stepoffaith

Am I enjoying the process? Not really. Weight loss is work. Do I enjoy the progress and mini-successes? You bet. I love fitting into the smaller sizes, crossing my legs, looking down and not seeing my belly hanging out further than my boobs-looking pregnant, those successes. Wouldn't trade those for the world.

Its interesting to see how much time everyone took off and why. Everyone and their needs are different so I think when having surgery you have to judge for yourself. I took three days, have a desk job but supervised several people and on my feet alot which was good for me. If I just sat there it would have been worse I think. But I was up and moving quickly and did not have any major problems. sore from the hernia surgery more than the band I think. They did some esophagus repair at the same time and that was more of the irritant.

As you can tell, every dr is different. I use crystal lite most of the time but some times I just want ice tea. I brew mine in an ice tea maker, yep I have one cuz I love my ice tea. I now brew it with one decaf tea bag and 1 regular. I am cutting back on caffeine but still have the taste. Don't feel guilty either, I just enjoy it.

so when did your dr think you would feel restriction? i have a 10cc also and i travel 9 hrs for a fill. my first one is may 1. i am really anxious to get started and to lose some weight and i am really struggling right now. thanks for any info.

Howdy all. I am 48 and banded on 3/18. I have lost 20 lbs pre and post band and doing well on liquids. I haven't minded them thus far knowing it won't last forever. And I like challenges so I finding new ways you can mix liquids to make new flavors! For the restaurant thing : call ahead and see if they have something on the menu or better yet take some boullion granules and ask for hot water. Some restaurants can accomodate you with clear soup options and chinese are my favorite, bring on the egg drop, especially if they are the nice ones who will strain it for you!

congrats Karen. Easter dinner: velvety potato soup, thinned and strained 4 oz total. Never had an Easter dinner that filling. Wonderful! Banded 3/18.

Ms.: Dizzyness is a sign of dehydration, or can be. Be sure you are sipping water, especially when you are walking around. Target was probably a bit much, I know I tried to much too soon. Try short distances. Yes, 30 minutes a day is suggested but my dr said not all at once. He said you have to work up to it. I just started taking a few walks a few feet, then increased them. If I wanted to go some where I made sure I could sit and rest as needed. My dr said after two weeks I should be up to about 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the pm. If I am doing great I can even add 20 min mid afternoon but don't overdo and don't get dehydrated. Now is the time to heal Ms. Take it easy and give the Praises to God. GBY. Cindy

Thought I would post a quick reply. Still doing good. Banded 3/18. Still on liquids so cheating on the mushies hasn't been a problem yet. I have just stayed on thinned, strained liquids, no more than 4 oz of soup, otherwise just water, crystal lite, propel or sf jello or sf popsicles all dr. approved. So far, so good. Happy Easter all.

Not urinating much at a time is common because of all the pressure from surgery but just keep going a little at a time. If you can't urinate its worrisome. But if you are urinating and increasing your liquids will help, you should be increasing the output each time too. It will get easier. Walking helps too. I try to urinate, walk, and then urinate again. Try urinating before you feel a lot of pressure and give it time just don't strain. When you strain you make things swell more and then it makes it more difficult to urinate. A viscious circle. Drink, walk and relax. Take care and good luck

Well, shrinking shamrocks, it is done. I am officially one of you. I was banded 3/18 and got out of the hospital today. Doing well, a little sore but on my way.

i am here everyone. i am in el paso. just finished my pre op. i am scheduled for surgery at 7:30 am in the morning 3/18. send your prayers my way please. i am at peace with my decision and now the Lord will be with me. I know the prayers of my sisters will lift me up and my surgery and recovery will be speedy. Thank you all for being there for me.

Well, I am here. I traveled to El Paso, about 9 hrs away from home to have surgery and went to pre op today. Surgery time is set for about 7:30 am tomorrow so I have to be at hospital at 5:30 am. It seems a little surreal. March 18. My day to be banded. Came quicker than I expected but I am not complaining. Wish me luck and Godspeed. :biggrin:

Hang in there. the 2 weeks really goes by pretty fast. My two weeks is up Monday. Its saturday now. I have already lost 11 lbs. not trying to just trying to shrink the old liver and waiting for the surgery date. Its all a preparation for a new life. I have really thought of it as a prep period and a cleansing so it feels ok, not really bothered me much. Hang in there it will be over be you know it.

congrats to everyone on their fills and great to hear your news candy and wombat. it is always nice to read all of the posts on this thread. Prayers and thoughts are with you all. I have not posted in quite awhile but finally have news. I have a date. My surgery is scheduled for 3/18 so keep me in your prayers.

just replied to your other message jeanie. I am from Farmington, NM. Coming down to Albuquerque this weekend as a matter of fact. Maybe we can meet sometime. There are a couple of banders up here that I know of and I met a couple of ppl from Albuquerque at the seminar I attended. I am not banded yet. Do the insurance paperwork dance.

since your post was titled greetings from Albuquerque, should I take it you live in Albuquerque, NM? Just asking as I live in Farmington, NM.

I work in a doctor's office too. Sometimes they are the least sensitive places to work surprisingly. Shrug it off. You are doing this for yourself not anyone else. There are alot of people out there that will support you. Ignore those who don't.

Yes. It does get to that point. When we make up our mind it becomes consuming. I try not to let it be but it is. Daily I try to remind myself not to bug others and let them have time to do their job but it is hard. I want them to hurry with the reports, hurry to process everything, hurry to get it to the insurance and hurry to approve it so I can hurry up and have surgery!! I wanted it yesterday so you are not alone. I to feel like I am well read, well studied. I have friends and family who have had band and bypass. I have seen the good and the bad. I have already attended the seminar, met with the surgeon and done my pre reqs. Waiting for all the reports to get back to the surgeon so he can get the report to the insurance to see if they will say yes. Good luck in your journey.

Welcome everyone new. I tried calling my insurance only to get the vague answer also and I new all the lingo as I have worked in healthcare for many years. So instead I asked which surgeons were covered on my plan and they gave me the two that were. I contacted those two for information to see which I could get in with. One sent me information and a packet to complete, one said I must attend a seminar first. I figured the packet was the easiest but signed up with both. Turns out the one with the seminar moved faster, I got more info, there office was easier to work with in the long run, etc. I went to the seminar, got an appt with the surgeon, dietician, got a list of my pre reqs, made my appts and just finished getting my pre req testing completed. Now waiting on all the reports to get to the surgeon so he can get them to the insurance to see what they say. They call this a journey for a reason. First thing to pack in your suitcase - PATIENCE. Good luck and God speed to all of you. Read Read Read and learn. There is a wealth of knowledge on this forum. :cursing:

how big is this place? if it is big you can just apply and not mention that you have applied before. If it is not then yes, say you have applied for another position but would also like to be considered for this position and why. How you feel you are really suited for this position and would be a great asset to them. :party:

welcome JackieL:smile:

PTL wombat. you look WONDERFUL!!! Isn't it funny how we picture someone we haven't met? I had you all wrong!! Good but you are even better than I thought. You are soooooo beautiful. I knew you had a beautiful spirit in Christ-got that through your posts. CONGRATS wombat you are doing great.

Depends on who you ask to how much pain they say it is. Some say not too much some say alot. Most physicians allow you to take minor pain meds before the procedure like tylenol. Some will let you have lortab which comes in liquid for post banders, post procedure. If not banded can get in pills too. Yes, HPV can go away if procedure is done. Gardasil vaccines can be given to younger ppl even AFTER having clean paps following the dysplasia, biopsies and procedures. But only after the paps come back normal. Precautions need to be taken in the meantime or it can still be passed back and forth. Good luck through all of this.

Back at ya Candy. Get back on the "band" wagon and good eatin habits. You are going to do so well. I am losing a little, very little but a little so I am doing ok. Keep reporting on your progress

Praise God joyross. SO glad all is well. Everything is beautiful. Cold... but beautiful. Things are looking up, slowly in my family but in God's timing. My lapband process is progressing and for that I am very grateful. God is good. I went and had my EKG and chest xray today. My Blood pressure is back to normal but my PCP wants to monitor it for 2 wks. My psych eval is next Wed. So when I have all my paperwork in to the surgeon, hopefully soon then we will see. I am very excited to have it done although then the waiting game begins. I am trying to focus on work and working on preparing for surgery, eating less.... but sometimes its hard. I love reading this site it is so refreshing.