it was making me sick - and extremely full. So we had to slow down the test. (It was suppose to take an hour - it took 1 1/2 hours.) I just couldn't scoot back to the bed due to the pain - so they had the xray table motor up so I was standing. Then I sat on the edge of the bed and placed my legs up and rode back to my room. They took vitals again -- gave me my instructions and perscription. I got a big glass of ice chips to go home with and My DH helped me get dressed and they wheel chaired me out of the hospital. I was extremely sore -- feeling the bumps in the road especially. I got home at 3:15pm- placed a folded blanket on recliner to add height and laid back. I could not get up without my DH pulling me out of it. My DH took the vicadin's - broken them in half - then cut them in half each (quartered). I took one quarter at 10pm and slept in the chair -- woke up at 3am - felt great. hardly any pain - able to get out of the chair on my own. Walked around, took a few sips of water- went back to sleep till 6:30am. this time I woke up SORE. Still able to get up on my own - able to bend and pick-up the paper off the ground - but sore. Stairs don't hurt as bad as I thought they would. I can't lay down and get up on my own yet. -- But doing small things around the house - trying to walk every hour for a little bit. I need to cough -- but that HURTS. Hope that helps.

Margi -- You might want to consider changing protein shakes. The one I used left me very very full. It had 35gr of Protein and 250 calories. I did 3 a day. Just a thought.

Hi everyone! I was just banded yesterday. I have a question -- when I was being discharged - the nurse told me that the doctor did a LIVER BIOPSY. Has anyone else been told this or had this done? Can you explain to me why? Is this a normal test done on all LapBand surgery's? <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

I was just banded yesterday! I have a question -- when I was being discharged - the nurse told me that the doctor did a LIVER BIOPSY. Has anyone else been told this or had this done?