sconie

Surgery is scheduled for 1 week from today in TJ, and I'm scared to DEATH!! I'm not scared of the surgery per se, it seems relatively simple. I'm scared that it will be harder to recover than I thought (only a small number of people know that I'm doing this and keeping it a secret will be difficult if I have complications or a hard recovery), I'm scared that I it won't "work" for me, I'm scared that I'll need 20 fills before I feel restriction, I'm scared that my husband will hold the cost of the surgery over my head in the future, etc, etc. Did I mention that I'm scared, LOL??? On the other hand, I'm excited to start my new life with a new outlook towards food. I'm looking forward to not being the fatest one in the room. I'm wondering what it will feel like to meet a new person and NOT wonder if they are thinking I'm a total pig. I can't wait to get back into the gym and not feel self-conscious about it. Anyone else feeling conflicted?? Glad I have somewhere to get this off my chest - everytime I bring up my reservations to my husband, he always says, "Well, you can still change your mind....." Someone tell me that I CAN do this....

OK, so I've just about had it with this abdominal pain and pressure that I have been struggling with. Seems how I work in a hospital in the radiology department (I'm an ultrasound tech), I had them run a quick flat and upright x-ray to see how constipated I am and how much gas is in my abdomen. One of our surgeons here is going to come over and look at the x-rays later. Nothing much looks too bad (a bit constipated, but I knew that, LOL), and a bubble of gas in my stomach, but the coolest thing was seeing the lap band around my stomach, the tubing for the port and the port itself! Our surgeon said to take Milk of Magnesia for the constipation so I will try that tomorrow. I'm bound and determined to start getting back to my old self!!

Linda - I'm so glad you posted this....I had not had a bm either since the surgery and I was just considering getting some Milk of Magnesia to help out. I definitely will wait it out now!! I'm sorry you were in so much pain, that sounds horrible! I'm on day 4 post op now and I am still struggling with the ever-moving ball of gas in my abdomen. Sometimes it is all but gone, but it always comes back. I've given up on the Gas-X strips and I'm now chewing the tablets instead...they seem to be working better. The gas is just getting me so frustrated!! Hard to get a good night's sleep, that's for sure. Like many of you, I am definitely NOT getting enough fluids (or calories for that matter). It is time consuming to sit and sip some Water constantly - I go back to work tomorrow and it'll be even tougher. I had a hard time with the whey Protein so I gave up and bought some old fashioned Boost with protein and Atkins shakes - not nearly as much protein, but at least it's something. I've had pudding and ff yogurt, but I try to only take a few bites at a time. So needless to say, I'm hungry but not eating enough calories...definitely losing weight (I've lost almost 6 lbs since I got home on Saturday), but this is not the way that I really wanted to do it. I keep telling myself that if I can get through the next several weeks, I can do ANYTHING!!!

I was banded on Nov. 2nd so I'm 3 days post-op. I haven't had any of the shoulder pain (which I'm relieved about since I had it when I had my gallbladder removed and it HURT!), but I do have some pretty extreme bloating in my upper abdomen. It just feels like a huge gas bubble just under my xiphoid and is painful sometimes but mostly just uncomfortable and annoying. I had to sleep last night on the couch sitting up because otherwise it was too uncomfortable. So far the incisions are painless, although I do feel some "tightness" where my port is which feels wierd if I move fast. I go back to work on Wednesday for a 12 hour shift (I'm an ultrasound tech) so I'm hoping that I make it through.... I couldn't stomach the whey Protein mix (YUCK), so I'm basically drinking Water, Crystal Light, and Slim Fast. I'm also eating SF Jello and had a low-fat yogurt last night (no chunks), but could only get through 1/2 of it without feeling nauseous. Oh, and I had a little pudding this morning and that tasted good to me. That having been said, I'm hungry and my stomach is growling a lot. I didn't expect to be hungry so soon, but since I know there is nothing I can do about it, I'm trying to ignore it. I'm going to go for the chicken broth tonight and maybe another Slim Fast to take away the hunger pains.....If anyone has any other ideas about what to eat, I'm pretty open. Big hugs!!

I'm back from TJ, newly banded by Dr. Gonzalez!! I'm a bit uncomfortable, especially at my port site which is located mid-abdomen and at my left side....right where I would bend to pick something up. I was in surgery yesterday at 10:30am, and I remember finally waking up for good around 2pm. No pain at all yesterday, just bad gas under my xiphoid that I had to keep burping up. That is all but gone tonight, but now the incision pain has kicked in and it is uncomfortable. I get to move to liquids tomorrow so I have my Magic Bullet and Protein shakes ready! I didn't think I would be hungry, but I am already, not sure what that is all about. Maybe it's because I haven't had anything but Water and apple juice in 48 hours? Dr. G would like to have me back in two weeks for a fill, but I'm thinking that I'll wait until the week after Thanksgiving. I go back to work on Wednesday for a 12 hr shift (I'm an ultrasound tech, so it isn't too stressful) and I think I'll be ready physically, anyway.

Thank you everyone!! I am leaving in a few hours to catch my flight to San Diego!! Good luck to all and I'll let you know how the surgery went when I return......

Kandice - are you using the Isopure for after the surgery, or are you doing it now as part of your pre-op diet? I will be going out to GNC to get some of that, also thinking about investing in a Magic Bullet blender for the liquid and mushies phases. Linda - While I have no aspirations to look like a movie star, just being able to shop at normal stores and not being embarassed about my appearance will be nice.... Ack I'm SO nervous....only 3 more days!!

I'm so glad to hear that I'm not the only one worrying about the future after surgery. Like you, Linda, I'm quite nervous that since I don't have a ton of weight to lose, that the band may not be as effective. I mean I read that you can lose 40% of weight you need to lose in the first year, that that only equates to about 25 lbs for me. Ok, so now I'm overanalyzing things again.... At any rate...I just started my pre-op diet (I didn't have much of one, since I am a lower BMI) and I'm hungry already, LOL..... Thanks for being here for me...we'll all get through this together, right?

Wow! Can't believe that I'm posting here, but it's real...surgery is November 2nd and I'm ready to start making some permanent changes!! I have 60 lbs to lose. No time now to make the fancy siggies or get a ticker, but I will be back to do that soon.....hope to get to know everyone!! 1st PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy Longhorn 2nd lindata lizzie_07 KristinaDawnB lindseyann2u sconie 5th DLW Forest Cat Hungryforchange 6th ndmom jetti vanessav 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 MyLady 8th anw5102 Cota129 needto 9th Banded4Life neen7171 maccy mariaxoxo4u 10th Selisejohnson omlagirl jen6740 12th jrsyshoregrl684 suebob 13th Princessannod1 CCFRA 14th dream'n2bthin 15th steph_cn 19th Mrs Smartypants 27th 731Shawty Julie-Ann 28th lukin 29th Sassafras THANKS! Laura