realcel

Sexton, please don't let fear stop you! I was banded April 17, and had umbilical hernia surgery at the same time. There really wasn't much pain from the band, most of mine was from the hernia. I have several friends who have been banded, and not a single one regrets getting the band. We all think we made a great decision to be banded! Whatever your fears are, whatever your worries, ask questions! My guess, though, is that you have night before jitters. Really, it will be okay!

I am three weeks post OP, and I can feel gas in my stomach, but can not burp. Please help, this is painful!

My suggestion is that you scan through the forum, and anything you see that you have questions about, write it down and ask about that. I would be asking about pre-op diet, post-op diet, fills, testing, etc. But if you scan through the topics in the forums, you can probably come up with some good questions. Good luck!

I am being banded April 17. Was supposed to have been banded March 6, but my platelets were too low. Many blood tests and other tests later, they just decided I have low platelets normally. Anyway, I am hoping nothing postpones my surgery again! I was within a week of having it last time!

I am waiting on new lab results, but blood tests drawn a few days ago show that I had low platelets. My surgeon ordered another blood test today, and if the platelets are still low, I will have to see a hemotologist and have my surgery postponed. I am really worried, I have been following the pre-op diet, and have already taken the time off from work. My surgery is supposed to be March 6! Also, she said that she had gone to a bariatric conference recently, and that she is no longer convinced that plication is safe, so she does not want to do it!) So the news today has been bad, from my point of view, no plication and possibly no surgery at all for now. And I have no idea what a person would do to increase their platelets. As a result, today I am feeling blue, hoping and praying that at least my platelets will come back normal.

My hematologist has decided that there is nothing wrong with me, I just have naturally low platelets. He has cleared me for surgery. My tentative surgery date is April 17! Hurray!

I am still undergoing testing, but have no answers yet. I go back to the hematologist next week, and hope he will have something positive to tell me. He did say that he would make sure I did get to have surgery, but gave no indication when that might be. I had to unsub from my March surgery dates notices, it was making me sad every time I got a notice. (Although I am overjoyed for those of you who have had the surgery! Yahoo!)

I guess I should remove my ticker. I did not have surgery today, my surgery was postponed because I do not have enough platelets. Now, instead of being banded, I am undergoing blood tests and an ultrasound of my spleen. My hematologist has assured me that he will get me to where I can be banded, he just has not specified when. My thoughts and prayers are with all who are being or have been banded, please, if you would, pray me into surgery!

I an so happy for all of you, but a little sad myself. My surgery was postponed because my platelets are too low, and I have seen the hematologist, who is running tests. He assured me that he would get me to where I could have surgery, but could not tell me when that might be. I am discouraged, and don't know what to do about the diet. On the one hand, I am sure that losing more weight would be great. On the other hand, if I were able to stay on diets for a really long time, I would not need surgery. It is looking more like my surgery may not be until April or maybe even May. I was within a week of my original surgery date. Yep, feeling kind of low.

I haven't been eating any beef because it isn't on my pre-op diet. Wondering if maybe I should have, it is the one thing I have been craving. The thing is that I have been under 800 calories a day, and have only lost 10 pounds. I say "only," because in dieting before, I have lost more than this with more calories. And I have not cheated. Hoping and praying for good news this afternoon, that maybe my platelets are normal again.

Abbie, drinking water or chicken broth really helps me feel fuller. I have recently started drinking flavored herbal hot teas, and those help, too.

Yes, I have. I usually try to drink something and wait through it. If it does not go away, I have a little protein, and sometimes chicken boullion helps as well. I had a headache all day yesterday, and think it may have been related.

Sorry I can't help you, as I am not banded yet and have had all my children, but wanted to congratulate you on your baby! How wonderful!

What an inspiring post! You look wonderful! Congratulations on your success, I know you will accomplish what you have set out to do, you have come this far!

Banded plication is where, in addition to the band, you have a fold or pleat put in your stomach to reduce the volume of your stomach. Nothing is cut away.

For me, it has been a quick process. My insurance will not cover wls, so we are self paying. My initial consult was 2/12, my surgery will be 3/6. I am glad it is going quickly, I am really ready to get started. Are any of the rest of you having banned plication? I am.

Thank you for your responses. I kept busy last night and had a couple of glasses of Water, and made it fine through the night. I have emailed my surgeon's office to find out whom I would talk to about the pre-surgical diet. I see the surgeon again on Thursday, and my surgery is next week on Wednesday. I have no idea how much I have lost, as the battery in my scale died! I will be going to get a new one later. I know I have lost at least 7 pounds since before my battery died. Thank you all for being an inspiration to me on a daily basis since I joined this site. You are all wonderful, and it is an honor to get to know you!

I actually have a similar question. My doctor put me on a diet until surgery, but did not specify a number of calories, proteins, carbs, or fats. I have been eating around 700 calories, and myfitnesspal.com is telling me that I am not eating enough, and that I should eat 1200 calories a day. I am really hungry right now! Anyway, I will get in touch with the doctor's office in the morning, I guess. I am just not sure what to do in the meantime.

I have noticed that an overwhelming number of people who are banded have hiatal hernias. I have no idea whether or not I do! I am completely self-paying for my surgery, so actually, although it sounds kind of odd, having a hiatal hernia that needs repair might help my insurance pick some of the costs up. Can someone please share with me how you knew you had one? Is there a test? Should I ask my surgeon about it? My surgery is scheduled for March 6. Thanks in advance!

I like myfitnesspal.com. I like that the mobile app will actually scan the UPC of an item and come up with the nutritional information, so I don't have to manually enter everything!

Hey, Shazini, my surgery is on the 6th, too. And I feel just the same - mostly feel great about it, a little apprehensive at times, but not often, and not for long. I am looking forward to having this done!

I have told my husband and kids, of course, my parents, two friends, and my boss. That's it. I have not told my in-laws, siblings, or anyone else. I may decide to tell them later, I may not, but I am pretty sure I will not be telling anyone else at all until after my surgery.

What is pb-ing? I keep seeing it mentioned, but have no idea what it means. Is there a "band lingo" thread?

kdkrocks, I have not had surgery yet, but I am completely at peace about it. My suggestion to you would be to write down your concerns and address them with your doctor. Mine has been great about answering questions and putting me at ease! Take a deep breath...we can do this!

To answer a question asked a page or two ago, I have some of the GNC shakes, but I honestly don't think that they are worth the added price, compared with the stuff I bought at Costco, which makes twice the number of shakes for half the price. So far today, I have had shakes and tuna, and I am honestly satisfied. I drink a lot of water and tea! The shakes stick with me for at least a couple of hours. The only difficult time I have had was when I could smell dinner cooking for the rest of the family, but it was head hunger, not stomach hunger. I am really looking forward to surgery! I am having banded plication, and would love to connect with others who may also be having it.