KathrynAG

Hi, great info you gave us. I had my first fill a week ago, 12/23 and it didn't hurt. Didn't feel much of a restriction, ate regularly on Xmas Eve and Xmas Day, just small portions. Then as I was driving home on Sunday, (5 hour Drive), stopped midway for coffee and made a horrible food choice at a fast food place and had a horrible rest of my drive home. Felt awful. Same thing happened on Monday, eating something (Good food choice this time) and and sliming still occurred. I didn't realize that it took few days for adjustment to take effect. That was a question I had, too. Good to know. So I'm back to liquids and pureed foods, and things seem to be going better. I'm down six more pounds since fill. Thanks for info.

Hi Sue, my name is Kathy and I live in Sacramento, CA. I had my band surgery on election day, 11/4/08. I'm 52 and I, too, think about it notworking for me and failing once again. I think that's entirely natural. I've lost 15 pounds since surgery and I'm a little disappointed, yet I haven't really followed my dietary suggestions all that well. (Xmas and all). I think you're having you're surgery at a good time to start with the new year. Don't be afraid of the surgery. Now, I know every doctor is different, but it really was not bad. I was anxious, but not overly so. I checked in about 10:30 a.m., talked to docs, went into surgery about 12, and I was home by 2:30. I live about 30 minutes from hospital. I've never had children, still have my tonsils, appendix, gall bladder,so I really don't have any pain to compare it to. But it didn't hurt. I can't say I was inpain. It was muscle soreness, especially at port site. That's the biggest incision they make. It's like you did a thousand sit ups, that kind of muscle pain. They gave me liquid tylenol as needed. Only time I got nauseous was when I took full dose of medicine. That was the last time I took it. I did fine with tylenol from then on. I was off work from Tuesday (surgery day) and went back to work on Monday. Depends on what you do for a living, as to when you go back to work. I was glad I was off the four days I was. I too only knew one person who had had the surgery. She was a much better resource for me than your friend sounds like. I'm sure everybody's experience is somewhat different, but that's been mine. Surgery is nothing to be afraid of, and I consider myself a real wuss. I had my first fill on 12/23/08, and that too, wasnot bad. It made for a real challenge, whatwith allof the Xmas food around. But I'mback to Sac tomorrow, (I'mvisiting family in Northern California), and back to work on Monday. And I'm determined to get back into it. Good luck with your surgery. Don't be scared. You'll do fine. So sorry to hear your son was KIA in Iraq. I can't begin to imagine what you and your family are going through. I'm sure you're very proud of him. Again, sorry for your loss. Kathy

Hi Sue, my name is Kathy and I live in Sacramento, CA. I had my band surgery on election day, 11/4/08. I'm 52 and I, too, think about it notworking for me and failing once again. I think that's entirely natural. I've lost 15 pounds since surgery and I'm a little disappointed, yet I haven't really followed my dietary suggestions all that well. (Xmas and all). I think you're having you're surgery at a good time to start with the new year. Don't be afraid of the surgery. Now, I know every doctor is different, but it really was not bad. I was anxious, but not overly so. I checked in about 10:30 a.m., talked to docs, went into surgery about 12, and I was home by 2:30. I live about 30 minutes from hospital. I've never had children, still have my tonsils, appendix, gall bladder,so I really don't have any pain to compare it to. But it didn't hurt. I can't say I was inpain. It was muscle soreness, especially at port site. That's the biggest incision they make. It's like you did a thousand sit ups, that kind of muscle pain. They gave me liquid tylenol as needed. Only time I got nauseous was when I took full dose of medicine. That was the last time I took it. I did fine with tylenol from then on. I was off work from Tuesday (surgery day) and went back to work on Monday. Depends on what you do for a living, as to when you go back to work. I was glad I was off the four days I was. I too only knew one person who had had the surgery. She was a much better resource for me than your friend sounds like. I'm sure everybody's experience is somewhat different, but that's been mine. Surgery is nothing to be afraid of, and I consider myself a real wuss. I had my first fill on 12/23/08, and that too, wasnot bad. It made for a real challenge, whatwith allof the Xmas food around. But I'mback to Sac tomorrow, (I'mvisiting family in Northern California), and back to work on Monday. And I'm determined to get back into it. Good luck with your surgery. Don't be scared. You'll do fine. So sorry to hear your son was KIA in Iraq. I can't begin to imagine what you and your family are going through. I'm sure you're very proud of him. Again, sorry for your loss. Kathy

My first fill is Tuesday, and I'm not nervous at all. Maybe I should be, but surgery went so well, that I'm not worried. I'm more concerned that after my fill, 9:30 a.m., I'm driving 5 hours to family's house for Xmas. So I'm just concerned I'll be okay for the drive. Doc says I should be fine. Just a little local tenderness at port site. Also sad that I'm not gonna be able to eat crab Christmas Eve and prime rib on Christmas Day. But it's not like I've ever indulged before, so I'm okay with whatever the fill brings. Keep me updated everyone!! Merry Christmas.

I've been drinking Worldwide Pure Protein Shakes, 35 grams protein, 2 carbs, 160 calories. They're a little expensive around 2.25 or more depending on quantity you buy and where you buy them. GNC has them as does Trader Joes, or so I'm told. I like to sip on one in the a.m. at work, so I know I'm getting a good start on my protein for the day. They come in lots of flavors. They're more expensive than the dry proteins you can mix, which are good, too, but you can't beat these for convenience or if you're running late, just grab one and go. Hope that helps.

So glad to see two other ladies from CA. I'm from Sacramento and I was banded 11/4. My experiences are similar to yours, but I've only lost about 10 pounds. I'm not scheduled for a fill till 1/16!!! I'm gonna try and get in earlier. I'm sure I need one. Doc said tp visualize an egg and that s/b all I'll be able to eat. Wrong. I can eat a lot more than an egg. But I'm eating healthier, 3 meals a day, two snacks. Scrambled egg whites, and a little salsa is tasting great!!! Also for snacks, I've been buying the individual fruit cups, no sugar, also tastes great cold. Let's see, also fudgcicles, (Sp) only 40 calories and a treat. Somebody asked if you can feel port. If I press in at the port site about an inch, you can feel the hardness of the port. Not uncomfortable. Surgery experience was not nearly as bad a I was reading about on line. I guess some people like to share horror stories. I was feeling discomfort due to abdominal soreness, but I won't even call it pain. More of muscle soreness. Take care. KathrynAG

Hi, this is my first post, so I hope I do it right. I've been monitoring this site for a while. I was banded on Election Day, 11/4. After reading some of the horror stories on line, I was a little apprehensive. I'm happy to say everything went incredibly well. Surgery was a breeze. I checked into hospital at 10:30 a.m., was released at 2:30. As far as discomfort, /I don't want to say I was in pain, cause I really wasn't. It's more like serious abdominal soreness, like you've done 1000 sit ups. I did take pain meds once and it made me sick, so didn't take it again. I was fine without. I was on liquid diet first week post op, then my doc said I could go to a regular diet, but small bites, chew slowly, (that's a biggie for me), small meals. I'm a little concerned about how much I can eat. It's not at all like I thought. I definitely can eat more than the size of an egg. I'm trying to stick to 3 small meals a day and snacks. Anyway, I'm two weeks post surgery and my weight loss is sorta stuck at 10 pounds. I stopped weighing myself everyday, cause I fluctuate too much. Anyway, I think I already need an adjustment? What do you all think? Now that I've read this over, I can't believe I'm disappointed in a10 pound weight loss in two weeks. Still, I wonder if I'm doing all right. And yes, I would like a band buddy. I hope to hear from someone soon. K.