CWinkler340

I am 2 weeks out from surgery!! very nervous!

HELLO EVERYONE!!! My name is Christa i am 20 years old and have been sadly overweight since i turned 14. I am a very active person with a horrible appetite that has led me to over eating when I am alone. I have over the years tried numerous weight loss attempts ex: Weight Watchers , Gym membership , Weight loss supplements , Doctor controlled diet , prescribed diet pills , exercise groups , and even a personal trainer. I don't want to go trough my 20's living like I am. I want so badly to feel youthful during my youth. And never be held back from a camping trip because of swimming. My insurance recently approved for me to have Lap Band surgery and i have my eye set on a surgeon ( J. Christopher Eagon, MD) out of Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis MO I would like to know others experiences good or bad on lap band. Also what will i need to expect on this long journey ( Tips tricks ) From before surgery to during surgery to after surgery. Thanks everyone in advance!!!

Thanks so much!! I am sooo happy i did it!! I can't wait to go swimming and hiking and sky diving!! It's gonna be amazing!!

thanks i feel fantastic, no hunger! its AMAZING im almost sad i dont get to eat alot, but im sure that will pass!! haha

UPDATE ABOUT ME! I am about to start my 4 weeks of post op. I feel WONDERFUL, I'm at about 25 lbs down so far. I have zero appetite and can only eat exactly 1 cup of food before i start to feel an internal "stretching or tightness" ( my cue to stop) Usually eating 3-4 cups a day the areas around my incisions are EXTREMELY itchy!!! but i healed up great!! Sometimes i have a little pain when i sleep on my stomach and this morning was the first morning where i couldn't eat solids ( felt pretty tight) wore off by lunch!! But other than that i feel pretty good!! no bandster hell ((i got VERY lucky))

HI!! time for an update!! I was banded august 28th!! i dont regret it a bit, im eating a cup of food at a time 3-4 times a day, i healed very well, and was back in school roughly 4 days after. I ended up going with Dr. Ricks out of De Peres hospital, he was FANTASTIC!!!!! soooo friendly!!!! i would recommend either him or Dr. Minkin!!!

Well I am doing pretty well i suppose! I have had some discomfort, woke up with a stomach ache today, and had a fever of 99.7 two days ago but it went away with some ice packs and dr prescribed meds. I am having a horrible time getting my shakes down, I am soooooo full! I'm only getting about one 1/2 a day in! trying to drink more Water, but am completely turned off by it for the most part! weird Also i cant burp! never have been able too control it, but now i really need too!

Anyone care to share when they had their first bowel movement? I have had gas at this point but still no bowel movements and i was banded at 10 on the 28th SORRY FOR TMI but i think its probably important to figure out! I thought i would put a picture of my incisions incase any one wants to see! I think they are far from gross, in fact they seem to be pretty cool battle scars! So sorry if i gross anyone out!

Well....I'M BANDED! feeling very good at the moment, decided to stay at the hospital over night because well why not, I enjoy having medical professionals watching over me. My stomach was "floppy and stretched" so he gave me 5 Patterson stitches (sewed my stomach to the other side of my stomach) making it look similar to the sleeve procedure Anyone have that? Also NO GAS PAIN Does that come later? So far I feel great, well wishes to everyone!

YES! That sounds great! Who are your surgeon's if i might ask? i'm with Dr. Ricks out of De Peres in STL

YAY MID WEST!! I am actually in illinois about 10 - 15 minutes from STL, Are you close to me Jama?

Getting banded tomorrow at 9:35!!! HOLY COW

tomorrow I start my 3 day liquid diet! I am very fortunate that I don't have the two week liquid diet that many bandsters have ( I think that would kill me ) As time begins to dwindle down to surgery day, a lot of questions are starting to arise that are scaring me! Will my personality change? ( hope not!) Will I enjoy the new attention? (probably not) Will people still see me as smart and caring, or just pretty and thin? ( probably not ) Will my relationship with my long term boyfriend change? ( hope not!) Will I give up on this, like i have on EVERY OTHER DIET? ( god, that scares me) I have always seen my fat suit as a curse, but the closer I come to taking it off, the more I realise how much I care about it. The last week or so, I have really begun to analyse myself, and I have had overwhelming feelings of missing this body (to the point of crying!) This is the body I am so used to, how can I be happy and adjusted in the deflated version of this body??

Hi Again all!!! I hope everyone is doing well!!! tomorrow I start my 3 day liquid diet! I am very fortunate that I don't have the two week liquid diet that many bandsters have ( I think that would kill me ) As time begins to dwindle down to surgery day, a lot of questions are starting to arise that are scaring me! Will my personality change? ( hope not!) Will I enjoy the new attention? (probably not) Will people still see me as smart and caring, or just pretty and thin? ( probably not ) Will my relationship with my long term boyfriend change? ( hope not!) Will I give up on this, like i have on EVERY OTHER DIET? ( god, that scares me) I have always seen my fat suit as a curse, but the closer I come to taking it off, the more I realise how much I care about it. The last week or so, I have really begun to analyse myself, and I have had overwhelming feelings of missing this body (to the point of crying!) This is the body I am so used to, how can I be happy and adjusted in the deflated version of this body?? Anyone else had these feelings?

Hey again all! I thought I might post this once more! Does anyone know of a group for August bandsters 2013???? IF NOT! I have created one for all of us to have a nice organized way of communicating!!! PLEASE JOIN UP!! http://www.lapbandta...2013-bandsters/ If there is a group however... I will promptly delete!!! please let me know!!! I hope everyones feeling well!

I am a side sleeper as well! I wonder how that will affect me when im post op!

Is there anyway i can fix that?? LET ME KNOW!!!

i start pre op on the 25th! Are you feeling normal pain and comfort wise? that first fill im sure will be a HUGE relief!

Does anyone know of a group for August bandsters 2013???? IF NOT! I have created one for all of us to have a nice organized way of communicating!!! PLEASE JOIN UP!! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/groups/show/154-august-2013-bandsters/ If there is a group however... I will promptly delete!!! please let me know!!!

IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! you seem like a trooper! How has your hunger been throughout the whole thing?

Well, no experience here, but my pre op diet is only 3 days long, my doctor tells me that after 3 days the liver stops shrinking ( the point of the pre op diet) soooo... Thats one way to look at it ? I cant imagine that it could be that harmful, I HOPE IT WORKS OUT!

Congrats!!

Insurance approved me! now I am curious to see what everyone did pre-diet. Did you have that last bowl of Pasta? that last 40 oz soda? or did you start right away with the restriction. I start my 3 day liquid on the 25th! Also! I'm curious, What last minute questions should I ask my doctor? I see him tomorrow and then not again until surgery Aug 28. I AM TERRIFIED! never had surgery! man oh man.

Do you think i'll be back in commission after 5 days? unfortunately my life is requiring me to return, rather i want to or not!!!

I also went to get my EGD and also have a hernia, could you explain what you mean by your insurance play some of this? i would LOVE for my insurance to pay more! haha Apparently my hernia is only mild, but i also have inflammation in my stomach! who knew! How do they plan to deal with yours! have a great day! keep me posted!