Dody

"giggles" you've been here long enough to know the answer to that one. Of course you need the fill. :) It's like a "toothache". The minute you make an appt. with the dentist it goes away!!

I should know I'm not that much different, just sort of amazed that the dr. told me I would most definitely have to crush pills, etc. and I don't. You are right, I shouldn't have let myself get so hungry. Thanks for reminding me.

I didn't even wait a week to begin being really hungry. The first few days were great and today the hunger just kicked in. I have to admit I ate (and it wasn't on my menu, but it wasn't bread or anything like that) and I'm very full without finishing all of it, but I was worried I could eat regular food without feeling the band. I don't have a fill for 5 weeks. I sure hope I don't gain everything back by then. I was really super hungry which I haden't been for about 4 days...and then boom....today it just kicked in. My first fill is the end of August and I surely hope it makes a difference. My dr. believes in being non-aggressive, but I hope some of my problem is resolved. Thanks.

Wow, I am so sorry you or others were offended. I believe I posted this about bypass a very long time ago, and didn't mean it the way it sounded at all. I've been going through a horrible time with a girlfriend who had bypass and is gaining weight back. I should NOT have judged all by her results and I apologize. I'm so sorry you "cringe" at everything I say, because I have tried very hard to be nice to everyone. Please find me one post where I EVER considered bypass surgery, because I didn't. My cardiologist would never have allowed it for medical reasons, and I never thought about it. I will try very carefully to word things so that they don't aggravate anyone, and thought I had learned a long time ago to do some. Is there some recent post I've made that is bothering anyone...please let me know. This was a very old post, and you are right, I definitely should not have made it sound like all bypasses failed or all lap-bands work. Again I apologize and will try and be much more careful. I am now banded and need the support of this forum and will in turn try to be supportive, so please overlook the misrepresentation I made here. I would greatly appreciate it. I should never have made a blanket statement, and again apologize, especially to you Donna who seemed really offended. After re-reading I can't say I blame you, so please fogive. I have not even thought about bypass or posted about it in a long time. Whatever works for anyone is fine with me. I try to be extremely careful with what I post anymore and be supportive of everyone. I don't think there are any recent posts could be construed as negative in any respect. If so kindly point them out to me. You are swelling on a post from early June when I was unfamiliar with a lot of things. It is now the end of July and time to let things go. You can only apologize so many times. Thanks and God Bless,

I made sure my surgeon would personally be doing all my fills. I don't want anyone else doing them. Perhaps this is just me....

Leener, Medicare knew long ago they were going to change over to Centers of Excellence for surgery, and so did the docs. You should have been forewarned you couldn't get fills anywhere else. You surely have centers of excellence in NJ that can accommodate you. That's a big state. Check out Centers of Excellence on google and your fills will be free. You just need to find some transportation.

I love my Clark Shoes for dress, and my New Balance for walking or everyday wear. Clark has an awsome insole. I like them lots better than birkies.

If ever there was a butt ugly shoe, it is Crocs!! I'd rather wear old lady shoes then look like a duck with webbed feet.

Oh Elizabeth, I feel for you that you were alone. That must have been tough, although if I had stayed in Idaho I would have been alone also. I am with family and had my daughter and grandson with me in Nashville for the surgery, and lots of help from all of them, including my son-in-law when I got home. It is a great feeling to have supportive family around. You are very brave and very determined to have done this alone. God Bless,

I was banded on Tuesday and the port pain is the only pain I have and that is controlled with my liquid pain meds or just Tylenol. The first couple days I felt like I had been run over by a freight train...sore, but it has completely gone away and just the residual port pain is left. I can't yet sleep on my side, but I can comfortably sleep on my back. Getting up is a bit of a problem, so I've learned to kind of roll out of bed. The pain gets better each day and is very common from what I'm told. If this is the worse it gets I've got this thing beaten Best of luck, God Bless

Welcome to the forum. I to had a lot of problems, mostly cardiac related, and needed to jump through lots of hoops to get clearance. I had 5-way-bypass surgery 5 years ago, and lots of dr's. want no part of bypass patients. I am lucky to have a cardiologist and a PCP that thought I was a great candidate for the band and would do even better with my heart if I lost weight. It took me a yr. to get all the tests done from psych to sleep eval to echocs, ekg's, thallium scans, etc., but finally the go ahead and a great surgeon willing to take the chance. I had my surgery on Tuesday and feel great. I've had no gas pains at all and I am not hungry. I had knee surgery just one week before the lap-banding so the walking is kind of an issue, but I'm doing well with it. I also had a carotid artery bruit which held things up as they thought there was a blockage...turned out not to be. Faith kept me going, as I'm sure your's will too. Please keep us posted on your progress. I'm 64-years-0ld and would do this over in a heartbeat and fight just as hard for it I left the state to get my surgery. I am originally from Idaho but came to Tennessee to have my surgery on Medicare at a Center of Excellence with a surgeon I loved immediately. You didn't say where you were from, but let's hope you find someone just as wonderful.... God Bless,

There are great denistry colleges in the US also that do work for a very decent price. I would look into all my options and then just follow your heart.

I was just banded on Tuesday of this week, but I too woke up telling my daughter that I had begun a wonderful journey and was thrilled (this despite the pain which is common). I lost 10 lbs. on the pre-op diet of Carnation Instant Breakfast with some Water, tea, and a little broth snuck in, and have lost 4 lbs. since being home. I am not the least bit hungry but am keeping up on the Protein and the water. I am taking my multi-vitamin and Calcium and feel great today abeit still sore. I had a friend who had RNY and cried for 2 weeks afterwards wondering what she had done. I had absolutely no misgivings and am so thankful to have had a wonderful experience in getting the band...great surgeon, hospital and staff, and great support from this forum and my family. I am 64-years-old and had a knee surgery a week before this. I already feel younger and am up to the challenge. I'm so glad the band was an option for me and I didn't have to do anything drastic. Good luck in your decision, God Bless

I took very little with me to the hospital as they had everything there, but on arriving home I made sure I had Gas X strips and liquid Tylenol. They seemed to be two of the most important things. Someplace on here is a great list of things you should have on hand.....maybe someone could bump it up for you. Good luck.

John Wayne and Elvis are both dead, so that comparison is hillarious. Do what you think is best for yourself. I found colon cleansers to be anything but a scam but that is my personal opinion. If some people think they are scams they are entitled to their opinion. I personally didn't want to go the mineral oil route. Like I said there are dr's. that perform colonics, and loads of people that buy them....so I guess we are all being scammed and feeling good in the process. Do whatever you want and don't let anyone with an ax to grind influence you. I for one think they are great every 6 mo. or so, but that is a very personal opinion. Take good care of yourself and never worry about feeling defensive about your choices.

My kids made spaghetti last night and although I wasn't hungry there was certainly nothing wrong with my sense of smell...it smelled delicious. I didn't even go near them, as they are kind enough to take it in the other room. I didn't want any per se, but I thoroughly enjoyed the smell of it cooking. It would be nice if the things I did like turned me off

I order Smashbox cosmetics from QVC. One order lasts me 6 mo. One container has everything from face powder to eye shadow in it and the other is for my eyebrows. It really isn't that expensive (about $34.00 every 6 mo) and I love it. Aside from the basics I'm not into a lot of make-up, but I can definitely see where it would be an addiction. My addiction has always been clothes.

This morning I'm still sore in the port area, but don't have that beat up feeling I was beginning to wonder who I had ticked off in the OR to be feeling so beat up I can drink and take my pills just fine and last night had my first chocolate pudding with absolutely no problem. I have to admit it filled me up completely. I realize I'm at that wonderful state with post-op swelling and before any fills and I'm going to enjoy it, because I know life will change after the fills begin. My dr. is very non-aggressive with fills, so this may be a good thing for me. I'm 64-years-old so definitely no kid having this done, but it has been so worth it. I have always looked and felt younger than I was until my heart surgery, and I hope to be feeling that way again before too long. I haven't set my goal to low in my weight loss, although I'm hoping for more, but know I will look good at 170 as I'm 5'8" and wear a size 12 when I'm that weight. It's too soon to imagine 150 for me, but maybe some day. Thanks to all of you that responded. The forum is an awesome place for info.

I was just banded on Tuesday and feel like I've been run over by a freight train. Has anyone else ever felt like this? Thanks for the input. I'm keeping up on protein and stitches are sore, but this isn't gas. This is just painful like I can out on the wrong end of a fight. God Bless, Dody

I googled Isopure and ordered it online from a company. I couldn't find it locally. It is a little spendy but well worth the price. I choose fruit punch and grape. Many companies sell it online. GNC didn't even carry it here where I live.

I have been using colon cleanse for years now about every 6 mo. or so, and feel so much better because of it. There is some evidence to support it prevents colon cancer also. I don't think it's a scam at all and I'm a retired nurse. It has a lot of benefits to it in my opinion. I will continu to use it every 6 mo. or so. There are dr's. (very legitimate) that do colon cleansing and I don't consider them quacks at all. I would dread the thought of mineral oil or many other harsh products, but this is gentle and works beautfully...and the truth is if you haven't tried it you have no idea what you are going to find the results are. They are amazing to say the least. I highly recommend it, and then make your own decisions.

the shoulder pain sounds like trapped gas from the surgery. Walk, walk and walk some more. It's great you have no pain from the incisions. I have pain from the port incision most of all, but would do it all over again. Dody

I was just banded on Tuesday, and although extremely sore it is tolerable, and I would do it over in a heartbeat. I'm not the least bit hungry and looking forward to this journey. Best of luck to you. God Bless

I was finally banded on Friday, July 18, by Dr. Willie Melvin at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. I can't say enough good things about him or the staff. My stitches are definitely sore, but I feel like I've been run over by a freight train. I'm so sore from my shoulders to my waist (not gas). Has anyone else experienced this? I feel like I got the worse end of a fight I've never heard this mentioned on here and wonder if anyone else has ever had this happen. Truth is I feel like I've been run over by a freight train.....I expected lots of things but not this feeling. Aside from that I'm doing fine and glad I finally have my band. I'm keeping up on Protein and pain meds, but not hungry at all. I have the new low profile port and I saw it before surgery and what a huge difference in size and weight from the other ports. God Bless and Thanks For the Answers, Dody

I knew I treasured your friendship for lots of reasons I look younger than I am, but I have a permanent appt. with Lady Clairol for sure. I got my genes from my mom who at 84 looked 64, so I thank you very much. Giggles at the grey hair....I don't do grey well!! My daughter did everything on here for me in no time flat. I didn't know where to start. I didn't want anything on here before I was banded, but now it's out there for all to see. I just had a Protein drink and the family is having spaghetti. Somehow, it isn't bothering me one bit. Do you suppose that is purely psychological? I'm sooooooo glad I had this done, even with the soreness. Thanks for the little "strutter". I ordered a gold necklace and earrings from QVC tonight as a gift from me to me on the banding....I treat myself well don't I? Thanks again for being there all the time for me. Love girlfriend and God Bless, Dody