CilBoogie

26 here... Go Samurai!

Hi All, I was banded Sept 4th and I'm feeling great! I'm back on solid foods (yay!) and it's all going pretty well. Nothing stuck yet. (fingers crossed) I have noticed I have my appetite back and I seem to be able to eat normally and don't over eat but I'm still loosing. I get my first fill in a couple of weeks. Good luck to all.

Hi Samauris! It's been awhile. I'm feeling great since my surgery on the 4th and down 21 pounds! Nayray- I'm so sorry to hear about what has been going on with you. I'm glad you've got another date though. a2bachik I totally know what you mean -- I've totally got my appetite back. I'm still on mushies for another week. My first fill isn't for another month because I'll be out of town. One thing I'm totally glad about is that my Bariatric group requires psych visits. It's really helping me deal with all the changes and taking care of the real problem that got me where I am. You can lose the weight, but if you don't change your priorities to take care of yourself it'll come right back. Food is like anesthesia to me and when I tried to reduce I had discomfort (pain) so eventually because I didn't take care of the pain correctly I reached for more anesthesia.... Vicious cycle. So I'm going to take care of this pain instead of just escaping from it! Knowing that I can go through this with all of you who understand what this is like really helps. Good luck to everyone on their journey!

I was banded on Sept 4.Well this week I went back to work and found myself still a little tired by the end of the day. I've been walking a lot as we have a pretty large building and also my bf's sister gave us a total gym. I tried some exercises yesterday. We had a health fair today at work and I did a BMI screening which said I was at 36 already! I think I'll wait to weigh again until the next time I go to the dr.

That was definitely the worst part for me... the gas. My mom is a nurse and I stayed at her house for my week off. She was like a drill sargeant and forced me to get up and walk around the house (marching to get my abdominal muscles used to moving again)even when I really didn't want to get up. I had gas-x but the taste of it made me gag and dry heave so I had do stop with those. I had a BM after 5 days. That was even troubling to me because I usually am very regular at 2x a day. My mom assured me that this is normal but it was her "treatment goal" that I have one before I left her care. I couldn't imagine going 2 weeks without one and how uncomfortable it would be. I know for some of my liquids I had some really diluted, fresh squeezed apple juice and I'm sure the Fiber from that helped. I definitely think it was the marching and getting your system working again that helped me. Good luck!

Well I'm all the way in Orange County, but my group was great! They are located in Newport Beach and are called the N.E.W Program. Their whole practice (including not only surgeons, but internists and dietitians) are dedicated ONLY to bariatrics. They had great statistics on laprascopic to open conversion and I liked their whole approach to the subject. I think their website is The N.E.W. Program Southern California - Gastric bypass, Lap-Band, Weight loss, Adolescent Obesity. Tell your cousin good luck!

Had a bit of a lupus flare last night, my face got all red. I am feeling more muscle aches today but I think if I can get a little more sleep I should be fine. They warned me this may happen, so I wasn't surprised. Yesterday the hospital called to check on me and said that I sounded cheery - and I was until my lupus kicked in. Otherwise I'm fine and trying to get up and about. I'm really excited because my boyfriend is coming over to walk me over to the park! Can't wait - but I'm going to take a nap beforehand. How are all the other people who have already been banded so far doing?

I met my boyfriend at work. But i think getting involved in study groups can help you meet people. Or get involved in causes you believe in so you can meet men with similar interests.

just got banded yesterday. has not been bad so far -- a little sore. Haven't slept all day and for some reason I can't sleep right now. I think I am having a lupus flare though. My face is red and swollen. Hopefully if I get some sleep it will calm down a little.

I have really little sized feet (being only 4'11" that would make sense) and I usually wear a 6 1/2W or 7W. When I was thinner, I actually fit into a 5 1/2. I bought a pair of gladiator sandals that didn't fit and I was pretty disappointed, but I kept them anyway because I got banded yesterday and I know one day they will fit! (If that day comes and they aren't in style, I can just wait until it comes around again!) I'm sure eventually your feet will shrink and you'll be wearing anything you desire! Good luck.

haha... I'm only on BF 1.33. I think I'll wait to install husband 1.0 until they have a few service packs out.

Congrats Christi! I had mine yesterday as well and it went great. I was home the same day. Can't wait to hear about your experience. :tongue2:

I am more sore than yesterday on the port side... They gave me that "tummy teddy" bear and I've found it really helps when I get up or cough or practice my deep breathing. I also keep him around when I walk around the house in case I need to sit down along the way. A stiff-rolled up blanket will work too -- just press it toward you to use your arms and legs to get up instead of your stomach muscles. Hope this helps anyone out there in the same boat. Although I bet by now the original poster is out there doing marathons!

I had my banding done yesterday at it has gone quite well! My boyfriend and I spent the night at my parent's house the night before since it was closer to the hospital and we had to pick up my mom. sleeping in separate rooms was sad, but I didn't want to disrespect my parent house (even though I live with my bf only my mom knows). Conservative I know. Anyway I woke up at 4:30 because my dad goes to work early and he decided to go into work at 5 so he could make up some time and leave to meet us at the hospital. Took a shower, made my boyfriend some Breakfast of scrambled eggs and oatmeal. We were in the car about 6:15 for our 7 am checkin and 9am surgery. When we got there everyone was very nice. My mom was a nurse for years at another hospital, so of course she was eyeing their work like a hawk. She even asked one of the nurses to check my IV because the saline looked like it was running really slow. That nurse was a real b**** about it and snapped at her -- I'm glad she wasn't my nurse and the only mean one the whole day. Even the volunteen came to check on me and rubbed my feet! I had a fan club in the pre-surgery holding room and I liked it. :tongue2: I went into the real holding room where my family couldn't go and me the anesthesiologist, Dr. Patel. She was really great and friendly. Then my doctors came in to talk to me. I was really greatful to them for putting this program together. Even though the psych stuff wasn't covered by my insurance, I think it was really worth it because I felt like gold the whole morning - my nerves were at a minimim. My doctors ONLY do gastric surgery and very very rarely have to convert to anything open. The last thing I remember is talking to them. I don't even rememeber getting into the OR. Next thing I know someone is calling my name and I was struggling to keep myself awake. I remember realizing I was in recovery and that I wasn't in pain but I felt really tired -- I saw the clock said about 10:45. Another flash and I was in my own room because my mom and boyfriend walked in. They said they were going to have lunch while I slept. Right after I woke up again and walked to the bathroom-- my family came back from lunch. My nurse was the best. She told me she was considering having ht procedure done as well. I told her - definitely go with the N.E.W. program they have been great. Basically by 1:30 we started the discharge process. A representative at the hospital - the Bariatric Surgery coordinator came in with some paperwork and a tummy teddy to help me use when I get up and out of bed and if I needed to cough or do some breathing exercises. At 2, my boyfriend brought around the car and I slept the whole way home. I feel fine so far, just some soreness at the surgery site. I had some broth and my mom made some home made apple juice dilute in her fancy blender. (Not too fond of it, it was kind of sour.) I woke up at 3:30 to go to the bathroom, and was in a little more sore than yesterday (just like when you go to the gym) but I probably will go back to bed soon since I just took my tylenol w/codine. Have a good night. I'll update later on in the day! Congrats to all the September Samurai! I'm glad to join your ranks!

I think it just depends on what they see on your pre-surgery ultrasound. With mine they said I have a fatty liver. I was only 200 lbs then and lost 8 lbs with the liver shrinking diet. Then again that's alot for me as I am under 5 ft. tall. I also some people say "it's only so the surgery is easier for the dr. so they can lift your liver" and that the diet isn't really necessary. That doesn't sit well with me because I think that if thry have you there on an operating table wouldn't you want them to make it as easy for them as possible? The more complicated it gets the riskier the surgery. The more complicated - the longer you're on that table. The longer you are on that table, the thougher the recovery. So it all comes back to affecting you! Thats just my opinion. If they were concerned that the 2 weeks would not be enough, they would alsk for longer. As long as you follow the diet they way they say, you should be able to use the fat from your liver durning the, to put it mildly-controlled starvation. Good luck!

I just got banded today and I will return to work on the 15th. I checked my email when I got my hands on my blackberry. I'm thinking of disconnecting my work emails from it for now. (So I don't get any distraction from healing. Darn crackberry!

Hi all... Just got banded this morning. I have to say the whole experience was not bad. I have very minor pain mostly related to gas, but I have been walking around a bit more as the anesthesia has been wearing off. I'm so hungry though being only on clear liquids-- can't wait to have a shake tomorrow~ (Who thought I would ever say that?) Well maybe it's time to sleep more. I hope tomorrow is just as good.

I'm so excited to be getting my band on Thursday Sept 4th. It will be done at South Coast Medical Center in Laguna Beach,CA by Dr. Quebbeman and Dr. Braverman at the N.E.W. Program. I have been really pleased with how well everything is going so far. Everyone at the center has been great. At first, I wasn't sure of my chances since I have systemic Lupus, but my Rheumy cleared me for surgery. Amazingly my insurance is paying for 90% of the surgery! Some people I've told say "but you don't look that big..." I am 4' 11" and weighed about 200 lbs at the start of my journey. I guess I just don't look that heavy, but I definitely feel it when I walk and try to do regular activities I used to do. A few years back, I was pretty in shape and considering becoming a certified Pilates instructor. Now, I barely remember what it's like to be that flexible. :smile: My boyfriend is amazingly supportive and is excited to go out and do all these activities with me (as if I'm suddenly going to be Ms. Fitness America and actually like the outdoors even if I never did when I was skinnier and in shape). Anyway, I've loved browsing around and reading about your experiences so I figured I'd stop lurking and tell you all about me.

Sept 4th! I am so excited and releived that the pre-op diet wasn't too bad. The group that's doing my surgery is awesome and runs like a well oiled machine.