NewBeginnings2018

transpo1 - after you enter your information on ticker factory, you need to copy the "bbc code" and go to "user cp" on LBT, click "edit signature" and paste the url address to the bottom of your signature. That should do it.

They had me take a pregnancy test because I was late, even though I was 100% sure I could not be pregnant. It ended up coming 3 days before surgery, so I got to wear a pair of those sexy mesh panties. I was embarassed a bit until I told my nurse who said I was the 4th woman that day, so I think it's something they are completely used to. I just felt bad for the person who had to put in my cathedar. Eeewww...

I'm in the same boat Cat. The appetite coming back does totally stink. It's funny - I read your blog and you and I have a lot in common. Our age, the shoulder pain, the port incision drainage, getting hungry every two hours on the soup, etc. Although I'm not allowed mashed potatoes on liquids, so I have total potato envy! lol.

I was on full liquids by the time I left the hospital. They had me drink some carnation instant breakfast before I could be discharged. When I got home I also had yogurt, pudding, and creamy soups and I had no problem tolerating them. Granted the first week out I had no appetite so I was lucky to get down 1/2 a pudding cup at a time and I would feel very full, but about a week after I was banded my appetite returned and I could eat larager portions. But overall I had no issues with full liquids.

Wow, very interesting Christy. What's a little more interesting is that he called it a little case of fat necrosis for now. My friend's mom has fat necrosis, which is basically fat cells that are dying. hmmm... The good news is that again this morning the incision looks better, and I didn't have too much draining yesterday. The incision is not as red around the edges, so that is very encouraging. I'll let you know what the Dr says tomorrow afternoon. Thanks!

Bandacat - I was on the phone with my banded friend last night and she had the hiccups too. She gets them much more frequently now than she did before the band and, from what she tells me, they are much more painful. She also burps a lot more. lol. But anyway, I'd rather have the soft signal to stop - anything but the dreaded PB! Congrats on your band! Oh, and I LOVE your Zen quote. So true!

Congratulations on your band Mark!!

Oh I'm jealous! I'm on liquids for three weeks! But I didn't have a pre-op diet so I can't complain too much.

Yeah, I should be around.

Hi Big Girl Banded. Contrats on your new band! I was told to start back on Protein Drinks right away, but I left the hospital on full liquids. I'd check with your doctor - they all seem to say something different. It took me a full week to feel 100%, but I did feel better every day. Hang in there!

Hey Morph!!! Glad you found us! :confused: I think an on-line chat support group would be great as well. There is a chat feature on this site. For me, it would have to be in the evenings or on the weekends because of work. BTW - my incision looked pretty good this morning when I changed the dressing. It was less red than it was yesterday and didn't seem to be leaking any more fluid. I'm not going to take my exam tomorrow, but rather just stay home and rest like Dr Jones suggested. I'll see you on Monday! Hey aaamom! SherryW and I were thinking at some point of trying to have some meetings in Taunton eventually. We'll definitely keep you updated!

Congrats dancing! Welcome to the family!! It's still a little uncomfortable for me to lie on my left side and I'm almost two weeks out. I can do it, but it doesn't feel all that hot. The right side is fine. My port is on my left side, so I'm assuming that has something to do with it. Hope all the other October bandsters are doing great!

threebeauties - sherry and i haven't started our support group yet, but want to do it soon. I'll chat with her about it this weekend and see if we can start up in November.

Nana - sorry to hear you've been down lately. Getting youurself well is an important part of the pre-banding process. I know it seems like it will take forever to get to the finish line - I've been there! Just hang in there! The psych was nice - just weird. She'd probably love it if you cry. lol. Just remember that the band is only a tool, that you will still have to do the work, and that you are making the committment to come back for follow up care. Those seemed like the sticking points when I met with her. Good luck!

No problem threebueauties! Glad it worked! Do you see that it's in kilograms though? By the way, every time you make a change you have to cut and paste again. Congrats on the weight loss already!!

No antibiotics Mandy. My Dr said that since there is no infection yet, he didn't want to prescribe an antibiotic and have me develop a more serious strain of an infection, if I am going to get one. Can you follow that? lol But if I do get an infection over the weekend they will call me in a precription for Cipro.

Oh Kat that is so great to hear!! Wonderful, wonderful news!!!

Dez it's good to hear you had a similar situation. Did you go back in for follow up care from Dr Jones, or did it just go away on its own?

I'll log onto AIM Sherry. I saw Dr Jones. They didn't give me anything to put on it. Just keep it covered.

Hi everyone. I just got back from the Beth Israel. I've hit a little bump in the road. Earlier today I had noticed some draining from my port incision. I didn't like the looks of things, so I called Angi. We debated, but then she had me come in just to be safe. She cleaned up the incision and said it didn't look infected. Phew. Dr Jones happened to be there, so he popped in to take a peak. He noticed that there was some draining, but that it wasn't puss. He had me lie down and, oh my, proceeded to open my incision. It actually didn't hurt that bad. But he did this so he could let whatever needed to drain, drain. He then ster-stripped it together, told me to keep it covered in gauze and tape, and to stay home for the next few days. He wants me back on Monday so he can take a look at the incision. He said it's not infected now, but there is a chance it could become infected. I asked him what he usually does if there's an infection, and he said he hasn't had one before. OH GREAT! He said there is about a 30% chance I'll become infected. So now I'm freaking out. I asked him what he will do if there is an infenction, and he said that since I am "thinner" (I almost told him I loved him - lol) my port is closer to my skin so there is a good chance that my port would get infected as well. If that happens, they will cut off the port, allow the tubing to recess, and then after I fully heal they will open me up, grab the tubing, and attach a new port. I can not tell you how badly I don't want this to happen!!! So any prayers or good kharma you want to send my way will be greatly appreciated!! Oh, and I was chatting with Angie. I told her about LBT and she said she was going to check us out and maybe join us! Hi Angie!!!

Hi ladies. I just got back from my surgeon's office and I'm a bit nervous. Earlier today I noticed some draining from my port incision. So I called and they had me come in. My surgeon played around with my incision, actually opened it up, and drained whatever was in there. He said it wasn't an infection - yet. I have to keep it covered, stay in, and go back to see him on Monday. He said there is a 30% chance that it will turn into an infection, but that everything looks ok for now. So I am really worried. He admitted that if I do get an infection, it will likely mean that I will have to have my port replaced. Ugh!! So any extra prayers or good kharma you want to send my way will be appreciated!

Congrats Kstar! Today is the big day! Good luck! JHW - hang in there. It does get better. I thought I would bounce back much quicker than I did, but it took me a full week to feel 100%. threebeauties - my band is a secret too. Only my family and close friends know. Don't worry - your secret is safe with me! I have a friend who lives in Taunton (SherryW) and we are thinking about trying to set up a local support group at her house that would meet once a month. Would you be interested in joining us? Also, if you want to check out some of our chats under the MA board, please do. We have a group under BIDMC, which is the hospital I was banded at, but now it's moreso just a chat with some great ladies. Feel free to join us! As far as liquids after surgery go, I've been eating a lot of tomato soup, pudding, yogurt, and carnation instant breakfast. I cannot wait to get to mushies!! Hope everyone is doing well!

Congrats MarySue! Glad to hear things went so well! I've been meaning to order a medic alert bracelet, but have some apprehension since I am keeping my band private from people other than my family and close friends. I suppose I should worry about my health more.

Sherry poor Rainbow never got her fill. Her appt was hectic and they had her leave without a fill (if I remember correctly). She is flying solo these days - AND doing great may I add. It's good to hear that the mushies will keep me full a bit longer. I don't think I'm going to want to have tomato soup every again! lol

Hi kimmi. At the info sessions I went to at BI, they mentioned that there is something with gastric bypass and the hormone changes that happen from cutting the stomach that almost always cures diabetes. I want to say it was something like 85 or 90%. Perhaps while you are in the research phase you should check out another hospital's info session, like Beth Israel, and see what they have to say. That being said I think it is your choice to decide which surgery you would like to have. Granted you should talk to doctors and listen to what they have to say, but there is a very big difference between gastric bypass and the band and it's your body. Your body = your choice. Keep us updated as you go along!