OregonHolly

Don't know about the rest of you, but I'm feeling pretty TENacious lately :cool: And now....... (drumroll:Banane20: please) for today's TENaciousTENS Roll Call :update: UserName..........surgery date.........................name lovekatz1975..............1....................... ........Debbie hd10952....................1...................... .........Holli catnipaddict...............1...................... .........Jena realestwoman71..........1......................... .........? Woodsk.....................1...................... ............Kerry Shrinkage..................1..................... .............? KloverDad..................1...................... ..........Dylan KloverMom.................1...................... .........Mary IleneV.......................1.................... ............Ilene MistyDTX...................2...................... .............Misty mescla808..................2...................... ...........Miriam sbee.........................2.................... .............Shana BigK..........................2................... .................? pvchickie...................2..................... ..............Tara summer.....................2...................... ..........Summer BlueEyedKitty.............2....................... ...........Jill bbjerseygirl................2?.................... .............? gallygirl.....................2................... ..............Gail moopymom................2......................... .........? Kim in SF...................3............................ ......Kim Kygal........................3.................... .............? MandyW................... 3.................................Mandy Nancy33....................3...................... ............Nancy marcy........................3.................... . ...........Marcy Rastis100...................3..................... ..........? cope1951...................3...................... .........Gerri cookielover.................3..................... .............Amy reneem......................3..................... .............Renee BigK..........................3................... ...............? ygwlewis.....................4..................................? Lizziee.........................4.................. ................? rabid 24.....................4.......................... .......Jodi Cheri42......................4.................... .............Cheri want so bad................4.............................. Nicole Lafs ..........................4....................... ........? New L'D RN..................4............................. Twyla Shermy58....................4..................... ........Carol BuffettPhan.................4..................... ........Justin nurse4........................4................... ...........Carina Sillybro.......................4.................. .............? Change.......................4.................... ............? babs0101....................5..................... ........Barbara melbear......................5.................... ............? nume130.....................5..................... ........Cheryl mom2kiss....................5..................... .......Lisa superjamiek.................5..................... .........Jamie MizPeppy....................5..................... ........Beth Trudy.........................5................... .........Trudy nvnagdtme..................5...................... .....Ashley RenFize......................5.................... ..........? Julie25inmass..............5..............................Julie SheBeThinnin'.............5.................................? JUDE..........................6.................. ..........? cutiepie123.................7.................... ........? Stfnklly......................8................... ........Stefanie Sierra1411..................8..................... .......Sierra ManhBill......................8................... .........Bill new_me_2008..............8........................ ....Tina foxytri........................8.................. ...........? colesd1.......................8................... .........Dawn emilia12076..................8.................... .......Emilia b_brown......................8.................... .......? miladyelfn....................8.................. .........Mila? NewOrleansGRL.............9....................... ....? OregonHolly..................9.................... ........Holly bbjerseygirl..................9................... .........? brispenny31.................9..................... .......? ::Lori::........................9................. ............Lori dmichele......................9.................. ........Michele wsb............................9................ .............? ssfano.........................9.................. ..........Stacie Jen93003......................9..............................? Pepper10......................9..............................? sadie640.....................10................... . ......Sadie Carrot06.....................10................... ....... :-) Arkie..........................10................ .........Sherry LSzeliga......................11.................. ...........? BluesByrd....................11................... .........Ray laurygregson................11.................... .........Laury ParaGirl.......................11................. ..........Dana Jenne.........................11.................. .......Jennifer Hoping4the Best...........11............................Sara h npmental.....................11.................. ........? crazy4jags...................11.................. .........Sue Ricebabe.....................11................. ..........? lauren0728...................11................... .....Lauren Karenr204....................12................... ..........Karen hope36ca....................12................... .........Hope MTaylor.......................12.................. ...........Marie lgmb...........................12................ ............? Merv...........................12................ ...........Rhonda sweet_liberty................12................... ........Libby Sonic777......................12...........................Neal RondaBen.....................15................... ..........Ben Dustout........................15................. ............? CQQlgirl........................15................ ............Valerie fluffyinks......................15............... .............Jackie ernurse12.....................15................. ..........Sherri State_ur_worth..............15................... .......Susie angelina85.....................15............ ..........Angelina? Melissa300.....................16..........................Melissa nicnaknut......................16................. ...........Bonnie luvmyboyz.....................16.................. ..........Heidi Topdownbug..................16.................... .........Judy Misjanete.......................16................ ............Janet Margottesser.................17.................. .......Margaret Saintluver.....................17................ ............? Dreamchasertx...............18............................? moving4word.................18.................... .......Amy tizen33........................18................ .........Tina bandster_1007...............18.................... ......Tabatha ahealthieryou.................18.................. ........Tammy BalsamChick...................18.................. ........Kim vfran............................19............... .............Vickie KristinaDawnB.................19.................. .........Kristina LalaD............................22.............. ................Lala coo..............................22.............. ...............? Donnajade.....................23.................. ...........Donna Bandwagon....................24................... ...........? Kathy759.......................24................. ............Kathy Artzygirl.........................24.............. ...............Janet GrizGirl...........................25.............................Michelle O2BSlim.........................25................ ............Dianne BigFred...........................25.............. ..............Fred Montanagirl......................25............... .............? Freebigbennow................26................... ...........Ben DavidB...........................26............... ..............Dave EricCharbonneau..............26................... ..........Eric odamay..........................26............................? justwaitin2b....................29................ ............Karen Trapped _inside................29......................... ...Anne signgirl...........................31............. ................Diane Brookus.........................31................ ............Brooke Margie122......................31................. ...........Margie Kathm.............................31.............. ..........Kathryn CTgirl.............................31..........................Eileen Bugalu...........................?................ .............. ? marywalker20..................?................... ......... Mary goswicks........................?................. .......... Nettie B-Rog............................?.................. ..........Beth Stranger138....................?.................. ..........Tina

OMG Amy that is so awesome!! Congratulations! I LOVE stories of triumph like that, yipee for you! For ALL of us, as we share this journey!

No, it's not just you. Surgery is a breeze, but recovery is a b*tch! My first postop day I wanted to crawl under a rock and die. Today is better. Has it really only been 2 days? Wow. I lay around drugged up on Lortab all morning on the sofa, and then the gas was building up, so I dressed (waistband - ouchie) and went outdoors and slowly walked this path around my house that is a mile! I'm talking slooooooowly. My neighbors were looking at me like "what the hell?" haha! After that my stomach was rumbling like crazy and all that pent up gas came ripping loose, yay! The worst part for me is my 7 year old grandson (who lives with me) is totally oblivious to my pain and feelings of utter vulnerability. I know he's too little to understand that I want everybody to get FAR FAR away from me and not do anything that might result in me getting clobbered with a toy, stepped on, tripped over, etc. Even my cat wants to climb on my belly and "make biscuits" with her paws (as she's done every day for years) and that freaks me out! I can't wait until the tenderness goes away and I feel like a human being again instead of a monster!

I must say that it is VERY comforting to read the post-op stories of all the now-familiar names of you that have been banded. It sure is interesting how different it goes for everyone. Some go home within hours of surgery, some stay overnight at the hospital (someone stayed 2 nights) and some are on IV's and oxygen overnight (me) and others don't need that. For everyone it seems that the surgery was a breeze, and the post-op recovery very variable. I suppose it depends on your age, your condition (hernia repair or not, general health, comorbidities, etc.) and so the journey is very individual. But we are certainly NOT ALONE! It is such a comfort to have all the familiar new friends here sharing the road.

Yes bandster buddies, it' s true. I snuck contaband into the hospital, :fish2: and I'm glad I did! What was it you say? :nervous It was Wrigleys "Energy Mints" that have caffeine in them! I confess that I hadn't given up coffee even though I'd heard over and over "NO caffeine allowed!" but..... :lalala: and I was terrified of getting a caffeine headache at the hospital. 3 mints is worth 1/2 cup of coffee! No headache for me! During anesthesia they give you a med called Atropine - which dries up your secretions, and believe me - you are DRY when you wake up. I'm talking your lips are stuck to your teeth! The mints (caffeine or not) were the BEST thing, better than sips of water, lip balm, etc. So yes, I confess my sin. I'm a caffeine addict. But I haven't had coffee, does that count? My daughter says "mom you're in such denial, you're minimizing your addiction." When I was walking loops around the nursing floor at the hospital I kept passing the coffee pot and I'd slooooooooow down just to smell it and look longingly at the pot! Whether or not you're a coffee addict, I'd still strongly advise bringing some mints to such on when your mouth feels like a desert on a hot and windy day. Oh, my nasal passages were SO DRY too - I wished I'd have brought some Vicks Vapo-Rub or Metholadum to put in my nostrils. That kind of severe dryness lasted about 6-8 hours. Except my nose is still dried up, yuck.

I'd also add: hard candies or mints for that DRY desert mouth that happens the first day postop (it's from the drug Atropine they give you in surgery to dry up your secretions!) Also something to lubricate your DRY nasal passages - vasiline or saline nasal spray or my favorite: Vicks vapo-rub to help lubricate and open those dry plugged nasal passages.

The mints I got weren't Wrigleys like I initially said. They're "Ice Breakers Energy Mints" and they come in a cute little turquoise tin that fits nicely in your purse. I got them at the checkout stand area of Walmart. I think any hard candy or mints will work fine. A definite "must have". Also anything for dry nasal passages - even vasiline. I wish I'd have brought something to "open up" the passages though, like vicks vapo-rub. So I recommed that. Maybe even some "ocean spray" or other saline nasal spray might help. The horrible dry mouth does go away after quite a few hours though. Colesd1 is right, it was like drinking desert sand, LOL!

Amy you're so danged funny, you made me laugh and it HURT! 3 hours to give birth, wow. Did you name it?

:director: TENaciousTENS :update: More and more TENaciousTENS are joining. If I left you off, it's by accident - send me a private messge and I'll be sure to get your name on there! I do scan the posts looking for newbies, but PM's are the best way to get my :wave: attention. Thanks for all the support following my surgery yesterday. Today I do feel a bit :sick but let me tell you - it's so empowering to know that we have all taken control of our lives this way. It's so exciting to have such a wonderful group to share it with. :becky: :gluck: to those who's date is yet ahead. And now for the update: UserName..........surgery date.........................name lovekatz1975..............1....................... ........Debbie hd10952....................1...................... .........Holli catnipaddict...............1...................... .........Jena realestwoman71..........1......................... .........? Woodsk.....................1...................... ............Kerry Shrinkage..................1..................... .............? KloverDad..................1...................... ..........Dylan KloverMom.................1...................... .........Mary IleneV.......................1.................... ............Ilene MistyDTX...................2...................... .............Misty mescla808..................2...................... ...........Miriam sbee.........................2.................... .............Shana BigK..........................2................... .................? pvchickie...................2..................... ..............Tara summer.....................2...................... ..........Summer BlueEyedKitty.............2....................... ...........Jill bbjerseygirl................2?.................... .............? gallygirl.....................2................... ..............Gail moopymom................2......................... .........? Kim in SF...................3............................ ......Kim Kygal........................3.................... .............? MandyW................... 3.................................Mandy Nancy33....................3...................... ............Nancy marcy........................3.................... . ...........Marcy Rastis100...................3..................... ..........? cope1951...................3...................... .........? cookielover.................3..................... .............Amy reneem......................3..................... .............Renee BigK..........................3..................................? Lizzie.........................4.................. ................? rabid 24.....................4.......................... .......Jodi Cheri42......................4.................... .............Cheri want so bad................4.............................. Nicole Lafs ..........................4....................... ........? New L'D RN..................4............................. Twyla Shermy58....................4..................... ........Carol BuffettPhan.................4..................... ........Justin nurse4........................4................... ...........Carina Sillybro.......................4.................. .............? Change.......................4.................... ............? babs0101....................5..................... ........Barbara melbear......................5.................... ............? nume130.....................5..................... ........Cheryl mom2kiss....................5..................... .......Lisa superjamiek.................5..................... .........Jamie MizPeppy....................5..................... ........Beth Trudy.........................5................... .........Trudy nvnagdtme..................5...................... .....Ashley RenFize......................5.................... ..........? JUDE..........................6.................. ..........? cutiepie123.................7.................... ........? Stfnklly......................8................... ........Stefanie Sierra1411..................8..................... .......Sierra ManhBill......................8................... .........Bill new_me_2008..............8........................ ....Tina foxytri........................8.................. ...........? colesd1.......................8................... .........Dawn emilia12076..................8.................... .......Emilia b_brown......................8.................... .......? miladyelfn....................8.................. .........Mila? NewOrleansGRL.............9....................... ....? OregonHolly..................9.................... ........Holly bbjerseygirl..................9................... .........? brispenny31.................9..................... .......? ::Lori::........................9................. ............Lori dmichele......................9.................. ........Michele wsb............................9................ .............? ssfano.........................9.................. ..........Stacie sadie640.....................10................... . ......Sadie Carrot06.....................10................... ....... :-) Arkie..........................10................ .........Sherry LSzeliga......................11.................. ...........? BluesByrd....................11................... .........Ray laurygregson................11.................... .........Laury ParaGirl.......................11................. ..........Dana Jenne.........................11.................. .......Jennifer Hoping4the Best...........11............................Sara h npmental.....................11.................. ........? crazy4jags...................11.................. .........Sue Ricebabe.....................11................. ..........? lauren0728...................11................... .....Lauren Karenr204....................12................... ..........Karen hope36ca....................12................... .........Hope MTaylor.......................12.................. ...........Marie lgmb...........................12................ ............? Merv...........................12................ ...........Rhonda sweet_liberty................12................... ........Libby RondaBen.....................15................... ..........Ben Dustout........................15.............................? Sonic777......................12.................. ............? CQQlgirl........................15................ ............Valerie fluffyinks......................15............... .............Jackie ernurse12.....................15................. ..........Sherri State_ur_worth..............15................... .......Susie angelina85.....................15............ ..........Angelina? nicnaknut......................16................. ...........Bonnie luvmyboyz.....................16.................. ..........Heidi Topdownbug..................16.................... .........Judy Misjanete.......................16............................Janet Margottesser.................17................... .......Margaret Melissa300....................17................ ...........Melissa Saintluver.....................17................ ............? moving4word.................18.................... .......Amy tizen33........................18................ .........Tina bandster_1007...............18.................... ......Tabatha ahealthieryou.................18.................. ........Tammy BalsamChick...................18.................. ........Kim vfran............................19............... .............Vickie KristinaDawnB.................19.................. .........Kristina LalaD............................22.............. ................Lala coo..............................22.............. ...............? Donnajade.....................23.................. ...........Donna Bandwagon....................24................... ...........? Kathy759.......................24................. ............Kathy Artzygirl.........................24.............................Janet O2BSlim.........................25................ ............Dianne BigFred...........................25............................Fred Montanagirl......................25............................? Freebigbennow................26................... ...........Ben DavidB...........................26............... ..............Dave EricCharbonneau..............26................... ..........Eric justwaitin2b....................29................ ............Karen Trapped _inside................29......................... ...Anne signgirl...........................31............. ................Diane Brookus.........................31................ ............Brooke Margie122......................31................. ...........Margie Kathrn...........................31.............. ..........Kathryn Bugalu...........................?................ .............. ? marywalker20..................?................... ......... Mary goswicks........................?................. .......... Nettie B-Rog............................?.................. ..........Beth Stranger138....................?.................. ..........Tina

Hey dustout, congrats on getting a date. I'll add you to the Roll Call!

Woo hoo - lets get this party started! :clap2:I'm scheduled for surgery Oct 8th! I'm in the middle of all the testing now, and don't expect any problems, plus I'm self pay. My fee includes 16 weeks membership at our local gym, which I thought was cool. The AP band as well, thank goodness. Anyone else got their October surgery date? Holly

Right on Fred, finally a date! I'll fix it on the Roll Call. Congrats!

Where did you get those sassy black shoes? I want some of those!

I'm on day 1 postop (had surgery yesterday) and I'm surprised at the amount of pain I have. But in spite of the "physical" pain, I have no emotional pain: just joy, I feel courageous, so ready to start my new life. no more feeling powerless and doomed to a half-life of being fat and left out of the things that bring real joy to life. I know this physical pain will pass, and the pain meds help so much. I can't wait to get back on the treadmill and adventure of my new life. I'm so glad we're taking this journey together!

YES! I love your outlook! Very empowering. You are FREE :messenger3: of the chains of eating addiction that held you back. New life now! Congratulations!

Hi Jenne! Good luck and I'll be thinking of you! I'm like you - I gag when I brush my teeth. I just plan to be more careful in the future, but like foxy said, it's the voilent retching that causes the problems. By the way when they put the tube down my throat in surgery - and took it out - I wasn't "there for it" at all. I was deeply in "la la land".

I must still be disoriented or something, I thought I just posted my "post surgery" story here, but apparently I didn't. Maybe it's in the TENacousTENS thread. Oh well, it's definitely in the new thread someone made for me (which touched my heart) entitled "Holly's band day". The postop stories are a little scary - everyone's experience is so different, but the surgery itself is a breeze. The recovery is a bit of a challenge. But it will be over soon enough. Hi Carrot! Anyway go read my post under "Holly's Band Day" for my surgery story. ((Hugs))

I was banded on the 9th. When I got online I saw a new thread entitled "Holly's Band Day" so I posted detail there. It's interesting how different all of our experiences were! I was hospitalized in Oregon and stayed 24 hours, with oxygen on the whole time, and an IV the whole time. I felt pretty good at the hospital but feel pretty crappy now that I'm home. My cat keeps climbing on me and purring and wanting to sit on my chest, LOL! He's all hurt because I keep pushing him off, poor kitty! Well read my post in the other thread if you're interested in more detail. I'm so glad to be on "the other side" and so ready to help support my fellow October-bandsters.

I was banded yesterday, the 9th, and I pretty much feel like I was run over by a bus, stomped on by a horse and strangeled. I'll try the popsicles! I can drink okay, I just have to remember to do it! The "gas" pains aren't affecting me in the abdomen (which is soft) but I think they're messing with my diaphragm and sending pain signals all over my back, which is killing me. This too shall pass! Go look at the "before and after" pics for inspiration, LOL!

Thank you everyone, :fish2: it's so great to get online and read these good wishes, I needed them today very badly! So..... banding went absolutely fine. The staff is so nice and explain everything. In the operating suite I remember the anesthesiologist saying "I put a little something in your IV so don't be surprised if you start to see double and..........." and that was IT! Next thing I'm waking up in the recovery room and that was a MUCH better experience than I've had in the past! I think we go "under" for such a short time with this surgery that we're not too "out of it" when we wake up in recovery. I didn't feel disoriented at all, thank goodness. The hospital stay was uneventful, I stayed 24 hours. I was up and around walking a lot. I had oxygen on for 24 hours though, and an IV the whole time. I did OK on liquid Roxicet - a narcotic. It helped immensely when my back was killing me, and it was hard to get positioned for sleep. You need like 5 pillows in your bed, and be sure to have the nurse help position you! Getting up to the bathroom is a major ordeal when you're hooked to all the tubing (IV, oxygen, pulse oximeter, the inflating leg things, etc.) haha, but I did okay. Today however I feel pretty awful. My neck and throat is really sore like someone tried to strangle me (from the tube in my throat no doubt) and I gained weight (yeah I'm retarded, what did I do when I got home - went right to the scale!) so I'm pretty swollen I guess. I feel like I've been kicked in the stomach by a horse and then run over by a car! When I get up from laying down, and move around I feel better. Take your pain meds, have lots of pillows and a nice place to lie down (my daughter fixed up the sofa with clean sheets, etc which was so sweet and welcoming) and have your phone and some water near you. (Yes the phone rings off the hook!) It's really hard to cough, but I force myself! I should feel fine by the end of the week. I can't believe I "really did it" - and that we're all together in this thing - not alone at all. I'm so grateful for all of your support, and for those "get well" wishes waiting for me when I got online. That was just like getting virtual hugs and flowers, you have no idea. How I wish we could all be there to take care of one another when we get home from the hospital, but in our way - we do.

I'm having surgery in the morning, and am feeling lots of uncomfortable stuff: fear (of dying, general anesthesia, etc.) last minute "ditch and run" feelings ("OMG there's a restaurant, maybe I'll just go and eat a huge dinner and forget this whole surgery idea!"); irritable (":rant: why is everyone talking about food? Commercials, billboards, magazines..."); and general "have I thought of everything I need to do/buy/have on hand, etc. before going to the hospital?". I guess at this point in my "old life" I'd have turned to COMFORT FOOD to deal with all these feelings. And now I'm not. That's a victory, right? I should be feeling great :tired

Wow you went back to work really fast. It's the end of the day now, did you make it through your whole workday? I hear that the appetite loss is common but when it goes away you're left with hunger again until that fill happens. Someone else posted that they can't get the water in, because they don't want to take anything in right now. I have surgery tomorrow, so I'll let you know how that goes. Keep us posted on that appetite thing, I'm curious to see how you feel as the days go by.

Total PITY PARTY day for me! I have surgery in the morning, and it's a good thing because I am obsessing about food today! It's day 7 of liquids and I'm chewing gum like there's no tomorrow. I'm trying to do "clear liquids" today, but ugh....... I just want a McDonald's Super Value Meal with a McFlurry. Tomorrow I'll feel yucky and I won't care. Today I'm mourning the loss of burgers, steak, pastrami sandwiches, and all the crap that helped me get into this mess in the first place. I need to go check the post-op pictures section for inspiration! I'm all achy too (joints) from the damp weather here in Oregon. Waaaaaaah! I'm having a pity party and you are all invited, waaaaaaa!

LSzeliga - LOU! I wondered what your "real" name was, LOL. Well check you out - look at the pre-surgery weight loss! :rockon:

OMG Laura, I'm 5' tall too.......... is that how I can look when I'm at goal? Woo hoo! You're my inspiration!