TxChelsey

Just wanted to pick the brains of some other post-op peeps. Hoping everthing I am experiencing is normal. I was banded Monday... Still have a lot of pain in the largest incision (port, I assume) whenever I sit up, but the other insicions are fine. Still pretty gassy, but not really painful. I can feel it all moving around in my belly. Have been told to only drink 2 ozs of fluid at a time, but am able to drink more. I thought I would have no appetite, but I am occasionally getting growling and hunger pains. Not too bad though. I want to lick the television everytime a food commercial comes on!! Otherwise, I feel okay. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.:huh2:

I was up half the night because my nerves wouldn't let me sleep!! The three day liquid diet was coming out all night as well. Now I have a tickle in my throat and a slight cough. Could just be dry mouth and allergies. Should I worry or call my surgeon? Have I turned into a hypochondraic? I have never had surgery before and I am soooooo freaking nervous!!

I was up half the night because my nerves wouldn't let me sleep!! The three day liquid diet was coming out all night as well. Now I have a tickle in my throat and a slight cough. Could just be dry mouth and allergies. Should I worry or call my surgeon? Have I turned into a hypochondraic? I have never had surgery before and I am soooooo freaking nervous!!

I had my last appointment with my surgeon yesterday (getting banded on Monday) and I had a lot of questions for him. I wanted to know the differences between the VG and AP and which was better. He seemed to lean towards the VG but he said there were good and bad with both bands. In my readings, I think the AP seems more advanced but he said it was a bit more difficult to manipulate during the surgery. I have heard it prevents erosion and he said it hasn't been proven yet. He made it clear he would put in which ever one I wanted. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :smile:

I actually went to 2 seminars. I went to my first one, then made an appointment with my primary to get his opinion. He said I was a good candidate, but referred me to a different doctor at a different hospital. After I did some research, I was very glad for the referral. The surgeon he sent me too was much more experienced, voted one of the top doctors in 2007 by his peers, and works out of a much better hospital. I feel fortunate that I have a good insurance company, but the whole process will still take time. Here is a list of all the people I had to see to get it done. My surgery is tomorrow!! * Seminar at the place I decided against. * Primary Care Physician for "approval" * sleep Study to determine I do not have sleep apnea * Seminar with Dr. Hamn and appt afterwards * Dietician appt as required by surgeon * Psychologist evaluation as required by surgeon and insurance * Pulmonologist as required by insurance * Cardiologist with stress test as required by insurance * Pre-Op Testing at hospital including Upper GI, EKG, CXR, blood work * Surgeon appt for co-pay, book, pics, final measurements, Q&A, etc. * SURGERY tomorrow!!!! The whole process took about 3 months. The time went by pretty quickly. Hang in there.

I actually bought a really good scale and I weighed myself when I got home. It was within .2 lbs of the doctor's scale. I love that I can get on this scale 3 or 4 times in a row and get the same weight everytime. That so rarely happens with the electronic scales and I find myself computing averages for accuracy. No more!!

I had a meeting with my surgeon late Thurs afternoon and weighed in at 329.5 :regular_smile: He put me on liquids for three days prior to Monday's surgery and today is Day 3. I weighed myself when I got up this morning and I am down over 8 pounds. That is a crazy amount of weight to lose in 2 days! I will be on liquids for 5 weeks post op and I can't even imagine how much I will have lost by the end of that. Should I be excited or alarmed?

I sure hope so!! I have had sasquatch feet my whole life, and with my last 100 lb weight gain I have gone up a shoe size. Therefore, what goes up, must come down!

I was told my my surgeon's nurse, when she called to tell me I was approved by ins, that there would be no pre-op diet. Just no food after midnight the night before. Went to my final surgeon appt yesterday and he put me on liquids for 3 days before the surgery. Getting banded on Monday and no food with chunks for almost 6 weeks. Oh well, I suppose my liver could use some shrinking!

Do you end up with a port pooch? Can you see a raised area of skin or is it inconspicuous?

After a relatively painless series of doctor and specialist visits, my insurance company has approved my surgery. It only took me 6 weeks and a month of that was just getting to all my scheduled appointments. I am geting banded by Dr Hamn in Plano,TX on APRIL 7th!!! I am 5'4" at 328 lbs and have been considering this for a long time. I have a lot of friends who had the bypass and look great. I just think it's too severe for me and I hope I have made the right choice. It seems that I am quite a bit heavier than many of the people on this board, but I really feel good about my decision at this point. I am nervous, but excited!! I look forward to sharing my progress and I am thankful to have found such a great support network. Wish me luck!!

No pre-op diet. I have an appt with my surgeon 4 days before my surgery where I might hear something different, but I asked and his nurse said no pre-op diet. I am grateful. That would be a nightmare!!!

We are scheduled for surgery on the same day! I am 5'4" at 328 lbs and I am scared, but ready. I have spent a long time making the decision, and I'm sticking to it. It will be over before you know it!

My surgeon does not reqiure a pre-op diet at all. Just no food or drink after midnight the night before the sugery. I am grateful, as I think it would be a nightmare for me. I do, of course, have the 5 week liquid diet post-op. But I will have a tiny stomach then and won't be hungry all the time!!

I have jumped through all the surgeon and insurance hoops and am just waiting for a surgery date. I was referred a book called "The Emotional First Aid Kit: A practical guide to life after bariatric surgery" by Cynthia Alexander. I am half way through and having serious second thoughts. I am prepared to make a life style change and adopt an exercise program. I lost over 80 pounds with diet and exercise several years ago, and it took me over a year to get it off. I was proud, but it could have been faster if not for my "lapses." Sometimes, no matter how well I am doing, I just want to eat...everything!! And I will eat until I can barely move. Sometimes it will go on for days, weeks, where I just can't get enough food. And when I go out (I am poor and don't go out often) I clean my plate. I never need a to-go box, ever. Stopping these little lapses are exactly what I am looking for in the lap band. I know I will slip sometimes, and I need something to stop me from shoveling in a ton of food. Since my stomach will be the size of a golf-ball I figured I would be physically incapable of pigging out. WILL THIS BAND PREVENT ME FROM OVEREATING?? Thanks.:shades_smile:

Because I have a really high BMI, my insurance company (not my surgeon) required cardiac and pulmonary clearance. I have no health problems, other than joint pain, but it was still required. I also had to do the sleep study. Finally, I have finished all my stuff. Just waiting for approval and my surgery date!!

YAY!!! I am waiting for my surgery date and am excited and terrified at the same time. I have the crappiest job ever, but they have great insurance so I don't have to pay. Sorry for you. My surgeon estimated $30,000 so I never could have considered it otherwise. Good luck!