cattoy71

Around May, 2008 my highest weight was around 225 and I'm 5'4. My weight at my pre-op apptointment was 210 (BMI of 37). Tomorrow I am exactly one month post-op (woohooo!) and weigh in at 195.

Hi Mom, Try doing a search on this site for post-op diet (might want to look in the food and nutrition specific thread), but you should really stick to what your surgeon's office says you should eat. Most doctors have all patients do Clear Liquids only, then slowly progress to Protein drinks/shakes followed by creamier Soups and pureed foods, then mushies, then regular foods. Doctors can be pretty specific and like I said, some have people do clear liquids for 2 weeks even before they start on shakes so make sure to get an answer from your own doctor My standards were sugar free crystal light, sugar free Jello and puddings, broth, sugar free popsicles, skinny cow fudge pops, Protein drinks, and instant grits/ instant polenta. You're in the hardest stage right now, because you have no restriction so you are always feeling kinda yucky, tired, and huuuuungry! You can do it, and in a couple weeks, it will feel worth it!

It's great to see so many of us commenting on this thread! Monday is my month anniversary and I couldn't be happier! Continued good luck to everyone.

My bill came to $17k and I was banded almost a month ago close to San Francisco. My surgeon's fees for 5 years was $7500, hospital and anesthesia was $9500. The 5 years covers all fills and doctor visits! You can get deals in Mexico for less then half of that, but then you also need to figure in travel costs and will still have to find a surgery or fill center for your local follow -ups. Just keep in mind that you will have many other co-pays for all of your primary doctor pre-surgery visits along with the necessary psychological evaluation. I ended up paying my surgeon's fees up front and got a great 3.99% APR for the remaining hosptial fees, which comes out to about $400/month for me. Hope this helps.

I'm with Fanny! 11 pounds a week is crazy

Damn, Is it just me, or does everyone look freaking amazing in their pictures!

Omg I had my first sliming incident today....kinda gross, and it hurt my chest like hell! I'm just glad that I know what it feels like and my husband is understanding knowing that it's kinda normal for me to figure out what works now that I'm a bandster.

Jachut, you look amazing!

I did not spend the night, and was released about 6 hours after I was admitted.

Woot! Thanks for the hint, just got back from the store with the dried aprictors...thanks again for your awesome post :thumbup:

I was banded on 10/13/08 and could feel the band in right after surgery due to the swelling. I completely forgot I had surgery after the pain went away about 1 week later. I'm over 3 weeks out and still feel some restriction, but am still able to eat much less then before I was banded. Maybe it's because my doctor mentioned that many patients do not feel very hungry for up to several weeks just following surgery :rolleyes2: I'm scheduled for my first fill on the 24th, but am not even sure if I need it at this point.

Hi Pegs! I bought a belly bandit (post pregnancy compression belt) that came in sooooo handy about 1 week after my surgery. There's something about the binding compression that alleviates the port pain! You can get the same kind of compression from other post-surgical garments and maybe spanx.

Hi Party, It really sucks that you came here looking for support and was basically told that that band is not so great and you should consider taking it out. Not very helpful indeed! I have a few recommendations, but remember I'm a fellow bandster and not a doctor: Call your surgeon and see when they are hosting upcoming support groups. If your particular surgeon doesn't offer support groups, call your nearest bariatric surgery center and check into their support services. You may also have found that there are forums here for complications and ones that offer mentors! If you look over some of the posts and find someone whose posts you really like, you can always try to send them a personal message asking for support...I can't imagine many people would turn you down! Please try to keep in mind that this whole band thing is a process and everyone is going to have different feelings and reactions based on what they've been thro....I think most people have pretty good intentions, but you are right, this is a place for support! Keep your head up and keep us posted as to how you are doing!

Hi Connie! pb = productive burping. It's when you eat too much or too fast and the last bites won't fit in the upper part of the banded stomach. Since it has no where to go, it has to come up. People say it they handle it anywhere from coughing up discreetly into their napkin to having to excuse themselves to the bathroom to more or less throw up. I think sliming is more when you eat too fast and your throat kinda brings up what you tried to swallow but it also brings up alot of mucus and saliva....I heard that this is pretty unique to people who get the band and there is a lot more mucus then you might expect. Granted, I have gotten all the info from my research and I am just 3 weeks post op so I have luckily not experienced this yet :biggrin:

~~~ :biggrin: Omg tapshoes, That is one of the funniest things I have read in a long time.......thanks for making my day!

Great job sailor! Keep upi the good work girl :thumbup:

Hi large chested lovely ladies, My fear is that my very large chest (38dddd/g) is going to go totally south as I continue to lose weight :tongue: I am finally cleared to do most excercise, but will have to wait a little while longer for weight work. What ideas do you have...I already wear minimizer bras everyday, and picked up a few compression garmets hoping that will help keep everything in place for a while :tongue:

Nordstrom has a great bra/lingerie fitting team too Honestly, I'm a little worried about what are going to happen to my 38dddd(g) boobs when I begin to lose more weight....there's no way I want to electively have surgery again!

Hey Lisa, I'm in bay area (san jose, ca), and was just banded 3 weeks ago. My husband and I decided years ago that we didn't want children, and it can feel a little weird when everyone kinda expects you to have them. I'm around if you ever want to chat

No problem Bert! Don't hesitate to contact me if you need help finding your surgeon or help in figuring out what it all means

Omg Bridgette, I totally know what you are talking about the cabin fever!!!!! I felt like I wanted to pull my hair out and run screaming through my condo complex, lol. I have had some difficulty sleeping since my surgery too. My surgeon recommended that once my pain kinda went away, that I only take the pain med at night before I sleep, and that would help me sleep thro the night....it seemed to help, so maybe it will help you too :thumbup:

Gotcha Bert! I used this research tool to help me make my decision: Bariatric Surgeon Profile - John J. Feng, M.D. I also checked with my doctor, and he really made me feel better after saying he has been doing band surgery since 1991....that's a pretty long time! If you need any help with interpreting my surgeon's grid, let me know...you can do a similar search on that site for the surgeon you choose :thumbup: Best,

Congrats to all of October 08 bansters!!!!! Quick update on me.....banded 10/13/08 and I am now down 15 pounds that I will hopefully never have to lose again. How else are the rest of you guys doing on your journey?

Hi sailorgirl, Omg your diet sounded like mine post op: lots of crystal light and / or Water sugar free popsicles (yummy!!) Skinny cow fudge pops gross Bariatric Advantage shakes yogurt Jello pudding and jello cups tea instant chicken soup/ instant grits/ instant polenta I purposefully didn't weigh myself for the first few days I post surgery because I felt so bloated and gassy I thought for sure I couldn't have lost weight.....You're doing great with the program, and please continue on your course and add a little walking or moving around when you feel up to it....you will get there I'm almost 3 weeks out and have lost a total of 15 pounds....some days I look like I gain a few and then I'm back down a little later....we're all so different, but it's a great feeling to know that you CAN lost weight......7 pounds in a week is amazing!!! Btw, I was self pay too.