wannadancesoon

Hey Rachel, I am pretty much a newby, but I go to Dr. Wilkenfeld in the Woodlands, in fact he just moved to his new office off of 1-45 and 242 in the strip center with Charming Charllie, the nurses are great, his wife Tina, is a hugh help, she knows and answers everything that you need to know, she also is a retired nurse. They just got there fluroscopy machine, but, it is not hooked up yet mainly cause they just moved into there new location. I went in today for my second fill an the doctor does it, in my opinion I think that they all are super people. I have no complaints, everyone of them are very caring people.

I was banded 3/25 by Dr. Wilkenfeld, and he has been the greatest and really has a sense of humor. I have had my first fill by them, he only put in .5cc which felt fine by me. They are moving to a new office off of 242 which will be closer to me, right in the same strip center as Charming Charlie, I am so excited for them, they are also getting a fluro machine which will help us newbies, Tina isthe Doc's wife and she is great, she knows everything that is going on, what to expect and what not, they are there to help 24/7, and the people on the inside are great people also. Granted I am new and I go in for my second fill on the 30th, don't know what the outcome will be, but I have no regrets with Dr. Wilkenfeld, as I have heard about the other local doctors and their support/help just isn't there. I think you will be happy to switch.

Hey Blund, maybe if you educated her more where she would understand it a little better, and if she still continues with the remarks, then your going to have to tell her to stop it, that this is your way of life now and you would appreciate her being on your team with it by not going into the negative remarks to you. Sometimes people being dear friends or not feel a lot braver about what they say then what they don't or shouldn't say, tell her you appreciate her honesty but you have heard enough and let it go. If you could of lost the weight in a normal way than don't you think that you would of? I know I would of, and I couldn't so that is why I got banded. Maybe she is just a little jealous and is having a hard time dealing with it.

Thanks to you three so much, my next move was to call the doctor, but, I'm going to give it a couple more days, I have tried the pain meds and they didn't knock me out like I was hoping, I only tried the pain not the nausau med, my daughter suggested to put the gel on my wrist tonight and try it, I hate to waste the gel for that purpose, but if it will help me to fall asleep and stay asleep it will be worth it. what about over the counter med's, some of them come in really small tablets, has anyone tried them???

I'm not in pain, I'm just not sleepy!! I was banded on the 25th of March, same day went home and took little cat naps, well that would explain why no sleep the first night, second day, just one little nap during the day and couldn't get to sleep that night, yesterday, NO NAP, and still couldn't get to sleep last night. During the days I'm not tired where I feel like I need to go to bed, I might relax/rest in front of the TV and then get back up again and do things. Can anyone explain maybe why this is the way it is, or has anyone else experienced this and if so I can live with it being the norm. I took a week off from work just so I would be totally rested before going back and I'm afraid that I won't be rested enough to return back to work, make sense???? any suggestions????

Hey Silverado 1969, thumbs up to you going to work so soon, I took off a week, just to be on the safe side, I'm so bruised around those incisions they are not pretty to even look at, they just look so fresh. Spooky kind of look. I also drive a Silverado truck and it doesn't have running boards on it and trying to get this big butt up there in the seat has always been a chore, now with the incisions it is gonna hurt!! So maybe it was better for me to take the week off. Have you started mushies yet, today I got to start them, and looking forward to solids, which might be faster than suppose to. I haven't had my first fill yet, was told would happen after 3 weeks, but I have seriously noticed a big dip in what I have gotten to eat today, it is like not even a 1/2 cup of anything and I'm satisfied. That is really cool!!!:tongue_smilie:

Okay, Tuesday was the day and now I'm at Thursday and doing rather well, my worse pain was the indigestion/heartburn, but now that is gone, knock on wood, been actually doing a little bit of work here in my office at the house. Emails, gosh you can talk all day long on a email, sleeping is just not happening very easy for me, I think the first day was because I napped quite a bit during the day, so no sleep in the evening, so yesterday, only one little nap, and still was up most of the night, sure don't know where this energy is coming from, but I do need sleep, trying today not to nap at all to see if I can get to sleep tonight, hope, you all are doing great, and remember walk, walk walk. Oh yeah, my doc said today I could start mushy food, which I could only eat a few bits of it, just not hungry, and I'm not restricted yet. WOW, maybe that is a good sign...

Well, the day came and it is something that I will not forget, pain wise, I'm okay except the usual places where everyone said was going to be sore, but my biggest hurt is severe heart burn, and indigestion, trying to burp but can't seem to get one up, when I left the hospital they told me to start taking Maalox, yuck, and then I remember "Gas-X", the kind that are on strips, and it has only helped a little bit, so I'm hoping that this is the only discomfort that I will have, been doing some walking not much, but will soon. To the other 3/25(ers) how are you all doing???:ohmy:

Hey Jerseygirl, I quit smoking a year ago this month as a matter of fact and this Tuesday I'm getting banded, thank goodness someone came up with the scrip Chantix, cause as many times as I tried I could not quit, the patch I couldn't do cause I can't do tape, and it would leave burn marks on my skin everywhere I had a patch. I gained 30#'s during that year, and it wasn't nice, the scrip is kind of pricey but well worth it, if I had to do it again, I certainly would. The only side affect that I had were the dreams, it was hard to tell dreaming from reality, but.... you are doing the right thing, the cravings will stop, you just have to keep your hands busy, smoking was my valium, I would get upset and light up, had a customer yelling at me, light up, it was such a relief and it calmed me down, but you can quit and you will, but you also need help in doing so, get the prescription for the Chantix, you will be glad that you did, if it could trick this dizzy blonde into not wanting a smoke it can help everyone, but you must let it do its job, don't give up on it after 2-3 weeks, take the full scrip and you will be surprised, you will not want one, or crave one, and the distance between one to the next gets further and further apart till you realize, OMG its been hours and hours since I last had a smoke. If you can do it cold turkey, your are one strong woman. good luck....

Michele, you don't mention your band date, read this website, it is so full of information, from way before, to way after, I have done so much reading I feel so prepared, of course it hasn't happened yet, but its coming, and the support here is great as you have found out. Forget the Mickie "Ds" you don't need all that fat, when I want to eat something that I'm not suppose to, I picture in my mind lard, yep lard, and just cringe thinking about it, heck, I just found out from my nephew that Oreo cookies the filling is nothing but lard and sugar, now if he is correct, I don't know, but it was enough for me not to eat Oreo's anymore. Concentrate on what you want, and what you want to be, we all have a long haul coming our way, I have read over and over that this is only a "tool" and I even have to keep reminding myself of this. So good luck to you and remember everyone is here to help.

Something I tried today which was really good, Hills Bros Cappuccino French Vanilla, granted it isn't sugar-free, they do have a box that is carb friendly, but I have missed my cappucino's so much, so I thought I would try it, put in the scoops in the protein drink added the crushed ice and OMG!!! it was so good. I have gotten on line and have ordered a cappuccino protein drink and also from the same place got the DaVici's flavored syrups, hoping those arrive next week so I will have something else to add to these protein drinks, I'm pretty lucky with my doc. they only require you to be on liquids for two days after surgery and then start the mushies which I was surprised to hear it, but, I don't mind this protein drink "Amaze Rx" Creamy Vanilla Creme, I have read what everyone else is doing and my doc, doesn't want us to do the slim fasts, isopures, etc, I don't know why, but, yes on a protein drink with whey in it, this Amaze Rx was something they sold in the office "if" we wanted to purchase it from them, a little pricey but it is really good and I don't mind drinking it, I sip it and it lasts me about 2 hours, it has 21 g of protein per serving and they do want us to drink 2 of them a day plus 1-2 meals of low carb, so, like everyone has said, every doctor is different, granted the weight isn't coming off as good as if it was straight liquids, but it is coming off very slowly. Sorry for the babbling......

Sue, I'm so glad to hear that someone else tried putting some crystal light into their protein drink, I did it with the orange strawberry and it wasn't half bad, granted I need to find a better level of adding, I put way to much in the first time and almost had to add a quart of water to it to make it drinkable. I also have been putting pudding mixes in my protein drinks sure helps the flavor, about a TBL spoon and half, turned it to a chocolate shake, or butterscotch, and I add crushed ice with it and it is like drinking a really thick shake. You got any more ideas to help us beginners during our pre-op diets.???? Have you tried sf jello's yet? I want to try sf orange jello to make it taste like a orange creme, but a little bit afraid to go for it.

Gosh Kathy48, you sound just like me, I have no energy especially after work, it doesn't make sense, I'm in outside sales and in and out of my truck all day long, you would think that was enough exercise by itself, noooo it isn't, I can't even walk the mall without getting winded and I've only got 80#'s that I want to lose, the way that I'm feeling, you would think that it was 280#'s to lose. Its hard, I agree with you, I try but just have no energy at all and if I drive in my truck for a long period of time and get out of the truck, OMG, my hip joints scream in pain, I have to stand there for a while before I move, same here working on the computer in the evenings, gosh, sit to long and my joints sure let me know about it. So I feel with you on this and don't know what I can do about it either. Glad to hear that I'm not alone. On another note, I'm on pre-op diet right now and have this continous head-ache, is it sugar withdrawal?? Any ideas anyone??

Taz, hey, what is fibromyalgia, I looked it up in a medical dictionary but it really didn't give much of a description except, muscle pain, stiffness, and I'm thinking could this be what this crap is that I have, I thought mine was from the Lipitor that I was taking, weak muscles, not strength, and if in one position to long and then move, egads, the first initial movement till I get at it is painful, I'm not on any meds except just regular OTC stuff, I was also blaming it on my weight and my joints hurting from carrying so much of it around, of course a while back I was exposed to Ebstein-Barr, go figure, that just relates to fatigue symdome, which I am a lot, and I just blamed that on the excess weight that I was carrying around again. I have read in some threads that once the weight starts coming off that the energy level will increase and no more naps, gosh I so look forward to being able to stay up a full day without needing a nap to continue. So if you don't mind, could someone explain to me what exactly this is, the medical dictionary also stated there is NO CURE!!

Ya know Pix, who cares what she thinks, my first appointment is Monday, and even the lady that answered the phone asked me if I was getting excited, she said that her first year that she dropped it fast, and now her second year is really slowing down, but she blamed it on exercise, she doesn't do any, and she said that is one of the things that needs to be done to push the weight loss, I agree with you, I want to lose it slow say about 10#'s a month will be fine with me, when you lose it really fast (my opinion) your skin doesn't have the time to shrink with your lost and I really don't want to have to look into plastic surgery, I'm already paying for this out of my pocket and plastic surgery is not covered by my insurance either, that is what they classify this surgery also. So, you just listen to your doctor and do what he says, I'm sure that he will agree with you about the time lost. Be Cool

Hey Jennifer, I've got the same doc, he must be doing something right, I'm gong to be self pay, my slow down was getting vacation time turned in at work, have to give a 30 days notice, wow, maybe I'll see you there at the support group meetings when they get them started.

Kat, you are really great person, I have been on this forum reading and reading and noticed that you will add comments, if anything to help and ease people's minds and soul. Don't think I'm getting soupy here or nothing, but I just read another entry of yours where you are helping the individual with her ticker, I'm really glad that your on here, you are a big inspiration to this forum, my banding day is March 25, I live in Houston Texas and I get on here in all the different areas and read, I want to be so prepared when it happens, I am single, with no kids at home, and I'm concerned when I get back here at the house, that everything goes right and my only problem will be maybe a little "gas". Thank you for being you, and I'm glad that there is this site available and is full of all types of information.

No kidding, I was scared at the beginning, but I thought, I quit smoking back in March 'o7, gained 30#'s doing it, and my birthday is the 23rd of March and this is a birthday present to myself. if I could quit smoking which is a terrible addition than I should be able to lose all of the weight I gained plus some, I so much enjoy looking at the before and after pictures of success people, I want to be one of them!!!!!

CONGRATS!!!! my day is the same as yours, here's good luck to all of us being banded on the 25th of March, to a new you and me....

I too am new to this, my date is set for March 25, I have read and read as much as I can stand in each sitting, (then when I get up I hurt from sitting so long) if you read, you will get so much insight of what everyone else has gone through, sure its scary, my guy-friend is not behind this, of course he is a tight wad and this "is" a lot of money, he feels that I just should have better control over what I eat, men, can't live with them and can't live without 'em. I am doing this for me, I am tired of it being so hard to get up off the couch, goodness sake to get up off the floor is another ordeal, I want to wear shorts again, maybe even a bathing suit, (I know possibly not this year, but for sure next year) how about a crop top with "no" bra doesn't that sound nice, knowing that your belly isn't going to hang out for all to see, so much of this is for me, things that "I" want to do that I have not been able to because of all this weight, most of all, to be able to walk without getting winded, man I look forward to that so much. Do what your heart and mind wants to do, don't let others persuade you in any direction, this is for you!!:smile2:

Your past experience sounds so much like what I am experiencing right now, thank you so much for giving me the hope, if I lost 83 lbs I would be one happy camper. It shows that you got banded in June of 07, and you said that the weight came off naturally, do you think it is because of you eating the mini multiple meals, and another question, do you think that it might of came off faster if you had not put your body into starvation mode before you became banded.

Hello to Everyone, I am really a beginner, my lap-band surgery is scheduled for March 25, yes I'm excited but at the same time scared, not due to what is going to be done etc, my concern is the weight loss not happening, it is very VERY hard for me to lose weight now, I just don't eat, I had my psch evaluation last Friday and she even ask me, if you don't eat now, how do you expect to lose weight with the lap band surgery, I usually eat just one meal a day and that is it, I suppose my question is to all of you, have any of you out there that has had the surgery been in my shoes and after the surgery did you lose weight etc??? I will be a cash pay, and that is a lot of cash out if it doesn't work. Thanks.

Thank you both so much for answering, and, yes you are both correct, yes I have tried Weight Watchers, and of course failed at it, when I followed the Quick Weight Loss program, yes I lost, and yes I followed their program, lost 15 pounds, (took me almost 6 months to get that off) but my reason was that nice black dress that I wanted to get into for a Christmas party, and right after that, yummy the big fat juicy hamburgers won me over and I lost again, I truly understand about your body going into starvation mode when it is deprived of food, so, this is why I'm praying so much that the lap band will succeed for me, smaller portions of food and a strict program to follow, I'm sure that once I see the weight pouring off that the encouragement to myself will be overwhelming, my post op is March 10th, and I'm sure that being two weeks before the "big" day, I will be following their rules from that point on. Thank you again