disneynut

Hi everyone. I had my first post op meeting with my doctor since my surgery on 4/6/06 (he does 4 weeks between surgery and first meeting) and I'm down 21 pounds and my BMI dropped 5 places! I will get my first fill on June 6th. He asked me if I was ready yesterday and I said no, still not getting extremely hungry but on one day. I did tell him that I don't think I'm eating enough. I'm just usually not hungry much during the day. I'm really making a concentrated effort to eat though. Isn't that ironic - not eating enough?!?!? My friends have noticed especially in my face that I've lost weight and I noticed that my shirts/blouses fit great. I'm an pear so I noticed the reduction in my stomach right away. Also, even though I've got a loooong way to my final goal, my confidence is really high. I know it's because of the weight loss itself, but also knowing that I finally have the help that I need to get where I want to be and I will not fail this time. I am not a quitter and this won't be the first time that I quit - no way!!!! Hope to hear more updates from our April group as to how things are changing for you all already.

Avi - I had my surgery at 2:30 in the afternoon and was in no condition to leave the hospital that night. I'm glad I stayed overnight. I guess it all depends on what time of day you have your surgery. Good luck to you.

2006 Honda CRV. I love my car. Unfortunately, I will be paying for it for a looooonnnng time.

Lastly, here is my big boy Winston. He's an American Eskimo Dog.

Here are Zoe, Chip, Lilly and Maggie (all papillons). I think I'm addicted to them.

Here's one of mine. I hope this works but this is my baby Gracie Lou. She is a 6 month old (tomorrow) papillon. I have 5 others which I will try to get their pictures together. I just love my babies!!!

Hi everyone. I go for my first post op visit with my dr on May 2nd. I had my surgery on 4/6 so I guess I'll find out then when I will get my first fill. All has been going pretty well here on my end. I am in the final days of mushies and Saturday move to regular foods. I did notice when I went from liquids to mushies I had a lot of cramping. I guess it was a shock to the system to go from 2 weeks of liquids to real food again. Today was the first day since the surgery that I have been really really hungry. I'll have to be careful until I get my fill. I've come to far to back track now. Hope everyone is doing well.

Congratulations! I remember being very tired and sleeping a lot for the first few days. It didn't take a lot to wear me out. It does hurt a lot to get up and down. Luckily, my mom stayed with me and helped me off the couch. Using a pillow to get up worked for me along with a heating pad. It will be better - everyday better than the last. Keep us posted.

Good luck to you Rosa. For me it seemed like the day would never get here and then bam I was at the hospital. You'll do great!!!

Congratulations Kat. Glad you are home. You'll feel better in no time as it gets better each day. Take care of yourself, rest up, drink lots of water, walk around, the hardest part is over now:notagree . Keep us up to date on your progress.:clap2:

Best of luck Susan. Hope you have a quick recovery. Let us know how you are doing after it's all said and done.

Wow, that was fast! Congratulations on your journey.

Pastries of any kind are my downfall.

Yoda I know exactly how you feel because I too am a stomach and side sleeper and it was terrible sleeping on my back. I woke up and was stiff and sore by being in one position all night. I had to lay on my back for over a week before I could sleep on my side. I too felt my port area stretching and it was uncomfortable. Just yesterday at 16 days out was I comfortable enough to sleep on my stomach. I know some people have no problems much earlier though.

I was allowed to shower the morning after surgery. Just let the soapy water run down over your belly and don't scrub. That's what they told me to do and the strips stayed on for over a week with almost daily showering.

Hope, My dr. did not require a preop liquid diet or a diet of any kind and I have/had a high BMI. He just told me not to go crazy and gain 10 lbs. before the surgery. After the surgery on 4/6, I had no trouble with sticking to a liquid diet at all until the last night of the diet prior to starting mushies. I don't think I could have taken one more day of protein shakes or creamed soups!

Congratulations to all our April bandsters. Hope you are all recuperating nicely. It is amazing how every day is better than the day before in the healing process, isn't it? I am 15 days post op and feel terrific. I still get tired in the late afternoons and today I started mushies - yippee!!! I don't think I could handle multiple protein drinks for another day. Tonight I had some baked beans which I ate with my baby spoon and chewed very well. They went down great but I made sure I took my dear sweet time. I am a slow eater anyway so it isn't a problem eating slowly for me. I also got some thin sliced deli ham which I ate in very small pieces and chewed thoroughly. I hope once I get a fill that I am chewing enough. I don't like the sound of those PB's!!! We've only got a few days left in this month and a very few pre-bandsters left. I sure hope that for those who haven't gotten their bands yet can tell by each of our experiences that it really wasn't so bad and yes you can do this. We are all here for you and know that you will do great!!! Good luck to all and keep us posted on your experiences and recoveries!!!!!

Hi everyone. I was just wondering if it would be appropriate to send a thank you note to my insurance company's coordinator (the one who sent me the approval letter)? I was approved for lap band and actually had the surgery on 4/6. I have already lost 20 lbs. since then and since I feel like a new woman and a whole new future has opened up for me if a sincere thank you note would be something I feel I should do or if the insurance companies even care. What do you think?

Thanks everyone for responding. I will go ahead and write that thank you note. I think it is a good idea for them to hear that I have had such a positive outcome so far that they know they have helped someone who really needed it and it is appreciated. Maybe (for just one brief second) they will think about that when they are reviewing someone else's request for this surgery.

Fiona your day is finally right here. It seems like a long time has passed since you started this thread and it's here for you! I had my banding on 4/6 and feel absolutely terrific - like the old me but different, I know that sounds kinda weird. Best of luck to you on your day because I know you'll do great! Can't wait to hear from you that all is well. :gluck: :eek:

Yes, if you catch a cold they will have to reschedule your surgery date. I was scared to death 2 weeks prior to my date that I was going to catch a cold. I have never washed my hands so much in those two weeks. I brought in to work a container of the disinfectant wipes and I made sure that before I touched the phone, photocopier, fax machine, etc. that I wiped them down first and then afterward washed my hands again. I even washed my hands after washing my hands in the ladies room just to be sure. Good luck that you don't catch anything!

Good luck to you. You'll do just fine. It is not as horrible as you imagine. See you on the other side!:gluck:

Hi everyone. I'm 3 days post op and am feeling more like myself today. I actually got out and went to my moms for a change of scenery. Even though it was tough getting in and out of the car, it was nice to leave the couch for just a little while. Tonight I am bound and determined that I am sleeping in my own bed. Went for a nice walk down the street and was really tired when I got back but it felt nice to get some air. I weighed myself at moms and was so surprised to see that I have lost 17 pounds!!!! I was sure her scale was incorrect but she says she checks herself after she comes back from her doctor's appointments and that it is correct. WOW!!! I am starting to get hungry but have been sticking very well to the protein shakes, clear broth, popsicle diet. Can't wait to get to the next stage and beyond. Once again, everyone coming up for their surgery dates, you'll do just fine. I truly am surprised that it was worse in my head than reality and I have never had major surgery before.

Hi everyone. I had my surgery on Thursday, April 6th in the late afternoon. Up to that time, I was so nervous and scared and couldn't think of much else but when Thursday came, I was very calm. No fear at that point because I knew it would go well and it did. I remember just being really hot and nauseus for a while but they gave me an ice pack and my mom and sister were there with cool towels until it passed. I left the hospital yesterday around 4:30 PM. I'm really sore but not unbearably so. Just took some liquid Tylenol because I don't like taking medication unless it's absolutely necessary. The pain is so much less than I thought it was going to be and have absolutely no gas pain at all. I just keep the heating pad on my stomach and it does help a great deal. I'm sleeping on the couch because I can get into bed, but have a hard time getting out. My mom is staying for a few days and has been a major help. I'm not hungry at all but I do make sure that I am getting my protein drinks, soup, even hot chocolate that they gave me at the hospital when I left. I need to take in more water though. I'm sure glad it is over but as I said it was no where near as bad and as scary as I thought it would be. Good luck to the rest of our April group!!! You'll do great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad to hear you are feeling much better. My turn is tomorrow afternoon at 2:30. Have to be at the hospital at 1:00 PM and I am a nervous wreck. I know that once I get to the hospital I will be fine. The anticipation is killing me!! I don't know if I will be released tomorrow evening or have to stay overnight though. Are you glad you went home that evening or would you have preferred to stay overnight?