PamRN

Best of Luck to you today, by the time you see this you'll already be Bandster-Betty! I wish you the best of outcomes, and a super speedy recovery.

LOL! I know just what you mean! I stumbled in here a couple of months ago, and feel like I'm in withdrawal when I have busy days that keep me from getting in here to catch up on the verse of those I've never met... prebanding I spent hours reading posts from long ago, and all the new stuff, now I only have the new stuff, I'm worried, will it be enough?

I drink less coffee too. I'm at maybe 1 cup a day. I've read we shouldnt drink it at all, that it isn't "band friendly" but haven't seen any explanation as to why that would be. Does anyone know?

The band "aide" is just that, pre-banding you don't have the help, post...you do. It helps stop over eating. Less food equals weight loss, weight loss sparks increased self esteem, that means more self interest, more self interest means more desire to do good things for ones self (for a change), which increases energy. An increase in energy, means an increase in your activity, whether it's general exercise, or just increased playfulness... you'll move more...more movement equals weight loss... it's a cycle of sorts. For me the band is a perpetuator of motion in all the right directions.

I had trouble sitting forward in my chair for a few days after surgery. It was pretty uncomfortable on my wounds. I even had an internal stitch pop while sitting forward, OUCH, prompting me to think I'd ripped my port loose. I didn't. But everyone is different, and you may not be bothered at all. If you have the time off, take it, it's better to be home feeling good, than at work feeling crappy. Good Luck to you!

Move over girls, your triplet is here... I'm holding for a week now at a loss of 15 lbs ... like both of you, I'm fine all day, a small meal or two, so I'm grazing all evening, but ya know, I was doing that prebanding too. I could easily go all day without a bite to eat, but would then eat all evening, I've never been a huge binger, just a grazer, and usually high carb stuff. I'm working on having my grazing foods being band friendly, and better choices, but I too am starting to think in terms of fill dates... I'd been planning to hold off til January because of the holidays coming up, and the cost of the trip, but I dunno if I can wait that long. I may try and scrape together a November trip at this point... Any experienced bander good ideas for jump starting a stalled beginner loss?

Lisa dear, I'm afraid to travel alone so I'll be bringing all my children and all their friends, we'll be expecting to stay with you to save money of course, oh and I'll make sure the boys try to aim better, it's so embarrassing the way they always miss! You don't mind pets too right? LOL I'm so kidding... you poor girl...you'll have a tent city in your yard before this is all over!!

I've searched the forum, but haven't found where anyone else has had this. When I'd been home about a week, I'd felt a stitch pop at what I believe was my port site, the only wound that hurt, on the lower left end. Now I think my port may be hanging loose. I say believe, because at my post op instruction, my surgeon's translator pointed to the site at my xiphoid, (5-6 inches above the belly button, just lower than between the boobs), and said it was my port site, but in the rest of the lower row of wounds, only the one on the left end hurt. It was a burning pinching pain, that I really felt with activity. The patient coordinator said IT was my port site. From the description everyone else gave, I believed it probably really was my port site. ANYWAY, that popped stitch hurt like hell, then I felt a relief sensation of the burning pinching pain, and a weighty sensation on my abdomen, that I thought must be my port lying over my 'innerds'. If I press, I can feel in an area 2 inches below the xiphoid wound, a hard protrusion, that I think my be my port. I can't feel whether there's a port under any of my puncture wounds, all I can feel is the healing scarred area. After the intial stitch pop and pain relief, the pain at the left abdominal puncture returned after a little while, but not as pinching as before. I'm not in any pain at all now, only the mildest of tenderness at the abdomen, like I shouldn't attempt sit-ups yet, but other wise all is well. Surely they use more than a single stitched place to hold these on? Ever hear of a port that completely floats free? I emailed my patient coordinator, and he doubts that it's broke completely loose, but is consulting the surgeon just in case.

Ok I did it, I walked 3 miles on the treadmill, and I think my legs are now 20 pounds heavier than when I started, but I did it. Yayyy! :Bunny

I researched here, and all over the internet, reading anything I could. I used Obesity Goodbye and dr. Ponce de leon, and paid $7000 for my surgery. (I called during a limited special offer, and saved $500). I bought 2 round trip tickets from IL to Sandiego, and they cost $555. I also chose the midband because of what I'd read on my own about different percentages of problems, i.e. slippage, port revision, erosion, etc. I didn't want to be persuaded to choose one over the other, I wanted to be educated and make my own choice. I did that, and so far I'm quite happy with my results. I don't know what's going on with the posts regarding a patient getting a different band than they asked for. I have no way of verifying the information posted, one way or the other, but have seen the posts that accuse Dr Ponce de Leon's other group, "Bajanor" of putting the cheapest band in a patient, regardless of what she said she wanted. I'd like to hope it's a mistake or fake, but I can believe that it could happen, so I'm just thankful & hopeful that I got what I asked for. I was treated very well, by the whole obesity goodbye group, and the hospital. I had a good time in Tijuana, and have healed remarkably well. ALL my incisions are healed. I was told to expect some seepage from the port site, that it is usually the last wound to heal, but didn't have any seepage at all. It could be because I applied tea tree oil over my whole abdomen 2-3 times a day for 2 weeks after surgery, and it probably helped keep away any infection, and speed healing. You'd have to read up on it, to see if it's something you'd consider. You have to read about all the doc's, look at all the sites, and decide for yourself what fits you. The only way you'll make the best choice is if you educate yourself about all your choices. Read, Read, Read... then decide. Good Luck to you, the only regret I think you'll have about getting banded, is waiting so long to get to it.

Hey Ryan, congrats on the go ahead for your band. I know you must be excited! I think marking your abdomen is not just a funny, it's a damned good idea. We mark patients prior to all surgery's with a sharpie marker, and then have it double checked for accuracy, because charts get mixed up, doctors and surgeons miscommunicate, etc... and mistakes do get made. Not all facilities follow such strict guidelines. It's YOUR body, with the uncertainty your physician already displayed, I wouldn't think twice about marking myself. You can do it in a humorous way if you want, but I'd seriously do it. Nothing like a big bullseye to mark the spot is there? LOL

Hi Cort, and welcome. I was just banded 3 weeks ago, and reflux was a pretty irritating problem for me preband. Since banding I haven't felt it once. If you read through the many many posts here, you'll be very prepared for just about anything by the time you get banded. This site certainly educated me like nothing else, and no where else I looked. Good Luck!

Gorgeous picture! The flowers aren't bad either... Let me just say that you're an awfully young looking 62! My mom is 62 as well, and she's a little bit interested in having a band placed herself, I'll have to share your story with her, maybe it'll help her have the confidence to really consider it. Good Luck to you, I wish you a easy trip, a successful surgery, and speedy recovery!

I'm in... walking, and I'll add the exercise bike and treadmill. They need dusted off anyway... I'm starting tomorrow, I'll consider friday and saturday night extra credit cuz I run my butt off at work. I used to wear a pedometer at work and always exceeded 10k steps. Might have been what kept me from creeping even higher on the scale. Thanks for the motivation, I needed it. I don't know who created this site, but god I love that person! :banana

Congrats to both of you, you're doing great. I'm glad you guys made it back in one piece, and I wish you much success. I didn't do so well on the clear liquids either, I lasted 2 days before I added milk, I needed something creamy, my tummy wasn't liking the clears and I was feeling on the naseaus side. I'm 20 days out, and on most regular foods, I haven't tried things that are dry or doughy, and I'm avoiding breads, and red meats, except ground beef that's broken up in Soup or sauce. Has Deb tried the chewable pepcid for her reflux? It sure helped mine that first week, the clears seemed to bring it on for me. Hang in there, it's all downhill from here <VBS>

Those are good pictures, I have spent a lot of time online looking at others journey pictures. The one of you squeezing your upper arm made me laugh, I do that too when looking in the mirror! It's usually in disgust at myself, but now that I have the band, I'm hopeful I'll wave it goodbye, instead of it waving long after I've stopped moving! I too had an allergic reaction on my abdomen and IV site hand, i'm not sure if it was the tape, or what ever they used to sterilize me pre-op. I bought a small bottle of tea tree oil and massaged it on my whole stomach 2-3 times a day, and in a week it was all healed. It also helped my wounds heal nicely. It has antibiotic properties, and anti-viral properties. It doesn't burn, but it has kind of a strong medicinal smell. You can look into online and see if it's of interest to you. It cost me $12 for a small bottle at GNC (health & nutrition store) Congrats on the weight loss, great smile and cute man!

That took some work! Awesome job Vera, thanks so much for sharing. A lot of the pictures made me laugh. You all look like you were having such a great time, it's hard not to smile with you. I hope there's another bash sometime, I'd love to meet you all too!

Take an abdominal binder, and a small pillow to hold over your tummy for a splint, it makes the plane ride bearable, and tell them at the airport counter, that you just had surgery, they'll put you in a wheel chair and get you right through so no standing in a long slow line, plus they'll let you board sooner so you can get seated. PACK LIGHT, you won't need much. I took a book on tape to listen to on the plane and at the hospital. GOOD LUCK!

Congrats on the loss and keep up the good work! Are you going for a fill even if you're still losing weight? I've read in many places to only get a fill when the weight loss stops for greater than 3-4 weeks. I haven't been for a first fill yet either, and have been advised to be careful of getting scheduled fills regardless of physical status, so as not to overfill. I also find that I've tightened up some on my own since surgery 19 days ago. I didn't feel much restriction the first 2 weeks, but after my friend visited this month the restriction increased... but didn't decrease after...weird. Congrats again on the great results so far, it's a great feeling isn't it?

Hi Jodie, I went through a very hungery stage too after being banded. I went from clears to full liquids in 2 days, then very softs after one week, because I was starving. My first few days of soft foods, I was able to eat anything I tried, and too much of it, though I managed never to get a PB, I did eat til my chest would start to hurt. It scared me that I could eat like that, and worried me that I was gonna screw something up, plus I regained 4 pounds! Right as my lady friend paid her monthly visit... I needed to reacclimate myself to what I'm doing, so I just came back here and started reading more of some of the older posts, as well as the new ones to get an insight, and some inspiration. It worked. Thank God! I sure didn't want to be the one that this didn't work for! In this last week, I'ver really been able to get on the right track. I'm eating softs, chicken, Soups, veggies, refried Beans, etc... and I'm being careful to monitor the amounts more closely. The weight's going downward again, and I'm feeling better, my appetite is decreasing somewhat, enough that I'm satisfied eating small amounts 1/4 to 1/2 cup, every couple of hours. Hang it there, we're human, we get hungery... besides we know it's ok, because we are equipped with the tool that's going to help us. We're just new orientee's right now... We'll get it right soon enough, then be skinny old pro's before we know it!

Good Luck and best wishes Anita. And I agree, come back here often, it helps me stay on track, and continues to educate and reassure me as I begin my journey. I'm 19 days out of surgery, doing really well, only minimally tender now, and down 15 pounds!

You guys all look great, and make me wish I could've been there! Maybe next time? Drinks, Dogs, talent, tiara's, feathers and friends.... now THAT'S a party!

You guys all look great, and make me wish I could've been there! Maybe next time? Buckets of Drinks, Cannon balling Dogs, tequila, talent, tiara's, food, feathers and friends.... now THAT'S a party!

You really do look great, I can't even guess how great you must feel! You really are an inspiration! Congratulations on the loss, the look, the limo and the lucky fella!

Hey Kids, We're all winners not only because we're losers, but because we knew life wasn't good for us before, and after trying everything that didn't work, we didn't give up! We did what some might believe unthinkable, but at least we did SOMETHING! I love all the positives Penni listed, and hope to have a similar list in the near future. I wish we could somehow collectively reach all those who have given up. I love being a loser!