barbara9460

I had a pill called EMEND that I took the night before my surgery. It's normally given to Chemo patients to kill the nausea. I also told the anethesialogist that I'm very sensitive to the drugs normally used. They gave me preop meds (versed) and something else for the surgery. I was very groggy when they wheeled me back to my room, but no nausea at all. NONE! That's a first for me!:thumbdown: To beat the grogginess, as soon as you can, with help, walk, walk, walk. It will make the grogginess pass very quickly. I made 1 circuit around the floor and was 100% better. I'm sorry that this comes so late but I just saw your post. I hope it helps you and anybody else who is pre-band. Congrats and welcome to BandLand! Barbara:thumbup:

"I did go today to Sonic and bought some of their ice (thanks HarleyNana). It is very easy to chew and a lot easier to take in then trying to sip. I like my Water very cold and the sipping thing doesn't really work because it gets warm to fast." Wow... two days post-op and you think you have blood in your urine??? CALL YOUR DOC RIGHT AWAY! I was banded on 5/9 and was told that very cold stuff like ice and ice pops will cause pain because it makes the band feel tighter. I get chest pains when I eat ice. Frankly, it's been said in many places that we should be drinking room temp liquids - ice cold is not good for the system. That's not band info, that's just health info. hope this helps! Feel better soon, but do call your doc! Unless your surgery was very involved or was an open procedure, they shouldn't have needed a catheter. Barbara

Hi! I was banded on 5/9 and I have similar weird sensations in the middle of my chest. For me it happened a lot in the first couple of days, but now only when I've had too much to drink. I'm on Clear liquids for the first 10 days, then full liquids for 3 weeks. I have this pain more and it's sharper if I'm eating cold sugar-free popcicles or drinking cold Water. Gas-X is a must for me, though much of the gas pain is not intestinal, but abdominal. That means that the body must absorb it slowly, not just "letting it rip." I wish it was that easy. Although, I must warn you... :w00t: if you're diabetic and have not had fruit juices in some time, they will give you the runs. So be careful if you do "let it rip" because accidents happen and can be horriffic! :thumbdown: Hang in there and do the walking. I don't particularly find that it helps me either, but it does help to keep us limber and prepare us for when we're allowed to exercise. Best of Luck! Barbara

You're right about the gas... I just had my surgery on Friday 5/9 and returned on Tuesday. Walk, walk, walk and walk some more and take Gas-X strips or chewables. Be careful not to swallow air when you drink. I had only tylenol once in the hospital for pain and liquid ibuprofen at home, but that was for my back pain. The surgery is EASY! The gas - not so much. Also watch out for diarreaha if your doc has you on clear liquids... the sugar free stuff can induce "montezuma's revenge" if you're not careful!

CALL YOUR DOCTOR - my post op from the hospital said that if you gain more than 5lbs in a week to get right back to the doc. It could be a sign of a problem. Let us know how you're doing and what the doc said. good luck

I was banded on 5/9. Finally, finally able to say WAS banded instead of will be banded! I don't have much pain really, just loads of gas that is really uncomfortable! Gas-X helps lots. I couldn't find the strips, so I'm using the chewables. I didn't get any pain meds in the hospital because I can't take codeine, so I got plain tylenol. Did nothing for the pain I did have. ONe of the bigger problems I have is that the highest incision is right in the bra line - it's not comfortable at ALL! I can really see that each doc is different because mine is asking for 2 wks Clear liquids, then 2 or 3 full liquids and then mushies. It was hard yesterday to watch my family enjoying food while I sipped my broth! I'm hungry, but not hungry! I can't explain that either! It's hard to tell when I'm "full" or just gassy... ugh! I'm trying hard to get in the 96 oz of liquids they'd like me to do, but it's hard to do. I'm just so glad to finally have my band!!!!!! And I have to update my ticker, because I've lost 20 lbs now! :biggrin:

After the band is placed you'll be swollen. The tissue inside has never been restricted before and so it's quite a shock-to-the-system to suddenly be chinched in! Follow the post op instructions!!! This is also to prevent band slippage. Stomach B (the bottom part below the band is pulled up and stitched to Stomach A above the band to help hold it in place. This too must heal. You'll be fine! I know I will be - my date with the surgeon is May 9th! Yippee!!!!! Can't wait!

As much as I hate to say it, it's not your insurance that has an exclusion, it's your company! Each company dictates what it wants covered and what it doesn't. I hope you find the answer and that you succeed in your journey. Barbara

Okay, I guess I didn't have my weight listed... frankly, I started at 330 and am down to 311.3. Hope this all helps! Barbara

Hi CelticDreamer! In my opinion, the Lap Band is the way to go. As you can see from my ticker below, I started at nearly the weight you are now. I also am scheduled for surgery on May 9th. Are you doing a liquid preop diet right now? Some docs don't use it, but mine swears by it because it makes surgery easier and safer. I've lost 18.3 lbs on this liquid (5 Optifast shakes a day plus sugar free Jello and popcicles, broth and crystal lite) since April 24th. As for how much weight we have to lose, well I recently met a fellow that weighed well over 400 lbs and he's down to around 220 or so right now. He still has some to go, but he's lost more than you and I have to lose. What you might be suffering from is called Head Hunger. That's the voices that say you might not be successful and you'll still be hungry and are full of self-doubt. The bypass, in my experience with friends, is NOT a good option. If you think about it, virtually every star on tv that has had bypass has gained the weight back or at least a good portion of it. Who? Try Al Roker, that singer chick (her name escapes me right now), the afro-american woman who plays a nurse on ER, Randy Jackson (Am. Idol) etc. You'll have to take pills - lots of pills - for the rest of your life to maintain health, because it's your intestines that absorb the Vitamins from the food you eat. With bypass they BYPASS the major portion of your intestines. Call your doctors office and get some professional advice. After all, you've come this far and are 1 week away. YOU CAN DO THIS! It's all up to you. I wish you the best of luck with your journey. If you'd like, I'd be pleased to hear from you again - we're band-mates if you still get your surgery on 5/9 like me! Here's to your health and happiness! Barbara :thumbup:

Hi Joe. I'm having my surgery done on May 9th - 1 week from today! :thumbup: I'll be a Pasco Regional with Dr. Krishnaraj. I'm really excited. So how's it going for you so far? That's pretty cute what your little girl said! :thumbup: What pre-op diet were you on? I'm on Optifast and have lost 18.3 lbs so far. I'm really excited by that, but I'm so hungry sometimes! Oh well... the things we suffer to become healthy... :wub: I look forward to hearing about your journey! Best of luck! Barbara

I drink nearly a pot of coffee each morning. I'm allowed to have my 5 Optifast drinks a day plus unlimited broth, sugarfree Jello and popcicles and crystal lite drinks. In addition, I can have coffee or tea. They want us to have it black, but I'm using non-fat half-n-half. 2 tablespoons are 15 cals, so I'm only using 1 tblspn per cup - total cals per day of coffee is 30 or less. The docs are okay with that! What's your preop diet consist of? Barbara

Try getting some unflavored Protein (Welcome to the unjury Homepage) and mixing it with Jello or pudding. They even have a chicken Soup flavor. Best of luck! Barbara

OMG! Are you kidding with this question? Most of us are carboholics - or carb junkies. That's one way we got into this situation. My head is spinning with all the things I might not be able to eat after I get my band (5/9 yeah!). I just have to take responsibility for what I put into my mouth. I keep telling myself that it's stay away from them or die. And really, that's what it comes down to. You can do this. I plan on finding an OA group - when I find one that doesn't ostrasize me :mad: for getting a band. I've been to OA before and they can be really vicious in some circles. One even told me that eating any carbs was breaking my food plan - even though I am a diabetic and MUST have some to balance the meds. Just hang in and let the demons go. :smile2: Best of Luck, Barbara

I'm scheduled for May 9th in Dade City, FL. I'm really tired of the pre-op diet, but I take it one day at a time. Anybody else May 9th? It seems like such a long time away still. :blushing: I'm ready to move on to the next stage of this journey! Best of luck to all the other Marvelous May Mavens! Barbara

It's up to you - if you get upset by reading the boards, that's up to you. If you use the boards for information and sources for possible questions, then that's up to you too. What you're going through is completely normal. Really - perfectly normal. I get banded 5/9 and I go thru periods of self-doubt too. Each time ask yourself why you're doing it. Barbara

I think that many of us will pray for a good outcome for you. One thing I know about these is that the surgery isn't terribly risky. My dad had a pituitary tumor also, but his grew so slowly that he passed from the lung problems before the tumor could damage his vision. The one thing that we heard was that the tumor is accessed through the sinus - through your nose. They basically just go up the nose and through to the pituitary and take out the tumor. I hope this helps. I know that your news really sucks, but know that we're all pulling for you to have the best outcome. Barbara

Ed, if you're getting tested again in a month, then you will need to cut out all sugar and carbs to get it down that fast. Are you on diabetic meds? If so, then monitor your glucose several times a day. You might even resort to drinking Protein shakes or Meal Replacement shakes and sticking with liquids. That way your BS will come down and you'll lose weight before surgery which is EXTREMELY advisable. If you're liver is really fatty, they will close you right back up again with no band. Best of luck!:biggrin: Barbara

Does anyone know how to get the ticker on my acct.? I've tried everything and it keeps coming up invalid. Any ideas? I really want one. Thanks, Barbara

Hi Melissa. I've had friends do the same to me over the years that I've been researching this. In fact a friend said the same thing to me that your friend said to you... funny tho, because now she's about 80 lbs overweight. She's been very vocal about it over the years and called me lazy, etc. The thing is, Mel, only you walk in your shoes. No other person has the same experiences that you've had. Personally, this choice is the best I've ever made - and I don't get banded until 5/9 - because it means that I finally decided that living was more important than dying. Do your research, read all the posts - good and bad - and decide for yourself... do you want to be healthy or not? One thing is certain... this is NOT a quick fix. Your friend doesn't have her facts straight. I hope all goes well for you, no matter what you decide to do. Barbara

Hi. My pre-op diet is for two weeks, Optifast - 5 a day. That's 800 calories. I can also have broth and sugar free Jello, popcicles and crystal lite. I'm drinking tons of Water and crystal lite. Some days I'm okay with the broth and jello (meaning a small amt.) and some days I'm off the charts. I'm on day 5 and have lost approx. 11 pounds so far. I'm really excited about that! Can't wait for my surgery on 5/9. Keep up the good work! Barbara

I'm on a two week liquid Optifast diet pre-op. There are medical reasons for this... first and foremost is that this diet will shrink my liver and spleen so that it's easier for the doc to access everything during surgery. Also, I've recently been told that a fatty liver is much more fragile. That's one reason that many docs require a pre-op diet. Another reason is to see if you really can stick to a new way of eating. If you cheat during the two weeks, it's less likely that you'll be able to make the changes needed. Other docs require that the patient lose from 1 to 2 percent of their weight prior - same reasons listed above. If I were in you're shoes, I'd run right out and get some sort of Meal Replacement drinks and stick to them. Optifast allows 5 drinks a day - actually, that's requires 5 drink a day. You could also do bullion and sugar free Jello. Today is day 5 and I've already lost 10 lbs!!! Best of luck to you! See you in Band-land! :wink2: Barbara

Mavy, please don't worry so much. I have my surgery coming up on 5/9 and I've had some of the same thoughts. BUT-- I refuse to let food and hunger rule my life anymore. I'm on a two week pre-op diet of optifast drinks. I can have some broth and some sugarfree jello, and believe me, it's hard when I think about all the things I could be eating. At the end of my first day of no food, I came home to find my son had left a huge box of Whoppers candy (I love 'em!) right next to my chair - and was gone for the evening. Right now, after nearly 5 days of optifast (yuck!) I still wouldn't eat those Whoppers, because as I said above - I REFUSE TO LET HUNGER AND FOOD RULE ME! Think again about why you're having the surgery. Be sure that this is what you want, because if you can't make the changes necessary, you'll have medical issues. But, if you still believe that you'd rather be unhealthy and fat, by all means, don't have the surgery. The staff at your doc's office are probably all banded - they are at mine - so that's why they are all slimmer. You will look that way someday too. Do this for your health - not to become slim, and you'll find yourself checking into the hospital on your band-date. Best of luck. Barbara :wink2:

Get in to some support groups as soon as possible! Remember - it's up to you - if the girls at work are upsetting you, it's you who allowed them to upset you. YOU CAN DO THIS. I haven't even got my band yet - I'm on the Optifast (day two) and am starving, but I'm changing my habits. I know that you can do it. LB is slow and healthy compared to other stuff. If diet pills worked, none of us would be fat. You have to get rid of the junk - make it harder to eat poorly. Try moving everything in your kitchen - when you change the cabinets and pantry you have to WORK to find where you put it. FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION for me, is it for you? Remember what you went through to get the band in the first place? Keep up the good work. From what I can see you're right on track with everything at 1 to 2 lbs a week. shake the blues, girlfriend! By the way, we have the same doc. I'll get my surgery 5/9 with Dr. Krish. I live in Clearwater. You can email me if you want - I'll support you gladly, because I'm expecting you to support me too! Best, Best , Best of Luck! Barbara :thumbup:

I did some research on the sleeve too... It's basically something my mom had 30 years ago... they used to call it stomach stapleing. This much I can tell you... you will be able to "out-eat" the sleeve very easily. All that's happening is that they're cutting out the excess to give you a smaller stomach. If you aren't very careful, you will regain the weight. Sorry for the not-so-great news.:rolleyes2: Barbara