mcgreen

I did two business trips last week and had no problems. Worst case scenario they private screen you and you can show them your port scar. good luck!

hi Kacee- it was no problem and was at spivak's office. One of the nurses did it without fluro- blind stick. I had some restriction already just with the band in place so they put a little over 1 cc. I felt too tight drinking water at 1.5 (my band can hold 4 cc). the sucky part is going back to liquids for 24 hours then back to mushies for two more days after tasting real food it definitely did not feel good going into the skin but once it was in, it was ok. cindy your weight loss is great! I almost didn't get a fill cause I'm still losing but was worried I'd push and push how much I could eat without some extra restriction. Hang in there!!! very cool that you got yours under fluro! the xray tech was out at my doc's office this morning so no barium etc.

good luck! going in for my first fill today as well - not certain if I need it- I definitely have restriction but think I can eat more than I should. We'll see what the doc says :scalesno: happy wed may bandsters!

Hang in there Julie- the head hunger is tough! I was in an airport yesterday and all the people eating fast food (fries - YUM), pizza, chips was killing me. I kept reminding myself of why I had the band put in to help my self control. Officially 4 weeks tomorrow and that's the day my surgeon usually lets people advance their diet to "regular foods". Anyone scared about this step? With the mushies diet- its been easier for me- I'm a picky eater to stay with mushies I eat very limited things and have lost weight. I'm worried about going to regular food cause that's what I got fat on. Going to try the protein first and hope that I do ok till my fill

I'm almost 1 month out- on mushies (primarily protein shakes with some soft foods cause I'm picky) - for me, even getting in 60 oz of fluid a day, I'm constipated and need to take colace. I hope the capsules don't get stuck after my first fill! Fiber is good if you take enough water in otherwise it constipates

that definitely scares me- also as I'm self pay, there is no way I could afford a 2nd operation! I'll officially be 4 weeks tomorrow and am going for a fill on Wed- I think I can advance my diet to regular stuff tomorrow - going to call the MD's office to be certain its ok to do it before being seen. I miss beef!

no seat belt extender on the airplane!

wow! that blows- hope that doesn't happen to you every time! I flew on Tuesday and had no problems with mine- didn't have the tightness of the band I've heard some people talk about either. good thing i found- for the first time in several years I didn't need the seat belt extender!!!!! WOOOO! Hang in there Margaret! I feel the same way- full in the morning and until around dinner. Tonight I know I ate too much- had 4 oz-5 oz of fish and 1/2 cup mashed potatoes. I felt full after but not sick. Can't wait for my fill next week!

I very much understand how you are feeling. I'm a band newbie- but part of the reason I did it was to try to get my older brother to consider WLS. He weighs over 400 lbs and has 2 small kids. I'm hoping that my success (and it WILL happen) will help him to make a positive choice for himself. Honestly, I don't think the band will help unless someone is mentally ready and even then - our head hunger is still there so pushing someone isn't likely to help- it might set them up for failure Hugs to you for wanting good things for your close ones!

my port pain has gotten significantly better the past few days- I'm a little over 2 weeks out and found that I was waking up on my stomach with a little port tenderness- before I couldn't even think of rolling over. My bras still bug me so every other day I go for a light bandless bra- not as supportive but doesn't rub either so let me ask y'all something - I went to the band doctor's support group last night and there were about 20 -30 people there and most have them have been banded > 6 months and most of them had lost only 20-40 lbs! That freaked me out! So it could be a selected group- the ones who are doing well don't feel like they need the support whereas the ones who are struggling do but it really depressed me. How could they not have lost more than that?? The upside is that they had been consistently gaining for years prior to their band and by doing the band they stopped that and are down some but omg. It really stressed me! This isn't meaning to take anything away from those women but good grief!

Hi- good luck on your upcoming surgery! I used the heating pad most for my shoulder and occasionally for my back - I wasn't used to sleeping flat on my back and almost everything else was uncomfortable for me after surgery. Many people have posted they sleep on their side(s) and will put the heating pad on their tummy as they roll. Re the gas strips- they are Gas-X (simethicone) and you take them by mouth. I actually like the chewable ones better (peppermint creme!) they have a higher dose of simethicone and I found them more effective. 2 weeks out from surgery and doing well- back to work full time and walking 4-5 days /week. I'm convinced that the only way to keep the weight loss going is to exercise pretty consistently. Getting hungry- first fill is on june 20th thank god and fighting to stay off the scale. hope to see some spivak'ers at the support group tomorrow night!

that is very true- the diaphragm's nerves send referral pain to your shoulder so whatever irritates the diaphragm can cause your shoulder to ache. Gas can do it if it puts pressure, the surgery itself can cause irritation to it and that's part of why its so hard to treat. Nerve pain doesn't go away easily with pain meds so I don't even try those any more

for me the only thing that works is lying flat on my back. At the first sign of it, I lie down and within 30 minutes it goes away. During my lunch break today at work, I was on the floor in my office for 30 minutes trying to head off a bad attack. I think the shoulder pain has been the worst part for me- it can last several weeks according to my doctor's handout. hang in there!

Hi Sandra- I had surgery with Dr Spivak a week ago- and I know what you are talking about- they give multiple handouts that actually contradict each other. Dr Spivak's personal materials say to go to mushies after 48 hours and eat only 3 meals a day where the others have different schedules for both liquids/mushies and meals. If you are feeling well enough for some mushies, the info he gives out from his office (the white typed sheet) says its ok. glad to read people are doing so well! Up until around Friday (post op day 4) I was wondering what on earth I'd gotten myself into! I had horrible shoulder pain and gas. The shoulder pain would worsen with walking and only got better when I'd lie down but the gas would then worsen :lol Oh well. Both have significantly improved Congrats to everyone who is doing so well -and if you are lurking and having problems- you aren't alone!

I know exactly how you feel- hang in there! You will do great! Congrats to all who have done so well this past week and month! Getting ready for Monday- I have to be at the hospital by 6. Even though my doctor doesn't require it, I'm going to go on liquids tomorrow (day before surgery) to try to make the post-op gas pains easier. Good luck to all who are getting banded this week!!!!

The article didn't bother me- good for them for being able to lose that much weight! I hope that they are successful in keeping it off. I lost 70 lbs in college and gained it back + another person's weight over the next 15 years. For some people it works, others it doesn't and they need extra tools. The 2 things that struck me the most about the article was first that the majority of the people were under the age of 30 and 2nd - most of them exercise daily. I think the article did a bad job on focusing that the key was calories in <<< calories out. I'm hoping one day to give up my belief that "I'll run only when chased by a person with a knife" It does suck that more attention isn't given to people who undergo WLS- it is an effective tool for many and more publicity will help decrease the stigma that some associate with the surgery

Hang in there and good luck!!! this place has been wonderful- so many people going through the same thing. Thank you all for posting your stories and your progress. It really helps Marjorie

Congrats to all who have done well this month. My surgery is in one week, I went and paid today, everything is set but I am FREAKED OUT. I've never had surgery and am really really nervous

I'm self pay and am using park plaza purely because in case of a *rare* emergency, I thought it was better to be in a full hospital (paranoid medical person here) glad to see so many people with positive experiences! My surg is in a week (eek!)

good luck to you too!!! :clap2: Oooh Paulette- I'm sorry, that is so disappointing. I hope that things get resolved for you soon! congrats! Glad you are feeling ok! Great attitude! I'm having a hard time adjusting to the pre band diet- I've dieted successfully off and on most of my life but knowing that my old ways of eating in volumes is going away.. it makes it hard to go back to atkins. eh.

thanks for the recipe!

Hello all! I'm on for May 21 and am thrilled to have found this place I've never had surgery and am a bit scared of the whole process and post op pain even though I work in the medical field and know better good luck to all who are going this week! Marjorie

that's great to know- thanks! Do you find that if you add the protein to thicker stuff - yogurt; sugar free pudding that the taste isn't too obvious ( for the "no taste" protein

congrats and good luck to everyone! my date is 5/21 - luckily I don't need a pre-op liquid diet. That's going to be the hardest part for me- I don't like soup and then the mushy stage- I can't stand eggs. Thank goodness for places like this board to pick up hints of ways to make this journey better!