lovinglife

I had my surgery on the 17th of Dec. 2008. You have sooo much to look forward to!!!! Don't let the little stuff get you down. You have no idea how your life is going to chage!!!! Breeze through the first month and don't get paranoid over every little ache and pain....it will all fade and you won't believe how great life can be!!!

Banded 12/17/08. I am down 45 lbs. Been hanging here for 2 weeks. I walk with Leslie Sansone 3-5 times a week and do Caribbean workout the other days. As I tell everyone. It's not about how I look. It's about how I feel...and I feel fantastic.

frozen chicken breasts in the crock pot with a large bottle of salsa and a bag of frozen veggies..your choice..what ever you like..let them cook on low all day. YUM!

I was banded the 17th of Dec. Had good restriction until just the last week or so. I am still making good choices, but my portions are larger than at first. (still much less than what I normally would eat.) I go for my first fill this Saturday the 31st. I am hoping it helps. I read my surgery report and I have a large Allergan band..capacity 14 ml. Does that mean it holds 14 cc's?? Most everyone on here has a 10cc band. I wonder what the significance is in the different sizes. Do the larger ones not get as small when filled??? Or do they fill down to the same size, just the stomach was larger?? Dr Kirshenbaum never mentioned what size he used and I never thought about it. How often can you go for fills? Did they tell you when you went for the first one? I am going into Chicago and will have to ask how often they will let me come, if I don't feel restriction.

I was banded 12/17 and still have a large lump under my port. It doesn't feel too bad when I am standing, but when I am lying on my back it fills my palm. I have a 14 cc band and maybe the port is larger than the 10cc port that I saw in the DR's office. Other than that, I feel great and the clothes are now getting loose!! Having my first fill the 31st.

I am sorry to be kinda uninformed, but where is the band?? Is it under our ribs? Is that why we get the ache in the left side when we eat too much? I was banded on the 17th of Dec. Stitches all healing nicely. No problems, but inside me...at the port incision, is this large lump. I mean, it fits in the palm of my hand. I am noticing it more as the swelling goes down through out my mid-section. Dr. Kirshenbaum told me my port was going to be near my belly button. At this time, I don't feel anything near it, but my long incision is about 3-4 inches above my belly button. That is where the lump is. Does anyone have this? I can't say it's tender. It feels full and has pressure. Is this the port??

:thumbup:It's because you have lost the weight. That fat kept you warm. I live in the midwest and since I gained all this weight I can go the whole winter without being very cold. I used to visably shake, but no more. All this padding keeps me insulated. I can go outside in 30 degree weather and never button up my coat.It's the only thing I will regret about losing the weight. But, I won't be a hot, sweaty mess in the summer!!!!

:thumbup:Thanks Rods...I think that is the port also, but did you have a big lump under it??? It feels weird. You started at the same weight as I did. I don't have a scale, so I am not sure what I am losing, but I can see it in my face. It's only been just under 3 weeks. Can't wait til I go down that first size!!! One of my biggest goals is to sit cross-legged on the floor comfortably, and get up with no moans and groans. I am just beginning to do light aerobics. Can barely do 20 minutes, but I know I will work up to them. I have done it before, but never at this weight. I am considering walking the mall as it's so cold here, but I am not a morning person at all and I work nights. Maybe on the week-ends.

I was also banded on the 17th. I refuse to have a scale in my home, so I am not sure where I am pound wise, but I feel good. I can tell in my face and my energy level is going up everyday. I nibbled on farmers cheese on Xmas day. That was the only time I had a problem. I am still on liquids and will go to mushies on Wednesday. I really don't have a lot of hunger. I can tell now that I can eat more at a time than I could at first, but I am maintaining. I made egg salad in the food processor...and eat about 1/3 c. of that right now. Drinking my protein shakes is hard. I get in about one a day. It's all a learning experience!!!

I was banded 12/17. 4 days later I began having this type of pain, also. I notice is begins when I eat. I am wondering if it's a nerve thng. It's painful under my left rib...and moves around. Sometimes around the back...sometimes up into my left lung. Once in a while I will get a little twinge on the opposite side, too. Let us know what you find out from the surgeon.

In about 12 hrs it will be a week out for me. I can't even think of eating mashed potatoes. I just graduated to protein shakes and they fill me up unbelievably. I am now off the Vicoden and am pretty sore inside and around the port incision. I go back to work tomorrow. Went out and got some groceries today. I made s/f instant pudding with soy milk...it didn"t thicken up at all...Live and Learn. I am on liquids for another week and a half. I do find I cannot breath in very deeply...and when I do I get pain in my chest and get a side ache that stays with me. I guess I need to do more walking.

I love Fit TV also on cable. You get so many different types of workouts and then can record/buy the ones that you like. I love Caribbean WorkOut Aerobics...used to love to dance so I feel like I am dancing. It's amazing how fast your body picks it up. The first week I could only do a few minutes before resting. By the 3rd week I could do the whole program and go on to Gilad, who was on next and do part of his show. And I am in my early 50's.

Hi y'all! I am December bandster, too! I thought I would do this trip alone, and just wanted to let anyone else know that if they are considering it..it's not a good idea. I never took into consideration how goofy the VICODIN makes you feel. And I rented a car. Luckily, my son and a friend of mine decided to come along. They were a great help and drove the car back to Enterprise. You do need someone with you for 24 hrs just to make sure you take the right meds, etc. You do get kinda goofy. Had my surgery in Colorado with Dr. Kirshenbaum on the 17th of Dec. I was supposed to stay for 2 days after, but I came home early due to the blizzards. Good thing I did...I probably would still be at the airport. Everything went very smoothly with my surgery. The only glitch was the oxygen in my blood was low after surgery. They said it could be due to the altitude. They had oxygen delivered to my hotel the night of the surgery and I used that until I went home the next afternoon. My stitches have bled alittle, but I chalk that up to sliding across the seats on the airplane and getting up at that odd angle. I have been really resting since I have been home so that they heal. Should probably be doing more walking, but we have a foot of snow outside, and there is no way I am walking the mall the week-end before Xmas. I feel great, though,for 4 days out. On a scale of 1 to 10 my pain was never more than a 3..mostly a 2. And I dont have a high threshold for pain. I whined when they put the IV in. Thanks to everyone for their imput...it made the surgery go much easier, as I had a good idea what to expect. I look so foward to being a part of this group, You Losers!!!!!

My Dr. gave me a suppository the night before surgery. I had my surgery on the 17th and have not had to have a BM since I am only on liquids. I woke up last night passing gas, but haven't had pain at all. My stitches are my concern. I flew home the day after the surgery due to the weather and 3 if my entry areas have had a small streak of blood under that plastic tape. I am trying to just do bedrest to help them heal. But, I know that walking makes for a better recovery. Do you think it's better to sit up straight or lie flat on my back for the stitches? If I bent to the right it feels like stinging inside the scar area. And the incision is raised alittle. Any ideas on healing creams, etc? I have a large aloe plant..would that help on surgical healing???

I am being banded on the 17th also!!! I leave for Denver tomorrow morning and surgery Wednesday morning. I will fly home on Friday. I am so excited to start this new part of my life!!!

WOW...I had no idea it was so close. I mapquested it and it looked farther. Are there restaurants, stores, around there?? JMEGIRL..how are you doing so far??

Hikerchik, My surgery is @ 9Am on the 17th. What time is yours? I am staying at the Hampton Inn on East Cottnwood Drive. I am flying home on Friday @ 3:25. What's ur schedule?? Who is coming with you?? My son is coming in Tueday night from LAX to spend the 24 hrs after surgery with me. A friend of mine is flying into Denver with me and staying with her brother. They are both flying back Thursday for work reasons. I am flying home Fri. I am so excited. I can't wait!!!:sad_smile: Are you a hiker now?? Or plan to be in the future?? I would love to hike, but am too heavy right now to hike much. Spent a few days in Sedona, Az a couple of years ago and hiked alittle. It was fantastic.

I am also being banded on 12/17/2008 also with Dr K. They do tons of this type of surgery here, but my insurance doesn't cover it so I did a lot of research and found Dr K. to have the most experience and a price I could afford to self pay. I am soooo excited. Hiker, where are you staying?? I have everything ready except for the hotel.

My friend had a consult yesterday with his PCP regarding Lapband. He is early 30's with a BMI of 39.5%. Has high blood pressure and long history of heart attacks in his family. Many dieing in their 40's. His PCP told him to walk 1 1/2 hrs a day, keep a food diary and that he would treat his high blood pressure with drugs. Said he was too young for the lap band. And this insurance covers this procedure!! -- Now, how does he proceed from here? Can he find a weight loss surgeon and have them file the paperwork with his insurance? Can he bypass his PCP, or does he have to have that referral?? He is in the Ft Walton Beach, Fla area. He is devestated.

My insurance pays for WLS, but I need to find a PCP in the Ft Walton Beach-Pensacola area who will refer me. Any idea??? I guess I could go further if needed.

Hi everyone! I am going to be banded with Dr. K the 17th of Dec. I will be flying in alone and am wondering if there is easy transportation from the Denver airport to the recommended hotels in the Parker area. It looks like it's about 30 miles and I am wondering about the cost. What did you all do?? I have a friend coming in the same night who will stay with me for the first 24 hrs. I don't think we would be doing enough to justify a rental car unless they are very inexpensive and the shuttles are very high. Can anyone give me advice??