ALABAMA

Dr. Braswell is my doctor as well and I could not be more pleased with every part of my lap band journey!

I use Livestrong.com's The Daily Plate. I love it.

I LOVE MY CPAP!!! I will really hate to see it go when I lose all my weight. It was a pain at first but I QUICKLY got use to it. It makes me take deep breaths that are very relaxing to me. Also - I had heard that people with sleep apnea can have trouble after surgery - as in - going to sleep and not waking up.... I had a friend with sleep apnea die from his apnea (not after a surgery) - that has been enough for me to take things seriously. Good Luck!

go to www.livestrong.com and sign up for "the daily plate" It is EXCELLENT!

I gained 20 lbs during my 6 month pre op phase by having some major "Last Meals". I did the 2 week pre op diet and lost 17 pounds! The first 3 days were tough but then it gets a little better. I made a huge batch of french onion soup (w/o bread - cheese) and then strained the liquid to drink from a mug. DELICIOUS!! I also drank cream of chicken soup diluted with water and skim milk. I guess keeping the soups in a mug at hand frequently kept something in my stomach so I didn't feel famished. SF jello was satisfying as well as fruit juice popcicles. I was scared not to follow the diet. He gave me pictures of my surgery and told me my liver was BEAUTIFUL! Seeing the weight coming off so fast was incentive too! Good Luck!!!

I wore sweats and a t-shirt. I took extra clothes and ended up wearing the same thing home. Leggins may be a bit snug on your belly. I would take sweats or pajama pants to wear home. Good luck! I was walking my dog that afternoon! Great experience!

Hi! I was banded 2/25 too! My doctor gave me the ok for anything i could TOLORATE Tuesday. I can't help you with the protein shakes - but what I have eaten for three days are -- scrambled eggs (never tasted better), Chicken salad (run through the food processor), finely chopped Green salad w/ 1000 island (homemade w/ boiled eggs)!!!, sliced american cheese and peanut butter. I can only manage VERY SMALL amounts of the above. I do feel human again though being able to chew something, since I had been on liquids since 2/9/09. I still get tired in the afternoons. I am tracking my food intake on "The Daily Plate" and am only taking in 400 to 600 calories a day and am walking so it is no wonder. Sign up on Livestrong.com and use "the daily plate". I found out about it on this site and it has been VERY helpful. 23 lbs down and counting!!! Woo hoo!

I was banded on 2/25/09 and noticed that I was not taking deep breathes. When I did I had a slight amount of pain. I think I was breathing shallow for fear of pain. I was not given anything to breathe into. I would call my doctor immediately if I could not breathe or 911. Keep us updated on how you are doing.

I was banded the 25th and am doing great! Was supposed to spend the night in the hospital but was doing so well they sent me home. My surgeon came by my house that evening and was shocked to hear I had been out to walk the dog. I am very sore ay the incision areas and my knees ache from having to squat instead of bend for things. I haven't had any gas pains thankfully! I was expecting this to be horrible and am pleasantly suprised that its not that bad! I haven't had diareha or a bm at all which kind of worries me but my follow up appt is tuesday so I ill bring that up with the dr. God bless us all!!! Hope everyone else gets to feeling better soon!!!

Bless you! I so had the same list 6 weeks ago. I am supposed to be at the Hospital in the morning at 5:15 for my surgery and am still at work and haven't packed a thing! LOL! I can tell you now I am only taking the minimum!

I'm on day 13 of my liquid diet with no cheats!!! It was horrible day 3 & 4 but after that it became bearable. Plus - I have lost 16 pounds which keeps me focused!! I do think it will help with the adjustment to less food post surgery. My surgery is Wednesday - Feb 25th!! Woo Hoo!

My surgery is Wednesday!!! My doctor is keeping me overnight. I am sooo nervous! I'll be thinking of you all tomorrow! God Bless!

WOW! How AWESOME!!! I can't wait to have that feeling. I'm scheduled for surgery Feb 25th!!! WTG!!!!

OK - I am cracking up at this "Last Meal" statement! I start my liquid diet tomorrow and had my final LAST JAPANESE FEAST today at lunch! SOOO DELICIOUS but I did say goodbye! I, too am so anxious!!! It is really amazing to me how much power food has over me and how much I rely on it in every emotion - happy or sad. I know it will be hard on liquids for so long but I will not risk waking up from surgery not banded. My surgeon had a patient a few months ago that that happened to. Her liver began to bleed when he pulled it away from the stomach and he had to abort the surgery. Wish me luck!!!

I can't wait to take a picture and actually be able to see my eyes. Now when I smile my cheeks and eyelids meet and I have slits for eyes. And, of course I will not miss all the things listed before my post!!!!!!

I'm scheduled for Feb 25th!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I take a couple of meds that are time release and one is a square pill. Will I still be able to take these medicines this way? What about vitamins, etc.? Any advice is appreciated since these are prescribed by my other doctor and I need to get with him if this needs to be changed. :thumbup:

My surgery is tentatively scheduled for February 25th! Can't Wait! I am nervous but in a good way. I stopped smoking 3 days ago and am doing well with that - hard - but doing well. I haven't heard about any GI tests I will have to have but I learn something new at every month's weigh in. I know I have to be on a liquid diet 10 days before surgery. Not looking forward to that.... Blessings to all of you before me. I look forward to reading your posts about your surg prep and surgery itself.

I'm on day 3 of quitting smoking cold turkey. I have to say the first two seemed to be a piece of cake but today is a different story. However, I am still smoke free. I chose to try with out meds since I am trying to make new lifestyle choices all together with WLsurgery, etc. I want to see if i can have the will power to make myself make the life change without help. Food has much more power over me than nicotine and believe me I LOVE MY CIGS!!!! I needed to prove to myself that I have the power needed to get through this on my own so I know I can get through my food addiction. I have to be honest though - I am only making it through the power of prayer. I have also set a piggy bank on my desk that I put my cig money in and money I saved by not using the patches/chantix to go towards my new wardrobe for the NEW ME!!! Good Luck!!!

Congrats! I pray everything goes well with your surgery. I hope to have mine on Feb 25th. I'm having the same "what if" feelings you are having but agree that it is the best thing for me. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow!

Wondering if anyone has had Lapband in the B'ham, AL area. Who their surgeons were? What followup care/support they received? My surgery date is February 25th. Very nervous and excited. I was happy to find this site for answers to many questions. I'm looking forward to getting to know many of you!!!