chitchatchew

Amazing! You look absolutely fantastic and I'm sure you feel the same way. Congratulations on this tremendous accomplishment!

You're almost there! Just checking in to let you know I'm rooting for you and looking forward to hearing that everything went well. I'm guessing that you're spending today consuming only Clear liquids, which I thought was tough. I'm glad to hear you're past the nervous/anxious stuff. You've got a lot of work ahead, but it's all worth it. It's exciting to be where you are right now! Good luck and I hope to hear from you soon!

Congratulations on getting started! Your timeline sounds about the same as mine (intake appointment in June and surgery in February). Good luck!

So now just a week to go until your surgery, right? By this time next week I'd expect you'll be home and sipping your Protein drinks . I'm glad your husband has been supportive. I was just like you and craved all of the information I could get. Fear of the unknown is indeed powerful, and there's lots of unknown ahead. However, at this point you're hopefully well-educated and comfortable with your choices (if not, please be sure to ask questions before your surgery). Personally, I chose the unknown of the surgery rather than the likely "known" of what was ahead for me if I didn't make some radical changes. No thanks! Anyway, yes, things have kind of changed for those around me a little bit. I'm not married, so I don't have that challenge or support. But my family and several friends (I told very few people) have been very supportive and are constantly concerned about my well-being. They were understandably nervous before the surgery and right after. It's harder for some than others and I really do try to be aware of the fact that not everyone is interested in the exact weight or measurement of their portions or the time it takes to log every bite - LOL. I'm very fortunate to feel like my choice was definitely respected, if not actually embraced. I do see some of my loved ones eating a bit differently sometimes and I'm very grateful for their awareness and support. It's great that your husband is able to eat without packing on the pounds! But, I'll bet you've tried different diets over time before you got to this point, although I'll bet the lead up to the surgery has been more intense than those. Even though it's a choice and something you want surgery is still scary! As you learn to eat with your band it will be a tough couple of months but things will get back to normal - you'll just be redefining normal a little. I'm able to eat pretty much all foods with very little difficulty. That gives me lots of choices, and therefore, normalcy and makes it very manageable to handle the social aspects of eating. Sorry for the rambling. I'm excited for you and it makes me think about where I was the week before my surgery - nervous, brave, worried, resigned, hopeful, sluggish, defiant - all of those things. Just a few months later and I think you can take nervous, worried, resigned and sluggish out of the list and add strong, powerful and committed to the list - and double up on the hopeful! Sorry, rambling again! Looking forward to hearing how your preparation is going!

Glad to hear it went well - and yes, you are one step closer to being banded! I didn't have endoscopy, but I had esophageal manometry. I don't think they're quite the same thing. But right after the surgery I was groggy and really nauseated but the pain wasn't bad. The grogginess took care of that. After that I did have some pain but I think I was pushing it to get all of the walking in. Really, I was unprepared and very uncomfortable for the esophagus test so nothing I've experienced since was as bad for me. For the pre-admission testing it did take a few hours. There was a mini repeat of basically everything I'd done so far, meaning that I got weighed, had blood taken, an ECG, counseling with the nurse, another health history, asked a thousand times if I understood what I was doing and told the risks yet again. Nothing new there. Then I got my day of surgery instructions (what to bring, wear, etc.) including special bathing instructions for the night before the surgery and the morning of - it's designed to help prevent surgical site infections and I was more than happy to comply! Then it was off to see anesthesia for more warnings and a consent. And then it was another hurdle out of the way! Yes, I crossed the 50 lb mark! I'm at 53 lbs lost since surgery and 65 pounds lost overall. I'm pretty happy with that.

LOL on the getting knocked out for the test! Yeah, that would have been a big improvement for me. I suppose that might impede the swallowing. Even a little Versed would have been a help for sure. No harm in asking! I think you've got exactly the right idea on the gas pain thing - they get out all they can but some remains. And yes, they did give me pain medication in the hospital, as well as a prescription for home. They gave me percosets, which were each cut up into four little pieces and that first day it took quite a while to take two pills!

That's great that you're able to get that much time off of work. I only took off a week and although I was a little tired when I went back to work it was totally okay. I felt okay right after the surgery, actually I was really nauseated in recovery and that was unexpected for me. But once that got under control I felt okay - until I pushed it too far. I just got tired and sore and was trying too hard to keep walking to get rid of the gas pain, which wasn't too bad but definitely uncomfortable and I know that some people really suffer with it. Because I have sleep apnea I had to stay over - you'll notice I didn't say that I had to sleep over, because there was very little sleep. Even after discharge, for me the pain was mild. Again, I think I was well prepared with good information so I had appropriate expectations, always a good thing. Of course you cannot miss the last t-ball game! July is always a possibility and it would be good to have bandsters represented! Lastly, I think I saw your question in another post, but I did have to have the esophageal test you mentioned. For that, I was not well-prepared. Honestly, no one told me what was involved and I can honestly say that for me it was the worst part of the whole surgical process. I'm sorry to have to say that. It involved a tube placed through my nose and into my esophagus and then a series of sips of Water (with the tube in place) while the pressures in my esophagus were measured (I think). Very unpleasant. I hope yours will be much more comfortable. However, I know this was considered an important test and I'm glad that the results we okay!

Congrats on hearing what you needed to in order change your mind set. And more congrats on your weight loss to date. Now, I've got two more votes for the Just Dance games and Zumba for your Wii. Both are great fun and can help you work up a sweat.

My surgery was done by Dr. Kelly, just luck of the draw but I was very happy with him and his staff (NP and fellow). They've been great. I see Kathleen for nutrition and she's been helpful, too. They've been very clear about what to expect and I must say, they've been right on target. I've had two fills and so far and have lost 48 lbs since my surgery. Wow - I hadn't realized that! I lost a good chunk right after my surgery and then it really slowed down - to exactly where the doctors said it would be, 1-2 lbs per week. I feel great and am grateful to say I've had no problems. I also think I've done a good job of following the docs' instructions. Right now, one of my biggest challenges is dealing with having my clothes too big, but I think I'll refrain from complaining! My experience was same as yours - no one in my pre-surgical skills class was being banded, all were going the bypass route, and so the content was skewed that way. I found the same thing at the monthly support meeting. I can say that although I've only attended once so far that I can see where it would still be helpful. Very glad to know of another UMass Bandster! Overall, I am VERY happy with my choice. I hope you'll soon be able to say the same thing!

EAS carb control drinks have been a lifesaver. I think the chocolate fudge flavor tastes like YooHoo. Detour protein bars have also been good. Tastes are so individual - I hope you find something you enjoy!

Congratulations on getting your surgery date! I was banded at UMass back in February and I think it's a great program. Which surgeon do you have?