Scarlet Vixen

I had my first fill June 24 with 2 cc placed in a 10 cc band. My fill was exactly the same, sitting up with a huge needle sticking out of my stomach. Freakin' weird! There was absolutely no pain at all (and I have a very low tolerance for pain). My doctor said to come back in a month if I haven't lost 6 pounds in that time. I'm calling tomorrow for that appointment already and see if I can get in sooner! I can still eat like a lumberjack! I felt the water restriction during my fill in the office but not so much after. I know it may take a few more fills to get it right but I've had no weight loss since surgery. Sadly I've actually gained a few. I won't give up. My time will get here....just wish it was sooner than later!

I was banded 2 weeks ago and have been eating "regular" food for a time, although not as much. I don't get my first fill for another week so the only restriction I have is the band itself. I weigh as much as I did (if not more) when I went in for surgery. I'm not as sore as I was but I feel a lot of "internal twitching". Anybody know what that's about?

Hello all! Just checking in! I am now 1 week post-op and here is my banding story.... I got to the surgery center at 800am. All of my paperwork had been completed at pre-registration so all I had to do was wait. The nurse finally came for me and took my vitals and I changed into my gown, booties and cap. I must have been more stressed than I thought because my blood pressure was up and I don't have blood pressure issues. A nurse started my IV and I remember looking at the clock when they wheeled my gurney into the OR, it was 930am. The anesthesiologist put a shot into my IV bag he called "tequila". Still not sure what it was. I got onto the OR table and he told me to take 3 deep breaths when he put this mask on my face. I only remember taking 2 breaths. Next time I opened my eyes I was in the recovery room and that clock said 11:30 am. I guess you could say I wasn't in a lot of pain but a lot of discomfort. The nurse gave me several rounds of Morphine before I could relax completely. My blood pressure had gone up again during surgery so they kept me a bit longer in recovery for observation. After my blood pressure came down I did the barium swallow to check for placement. Everything checked Ok and I left the surgery center at 330pm. I stayed up for a while in a recliner when I got home and took my pain and anti-nausea meds. The day after was worse, pain wise, but tolerable with narcotics and alternating with over the counter pain meds. It felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach. Getting out of bed was the worst since you use your stomach muscles to pull yourself up with. I didn't have much of an appetite for the first several days. I never did have any of the dreaded gas pain I'd heard of. It all seems to "pass" on through. Now after a week I'm back at work at what you could consider a desk job. It's still hard to stand up straight. It feels like something is pulling when I try. The only pain I really have are some sharp pains at various times around the port incision site. I don't go in for a fill for 2 more weeks and without that restriction it's not been easy to stay on the liquid/mushy foods. But overall, the experience was not nearly as bad as I had imagined. I know I have a long way to go with this journey but it hasn't been a bad start.

In 5 hours I will on the way to the hospital for my surgery! So nervous and I keep thinking "What am I doing?" I just need everyone's well wishes and support and will check back when I can. Here goes everything....

So many emotions right now, the night before surgery. I'm more nervous than anything. I go in at 8am and only planning on day surgery. I just need everyone's well wishes and support and will check back in when I can. No internet at home so I may have to crawl my way to the public library to give you an update! Oh dear God please let this be the right decision for my family and me.

I'm scared too. More scared than excited. My surgery is this Wednesday morning. I'm a single parent and I'm all my kids really have. I don't have any co-morbidity problems, yet. Is this going to be worth it? I pray that it is. My anxiety level is mounting and I just don't feel like I'm in this 100%. I desperately need support and well wishes. I'm not sure what I've gotten myself into. I'm almost to the point where I'm about to write letters to the kids just in case something goes bad. I'm soooo over-reacting, I know. I think I need my sedation now.....

Centrum Chewables (Walmart) are really OK.

I'm only a few days in on my 10 day pre-op diet and I'm here to tell you I'm about to eat my left arm off! I can have high protein (low carb) shakes that equal 40-50 grams of protein a day. I'm allowed non caloric drinks like coffee, tea, obviously water, no sugar added juice, sugar-free jello, broth, but nothing solid (like my left arm). I know it's to get my liver and stomach ready but it's a real test of will power which I guess is something I'll need after banding. I just hope my arm grows back...........

May 21st here! Hello all! My name is Sarah and I live in Texas and will be banded by Dr. Mosier at Denton Presby. Let's hear it for the May Flowers who are blooming to be new people in our old bodies!!

I just received my surgery date of May 21st! I requested a week off from work and my supervisor said no, it was a bad time and I needed to change the date. He said if I had complications it could run into other's vacation time. I had confided in him earlier in the year about my surgery decision so he's aware of what's involved. My insurance does not cover so I'm self-pay. He must think of this surgery as "elective". Anyone else have trouble taking off work? :scared2:

I only told my supervisor because he's married to a woman "of size" and thought he would be understanding. Guess not.