AnnenOrange

I was banded yesterday. Things are going great. I had to be at the hospital 6 am and was in surgery by 730. I was knocked out before I even made it to the operating room. The anestesia doctor and my doctor came and talked to me before surgery. They had to repair a hiatal hernia I had (No one knew I had it until then, but my reflux should go away now) and then banded me. I was up walking by 3 pm. I was even told I didn't get a gold star for "running", so I guess I was going to fast for them and slowed down. I walked around the floor three time every 1 and 1/2 hour even through the night. I seemed to wake up every 1 1/2 hours and got up went to the rest room and then went for my walk. My pain pump is still in. I should be removing it tommorow evening and haven't had any other pain medicine since 1130 am. They gave me that because I had a 1 1/2 hour ride home and live in a very rural area. It seems things have gone really well. I a wondering if the other foot is going to drop. I did weight when I got home and my weight is up 7 pounds from Monday evening. I usually take fluid pills and haven't had one since Sunday and will start them back tomorrow so I think that will take care of that problem. The doctor is keeping me out of work until my 2 week follow-up even though I work in an office, but everyone knows I will do what it takes to get things done so they took care of that problem by keeping me out of work to heal properly. My boss even agreed that the way my work ethics are I should stay out because he wants me to heal properly and he knows I would overdo it making up the work that piled up this week. He said he would have bows on my stacks of work for me when I return :confused: My incisions should heal quite well. I do not have stitches or staples, he glued them. As soon as I take the pump out, I can shower. This surgery has been a breeze so far. (Knock on wood) I wish everyone could have the same experience with the surgery I have so far. I will post an update as things go on.

It seems as though we are having about the same experience. Congratulations to you as well and please keep me posted. You are right WE ARE THE WOMEN. I was feeling a little guilty that others are having the other issues and I have had such a good experience so far. Anne

I don't know if this helped me or not but since I have had to have colonoscopies in the past and that Dr. advised to lay on your left side and the air and gas would go away quicker, so I used that theory with this surgery as well. You may want to try and see if it helps. I am glad you are feeling pretty good after surgery as well. Please keep me posted.

At this point I am planning on going back to work on October 8th if all goes well at my follow up appt on the 7th. My boss called checking on me today. He is a very caring and very much a family man, which alot of people would not expect since he is a retired marine. (My husband is a retired sailor, so we have alot of fun with comments to each other on that topic) He will be a mother hen over me when I return. Of course he was teasing me today letting me know that all my work is piling up in my office since no one fills in for me while I am gone. He did say he would put bows on the stacks of work for me when I return. He was teasing me, but it is the truth that it will all be waiting on me when I return. Of course I have received the calls, where is so and so and I tell them the 2nd drawer in the file cabinet in the middle of the drawer. I even had fax cover sheets printed out for reports that get sent out every Monday. Anything that could be done ahead of time I had waiting for them with post it stickies explaining it all. Boy I spoil them, but they are great to me as well. I am glad you will have plenty of time to recouperate. That will make a big difference and one less stress you will have to worry about.

Yes, the only place I can tell at this point is where my port site is also, but it is nothing as long as I just hold it when I am getting up and down. I hope your recovery goes well for you as well. I took a shower this morning and boy did that feel great. My doctor used glue instead of stitches or staples so I was able to shower very quickly. I am not sure if that is the norm or not. How are you feeling now that it has been a few hours since you said you were getting a little stiff. Yesterday was my husbands birthday and he went out of town to a friends house planning on being back last night but decided with the weather he would stay and told me he would have a friend come to stay with me. I insisted I needed some time to myself and did not want anyone to "babysit" me. To be honest, it felt great to have a little me time. Please keep me posted on your progress.

Oh I forgot, my nutritionist has me drinking from a 1 oz cup and said to drink 1 oz. every 5 minutes so you do not get too much at one time, but are constantly hydrating yourself. Maybe that would be something you could try.

I hope your recovery gets easier for you and sorry for your side effects. I had my surgery on Tuesday so we are only one day apart but I have been very lucky. Like I said before, I hope it gets easier for you and you lose all the weight you are expecting to.

Thanks for the info. I know things are going to probably change and the pain or something will probably come sometime. I am taking it easy except for walking around the house per my doctors instructions. I have also taken off the first two weeks from work because I knew I would over do things there. Myself, doctor and boss all agreed I needed to take off the 2 weeks for recovery time and not overdo things so I could recover. My boss will also make sure I do not overdo things at work when I return. I must say that I work at a correctional facility as an Administrative Assistant for the Asst. Superintendent and Chief of Security. They are both very observive and will lay down the grounds rules so I am sure there will not be a problem there when I do return. Few people at work know I had this done but the ones who needed to know know about it and are very supportive and will watch me carefully. They will not even let me come back to work until I get a return to work with what my limited duties will be. I am very lucky my husband is supportive at home and my work is very supportive also. I am not going to over do so I do not mess anything up. My doctors instructions were walk, walk, walk, and oh walk some more so that is what I am doing. I have not had to take the pain drugs yet, but have them for if and/or when the other foot drops. I am just counting my lucky stars for now and wish everyone could have as good an experience as myself so far and had as good a support system. I kind of feel guilty.

I just got the realize band yesterday and have had very little pain. I feel great. I decided on the realize band because I had read that the port seemed to be more accessable and easier to fill. I of course had not had that experience but was just going on what I had read. Good luck to you.

I was called Friday morning by my surgeons office and told that my preop testing showed an abnormal EKG. It showed mild QT-T wave prolongation with minimal nonspecific ST- T Wave abnormality. Whatever that is, I have to be seen by a cardiologist on Monday and be cleared before I can have surgery on Tuesday. Has anyone else had this issue or know what the EKG meant? Went to cardiologist today and he okayed me for surgery tomorrow 9-23. Yeah. Just received a call from surgeons office and I have to be at hospital at 6 am. It is finally happening! Getting banded tomorrow.

The update is that the cardiologist said everything is fine and I am scheduled to be at the hospital tomorrow 9-23 at 6 am to be banded. I am so excited it if finally happening.

That is what I am hoping for. Thanks for your input.

Thanks and I will post an update.

Yes you do understand having glitches thrown into things. I hope you do not miss any others classes which will make you go over the wire and not pass that portion. I am glad that things worked out for you. I work for the state and am the Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent and Chief of Security at a Juvenile Correctional Facility. I worked all kinds of extra hours (which I didn't log) so I could leave out and leave the office in a good a shape as possible. I know I will come back to a mess and didn't want twice the mess by leaving things undone when I left. The guys were already stressing as to what they were going to do without me there. I think it will be a good reality check for them. haha

Thanks for the words of encouragement. It is just so nerve racking to have come this far and be so close and possibly have a wrench thrown in things. Plus, my doctors fit me in for the surgery to be done before October 1 since I have Tricare and have met my castastrophic cap for the year and will not have to pay anything if it is done by October 1. My husband is out of work. If it is done after October 1, I can't afford it at this time.

Good Luck to you all. If I get the clearance from the cardiologist tomorrow, my surgery will be on Tuesday the 23rd. You will all be fine and I am excited for all.

I received my insurance approval yesterday and found out today that my surgery is scheduled for 9/23. Wow only 11 days. Anyone else from Virginia who used Dr. Schroder? He is in with my surgeon from when I had breast cancer (7/2000)and I love him so I figured I would keep it all in the "family". They make you feel that comfortable. I am 43 years old and have alot of family medical problems that I can see coming my way so I am going to try and head as many off at the pass as possible.

Thank you so much for your encouragement. I will keep you posted. Congratulations on your weight loss. How are you doing now?

I am so happy for you. I am sure it is going to be the best thing for me too.

My doctors office has been working very hard with me to try and do my surgery before October 1 since I have already met my insurance catatrophic cap for the year and the new year begins October 1. If I get my surgery before then, I will not have to pay anything and since my husband was laid off, that would help alot. They told me that they saved a date out for me but would not tell me when until the approval. Well, I was approved late today and the person at the Dr. office I need to talk to was already gone, but the insurance company called to tell me I was approved for 9/25 at St. Mary's Hospital. So I guess my surgery is 2 weeks from today. My Dr. office is calling me first thing in the morning to let me know when and give me all the information I need. I am so excited. I already started the liver shrinking diet this morning in case the approval went through. I met with the Dr. Office on July 29th and received approval from the insurance on Sept. 11. That was extremely fast from what I hear. Wish me luck. Tomorrow will tell me alot. I am ready to start a new journey in the rest of my life.