serenity55

My hairdresser suggested that I roll my hair up before I exercise, and/or blow it dry when I'm done. I get a wash a blow dry ever other week, and I wash it myself with Cream of Nature shampoo and conditioner in between. (Sometimes.) Debbie

Hey Joanne, I'm in Van Nuys. I know it's a long way from Long Beach. I think there are quite a few people here from southern California. If you go to the local lap band forum, and then to USA, and to California, you may find others who are in your area. I'm envious that you can sleep on your side. I haven't been able to so far, but I don't hurt at all today, and I'm not really hungry, but I know what you mean about not being able to wait until pureed food! Keep in touch! Debbie

My surgery day began with a full moon, and a very cold morning. My girlfriend and I were picked up a little before five A.M. to get to the hospital at 5:30. We arrived early; it only took fifteen minutes to get there. Shortly after we went in, a very nice woman from Admitting came in and told me that my surgeon had ordered a CT scan for me. She didn’t know why. I also had to have more lab work done. “He (my surgeon) does that a lot,” I was told. I started to worry. I hate needles and didn’t know why I had to have a scan. Shortly after 5:30 I was called in to wait for someone from the lab to do the blood work. The lab tech was friendly, but it still hurt. Thankfully they only wanted one vial. I was taken upstairs to another waiting room where I met another woman who was having the lap band. Her surgery was scheduled for 7:30, mine was an hour later. There were two adjoining rooms, and it seemed like the majority of the patients were in the other one, so when my lap band friend left, my best friend and I were the only ones in the room. They came for me shortly afterward, and I went to pre op, where I asked the head nurse why I was having a CT scan. She didn’t know. I was given a gown and the feeties, and hopped in to bed. My surgeon came in a few minutes later, and asked if I’d heard from my primary care physician. I had not. He told me that there was a “small nodule” on my chest, and he wanted to make sure it was all right. I asked if it would cancel my surgery, and he said it shouldn’t. He said it could be an old thing, which turned out to be the case. The nightmare of trying to find a vein began. The head nurse, whose name was Karen, assured me that “these girls” were the best. Their best wasn’t good enough, because they couldn’t find a vein. It’s really interesting to me that they don’t seem to believe me when I tell them I am terribly afraid of needles. There were a million people in that little room, asking me the same questions over and over: What is your name? Date of birth? Who is your doctor? What are you here for? I think there must have been a call from the CT lab asking where I was, and I heard Karen say that the lab tech, Wade, said he’d start the I.V. “He does ‘em all the time,” she said. So two orderlies came and I was wheeled down to the lab. My friend was allowed to come with me. I had been fairly calm until I came to the hospital, but now I was really nervous. I waited a few minutes while Wade, the guy who was to do the CT scan, finished with another patient. He was very friendly, and got the I.V. in on the first try. “I love you!” I said, and he laughed, saying, “I don’t like to stick folks more than once.” He explained about the procedure and the fact that they were going to inject dye which could give me a sensation of warmth. I’d had an angiogram when I was a kid, and remembered that feeling. He kept going in and out of the room, and when I was alone, I kept thinking, This isn’t even the surgery! I still have to go through that! I thought I’d go insane. At one point he came in, and I heard a noise I can’t describe. He said, “whoa!” and the lights dimmed for a second. There had been a power surge, and he had to reboot the system. He tried to do the scan but the machine wasn’t reading correctly, or letting him do something, I can’t remember. What finally wound up happening is that another guy did the scan, because Wade had other patients coming in. I was sorry to see him go, because his replacement wasn’t exactly personable. I was instructed to hold my hands over my head and the bed slid to the machine. “I don’t want to go all the way in,” I said to this new guy. His response? “No one does.” Charming fellow. He didn’t even have to give me instructions, I heard a recorded voice telling me to take deep breaths, hold them, and let them out. Then, breathe normally. ” Some of the dye dripped down my left arm, and the tech made a rather feeble attempt to wipe it away, but my gown was wet when I returned to the pre op staging area. One of the nurses saw that and I was given a dry gown. I could just imagine them gazing with awe at the I.V. Wade started, in the crook of my left elbow. Someone even said, “Wow!” More questions from Karen, who entered them in to a computer. I’d asked her jokingly if her last name was Carpenter. She said, no, she wasn’t as thin as Karen, and couldn’t sing. The anesthesiologist came in and introduced himself. Was I allergic to any medications? Not that I knew of. I asked about anti nausea meds and he assured me I would have something. When he left, I heard him say, “We’re ready to go when you are,” probably to the nurses. I met my surgical nurse, who asked me some questions, too. And less than twenty minutes later she came back and took me to the operating room. She said she’d give me warm blankets, I’d had some before, because it was cold in the OR. The blankets felt devine. I could see lights in the room, and heard some machinery humming softly. The heart monitor was attached, and I could hear it beeping. I noticed when my heart was beating faster, and I tried to breathe to slow it down. Sometimes it worked, but more often it didn’t. I was just plain scared. They put my arms out to the sides. I believe there were two nurses there. They put something warm behind my neck. It felt like an oblong kind of pillow. When the anesthesiologist came in, he showed the nurses how to place it so my head was tilted back “for easier intubation.” Thanks for saying that while I was awake, guy! Actually, he was very nice. He told me that he was going to give me something that might make me feel kind of groggy. It didn’t really. They did a “time out” where the nurse said my name, my date of birth, my surgeon’s name, and the procedure I was having. The anesthesiologist said the name of some medicine he was injecting, and that’s all I remember. I woke up in recovery with no nausea, and no pain to speak of. The surgery had taken 35 minutes. I don’t remember much about recovery; I know I could hear people talking, but I must have slept a lot. No one told my friend that I was out of surgery until a nice volunteer called to find out where I was. She also found out my room number. I was wheeled in to the operating room at about a quarter to ten, and didn’t come out of recovery until noon. I have no memory of being taken to my room. I know I had water for my lips. Chapstick is a must after surgery. My nurse during the day was very attentive. I was allowed clear liquids for dinner, but the soup was salty, or so it seemed to me. They said it was low sodium, but you couldn’t convince me. I didn’t eat much, but I did drink the juice and the protein shake. I asked for ice, as recommended by my nutritionist, and poured it over that. I forgot I wasn’t supposed to use a straw, but it didn’t seem to bother me. My night nurse, whom my friend and I named the Ice Princess, brought me little cups, reminding me that I was supposed to be sipping. I think I was; I was just using the straw. I got up to walk, and that felt really good. My day nurse unhooked my I.V. pole, but the Ice Princess said I had to take it with me, so I did. There was a woman from my nutrition class who’d had a Roux-en-y and came to look for “that little blind girl.” The only part of that phrase that was correct was the blind part. There’s nothing little about me, and I haven’t been a girl for quite sometime. Hospitals are not the place for rest. My I.V. pole kept beeping, and my night nurse wasn’t as alert as the day time one. She kept saying that the thing was sensitive, that if I moved my arm in the slightest, it set it off, that my I.V. was in a “difficult” place. So it was my fault the stupid thing kept us awake. My girlfriend stayed with me. At one o’clock when it went off again, she said, “this is not acceptable. How is she supposed to sleep when this thing keeps going off?” The nurse said that she’d been on her break. Why couldn’t she have sent someone else? It didn’t go off again, and my friend was able to sleep. I was awakened at four A.M. for a heparin shot--I’d been given one at six the previous evening, and was told I’d have to have one every eight hours. The Ice Princess was late. When my friend complained about the I.V., the nurse said, “I’m sorry we can’t talk to the manufacturer.” What a cow! At five, someone came to take blood. At six, we got up. I walked a lot that day. I was ticked off because I wasn’t released until five that evening. I’d been given the impression that I’d see the doctor in the morning, but I learned that the surgeon’s assistant, whom I was supposed to see, had the day off, and another partner would be seeing me. I walked, and walked, and walked, and when the day nurse came with my third heparin shot, I refused it, because, as I said, I hate needles, and I’d been walking. I’m still walking, and it gets better every day. Would I do it again? Yes!!!

Hi all, Just wanted to let everyone know that I made it! I'm a bandster, and I'm doing pretty well. I came home yesterday, and have been drinking and walking. Just a little discomfort with gas pain, but nothing that isn't manageable. I can't thank everyone who has helped me, enough. Everything I've read, all the information, advice and support, helped to make my surgery a pretty smooth one. A lot happened on my surgery day, but I'll post that later. Again, thanks to everyone. this site is fantastic! Debbie

Hi Beth, As the Beatles said, "It's getting better all the time." My gas pains have been manageable, I'm walking, and I've noticed an improvement today. I'm trying hard to drink lots of liquids, but I can't wait to have my first scrambled egg! Even the pain of moving doesn't seem so bad today. Thanks for asking! Debbie

Thank you!!

lol Now, that was funny! I shall wear my ring with pride, and never, never, never lose my card! Thank you Beth. Debbie!

Congratulations! Wow! Why do you think your doctor is waiting so long to give you a fill? Could it be that he just wants to be really sure your body won't reject the band? Glad you're feeling good, and walking. I am too. Debbie

Thank you all. LapBandNeeded, I was sooo scared, but it really was a piece of cake for me. My BMI was 53 also, and I lost 22 pounds before surgery, so I know you can do it! And I am on my way to the post op forum! Thanks again everyone! Debbie

Traci, what a great thread! I was banded on February 10th, and aside from the gas pains, and finding it hard to get off the couch, out of a chair, or out of bed, I'm doing all right. I've been on the treadmill twice today, and right now, am drinking a Protein shake. My doctor's orders were clear liquids for a day or two, than back to full liquids. I go next Thursday for my follow-up. Does it hurt to have the stapples out? We really are fabulous! Debbie

Thank you, Catherine. I'm really looking forward to the beginning of this exciting chapter in my life. Debbie

I was banded February 10th. It was a piece of cake, if you don't count the fact that when I got to the hospital I found out my surgeon had ordered a CT scan because of a "small nodule" on my chest, which, thank goodness, turned out to be nothing. The gas pain is manageable, and I find it really helps to drink lots of liquids, and walk, walk, walk. I'm glad to be home. Congratulations to all February bandsters who have had surgery, and the best of luck to those of you who will be joining us! Speedy recoveries to us all! Debbie

Hi Jane My surgery was a piece of cake, only took 35 minutes. I've been drinking liquids, but like you, I don't really have much of an apetite. My instructions are to have lots of liquids, so I'm going to try to do that, and walk, walk, walk. Hope to hear from other February 10 bandsters. Debbie,

Thank you, everyone. Peachwood, I'm doing fine. Like you, I have soreness at the incision sites, and I'm so afraid I'll injure my port, for some reason. It's harder getting up, or shifting positions, that's when I feel the soreness. Keep in touch. Hot Granma, I'm not sure if you're having surgery now, but let us know how it goes. Good luck to all February bandsters! Debbie

'twas the day before surgery; I was kind of scared. I wanted to be sure that I was prepared. Two weeks of full liquids, last two days, clear ones; My newfound lap band friends, coworkers, and dear ones. I attended support groups and drank Protein shakes; I hoped that I hadn't made any mistakes. All my pre-op testing had finally been done, And now the countdown to band day had begun. I went to work trying to stay busy all day; I wanted to keep all my worries at bay. I've lost weight, that's great; but did my liver shrink? What if, post-op, I don't get enough to drink? Will I wake up in pain? Will I wake up at all? Will I be anxious to walk round the halls? Once the band is inside, will I know that it's there, As we become partners, and this journey share? Now all systems are go, everything is in place. I'm nearing the finish line, at the end of the race. I'll visit my friends on the lap band web site, And hope I won't be overtaken by fright. It's hard to believe that the day's finally here! The hoops I've jumped through, the frustration, the fear. At the end of this journey, there's a golden light With hope for the future growing ever more bright.

Thank you, Wendy. For the well wishes and for the poem. Debbie

Best wishes to our February 2nd bandsters! May you have successful surgeries, and smooth uneventful recoveries. And let us know how you're doing when you're up to it. Debbie

It seems that when I am hungriest is just before it's time for me to have a "meal." I'm on a two week full liquid pre op diet, and my surgery is this Tuesday. It's interesting that I'm not craving sweets, which has always been the thing I wanted most, but iI want meat, chicken especially, or a hot dog, or roast, and things smell soooo goooood! Sometimes I feel sad, but then I focus on why I'm doing this.

Well, based on both polls, the one here in pre op and the one in the February 2009 forum, it looks like February Foxes has won. The next most popular, I think was Victorious Valentines 2009. guys, if you're not comfortable being foxes, at least you can be victorious :-)! Debbie

Hi all! Yesterday I got approved for my lap band and today I got a surgery date of February 10th. Anyone else? It doesn't seem real, somehow, maybe because I've been jumping through hoops for so long!

Hey, how is everyone doing with their pre op diet? Is it easy? Hard? If you're on a full liquid diet, like me, do you find that you miss solid food? Things sound so good when I hear about them, from McDonald's to chicken and brown rice and vegetables, salads. Interestingly, (is that a word?) I don't really think about sweets. Must be the Protein shakes. It probably is just as hard for post op people, too. If you have any thoughts, feelings, I'd love to hear from you! Debbie

Wendy, thank you for keeping us posted. How long are you planning to stay off work? Yes, someone said that it feels like your insides will fall out when you bend over. It's nice to know what to expect, as far as physical feelings are concerned. May you continue to have a good recovery. I hope the soreness goes away soon. Debbie

Peachwood, congratulations! And how lucky you are to just have Clear liquids on Monday! We're in the home stretch, folks! Debbie

Good for all of us! I haven't cheated, and like someone said, I'm very proud of that. It hasn't been easy, though. As I said, I'd give anything to eat solid food, but I don't get to do that for a few weeks. Thanks to everyone for posting. Debbie

Hi Laur, Thank you for posting your experience. I really enjoyed reading it, and I hope your soreness goes away quickly. I also hope my story is as good as yours! Debbie