NewBeginnings2018

Kat - OMG, what a frightening time this must be for you. You and your husband are in my prayers.

Thanks Jack. I was starting to think I was doing things "wrong". Good to know this part of the normal process.

Just wanted to wish good luck to Kilcollins, Ladyred, MarySue33 and anyone else getting banded tomorrow. Everything will go great!! Make sure to post when you're home to let us know how you're doing. And good luck to Roxy on your trip to Mexico! Let us know when you're home safe!

That was a great article. Thank you for posting. He certainly does get it.

Goannabanda, sorry to hear you've had it a little rough. I would definitely say my recovery was more difficult than I thought it would be. Hang in there. Every day it gets a better. Lin - congratuations on your speedy recovery! Good for you! It's so weird how everyone reacts so differently. So I can hardly beleive it, but I have lost more weight. I thought I would lose a lot during the liquid stage, but I didn't think it would all happen in the first week! I went into surgery at 268 and I weighed in last night and this morning at 251.5. For kicks I tried on a smaller size pants, and they fit. I can't believe this!! Hopefully I don't gain it all back when I start mushies. lol. Good luck Lots2Luv. We will be thinking of you on Monday!

Slocumna, I definitely had the sensation to burp and still do. It comes and goes. I think it is probably still the gas trying to escape from the body. From what I'm told it should suside soon. Glad to hear you are doing well!

Uh oh Dezadoo - the dreaded PB! lol. It's bound to happen, but it totally stinks that it happened while you were at the fair. My sister lives in Melrose and they LOVE the Topsfield Fair. They go every year. I'm feeling even better today, and have noticed a huge drop on the scale so I'm excited about that. I've weighed myself for two days straight to make sure it wasn't a fluke. lol. I am going to work on getting my protein drinks down today and maybe picking up around here a bit. I've been a slob! lol. Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying this great weather!

Hi Seminole, Mayflower and Tess! Welcome to the post! Seiminole - you seem to be doing great! Keep up the good work. Mayflower - sorry to hear about the autoimmune disease. That is tough. Steroids do wreak havoc on your body. But keep at it. You'll get there! Tess - I'm only a few days out but I can already see that this is not going to be a walk in the park. You've done great so far and are only 30lbs from goal. You can do it!!

Hi everyone! Just wanted to check in and let you know that I am feeling great. I have been off pain medicine (even tylenol) for two days now. I still have some shoulder pain from the gas, and I am sore when I make sudden movements, but overall I am feeling great. If I could stomach the liquid tylenol I would probably take it because it would make me feel that much better. I may try and pick up some pills to crush in applesauce. It has been an interesting week. I am hungry, yet I don't want to eat, yet I want to eat every thing I see on tv. lol. I had trouble yesterday getting down my liquids in the morning. I definitely had restriction. By the end of the day i loosened up a bit and did better. Today I am going to focus on getting in my Protein drinks because I haven't been too good with that. The good news - my scale says I am down 10lbs already. Don't I hope it's right! lol I am thinking of all my fellow October Bandsters, and wish you all luck with your surgeries. Please post when you get home so we know how you're doing. Oh, and threebeauties, I have only told my immediate family and my close friends as this is my support system. They have been great, and very supportive. Good job with the liquid diet Moon Goddess. It is tough! These next few days will fly by for you, and you will soon be joining us in band land! Congrats!

Wow Deb that is some big news. I'm sorry to hear that Angi is leaving, but she needs to do what is best for her no doubt. They had a beautiful day for the walk. I ended up having to work that day to get caught up at the office so I didn't go to the walk. Dr Jones said it was a pretty decent turn out though. Sorry to hear you didn't have your fill. They decided not to fill you because you've been losing weight, right? I am feeling better today. So far so good. Still have the pain in my shoulders, but my stomach is less sore. I'm just taking tylenol today, and hopefully this will be enough to keep the edge off. I feel soooo full. It's weird. My stomach is growling, but I could care less about eating or drinking anything. Right now I am just focusing on some water and I'll work on some protein later today. Right now I feel uncomfortably full, so I don't want to push it. Well ladies, I think it's time for my mid-morning nap. lol. I haven't slept this much in ages! I'll check in with you all later on. Chris

Hi La Chula, I ended up getting my period a couple days before surgery, and they didn't cancel it on me. They gave me a pair of mesh panties and a pad to put on. Just tell the nurses when you get there that you have your period and they will take care of you. When I told them the morning of my surgery, they said I was the fourth girl that day. It was no big deal.

Personally I would recommend staying the night. It was all I could do to keep myself awake that first night, and I think the pain can be managed better in the hospital. Besides the fact that I had a cathedar, and then had to go for flurospcopy the next morning to make sure everything looked ok. It wasn't until after this went ok that I was allowed to start drinking water. I was so comfortable in the hospital, I would have stayed another night if I could have. Funny, huh?!

Hi Shellybeans! I am so glad to hear you are doing well! Congratulations!!! Keep up the good work!

Congrats kayleesmom! I agree - it is very surreal. I stayed overnight in the hospital and would have loved to have spent a second night. That morphine pump was great! haha. But it's great to be home as well. Best of wishes for a speedy recovery!

Hi everyone, Day two home from the hospital, and it's been a bit rough. The liquid pain medicine they give you tastes AWFUL, but trust me it will be your best friend. It's really the only thing that can get me comfortable. It's weird, I am hungry but don't feel like eating anything because I am naseous. I've had to force down 1 protein drink, a little bit of milk, and some water today. But I'm feeling better this afternoon, and I'm sure I will feel a little bit better every day. I still can't believe I'm banded! lol. I'm looking forward to hearing how the other bansters did this week.

Hi ladies, Just wanted to send you a note to let you know that I'm home, safe and banded. Thank you for all your well wishes. Today was a bit rough, but I learned quickly to take that liquid pain medicine exactly how it's prescribed. I am one sore cookie! Well I am going to get some rest, just wanted to pop in and say hi!

Hello ladies!! I am home! :clap2: I'm feeling pretty good today. So good that they let me leave the hospital waking, and not in a wheel chair. lol. That was a good sign. I'm a little loopy right now b/c I just took some pain meds, but overall I feel great. Pre-op prepping was tough, that's for sure. It took 6 tries to get the IV in me. :faint:But everyone was really nice, and I woke up very peacefully in recovery. I just keep sleeping and sleeping, but I know this to be a side effect of anetesia for me. I won't lie - I am sore though. My shoulders are KILLING me! The soreness in my stomach feels like I've been kicked in the stomach, or worked out to the point where it is sore just to move. lol. Getting in and out of bed is not too easy. lol. But overall, I can't complain. I really do feel fantastic! The sugery itself was not as bad as expected it to be. And now I'm officially banded. I can't beleive it! Shellybeans I hope you are feeling just as good as I am. And good luck to the other bandsters who are going this week. You'll do fantastic!!

Hello ladies!! I am home! :clap2: I'm feeling pretty good today. So good that they let me leave the hospital waking, and ot in a wheel chair. lol. I'm a little loopy right now b/c I just took some pain meds, but overall I feel great. Pre-op prepping was tough, that's for sure. It took 6 tries to get the IV in me. :faint:But everyone was really nice, and I woke up very peacefully in recovery. I am sore though. My shoulders are KILLING me! My stomach feels like I've been kicked in the stomach, or worked out to the point where it is sore just to move. lol. But overall, I can't complain. I really feel fantastic! Thank you guys for all your support! I will write more this wee, but I think bed is calling me tonight. :grouphug:

Thanks for the well wishes Kstar! Hard to believe it's tomorrow!

Thank you everyone for the good wishes! I am thankful to have so many people here to support me. Sherry - that is FANTASTIC! Your head is finally seeing what we all see. You know....it might be time for another "after" picture. I bet the girls here would love to see. teehee...

I have to say that I am soooo happy for you Puddinpie! I've been watching your progress for months while I have been awaiting my date to get banded. You have worked really hard and look fantastic! You are a beautiful girl, and always have been. Keep up the good work! I can only hope I am half as successful as you have been!

I've taken two weeks off. Mostly because I have the time available and I'm keeping it a secret from the people at work. I'll let you know how I feel next week. lol

Hi everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. It was quite a hectic week at work trying to get everything ready to be out for two weeks. I had to go in today to finish up some things. The week really was an emotional one for me. It was rough, but has gotten better. I also got my TOM, which was about a month late. I'm happy it finally came but could there be worse timing?! lol. I was extremely anxious all week, but am now just excited and looking forward to starting my band journey. I took my before pictures today. Oh my! haha My mom is doing much better, thank you everyone for asking. She woke up on Friday feeling 150% better. She's still sore, but back to feeling like herself. Hi have to say Dez, I am impressed with your weight loss! You go girl! I think the exercise can make a big differece. Remind me of this if I refuse to get off my ass after I'm banded. lol. I really believe that the band will only take you so far, and that at some point you really do have to eat healthy and exercise to make it all the way. Nanaviv - good luck with the psych visit. She really is a wacko if you ask me. I actually had my meeting w/Dr Jones and had my surgery date before I was approved by Tufts. The doctor has to send his paperwork to the ins co and then they send you a letter within a few days telling you if you've been approved. They told me with a BMI over 40 and no co-morbidities that I would have no problem getting approved, and they were right. Well just one more day without a band. Hard to imagine what my life will be like afterwards. I am getting ready to cook my "last meal" lol. I ate horrible this week! Not huge quantities, just bizzare things that I don't normally eat and am afraid I won't be able to eat. Like pancakes. I made them for dinner the other night, but probably haven't had them in years. lol. But tonight I am going to make pasta, which is my favorite. We will have a ceremonious meal over which I will say goodbye to my pasta. lol. Talk to you all soon!

Hi Dreaminbig! Welcome to the post! Congratulations on your band date. It will be here before you know it. Trust me! lol. Where are you from in MA? SherryW and I are definitely going to try and set up a meeting from this board at some point. I'm having my band on Monday, so it will probably be sometime after that. I am 32, so we're similar in age. I don't blame you for being worried, I think that's normal. Any time I get nervous I check out the before and after page, and that seems to get me through it.

Badadabum! Very funny pianoman!