CallMeJim

Surgery is at high noon. The hospital is about 100 miles away so DW and I will be leaving about nine. They want me there at 11, plan to do surgery at noon and they said I should be on my way home by 2 PM. Hope it all comes off that smoothly! I slept pretty well last night and am not nervous at this point. It's odd. I started this process almost seven months ago and thought it would never get here. The pre-op diet and bowel prep. are behind me (glad for that) and I'm eager to move to the next phase. I'm also anxious to find out if I've lost any weight over the last 10 days! I exceed the capacity of my home scale (another humbling experience) so I only weigh at the doctor's office at this point. Well, sorry to ramble. Lots of us getting banded this week. Keep those prayers going! I trust things will go well for everyone. Jim

Wendy Rae-- Are you taking any meds? What are you eating/drinking?

Thanks to all of you! I am home and feeling very good. Just woke up from a nap as a matter of fact. It was quite an interesting day. Got pretty nervous at the last minute. I need to do a couple of things right now and then will write with more details. I am very pleased at this point and glad I did this. You will be too! Oh yes-- found out I Lost 17 pounds pre-op so that made for a good start. Thanks again, Jim

OK Knockouts-- how was YOUR pre-op experience?

I WISH there was an "easy" way out. I'd be all over that in a heartbeat! Geez-- what's wrong with easy anyway? Shoot, driving the car to work is a lot easier than walking, but I see an awful lot of people doing it...

Of course! Welcome aboard!

Wow-- I feel so blessed! Apparently the only one with this bowel prep. thing. I've had 10 days of very low carb/high protein diet. Well, here we go...

Hey Big D-- we all want to lose a bunch of weight real fast, but it's my understanding that the first six weeks after surgery are for healing. If you lose weight, great, but your focus needs to be on eating and drinking things that will allow your band to "scar in" in and work for the long haul. Potato soup ought to be cool if you grind up all the lumps. For me (starting tomorrow), that's going to mean three weeks of stuff I can drink through a straw, followed by three weeks of "mushies." Shoot, I may try to put a KC strip in my Magic Bullet and turn it into a milkshake (not really, but you get the picture). I'm going to try to eat healthy, but I'm not going to starve myself. There are lots of good Soups out there, and other things I can puree so variety shouldn't be a problem. I also ordered some unjury unflavored Protein to sprinkle in and I hope that helps. We'll see. I'm sure hoping it's better than the last 10 days! Hang in there Bro--we're all in this together. The band will kick in once we get a few fills and good restriction. Jim

Yep, I'm up tomorrow as well. I am a little nervous, but looking forward to getting through it to the other side. I have my bowel prep. to enjoy this afternoon. Surgery is at noon tomorrow and I can't have anything to eat or drink after midnight, so I'll probably be more hungry than I am now! Looking forward to seeing if I've lost any weight during pre-op. Feel like I ought to be half-way to goal! Hang in there and let me know how it goes for you. Jim

Talk it over with your doctor. Vomiting happens from time to time. I don't think that means you will ruin your band. Just need to be aware and take steps to avoid or minimize it.

My doc. said it shouldn't be a problem unless it is prolonged and violent. She said to call if nausea set in and she would prescribe some anti-nausea medicine.

I finish tomorrow with Day 10 and the lovely bowel prep. process. Had to spend $20 at Wal-Mart to get it today. Tomorrow afternoon will be big fun. I guess they save the best for last!

I'd say increase your protein. It's better than cheating and eating a bunch of carbs. It gets better after a few days, but I have felt somewhat hungry virtually the entire time. You just have to stay on top of it and avoid getting to the point where you're ravenous and lose control. Hang in there and remember lots of others are going through the same thing. You are not alone!

My doc's concern is about eliminating sugar/carbs in order to reduce the size of my liver prior to surgery (depletion of glycogen stores) and not about liquid vs. solids. She said that it's easier to control sugar intake by putting people on liquids. So I do have lots of liquids, but primary focus is on high, lean protein, low carbs and virtually no sugar. When I get really hungry, the protein really seems to help.

...real food! OK I won't lie. It is only day 6 of pre-op diet and I am ready for something besides powdered protein! Seriously, it's hitting home that life will never be the same and I'm going to miss food (I think). I want a cheeseburger! I guess with the band we'll still be able to eat "normal" (yeah, yeah healthy) things, just in small quantities. Anybody else feeling like you're losing a friend? Is that weird? :hungry:

I'm a lucky 7 as well. See you Monday!

Welcome WCFG! Take it one day at a time and don't think about how far you have to go. You can do it. I used to live in Mission Viejo. You anywhere near there?

I agree. It is hardest in the beginning. I am finishing day 8 out of 10. Keep the protein intake high and consistent and drink lots of fluids and you will be fine.

I spent most of yesterday switching between football and a Biggest Loser (BL) season 2 marathon. I had never watched BL before and it was fascinating. Those folks were amazing and virtually every one of them looked like an entirely different person--really great. Of course, they make a point of saying it's all due to diet and exercise; no WLS or "gimmicks." I've lost >100 pounds four or five (can't remember) times in my life and have NEVER kept it off. As soon as I reach a certain point, thinkgs turn around and I start gaining. Ugh! It's not hard for me to gain 5+ pounds in a week when I am in regain mode. I wish I could maintain like the BL people do, but I just can't and it's so frustrating because I am usually able to accomplish things I set out to do. Anybody watch that show? Do you think they actually stay thin? If so, how do they do it? I'm willing to work hard and am counting on my band to give me the extra help I need to finally be successful.

Thanks Ang- my instructions do say to stop taking NSAIDS such as ibuprofen. Also any herbal meds like St, John's Wort, Gingko, etc., but it also says to start taking multivitamins. Hmmmm. Hope it's ok.

Congrats GB! Glad things went so well.

I really like thedailyplate.com. Amazing number of items.

You can do it Shirley! Let us know how it goes Friday. Jim

Thanks Edie--that's cool. food sobriety-- Amen to that!

Can't wait to hear from you!