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Want2Lose: My husband and I drove to Nashville last night from Knoxville because I had to be at the hospital at 5:30 a.m.!! Ouch. I was called very quickly and the staff escorted me and my husband up to the hospital room where he could wait on me, and it's where I went after recovery as well. A nurse came in and took my temp, gave me two pills to take orally, and gave me a shot in my arm that thins the blood... the shot itself didn't hurt, but the medicine sure felt like something was pinching me or biting me. She also measured my legs and brought me some knee-high sock things, something about helping with the blood clots. I still have them on, supposed to wear them until tomorrow. After that nurse was done, she told me they would come get me about 25 minutes before surgery time, which was 7:45. They arrived exactly 25 minutes early, took me down to the preop station. There I met the anesthesia team and saw my doctor. I was in the preop room getting my IV and fluids for about 30 minutes, I would say. Then they told me they were going to give me some relaxing medicine and that I probably wouldn't remember much after that. After they injected it, they said "This is the time when you spill alllll your secrets to us." I hope I passed out quickly. The last thing I remember was being wheeled to the surgery room, but don't remember anything after that. When I woke up, I think I was just worried about breathing. It's really foggy now, but I think they still had the tube thing down my throat when I woke up. They were watching closely because I know when I woke, I coughed and they took it out immediately, or did whatever to make the pain go away. My mouth felt like a cotton ball (still does). So then I go to the recovery room and they give me morphine for pain. By the way, the surgery ended around 9:30-10:00, and then I was in the recovery room for about an hour. That was fine with me, I was dozing in and out and letting them give me all the morphine allowable. lol. I really didn't feel much pain in the recovery room. I'm pretty sore right now, but that's a different story. After the recovery room, they took me back to where my husband was, the hospital room. Once they did a couple of rounds to check my BP, temp and made sure I could use the restroom, and of course walk, then I was able to go home! So I was done at the hospital at about noon today. It was a very fast experience. I'm feeling okay right now, I felt better earlier in the day. nasty Liquid Hydrocodone is not nearly as effective as morphine, nope. I've been using the heating pad that I picked up the other day, and it feels really good. Sorry for my lengthy novel! Good luck to everyone who has surgery this week!! Mallorie

No worries!! I was banded today, and I'm feeling pretty good. Keep in mind you'll probably have a large dose of morphine when you wake up. I was out of the hospital by about noon today. I'm sore now, but it's like ab muscle sore, you know, when you do several situps etc. My doctor gave me liquid Hydrocodone, and it is quite nasty. It tastes like Robitussin (sp?) Don't be worried!! I was so nervous this morning that my face was starting to splotch, something it has never done before. You'll do great. Just get plenty of sleep the night before, otherwise if you're super super tired, it's more difficult for the anesthesiologistto wake you up after surgery. Best of luck, and tell us how it goes!!! Mallorie

Somehow... I don't think you're at the right place.

Hi!! I was banded today! Yay! I have a question for some of you experienced bandsters -- did you lose a significant amount of weight in the month following the placement of the band? It seems like you would lose quite a bit from just being on liquids/very soft foods!

Hey Guys!! I made it! I just got home to Knoxville from Nashville (where my surgery was.) Everything went very well. I'm not really even in that much discomfort, my abdomen just feels like it has gone through several thousand crunches. I can't even tell I have the band in. The only thing I've had today is water, and it seems to go down normally! Thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers, and I want to know how everyone else did today as well!! Mallorie

Couldn't believe this when I read it. I called my husband, he is a big fan, and he didn't believe me. His co-worker called him shortly after, and now he believes me. I can't help but think that Steve Irwin should have gone a different way. I know that may sound bad -- Anyone can go on a tour and pet stingrays/swim with them, etc. Not many people go close to venemous snakes and crocodiles. You would think it would not have been a stingray that killed him. All aside, I'm thinking of his family. I hope they are with close friends and family.

Hi ItsGottaGo and BJean. I felt exactly the same way. True, I was (am) starving the entire time, but here in the last few days toward the end of the diet, I have dropped about 3 pounds all at once, 7 altogether. Yesterday and today are clear liquids only, so I think I will probably lose at least another pounds before tomorrow. Stick with it, it's hard, and don't cheat! (I did cheat once, and my husband put me through a major guilt trip. "Well, you can just WALK to Nashville!!!" (from Knoxville for the surgery)) haha. Keep up the good work!!!!!

Well, it is about 1:00 a.m. here, so Monday, meaning I'm to be banded tomorrow! I'm excited. I was nervous. But now I'm so hungry I can't wait for it to be over with. I'm craving foods I normally don't like. I squeezed some chicken broth into my liquid diet and loved it -- normally, how bland. I went out tonight and did a midnight run at Walmart to get the postop items. I got several different soups, broths, jellos, popcycles, mashed potatoes, oatmeal and cream of wheat. Walking into a grocery store when you're really hungry is not the greatest idea. I also made sure to get a heating pad (not sure what this is really for, is it for the wounds?) and I found these Gas-X strips you put on your tongue and they melt. Well, I'm def ready. Starving and Ready. I saw that a few other kids are to be banded Monday and Tuesday... good luck to everyone! Mallorie

I'm going to be banded on Sept 5. I am supposed to be on the two-week liquid diet right now. I have done great the past week and a half.... Today my husband brought home Burger King and I stole one of his fries..... and then I went down to BK myself and got a chicken sandwich. I feel so so so guilty. Has anyone else cheated this bad?? I think I may go throw it up.

I have been taking TO YOUR HEALTH liquid vitamins for about a year. I know most of you cringe at the thought of a liquid vitamin, but the drinks tastes like fruit juice. My doctor explained to me that liquid is better absorbed by your body and you get more nutrients out of liquid than you do from a pill/capsule. The vitamin is pretty pricey, but I definitely think it's worth it, I can tell a difference in the way I feel. Here's the link if anyone is interested! To Your Health

Sounds worth a shot. 1st part is the Atkins/Southbeach diet.

I'm in the middle of the 2-week pre-op diet right now. Surgery is Tuesday. I AM DYING!!!! This week I am only allowed to have 4 protein shakes a day. I wrote in another post that I have actually been dreaming about french fries, no joke. My saliva glands are working overtime. I can't speak to someone if they talk about real food. lol.

Mine is the fact that I can't see my family until I lose weight. My dad's side of the family is very superficial. Every time I talk to my grandmother, it's "How's WW going," or "Have you been using that treadmill?" My dad's current wife is very thin, probably 5'2, 115 lbs, if that. Even before my real fatness days, I saw her watching everything I would eat. Some people don't know how to have conversations about anything other than food/exercising, and that's my family. I asked my dad one time to write me a prescription for something to help with the breaking out on my face, and he told me, "You know, when I was your age and was breaking out, I just hopped on the treadmill, does a lot of good." Love the family, loves them.

Hi Everyone, I'm going to be banded in a week, Sept 5. :clap2: I have been reading about this PB and slime stuff. This makes me nervous. Does this happen often in a public place?! I am a court reporter, and I can just see myself now sliming the judge or an attorney, zomg. NOoooo! Please reassure me, Mallorie

I've been chompin on some popsicles this past week, and I assume I can have them next week as well. I guess I should probably call and ask. I'm pretty sure I shall wither away and die.

I am dreaming of french fries, and even though I haven't ever had them, those chicken Fries things from Burger King. So very hungry....:faint:

The past week I have been doing 2 Protein shakes for breakfast/lunch, then a SmartOnes for dinner. (They let me squeeze in some protein bars) Tomorrow starts strictly Protein Shakes, I can have four per day. French fries...

I haven't had the surgery yet (1 week), but I met with my surgeon last week and I asked him about exercising. He told me whenever I felt up to it after the surgery, I could do whatever kind of exercise I wanted. That's just what I've been told, I would wait to hear from people who actually have the band first before you start doing 8 Minute Abs.

Hi Guys, I'm about one week away from the big day, Sept 5. My doctor put me on the 2-week pre-op diet which consists of two Protein shakes and a frozen entree` such as SmartOnes, Healthy Choice, etc for dinner for the first week. Tomorrow I start only Protein Shakes. This has been hard for me. I'm sooooo hungry. I called the doctor's office, and they said I could squeeze an extra shake or Protein Bar in between meals. My husband is actually trying to GAIN weight and muscle (go figure) and so he has these Protein Bars called ZonePerfect. I usually hate protein bars because they are way too chewy and taste like cardboard. Well, I tell you what, these bars are GOOD. I don't know if I'm delirious from hunger or what, but I actually enjoy them. They are very tasty. :hungry: Well, I guess it's time for Breakfast... ugh Slimfast. Yuch I hate them. Good luck to Everyone this month, Mallorie

So my insurance is pending but now they say they need a medical clearance letter from my PCP saying that I am fit and medically stable enough to have the surgery. I talked to my PCP's nurse today and she said I would have to come in for an EKG and a chest x-ray. zomg. Did anyone else have to have this done? What if he sees something in my chest from smoking (I can't imagine cancer quite yet, as I am only 21yo, but you never know) Will he say that I'm not fit to have the surgery? Eeeegad. Can you see tar and buildup on the chest x-ray? yuch yuch yuch. I really should have quit when I told my PCP I was going to. Now he's going to see that I fibbed a wittle bit.

Hey Guys, So I decided to drive from Knoxville to Nashville to see Dr. Morton. I had the psych eval in Nashville as well. Well, the past week I have been waiting on insurance and then I finally called them to see how the authorization was going. Now insurance says that I need a nutritional eval. Does anyone know of any nutritionists in the Knoxville or surrounding area? I guess if I have to I can go Nashville and go to one of the nutritionists that Dr. Morton works with, but I would like to avoid the trip if necessary. Please let me know if you all have had any success with some around here. THanks, Mallorie

Hi Guys, So I've been on the edge of my seat this week waiting to hear if insurance will approve me. I was told I needed a psych eval, letter of medical necessity from my PCP, to be heavy enough, have 2 health problems associated with being overweight, and I was good to go. Did all that/have all that. WELL, I just couldn't contain myself and called BCBS SHPS to see how the authorization was going. They said it was pending, but now I need a letter of medical clearance? What the! :Banane56: I guess that comes from my PCP as well. You would think the letter of medical necessity would be enough, that he wouldn't write it if he didn't think I was physically able to have surgery. Secondly, I have to have a nutritionist eval. What is this!!! :help: I've been looking at the forums and see that people have had to work with a nutritionist for several months before they could even HAVE the surgery!! Very not good, as my husband is joining the Air Force in September and this good insurance will be gone. So what is a nutritional eval? Are some of these only 1-time visits? Please inform me!! I'm soooo nervous right now because I need to get everything done so quickly, but I feel like I keep falling back a step. Please tell me someone else has BCBS and that it wasn't that big of a deal! Stressing, Mallorie

Thank you, Bettina, for your response! Well, I actually called BCBS before I made an appointment with the surgeon to make sure the surgery wasn't an exclusion on my policy. When I called, I also wanted to know what all I had to do to qualify. They told me the things I listed: Psych eval, medical necessity letter, overweight (obviously), and two comorbid conditions. They didn't mention the nutritional eval. I don't mind going to the nutritionist, it's just that I have a limited time to get all of this taken care of. I would like to continue seeing one after the surgery, but I can't do several months of it before, because my husband is joining the service in a little over a month. I'm going to call BCBS back on Monday to see what it is that they expect. Surely if they needed several months to review, they would have told me that when I called. All they said was that I needed a "Nutritional Evaluation." By the way, what exactly is that? What does the nutritionist write that will help the insurance process? On side note, has anyone seen a nutritionist in Knoxville, TN or in the surrounding area? The surgeon I'm going to is in Nashville, and I already went to Nashville for the psych consult because they work with them on a regular basis. But if I can, I would like to do the nutritional eval here in Knoxville to save a trip. :Banane56:

Hi Guys, I have my first appointment with Dr. Jack Rutledge in Chattanooga, TN on Thursday. I'm trying to get everything in order and everything together before I go see him so the process will be smooth and fast. Tomorrow is Monday, and I need to call my primary care physician for a "medical necessity referral." Joy. I'm new to Tennessee, only been here a year, so I have only seen this doctor once. He seems very conservative -- in fact, when he told me he wanted to see me lose some weight, he mentioned that his wife worked at the local Weight Watchers. I just don't know if he will do it, and plus I don't have a "five year history" report from any doctor about being overweight. Did anyone else stress out about this as much as I am? Did the referral letter not end up being that big of a deal?? Please say so! Mallorie

What happens to them!!! When you lose a significant amount of weight, do they diminish, thin, disappear??