scoobydoo

Hi, everyone I am just now feeling up to typing...wanted to let you know that I made it, but am in a bit of pain today. My surgery was at 9 am and I got to my room after recovery at 1:45. I walked the halls about a half hour after getting to my room even though I was groggy. I had a lot of shoulder pain from the gas, but forcing myself to walk a lot helped with that. I left the hospital this morning at 11 and have been home now for a few hours. I do miss the hospital bed! lol Loved how it could be adjusted. My surgeon came in this morning and said everything went fine, but she found a hiatal hernia that I didn't even know I had! She repaired it while she was in there, thank goodness. I don't feel the port pain at all, it is mostly on the left under my ribs area. She said I can shower already, but I want the steri strips to stay on as long as possible, so I will cover them with something. The port site is covered with a waterproof bandage. How are you all doing on getting the liquids in? I am sipping, sipping, sipping, but seems like I am no where near 64 ounces for the day. I have had broth, slimfast hi Protein, crystal light and some Water, but64 ounces? it is not gonna happen today. Just took some pain med, makes me really sleepy, but takes away the pain really well! Hope you all are doing okay, Hang in there...it will only get better! Oh yeah, I am bloated feeling too:unsure:Guess that is normal. I am impressed at how small the incisions are. Guess they need to inflate us pretty well to see everything. Hope to hear from you soon!

Hi, everyone I am just now feeling up to typing...wanted to let you know that I made it, but am in a bit of pain today. My surgery was at 9 am and I got to my room after recovery at 1:45. I walked the halls about a half hour after getting to my room even though I was groggy. I had a lot of shoulder pain from the gas, but forcing myself to walk a lot helped with that. I left the hospital this morning at 11 and have been home now for a few hours. I do miss the hospital bed! lol Loved how it could be adjusted. My surgeon came in this morning and said everything went fine, but she found a hiatal hernia that I didn't even know I had! She repaired it while she was in there, thank goodness. I don't feel the port pain at all, it is mostly on the left under my ribs area. She said I can shower already, but I want the steri strips to stay on as long as possible, so I will cover them with something. The port site is covered with a waterproof bandage. How are you all doing on getting the liquids in? I am sipping, sipping, sipping, but seems like I am no where near 64 ounces for the day. I have had broth, slimfast hi protein, crystal light and some water, but64 ounces? it is not gonna happen today. Just took some pain med, makes me really sleepy, but takes away the pain really well! Hope you all are doing okay, Hang in there...it will only get better! Oh yeah, I am bloated feeling too:unsure:Guess that is normal. I am impressed at how small the incisions are. Guess they need to inflate us pretty well to see everything. Hope to hear from you soon!

Hey everybody, TOMORROW is our day!! I cannot believe it is finally here and that we will all soon join the land of the banded. Amazingly, I am not too nervous, just sort of excited and ready. I am packing my bag and guess that sort of makes it really real! lol I went to the store today to stock up on food for the rest of my family and to get my pain med filled. I am required to eat only soft stuff today and tonight for dinner...mashed potatoes, soup, oatmeal. Well, I had potato soup for lunch and will probably just have a protein shake tonight. I am not the least bit hungry! Must be the excitement!! GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!! Talk to you all soon, and please post as soon as you feel up to it. I will try to get my hands on the computer at the hospital if possible. PS Jen, I got the chocolate truffle in the mail today...YUM! Thank you thank you thank you...I am so happy to have a shake I can live with and love at the same time!

Wow, sounds like you really had to work to get approved for your band! Congrats on sticking it out and winning!! What was the problem with your incurance? Did they not cover banding or what? (if you don't mind me being nosy...) I had my pre-op visit today and was cleared for thursday. Moved up to 8:30 from 9:00am. I have to be at the hospital at 7 am. Gosh, this is REALLY happening now!! Can hardly believe it!! Glad that my cold is better, and that since I have no fever, they were able to clear me. Heather, I got the dutch chocolate isopure from GNC. They sell it there. but they don't carry the nectar brand, so I ordered that online. I can't wait to try the chocolate truffle! But you are right about the isopure being great in Protein content! 12 ounces and that is nearly a days requirement of protein for me! One more day! Woo hoo. I can't wait to compare hospital stories with all you guys. I know we are all gonna do great and be so happy once we are past the 16th!

Isabella, congratulations!! I am so happy things went so smoothly and you are doing fine. Wow, onlyu 2 incisions! Did your doc do the new procedure? I am probably gonna have five, but oh well..I just want to get it done already. Keep us posted on how you are doing!

Wow! That's great news to be moved up! I can hardly believe it is in a couple of days and we will be banded! I am doing better with the cold. My son has a cough now and I have a small cough and some congestion in my nose, but definitely better than a day or two ago. I see the pre-op nurse at the hospital tomorrow so PLEASE keep fingers crossed for me that she passes me healthy enough for surgery! I don't want to reschedule because it would mean that my surgery has to be sometime in May. I am hoping with the 2 more days, I will be back to my old self. Jen, I ordered the chocolate truffle online and it will be here in a couple of days. I also tried the chocolate flavored Isopure. Not too bad. I mixed it with Water and it was pretty good. I am sure the truffle stuff will be better, but the Isopure has 50 grams of Protein in 12 ounces! I know I can get that in plus a couple of lower protein ones and I will be good. I had spaghetti tonight. Tomorrow will be just shakes and so will Wednesday. I am so nervous and excited. Just wanna be approved for the last time tomorrow by the nurse. I don't have a fever and feel pretty good, so I am hoping for the best. We are almost there!!!!!!

Okay, I am gonna get some of that chocolate truffle kind and try it. I am also having a heck of a time finding a shake that I can live with for at least 6 weeks! I did try a brand called Worldwide and the chocolate was tolerable, but not something I would say is "good". Thanks, Jen, for the recommendation. I am going to try it.

Ok, so now I am worried since my 2 year old woke with a fever this morning and a cough. My older daughter is also sneezing, coughing and has a sore throat. I am scheduled for next week! YIKES...Guess there is not much I can do, but hope for the best. I feel okay right now, but keep thinking I have a tickle in my throat...probably in my head, lol. Keep fingers crossed for me! I really don't want to re-schedule this surgery!:glare:

Hope you are hanging in there! My son and I have the sneezes and sniffles right now, but I am on Zicam and hoping that works! The doctors office said as long as I have no fever and it doesn't settle in my chest, all should be okay for surgery. (fingers crossed) Have you caught it yet? Hope you are doing well and sure wish we could run off to that healthy hotel you spoke of. I would SO be there!! lol

Heather, you DO deserve kudos in my book. Your ticker says you have managed to lose 15 pounds, right? Take a look at mine...I have lost nothing! My doc doesn't require a pre-op diet, so I have been eating pretty poorly too...Had a steak last night. Won't do that again since I am sure red meat is the worst! But it is really hard not to eat stuff for the "last time". I think the main thing to concentrate on is that our surgery is in 6 days away and we need to make those 6 days count. Even if you had a bad night last night, just do better today and it will be okay. I know that the band will definitely help me adjust my eating behaviors. I cannot wait for the day to get here. Now if I can conquer this cold! I got the Zicam fast dissolve strips and hope they are making a difference...I am sneezing today and have watery eyes, but not a lot worse. How are you feeling today? Just don't beat yourself up too much. This is not easy. If it were, we wouldn't be where we are. Hang in there! Hope you feel better too:smile:

Hi Heather, I got some zicam last night and hope that will helo me...hey I have 6 days to get better! I am gonna try like heck to keep from sharing this cold my family seems to have. My son is doing okay, just a small cough and no fever today. Good job on your pre op diet! I am not required to be on one, but trying to watch what I eat and trying different Protein shakes to see what I like. It does seem like it is taking forever, that is another reason I don;t wanna reschedule this! I feel like I have been waiting forever already!:thumbup: Hang in there and keep up the good work. We are almost there now!

I totally understand about the coffee... I can taste the difference between regular and decaf! I am still drinking my coffee and trying to wean myself off as best I can. The diet soda was not as big of a deal as I thought.I thought I would die without my diet Pepsi..I just stopped buying it and haven't missed it like I thought I would. Coffee, on the other hand, has been a challenge. I only drink one or two cups in the mornings, but I am gonna miss it. The taste the smell, everything....:sad: I imagine I am gonna have a headache when I can't drink it anymore.

Lingling, So funny! What does it feel like to eat now as compared to before the band? Do you get full right away? And what the heck is a pub quiz? Just curious...

Doodlebug, thanks for the update on how you are doing. I am happy to hear you made it through fine and sound good. I think my doc waits 6 weeks before the first fill too. I am hoping there is not a lot of hunger between the surgery and those 6 weeks. Shakia, glad to hear you're doing good. I love this group too and don't know what I would do without all you guys! Elayne, you made me laugh so hard to hear about the CRAP machine! lol and then to read JayTee's post about acting surprised at the missing pieces! lol thanks for the laugh, I really needed it. :glare:

Hi Myturn, That actually sounds like a pretty decent deal since everything for a year is included. Does it include your hospital costs or stay? Mine is covered by my insurance (BS of CA) but I still have to pay $2800 out of pocket to cover my part of the hospital. Also paid $200 for the psych eval. and $350 to the doc's office to cover my co-pay. My fills will cost an additional $150 each time after the first one since Blue Shield only covers 1 every 6 mos. How are you doing on your pre-op diet? Or do you have one? I am a little worried since my 2 year old is coming down with a cold now and surgery is a week away now...YIKES. I don't wanna get sick!!:glare:

Paige, thanks for the tips! The pineapple and coconut with the vanilla sound great...can't wait to try it. Also a heads up on GNC. I went there today and left with one of those huge 3 pound containers of chocolate Isopure. The clerk said that you have 30 days to try something and then bring it back with your receipt if you don't like it and get your money back! :mad: So, I figured since there were no small sample sizes to try, I will just try it and take it back if I don't like it. I didn't think they'd do that with something that big that has been opened. I also got a couple other pre-made shakes to try. One was called Worldwide and is low carb and 35 g protein. I will let you know what they taste like. :smile: BG, the Costco protein drink had 5g for carbs. I have a case of them, so I will probably drink them eventually, but like I said, the taste is not so great. At least they are in a cardboard container so there is no tinny taste. Glad to hear the Atkins drinks are good. What flavors have you tried? I want to find something other than chocolate if possible, just to have a bit of variety.

My doctor recommends taking the Flintstones chewable vitamins. Dosage for adults is 2 tablets per day. At least they taste good!

Good luck and congrats on the losing 23 pounds, ldeere! Thoughts and prayers to all you bunnies scheduled for today and tomorrow!!:thumbdown:

BG, thanks so much for the info you found on the liver shrinking. I don't have a pre op diet either and have been worrying about my liver. I mean, hey, we ARE in the minority here...almost everyone has a preop diet!!lol I have been trying to do my own version of a preop diet, thinking that it will help. Low carbs and protein shakes, but eating dinner once in a while as long as it is protein and veggies. I just have to trust my surgeon and know that she has done tons of these surgeries and knows what will or will not make it easier. Did your doc elaborate on why they don't require a preop diet?

I bought some "Premier"High Protien shakes (chocolate) from costco, they are not that great, but they have 30g Protein in each one (11oz). They are not very sweet so I tried adding a spenda, but they still tasted yucky and have an aftertaste. :thumbdown: The high protein slim fast in chocolate was pretty decent. Very thick and creamy and no real aftertaste. I am gonna try the other suggestions I have heard. Thanks, JayTee for the SF/FF pudding idea. Sounds good. Has anyone tried the Atkins shakes? What about the Isopure? I am going to GNC today and will let you all know what else I try. It is getting closer and closer to the 16th and I am getting excited. Just wanna get it over with and start living with my band. I never thought I would feel this way, but I am sort of happy that this has been a longer process instead of short one. It has given me time to think about everything and "mourn" over the loss of some of my favorite foods that I will no longer eat once banded. I have also come to terms with the idea of "lifestyle" change and not a quick fix...It has been very good to have this time to not only prepare mentally but to prepare in the sense of making lists and planning what to do "after".

Hi Nanci, How long have you been banded and who did your surgery? We are definitely neighbors since I am in Auburn. I'd love to hear more about your band experience.:smile2:

Mommad, Glad to hear you are doing so well! Keep it up, but take it easy! I am sooo hoping my recovery goes as well as yours! Good luck and prayers to all those bunnies lined up for tomorrow!

Hi Delacruz, Hope all goes well for you. I have read some really good things about some doctors across the border. As long as you did your research and feel comfortable about where you are going, I am sure you will do fine. If you don't mind me asking, what is the difference in cost? I am lucky my insurance is covering this, but I know that if they didn't I would have gone to Mexico too. Best of luck to you! Keep in touch!:smile:

Hi everyone, I found a suggested packing list in the book "WLS for Dummies"... and then sort of made my own from that: 1. A pillow from home for the hospital and for using on your ride home from the hospital. 2. Your Journal, so you can record your experience and look back on what you went through and how far you've come. 3. Comfy loose-fitting clothes for the trip home. 4. Lip Balm 5. Camera: If you want a photo record (not sure if I am doing this or not) 6. Toiletry Items: Tootbrush, toothpaste, moisturizer, brush, etc. 7. Robe for walking halls 8. Insurance Card 9.Slippers with non-skid soles 10. Any meds that you take regularly, but ask dr. before taking. I haven't actually packed my bag yet, but have been thinking of it since it is definitely getting closer now. How are you guys doing? I have had a headache for 2 days now and hoping it is going away soon.