ruthpets

I have only one incision, right in the belly button and it has healed very well and is barely noticeable. It's been almost 5 weeks since my banding and I get my first fill on Wed. so I have been hungry but am managing to just ignore it and make good choices/sm. portions. I feel so great, better than I have in years! I don't regret this decision at all. Best of luck to you!

I completely agree, PC - I was also going to mention the anesthesia, it is SUCH a depressant. Once that gets out of your system, along w/gas pain, there will be no looking back!!!

As has been said soooo many times, all surgeons have differing rules. We were allowed - even encouraged - to eat a portion of the tuna salad that they served us in the hospital the day after WLS. We start on mushies immediately after our release from the hospital and move to soft food when we are handling mushies well. Good luck to you (and ITA, speak w/your doctor!).

Hmm, not to contradict your surgeon, but the hospital nurse told me that I should NOT take apart the Cymbalta capsules; I take 60 mg (a big capsule) so they wrote out an RX for 2 (smaller) capsules @ 30 mg. But, I think it would be a great idea for you to speak w/a pharm. -- they are almost always on top of things like this (esp. since Cymbalta is a relatively "new" SSRI & many drs. know little about it.

Hey, FNM! I just picked up that book & you are so right! It's incredibly insightful and I really think it will help me make better choices when the time comes to eat out!

if cooked to a really gloppy consistancy, can it be considered a mushy?

Thanks! Just what I need to hear!! Sounds like you are doing incredibly - best of luck to you!

Yay you!! I'm a day ahead of you and feel REALLY bloated but still very happy w/my decision! Keep us updated!

Hey everyone! Glad to hear all my fellow band-ees are doing well! I had the procedure 8/24 and am really doing much better than I expected. The surgery went on w/no probs., I was able to get the single incision above belly button & it seems to be healing w/o complications. Only annoying thing to happen was - sorry if TMI - that I couldn't pee too well on my own after the surgery & had to be on a catheter:crying:...But, TG, it was resolved the next day!! As for eating, my surgical team (on Long Island, NY) has patients start out the day after surgery on mushies, so before I left the hospital I had had some cream of wheat, but could only eat a few bites. The bloating from the gas has def. affected my app. So far so good for me. I have been very active (in a reasonable post-op way), am only taking Tylonol (not the percoset the dr. gave me), and sleeping well. Need to work on the water/liquid aspect during the day, it's still hard to drink all that Fluid when I feel so bloated. But, hunger-wise, I am okay. Pls. let's all of us keep up w/one another! I look forward to hearing about your progress and I am going to figure out how to do the ticker thing as well! Ruth

Good luck to everyone!! They moved me up to Monday, 8/24 and I am very excited!! The only thing I am worried about is that there will be some glitch when I get to the hospital and the surgery won't happen! But the best news -- I thought I was going to have to self-pay but HOORAY!!!!!! - just found out that ins. approved me!!! Thank you, Oxford!!!!!

I had to see a cardiologist (had to do a holter, echocardiogram, stress test), a pulmonologist (breathing test & chest x-ray), endocrinologist, psychologist, nutritionist, and get an endoscopy; when that was complete, my gp has to review and give letter of medical clearance. Also had to do the usual hospital pre-sur. stuff. Did not have to do sleep study - I have no sleep apnea and did not have to do barium swallow.

my dr. requires an overnight, too -- we are warned that the nurses will be waking us up every two hours for us to walk to prevent any blood clots; we're released the following afternoon, after 'lunch', when the dr. is satisfied that we can keep our liquids down...

Wow, congratulations!! Your recovery is inspiring to me (I'll be banded 8/25 on LI & fingers crossed - will have SILS also. Hope you you continue to feel well and keep us posted w/your progress!

8/25 for me, too! Going tomorrow for pre-surgical testing. My doctor doesn't require a pre-op diet so have not been doing liquids, but I am trying to 'watch it' -- not gain any more weight. Good luck to you, too!

Just wanted to see how long it took your doctor to do the lap band procedure...? Thanks all!

WOOT-WOOT!!! Just got my call!! August 25th for me!!!

I am HOPING, HOPING, HOPING for an Aug. surgery date -- have all my tests completed and go for my second consultation today (self-paying, if it makes a diff..) Good luck to you all!!!

I am hoping - fingers crossed - to get banded in July. Very excited at the prospect of having the lap band - but - I am originally from New Orleans and LOVE spicy foods. Have you all had to give them up completely? Has anyone been able to tolerate "heat"? Thanks in advance for your responses!

Maybe if you tell him that while you definitely want/need his support, to a large extent this is YOUR journey. After all, he can't be w/you all the time, this is time for you (me too!) to truly become responsible for our own well-being. You're the one playing this game - he needs to be your number one cheerleader!! Best of luck to you!!

What should I expect when I go to the pulmonologist appointment as part of the pre-surgery testing? I don't snore (at least according to my husband)...are sleep tests standard protocol for the LB or does it vary according to patient and drs.? Thanks for your help!

How long did it take from first going to a seminar to the actual banding procedure? I am going to a seminar next week, will most likely be self-paying.I am 43, 5'9 @250 ponds w/a bmi of 37 but a family history of heart disease & diabetes. I also have high cholesterol. I am so worried I won't qualify but I am sicking of living this way! Any thoughts/encouragement are appreciated. This is a great forum!

Wow congrats on your weight loss and best of luck w/your tt and lift!!! You are gonna look amazing and feel even better, I bet! Thanks for your response and GL tomorrow!!

Thanks so much for your esponse (and to the others who responded as well!). I just had a complete physical/bloodwork done so maybe this won't be part of a possible delay...Thanks, again!