skinnyme52

Hi Amy88, I just want to thank you for posting this info. It will help so many of us bandsters that went out of Florida and now don't know where to turn for our fill. This is just wonderful information. Whoever did this research---thank you, thank you. It is definitely appreciated. Sandy

Hi Bug, yep, everything is fine now that I'm eating real food. Never thought the day would come. I even experienced my first stuck food episode. Ate some really dry chicken and didn't chew well enough and guess what? It didn't feel very good. I guess it's going to take some practice eating with the band. I can't imagine what it will be like with the fill. How does anything go down? I am a little nervous. I'll keep you posted on my progress and you do the same okay?

Hello Bug, thanks for thinking of me. I am feeling better. I went to the doctor and he said my lungs were clear, but put me on Levaquin (antibiotic) just in case and gave me some strong cough medicine with codeine. Well, after about 2 days, my cough subsided and I am starting to feel much better. He thinks it was just bronchial irritation from the tube down my throat for anesthesia. I am hungry again and feel like I can eat a lot, but I am limiting myself to 1 cup of food even though I feel like I could eat more. I think the swelling has gone down now and without a fill, I am feeling hungry. I think I will be going for my fill at 4 weeks. I don't feel much different now than before surgery. I have been losing very slowly also. I'll keep you posted. Take care. Sandy

HI Bug, I am going back to Colorado for my first fill and then after that will probably go to the fill center. You said you liked the one in St. Pete and haven't had any problems with them, so maybe I will do the same. Right now I am still having some lung problems. I am very congested in my chest and keep trying to cough up stuff. Of course that hurts the incisions so it's not much fun. I called my surgeon today and all I got was that I should call my PCP to have my lungs checked. One month before my surgery, I had pneumonia, but when the surgeon checked my lungs the day before the surgery he said all was clear. I just hope I am not getting a relapse. I do get hungry now and would like some solid food, but I am only up to mushies right now so I won't push it. I know by 4 weeks I will be dying for a fill because I will be constantly hungry. I will keep you posted on my progress. Right now a am down about 18 pounds so I'm happy. Take care and I'll talk to you soon.

Hi Tigerlili, yeah it really is good to feel back to normal again. I know about the small sips, but I have no restriction so everything goes down just as it did before and I forget and drink fast. I know once I can feel the restriction that it will be the reminder I need to slow down. Old habits are so hard to break and I know it will take a conscious effort on my part. I will probably go back for my fill at 6 weeks. How are you doing? By your ticker it looks like you are doing fabulous. Keep up the good work!!!

HI Bug, Yes, I am feeling much better now. Breathing is normal again and incisions barely hurt anymore. I am down 15 pounds last time I weighed so I am happy with that. My band is the largest. The surgeon said I was in between the largest and the next smallest and he decided to go with the larger one. I haven't felt hungry until today. I think the swelling has gone down because I haven't been hungry until now. I think I will be ready for a fill in 4 weeks. I was hoping to go 6 weeks. Thanks for thinking of me. Talk to ya soon.

Hi Bev, yes it has gotten better already. I too have been eating lots of sf jello and sf ice pops. I was thinking that maybe it was the antibiotics that I was on. I have finished with them now and things are much better in that department. I am down 15 pounds so yes, it definitely speeded things up a little LOL. I am feeling better each day. Incisions barely hurt anymore and breathing is good again. I am getting tired of full liquids though. Today my husband had on all the cooking shows on TV and I guess my swelling has gone down, because I am feeling hungry again for the first time. I'm tired of creamed soups, but will do whatever I have to do to make this thing work. I don't want to screw anything up after having gone through all this. Thanks for thinking of me. Keep in touch.

Hey Bug, I am feeling much better. My port incision is also just slightly above an old gallbladder incision and that is the sorest part of me now. Each day has gotten a little better though. I am down 15 pounds--yippeee!!! Not feeling hungry either, so I'm not rushing back for a fill until I really think I need it. I want to be all healed first. I didn't suffer with gas pains. The day after surgery I went to the Denver zoo and walked all day and the gas came out like crazy and I never had a pain since. I guess what they say about walking really works. I sat down when I was tired and sipped on water. It worked out fine for me. My only problem was the shortness of breath which I think is much better now that I'm back in Florida. The altitude in Colorado is hard to take normally, let alone right after a surgery. I am excited about each day now because I am seeing progress that I would never had expected by dieting in the past. I love that I can eat so little and not be hungry. What an awesome feeling. I really feel that I have been given the tool to lick this thing for good. How are you doing? Hope you are making a steady progress. Well, thanks for thinking of me and I will stay in touch. Take care.

Diane, don't let your sons get to you. Your post hit a nerve with me because I just went through the same thing. I have 2 sons also that are very against lapband surgery. Needless to say, I am 1 week post-op and doing fine. Actually my older son is the one who came with me to Colorado from Florida for the surgery. They do not have the amount of knowledge that we have on this subject, as we have all done tons of research. They have also not gone through all the trials and tribulations that a morbidly obese person goes through on a daily basis. I got comments from them similar to you like I'll be too weak to walk, my hair will be falling out in clumps, I'll be vomitting constantly, won't be able to eat a thing etc etc. I just ignored their comments and did what I needed to do for my own wellbeing. Eventual my older son came around and agreed to accompany me to surgery and he was very supportive once we talked to the surgeon together and he realized my mind was made up. Stick to your guns and let them know how you feel and that you are going to go through with this with or without their support. Of course it will be better with and I am sure they will come around for you. Let me know how it goes. I will be thinking of you. Good luck!!!!

Michelle, I'm glad to hear that you will have support with you in Denver. You really won't feel like driving right away. You can look into the SuperShuttle to take you to the airport. Might be cheaper than renting a car. I wish you luck.

Thanks Tigerlili, I am going to call the doc today. I think it's getting better each day though. Incisions don't hurt as much today and it will be 1 week tomorrow. I am down 13 pounds so that's great. Of course the diarrhea has helped with the weight loss--yuck!! I am going to see if I'm allowed to take liquid Imodium to help with that. Is diarrhea a common reaction after the band?? I am on full liquids now and maybe it was just something I ate yesterday. My surgeon does not fill the band at time of surgery so I am wide open and still can't eat much. I know that is probably just swelling, but it feels good not to be hungry all the time. I can't wait for my first fill, but I want to make sure I am all healed up first so I will probably go back in a month or so. Well, take care and keep in touch.

Hi mdargen, I had my surgery last Thursday and I flew to Colorado from Florida. You are required to have someone with you on your surgery day. You probably won't want to drive for a couple of days because you will be on liquid Vicodin (which really helps). I am one week post-op and the pain is just starting to subside where I don't need the pain meds during the day. I save it for at night because it makes you sleepy. I hope you are not going alone. You really will want someone driving you around for the first couple of days. In Dr. K's packet of info it states that if you don't have someone who can stay with you overnight, he won't do the surgery. I would check on the driving thing though. Maybe you will be different and feel wonderful immediately after. Good luck and let me know how things go.

Hi 50+ gals, I was wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar after their surgery. I am 5 days post-op and experiencing shortness of breath. I had my surgery in Colorado and was sent home on oxygen because my oxygen level would not return to normal in recovery. The next day on my post-op check the surgeon said it was normal and that I could discontinue the O2. I am back in Florida where I live and thought the altitude might have been a problem, but that wasn't it either. I read somewhere that with the post surgery swelling, the band can rub on your diaphragm and cause shortness of breath. Has anyone else heard of this. I just pray with each passing day that it gets better. The incisions are starting to feel a little better, but still sore. How long does it take to feel normal again? I don't have much appetite yet, which is good. I am down 10 pounds now and even liquids fill me up quickly and my band is wide open. Any info that anyone out there has would be appreciated. Take care!!!

Hi Bug, that's great news about the fill. Hope it does the trick for you. I am 5 days post-op and still feeling a little sick. My incisions still hurt and I can't eat much even though it's only liquid. I feel very full right away. I'm down 10 pounds now which is good. How long before you feel normal again? I have been experiencing shortness of breath. I had to go home with oxygen and thought it was the altitude change, but since back in Florida, it hasn't gotten any better. I read somewhere that the swelling causes the lapband to rub against your diaphragm and cause shortness of breath. I don't know if that's the case, but think it might be. I'm sure each day will get better or at least I can hope. Take care and stay in touch. Sandy

Hi Shonda, good luck tomorrow. I am also getting banded in Colorado. Met with my surgeon today and everything is a go. Keep in touch and we can compare notes. Tomorrow will be a new beginning for us. Take care and best wishes.

Thanks Orea, this truly will be a new beginning for us. I just met with my surgeon for my pre-0p and everything is a go for tomorrow. Hope you are doing well. Keep me posted.

Thanks Sue, Just met with the surgeon for my pre-op and surgery is at 1:00 tomorrow 7/31 with Dr. Kirshenbaum in Colorado. I traveled here from Florida, where I live now, but I am a native Long Islander. I wish you much luck also. Keep in touch and we can compare notes.

Good luck from me too, Orea. I am getting banded on the 31st. Please keep me in your thoughts and I will do the same for you. Take care and let us know how it goes for you.

Hi Bev, I'm in Spring Hill so we are neighbors. I am having my surgery this Thursday 7/31. Do you ever regret getting banded? Of course I have the usual concerns, but feel that I am making the right decision. Hey--65 pounds is nothing to sneeze at--congrats!!! We all get impatient and want it off yesterday, but unfortunately for some of us it is a slower process, but don't let that get you down. At least you are not gaining. Is your band adjusted properly? I wish you continued success and good luck.

Hi Uptownmami278, have you considered traveling just a bit. Tally and I are going to a surgeon in Colorado. His name is Dr. Kirshenbaum and he has a very good reputation. He charges $9950. for everything. I am flying up there on Wednesday for surgery on Thursday 7/31. He only takes self pay and is trying to give people the option of not going to Mexico for the surgery. I have researched him thoroughly and he is a very experienced laparascopic surgeon. I even spoke with a nurse who is also a patient of his that works at the hospital where the surgery is performed and she said it is all brand new and very nice. His staff has been wonderful and his dietician is a PHd and very knowledgeable. I am very confident about my decision. The flight down there was very reasonable too if you shop around. If you are interested and want any more info, just ask me. I was all signed up with JourneyLite in Florida, but when I found out my insurance co. wouldn't pay, the $15,800 price tag was out of my reach so I had to look for other options. I did consider Mexico, but my family was dead set against it. I hope you make whatever decision is best for you. Good luck!!!

Tigerlili, thanks for thinking of me. I am 1 week away now and on my 5th day of pre-op. I am down 8 pounds as of this morning--yippee!!! Sorry to hear about your foot. That can really put a cramp in exercising, especially walking. Hope you can resume shortly. I am flying out next Wednesday 7/30 and surgery is Thurday 7/31. Getting excited now and anxious. Just want to get it over with. I will keep you posted on my progress. Good luck with the foot. Take care!!!

Hi Bug57, thanks for the good wishes. Yes, I am now 1 week away from surgery. I am on my 5th day of pre-op diet and already down 8 pounds---yippeee!!!! I am getting excited and looking forward to my trip to Colorado. Hope you had fun in NYC. I am a native N.Yer so I'm sure you had fun in the big apple. I will keep you posted as I get closer to D-day. Stay in touch and take care.

Hi Long2bThin, Good luck with your GB ultrasound. I am an ultrasound tech in Florida and do gallbladders all the time. It is better to know if you have gallstones because then at least you will know what the pain is and not think it's your band. I have also had my gallbladder laparascopically removed and it's no big deal. You feel much better after it's gone if you do have stones. I am on my 3rd day pre-op diet and doing well. Down 6 pounds and surgery is next week 7/31. I am counting the days and getting very excited. Going to Colorado with Dr. Kirshenbaum as my surgeon. I wish you much luck with your gallbladder. Take care.

Hi Tigerlili, I told you not to get upset about your weight loss. You are doing good and things will move again. I know we all want it to come off overnight, but the fact is that it didn't come on overnight. Just try to keep making the right choices and you will be fine. I am on my 3rd day of pre-op diet (Atkins) and have already dropped 5 pounds. I know it is probably mostly water, but hey, I'll take it anyway. My surgery is next Thursday 7/31 and I am counting the days. Very excited. I have started back using my treadmill last night for the first time in many years. It really felt good even though I could only do 20 minutes. I will try to build up my time slowly. Just feels good to be moving again and have a goal. Good luck and keep in touch.

Hi MiamiChick, I also have GreatWest health insurance and I don't want to discourage you or anything, but they are horrible and my policy did not cover any weight lose surgeries. I am a hospital employee living in the Tampa Bay area and I am having my surgery on July 31st---self-paying. I found a really reasonable surgeon there and am just going to borrow the money because I have to have this done. I hope you have a different policy and that they will cover yours. Read your employee benefits book and it will tell you if it is a covered expense. Good luck!!!