JanetC

Oh, a bunch of us DFW'ers are getting together at Jason's Deli this Saturday. Feel free to join us! It's our first time to meet each other... should be fun. Details are here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=15865

Hi Tina!! Welcome to LBT! Mikey & I had Dr Sewell & were also self-pay. His staff rocks! And the surgical center is out of this world. I know he's super careful with us bandsters... it's why he wants us to stay overnight. I know I probably would have been fine to head home after the surgery, but it sure was nice to be babied! And to have them there when I started throwing up (I had a reaction to anesthesia). I would have freaked at home... but in the hospital it was no big deal. They gave me a shot & kept me breathing, lol. He is $3k more expensive then others in the DFW area, but I feel it was worth it. His after care program is comprehensive, his psychologist rocks, and you CAN do stuff a la carte (though I wouldn't recommend that). If you can afford the full year at all, go for it... then you don't worry about how many fills, etc. You just do what's necessary. Other docs are cheaper. Most do require you to attend their seminar. It's the easiest way for them to be sure that you've been exposed to everything they need you to have heard. Be sure & ask about after care with each surgeon. The surgery is just one day, after care is forever! Oops! Forgot about the Protein drinks. Dr Sewell doesn't require you to buy his powder, he just offers it. I actually bought Six Star whey Protein from Walmart (really cheap). I like the taste. Others don't. Do a search for "protein drinks" & you'll find a bunch of suggestions. Good luck & ask tons of questions! Welcome!

Ah... that explains a lot Stacey. Mikey has a 9cc band... he just got 4.5 in it & says he barely feels it. Of course, this is the first time he's felt ANYthing, so he's happy about it. :eek: Hang in there... get some more saline in there & you'll be flying! :eek:

Our doctor doesn't have ANY special diet on fill day. I was going to put myself on liquid, just because... but I went to mushies as well, lol. :eek: For our program, we see the nutritionist after 2 weeks, to discuss how the fill is going & see how much we can eat. Then we get our next fill (if needed) 2 weeks after that. I know for some folks fills don't kick in until a couple of weeks later (for whatever reason). I personally don't think I would get another fill any sooner then 4 weeks, even if I didn't feel any difference. (Of course I'll break that rule as soon as I don't feel anything! )

I had a similar issue post-op... after drinking Water I'd hurt so bad I'd head to bed with a heating pad. 3 hours later the pain was less, until I drank water again. For me, it appeared that when I drink I gulp air. I changed to a bottle rather then a glass (so my lips surround the opening). That helped a ton. (I also cheated with a straw, but I don't recommend it... the surgeon just talked me out of it again yesterday. **sigh**) Good luck... hang in there, the swelling does go down... eventually!

I'm throwing this thread in "General" so that folks find us when they're searching. Our main thread is over in the support forum. Sorry, I put it in the "wrong" spot when I started it. Come join us!! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?p=161362#post161362

For those of you fearing your first fill, I was with you!! I had myself all worked up. And I sorta have a horror story. But it's so minor compared to what I expected... it's really not worth mentioning, lol. The entire thing was really anti-climatic. There's a small pinch & a burn with the numbing shot -- felt like the heparin shot after surgery, only it hurt less, imho. I didn't feel ANY pain with the fill needle... just pressure. Both times, lol: My doc started with 1.5cc, but I couldn't swallow the water. I now know what overfull feels like -- at least a little. I could still swallow spit, so I wasn't THAT bad... but water kind of gurgled going down, and took forever to swallow a TINY sip. After 3 attempts, Dr Sewell looked at my face & asked, "You're too full, aren't you?! Let's get some out of there!" He popped me back onto the table & took out .3cc. Made a HUGE difference. And I was still numb from the first one, so I didn't need a new shot... and still didn't feel the fill needle. I was super-duper paranoid after that, lol, so I kept myself on tiny sips all day... until I got too hungry & had mushies (**blush for my lack of willpower! **). I did just fine, as long as I chewed everything to death. I'm definitely feeling restriction. Time to learn what I can & can't do again! I'm just so glad to be moving! My bags have been packed for a month now, time to get the journey started! Lou: Go you with the weight loss!! And congrats on the fill date! Becky: Happy bandiversary!! Looking back now, isn't it amazing how far you've come! I don't mean weight loss, though you're doing great on that... but pain-wise. You're sleeping in a bed!!! And congrats on upping the treadmill, I'm scared of grades! :eek: Tammy: Woohooo!! It's fill time! I'm glad to hear that folks are monitoring your niece. I hope she can kick her demons in the bootie! Oh my goodness, congrats on your NSV! And you got extra exercise too! Awesome!! Stacey: Wow! You're 3rd fill? What size is your band? Hope you feel restriction soon!!! Magic: Welcome to the Febsters! You've got a lost of reading to do, lol. :eek: Just joking... jump right in, we're glad you're here! Dena: You still out there? Missing you, girl! Oh, just reread... I bet you're in San Fran. Enjoy yourself! Cashley & Renebean: Front & center! Looks like you both had fills yesterday... how'd they go?

LOL at DeLarla. ((( Diane ))) I'm so glad you're going to see your doc! We'll be thinking of your tomorrow... let us know how it goes! Pre-banding, my reflux was brought on by anything acidic (tomato, strawberry, oranges), any starchy carbs (rice, bread, potato), and caffeine (I had a nasty Diet Coke habit -- so I switched to decaf, lol). Definitely chew some Tums while you wait for tomorrow. And stick to liquids. Good luck!

Mikey & I sorta skipped the first steps. I would say that "normal" first steps are: Call your insurance & see what they recommend as their first steps Primary care physician agrees that surgery is an option (you may have to find a new doctor to get to this point!) Attend 1 or more seminars (they're normally free) -- feel free to try multiple surgeons until you find one that you like. And be aware of their aftercare program... that's where you'll spend most of your time! Surgical consultation / insurance definitely started by this time Other consultations as required by surgeon (tests, physical therapy, psychologist, dietician, etc) Final paperwork sent to insurance office... and the waiting begins. Mikey & I were self-pay, so we just called the surgeon we chose & asked for a consultation. He even let us skip the seminar... we'd done our homework & knew we wanted him. Good luck! Ask a lot of questions!

Congrats on your appointment... wow, that's tomorrow! Let us know how it goes!

Ya'll give me hope! We're both 38 & wanting kids (we married at 35), but want to lose the weight first. Which puts us at 39 & trying. I'm so glad to hear of folks in their 40s having kids! There's still time!!!!!!

So we JUST got home from our first fill, woohooo! Rene, how was yours? (I think it was Rene that had hers today, going from memory.) I now have 1.2cc in a 4cc band. Mikey has 4.5cc in a 9cc band. I was really surprised that he filled that much. It seemed like a big jump -- I was expecting 1cc for Mikey & .5cc for me. He actually went to 1.5cc for me, but I couldn't drink the water they gave me, so he took some out. All in all, a painless experience. I felt the pinch of the numbing shot -- felt like any ol' shot you get. Didn't feel the fill needle at all. It's so cool to have restriction again! Though I'm scared to drink anything at the moment, lol, the water when I was too full was frightening! And to catch up... Sherry: I'm having my period right now too. I don't feel my band so much, but I'm feeling my port, lol. Weird sensations. Hope your migraine is gone! Stacey: Congrats to your sister! That's a huge accomplishment! I love Guatemalan kids, they're so cute! (I lived down there for half a year.) Glad you didn't gain while travelling! I'm dreading our first trip. Michelle: Grats on the 20 pound mark! And pureed food, woohoo! Julie: Glad you're having restriction! Don't be surprised if it goes away in a couple of weeks... hopefully yours won't! Michelle: I'm glad your hubby's open to not telling them... that would be quite the strain, since they're right there with you. Of course, they'll probably notice that you're eating differently, lol. How good are you at hiding it? Nanster: **Scratching my head over the salmon.** Of course, I don't like fish, lol, so I'd be happy about the meatballs! Hope everyone's having a great week, American Idol & House tonight, woohooo!!! (I'm terrible about "my shows".)

((( Vines!!! ))) We love you & will miss you bunches. Hurry on back & let us know how the packing is going! And know that no matter how long a break you take, we're here for you & will welcome you back with open arms. We love you!

Some recent bandsters in the Feb thread had issues with milk. You might watch to see if the pain starts after drinking a product with milk in it. My pain seemed to be with gulping air when I drink. I slowed down a lot & changed my mouth-to-glass formation, lol, and it got better. All in all, though, the gas pain was terribly intense for about 2 weeks & just normally intense for another week after that. I'm 5 weeks out now & am still having pain here & there. Congrats on the banding! Welcome to the journey!

Everyone's got great advice... I'm still finding the not drinking with meals an ordeal (I used to drink with every bite). On the exercise, if you've been sedentary, start SLOW!! Our PT had us start with 3 min a day for a week, then 6 min a day -- and so on, increasing it by 3 min every week. She suggested 3 times a week. She said we could do more, but to guarantee we get it in at least 3 times. And start a stretching routine -- over & above the exercise. Flexibility will really help you to do more. I bought a book about stretching & try to do it morning and night every day. Remember to go slowly, don't bounce, and don't over stretch... if it hurts, don't stretch that far! Good luck & congrats on your band date!!

IT'S TUESDAY!!!!!! And about time, too!

I think 5 is "normal", but a lot have 6. It depends on where your organs are inside, I think. I know for Mikey, he said he needed the 6th cut to be sure & get the port in the correct place & in solidly. I think it makes him look more symmetrical, lol.

LOL, I'm so glad people are coming!! Can't wait to meet you all!

Heh, just PhotoShop... I'm a novice, so it takes me hours to do it, lol. :confused:

Mikey's scars:

Finally far enough out that they're looking better (i.e. the bruising is 99.9% gone):

Heh, wonder how the bubble machine is today? :confused: As long as you stick with Protein shakes & NOT Sonic shakes, lol, you should be ok... and it might just work itself out. (I wouldn't have the patience for that, though!) We'll miss you at Jason's! You'd better come next month!

Everyone had great advice for you! If you're still feeling lonely, we have a thread for just us "Feb 2006" bandsters. It's amazing how many of us are feeling the same thing! You're welcome to join us as we struggle along on about the same timeline. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14346

Now THAT's one hubby can have.

Now that's the best news yet!! So glad you can sleep again!! Hopefully the unfill & time to heal will be all you need. I'm glad you got scoped, so you know for sure!