fatmom

Wonderful news! You've worked hard and deserve this celebration!

I'll chime in too. I was banded Sept. 14. I cannot yet say "it was worth it" but I can tell you "this too, shall pass." I did not start feeling human until late afternoon on the 20th. I didn't go back to work on the 21st like planned, but was so much better by the end of the 21st that I DID go back to work on the 22nd. Now, I'm still very aware of the fact that I had surgery little more than a week ago. I still take it very carefully. I still don't want to bend over. I have had a couple nights where I got extreme pain that went away as soon as I got up out of bed. Fortunately, I have a motorized bed so I can raise the head. Otherwise I'd probably still be sleeping in the recliner. I have been told, as you have here, that in time we will be able to say it was worth it. That may be true, only time will tell. I'm still not convinced I'll ever say that if I had the choice to do it over again that I would. We're in the boat now though, so we gotta keep rowing for shore! Prayers and blessings,

Those who have had their surgery, let us know how you're doing. How long was your hospital stay? What's it like being home now and knowing "this is it" you're truly, truly on your way! Anything you want to share that we who have yet to go forth should expect.

Denise, Thank you for the encouragement. I've been off the Percoset since Saturday. I agree, that was probably giving me some of the anxiety attacks. I'm actually feeling pretty "Normal" now, but it was a very long week. I posted those feelings because I want others who might feel that way to know they aren't alone. I spoke with my sister in law last night and her hubby had by pass a number of years ago and experienced the same doubts immediately after. Now he says it's the best thing he's done for himself. It was just nice to hear that someone else experienced doubt for a while afterward.

I am taking the bariatric advantage as well. They are grainy, but since I'm still on a liquid diet, it gives me something to chew! One thing I would say to all you Viactiv women. Viactiv is Calcium carbonate. Calcium citrate is better absorbed and better for us. BA has a chocolate tab that is Calcium Citrate. Now, I talked with my dietician about this and she didn't think it was a problem, but everything I read and the bariatric nurse that works with my dr. all agree that the Citrate is better, so I'm sticking with it. Especially since I'm hitting 50 soon.

I know I didn't read every story posted in this thread, but I read several pages. I didn't come across a single one that prepared me for what I experienced. Now, I will say in advance that the only time I have ever been in a hospital before was when I was 6 and had my tonsils out. I am almost 50 now. And I have always had a very weak stomach. Couldn't even watch MASH when it was in its original run because it was too bloody. But I have matured some over the years (I enjoy MASH reruns) and felt I was ready for this. I was banded on Monday, Sept. 14. They did find a small hernia that they stitched up, but otherwise it was standard procedure. Everything went pretty much how others have said it would go. Except for my mental state. I was totally unprepared for the pain, the gas, the regret, the sense of having assaulted my body. I'm not sure I'll ever get to the point that I think what I've been through was worth it. I am finally on an upswing and feel like I might survive. I turned a corner yesterday, mostly in part probably thanks to my dear hubby who unwittingly guilt tripped me into leaving the house. We went, of all places, to the grocery store. It was hard, but I was glad I did it afterward. I have never experienced anxiety or panic attacks until this experience. I have to get a hard handle on my emotions to even take a shower. I have to hold one hand up against my chest so I can't see my incisions. I've had a total of two showers since my surgery. I'm still experiencing the occasional gas pain. I've developed a kind of rash in certain parts of my body. I was supposed to go back to work today, but I can't even dress myself yet. I applaud all of you who managed this procedure so well and only wish I was one of you. I know all this sounds like whining, and it is, I guess. But I have to whine to someone and I feel like those who have yet to come need to know that if their experience isn't like the majority, they aren't alone. Because I feel very alone, like a social outcast. I will say my hospital stay was just as I was lead to expect. It went seamlessly, except for the hospital not having the insurance approval when I arrived Monday morning. the lady was nice though and did not force me to sign a waiver, and my husband told me that while he was waiting for them to give him my room number, the woman told him it had come through. The staff were all kind. The pre op room was crowded, but the hospital is planning to rennovate. I was unable to convince anyone to give me some anti anxiety med before general anesthesia as I'd been led to hope might happen. They didn't want me to have any meds until I'd spoken with the surgeon and shortly after that I was on the move, so then the point was moot. I don't think if I had been sent home the same day I would have ever gotten out of bed, or the recliner in my case. My motivation to get up and move was "R" -- the male bariatric nurse who works with my dr. and was there for the surgery, followed me to my room, came back for a long chat after I was settled. He had warned me at the support group earlier in the month (he runs those too) that he would be there to get me moving. He offered a sugar free popsicle for every three laps around the floor. Being on pain meds, that was a good motivation and I probably did more than I would have had I not had the meds. I was lucky that the charge nurse for that night had to have dental surgery and couldn't cover his shift, so "R" filled in for him, so he came back by later in the evening, another motivator to get up and move around. He came back in the morning before I was discharged to go over some last minute things. I was the only patient the day of my surgery, so perhaps we got his undivided attention. But he was in no rush even considering he worked the day before and over night. I hope I can come back at some point in time and write another post proclaiming that time makes a difference. We'll see.

Well, I can tell you what I'm allowed to do on my 14 day pre op diet. shake for Breakfast and lunch. A small piece of fruit with lunch. (smaller than a baseball, slightly larger than a golf ball) A midafternoon snack of 1 ounce of low or no fat cheese (one string cheese is acceptable), or a 90 calorie yogurt or 1.2 c. no fat cottage cheese. dinner is 4 ounces of lean Protein, chicken, turkey, lean beef; 1 c. vegetables by volume; 2 slices of whole grain bread. I often use fat free mayo and make a sandwich. My other mainstain is using the skinless chicken tenders you buy in the fresh meat dept. of your grocery. That makes it quick and easy to cook and weigh. I switch up the seasonings I sprinkle on: Greek, Italian, Mrs. Dash.... Then you are allowed 10 baby carrots for an evening snack. My instructions said that I could rearrange this as needed or desired but could not eat anything that was not on the list. A lot of days I get too busy and don't bother with the Snacks, other days I eat it all. Hope that helps!

Will you please add me to the list? 9/14/09 Thanks!

You'll find more discussion on this issue in another chat area of this forum. I think it's called The powder Room or something, anyway it's for women only. I ordered some stuff from Bariatric Eating and a freebie was a book entitled "Before and After." In that book the woman recommends taking along pads to the hospital because you will bleed for a day or so following the procedure and it can be heavy. :thumbup: Considering my body is already starting to whack out on my because of my "advanced" age, this whole issue is rather shall we say disappointing?

My surgery is Monday. My closest friends know, the people at work who have to know, and that's it. Well my immediate family. I have NOT told my parents because my mother will be disappointed in me. I attended a support group meeting last week and people's comments about "Taking the easy way out" was one topic of conversation. It made me so angry that I wrote a letter to Dear Abby and explained how this is SO NOT easy and asked her to let her readers know. So, let's see if she prints it and does us all a HUGE favor.

I tried a couple of the other types of Protein drinks and they were awful. I'm sticking with Carnation Instant Breakfast Lite pre mixed. It's like drinking chocolate milk for breakfast! Yum! I started Tues., today is Saturday. I breezed through the first few days. Today was sooooo hard! I got hungry so quickly after breakfast. I about bite my husband's head off! We went to the gym in the afternoon and I got on my elliptical and was sweaty and worn out in 20 minutes! I've been doing between 30 and 40 normally, but I couldn't go another minute today. What's happening? I can't do another 9 days like today!

Just popping in to let everyone know I'm thinking of them as they go under the knife this week. I know we had a lot of 9/1 and 9/2 folks out there and you've been on my mind. I started my two week Protein shake diet this week. Dearest hubby is joining me, What a wonderful support, I can't imagine anyone doing this willingly! Yesterday I was soo busy I didn't get my midday snack, so I piled that and my evening snack on to my dinner plate, as it was quite late when we got around to eating. I couldn't finish it all! What a big surprise. Today though, life's a little slower and I had my fruit with lunch, had my mid day snack, and I'm just as hungry as yesterday, drat it! Here's to us September bandsters!!!!!!!

Hello everyone. Checking in. Been a busy week and I haven't had time to log on. Five more pages since I was here. Whew! My hubby went with to the nutrition/pre-op class, and guess what! He says he's going to try and do the 14 day pre surgery protein shake diet with me. That will help a WHOLE lot. Of course, on the other hand, he'll probably lose about 25 pounds doing it and I'll be lucky to lose 5. The nutritionist mentioned bariatriceating.com and I went there and ordered their variety pack of protein shakes and some chewable vitamins. That's the first place I've seen that has chewable calcium that is actually calcium citrate which is supposed to be the best kind for you. Absorbs better. Of course now I have to figure out how to remember to take my multivitamin with iron separate from my calcium and get enough calcium while only taking it in 600 mg. doses. My mind is beginning to reel from trying to keep all the facts and figures in my head. At the class, the nutrionist gave us a booklet, then the bariatric specialist/nurse gave us one and then the doctor gave me a looseleaf notebook full of stuff and is evidently also sending me a video to watch. Just one more week for bunches of you... hang in there, the day will come before you know it!

I have Aetna too. What I did was just called the number on my card and told them I was considering the surgery and I wanted to ALL the prerequisites for being approved. The nice lady gave me a web address to go to that listed what my particular policy required. I will say for the most part everything went smoothly for me. Except this past weekend I received a letter saying they hadn't rec'd my documentation of the 6 month diet. Well, I hand carried that from my PCP to the surgeon, so Monday bright and early I called them and told them so. I was informed my approval was pending. DUH! I said, yes, because you're claiming you don't have the paper work that I'm telling you, you do have. So she went away for a minute and came back and said I was approved. I said, I am? She said, yes. You were approved last Friday, but we couldn't get a hold of your surgeon's office. Don't worry about the letter, everyone gets them.:sad: All I know is, I'm approved, I go under the knife 9/14 and I'm scared stiff. Good luck!

I love this thread! I think insurance companies should require six months of psychological/psychiatric retraining instead of six months of doctor supervised dieting. Don't "they" realize that if we could lose the weight on a diet we sure as heck would instead of subjecting ourselves to the knife? My surgery is 9/14. I've been seeing a dr. who specializes in compulsive eating for about 6 weeks now. I know in my heart I am no where near ready for the challenge ahead by myself. She is more encouraged by my mental progress than I, and that gives me hope. Being here is a big help as well. It's nice to know I'm not the only one with fears, frustrations and concerns as well as hope. This thread makes me realize I will have more support since there are those out there who realize a lot of this is retraining the brain. People who will remind me..."remember to check in with the stomach...is it an urge or a craving...etc..."

Thanks GraciesMom for the tip on the free coupon. And thanks to everyone for voicing their preferences. I'm glad I found this forum, I've learned so much in just a couple days.

Greetings! My surgery date is Sept. 14. Tomorrow is my pre-op class. Thu. I go for EKG, blood work, xray and meet the surgeon again. I have a big fear of hospitals, so I am excited and scared-to-death! at the same time. I'm counting on this being a one night stand :w00t:. I have told my hubby (duh), best friend, and work. I haven't and may never tell my folks. My mom lost a lot of weight going to TOPS and she is the kind who thinks every ailment (even a cold) has a psychological basis. So needless to say, I don't think I can count on her for support. And I can't tell dad because he won't keep a secret from her. I'm really tickled at how supportive the people I had to tell at work have been. I'm not looking forward to the liquid diet, but hey you gotaa do what ya gotta do, right? There were six pages of post when I found this thread. I've lost track now of the person who said their program even had several classes ahead of time, teaching you how to eat afterward. That is so great! I was disappointed at my meeting with my dietician because she gave me very little advice. She alluded to more classes down the line, but I don't know when. I think getting them before rather than after is wise. And my dr. poo-pooed any idea of needing "cosmetic" surgery later on down the road, and I think at my age (almost 50) that's unrealistic. It's kind of like he's just interested in doing the surgery. Oh, and you want to hear this? I got a letter from the insurance company over the weekend. It said my review was on hold because they hadn't received the info from my 6-month diet. Well, I called them today and said, you sure do have it because I hand-carried it from PCP to surgeon. The lady I finally was transferred to said, "everyone gets those kind of letters." Then she said my case was pending. And I said, yes, I know, because you're waiting for this information that I'm telling you you already have. So she goes away for a minute and comes back and says, "oh, you were approved on Friday. We called your dr's office but no one answered. We're going to call with the approval today, write the letter and mail it tomorrow." My husband thinks the only solution to health care reform is non-profit insurance. I'm beginning to agree with him.

Hello. Well, here I am. What to say? I started this process with what I think I will call my new year's revolution. Started the 6 month diet req. by insurance in Jan. Went to the surgeon's intro seminar, etc... My surgery date is September 14. ("Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.") I am scared stiff. I hate, hate, hate hospitals. I can't stand pain. But I'm 5'3" and weigh 286. I can't tie my shoes unless I'm sitting on the bed and pull my leg up on to the bed so I can reach my foot. I've been reading posts on this site for two days now, trying to glean info and thoughts. I read all about the cosmetic surgery people have or wish they could go through. I don't want to lose all this weight and look like I'm melting. But the idea of more surgery is abhorent as well. I read about the people who are doing well (good for you!) the people who have slid a little, or slid a lot. I am encouraged by the encouragement they have received. I worry about the negative thinking the sliders experience. I had to see a pyschiatrist as part of all this, but the woman I chose, on the dr's list I might add, isn't a psychiatrist at all. But she is a specialist in compulsive eating. I only needed one appointment with her to meet requirements. But I have been seeing her once a week ever since. She has me keeping a food diary that tracks not only what I am eating, but what I am thinking and feeling before, during and after. I also track "urges". Imagine my surprise to learn you can't be hungry and have an urge at the same time. That's a craving. But important to me and it may well be my undoing, is that she says nothing is ever totally a "no-no". Don't ever say you can't have something ever again. Maybe you can only have one bite. But if you retrain your brain, that hopefully will be enough. That last sentence is my thinking, not hers. I haven't trained myself to give up or even limit chocolate. That's where this dr's diary falls short because she doesn't require me to write amounts. So she has no clue how much I'm eating when I write down "dark chocolate covered pomegranite seeds". I have been trying to be mindful. What she's trying to get me to do is be aware of what I eat and when I feel full. And stop eating then. Keeping a diary is one thing, but knowing someone else is going to be reading it and discussing it with you, is keeping me a bit more honest. I see her this afternoon, and it's not been so good a week. I've had company and it's been hard to write in the diary. I haven't eaten too bad. Except for the pint of Ben and Jerry's I demolished in two sittings. Learning to separate emotions from eating is a big thing and I'm not there yet. Though I'm certainly being tested. I have a teenager who is in trouble with the law at this point in time and making sure the dh and I are on a constant roller coaster ride of emotions: anger, fear, hope, despair, frustration..... So I tell myself I have to do this for me, I can't let what that child is doing deter me. I need to focus on me and not that. How do I get a ticker?

Hi, I'm new to this forum. My surgery is 9/14. My hair was starting to "thin" as 50 drew closer. My beautician recommended Nioxin shampoo and conditioner. She notices a difference more than I do visually, but I do realize hair isn't coming out in my hand when I wash it now. The reason I mention it here is because I bought a book about weight loss surgery, written by some guy on TV that I'd never heard of, but he's on the Discovery Channel. Anyhow...he mentions hair loss in his book and says a number of his patients found some success using Nioxin. I really like the deep therapy masque. I haven't been successful finding it on line, but I recently saw it in the window of someplace like SuperCuts or one of those inexpensive chain cutterys. The product, at least at my beautician's isn't inexpensive. But considering the alternative...:thumbup:

Well, I feel better, thank you. I guess I'm just nervous being new.:thumbup: I found the place for the tickers, and created one, but when I copied and pasted the link in the box in the signature section of my profile, I keep getting "invalid code". Is anyone willing to talk me through this? I'm not a computer expert, but I can usually figure things out. But this one has me perplexed.

My deep thanks to Donna and JebbRobb for welcoming me. I guess lurking for two days isn't long enough to learn what's what here. Most other newbies were welcomed with open arms. I will resume lurking and keep quiet since I don't seem to fit in here.:thumbup:

This is my first post. I have pre op class next week, so this was very, very helpful. I am a wuss :drool: and can't stand any kind of pain, so to know it can be reduced is helpful. Thank you.