Lucy

Hi Everyone, My surgery itself went well yesterday. I had TERRIBLE gas pains immediately after waking up and was screaming in pain for at least an hour or two. I think they put me in a recovery room with nurses who weren't too familiar with Lapband patients and they kept trying to give me ginger ale for the gas! Finally my doctor came in and had them give me water. After walking around the hospital I felt okay enough to go home, but the drive home was excrutiating. I barely slept last night because I couldn't find a comfortable position. Today...I still feel like sh*t. Trying to walk around the house to get the gas out (and it's coming slowly). I'm so groggy, I don't think I can muster up the strength to walk around my neighborhood. I don't think the GasX strips do a damn thing, but that's just my opinion. I also have a LOT of throat pain from the anesthesia. Thankfully I had picked up some Ricola before the surgery -- these are great to have for soothing your throat if you have pain there. I'm on vicodin and that doesn't seem to be helping either. On the plus side, I haven't had a problem drinking the liquids that I need. I've been so thirsty, it's actually hard to not chug them! :girl_hug: Hope everyone else is dong well.

Juli, send me a PM. I would be happy to offer some suggestions...

That's so funny! It's really nice up there. I loved St Augustine, it's so quaint and relaxed. Miami is a really great place to visit, but I don't really like living here. There's so much of "the scene" that I'm not really into. Living near the ocean is nice, though. I can't wait for the big day! Today I need to pick up a few more "post-op" items and I have to meet a work deadline (ugh). Hope everyone here is doing well. xoxo

I was never much of a soda drinker. About 2 years ago I started drinking Diet Coke and was pretty addicted -- at least one a day. I stopped drinking it about 6 months ago and cut a bunch of unhealthy things out of my diet (I was getting a lot of migraines and I cut out all caffiene to see if that was the problem). So anyway, I ordered a diet coke about a week ago and when I took the first sip, I almost vomited. It was disgusting! My point is this -- your body is conditioned to crave it because it is a chemical, a drug. But after a while you won't want it anymore. You might find that if you ever drink it again that you won't like it. That doesn't necessarily make the time NOW when you want it go by faster, but it's a smidgen of encouragement

Eddie, you and your man are adorable. I just noticed you were banded in Jacksonville. Do you live there? I live in Miami. I haven't really spent much time in North FL, but I was in St Augustine not too long ago and really enjoyed it. How is everyone else? I'll post a picture of myself eventually--let me find one that I like...

Lisa H, I asked my surgeon about the new band and he told me the same thing -- that it was going to be a remote-control fill system. I'm in Miami, so we are pretty close -- maybe it's a Florida thing? I'm actually very content with getting the "old" band. I would rather my doc install something he is used to and not experiement on me! Good luck to all of you going in tomorrow! I will be joining you on Friday!!!!

Glad to see that everyone is doing well. KT, I'm so happy to hear that you haven't had any sleeping problems. I'm a *little* concerned about what my sleeping situation is going to be like post-op. I usually sleep on my side, and I'm worried about that causing pain....how are all the other post-op bandsters sleeping? Good luck to everyone getting banded today (all 8 of you!) and I can't wait to join you on Friday!

Thanks everyone for the support. It's hard to believe that I'm almost banded...I can't wait for Friday! I'll keep you posted Eddie, I always buy my Perfect food at Whole Foods. You can probably find it for a better price online, but I haven't really looked -- it's just more convenient for me to get it at WF. I always blend it in a smoothie with yogurt, frozen berries, Protein powder, flaxseed oil, and orange juice, so I can't really taste it. It smells like the country to me...like grass and horses. That's not really the best description, but I'm a city girl, so that's what it smells like to me. I have a friend who mixes it in juice and drinks it like that and he seems to like it OK, but I have never actually tried it. They also sell it in capsule form, but it costs more (of course). Julie and Kity both have a point, though. Maybe try drinking more Water and eating more vegetables and see where that takes you... good luck!

It's great that you have wonderful, respectful children. My feelings are, if you want them to stay that way, you will enforce rules, even if they only break them once. Your punishment isn't fun but that's not the point of punishment. It's reasonable and will stick with your kids -- I doubt they will pull a reapeat disappearing act anytime soon. And when they are older they will thank you for not just blowing it off. I was a stubborn child and was punished a lot for breaking the rules. I can't imagine where I would be if my parents had never punished me.

You could also try "Perfect Food". It's powdered greens and helps with digestion. I have a scoop of it in my protein shake every morning. I'm not banded yet (5 days to go!) so I don't know how it would go post-op, but I've been taking it for about a year and I haven't had any constipation problems at all.

I'm with 2bhealthyagain on that, too. My husband is the only one who knows and I plan to keep it that way. I don't need anyone's negativity or gossip right now. When I start to lose weight, I'm planning to tell people that I'm eating more protein and less of everything else and that I'm exercising more. All of that is true. It's not EVERYTHING, but I don't tell people everything anyway. There is a difference between lying ("the weight is just magically falling off!") and being private and selective about what you tell people.

Thanks for the support, everyone. I'm not really bothered by the obnoxious woman I ran into yesterday. It was really more shocking than anything else. I'm not going to let some hateful, childish woman make me feel bad. How is everyone else doing? Toni, I have the same concern -- I'm not telling anyone that I'm having surgery, I'm telling them that I'm taking 2 weeks of vacation. But some people are asking "where are you going? what are you doing?". And then my husband is taking a day off work to be with me at the hospital for the surgery and for some reason, he can't just say "I'm taking a personal day". He always feels like he needs to give a reason (which, by the way, it's illegal for your boss to ask you what you are doing with your vacation or personal time). I told him that if he couldn't just take the day off and keep his mouth shut, that he has to tell everyone that he is getting a colonoscopy. Ha!

Oh, and someone asked about getting to this thread faster: At the top of the page, click on "Quick Links" Then click on "Subscribed Threads" This will take you to a list of all the threads you have posted comments on. You should find this thread there. Good luck!

Today I left the house to run some errands with my husband. We were waiting at a light with one car in front of us. When the light turned green the car in front of us didn't move. I waited about 30 seconds and finally honked to get the woman to wake up and move! She started moving VERY slowly, obviously to annoy me. So I drove around her and continued on my way to the gas station down the street. I pulled in and was filling the tank when she drove up and yelled out the window, "WHAT THE F*CK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?!?!" I should have ignored her. But of course, I responded by calmly asking, "What the f*ck is wrong with YOU?". She made the nastiest face I have ever seen and said: "GO TO HELL, YOU FAT F*CK!" and sped off. No one has mocked my weight since I was in middle school. When I got back in the car, I actually started crying I was so upset. How could someone be so mean and intentionally hurtful? Over having the horn honked at them because they weren't paying attention while driving?!?!? Obviously the woman was crazy, but what's the point of following me to the gas station so you can tell me that I'm fat? It's unfortunate that she drove off too quickly to hear my reply: "I am fat now, but I'm going to be thin soon. You, however, will ALWAYS be a hateful c*nt"

Hang in there Momma! I feel your pain -- I am very impatient. I was once in the hospital for severe dehydration. After 12 hours I was rehydrated and couldn't wait to get out of there. The nurse wouldn't let me out without permission from my doctor and said she would call her, but didn't make it a priority. I was ignored by the nurse for 2 hours and nothing happend. Finally, I pulled out my own IV and walked up to the Nurses station and said "You can't keep me here, I'm leaving!". In retrospect, that was maybe not the best way to handle the situation, but I couldn't take it anymore!

It's been a while since I've posted, so I just wanted to say hello and see how all the Junies have been doing. It's great to hear that everyone is dong well post-op! I can't wait for Friday to come. But I have a feeling this week is going to fly by and I will be banded before I know it! I live in Florida, and thankfully Barry (the Tropical Storm) wasn't more than some heavy rain (which we need down here anyway)...hopefully we don't have any sudden hurricanes next week to pospone my surgery! Take care, everyone.

Agreed with most here, it's great news that he is being released. I fully support the right for assisted suicide. "Dr. Death", which the news insisted on calling him, is way ahead of his time. I think everyone should be forced to see "The Sea Inside". Check it out, 396, you might have a change of heart.

"OW" does not express my thoughts right now! Glad to hear you are feeling better.

I'm not, actually. I know that I am having this done to motivate me. And when I come out of that operating room, I am going to wake up with a different mindset. The $15,000 payment is a HUGE motivation.

At my first visit with the surgeon he scheduled a date for a month from then. I had alreay started going to required classes. I finished those 2 weeks ago. I had my pre-op labs with my MD last Friday and will have surgery next Friday. It happens pretty quickly with self-pay. I didn't need to do any pre-op tests other than the labs.

<p>Congrats on the new job, Stevee!</p> <p> </p> <p>"TMP" is too funny. I have TMJ, but unfortunately it is mostly stress-related and not sex-related.</p> <p> </p>

Oh, and my surgeon's office called today to move my surgery from June 7th to June 8th. Not a big deal, it's actually better since it's a Friday. So if you wouldn't mind changing my date on the calendar, I would appreciate it. Thanks!

I'm with 2bhealthy on the chew and spit thing. I understand the pain of dieting, but you have to remember why you are having surgery. The band is not a cure, it's a tool. It is there to help us change our bad habits and our lives. What's the point of going through all of this just to acquire new bad habits? The chew and spit thing is actually a very common ritual among bulimics. I'm not inferring that you are bulimic, because it's obviously not something you are in a set habit of doing. But over time it can become something that you are accustomed to doing which is detrimental to your health. Find things that you CAN eat that satisfy your cravings somehow. Be strong!

And OHJuli, my condolences to you and your GF. I hope you are well and at peace.

Hope you all had good weekends. I just wanted to send my love to the LGBTers and wish you all a happy 4-day week (woo hoo!).