GinaSue67

I had the surgery on a Monday. I used no pain meds at all, and I was ready for work by Friday. (I'm a teacher, and Friday was a snow day, so I got a nice long weekend instead!) Everyone's recovery experience may be different. I say expect the worst, so that you will be pleasantly surprised! Either way, I'm sure you thought this through and are just naturally nervous. I wish you a speedy recovery and a wonderful new life!

Thank you soooo much!!!! I am very excited to be joining you!

Hello, all! I am so glad to find this thread, on this site! I was banded on Feb. 18th....and I conceived on Feb. 28th! LOL I am shocked, but we are very, very excited!! I am a type 2 diabetic, so I am now on insulin...which is scary, but necessary, apparently. Anyone have any tips or stories to share on this matter? Apparently my surgeon and nutritionist both warned me that losing 'some weight' can make your fertility go up, but I yes'd them to death and ignored their warnings about back-up contraception. Oh well...I am very happy about it...just surprised!! NEVER thought I could conceive at this point in my life!! Went for an U/S yesterday, and heard the heartbeat....due Dec. 4th, the day before my late mom's birthday....amazing! Any comments or suggestions would be great! Thanks, and congrats to all the beautiful Mommies!!! [/url]

The best way to get rid of that gas/air, right after surgery is to MOVE. I didn't use any of the post-op pain meds, so I did NOT take my own advice. However, a few days after the surgery, I found the more I moved, the more I alleviated all that pressure. I tried Gas-X, which is probably comparable to your pill, and it did NOTHING. It just has to come out naturally. But it WILL come out, so don't worry!

HI everyone! I was banded on 2/18! :huh2: I found the day after surgery to be the worst, but it was more discomfort than pain. I also did not fill the pain killer prescription, because it contained codeine, which I hate. I find that the gas pressure was really the worst of it all, and the more I moved the more relief. My follow-up was Monday (2/25), right after my first day back at work...I've lost 17 lbs. already! My energy level is fantastic, and my hubby says I have not snored all week! (You could usually hear me from a mile away!) :smile2: Wishing you all the same continuous success!!! :tongue2:

Surgery went well....Got banded last Monday 2/18/08....Went back to work today, without any problems. Went to my follow-up, and I was SHOCKED....I've lost 17 lbs.!!!! I am soooo excited!!!!!!!! I know the numbers will not always be that big, or even double digits....but wow!!!! And my energy level is really great!!! Now....where/how do I get a 'ticker' for these posts? I'm ready! LOL

Thanks so much for all the wonderful encouragement!!!

Had my band surgery Monday 2/18! The first day post-op was rough, because I did not take my pain meds...doc prescribed something with codeine, and I don't do codeine well. Needless to say, Tylenol did very little, but I guess the worst part was the pressure from all the gas. Moving around helped, but who wanted to move around a lot??? :biggrin: Also found it hard to tolerate much, as far as protein drinks or vitamins yesterday. Everything tasted funky. Today, I have already had a protein shake, lots of water, my vitamins and a jello. Feeling much better, moving much better....finally showered! LOL Feeling very excited about my new life!!!:biggrin2:

Everyone is different. My best friend had her band done on a Monday, and THAT WED. we were on our way down to Atlantic City for two nights, and SHE drove both ways. I am curious to see how I will do, scheduled for banding tomorrow!

Wishing you the best!!! I am right behind you, as I am scheduled for Monday 2/18!!!

Thankfully, insurance companies have come a long way, when it comes to covering bariatric surgery. I was denied, almost four years ago, because my ins. co. said I had not had enough counseling on nutrition and exercise. I was required 6 consecutive monthly visits to my surgeon and nutritionist. Did it. The second surgery was scheduled, and I was denied AGAIN. This time they said I simply did not have enough weight-related ailments. I guess asthma, sleep apnea and diabetes were simply not enough. I really thought they were waiting for me to drop dead, and then some guy from my ins. co. would jump out and scream, "Okay, we approve!" :eek: After a few appeals, the ins. co. upheld its original decision, and I gave up on surgery. After a brief bout with depression, I got myself to the gym on a daily basis, and I improved my eating habits tremendously. I lost about fifty pounds. Unfortunately, while on the treadmill, I suffered a tear in each of my achilles tendons. :eek: So much for aerobic exercises of any kind. I was told by my podiatrist, "No impact on the feet whatsoever!" So, I stopped going to the gym. I was told that I should keep my feet up, "as much as possible". Being a teacher, I had alllll summer to keep my feet up. And eat. And eat. Now, I am back to square one, even heavier than when I first met with the surgeon in 2004. Finally, my ins. co. has come to terms with the fact that their standards regarding this surgery had to change. THIS time around, I only needed three months of counseling, and they even covered part of the psychological evaluation, something I was told they almost NEVER do. Well, today was my final 'counseling' session, and we've submitted our surgery date to the ins. co. If they approve, I will be banded on Feb. 18th. Keep your fingers crossed...it's been a long road, but I feel like my journey is FINALLY going to begin!!! :eek: Good luck to us all!

Well, that is a good thing. Nobody should be driving, whether he has been drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana.

:confused: I was told that quitting smoking pre-op is a good thing, simply because it clears out the bronchials, lungs, arteries, etc., making the anesthesia more effective. In other words, the clearer your system of tobacco tar, the less anesthesia might be needed to get you through the surgery. I was told the same thing before my gall bladder was removed, and I did not quit, and it went fine. They don't check for nicotine or marijuana in your pre-op tests, but it is a good idea to cut down on any vices, as you are having the surgery to start a healthier life.

Hey there! I am Gina, a 40-year-old teacher, from North NJ. I am scheduled to be banded on Feb. 18th, and I am getting soooo nervous!!! Well, I guess more anxious than nervous. I know I will miss chewing food for a while, but I also know I am saving my own life. I just want it done, so I can dive into this new lifestyle. I wish everyone the best success with this life-changing endeavor, and I look forward to reading up on everyone's progress!!! :confused:

Hello, all! I am scheduled for banding on 2/18....getting nervous....anxious.....excited.....nervous!!! LOL I am not really nervous about the surgery itself...just nervous that I can adjust to the new lifestyle upon which I am about to embark. I'll be checking back for new posts from you all, since I won't be far behind! Wishing you all the best success!!!

I am in North NJ, and I am scheduled for lap-banding in two weeks. I don't know how far you are willing to travel, but I LOVE the support so far from my surgeon: Dr. Vadim Gritsus at Advanced Surgical Solutions. phone number is 973-696-9050.