Newblew

I've read on a lot of other threads that we can expect weight gain immediately after surgery mainly because of the IV fluids. It should all flush away in a few days. Carol, let me add my well wishes to all the other Merry Losers. I'm so sorry that things didn't go as planned and I really hope that you stay on-line with us all:) Good luck to all those with surgery dates tomorrow! Newblew

I'm 41, married with three kids - ages 13, 11, and 8. My husband is the only one who knows I'm having the surgery and after an initial rocky start ..."You want to spend how much money on what????"...he has become my biggest supporter. Of course the big jerk is in his 5th month of Weight Watchers and is now 6 lbs from his goal. I don't know why he was able to do it that way and I can't, but I just have to do what's right for me. At least we both are making positive changes to our health and lives. My older daughters are at perfect weights, but my 8 yr old son is overweight. I know it not a coincidence given how terribly we have eaten during the last 5 years. But hopefully we'll be able to translate all this healthy eating through the whole family. I lose sleep beating myself up about letting my son eat so poorly. I hope that he is young enough that I can reverse the trend. OK, that's everything you ever needed to know about me. 6 days and counting!! Good luck to all the first week December bandsters! Newblew

November - down 4.5 lbs

First...NMSunshine, I'm so sorry to hear about your health concerns. Not that the timing of something like that would ever be good, but to be blindsided right when you've taken some permanent steps to positively impact your health with the lap-band must be soo frustrating. Add to that the seriousness of what's going on, it's very easy to see why you fell off the 'band-wagon'. I pray for you all good news and also inspiration to keep plugging through this challenge with the support of the band (and all of us, of course). BEK, you are my inspiration. I am hoping that I don't have to jump right into the fill cycle. I will get the fills as soon as I need to, but I'm hoping to lose some weight just with the band, so it's really nice to hear that someone else has had that experience. Although right now, it's hard for me to relate to a lack of interest in food, I'm sure I would find it jarring - just because it's so not what I'm used to. Hi Christine, Omlagirl, OnenOnly, Wasa and anyone else I might have missed. Only 10 more days until I join you all - yay!

Not as exciting as Day 1, I've noticed. Predictably, all the excitement and enthusiasm with which I embraced Day 1 kind of evaporated by about 12:30 on Day 2. Definitely more of a struggle, but I'm allowed to have yogurt and pudding so that got me through the worst part of the day and I'm feeling more able to cope now. Although I have nothing planned for dinner for DH and the kids, so it looks like I'm going to be ordering pizza for them - I'd better stay far, far away. Must....eat....broth....pizza...bad....broth...delicicious...

So far so good. Having the flu I think is actually helping. I can't really taste anything so the temptation to force something down is greatly diminished. Maybe if I'm lucky, it will last for 3 more days until the worst of the real hunger is gone:) I haven't been sick for about five years, and I'm a firm believer in all things happening for a reason, so I'm trying to embrace this. Better now than immediately afer surgery anyway. Of course I had the flu yesterday and I still managed to worry down a leftover turkey sandwich at 10:30 last night because I wanted to have my last hurrah. So silly. But today, the switch has turned off and it's all good. On to better things!!!

Did any of you have fake nails? If so, did you remove them before surgery? I was going to take off my nail polish but I hate taking off the nails unless I have to. I'll write to Laura if no one knows, but I figured it was worth a shot. Only three more days until I start pre-op! I'm stocking up and getting so excited!!

Carol, my date is very close to yours (12/7) and I have spent the last month trying to get a jump start. I keep telling myself that I won't have to worry about gaining it back like I always have in the past, but I can't seem to turn the "switch". I am so longing for the time when my word to myself MEANS something. Newblew

I start mine the day after Thanksgiving. Talk about going out with a bang! I actually can't imagine how I'm going to do it. I'm hoping that a combination of excitement and fear keep me on the straight and narrow. I also heard that after a few days in, you really lose a lot of the hunger, so I don't think that it will be two whole weeks of torture...maybe just two days that will seem like two weeks! I'm going to pick up some Protein powder and Slimfast optima this weekend to prepare. Other than that I think I'll say in denial for the last few days. I'll write if I find anything yummy! Good luck! Newblew

Omlagirl, thank you thank you for all of the details of your experience! You have definitely made the path a little smoother for all of the future Dr. G patients. I only wish that you could have had all of this info before you went!! I'm really glad to hear both the good and the bad. Knowledge is power! Now I won't let myself get completely freaked out when I have to get into a van with two strangers who may or may not speak English and travel into a foreign country alone....ummm ok maybe I will still be freaked out but I'll just keep telling myself that Omlagirl, Blue eyed Kitty, Christine, NM Sunshine, Lapbandit, Judy and anyone else that I might have forgotten did it and lived to tell the tale:) Omla, how long was your flight? Was it difficult? I am also flying out the day after surgery instead of staying an extra night in the hotel. I know that I will be champing at the bit to get home. I'm going to have to remember that complaining to my husband bit. It seems to work wonders!

So happy to hear that everything went well. Rest up and write when you can...but when you can - tell us everything:)!! Sunshine and Mandy - thanks for your kind words. It really was a release to write about it. Kind of like scream therapy - I got it out of my system and now I can find the strength for the next 4 weeks. And I am going to try and focus on the good decisions I make everyday. Today was a pretty good day - there was a potato chip transgression that I'd rather not get into ...but a better day. Christine, thanks for the website info about healthy eating. I haven't checked it out yet because I've been wanting to hide from it, but I think I'll check it out tomorrow. Night all!

Back in the beginning of October when I was choosing my date, Dec 7th seemed to make perfect sense. I had a couple of obligations that ruled out some earlier dates, the airfare was cheap and part of me didn't want to feel like I rushed into this decision. OK, after 5 of the slowest weeks of my life and with almost 4 more to go, I'm having a big ole whine fest...I want to be on the other side. I want to be one of those people that started their weight loss prior to surgery. Seems so simple and yet I can't seem to get through a whole day eating what I should. I want to start feeling proud of myself instead of disappointed in myself. I worry that since I can't even pull it together for a month before surgery, how will I ever succeed with the band? I'm holding out hope for the pre-op diet to help me turn the corner. I know I won't cheat on that because I have to minimize the risks of complications. At least I did give myself enough time to know whether it is something I really want...and I do!! I know that every day I get closer, but this is worse than waiting for Christmas as a kid! OK ...whine fest over. I'm usually a pretty optimistic person. Only 3 weeks from Friday!! Onenonly - I'm sorry that you didn't get the support that you needed. You can always come here for it, but I know that isn't exactly the same. I fear that I would get the same response from my family, so I haven't told them. It's so hard not to be influenced by the people that love us. But realize that part of their response is probably based in fear and ignorance (not that they are ignorant, but that they don't have enough knowledge of the band). I have a sister that weighs about 50 more pounds than me and I have never seen someone as anti-surgery because of her fear. That is her decision and I respect it and love her. My decision is different and I hope that when I am brave enough to share it with her, she will respond the same way. But because I'm not sure...I wait. Good luck!

Blue Eyed Kitty, I worked Registration in an ER 11p - 7a for two years. The constant food there was incredible. And it was always junk! I feel your pain - but if you are anything like me, in the past you would have ended up feeling guilty about the two and a half apple fritter that you polished off. A half a fritter is normal person food! Newblew

I'm so excited that this thread has taken off! True confessions...after I started the thread, I kind of hid from the board until today. I was worried that no one would respond and then I would be so embarrassed watching the thread slip further and further down the board! Fat person insecurity much? But not for much longer... Anyway, I'll be so happy to share my experiences on this journey and I would love to learn from all of you. Jessie, I hope that we end up there together. It will be nice to have someone familiar there. I'm traveling alone, so a friendly face will be welcome. I'm also lucky that I have a Fill Center USA 20 minutes from home. I know that some people don't have the best experinces there, but it's so convenient, I at least need to try it out. That makes sense about the veggies on the pre-op. I bet they will be looking like snickers bars by day 4 or 5! Omlagirl...congratulations!!! I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Jessie,my surgery is scheduled on a Friday and I'm scheduled to go back to work on Monday. I sit at a desk all day. I know that might be too soon, but I have a pretty high tolerance for pain and I'm determined not to let anyone at work know what I'm doing. Of course, I fully recognize that I might be in here posting on December 10th "what was I thinking???? I can't get off my couch!" Newblew:)

There is also a FillCenter USA in Mt. Laurel - just over the bridge. I was planning on going there for my fills, but I work in Phila, so I think I'll check out Abington too. Thanks for the info. Newblew

I also am in South Jersey but because of lower BMI without comorbidities I am traveling to Mexico in December. Thankfully there is a Fill Center USA in Mt Laurel so fills won't be an issue. I cannot wait to start this journey!:whoo:

I'm from Southern NJ - 20 minutes east of Philadelphia. Scheduled to head down to Mexico with Dr. Gonzalez on December 7th. Hi all!

I am scheduled just 2 days after you mejr62. I completely agree with taking your life back. I wish I could ge banded tomorrow but I know it will be here quickly. I know that the band won't solve everything. But one thing I'm looking forward to is to stop wearing my issues on the outside. I will still have issues - just like everyone else. I just want to keep my issues to myself...and perhaps a few fellow lap-banders! I like that I am going to be forced to find a new way to deal with stress, boredom, emotions, stress, and oh yeah - stress!

NM Sunshine - I meant to reply to you in my last post...thanks for the info. That makes a lot of sense. I think I'm overworrying about having the will power to do what the band is going to "make" me do. Negative reinforcement will be my new best friend for a while - although I don't plan to test it. Hopefully, it will be enough to know that it's there!

Blue Eyed Kitty - I'm so sorry to hear that you're not feeling well. Since I don't have a personal experience to draw from yet, all I can suggest is probably what you've already planned to do - get on the phone with Dr. Gonzalez tomorrow. From looking at all the posts, it does seem like there is quite a wide range of post op recovery stories - hopefully this is just the blip in yours that you'll be sharing with others someday... Hang in there!:eek:

I'm scheduled with Dr. Gonzalez in Tijuana for Dec 7th. I'm hoping that will be enough time to recuperate before the holidays. I bounced back really fast from my C-section when I had my son, so I hope that bodes well... It has been so reassuring reading these boards and hearing everyone's experiences and results! I'm nervous about the liquid diet and since no one but my husband knows, I'm trying to figure out how to eat mushies for Christmas dinner. Any thoughts? I'm traveling from Philly too. Southwest had great fares for my surgery week - $229 roundtrip! Can't wait until we're all on the other side.

I can't wait to be on the other side. I know that it will be here before I know it and I have a lot of work to do first. I eat too fast, drink diet soda with most meals and am pretty much a couch potato. I want to start walking because I think it will help my recovery and also start trying to incorporate some of the post band restrictions into pre band life. It is so great to read about everyone's experiences. Did anyone have to get a doctor's note for work? I am supposed to have one if I'm out of work more than two days. I don't want to tell my boss specifics... Thanks!

Hi - I just scheduled my surgery date with Dr. Gonzalez for Dec 7th. I wanted to go it the first week in November, but with teacher conventions, my kids are off 3 days of school that week. Too much babysitting and explanations required. Any other time in November the flight prices were prohibitive, so Dec 7th it is. Only my husband knows about my plans for now. I know that this is what is right for me, but I feel that my self esteem right now couldn't take judgements and disapproval or even well intentioned concerns. I think that when people start noticing my weight loss:), I'll share with a few more people. I am a little nervous about the liquid diet for the entire month of December. Part of me thinks "Are they crazy?? If I could do something like that, I wouldn't need to have surgery!" But then I realize what brought me here. The fact that I can no longer muster any enthusiasm to lose weight because of my conviction that it will come back. If the band can change that reality, then I can find the gumption to survive "bandster hell". OK, long ramble for my first post - sorry. Just wanted to check in with fellow Dr. Gonzalez patients! Here's to us!