hipkat23

First photo was a couple days post-op (heh, please excuse the half boob and the bad taken-from-my-computer quality). Second photo was tonight, 7 weeks out, taken by my boyfriend. The bruising below the port scar in the second pic is from my first fill this past Wednesday. <a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wf9gMTE/"> <img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wf9gMTE/weight.png"></a>

I am now 2 and a half weeks out from surgery. I wasn't required to do a pre-op diet, but I've been on liquids since surgery and I am about to go insane! I am supposed to start mushies on Monday and I am practically counting the minutes. This past weekend I made 2 trips to the ER for what ended up being acute mild pancreatitis. They say 'mild' but the pain was certainly anything but! I went back on Clear Liquids for 2.5 days and haven't had any pain since Sunday. Have any of you developed acute pancreatitis due to surgery? My doctors are not sure it's related to surgery since I have had a complicated upper abdominal pain history the past 6 months (eventually thought to be caused by the large hiatal hernia fixed during surgery). I had a procedure in December (ERCP) that could have caused it and it could have been exacerbated by some of the Soups I was drinking (they contained fat and oil both of which make the pancreas unhappy). Anyway, in better news my incisions are healing beautifully and the 'I-just-did-1000-situps' feeling has subsided. I've lost 12 pounds since surgery, but I know most of that is because of the liquid diet. I fully expect to gain some of it back once I start on mushies and solids. I know the 'real' weight loss won't really start until I'm fully healed and start getting fills (I've been scheduled for my first fill on March 25th). Overall I am really, really happy I decided to have surgery. I feel like I'm finally starting the next chapter of my life. :thumbup:

Hey everyone! I've been considering the band for about a year, started my preliminary testing last September and found out about a week ago that my insurance approved me! They are going to pay 90% (I have Blue Cross PPO) which is awesome because I could *never* afford it myself - at least not presently. My surgery date is February 4th (having it at Cedars-Sinai hospital with Dr. Nishi) and I am SO excited! I had this strange and still undiagnosed upper abdomen pain that started last fall. I had every test possible and they all came back normal and/or negative. After some antibiotics, repeated acupuncture and a serious reevaluation of my life (trying to deal with stress mainly), I've been feeling much, much better recently. All my doctors (I have every specialist known to man) are very excited about my surgery and don't seem to think my weird stomach pains will affect it at all. Prior to this past October I had never been in the hospital. If I had been approved for surgery before having all the tests I did last fall I would have been scared out of my mind. Now, though? I've been poked and prodded and pricked and put under anaesthesia twice so I'm actually not very nervous for surgery. I think the timing has been amazing. The one thing that makes me nervous is the catheter since I've never had one. Any advice? I'm so happy to have found this forum - everyone seems so caring and supportive!! Oh, I'm at 230 right now and I'd like to be around 150 - I'm 5'5".

Hi everyone! I am Julie, 31 years old, in Los Angeles, CA. I live with my lovely boyfriend (hopefully soon-to-be fiance!) of 3 years and work in sales. I basically talk on the phone to professional photographers all day, which is pretty cool, especially since I am also a photographer and artist. I was banded this past Monday February 4th by Dr. Nishi at Cedars-Sinai hospital. My highest weight was 239, surgery weight was 223 and I am 5'5. I am looking to get down to about 140-150, depending on where my body decides it wants to be. I just want to be/feel healthy. So far my incisions haven't bothered me much, it's the GAS that is painful! I've been walking a ton which helps, but I'm definitely looking forward to when it goes away for good! I'm on liquids for 3 weeks total, then mushies for a week and then back to solids. I haven't been very hungry yet, though the smell of my boyfriend's dinners are really nice! Prior to surgery I went through 4 months of an extensive outpatient eating disorder program and I go to my individual therapist every week, so I've been working A LOT on the whole emotional aspect of eating. It's awesome to see how nice, supportive and compassionate everyone is here! I'm proud to be a member. (sorry for the novel!!) :thumbup: