MayBell

Hey everyone. Boy, this is such a journey, isn't it? I am anxious about getting my fill next Wednesday and keep counting down the days. I've been exercising quite a bit and joined an Anytime Fitness which is brand new in our little town. I really like it so far. I also joined my mom, dad & husband. I haven't lost any weight in the last week, and I'm trying to eat healthy and do what I'm supposed to be doing. It's a little aggravating. But I'm glad I got the band, because at least I know next week things should change, and if I wouldn't have got the band, I'd still be struggling along and getting frustrated and probably going back to what I was doing before! I can hardly believe I haven't had a cola since a week before the surgery. I don't even want one! Hope everyone has a great day!

Wow, 27 pounds is great, cherbear. I've only lost like 13. I've been exercising like crazy. About the loose skin, I've heard that exercising can really help tone it up and keep it from becoming a big issue. I'm hoping this works. My aunt had by-pass surgery 3 years ago and has a really bad problem with excess skin. Unfortunately, she never exercises, so I don't know if that would have helped or not. My doctor said that out of the 1300 patients they've done the lapband on, only a couple have wanted to have surgery for excess skin. So, I'm hoping this is the case. I can't wait to get a fill on the 25th. I'm at such a standstill. I can eat bread, pasta, rice, oranges, broccoli (things they said to be careful of). I don't know what will happen once I have my fill though. Bread does bother me a little if I don't chew it up good and take too big of a bite. Getting ready to have a 4-day weekend, and I'm very excited! I hope everyone has a great weekend.

My goodness, Adamsmom! That would probably drive me to eat too. I can't imagine having to testify against anyone in court. But I'm glad to know you are, for that little boy's sake. When my mother married my father she made him promise to never whip any children they may have with a belt, because she had received that kind of treatment as a child. How awful. Hang in there, I'll be thinking of you.

Hey everyone. I just weighed myself this morning, and I've lost 3.7 lbs in the past week. I had actually gained a pound in the past 3 wks. So that puts me at 13.6 lbs. That really excites me. I've been exercising at the hospital. The exercise physiologist nearly kills me. Since I'm 33 years old, I have to get my heart rate up to 160. I got it up to 156 the other night. I have a bone spur on my achilles tendon, and it hurts to walk. But I made it. I haven't felt like I'm extremely hungry. I've wanted to eat just out of boredom or whatever. I don't know about you-all, but I don't feel like food is very satisfying right now. It's like whatever I eat, I'm disappointed with it after I eat it. Do any of you feel like that? Hope everyone has a great day!

Adamsmom: I'm so sorry to hear you're sick. I hope you're feeling better soon. I had bronchitis around Thanksgiving, and it's bad enough without just having surgery!! AmyMoe: I totally hear you on the mentally feeling hungry thing. I'm doing better with it though. I accidentally ate too much one night, and it was really awful. It was like I couldn't stop myself, because after not having much other than puddings, jello, protein shakes, etc. my mashed potatoes with cream of mushroom soup-flavored with beef broth from a roast--was so good, I ate too much of it. I nearly got sick, and I was quite miserable for a long time. So I've been trying to make sure I eat much less. My husband will also say, "I think you better wait a while before eating any more." At first I was a bit annoyed at him for saying that, but I know he's just trying to help, and I swallowed my pride and thanked him for saying that. I can't physically feel my band on the outside, but I can definitely tell it's there otherwise. But I can feel my port under my skin. Mine is about 2 inches above my belly button. It still hurts when I bend over, but other than that I don't have much pain at all with any of my incisions. I've only lost 10.7 lbs. I've been staying about the same for about a week. I'm really ready to start losing more! I don't feel like I'm hardly eating anything at all--maybe that's the problem? Well, I'm going to be gone for several days. I'm going to something called "The Forum" in Cincinnati Ohio. It's supposed to help me improve my way of thinking, among other things. My husband went a while back, and he has changed a lot. So I hope everyone has a great weekend! Maybell

Hello everyone! I can't believe it's been 2 weeks since our surgeries. I am doing fairly well. I had 5 incisions. The only one that bothers me is my port. It is horizontal about 2 inches above my belly button, and it is driving me crazy. It itches all the time and hurts when I bend over, and underwear & pants rub on it. I can't stand most of my pants--I'm only comfortable when I can be at home in some loose pajamas. I went back to work last Thursday, so that's kind of been a problem. I've been eating pretty well. I've been having scrambled eggs, which I love. I made myself some potato leek soup out of my Cooking Light cookbook which was to die for. It's all gone now though. My doctor wants his patients to go to the Cardiac Rehab program at the hospital and learn how to exercise properly. So I've been doing that since last Monday. I think they're going to kill me. I've been walking on the treadmill and doing this arm bike thing for about a half an hour each. The goal is (because I'm only 32 years old) to get my heart rate up to like 160! Ugghh. I walked on the treadmill last night for 50 minutes at 3 mph and only got up to 135. My fat legs will not go any faster. My socks and shoes rubbed my feet so much it felt like I had carpet burn on my feet. And I have a heel spur on my left ankle, which gets flared up every time I even look at a treadmill. But I am determined to do what they're asking of me. They're a hospital, right? I've also been having a funny pain on my right side--where there aren't any incisions--under my ribcage when I'm walking for very long. I've had it when I walk around at work and when I walk the dogs at home. It hurts to breathe. I don't know what it is. I left a message at my doc's office 4 days ago and no one called me back. So I guess I'm not dying or anything... Today I get to start eating soft foods without being blended or mushed. I have to admit I've eaten a few things like this already--just some soft meat and rice. I've been fine with most of what I've eaten. I did eat too much one night though and was in terrible pain for hours. I didn't get sick. I almost did when I bent over once, but I didn't. Believe me, the pain was awful, so I will not be doing that again. I can tell when I'm full, and it was really stupid of me to keep eating that night, but my mom made some extremely delicious food, and I kept shoving it in! Why do we do that?? I feel really hungry at night and when I wake up. I can't have a fill til 6 wks after surgery. I was supposed to have my post-op tomorrow morning, but we're getting an ice/snow storm here, and I called and rescheduled it to next Wed. because I live an hour away from my doc, and I'm worried I won't be getting out tomorrow. I didn't get out today. I feel like I'm doing fairly well though, so I'm not too worried about it. Well, stay warm everyone. Happy two-week anniversary.:cursing: Maybell

Hello KyBandChick. I'm sure you'll do fine. I sent my husband to CVS to pick up my meds (he also dropped off my Rx for Celebrex), and they didn't fill it because insurance wouldn't cover it! I would have paid for it regardless, but my husband came back without it. So I have just gone without it. I'm really doing a lot better today. I think the group we're going with are great. St. Mary's staff was friendly, concerned, quick. I was really impressed. They all did an excellent job. And Debi (who's also had the surgery) in the bariatric office is wonderful. Have you tried any broth? I don't know if you can get any, but Watkins brand chicken broth is really good. I ordered some from a lady I work with, but I know Watkins has a Website, and people at fleamarkets sometimes sell it. It is really tasty. Or Debi said you can drain the noodles & chicken out of chicken noodle soup and drink that. With it being so cold out, it is hard not to drink warm stuff. I've also sipped on hot tea a lot with a tiny bit of sweet-n-low in it. My throat was very sore after the surgery, and I did have some mucus come up, but it is much better today. I've had two of those Campbell's Soup at Hand Creamy Chicken soups. I didn't drain anything out of it. I know you can't have that til 3rd day after surgery, but you might want to get some. It has really been great to get something different after a week and a half of the same old stuff. The day of surgery and the day after I drank hot tea, chicken broth, apple juice, tomato juice. The apple & tomato juice didn't really sit very well, but I had to have something besides broth and tea. I also had popsicles. I have now been putting honey in my hot tea, which is what I've always drank in it. I think it also helps soothe an irritated throat. Well, I'm kind of long-winded. Sorry. I know you'll do great. Keep us informed on how you're doing. Maybell:smile:

Hi everyone! Boy, I'm glad to have that ordeal done. I did the barium swallow before my surgery, and I'm glad they didn't make me do it after-it about made me sick before! They did do a chest x-ray to make sure the band was in place. You guys are fortunate to have been offered some good pain med afterwards. My doc sent me home with OTC Aleve. That doesn't really help the pain all that much, I don't think. I've been taking the gas-X strips 2 at a time every 4 hrs. It must really be helping. I haven't had really awful gas pain. I did after I got out of surgery and was waiting for my chest x-ray. As soon as I got to my room I had my husband get me 2 strips out of my bag, and it started helping immediately. I'm not allowed any Protein shakes until tomorrow. I've been on all clear liquids-pretty much broth, juice, and hot tea, and popsicles. I'll be glad when tomorrow gets here, and I can have something a little more substantial. My doc also found a hiatal hernia in the pre-ops so he fixed that too. I guess that's a good thing, but I'm sure it does cause more pain. I am really sore. Being in a sitting position is the only thing that doesn't hurt really bad. Hopefully in a few days, it'll be much better.:sneaky:

Well, tomorrow's our big day! I'm having my surgery at 7:30 AM EST. I've got to be at the hospital at 6 though (yuck). But I guess it's good to get it over with early. I'm ready to get on with it. My hubby is taking me. My doctor told me to bring the gas strips with me to the hospital. I'm also supposed to take 1 Tums a day and he had me get Pepcid. He's also supposed to give me a prescription for Phenergan. So I guess I'll be loaded up on stomach meds. I've already been taking the Pepcids before I go to bed, because the liquid diet's been hard on my stomach (reflux). I don't usually have a problem with this, but I have since I've been on the liquid diet, so I'm glad I'd already bought some for the surgery. I hope all goes well for everyone. I can't wait to get the actual surgery part over with!

You-all really inspire me. Here I'm thinking how am I going to get my 30-pound spoiled rotten dog up on the bed when I can't lift anything? It's funny, but that's one of the only things I've been extremely worried about. My doggie loves to sleep with her mommy and I like her there, but she's too short and fat to get up there herself, and I don't think she'd use a ramp. I guess she'll have to stay down for a while. I hope it doesn't hurt her feelings too much! I am a little worried about the pain and nausea. I get nauseated very easily, and the most painful thing I've ever had done was my wisdom teeth cut out (and that was horrible.) For some reason I'm not really very worried about being extremely hungry. I've just got it in my head that I'm ready to eat a whole lot less to look and feel a whole lot better. I'm really getting excited. It feels like the 13th will be the first day of a very wonderful thing, and I cannot wait! I hope all goes well for everyone.:thumbs_up:

I have prior-approval to have surgery January 13th (BCBS Federal). I was told fills are included. You just have to pay your specialty physician co-pay. I did have to wait for about six weeks to get my approval from the insurance. I have a BMI of 46.6 and no other health problems. I did have to submit that I'd tried conventional weight loss methods. I really didn't have much proof. I wrote a letter and also got my family doctor to write a letter saying I've been overweight for 14 years and tried WeightWatchers many times. My doctor's office required me to do a psych eval before scheduling me, which took me a month to see him too. I've been working on this since August 2008. I got approved in October. They give you 6 months from when you get your approval to have it done. So I'm finally scheduled on the 13th, and I'm so excited. It is worth using insurance. My doctor's office and hospital charges $17 thousand without it! Hope this helps. Maybell

Hello everyone! I live in Corydon, Indiana-across the river from Louisville, KY. I'm having my surgery done on January 13th too in Louisville with Dr. Bryce Schuster. I just started my pre-surgery diet today. I was surprised, because it's not all liquids. I get to have 2 cups of raw vegetables, 2 half-cups of canned fruit or 2 small fruits a day, 3 of either 6 oz cottage cheese, 8 oz sugar-free yogurt or sugar-free pudding, 2 cups milk, 2 Protein shakes, 1 cup of apple or orange juice, and as much sugar-free liquids as I can stand. I can also have broth, sugar-free Jello, sugar-free popsicles, no sugar added fudgesicles--as many as I want! I also am supposed to have 1 chewable Vitamin, 1 serving of Benefiber, and 1 Tums tablet a day. It's definitely livable. I've made it through day one, and my mom, dad, and husband are doing the diet with me for support. I think really they just don't want me to be able to gripe about it because they're not going through what I'm going through. Ha-ha. I've been stocking up on what else they told me I'd need after surgery: Gas-X strips, Tums, Pepcid AC (to help keep acid down & reduce nausea), Benefiber 2X a day, chewable vitamin. They also said not to drink through a straw to avoid more bloating and no carbonated drinks. They said to avoid citrus drinks after first few days to decrease nausea. They also send home a Rx for Celebrex for pain (or I could take OTC Aleve) and an Rx for anti-nausea medicine. And they put a sea-sick patch behind your ear the day of surgery. I had my pre-op tests last Friday. The barium swallow was kind of difficult, but I made it, and it only takes about 10 minutes. The rest was pretty easy. Everyone was very nice. They said the more you get up and move around on the first day, the easier it'll be the next day, and so on. So I'm going to try to stay motivated and keep moving a little. I am kind-of scared. It took me 3 years to come to this decision. My aunt who is a year younger than me had the by-pass surgery 3 years ago. She's lost like 2 people! I tried really hard the last 3 years to lose weight on my own, but it just hasn't happened. I really did not want to have surgery. I've NEVER been in the hospital for anything, and it terrifies me. But I've been overweight for about 12 years now and tried one diet after another (mainly I've done WeightWatchers.) I always feel like I'm starving, and I gain the weight back. I thought at least with this, I shouldn't feel hungry. And my aunt has inspired me. I'm 32 years old. I already have aching joints (knees, ankles especially) and back. I don't want to keep struggling with this. I want to lose it and get living! I was not overweight growing up. I remember what it's like to have a lot of energy and feel beautiful. And I want to be that way again. I've been on antidepressants for 10 years, and I sometimes think I've been numb to gaining weight. I don't have the passion that I had when I wasn't on antidepressants. But I can't stop taking them. But in a way, it was like I just couldn't get excited enough or motivated enough to really change. I've recently had some adjustments to my meds, and I think I'm really ready to get back into life. I'm just glad I have this option, and I'm so thankful my insurance approved it. Anyway, sorry so long! I appreciate hearing all of your stories, and I wish I had more time to get on here and chat! Keep in touch. Maybell

Well, thanks again. You guys were right. It was a resting ekg. I laid back in a reclining chair and they put the sensors on me. It took about 5 minutes or so. Piece of cake! The worst thing was the barium swallow! I really thought I was going to spit the alka-seltzer-like crystals out, but I finally swallowed them! :thumbup: And that nasty chalky barium-yuck! But I lived through it, and now I'm on my way to having my surgery finally. Yeah!

I'm having my preop tests done tomorrow. I'm wondering if the EKG is a stress-test or a resting EKG. No one has ever said. I've never had the stress one done, and my achilles tendonitis has been acting up for the last week. I'm worried I wouldn't be able to run on a treadmill. Can anyone tell me what kind of EKG is usually done during preop testing? Thanks.

Oh, thanks so much. I'm getting ready to head off to the hospital right now, so I appreciate the info!

I'm also a January Bandster-having it done at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville, KY, January 13th-Dr. Bryce Schuster. I'm going for my pre-ops tomorrow. Then I'll be doing the liquid diet starting on January 6th-I'm a bit cranky when I don't get to eat real food so I feel sorry for the rest of my family!! I can't believe how many people are getting this done! I wish everyone the best. :confused:

I'm getting ready to have my pre-ops January 2nd, then scheduled for surgery on January 13th. I'm getting very nervous. I worry that I won't be able to stop drinking carbonated drinks, but I am determined that I must. I've been struggling with being overweight since I was about 20 years old, and I'm sick of it. I've tried everything, as I'm sure most people who've gotten to the point of having the lapband have. I am worried because I do love bread and sweets. I am willing to give these up for being much thinner though! I mainly want to lose weight because I'm tired and in pain all the time and have no energy to do the things I really love to do. So I really hope this works! I'm going to Dr. Bryce Schuster in Louisville, KY-having it done at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital. My insurance, BlueCross BlueShield for Federal Employees is paying for it, thank goodness. :laugh: I go on my liquid diet on January 6th. I think that will be difficult. I'm glad it's only for a week. I know I'll have to do it after the surgery, but I think that will be less difficult than before due to still having an appetite. All-in-all, I'm ready to get this show on the road!

Thanks so much for all your help and advice. It's so nice to know I'm not alone! And I will be careful of B/C B/S, thank you. I've tried quitting sodas right now, but I still have about one a day, and I only have one coffee in the morning. I guess I'll switch to decaf coffee if I can have that after the surgery. But I do usually drink an unsweet ice tea from Panera Bread every day, so I know I'll have to give that up for a while too. But at home I make myself decaf tea with some herbal decaf mint tea in it (as ice tea) so I think if I can drink that I'll be okay. I also love Chick-Fil-A's diet lemonade, so maybe I can have that too, I hope. I have a plan-I've just got to stick to it. I know having help and advice from this forum will definitely help. Thanks so much again!!!:Yawn: