toozwego

Julie Ann, Congrats on your Band Day! I hope you are feeling good. Cassy, Good luck with your first fill tomorrow!

Hello Kansas, I am also a Kansas girl. My surgeon required a high Protein diet before surgery to reduce the size of the liver because the liver has to be retracted during surgery to place the band. There is limited room to do this because of your ribs and they want the liver as small as possible. This was how it was explained to me. In regards to telling others, it was my personal choice to tell a limited number of people. What is important is what is comfortable for you. Good luck on your journey!

Cassy, I was leaving right after the fill for home and erred too much on the side of caution. It seems to be a fine line. I have been hungry, weight loss slow and not feeling restriction. I will get another fill and hopefully will not have to travel to Denver for another fill for a while. The weather is not always the best in the winter for travelling on I-70 from Kansas, plus the cost of gas and hotel. Thank you for the recommendation on the books. I will check them out. In regards to your co-workers, you only have to share your progress with the ones that are supportive. "I don't know" always works with the nosy ones. As you said, this is your mission not hers. Personally, I have only told a select few who have been very supportive. My weight issues began in my thirties. I know the difference of how people treat you when you are small and when you are overweight. You somehow become invisible to some people and the subject of ridicule for others. Taking this step with the lap band has given me a excitement knowing I am doing something for me so I can enjoy alot of things in life instead of sitting on the sidelines. :smile:

Good luck with your fill! I hope you get how it should feel better than I did. I will be there the day before for a second fill. We both will have restriction and not want any Halloween candy!:wink2:

A bump on the incision? I was sore for almost five weeks but no bump. Please remember everyone heals differently. If you have concerns, call Dr. K's office.

My port is the center. After 5 weeks, no more tenderness.

I felt that way for 2-1/2 weeks. Then my hunger returned.

I was nervous but it went well. I called Natalie the day before because I did not know if I needed to have a fill on an empty stomach. She advised to not have anything to eat 4 hours prior. Since I was still sore around the port site, I was tender when Dr. K pushed in to find the port. He said I shouldn't have that at the next fill. He is very good and found the port quickly with the sonagram, then with the needle! The needle did not hurt and I did not look. It was strange to have to sit up with the needle with saline still inserted to drink Water. Since it was my first fill, I had a hard time 'feeling" the water hitting the band. I have saw on other threads that some patients bring in their own ice water for fills to help. I am going to try that next time. The cold water may help me feel the water. He got up to 4.4 cc but ended up backing up to 3.8 cc total fill. (I didn't know it but my band already had 1.7 cc from surgery). He erred on the side of caution because I was travelling 5-1/2 hours home on Friday and couldn't come right back if I needed an unfill. I hope your hunger is better. How much are you able to each per meal? 1 cup or less? I am still working on the eating slower. It is real hard to make 1/2-3/4 cup of food last 30 minutes. :crying:

I am still sore around the port incision. I can sleep on my side now but not all night. I felt I really turned the corner to feeling good after about 2-1/2 weeks. I did not experience hunger until then either. I can eat 3/4-1 cup of food. This is my first fill. Dr. K's office scheduled it one month out from my surgery. My weight loss slowed to 1-1/2 last week. It my understanding the proper fill would reduce my food intake per meal to 1/2-3/4 cup of food or the size of my fist. One of the hardest part has been to eat slowly. I eat too fast and the food seems to "sit" on my chest and makes me uncomfortable. Glad to talk to both of you and congratulations on your new journey!

I was happy to find another Dr. K thread. Tomorrow is my 1 month bandversity. Travelling to Denver for a fill tonight and first fill tomorrow. I am a little nervous but anxious to proceed to the next step in this journey. I hope everyone is doing well!

I have an office job and went back to work after a week. I should have taken two weeks off. It was too soon for me. I was fine for about four hours and the rest of the day was long! It actually was more difficult to sit too long. Try to get up at least every hour and walk. It was 2-1/2 weeks before I felt somewhat "normal".

I am also from Kansas and researched the options in the state that ranged from 17,000-23,000. I am also self pay. I was banded on 10-Sept-08 in Denver by Dr. Kirshenbaum for 9950. You will also have to figure hotel costs and travel costs if you chose to go out of state. There is still a big difference even with the additional expenses. Do you want to travel to Denver for your fills? This was my choice. After my initial fills, I will have to consider the cost of travel and hotel vs the out of pocket the fills will cost me in Kansas if I can find a doctor to do the fills. Do your research. It needs to be a choice you are comfortable with.

Sorry, still can't get that ticker right.:lovechoc:

Hello, everyone. This is my first post so I hope I get it right. I have been reading and researching for many months. I will be banded in 5 days by Dr. K. and am finally over a case of the nerves and am very excited! You didnt' know it but your posts have helped me with many questions, Thanks!