Bullwinkle

1. Was your procedure outpatient or did you stay overnight? Overnight 2. Did you have complications related to surgery? Not yet. I was banded 05-04-07. 3. What you were given for at home pain? How many days did you take it? Liquid Vicadin. Still taking it but only once a day now. 4. Pain after surgery for how many days? Pain from gas. Tremendous pain the first and second day. Eased up considerably the fourth day (yesterday). 5. Degree of pain...10 being your arm was cut off and 1 being a paper cut? First few days = 8. This morning (day 5) = 1. 6. Doctor and state where surgery was done? Dr. Trace Curry, Cincinnati, Ohio

Hey. I just realized something. I'm having surgery May 4th -- and that's six months TO THE DAY that I first called my surgeon to schedule an appointment about getting a lap band. Seems like it was meant to be, or something...

Hey. I just realized something. I'm having surgery May 4th -- and that's six months TO THE DAY that I first called my surgeon to schedule an appointment about getting a lap band. Seems like it was meant to be, or something...

Susan!!! THANK YOU for understanding and for your response. Good luck Friday morning. Perhaps we can check in with each other after we're banded. I just keep thinking that something will happen and that I can't have this surgery. I ate two radishes last night!!! I am not supposed to have ANYTHING but the MEdifast and sugar-free Jello and popsicles!!! I also had one cigarette this morning!!! I can breathe very, very deeply, however, and not wheeze or anything. I'm going to put the patch on my arm just now and then go to work. Let's check in with each other, okay?

I cannot begin to tell you how reassuring all of your comments are!! Thank you so very much! I am worried that I'll have trouble relearning how to eat slowly without having PBs, and I am worried that I have smoked a few cigarettes last week (about 7 for the entire week) and that they will not be able to put me under. I had carpal tunnell surgery, however, and they put me under just fine for both of those surgeries and I didn't quit smoking. The good thing is that I'm not smoking now at all, and I've lost 11 pounds pre-op. Again, thanks for all of the support!!!!!

My surgery date is May 4th. I'm very nervous. I've lost 11 pounds as of this morning, following the pre-op diet for 9 days now. Wish me luck. I'll write about it in my journal. I weigh 282.8 right now, and want to weigh 175 eventually. I hope this is the answer. I've been fat or fighting fat since I was 8 years old. I'm 46 now. That's a long time to be fat. This is my last hope.

I am down 11 pounds now and surgery is Friday morning. I've been using Medifast since last Friday. I'm getting more and more nervous about the surgery. Asking myself questions like, "Is this the right thing to do?" I wonder how many other people felt this way just before surgery.

I am down 11 pounds now and surgery is Friday morning. I've been using Medifast since last Friday. I'm getting more and more nervous about the surgery. Asking myself questions like, "Is this the right thing to do?" I wonder how many other people felt this way just before surgery.

I weigh 287 this morning, so I've lost 6 pounds since starting the Medifast diet on Friday. Not too shabby. I go for my pre-surgery testing tomorrow.

I weigh 287 this morning, so I've lost 6 pounds since starting the Medifast diet on Friday. Not too shabby. I go for my pre-surgery testing tomorrow.

Yep. I'm on day five of my pre-op diet. It sucks. I'm allowed to have 5 to 6 packets of Medifast per day, and all of the broth and sugar-free popsicles I want. I've lost 5 pounds so far. Surgery is May 4th, and it can't come soon enough. But then I hafta follow another liquid diet after sugery.......... *sigh*

I received my approval and am scheduled for surgery May 4th. This past Friday morning, I started the two-week pre-op diet, consiting solely of Medifast. By Saturday night, I was ready to rip someone's head off. I'm doing better, however, because after MUCH research I decided that it was okay for me to eat two lettuce leaves in the evening, with a very thin piece of turkey (Buddig). While my surgeon has said NOTHING but Medifast, I realize what my body is capable of, and I'm doing this so that I CAN make it through these two weeks and still have shrunk the liver enough to have the surgery. Friday morning I weighed 293.8, and this morning I weighed 288. I am scared about adjusting my life around the band, but I know that I can do it. I just don't want to be at work and PB or have something stuck and then not being able to function.

I received my approval and am scheduled for surgery May 4th. This past Friday morning, I started the two-week pre-op diet, consiting solely of Medifast. By Saturday night, I was ready to rip someone's head off. I'm doing better, however, because after MUCH research I decided that it was okay for me to eat two lettuce leaves in the evening, with a very thin piece of turkey (Buddig). While my surgeon has said NOTHING but Medifast, I realize what my body is capable of, and I'm doing this so that I CAN make it through these two weeks and still have shrunk the liver enough to have the surgery. Friday morning I weighed 293.8, and this morning I weighed 288. I am scared about adjusting my life around the band, but I know that I can do it. I just don't want to be at work and PB or have something stuck and then not being able to function.

*sigh* I got denied. They said my BMI isn't high enough. When I told the insurance coordinator at Dr. C's office that I've gained 32 pounds since they first saw me -- because I quit smoking -- she told me that my BMI is high enough now, and she'd resubmit the papers. I hope they don't deny me again. I weigh 282 now. Wow. I'm depressed. Thinking of taking up smoking again. Why shouldn't I? At least I'll lose weight.

Dr. C., when I saw you initially, I believe that you told me that you would do my first fill a few weeks after surgery. Is that correct? I hope it won't be THREE MONTHS after surgery before my first fill. I read this thread, and that poor woman was banded 11-09-06, and won't get her first fill until 02-11-07!!!! Tell me that's not the way you do it.

Thanks. Dr. C. Tracy called last week to tell me that UHC denied me because my BMI isn't high enough. Well, NOW it is because I've gained over 30 pounds since my first visit with you, and since you told me to quit smoking. Well, I quit smoking and gained that weight. Tracy will resumbit to UHC. I hope they approve me. Thanks for your response, Dr. C!!! You're the best, and I know you're busy!

*sigh* I got denied. They said my BMI isn't high enough. When I told the insurance coordinator at Dr. C's office that I've gained 32 pounds since they first saw me -- because I quit smoking -- she told me that my BMI is high enough now, and she'd resubmit the papers. I hope they don't deny me again. I weigh 282 now. Wow. I'm depressed. Thinking of taking up smoking again. Why shouldn't I? At least I'll lose weight.

Thanks for your reply. I guess Dr. C. is busy.

It's been nearly two weeks since everything was submitted to insurance, and still haven't heard anything about approval or denial.

It's been nearly two weeks since everything was submitted to insurance, and still haven't heard anything about approval or denial.

Are you talking about that brand-new one they just opened? When they were building that, I thought is was the new Ikea they're talking about building. That new Gold's Gym is HUGE. How do you like it so far? I joined FitWorks last March, and stopped going because the personal trainers rotate -- one time you'll get one, another time you'll get someone different -- and one of them pissed me off, so I quit going. Just wondered how you like Gold's Gym.

Wow. Dr. Sampang RULES. She is simply incredible, and FULL of energy! I absolutely loved meeting with her, and she indicates so far that I am an EXCELLENT candidate for this surgery!! I just have to finish completing a packet concerning my beliefs about food, hunger, and weight, fax it to her, and then call on Wednsday -- tomorrow -- to have the insurance coordinator submit everything to insurance! I am HYPED. Also, I went on a job interview today and would love to get that job. Although I am comfortable here where I work now -- and I would miss my co-workers terribly -- I must go where there is a future for me, a rate of pay I deserve, and benefits I need.

Wow. Dr. Sampang RULES. She is simply incredible, and FULL of energy! I absolutely loved meeting with her, and she indicates so far that I am an EXCELLENT candidate for this surgery!! I just have to finish completing a packet concerning my beliefs about food, hunger, and weight, fax it to her, and then call on Wednsday -- tomorrow -- to have the insurance coordinator submit everything to insurance! I am HYPED. Also, I went on a job interview today and would love to get that job. Although I am comfortable here where I work now -- and I would miss my co-workers terribly -- I must go where there is a future for me, a rate of pay I deserve, and benefits I need.

Well, I go see Dr. Sampang today at 1:30pm in Dr. C's office. I trust that this evaluation will go better than did the first. I am no longer irritable and "off balance" due to nicotine withdrawal, since today marks -- oh, I dunno. It's about 53 days or so being smoke-free. Huh. Imagine that. I don't even think about it much any more -- smoking, that is. I've lost track as to how many days I've been smoke-free. Next Sunday will be two months. Anyhow......I go for my second psyche evaluation today and I can't wait to get things in motion and get banded. Wish me luck!

Thank you, Teresita.......you're my cheerleader!!!!! WHAT would I do without you coming here and giving me uplifting feedback in my journal? THANK YOU!!!!