Devana

Hi Aeropink, congratulations on taking the step to consider getting a band. One of the ways that I justified the cost was that I'd rather pay for this now than have my family pay for an early funeral for me, because I know I would have died an early death otherwise. Continue to peruse this forum and read about all the amazing and positive changes that losing weight has made in peoples' lives. I'll give up a lot and drive a beater for the next few years for those changes. All the best with your decision. Devana

Yikes fiveholts, you sure have more than your share of stuff going on in your life. Do you have any good girlfriends in town that you can get to help you?

I'm still feeling pretty private about all this. I told 3 people. My husband first said "that seems pretty desperate". I said yeah! He was totally supportive, though, once I explained it all. My son said "but I want you to still look like a mom". My friend Jane said "I'm coming with you to get it done too". I know that I will feel a lot more comfortable sharing it with others as time goes on. I really didn't want to deal with any negativity, nor did I feel like explaining and justifying it to anyone. Devana

I had quite severe shoulder pain for a whole week after surgery. It was not gas and I had chiropractic adjustments to my neck and thoracic area, so that was clear. It could only pain referred from the stomach. The same way a heart attack can present with shoulder pain, other structures close by can give the same referred pain pattern. I know people who have esophogeal spasms that get the same kind of pain. To my thinking, those of us who have this could likely get the same kind of pain when we irritate the band or pouch in any way whether by a fill or eating something irritating. I've yet to have a fill so I'm not sure how that's going to go, however I did get the pain yesterday when I had a really icy drink. Devana

Thank you all for your good wishes. Everything did go very well. I've been back at work for a few days now and every time I get offered something to eat or a coffee or anything like that I just say that I'm on a liver cleanse. I was a lot more tired and sore than my friend Jane, however she's 10 years younger than me and has a significantly lower BMI. We will be taking out each others stitches at the end of this week. My elixir/ambrosia is Knudsen's Very Veggie juice. I have it cold or mixed with chicken broth and heated. I'll be able to sustain this liquid diet if I can have that. Devana

Good luck today housecatgirl. May it all go smoothly. And you, socialgal and all the rest of tomorrow's banders (including me and my friend Jane). May all go well. We're in TJ with a different Dr. than you socialgal and probably a different hotel, too so I doubt we'll cross paths.

Ok, so I've done my candida busting, my liver cleanse and I haven't had the courage to do a gall bladder cleanse. I had my last Ice-cap and tim bit a few weeks ago. The cupboards and freezer are stocked with post op liquids. My friend Jane and I have our tickets and my bag is almost packed. I have a long day at work tomorrow then we're on our way 3:30 am Thursday morning. When I've been scared Jane has been positive and excited and vice versa, so we're balancing each other out. Right now we're both pretty excited. I forgot to add that I've also had a pedicure!

Way to go Josephine. You're an inspiration!

Randi, did I read that right - the study says 14% of the patients who had the surgery earlier than a year after weight loss DIED???

Leila what a beautiful picture. If being overweight didn't have so many negative health issues I'd say you were perfect the way you are. Welcome to the newcomers to the June list. All the best to all of you getting banded this week. Devana

Hi there Brenda (ragergirl). I'm also going to Mexico for my surgery. I phoned Dr Amson's office and they told me that if I get a referral from my family dr that he will do my fills. BTW, welcome to LBT.

Sorry to hear about this Amy. I know your health is of primary importance. Just hang in there, use the band and get it all done at once.

Congratulations all of you. It's good that it sounds like you're all doing well.

Six were banded today. I hope you all fared well. Good luck to you and your sweetie tomorrow beekeeper. This time next week I'll be done. Yikes.

Beyond the Sea - Bobby Darin At Last - Etta James Time Out of Mind - Steely Dan

Another good natural sleep product is tryptophan. It's an amino acid (building block of protein) and found in milk and turkey among other things. So the old "hot milk before bed" thing and falling asleep after Christmas dinner has some basis. The tryptophan itself doesn't make you sleep, your body uses it to make serotonin. I use it for jet lag and it's amazing. My husband has sleep problems and alternates between melatonin, tryptophan and liquid coral calcium. We buy it here under it's chemical name 5HTP in healthfood stores and pharmacies. People with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia usually have quite low tryptophan levels and often get some symptom relief as well as better sleep with supplementation.

Wow Sherri, I'm sorry you're going through this. A couple of things - you said that nothing like this has happened in years, so I'm assuming that he is not usually verbally abusive toward you, also you said that you know it's not about the money. There are quite a few reasons for your husband to feel scared or threatened. Travelling to another country for surgery, the future of you being more attractive and maybe not wanting him anymore, man, all sorts of stuff. Some guys just don't know how to express their true feelings. That does not excuse his verbal abuse. Maybe expressing your feelings to him (eg you hurt me, I really need your support) will encourage him to do the same, and like you think, I'll bet it has nothing to do with money.

Good luck tomorrow, Terry.

Chako, I also want to add good luck on Thurs. Positive thoughts to you that all goes well and you have a speedy recovery. My friend Jane and I will be heading down a week after.

Chako, I'm just following the sage advice that "the best me" (Kathy) has posted about aloe vera juice. Do a search and find the related posts. I have always kept a plant around for burns, and I know 2 people who were recovering from viral meningitis who craved the juice and gulped down bottle after bottle for several weeks. It seems their bodies craved it. The first friend discovered it by accident, and I told the second one about it and she found it to be the same. So, a natural product that I've taken for granted and underestimated. Anyway, as Kathy has posted, it's supposed to be wonderful in aiding the healing of the stomach after the band is placed.

I was just wondering about NSAIDS and erosion when I found this thread. It makes sense to me that they wouldn't be good for a banster. I'm not at all comfortable with taking tylenol, so I'm wondering if enteric coated asprin would be a good choice. I don't know much about enteric coatings, does anybody know where in the digestive tract the meds are released? Could I even get a pill like that down once I'm banded?

Socialgal, 12 days???? I'm really not ready. I mean I am emotionally, but certainly not otherwise. I've been so busy with the last day of school and music recitals and all sorts of other mom stuff that I haven't given much thought to the nuts and bolts, like getting the money together and buying stuff.(aloe vera juice, gas- x etc.) At least Jane and I have our plane tickets.

Wishing you a fast and gentle recovery.

Anyone see the movie "Big Sugar"?

Thankyou to everyone for posting your experiences. I've had my surgery date for over a month now and it has only just now occurred to me that I'm a June bandster. Yikes. My friend Jane and I will be getting it done in Mexico on June 29. Best wishes for all this coming week's patients.