KirstenHope

I was banned 12/08/10.. I was 260 and I am down to 205..YEA!!! I finally have some restriction. I have a 12cc and 7cc in it.!! Congrats to everyone sounds like we are all doing really well!!

I have been surfing through the threads here and learning ALOT!! One thing I am wondering , and have not seen Any postings about is drinking. I know it is empty calories. BUT I do like my glass of wine a couple times a week and my monthly girls night out when we drink cosmos! Can anybody give me any feed back on drinking? I am fine giving it up for a while but at Christmas or News Years I would love to be able to have a couple of drinks! I get banded Dec 8th :thumbup::confused_smile:

I just sent the Surgen's office an email with a picture of the rash asking what i should do. My husband and I have lived here since 2003, to rub it in a little more we live on a boat! A big part of the reason I wanted to get the weight off. Moving around the boat was getting more difficult! Come visit any time!! Cruise ship come here almost everyday!

I had my surgery on December 8th in Florida. Everything is feeling good. I have little restriction but I am doing really well with sticking to the diet. I live in the Virgin Islands so I fly up to to Florida for all my appointments and the surgery. I had my 1 week post op appointment and everything was fine. I fly up again on the 9th for an upper GI and my first fill. What is making me nervous is I have gotten a rash around all my incision sites including the port site. I am worried I will fly up there and he will not do the fill because of the rash around the site. Has anyone had this happen? I believe the rash is an allergic reaction to something. I went to the doctor here where I live and they said the rash is flaming up around the incisions because it is weaker skin. I REALLY want my fill!! And I can not afford to fly up for nothing!! Hope all my fellow december bandsters are doing well!

No not yet. I was hoping it will go away. The skin is not broken just red and bumpy. I will call tomorrow. I am nervous.

I am! My husband retired on the 29th and I had a few glasses of wine. I might not have a "few" tonight but I am planning on at least one! I know we are going to get yelled at for this one!

Hey Dawn! I am doing good, My starting wait was 258. I lost 20 pounds before surgery and abouit 10 ponds since surgery. I am on the mushie stage of eating and it is wonderful after being on liquids for a week. Over all I am feeling great! How are thngs with you?

I had mine removed on my i week post op appointment. Everything was healing nice. I took showers and got mine wet. One of the strips feel off on day 6 but everything look good so I did not worry.

Hello December Bandsters!! I am now 11 post op. I am feeling really good. I still some gas pain in my left shoulder but only for a minute or two. So far I am not sure how I feel abou the restriction I feel. I am on the mushie stage of eating and I have felt "full" only a couple of times. I am not over eating and I am only eating the amount that was recommened but not because my body it telling me to stop eatng i stop because the doctor said so! I have lost 10 pound since surgery and I am happy about that. I get my first fill January 11th. I am afraid that my will power will not hold on that long!! I think as long as the weight is coming off I will be motivated to keeping making good choices. I FEEL like I can eating anythingi i like I have not tried this. i do not know how I would feel if I over ate. I guess I should just be happy that everything is going really well. I read A LOT of the post here and I want to thank all of you for posting! This website has been a true "friend" through out all of this!

Hello December Bandsters!! I am now 11 post op. I am feeling really good. I still some gas pain in my left shoulder but only for a minute or two. So far I am not sure how I feel abou the restriction I feel. I am on the mushie stage of eating and I have felt "full" only a couple of times. I am not over eating and I am only eating the amount that was recommened but not because my body it telling me to stop eatng i stop because the doctor said so! I have lost 10 pound since surgery and I am happy about that. I get my first fill January 11th. I am afraid that my will power will not hold on that long!! I think as long as the weight is coming off I will be motivated to keeping making good choices. I FEEL like I can eating anythingi i like I have not tried this. i do not know how I would feel if I over ate. I guess I should just be happy that everything is going really well. I read A LOT of the post here and I want to thank all of you for posting! This website has been a true "friend" through out all of this!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52173126@N02/5256854902/ Since I am sharing - here is a picture of my belly!! I do not think I am posting pictures right!

Hello all!! So I was banned on dec 8th.. Here is my 4 day post op update! Gas pain in my shoulder is gone!! (for the most part) I have been able to get up and walk around. I have gone out to do shopping with no problem BUT I have been taking the liquid pain meds. I have not really been Hungary but I have removed myself from some dinners my family has eaten (crab legs) I can not seem to get 72 oz of liquid in me - which means I am struggling getting 60 - 70 grams of Protein in. I have been tired but I am blaming the pain meds that I have been (enjoying) taking. I am sleeping pretty good. I have a full feeling if I drank to much to fast. I can drink about 6oz of a Protein shake at one time. Today I had about 2 teaspoons full of mashed potatoes and I also had 2 small bites of cheese cake that went down with no problem (it was my mother-in-law's birthday) Over all I feel good. I started out at 258. I was about 240 for surgery. I am going between 234 and 236 right now. The bloating is still there but not bad. Sooooo over all I think I am doing ok. I need to get my liquids down better but I am not doing bad. I go back to the doctor on Wednesday and start mushie food. I have had my moments when I was scared i was going to F**k up.. I was a little pissed at myself for eating ANY cheesecake and mashed potatoes. In my head I was thinking "Oh my god that was like a 1000 calories" but in reality it w.as just a very small amount. So far I am very happy at the choice I have made but a side of me is scared shitless that I will not have the will power to make good choices. I just have to everyday tell myself that i am VERY luck to have this tool to help me loose weight and use the tool the way it was meant to be used.. Thanks for the rant and the vent!!! It felt good!!

I was banned December 8th, I have been feeling OK, it is was only 2 days ago! I am still taking the pain meds. It looks like they gave me enough meds for like 4 or 5 days. How long did everyone else take pain meds? Also if I did not see the marks on my belly i would not believe I have the surgery! My belly is sore but I was kinda expecting to "feel" something. I think I can feel a full feeling when drinking my Protein shakes. But I really do not feel any different inside! I guess this is a good thing! I would love any input on peoples first couple of days! Thanks

I was banned on December 8th. I also had the same repair for Hiatal Herina. I am only 2 days out of surgery but my back feels fine. Hope you are feeling better soon!

i was banned december 8th! I feel ok. I am still taking the pain meds that were giving to me, I do have a tight feeling in my chest - I am not sure if it is a full feeling or gas. I am on liquids for a week then I move on the mushie foods. I am 5"5 and started out at 258. I lost about 20 pounds for the pre op diet. I am not 235. I am doing ok with the liquid diet - but I have removed myself from eating with the family for dinner, for now anyway.. Look foward to meeting all of you!!

I had a fantastic experience with Federal BCBS. My BMI was 43 BUT I was figuring my BMI based on me being 5'8" with gave me a BMI of 40. Once the doctors office measured me they said I was 5'5". This put me at BMI 43. Fed BCBS will approve you as long as you have a BMI of 40 OR if you have other comorbities - Sleep appnea, diabetes, acid reflux. i did not have any problem except being fat. The insurance did not cover the dietitian - the fitness Fed BCBS.. The fee for my fills will only be $30 copay. Good Luck hope this helped! Feel free to ask any questions!!

I go at10 am too! I can not sleep I am so excited!

I have federal BCBS. I was approved in one day. I have not had to do any any doctor supervised diets. I also only had not other health problems besides being fat. The while process has been very easy.

Good Luck!! I go in on the 8th!! Excited for us all!!!

I started my diet on the 24th. I did cheat for turkey day dinner. I have been drinking protein shakes all day and eating SMALL meals for dinner. I feel like I always have a headache. This is hard. I am having surgery in Florida and will be there away from where I live for 3 weeks so friends are wanting to get together to say goodbye before I leave and this is hard because they want to meet in bars or out to dinner. 2 things I can ot do!!! BUT I want to loose the weight!! I WILL be strong!! December 8th is my surgery date!!

I started the pre op diet yesterday!! So far so good. I am a little worried about later today. December 8th is also my surgery date!!

To get to my doctor's office I needed to fly. My amazing doctor set up all of my appointments for me. All with in 2 days. I did not stop moving but got everything done. All i have left is the pre-op blood work. My pre-op diet starts on Nov 24th (day before Thanksgiving!) I am drinking Protein shakes and have a no carb dinner at night. 4oz of protein and a cup of veggies. Sounds boring but it will be worth it. i am more worried about not having my glass of wine at night, 2 glasses on weekends!! BUT i will make the sacrifice!

i am December 8th tooo!! WooHOO. Ok. so i am very excited and a little nervous too! SOOO ready for this next journey to begin!! I have started drinking Slim fast durning the day - for lunch and Breakfast. I ate normal on Sunday and today (I was off from work) but tomorrow I am back to work and back to trying to get ready for the pre - op diet! I am OK with no thanksgiving this year! It is all for a good cause!! ME!!

Hello again!!all I just went to my first doctors visit! I was able to complete all 5 other doctor visits that i needed for clearance too! I live(for now) out of the country. I chose a doctor in Florida .where my in-laws live. I have been talking to the doctors office for months. I had attended an on line seminar. They set it up so that when i went to Florida i could get most of my appointments done. And I did! And then something wonderful happened,,, I got my surgery date!! December 8th!! :w00t: I am soooo excited to start my journey!! I am 257 lbs, 5'5 my BMI is 41.