StephM

Last night while laying on my right side (half on my side, half on my tummy), I could feel a pain under my lower left rib cage when I inhaled and exhaled. If I rolled over, sat up, walked, etc. the pain went away. Anyone else having this?

Okay, I am 7 days out and have felt wonderful up until tonight. I have the worse case of hiccups that I can recall! They hurt like he** and nothing is stopping them (water, holding my breath, etc.). I know the PBing can hurt the band, but what about hiccups??? Any suggestions on getting them to stop?

I was banded this past Monday and "closed" with superglue and steri-strips. I was told the steri-strips would fall off on their own. One of them is half way off already. Is this too soon? Should I keep it covered with a band-aid so it doesn't come off yet?

Well guys, I made it through the surgery and feel great. I was banded Monday and had a heck of a time coming out from under the anathesia so I spent the night in the hospital and came home Tuesday. Thank goodness I spent the night in the hospital because I had a horrible migraine that required two rounds of anti-nausea drugs and demerol in my IV. I was able to get up and walk from the bed in recovery to a wheel chair and from the wheel chair to a chair in my room. Then I was able to walk around the floor within 30 mintues of leaving recovery. It felt great to walk, walk, walk! I haven't had any gas pain, knock on wood, and just an uncomfortable feeling at my incision sites. I tire easily so I am sleeping about 3 hours and then walking around, sleeping 3 hours, and walking, and so on. I am on clear liquids for two weeks, and seem to manage the warm liquids easier than the cold/cool liquids. As for internal functions (bowel/bladder), the bladder is working great, can't recall ever peeing as much as I do now, and my first BM after surgery was Tuesday afternoon (35 hours after surgery). Or course it's not your typical pre-surgery BM, but at least everything is moving. For those of you consitpated, I would say, walk, drink, walk, drink, and walk some more. If you are being banded later this month, if you don't take to heart anything I write, please remember to walk, walk, walk, walk, it will make your recovering must easier! Hope all are feeling okay and healing quickly. Good Luck to all!

Well, my day has finally come. It seemed so far away a month ago, yet it crept upon me very fast. I am scared, but excited. Today is my husbands birthday, so I guess in a way we will both be able to celebrate "birthdays" together from now on. Good luck to all being banded this week and I hope everyone that has been banded this month is feeling better. Until later...

My PCP wasn't as negative about the band, but she seemed against it. When I approached her about it, she said she wanted me to try more diets before she would recommend I even think about getting banded. I felt like standing up, yelling at her, and saying you have had me try diets for 10 years now, and all I have accomplished is a weight gain of 100+ pounds! So to make a long story short, since I am self-pay, I went to my surgeon, am being banded on Monday, and will return to her office in December for my physical a new person. Then she can say what she wants about the band and I really won't care. Although most of us value the opion of our PCP's, sometimes we have to do for ourselves what WE feel is best. They only see us maybe a few times a year, not every second of OUR lives. Just look at what YOU have done for YOURSELF! Congrats on the loss, keep up the good work!!!!

It sounds like everyone is doing well that has been banded in August. I am four days out and scared to death. I pre-registered at the hospital yesterday and the cashier just ranted and raved about how GOOD my surgeon is. That did make me feel a little better, but then I got home and started reading all the INAMED brochures and my surgeons brochures and started to freak out again! I guess I should stop reading until AFTER the surgery. I went post-op grocery shopping last night. I am on clear liquids for 2 weeks after so you can imagine what my cart looked like (broth, gatorade, jello, and fruit juice). I am sure the cashier thought I was crazy. Continued good luck to all!

Thank you for all of your posts. I think they are all great, especially the ones that you think you are giving TMI. It's that information that the doctors don't give you details about so it's nice to hear what to expect. I'm getting very nervous!!!

You are not psycho at all! I have discussed my wishes with my husband and parents in depth and everyone knows that if something happens and they don't carry out my wishes I will be back for sure to haunt them all! :eek: I think if death doesn't cross all or our minds at some point in time, we are in denial of the risks involved with the surgery (no matter how "minor" it is) and need to go back to step one and learn more about the band. I encourage everyone to make their wishes known (preferably on paper) before your surgery so you/your loved ones don't end up in a court battle like Terri Schiavo and her family. At the very least I think we all need to go into this with a Living Will, and preferably a Living Will and a Health Care Power of Attorney. Anyway, I think I actually got a little off the subject as the post was more about funeral arragements, but I though everything fit together nicely. Good Luck to All!!!

What is protein water and where do you get it?

Congrats to everyone that has been banded so far this month. You all sound like you are doing great! My anxiety is decreasing everytime I read one of your posts. Good luck and quick healing.

Drifter - I sure hope I am doing as well as you are a day after my surgery!!! Keep us posted on your progress. You will be an inspiration for many of us August Bansters.

No! You don't have to. I thought you had to also when I first started. Go back to the ticker website (from the same computer you set it up on), click weight loss and then either 1) continue to hit next until you get to the "numbers" page or 2) the "numbers" page might automatically pop up once you enter the weight loss section. I'm not at my home computer so I can't visually see the page so I am doing this from memory. If this doesn't work let me know and I will get back with you later this evening.

Well I have almost made it through my second day of the Optifast drinks, broth, and water. Today was definitely easier than yesterday, but I am still STARVING.ffice:office" /><O:p></O:p> <O:p> </O:p> I am a little confused about the pre-op Optifast diet though. When my surgeon explained the program to me he said that I could have a little chicken, fish, vegetables and fruits along with the Optifast if I got hungry. Then when I picked up the Optifast, the lady (office staff, not a nurse) told me I could not eat anything due to the possibility of developing gall stones. God knows I don’t want gall stones, but I don’t think my surgeon would have told me I could eat something if it was a danger to my health.<O:p></O:p> <O:p> </O:p> Does anyone have any suggestions?<O:p></O:p>

One more day until I start my Pre-Op liquid Opti-Fast diet. To be honest, I am actually looking forward to it. Since getting my date this past Tuesday and knowing that I "only" had 6 days left to eat, I have been "last suppering" since then and am MISERABLE. You would really think that this would discourage me from eating...but of course NOT!!! Anyway, I have tomorrow's meals planned, IHOP for brunch and then The Melting Pot for my real "last supper" as I know them. Opti-Fast will start on Monday. I have to drink at least 5 shakes a day, an extra shake or some broth if I feel I need it, and all the zero calorie drinks I can handle. Sound a little over whelming, but I am READY!!!! Thanks to all for all your posts. They have not only been helpful, but down right hilarious at times!

Yeah! I got my date today - August 14th. I am so excited, but very anxious and nervous! Glad to finally be able to join a Band Crew.

Hello Everyone! I am glad I found you! I am a newbie to the site, as well as to the entire Lap Band procedure. I will be attending my seminar Tuesday evening and can't wait. I have researched a lot (feels like I have been to every site on the internet) and think I am definately going to go with the Band. I will be private pay (self-pay); my insurance has that darn exclusion clause. My company is in the middle of an aquisition so I am trying to use up all my sick time before I lose it. I am hoping to have everything in place and "surgerized" before September 1. I know this is VERY fast, but I hope being private pay helps my cause and enables me to get through the hoops a little faster. I do suffer from depression (under control with daily antidepressants). Have you heard anything about antidepresants that would exclude me from surgery? Looking forward to "our" future together. Hang in there and we can all get through this together! Until later, Steph

Following is an email I received from a facility in San Antonio. I don't know anything about them, but thought I would pass it on since Austin isn't "too far" form San Antonio. EMAIL: Please feel free to call us here in the San Antonio, Texas clinic toll free at 1-888-870-9474 ext. 103 at any time to schedule your appointment or to get specific information about our program. At this time the WISH San Antonio, Texas office is having a LAP BAND special of $10,700.00 dollars for cash or financed patients which includes a temporary reduction of $250.00 off the first visit pricing. Of course, this price is also available for those who do not have insurance or for those whose insurance will not cover this procedure. The pricing for Open Gastric Bypass is currently $20,800.00 which includes the $250.00 discount off the first visit pricing. This special pricing includes the first appointment, pre-operative appointment, WISH surgeon and assistant surgeon fees, one night hospital stay, anesthesiologist, 2-week after surgery appointment, 3-month after surgery appointment, 6 month after surgery appointment and 1 year after surgery appointment. For Lap Band patients the pricing does not include the lap adjustments. The first lap adjustment is usually about 6 weeks after surgery and is at a cost of $105.00. Please be aware that pricing is subject to change without notice. Your first appointment can last anywhere from 4-6 hours as it is a very thorough appointment with some testing being completed. Once you complete your 1st appointment you will be required to work on some goals over the next 6-8 weeks (this can vary by patient). When you complete your 1st appointment we will also schedule your pre-operative appointment (6-8 weeks out) and if you are an out-of-state or out-of-town patient, in most cases we will also schedule your surgery for the day after your pre-operative appointment. A few options for financing are noted below: - www.capitalonehealthcarefinance.com or 1-877-559-5050 - www.surgeryloans.com or 1-888-502-8020 - www.MedLoanFinance.com or 1-800-504-4053 - www.mymedicalfinancing.com or 1-800-728-9585 - APF Financing at 1-800-392-5189 The WISH San Antonio office is currently in network with: - Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal PPO (out of network for HMO but we do accept) - Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and POS (out of network for HMO but we do accept) - Humana of Texas PPO and HMO - Tricare (with a referral) - Texas TrueChoice - First Health Network - Galaxy Health Network - CCN If your insurance is not noted above we would most likely be out-of-network. We would accept your insurance (exception is Medicaid and Medicare) but you would be using your out-of-network benefits, if available to you. We have two surgeons here at the WISH Center in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Jorge Rincon and Dr. Paresh Rajajoshiwala. When you go to our website you may read more about their credentials under the topic “surgeons.” Thanks again for your interest in the WISH Center and we look forward to hearing from you very soon. Brenda S. Mendoza WISH Center Office Manager 7333 Barlite Blvd., Suite 380 San Antonio, TX 78224 (888) 870-9474 (210) 932-9474 ext. 107 (210) 932-9476 fax bmendoza@wishcenter.org