pokes

Only a week out and I have a bunch already! Stop drinking with meals now to get used to it as well as only taking sips (not gulps) when you do drink. Im not even on solid foods yet and not drinking 30 min before/after a the shake is hard... and once I do drink its hard not to just sort of chug my Water like I used to. Find a Protein Shake you like. You wll be drinking LOTS of them, best to like it Accept that when they say it will be 1-2 weeks till you get back to work that it will be. I tried going back less than a week after... it wasnt pretty!

Honestly, I don't think I should have gone home the same day. When I left I hadnt moved around a lot nor really kept anything down since I couldnt stay awake. The nurse I had really seemed to want me out however so I suppose I folded to the pressure and left when I wasnt 100% comforble with it. Im glad you stayed home until you were ready! Thats going to make the whole experence of recovery so much better!

I had surgery on Tuesday 12/29. It was rather uneventful (which is always a good thing!). I got to the hospital at 545 and was taken back to get weighed (with shoes!) and all changed by 6pm. After that it was probably a half an hour later that the nurse came in to ask all the questions, put in my IV and try to calm my nerves. While in my room the anastetheologist, OR nurse and the bariatric nurse came in. I was happy to learn they were all jokers and had a good sense of hurmor. For me thats very important as when Im nervous/scared I joke constantly (so yeah, I was a HOOK surgery morning!). Around 8am I got the happy medicine, said bye to Hubs and was rolled into the OR. I remember scooting over to the table get setting my sexy compression socks on and then... nothing. I woke up in recover about 10am. I had a hard time waking up after the anasthetic and couldnt stay awake. The pain wasnt too bad because I was so out of it. I was pukey though so they gave me some fentinol which knocked me out again. About 1pm they moved me into the Short Stay Unit in hopes of the move waking me up but... that didnt happen. I couldnt stay awak to save my life. at 230 I asked to get up and start moving around because I knew its what I needed to do. Made the trip to the bathroom and back to the bed where I promply turned green so they laid me back down where I passed out... again. By 330 I asked to get up and walk again at which point I was told I needed to wake up and get ready to go or they would have to admit me for the night. I walked around a but and started drinking which SUCKED. I could feel what I was drinking hitting my stomach and had some had acid reflux going on. They gave me some malox but it didnt really help at all. I got the water down despite the pain and they got me ready to head home. Once I was home the acid reflux slowly gotbetter but I had a hard time sleeping in bed so moved to the couch where I have been ever since. Now the 2nd full day out Im still achy but drinking had gotten much better. Im tired but thats to be expected due to the lack of sleep and protien. Now Im just taking it slow and getting VERY excited to take a shower!!

I had surgery on Dec 29th and Im finding sleeping a little difficult too. The day of surgery I couldnt stay awake in the hospital but since I havebeen home I havent slept more than 2 hours at a time. The 1st night I sat up in bed and it was AWFUL! I am now living on the couch which is a little better but sitting up and sleeping is getting old! I figure Ill just fight it out until I get so tired I just completly pass out

A little late getting on here but I got my surgery date last week... I go in the 29th!! They moved things real quick to get me done this year but I must admit, Im starting to get freaked out by the whole thing now that I know WHEN its gonna happen!

Has anyone had any travel restirctions after getting banded? I might be able to fit my band in this years (come on 9lbs!) but I have to take my grandmother to florida in mid-January. Im a little worried my travel plans my prevent me from getting banded this year... and under the good health insurance coverage. Thanks!

Thanks for the input! Makes me feel much better!!!!

Went to meet with the Bariatric Coordinator on Wednesday to start the process. She thinks I’m a good candidate and has given me all the first steps I need to do Already have all kinds of appointments set up... psyc consult, nutritionist and physical theory (that one was new to me... apparently its to help people who have not been active get active safely... she admitted it was silly for me but I have to go anyways). Go back in a month to see how I’m doing and how much weight I have lost (Need to lose 11lbs before I can have surgery). I’m very excited, but of course I had a curveball thrown at me today... found out I’m officially 'pre-diabetic' (exactly what I wanted to avoid) and I have some insulin issue too... now the doc wants to play the game of weight gain because of above or above because of weight gain :scared2:. This should be fun but seeing I have been over weight my whole life, I think the band will be a great tool for me. Well, that was long but what can I say... I’m excited :w00t:

Tomorrow I meet with the Bariatric Nurse... the first step in the process (well, second if you count the seminar). Im very excited but very pukey at the same time. As a result of my nerves I want to make a list of questions to ask. Unfortnatly the same pukeiness is giving me a brain cramp and can't think of all the questions I have had in the past. What questions did everyone ask on thier 1st visit? Thanks for the help!

I have only told 3 people, my husband, my best friend and a friend I have been re-connecting with from High School Husband doesnt want me to do it because he doesnt want me having surgery. He thinks something bad will happen. Its because of him that I went to the nuritionist and dr before hand to see how I can change my diet (its already what it should be) and to see if there are any other problems with me that could lead to the weight gain (perhaps one... but nothing major) Best Friend: When I told her I went to the seminar she said "You arent going to do that". Mind you she is about 110lbs and eats anything she wants... one of those people :frown: obviously she can't understand how it is to be overweight and everything that comes along with it. Old friend: She was 100% supportive. We trained together to walk a marathon for charity and she saw how I ate and all the exercise I did and my lack of weight loss compared to her so she thought it would be a good idea to go for it :eek: SO yeah, everyone gives you a different reaction.. just sort of have to role with it and od whats best for you!

I have been thinking about getting banded for a while now. Went to the info session back in July and got a little freaked out so decided to go to the nutritionist on my own to see if there was anything I could do to change my diet... found out I’m doing what I’m supposed to with food and exercise. Went to the Dr and got tested for just about everything that could cause weight gain (I have always been heavy but gained like 50lbs in 4 months... odd). From that I found out that I may be diabetic (second test is still being run). The whole reason I wanted to get banded and lose weight was to do it BEFORE I became 'unhealthy' (i.e. diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, ect). So Monday I decided I’m sending in my application. At 5'4 and 250lbs I know I’m a candidate... and looks like my current insurance covers surgery so I should be all good Of course Monday I also found out we have to change insurance coverage which means I have to pay WAY more out of pocket and I don’t even know if the new plan covers it:thumbdown: Hope all go well in the end though... I’m ready to live again!!!!

Has anyone had a change in insurance half way through the process of getting banded? I have decited to go for it and under my current insurance surgery will be covered. Unfortunatly the rumor around the office is that my company is going to make everyone change to a different insurnace plan (same insurance compnay) at the begining of the year. Seeing that it is oct 1st I have a feeling that surgery wont get done this year, but the process will be well underway. Has anyone else had this issue? what happened when your insurance changed half way though Thanks!

Today I made a visit to the nutritionist. I decited to meet with her before the other steps in my jouney to see what was recommended. Unfortunatly, I'm more confused now than ever. We went over what I usually eat in a day, how much I exersize, all the good stuff, and she saw no reason for why I can't lose weight/keep my weight down. Seems that Im 'doing what Im supposed to'. Now I worry, if I go get the band... will it actually do anything? Im already eating what I should in the proper portions... could the band really help me? Has anyone else come accross this issues?? Thanks!!

Nope, not losing any weight, infact I gained about 60 within a 5 month span last year. Dr doesnt seem to think anything is up... Im just fat like I always have been. Im going back in 2 weeks to get the thyroid checked (again) and try to figure out what else could be the problem. Now I suppose Im in a holding pattern in terms of getting a band or not. Very frustrated at the moment!!

So, I have been thinking about the lapband for a while now. A few weeks ago I went to a seminar and think that it could be a help, unfortunatly it doesnt look like anyone else does. I have spoken to my doctor about my worries about my weight. I have always had 'obese' listed as one of my health issues, but she still doesnt seem worried about it. Perhaps its because I have no health problem, Im just a 'larger' american. Last time I saw her I tried again and the only thing I got out of her was 'Well, I guess you could try seeing a nutritionist." Thanks. My husband says its an idea, but only if its the last thing I can do. Im not sure what he thinks I have been doing my entire life. He has seen me watch what I eat, record everything that does in my mouth and going ot the gym 2hr/day 7 days a week and little to nothing happening but still think everything is OK. I have gained nearly 100lbs in the 5 years I have known him... thats not normal. Apparently the loving me for me is strong with this one. Finally, the one other person I have told that Im thinking about it reacted with "You arent doing it". Granted, she is 90lbs soaking wet so she may not totally understand, but still... support would be nice. Has anyone else had a hard time getting people to support them through this process? I know I need to do something... being chubby all my life (think in 1st grade the school made me go to a nurtitionist bc they thought I was shy because I was fat, jenny criag at age 12... list goes on) and havent been able to get it under control. I want to do something now... BEFORE any health issues show themself? ANy suggestions on how to get the support I need to finally be a sucess?