annabella

Good luck tomorrow Jewlzmarie. Let us know how it goes. My cat scan results are in and normal. I have to proceed with my scheduled colonoscopy on the 2nd. Your right, nothing will prob show up to explain the pain? It has eased up but its still there. Not sure why people don't get it? If you can't gulp and drink fast you simply can't??!! Iam glad to hear your husband is doing so well. I want this new Dr to update me on my diverticulosis. So Iam done with testing till the 2nd. Keep us posted.

WOW I had no idea the price difference was SO huge. Either way you go do your research. Sounds like your leaning toward the band. I think you'll do great. You sound very ready. And since your self pay that's all the motivation you need to make it work. LOL My banding cost my insurance 20,000! I had to pay 2 grand myself. It was 22,000 total! NOT cheap. Good luck on thursday.

I LOVE my band too. I was banded 6 wks ago. I have 5.5cc's in a 10cc band and at time of surgery I was 223.5 and today Iam at 204! LOVE it. Its work, don't get me wrong but its worth it. Its what I signed up for. I love riding at dusk. My husband whose an avid bike rider put a light on my bike last night. He and I go out when its just getting dark and just ride all around our town. Its so cool. Peaceful, quiet. I love the sounds of night. He bought me a new bike in hopes I would ride with him. It worked. Bella

Hi Peter. I think its neat that you and Pebbles will meet. So ironic. I love irony. A lot of people on here have gone to Mexico. Try to connect with them! I heard its cheaper. I think its a shame that ins. can deny the surgery. Everyone goes to work everyday and pays into their ins. and for what? To be denied? Anyways welcome! Let us know how it goes. Bella

First off congrats on making the decision. Its a big step. Sorry that your self pay. That sucks but just think, it will be the best money you've spent in a long time. I can't give too much insight on gbp b/c Iam banded. I do have 2 friends who had gbp yrs ago and lost their weight and are keeping it off. They struggle now with 10 lbs here and there but overall are maintaining healthy weights. I was banded 6 wks ago and although a huge change its the best thing I've done. Iam 5'6 and weighed 223.5 at time of surgery. I now weigh 204! YAHOO At the time I went to my seminar my mind was made up that I was tired of being over weight. I knew I would give it my all. My dr is a bit aggressive and I got a fill at time of surgery of 4cc's in a 10cc band. At first I didn't know what to think b/c NO ONE on here was filled at time of surgery. NOW Iam loving the fact he is the way he is. I now have 5.5cc's and have great restriction. I do make a conscience effort to eat good foods, no sweets and not a lot of carbs! Those 2 things make me fat. If I do eat carbs like a half of piece of toast with eggs then its whole wheat. I do eat spaghetti but b/c of my restriction its only 3/4 of a cup. I like the fact that the band is adustable vs the gbp is not. Iam dealing with head hunger, but I think all those with weight loss surgery suffer from some form of head hunger. I eat these lil portions and think gosh I can't be full but my stomach is very full. Bandsters who have been banded a while say your brain does catch up to your stomach! I find myself wanting to eat a sugar free pudding although Iam not hungry. I realize its my old habits and I do whatever it takes to not eat unless Iam truly hungry. NOT head hungry. Its been a journey but Iam catching on. What amazed me most is that there was 2 very different hungers in my life. True hunger and head hunger. Iam proud to say Iam winning the battle against my head hunger with my decisions. I choose not to give in to it and Iam finding its getting better. The weight loss is reason enough to keep me going. I love being a size smaller. The band for me is exactly what I needed. Its great to eat a small NORMAL portion and be full. I have never had that before. If you want weight loss surgery to work it will work for you. Let us know how your consult goes on the 21st. The band takes some getting used to. With trial and error you will catch on. I would also assume the band is cheaper than gbp? Some people find they can't eat certain things anymore. I find yogurt makes me sick to my stomach now and roast beef doesn't go down so smooth. Sits in my chest. But I can live with never eating those things again! You may not have any trouble with any foods. Its also fact that men lose weight faster with the lapband vs women! I hope this helps?! Welcome to the sight!!!!! Bella.

thanks for the info Jewlzmarie! Its sounding more and more like my diverticulosis. But it just doesn't make sense b/c of everyone else. How is your husband today? I was told that seeds and nuts can be problem foods. I had my cat scan. The girl said here are 3-12oz glasses of Water with dye. I need you to drink them in 20min. I was like, UMMMM that's not going to happen. I explained my restriction and she said to drink as much as I could. I managed to get 2 of those glasses down in 35 min. Then another nurse told me to drink the last one. I said no I can't. She said a few more swallows. I said no, you don't understand. Iam already on the verge of getting sick. If I throw up I could ruin my whole band. NO! They got the IV hooked up and the tests took about 20 minutes. They said the results should be back within a few days. I will call my gastro on tues to see if he has anything to say? My colonoscopy isn't till the 2nd. I will KIT. YOU keep us informed on your surgery to move your tubing. It will interesting to see if this helps you? Then I guess we'll all know what it is if it helps YOU! Is your surgery this coming wed or the next?

Jewlzmarie, My pain too gets worse with deep breaths, reaching up or stretching, getting up fast etc... I saw my gastro dr today thinking it could be gastro. I have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) brought on by the removal of my gallbladder. I have had IBS for 6 yrs now and have learned to control it and live with it. I found out today through a new dr (my old one moved away to AZ) that I also had a moderate case of Diverticulosis. I was NEVER told I had this disease. Iam upset to say the least. My symptoms seem to fit Diverticulosis when its advanced. He said back 6 yrs ago when I was 31 that I had a colon that looked like someone typical of 60-80 yrs old. The only thing you can do for this is to pack in the Fiber to help control it. This is very disheartening b/c my sisters friend just got her husband home from the hospital due to Diverticulosis. One of his pockets burst and he got so sick he was on a ventalator, lost 85% of his colon, has a colostomy bag, and is very ill. My disease seems to fit the symptoms Iam having but do we all have this disease and we just don't know it? Its said that everyone will have some form of this by the time they reach their 80's. One usually doesn't know they have it until a colonoscopy is done usually for some other reason as in my case. I had rectal bleeding in 2002 and found out I had polyps. They were removed but it was noted then I had this other disease which unfortunately I was never made aware of. Maybe my pain is all due to this? I have a catscan tomorrow and a colonoscopy on Sept 2nd. It makes sense of the disease I have, but it doesn't make sense b/c so many of us have it and we are all banded and now having it?? All I can do is wait and see what the results of each test show. As of right now its still 50/50 that MY left side pain is my band or gastro related. I simply don't know.

I did have symptoms of a hiatal hernia but did not know it at the time. I had my gall bladder removed in 2002 and about 6 months later I went back to say that although the gb was gone I still felt like I was having gb attacks? He said it was probably scar tissue and the only way to undo that was more surgery. I elected to just live with the attacks as they happened so infrequently! I was banded July 2nd, 2008 and was told I had a hiatal hernia and it was repaired. I have not had another "attack" since. Banded 07/02/08 18 lbs lost since day of surgery!

I agree with brown bear. All dr's are different. My dr only does a liquid for 3 days post op! Just follow YOUR dr's advice. You'll be just fine.

Joi, I hope it works for you too. I know my pain isn't gas. Not sure what it is. I still have the left side pain. Its pretty much a constant these days. I will be glad when the cat scan is done. I do hope nothing is wrong and whatever it is thats going on just heals itself and goes away. Most people with the side pain seem to say it does go away?

My dr allows pureed/mushie 4 days post op. All drs are different, just be sure to follow your drs orders about eating.

Fitted! BUT not tight. It always makes you look more slim. Layering is good too to. Never 2 bulky things. Look for layering tees or tanks to go under a nice blouse that you don't button etc... It makes you look thinner.

Hi proudmommy, congrats on your surgery. I can eat a hamburger but not the bun. The bread is simply too heavy and sits in my chest if I eat it. I find pasta very easy to eat but remember its carbs and to eat it in moderation and try to stick with whole wheat pasta's if possible.

Fortunately the meds I have to take daily are tiny!!! But on my periods I rely on pamprin for relief and the capsules are quite large. I have a pill cutter and cut them up into 3 pieces and take it that way. Tastes bad! Some pills you shouldn't cut or break up so always check with your pharmacist to be sure they can be crushed or cut up with no problem. Also ask if any of your meds come in liquid form? Sometimes they do have alternatives.

I know my pain was NOT gas. But Iam glad you found relief!!

My surgeon said that the left sided pain is usually muscle related and will subside but did say I should have told him when it first began. Although he said my symptoms of the intense, radiating pain with slimming did not sound like a muscle. He did say he was stumped. He did an upper GI which showed my band is fine, not slipped at all. He is sending me for a cat scan on friday at 1pm. He wants to rule out injury to my spleen and or pancreas. He says there's always a possibility it was injured during surgery. While in the waiting room I was talking with 2 other women who also had left side pain!!! I will let you know what the cat scan says. I go back on the 18th. The results should be back to him by then. I just hope it doesn't come back in the mean time! He said to call him if and when it happens. Iam down 18lbs in 5 wks! That's a plus. I was going in for a fill next wk but he said no fills till he figures out what's wrong. For all those having it, mention it to your surgeons asap. Let them know.

My side pain took a turn for the worst last night. I went to bed with the left side pain. The pain started to get intense and before I knew what hit me it had radiated all around my abdomen! It was across my abdomen below my chest and all the way around my back. I slimmed like a faucet! (sorry tmi). The pain subsided and the slimming stopped so I went back to bed. 5 min later this whole episode repeated itself only the pain was worst than the first time. I woke my husband up who kept asking me to explain what was going on. I couldn't talk, it hurt to talk. Again it subsided and I went back to bed. I told my husband if it happened again to call an ambulance that I couldn't tolerate another episode. We just laid there waiting.... I woke up this morning and haven't had another episode but the left pain is still here. I called today and Iam going in at 1pm. I will let you know what they say!! Iam scared. I don't want anything to be wrong with my band. THIS SUCKS.

Iam one month post op and feel fine except a pain on my left side. I would describe it as the pain you get when you eat then exercise, or go for a swim. Today the pain got worse. No longer kinda dull, def there and it hurts. I haven't taken pain meds for it as its not constant. Weird how its all on the left side for everyone? I have a fill next mon, Iam going to mention it.

You need to find another dr to take over your care immediately. Don't wait one more minute and don't go back if you can help it at all. You might want to report him as well. Some poor soul might just listen to him? That's so unhealthy. We are meant to EAT. He's def smoking something funny. Run don't walk away.

Awesome tats. Your weight loss is amazing. You look great. Thanks for the inspiration. Iam one month post op. I took my one month pics today and cried when I saw them side by side. Its amazing what 16 lbs looks like GONE. My goal is 135 which left me with 85 to lose total. Iam 16 lbs closer to MY goal. I can't wait to be where your at, 8 months out.

My port is between my chest down about 3-4 inches. I actually HATE where its at. When I take my sunglasses off while shopping etc... and put the arm down my top and bra its digs right where my port is. My bra sits on it when I sit, I hope this goes away with weight loss. LOL AND I too can look down and see the whole outline of the port through my skin. It was easy to get a fill. My port is also stitched in place. I just wish it was a lil further down. Iam one month post op today and had 4cc's at time of surgery in my 10cc band. I had a fill of 1.5cc's and have great restriction. I have lost 16 lbs this month. I will live with my port. LOL

Iam feeling you jlg! I just took my one month pics today and cried at the side by sides. I was banded July 2nd and the difference in how I look made me cry. I lost 16 lbs and wow what a difference. My husband and I just starred at the pics in amazement in just ONE month. I can't wait till next month!! I have 5.5 cc's in a 10 cc band. Janice, my BMI was 34? Not sure if that's how low you were thinking? Iam averaging 4lbs a wk. Iam exactly one month out and have lost 16 lbs. LOVING IT. Best decision I've made in a long time. Iam in MI so can't say that I know Dr. Paya. My goal is to lose 85 lbs total, that will put me at 135 lbs. You can drink a glass of wine, just remember its empty calories but if that's your splurge here and there go for it. We go out to eat every friday with friends to a local Coney Island. Yesterday I ordered grilled fish with tartar sauce and rice. I got 3 pieces of grilled fish (no breading) and ate 2 pieces of fish (approx 3-4 oz) and a quarter of the rice. I eat and chew chew chew so much that I do find I get done about the same time as everyone else. I also take a bite and put my fork down. No one else does that so that takes up time too. I did tell some people but my family has NO idea about the surgery. When I say "my family" I mean my mom, sisters etc... My husband and kids know of course. I simply chose not to tell those I KNEW would be negative. Hope this helps. Annabella

I too was told no jewelry, makeup or polish or surgery would be re scheduled! I also found out that I couldn't wear my tampon b/c it has carbon fibers in it which could disrupt the cauterizer used on my incisions. I just had to lay on a pad! LOL

You will be out before they put the tube in and you will be asleep when its taken out. You will wake up with a somewhat sore and very dry throat. I personally was SO nauseous when I woke up that I couldn't even suck ice chips to get rid of the dryness. It was not a great feeling but it subsided by that evening and I was drinking juice. I went about 8 hrs with horrid cotton mouth and nausea beyond belief (I get that way with anethesia) but it was nothing I couldn't tolerate. Try not to be so scared. Congrats on your surgery date. Keep us posted!!!!!!

What exactly are you feeling guilty about? If your feeling guilty b/c you have NO problem foods, DON'T. I haven't found a problem food except yogurt. It seems to give me an upset stomach. Other than that I can eat it all. Just this morning I had 2 scrambled eggs. For lunch I have made up chicken salad. I pulled apart a roasted chicken that you buy at the grocery store and added low fat mayo (hate the fat free), onions, very finely chopped celery, sliced almonds, and cranberries. I will put that in a lettuce leaf and eat it like a sandwich. For dinner I usually make a meat and a side or two. Yesterday I had white chicken meat, green beans and about a teaspoon of mashed potatos. By the time I get to the carb Iam pretty full and can't eat much of it. I do try to avoid a lot of carbs b/c they add weight quick to my body. I don't avoid them, just eat them last and keep it super light in portion. With my new fill Iam staying pretty full in between meals. I do still drink my protein drinks as well. I will usually do those in between a meal. I make 4 oz ones in my blender and its a perfect snack. I don't eat sweets anymore. I eat sugar free pudding, jello with fat free whipped topping etc... Your 3 wks out and have lost 15 lbs? That's great! Sounds like your doing exactly what you should. Do you have any fill yet?