MrsFitand42

I had my first fill appointment yesterday and the bariatric nurse was asking about my Fluid intake. I told her a drink about 3-4 20oz bottles of Vitamin zero Water per day. She had a fit! She told me I needed to drink plain water and if I didn't like plain water to add a packet of crystal light to it. I told her that doesn't make sense? Why is water with crystal light (with artifical sweetners and colors, etc.) be better than VW0 that has all natural sweetners, no art colors and lots of Vitamins? She stood her ground and I digressed but did leave the office thinking she is an airhead! What have you heard about this subject?

Well DING-DONG! Can't win for losing :w00t: I have got to stop believing things on labels I guess and start drinking Water. However, not from the tap. I actually purchased a $300+ water purifier unit months ago. I guess I better start using it!

ditto ~ great attitude! I go for my first fill this afternoon. I am hoping to finally get some restriction :cursing:

I don't think I read anywhere that said she was suing. I think she is making sure she is not taken to the cleaners and being responsible for these extra hospital costs. We all know that once a hospital gets their hooks in you and admit you overnight that you will be paying through the nose. In my case, I was self-pay so I would have been financially ruined if I had to stay overnight. Hopefully you have insurance that covered this and you can turn this mess over to them to dispute. I'm sure they don't want to be paying these charges either. Good luck!

I get sharp shooting pains around my port incision (right side) and I am 4 weeks post-op. It hurts so bad sometimes I feel like my insides have ripped open. I was told it takes a full 6 weeks for you to internally heal since its such a big and deep incision. The surface is healed perfectly but I can tell I am not fully healed inside yet. The pain comes and goes but notice if I sit too long it starts to ache so I get up and walk around for a bit and it eases. I hope that its nothing more serious. In the meantime, I'd try to apply ice packs and make sure you are getting enough h20 and Protein to speed the healing. Good luck to you!

Kas - I know your doubts, I've had them too but I think once you see more weight coming off and clothes fitting better it will click in your head that this is the best thing you could have done for yourself. I also think your mind will change when you've had a fill. I get my first in a few days and I can't wait because right now I could eat ANYTHING. I am going on sheer willpower to not. I think each office offers a support group and you should look into it and get some help face to face with others that are in your shoes. Best wishes to you and your band!

I agree - if you drink Protein Shakes or have a lot of sorbitol it can have a laxative effect on you. I drink 1 - 2 a day and have loose stools at least 2 times a day. Plus the build up of gas doesn't help either! I don't worry too much about it because I feel fine otherwise.

I am going to stock my candy dish with those Peanut Butter candies that are usually wrapped in orange or black waxed paper - I couldn't stand getting those in my halloween bucket as a kid!! LOL I cannot come within a mile of a reese's peanut butter cup though!

I flew last week and had the same result!! I was also thrilled to fit in my seat without my thighs spilling over into the next seat! I didn't get the usual eye roll from my seat mate that I usually got either! Like Oh No - is she sitting next to me??? :puke:

I get my first fill on October 19th as well. I know what you mean, I know I could eat ANYTHING at this point because everything goes down so easy. I have yet to feel full. I hear about people getting stuffed with two tablespoons of food?? I am going to sheer willpower and determination to eat within my restrictions but I'm telling you what - I am constantly hungry. It is not the "oh - I'm bored, I want to eat something", it's the stomach growling so loud everyone in the room hears it kinda hungry!! I know we will probably both be in for a shock when we get our first fills - it surely will put the brakes on our eating!!

I have my 2 week follow up today with my surgeon. I feel pretty much back to normal except my port site hurts more today than it ever has. I am thinking my recent airplane trip may have aggravated it. I am still on the mushy stage of my post-op diet. I am pretty much scared to death to eat anything thicker than watered down oatmeal. I have not felt any restriction at all. I have not gotten "stuck" on anything. In fact, if it weren't for the bruised scar on my stomach (the other 4 have healed perfectly) I am not convinced that I have a lapband!! I am basically running on sheer fear and willpower not to eat stuff I shouldn't. I am sure I will be singing a different tune once I get my first fill. I hope they will let me know today when to expect one.

:wub:Atkins Advantage! Comes in 3 or 4 flavors and I like them all

The port incision is the worst one - it is raised and bumpy and red, very tender to touch but not hot. I've also got a light rash over my entire stomach but that may be from the film they cover you with. The only other one that hurts is the very top one because my bra rubs it all day. The other 3 are almost completely healed!

Sure am! I'm itching like crazy 7 days out. I equate it to itching=healing so I have just tried to wear very loose dresses that hang out from my stomach. I have the benadryl spray and it dries pretty quick.

I get them at Walmart by the pharmacy where they sell the slimfast. It's called Body Fortress Super Whey Protein Shots and come in different flavors. I buy at least 12 (they are about 1.97 each) and like the fruit punch flavor. They take a day or so to get used to because they are very sweet but after a couple of days you don't care. Don't refrigerate though - they turn into almost a jello-y consistency. I have at least 2 a day to help meet my 65g protein requirement.

How do I set up one of those BMI meters I see attached to some of your messages? Go to tickerfactory.com and set yourself up one. There will be a url at the end that you can copy and paste into your profile (look for the customize profile link) and then "edit signature". Paste the url into it.

It is a funnel effect - I can feel it trickling down through my stomach! :thumbdown: I really like drinking the super whey Protein shots...they are 2 oz. and can drink in 3 sips...26g protein and I'm good to go. I do have a fear of beginning to eat mushies on the next stage. That should be interesting! :rolleyes2:

Did you notice that there are a total of 5 contestants that have had "lapband, vertical band or bypass (1) failures"? Good grief - that doesn't put things in a pretty positive light :thumbup: I guess it goes to show people - it really isn't the easy way out - you still have to work hard at losing the weight - it doesn't just fall off of you.

I am glad to have made it through my surgery on Friday. I am back to work today. Wish I could have taken a whole week but didn't have the luxury! The surgery went well - I was so scared at one point that I was ready to leave. Then the nurse told me that the results on my preop tests showed my blood sugars at 172 and bp 150/87. That was my sign - getting shots of insulin! I've never been pre-diabetic. I went in at 730a and came home at 430p. I felt improvement every day and now am off my pain meds. A little sore still but otherwise, just weak from only being on liquids. I had a lot of gas yesterday although it wasn't painful...I realized I was drinking with a straw half the day! I can't believe it...it didn't cross my mind at all. But they are right when they say NO STRAWS! I do have a nagging catch in my left shoulder blade but heating pad helps it along. Really can't wait to at least get back to my protein shakes. Last week I was sick at the sight of them, now it would be heavenly to drink one LOL. Good luck to all the banders going this week. It will be over before you know it!!

I say flush away!! :thumbup: A new you means a new life to live.

I got my surgery date - Sept 17th! I had my seminar yesterday. They wanted to keep my original surgery date of Sept 10th but I hadn't started my liquid diet and would only of had 8 days to do it. I told them no way I can't do it that soon - I need to shrink my liver!!! LOL So I am Day 1 on my liquids. So far so good - not hungry at all. We will see what I say a few days down the road

My date for surgery has been moved to an unknown date in September. I'm hoping for the 3rd week in September so I don't have to pay for my pre-surgical testing again! I have my seminar this Thursday so I should have a good idea when surgery will be and will report back later :biggrin:

My surgery originally scheduled for Sept. 10th has been delayed by the ladies in the doctor's office because of my food journal. Got the call first thing this morning telling me that they didn't think I was ready for the commitment that lapband surgery takes. I am a self-pay patient. I've met with the kind folks at the drs office for a total of 45 mins. tops during my 3 visits there. Yes, I did the info-seminar and was handed mounds of stuff to read that just sat in my cute little bag they gave me. My identical twin (who lives with me) went through the exact same surgery last year. I have her as my support. I know what it takes, I know what I need to do and am willing to do it. The one thing to my detriment was I gained 2 lbs (had my last supper so to speak before my 2 week liquid diet). I also was a little too honest on my food diary. One the one hand it's my fault and I am 100% committed to this (always was really-just now I'm really ticked off and want to prove them wrong). On the other hand, I feel let down by the team because I don't feel I had enough counseling and meetings with the nutritionist (never even met her - yet she's the one who called me today). Well - I had my pity party - it's ok...I will still have the surgery in September. I'm just a little hurt and feel a little run over but I will tell them exactly how I feel about this whole situation...AFTER surgery :)3

Thanks All! I had another lady from the WL Center call me back that same day to apologize how it was handled...but I'm still having to wait until the tell me when my date will be. They assured me it would be within the 30 days since I just paid $475 yesterday for my bloodwork. I told her that I felt like I was hung out to try and hope they've learned a lesson from me. I have a bad taste in my mouth about this but I am not going to quit now.

I'm going in on a Friday and hoping to be back by Monday (Tuesday at the latest). My twin sister had lapband surgery last year and took a whole six weeks off. She has an excellent employer!! I do know that she was not allowed to drink alcohol for 1 year. It's something to do with corrosion of the band. You may want to research that before you partake! A year out she enjoys a drink now and then.