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The breaking point is 35, however like some posted it is different in different areas. I was like Mystic, I started at 35 and then it went up through my application process. It took me 6 months to go through the process with my surgical group I selected. I live in Virginia. My insurance, fed BCBS, approved it based on all my health problems in addition to the bmi, which is required if below 40. My doctor did not feel I was appropriate for bypass at all, but was a good candidate for band. I really see on this site, more banders with a start BMI of 42 and less. I would go for it. I did not want to pay myself. if that is not an issue, you most likely will find someone to do it. Good Luck.

From what I am experiencing and read, the gas pain after surgery is in you back, neck, shoulders, sides, different than adominal gas from eating. I bought all this gas x, but now hear that only helps when you eat, your stomach. My gas is from the surgery, the air pumped into you during surgery. Some say it goes away in a couple days, others up to 7!! I am praying for the shorter experience!

testing my new signature, complicated

Thanks Gina, I see that change in my DH already! He has been by my side helping me. He still can't recall what I looked like when we were married, funny what love does to you. I guess this is a good thing! Wow, about the party inquiries, this is what I dread from some folks at work. I tried to keep this to a minimum, however I know it slipped out which means more than one. My office probably knew before I did LOL! Hopefully this won't be to hard! You are a good sport! Have a great day!

Toni How is the exercise routine coming? I read, walk and walk. I did yesterday and will do it again today. I feel more tired just laying around, but I am not really motivated when feeling pain! It is hard enough to get motivated when you are feeling good. Hang in there, good luck on the treadmill!

Snoopy, I am sorry to hear about your Mom. You will both be in our thoughts and .prayers. Keep us posted. Lucy and others regarding showers, my doctor said I could have one when I went home, which would have been 24 hrs. I waited until yesterday. My DH helped get some of the yellow surgical stuff off and the sticky stuff from the monitors that I could not see. My stomach seems so bloated like others described! Not pretty! Joey,I have no bandages on my incisions, he used some super glue stuff. they all look good, amazing. Stephanie- I think you are having gas pains. I have had terrible gas pains in my neck and between my shoulder pains. KT, 7 days of GAS, YUK, I will pray that it goes away faster than that. GAS is the worst part. BAd Breath, I wondered about that, I woke up with nasty mouth today, yuk again. Marlynn, great to hear from you too. Lucky 7 we are! Glad you are home and doing well. Protein- I have a question, I wrote down ideas from you all on other protein powders, however how about tasteless ones, not vanilla and choc, that you can put into soups?? do any of you have any thougths. I am trying to see how I can get in my protein with out having to drink just those shakes. I know there are fruit flavors for drinks too.

My port is down in the center of my stomach a few inches above my belly button, not under my breasts like someone mentioned theirs was. I have no problem wearing a bra. I have four other tiny spots around that area, more to the sides, one tiny one up beween my breasts,, could be from the hernia he fixed? I was so drugged up after surgery, I don't remember much. I spent the night and both the doc and his physician assistant came in to see me. She is great. Also the nutritionist. I was surprised they let me go home by 11 am, since I was not done until after 5. But I can feel the difference in 24 hours. I am looking forward to every day coming!!

Suzanne, thanks for the upbeat message. I think my husband is coming along, it is like you said, they won't understand but he can learn. I think he will be forced to see that I have to make choices and he might like the results. I think that now the surgery is over he feels better, he did not want anything bad to happen to me. So, now the real work starts. I am feeling better today, still pushing those drinks down. They are so thick and my appetite is saying no. but I know I must. Do you use any protein powders? I thought maybe I could do that for one meal in a soup and would not know? One step at a time.. I use to enjoy exercise, even belonged to a gym, but that was in a motivated cycle, 80lbs lighter, but then I go the other way, gain it all back and stop execising. this is my main goal for the band. My son just asked to order pizza! I said, sure, but I won't be eating any. it will take them all time to understand. But once I get to the eating stage, I can eat pizza, just not 4 or 5 slices! Have a great day, how is you fill going? Has it made a big change?

Does eveyone get a "ball"? I never heard of this before and my doctor did not mention it. Lucy, I hear your pain! I tried to sleep in my bed last night but decided it was not working and came down in the recliner. I feel better today than I did yesterday. I really think it is the pain killers that makes you feel worse, just my opinion. I decided to switch to my liquid tylenol only when I need it. the othe stuff made me feel slowed down and killed my appetite to the point of no water and no protein, and that was not good. I am still having to push the liquids. My main issues is getting up from sitting and the gas. i don 't see myself walking very far, maybe to the corner and back when my DH gets home. Hang in there !!! Together we will be thinner! Toni,mm and other earlier Junebees, when does the stomach feel a little better to get up? Are you sleeping in a regular bed? Back to my exciting slimfast!

Goodmorning all. I feel better than I did at 1 this morning. I guess every day will be a large improvement! I did drink an entire Slimfast with Protein and now water.Maybe I will try a strained soup at lunch to give me some more energy! Gasssss. is an understatement! I have been using the heating pad and taking gas x. I have been to the bathroom a few times too, so hopefully it will ALL get out! I plan to walk outside today and take my first shower. I will check in later to see how everyone is doing. I know we are all different. I did not think of the scale, I will hold off for now!

Gina, Just wanted to tell you I am in bandland! Not sure I am clapping my hands today, but I will be optimistic on my pain and healing. talk soon

Hello everyone, it is 1:15 AM Saturday. I got home around 1:30 on Friday. I had a rough night after the surgery. First my doctor was running behind 2 hours, which resulted in me laying there waiting, building my anxiety. All the doctors and nurses were wonderful the entire time. The surgery went great, I had a hernia that he stitched up too. I heard of others having bad reactions to morphine, and I wish I asked for something different. I was sick all night, dry heaves. It was not fun. I have had difficulty bouncing back, or maybe this is how I should feel 24 hrs out. I slept most of the day and now I am up. I have had hardly anyting to drink or eat, I can't seem to get myself to, is this normal? I don't want to dehydrate. I hope tomorrow I am feeling better to increase my intake. I am told to have 3-4 shakes a day, not sure I can from that little cup or any other way?? I am having gas too but I have the gas pad on. I will be in touch soon. Thinner1 , what hospital were you at? I was at St. Mary's in Richmond. Oh, one more thing, I could have sworn we were at a higher page than this, but my computer is saying 54???

You guys are amazing!! What weight loss! I agree about not weighing every day, to much. Try to contain it to a week, because your body changes and may frustrate you when you really did not gain. It is interesting reading the May and June thread to see the stages we go through! Tomorrow is my day!!!!!!!I am a little bit nervous, but very excited. I will be praying for a smooth ride!

Marlynn,Michelle and Jojo, it is tomorrow for us! It sounds like we are stretched across the day. Michelle you are fortunate to have it first thing, I wish I could just go to the hospital when I wake up and have it done. I don't have to be to the hospital until noon, surgery at 2! I am scared and excited at the same time like you all! Wow, it is finally here.. I am so freaked! Good luck to you guys! Huntersmom, great question about the scale. My husband has this large scale, old thing, not digital. My last try at Weight Watchers, I did not have a scale. I did not like weighing every day, it fluctuates to much and gets you discouraged. I still will keep it to once a week. I will put this on my list to buy! Welcome ML and Stef. You will love this thread, we are a hopping group and you learn so much, at least I do. Good to know about the possible 8-10lb weight gain I may experience tomorrow and friday, it is a mental let down, but knowing it is what it is, and it will be shed away, I can deal with it. Thanks for the Heads Up! I will check in the morning before my DH takes me to bandland! I need to write down the page( now46), so I know where to start when I get back home on Friday. There have been so many pages this week, busy we are.

Kt Great to hear from you! My day is tomorrow and all you said makes so much sense! You sound great, and your thinking of exercise!!! that is a great thing. got to run

Gina, Thanks for your insite. I am feeling a little nervous but mostly excitement. It is harder to get my husband to understand, still, with only one day away. I keep telling him it will be ok. he is making me nervous. I really don't know what else to tell him. I told him not to say anything and to talk to someone else if he needed to vent. Does that sound bad? I just want to concentrate on the positive. Once I am out of surgery, I think he will be releaved. I read about others who have overweight husbands who do the band together, they can at least relate to the weight drama. But my husband is thin and eats all the time. Has no sense of it. I am sorry I vented. I just needed to get it out. I will be in touch. ONE MORE DAY!!!!!!!!:clap2:

SELAINE AND MARJORIE; Thanks for the advice. I have my heating pad, gasx strips and chewables and found liquid tylenol. I am all ready! I need to get my bag packed. Melissa- "muffin top" never heard of that before, very funny! I think I have clothes in my closet from size 8-20. I kept most of my thin clothes because they are business atire and cost money. I only hope the styles are in when I can fit in them! I have clothes, size 14, 12 that I bought on clearance, with the tags still on them, because I would say, I will lose weight in a couple of months and can wear them. Well I never did. Now I plan to wear them and grow out of them!! 1 more day and I am off to join you guys. I can't wait to fit into what you are all talking about. You are all doing great!! Our June thread is booming, we are not up to 125 pages, but we will get there!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU TOMORROW!! GOOD THING YOU ARE AT DIFFERENT HOSPITALS, OR YOU WOULD TAKE THE ENTIRE FLOOR, WELL THAT COULD BE COOL!!! lo2us<O:p</O:p Becks477<O:p</O:p SuperKawaii<O:p</O:p Reeburgdon<O:p</O:p Insubordination<O:p</O:p Clarice<O:p</O:p JOJOSMAMA joeygirl BECKY- your excitiement is getting me excited too. I am headed to the hospital the next day, so I won't be able to catch up until Friday... Best to alll!!!! Musicalm, LisaH and Heather, I can't wait to experience the feelings you are describing! Is it a strange feeling? I can't imagine how my stomach and insides will feel. Mj- I went and bought sugarless mints, I will bring them too. Great to hear from you Huntersmom and Serena! Serena you have been given a lot of food at the hospital! that is interesting. Most reports have been water and ice chips! The board has been very busy today! Welcome to the new June bugs!

Gina, thanks for the encouragment. I agree about the tube, they know what they are doing! I will just dream of a thin future! How are you doing with your eating and your fill? when you go back in July will have another fill? How many did your doctor say you would have? I will go back 6 weeks from my first week out after surgery. I think this will be at the end of July. I am going on vacation the end of August, so by then, hopefully I will have some of the eating techniques down. Hope you are doing good.

Thanks for all your help. I know some of it is self explanatory but you get information overlaod and your brain freezes...lol. You guys are a -May-zing!!! You are all doing great. I agree with some regarding the slow down, exercise and making sure you eat enough. If you have been on any diet in the past, which most of us have, these are the same goals. I can only invision losing what you all have accomplished. My son is getting married on July 7, 30 days after bandland. So, I am not to upset about being able to eat or drink. I won't have my 1st fill until mid July. So, for me it works out. I will be able to engage in some wine and a few food items. More than I will this weekend after banding. Have a good day. Your pages are multiplying by the minute:)

Thanks Toni, I am siked!!! For those of you days from your pre diet, and those who are banded at the end of the month, most of us have a 1 to 2 week pre opt. Some are lucky and only had a 24 hour! But I would eat what you want now, but don't over do it! I was eating stuff I like, more than usual like ice cream, sandwhich meals vs salads when eating out, which I usually didn't. Then I realized the information from my surgeon said if I gained 5 lbs or more since my first consult (3 months ago)I would not have the surgery! I was sweating it out that day at the office, I gainied 4 lbs!!!!!!!!!! I really lucked out. But I would still eat those things you love in moderation. With surgery only 2 days away, I think the next week of no eating, more restricted than my pre opt will be the hardest! But I am ready!! Suzzzzzzie, Great news about your friend. I have a gay friend too, and he is so great to talk to and hang out with. I am glad he is there for you. My husband informed me last night that his boss who is covering for him on Friday in court asked how I was doing. I kind of panicked because I did not want him to tell his office. He said he didn't only that I was having surgery, a baby...LOL. a band baby! I forget who said on here you don't have to say by law, that is correct, but my husband is obsessed when he takes leave and feels he has to explain. I warned him this time in advance!!! I wonder how the Monday crew did !!!! If you have time, read May's postings, it is great to hear the positive inspiration.

Hello Maysters! I am a soon to be banded June 7th! I enjoy reading all your posts. You are a busy group! I am impressed and excited, only 3 days to go until I join you. Regarding the gas, two questions, where do you put the heating pad and the gas strips? I have not bought the strips yet, so maybe the package says that. Your food experiences, exercise and wieght loss is helpful. I agree with one said about solid foods, vs liquids. liquids probably go down faster therefore making you hungry often. The solids should help with that. I am on a liquid diet for a week, but taht includes soups and puddings. I just want to lose weight, so I am hopign I don't get to cranky! Keep up the great work!

Gina, the nurse emailed me today and said that the doctor will schedule another ultrasound in 6 months. If I had the gallbladder removed first, I would need to wait another 6-8 weeks for the band. I have come to long of a way to give up my date. Since I have no problamatic symptoms they feel the surgery is ok. 3 more days! I am a little nervous about the anestesia since when I had my tubes tied there was a challenge getting the tube down my airway. I will just try and pray and relax! talk to you soon.

Toni and all, I emailed my nurse today, she emailed me back after 5. I pulled over to read it on my blackberry. She said that the doctor will have another ultrasound done in 6 months to monitor it. She said, if they had to do the gallbladder that I would need to wait another 6-8 weeks for the band. I really don't want to do that, I have been waiting to long, plus I almost completed my pre opt diet!!! I deserve it.. I am excited to go on Thursday.

Welcome Angel and Irish! this site is a great information tool and a way to develop friendships! Irish are you from Ireland? I am 100% Irish but born in the US. Missy, you and I have the same post op diet. It does not seem to bad, but it will get hard not having any solid proteins. I think that the day of the surgery, and after will be the hardest, no food at all and then very slow on Saturday! But the excitement may override that! Simply, You are with me on Thursday! I can't believe we are here!!! Rhonda,are you from Washington DC? I am from Northern Virginia. where are you having your surgery. I have two sons, ages 21 and 18. My 18 year old does not really understand and thinks I am fine the way I am. I think he is a bit nervous. My 21 year old thinks I did it before so just do that again! I told him that is the problem, that I yoyo all my life. Good luck to Nina and Kim tomorrow!!!