virginiann

Hey Shauna, how's it going? I just posted a little rant on the May 2007 board. My port site has a little area that isn't healing and bleeding pretty good if I don't keep pressure on it. Anytime I move it soiled my bandage. Dr. DeBarros says it can't be blood. Like I don't know what blood looks like. I am tempted to take pictures. Anyway, it's more of a nuisance than anything. I'm sure I will be fine. I am VERY hungry! I know it has a lot to do with the fact that I didn't get all my Protein in today or Water. I will try and do better tomorrow. I bought some Mederma today for my incisions. One of the reasons I bought it was that my port area is hard and itching. That is how I got the bleeding going again today. I wanted to change the dressing. So how are you doing? How are you feeling? I wonder where all the other Arizona people are? Well I hope you are having good weekend. I'll check in tomorrow.

My port has hurt the last two nights. The funny thing is to touch it is very hard. The skin and area where the port is. I'm going to get some vit E and see if that softens the skin any. I'll let you know. But it sure hurts!

Funny girl! I too am hungry today. So far I have eaten everything I have brought with me to work today. Fortunatly, I have some instant oatmeal and Protein shakes with me. But today is the first day I have been this hungry. I'm not going to fret about it through. As long as I keep my calories to under 1000. I can't believe just a couple of days ago I was worried about getting in all my protein! What a few days will do eh? I'm glad your appointment went well. Didn't Lilmonkey have her surgery with WLIAZ? Did you find out what band we have? Boy I sure wish I had a picture of it. I too get to stop the shots! Dang I didn't like that at all. My tummy has all kinds of little bruises. Earlier today I noticed a while back (as short as a month ago) there were many people who post on this board. Lots of AZ people. Where are they now? Come out, come out, where ever you are! (I know I'm losing it... must be lack of something........)

Hello all! I had my Post-op appointment today. Isn't it funny how there are so many of us and each doctor has a different way of having us eat? Some are on liquid, some on mushies some didn't have a pre-op diet some did... crazy. Anyway, my doc said that I can take off the steri-strips tonight and I have just a couple more days of the puree diet which we call Stage 2. Monday I begin stage 3 which is soft foods. I have lost a total of 27 pounds since I began this whole thing March 29th. I'm not quite sure why anyone would want a fill at this stage. My surgery was May 21st. We aren't even fully healed yet. My port site is still sore and I would like to eat solid foods a couple of times before I close that gap again. Also, my doctor said that the opening is healed enough were I don't have to be so careful with drinking. I should be able to gulp now. Liquid goes right through so don't worry about it. I'm very happy where I am at! I hope all of you are doing as well!

Julie, I was banded in Tempe on May 21st. Dr. Debarros WLIAZ! Good luck to you! Write me anytime!

Oh my gosh enterprise01 you made me laugh so hard! I needed it! Thank you! I think I'm in the same boat as you. I'm 5'2" and I too remember crossing my legs once in 1993!

Ditto for me too Nicole. I met Shauna through this board (actually at the hospital and didn't know it). We both had the surgery an hour apart! Same doctor! We are feeling the exact same things. My port site is still sore but getting better everyday. I am very close to my PCP and I didn't discuss this with her at all until it was time for her to provide evidence that I had been on a medically supervised diet. I knew she would be okay with it since I have been trying for sometime now to lose this weight. I have Aetna PPO so I didn't need a referral or anything like that. Hearing you are Morbidly Obese out loud for the first time is very devastating. However, you don't have to be that way forever! At least you are still very young and much of your adult life is ahead to enjoy. I am 49 and I vowed not to be a fat 50 year old! My birthday is in October. Keep asking questions, we will answer! We are all here for each other!

Oh my goodness, I am the queen of surgeries. 1.)Hysterectomy (uterus only) 2.)Tubes/Overies/Appendix (three years later) 3.)Thryoid Removed 4.)Disk replacement in neck 5.)Carpal Tunnel 6.)Gall Bladder Now Number #7 Lap-Band! You should be fine! I am!

Hey Shauna, I haven't heard from Lilmonkey, I too hope all is well. Yesterday was my first day back at work and I came home very tired. I've been posting on the May 2007 board. Have you heard there is a support group that meets I think the first satruday of the month? I think I'm going to try and go this next time. How are you feeling? How are things going?

Yesterday was my first day back at work and I am in the second phase of eating. pureed. Can I ask what you all are packing for yourselves for lunch? I packed one yogurt, two small jars of baby food (peas and pears) and some pudding cups I made from my Protein shakes. Oh and of course a Protein shake. What did you pack?

I too thought it would be easier at work yesterday and I certainly am not looking forward to doing it all over again today. When I got home last night I fixed me a bowl of cream of chicken Soup and it tasted so good I ate too much and too fast. (my first time doing such a thing). I felt so bad, I kept walking and walking trying to ease the discomfort. My husband kept asking me whats happening, whats going on? I got the giggles and told him I had over eaten and ate too fast that soup I had made, and I guess we all have to experiance that at least once with our band. Laughing and walking around the house at midnight was much better than crying! I hope I learned my lesson, it was very uncomfortable and my chest still hurts a bit this morning.

Tonight on TLC a new series starts titled "Big Medicine" Here is a piece I cut and pasted from the TLC website: BIG MEDICINE offers a behind-the-scenes look into the controversial world of bariatric surgery. The series chronicles the emotional journeys and transformation of obese people who have opted to undergo weight-loss surgery in an attempt to regain their lives. You can go to their website and read more about. It is on at 9pm Pacific Time. You might want to check your own time zone. This should be very interesting for all of us!

Wow Christy, that is wonderful news about your cousin! I too was banded on May 21st and today is my first day back to work. I sit at a computer all shift and it hasn't been too bad. I mostly am very tired and wished I had taken this week off as well. I'm sure I will get through it. You and I have lost about the same amount of weight as well. It is very comforting that there are so many of us in the exact same boat! I don't know what I would have done without this forum. I get off of work at 10pm and boy am I looking forward to it?

Julie, I have been using Lean Body. You can find it at most health food stores like Hi-Health. It contains 40 grams of protein. Also, I made a batch of chocolate pudding using the protein drink instead of the skim milk. It makes for a good treat and you get your protein in. At this point I am sick to death of protein drinks. After this is said and done if I do not ever drink another chocolate shake again it will be too soon!:sick

I have no idea how any of us can eat too much. You should go to fitday.com and input everything you have eaten and I bet it will be a lot less than what you think. I ended up with 558 calories yesterday and a couple of times I actually ate one bite too many, because I was instantly uncomfortable. I normally post on the Arizona Bansters Board but thought I should chat with you all also. I was banded on May 21st I am 8 days post-op and it will be my first day back to work. I get tired way to easily and my otherwise considerate husband isn't getting it that I'm not bouncing back as easily as I did last year when my gallbladder was removed. Mostly what I want to do is sit on the couch and veg. Get up every hour and do something. It could be the dishes, make the bed, a load of laundry, walk around outside. But that is all I have in me. I am finally getting in all my protein and water these past couple of days. but quite frankly I just wanna go to bed and be left alone.

I hope you are all okay. I had a bad day yesterday Wondering what the heck did I do! I even had bouts of get this thing out of me and I want to eat normal! Had a good cry and my hubby gave me hugs and I have moved on. Today is my first day back at work 8 days post-op. I had an easier time getting out of bed this morning and I feel pretty good. Boy what a day makes! Well I just wanted to check in and say hello and I hope all of you are doing well today.

I enjoyed it also, if you noticed while Big D was explaining how the by-pass worked using that little stand up chart. It also had the lap-band on it. So I am hoping they do get a couple of those cases. I am not normally home on Monday nights so I will have to remember to record it.

Boy this has got to be so frustrating with everyone how each doctor is saying something different as far as what can be eaten and what can not be eaten. Anyone who went to the Weight Loss Institute in Tempe, AZ was on a two week liquid diet. Protein shakes as many as you wanted (my max was three in one day) the rest clear fluids. Post-surgery week one the same as above. This was called Phase One. Second week post-surgery we are on Phase Two. I would call the baby food stage - extreme pureed. Next week Phase three is soft foods like eggs, I think of what else at this moment and then last but not least phase four is normal eating. So I would talk to your doctor or nutritionist. I know each time I have ever e-mailed my nutritionist he answered real quick. Good luck to what ever you decide. I was so excited with my oatmeal this morning I couldn't stand myself! just kidding.

I got the day off and I sure needed it. My boss didn't call me till 9:30 pm last night. We get along very well and you can even say we are friends. He has been with me though this whole journey. Getting out of bed in the morning is till an adventure in pain. Last night I had had it with not being able to sleep on my left side so I rolled over and man the pain! But you know what, the longer I lay there the less the pain and eventually I fell back to sleep! I almost feel normal today as far as food goes. I got up and had my coffee (decaf of course). Then I made myself some maple and brown sugar lite instant oatmeal. Very runny. I ate about a 1/4 of it and I feel very full and satisfied. And to think I use to use two of those packages! Now I am sipping on my second cup of coffee and just 'kickn it' as my boys would say. (grown boys). I am officially one pound under my pre-surgery weight. I went in weighing 208 and came out weighing 217 today I weigh 207. I am going to go out and find me a couple of inexpensive very casual dresses to wear to work. Any elastic on my waist is uncomfortable. I don't even know how I am going to deal with underwear! I hope you all are feeling better today!

Dr. DeBarros gave me all my post-op Rx on my pre-op visit and one of the Rx was those patches. I was told to put one on three hours prior to the surgery and I have had one on ever since. I have experienced little nausea. I have one refill I will get today. You should ask your doctor to prescribe them for you. Virginia

oh yeah, do you guys use any instant messenging programs? I use MSN and my screen name is virginiann@hotmail.com I am always on when I am at home. V.

The potatoes went down just fine. I only ate maybe a 1/4 cup and it satisfied me. I have not heard back from my boss about tomorrow. But I am sure I will get it off. I was told 60 grams of Protein a day but at this stage not to worry too much about it. I can't even get a whole shake down me. I have been using Body Lean from Hi-health and it has 40 grams of protein. To get it down I made chocolate pudding out of it. I used the surgar free instant Jell-O and substitued milk with my shake. It made 5 little cups. It takes anywhere from 45 mins to an hour to get it down. When is your post-op appoinment? I am feeling much much better tonight. Virginia

Hi guys! I do not wear the brace they gave me because it was way too big and the night nurse (Rick) said he was going to get me a smaller one but he never did. I took a look at the food list for phase two starting tomorrow and about freaked! I made up a list and my hubby went and got it all. I've been having such a bad day hugry wise, that I decided to make me some instant mash potatoes and ate some right now... they did not taste as good as I expected and I even added a little bit more butter. I figured a few hours was not going to make a huge difference. I was just geting so tired of cold, sweet and liquid. I have been nursing these potatoes for 40 minutes now. I think I do have some restriction or it is just in my head. I guess this is something we all have to go through ourselves. I still have gas but not as bad as it was. The site where my port is has the nastiest bruse I have ever seen. I tried on a pair of shorts today and it is not comfortable. I think I will have to go buy a couple of dressed to wear to work this next week. I wish I could burp! But I can not. I have not taken any pain meds today but I think I will before bed. I work at Bank of America. The call center on Buckeye and I-10. I respond to the e-mails people write from the Bank of Ameria web site. Therefore, I sit in a cube and answer e-mails all day. It is an awesome job, great benefits. Was a blessing to have our Surgeon having the lap-band the same time we did! Did you guys tell me your names? Virginia

Selain, LilMonkey.. I love being able to chat with someone who are exactly walking in my same shoes! How cool is that? Are you all still doing your heprin injections? Are you hungry? What are your first names? Yesterday we drove up to Pulden and it was very difficult on our bumpy roads. Dr. Debarros told me that the new band, as far as effectiveness is now on the same level as bypass. Why anyone would choose bypass in this day and age I'll never know. He also told me that he was waiting for this band so he could have it done. A friend of his is lying out from New York, and he is schedule next month. We start on the full liqiud diet tomorrow and I am really looking forward to eating Yougert, puddings, creamed Soups, etc... So does anyone think this weird pain in the center of our chest is the feeling of 'fullness' everyone is talking about? I keep walking around the house saying "if i could only burp" I know I would feel better. Also, for those that were banded last week, how many of you are going back to work tomorrow? I am suppose to but I really feel I could take another day or two off. I'm just not up to par yet and my eating is so strange. I am still up 2 pounds from my pre-surgery weight. Okay this is turning into a book.... Virginia

Hi, Dr. Debarros told me about the new band (I got it also). He said the difference is the inside of the band the part that inflates does not go all the way around the band. It has a section where there is no fill area due to the connection of the bank. Look at some pictures and you will see what I am talking about. The new band does go all the way around, no gap. I could not find anything online about it either and I searched for ever! When I called the office to inquire about the new band they said it was the one replacing the old. So until Allergen updates their web site I guess this is all the info we will have. If any of you know more let me know! Virginia Banded 05/21/2007