MollyRN

I was banded on July 26 and I have two incisions, a small one below my left breast and the big belly button one. The small one still has a little bruise but is all healed, no pain. My belly button is still bruised and slightly painful to the touch - my incision is also still healing. I don't however hurt when I put my arms above my head. I hurt when I stand after sitting for a long time. But you only had one incision which means EVERYTHING went in through that - camera, band, instruments. I would say it sounds normal.

I had a cough (the remnants of a sinus infection) at my pre-op a week before the surgery and the anethesiologist told me it would be better to push it back a week. She said you want to go into surgery in your best shape possible.... I completely freaked out and went to my PCP and he was like, your lungs are clear....PROCEED. I had my surgery as scheduled - the only down side for me was that I still had a little cough after which was not exactly fun with the incisions - but it turned out fine. I don't think a scratchy throat affects anethesia at all - but just rest and take care of yourself. It will all work out beautifully!

I was almost 47 with no co-morbities and was approved in about 2 weeks. No questions asked, no additional requirements.

I am two weeks banded. Before surgery, I went to the gym 5x per week for 30-45 minutes of cardio each time. I have been walking this week but when I am done, I feel some port pain. I am wondering what others did after surgery - I am anxious to exercise but don't want to do too much and mess up my recovery. Doc said one month without lifting weights (pushing or pulling etc.) and that we could walk after a week - but is the port pain okay? What did everyone else do?

My shrink talked to me a lot pre-op about the emotional things - and the lifestyle things (my husband is a chef for the love of God). But I have to say for me, so far (and its only 2 weeks), the emotional and pyschological things have been like revelations - AH-HA moments - that give me some joy and happiness. Like I finally understand something or have clarity about why I couldn't do it by myself.... things like that. I have moments of feeling the enormity of my decision and commitment - but in general I am so happy - and get up in the morning excited to see what the day will be like (and I never felt that before...).

I too will have my first fill in 2 weeks. Currently, I can eat for example about 3/4 of a cup of something like egg salad, be stuffed and stay that way for about 2 or 2.5 hours. The goal of the fill is to stay fuller for longer, correct? Like 4 hours? I know that my doctor doesn't only use weight loss to determine fill needs, and I also get the impression that he may be pretty aggressive because at my surgical consult he said that if I comply and really eat slowly and chew thoroughly, he could really get the band tight and that I would be impressed with how well I would do. Please let me know if my thinking is correct about the duration until hunger returns... thanks :redface:

It's funny - I picked my doctor because he had the band (and because of his reputation). But he still broke it down... "Do you know why skinny girls are skinny??" Why doc? "Because they close their mouths and stop eating." Hmmm... he isn't that wrong in the vast majority of case. It is my hope that my band will help me fake the skinny girl mentality until I take it on for real :redface:

Yes - surgery was probably the LEAST eventful part of this process so far for me. What I am going through now psychologically (it is positive) is far more impressive. Statistically, the chance of dying is extremely low and focusing on that is really self-defeating. You are taking a step toward creating a BETTER life - focus on that instead.

Ok - I am only 11 days in, but I am AMAZED at the emotional and pyschological affect of a small surgical implant.... but I don't think most doctors can really understand this unless they were obese or have the band. It amazes me every day.

Yes - liquid was our pre-op diet. Thin liquid is liquid that could only be drank through a straw (every though we are not allowed to use straws). I kissed that puppy goodbye 2 days ago....thin liquid made liquid look fun.

My first fill is August 19 and my doc says 1000 calories per day until then.

Cheers Hannah - we have the same band date. I had an epiphany today - although it may seem ridiculously obvious to everyone else... We are on the puree, but the puree is still more likely to move faster through the band than solid food - thus the transition from liquid to solid. Plus, I think this is when our swelling truely starts to abate and we are beginning to enter that phase where we are increasingly hungry. Also, I think that in theory, 1/2 - 1 cup should make you feel full ALWAYS (especially when we are on real food) - the tightening of the band really effects the duration of the full feeling. I eat 1 cup of soup (which is liquid btw) and I feel hungry in one hour. Tighten my band and I eat one cup of soup and feel hungry in 3 hours. You and I in theory have our band pretty wide open - liquid and mushy stuff should pass pretty readily through it once the swelling subsides.... sounds like you (and me) are in the right place for this leg of our journey. My doc told me to keep things to 1000 calories a day right now. In order to do that, it is less band or more willpower until my first fill I suspect.

LapNYC - I want to get to this point you are talking about, but did you start by tracking things in order to sort of memorize the stuff that you needed to consume?

Thank you Emjay! That is exactly what I was looking for. They told me to stick to 1000 calories right now - I am 10 days post op. Your weight loss rate was really great! I hope I can achieve something like that as well. I am NOT messing around with this!!

First, you have a lot of options post-op that are not limited to his practice - so just having the surgery there doesnt mean you are committed to them for life. I really like Frank but I think you need to have the ability to slow them down. That's my impression - to be self-possessed enough to say HEY - stop for a minute. I need you to pay attention to this. I don't know if you have any kids, but it is kind of like pediatricians - they treat the average you know? But of course, there are always outliers and we need to be able to get someone's attention when we need it. I have never met Dr. Ren - but I will tell you that Dr. Fielding got inside my head, he is sweet, straight forward, mild mannered - he could never be harsh - ever! And, as with many things in life, my care is really ultimately up to me. I picked NYU because they are the best and I can't see having surgery with anyone with the best. I picked Dr. Fielding because he has a band (and he's the best). I like Frank and Gaspar (the nurses) and I think they generally run that office pretty efficiently. My experience with the surgical team was lovely - the anethesiologist was great. The nurses were awesome. Everything was as I would have wanted it. Now I am what, 11 days post-op? I have been in the office once, and it was a positive experience. If you want to talk, send me a private message and I will send you my cell.

No joke. I was supposed to start mushy today and I took the list shopping last night and then today I just stayed with my Protein because I have no clue in the world how I am supposed to get enough protein and eat the things on that list. I mean, how much cottage cheese do I have to eat to get 60 grams of protein???

OMG - seriously, my band buddy and I were talking about this yesterday. We are TOTALLY afraid to eat. I was cleared for mushy today and I am still nursing the protein shakes.... so funny.

NC Dave is now my fav!

I didn't do anything other than milk with protein stirred (not blended) in and vitamin water for the first 5 days. I think the goal is to make sure you are getting your protein. Save the soup for when you feel hungry.

Awesome! That's great!

I agree - love reading everyone's. www.aleadsinger.blogspot.com

I lost 6 lbs pre-op and 8 in the week since my surgery. Since I have started losing week, I have not stopped. I will start soft, mushy foods on Thursday and I am a little scared. Like you, I am consuming about 600 calories a day now (but I am sooo tired). Yesterday, the nurse told me to keep it always to about 1000 once I start mushy food. I hate this thin liquid phase more than I hated pre-op, but I feel amost afraid to eat right now...I know that may sound a little crazy. But my body is chugging along right now and I feel like I should stay the course until I plateau... but then again, cottage cheese sounds REALLY nice.:thumbup: Good luck on Friday!

Ik77 - I have been thinking about this exact topic for a couple of weeks now. Dr. Fielding gave my seminar - so a lot of information came from that night. I then, like you, got the food advice from the nutritionist and other health info from the nurse. I saw Dr. Fielding once before they submitted for approval and then the morning of my surgery and that evening when he discharged me. Yesterday, I went for my one week post op and I saw the nurse (who's great, really). Initially, I was kind of surprised. I mean, one of the MAIN reasons I picked Fielding was because he has a band and I thought, wow, I will get some great guidance. But I guess that guidance doesn't come one-on-one - it comes from the experience of his practice and staff. The papers they give you at discharge at quite all inclusive about how to care for yourself. And the packet you got from the nutritionist is really the only food advice I have gotten to date - although I have to see the nutritionist at my first fill - which is really when I will just start eating solid food. Yesterday I sort of realized that Dr. Fielding's job with me was to safely place the band - and that his team would take care of me post-op. I am not sure if this is the case with Dr. Ren or not. Hope I answered your question....:thumbup:

Call your doctor. Tell them what happened. The worst thing they will probably do is push your date back a little (and I doubt that). The bigger issue for me is the self-sabotage stuff. We all do it - that's why we are getting banded I suppose. Instead of feeling guilty, resolve to talk to your doctor and get back on the program - and LOVE YOURSELF and give yourself the BEST ODDS!!!!!!!!! You can do it.

Good words! My surgeon does 2 weeks pre-op liquid and then 10 days post op THIN LIQUID before moving on to mush. The 2 week pre-op was so hard when I was doing it, but I will tell you that I have 3 days left on my THIN LIQUID and I am going out of my mind. We banded people are willing to sacrifice in order to be healthier, skinnier, etc. These short term diets are part of that sacrifice. I agree, cry if you have to.