FarmerE

I'm in for whenever and wherever with y'all. Just give me enough time to fit into some smoking going out clothes... By the way...anyone going that's not married, partnered, etc? I don't want to be the sad lonely single chick there.

Yay Bigbaby! That is awesome! :clap2:

Luvli..the information session is something that they hold either once a month or a couple times a month at the hospital that does the surgery. I have seen others talk about going to some kind of meeting as well. Start looking for surgeons in the area you live that do the banding and ask them if they hold an informational meeting. The surgeon talked about what it was like, the complications, the lifestyle changes, etc. Mine had a couple people that had been banded for a while also come in so we could ask real questions and get real answers. I'm glad that you are doing some research a head of time. It sure helps. As far as books go, there is a book called "Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies" that was pretty interesting to read. It's set in plain language and gave a lot of information about the different types and how to work with insurance, the whole nine yards. I'm drawing a blank on the other one I read but I'll get back to you once I remember it. Also....if you decide this is truly something you want to do...get a Magic Bullet blender or something similar. It will be your best friend. Good luck!

(I'm a self-payer so not sure if it makes a difference) I never even really told my PCP. I went to the informational session and then started the pre-surgery requirements. One of which was blood work with my PCP and some sort of letter of statement from him. I just made the appt for the blood work and handed over the sheet of requirements. He never said anything about it one way or the other...guess he figured I had already done the legwork and made a decision if I was that far.

Mine said I can drink up until I start eating and then I have to wait for an hour or so afterwards.

Hey guys, I'm sorry if this was discussed somewhere else and I didn't find it. Has anyone had their port move? I've been using the treadmill and last night was my first time back actually running. :clap2: My port has been right at/just above my belly button. This morning I woke up and it's up and over about 2 inches. I'm not sure if it was because I like to run close to the treadmill bar and it bumped it or just the jiggling of my belly that did it. I don't think it's a cause for concern that I want to run to my doctor over. Just thought it was kinda weird. I've been bonding with my band/port and it decided to up and move on me....Any thoughts?

Welcome CC! You are doing great. I was banded the day before you with Dr. Eric Pinnar. I'm going back Monday for my second follow up. Are you going to go to his support group meeting this month?

Mine is just at the top of my belly button. If I push a little, I can feel it but if I'm just moving around normally, I don't.

The first part of the banding process is healing. You will lose some weight after the surgery due to the restriction on diet but mainly it's for your stomach to heal. Most people don't feel like they are restricted until after they are filled.

I'm sooo jealous of you guys with fills and the ones that are starting on their second fills. I wanna be like you! I still have probably another four weeks before my doc will consider a fill. Oh well. BUT, I was given permission to go be a drunk person for training. LOL. They are providing the alcohol and I get to drink enough to be legally drunk and beyond so the officers can put us through field sobriety tests. YAY! My doc said he wanted to volunteer too! You guys are doing awesome. I'm so happy to see that everyone is doing well and that the issues creeping up are minor. Huntersmom: I'm up for going somewhere. They are considering Vegas in Feb of '08 but they haven't ironed out the details yet.

My doc said I can drink up to the point that I begin to eat but then I have to wait an hour to an hour and a half to drink afterwards.

I was up walking that day, though not much. Was still kinda woozy but I did it. The next day was easier. Walked the front walk outside and was making laps around the house. They told me at the hospital to get up and walk. Just make sure someone is around ya. I'm not sure if it was the meds, the anesthesia, or something else but I was very wobbly.

Bobby's Mom...I wasn't saying that it was a horrible thing to do...just be careful that's all. Yeah, Dr.s all over the world have different views and things but your doctor is the one that did your surgery. Who knows, maybe his was a little different than mine and that expains the differences? Also, just because you ate something and did fine, doesn't mean that it would work for someone else. I have also noticed that people who start off with "just a little of something here" goes on "that didn't kill me, let's try this" to "here's a little more." Like Alexandra said, there is a reason why the doctor says to let your stomach heal. It might look gross but why not just go ahead and puree the stuff? Same flavor and no worries if you aren't chewing as well as you should or if you swallow a bite without chewing. I flat out paid for all of my surgery. I'm not willing to risk something like that. Also if it slips and I know I've been following the rules, I have better recourse with having my doctor fix it. Anyway, it was just my .02 for what it was worth.

I agree with Alexandra. Why chance it? You can do it as we all were there or are going through it.

Oh! To help the sipping and not gulping part....try using toddler sippy cups. It kinda helps not put so much in.

I had a great ice pack that covered my entire stomach. I kept it on for three days straight basically. I was still swollen and sore but it sure felt much better.

Welcome to bandland! I was very sore to right after surgery and for a couple days afterwards. Holding a pillow to your stomach helps with coughing. It doesn't hurt as much. It is normal to wonder if you are going to slip your band but you are going to be fine. Just take your time drinking water/protein shakes and move around some. I also found that laying flat (I was on a recliner) with an ice pack to my stomach helped. You will get through it.

I'm a side/stomach sleeper. For the first couple days after surgery, I was crashed out at my parent's house on their recliner. I found though if you put a pillow underneath your stomach and sleep on the side it actually isn't that uncomfortable. It took me about two weeks to get back to sleeping comfortably on my side and stomach. I don't think it messes anything up if you do sleep on your stomach but for me, it just plain hurt.

Welcome to our world. You'll find a lot of great information here. Just search the site and you'll find answers to most your questions. A lot of what you find is person/doctor specific and also kinda depends on if you go the insurance route or are a self-payer. You'll find most doctors require some sort of liquid pre-surgery diet to shrink the liver. It varies from days to weeks though. How far out the surgery is set also depends on various things like insurance or how busy your doctor is. Mine was a week of liquids with less than 50 grams of carbohydrates and more than 70 grams of Proteins prior to surgery. I was a self-pay so I didn't have to jump through the insurance hoops and took me roughly four weeks from the date of the first consulation to the actual surgery. Like I said though, everything varies for the specifics. Just make sure you follow the rules of your own surgeon. Good luck to ya!

My doctor told me to wait 24 hours to shower. The first time I showered, I did the plastic wrap around the stomach. It worked pretty well. It also seemed to add a little cushion around the incisions so the water didn't hit them directly. Also, don't try to bend at the stomach. Act like you are going to lift something heavy and kind of squat down at the knees to get something

I was a self pay. Went to the seminar in May...had the doctor's consultation about two days later. I had the blood work, the barium swallow, and the psych testing the same week. Psych results took about a week to get and then surgery was scheduled for June 26th (I could have had it on the 19th but there was a schedule conflict on my end) I think it took about 4 weeks total. Six months might also be a requirement of the insurance too

O2bthin: Have you tried taking measurements of yourself? Sometimes the scale won't move but the inches are gone, especially if you are working out so much. Keep up the good work though. It will eventually move...it has to. Bigbaby: I too, noticed that I burp a lot when I'm full. I haven't had a fill yet either so I'm hoping that it will change after I do. Right now, these aren't little burps...they are big manly let em rip belches. Thank god I live alone. LOL. Beckiet: Congrats on turning down The Cheesecake Factory. That is awesome! Ja9va: Whoo hooo another pound! Congrats. I haven't heard of the emmi series. Is it a website or something you have to log into? Everyone else is doing so great. I'm also jealous of the ones that have started to get their fills. I go back to the doctor in almost two weeks. I'm hoping I can make a fill appt then. Have a great day all!

I'm in. Flamingo is usually pretty cheap and right on the strip.

I too thought it was "Nobody does it like Sara Lee." I agree with what the? lol

I'm totally in. I love Vegas!