Looking for September 2010 Bandsters

[swissnis 0]

so, something happened to my ekg and now I have to get clearance from my pcp to have surgery on tuesday, if I dont get this clearance tomorrow (saturday) then my surgery is cancelled! cross your fingers for me please!

[AnnaOz 0]

My surgery Date is 17-Spet-2010 :scared2:

I started my pre-op diet yesterday and need to follow it for 2

weeks. It is not easy tho.:biggrin:

3 Optifast VLCD milkshakes a day (only vanilla or chocolate flavours), allowed 1 cup of strawberries or raspberries. and unlimited veggies (not allowed pumpkin, potato, sweet potato, peas, corn, nut, or legumes) and no meat or fish.

Could have received it free through the Public system but I dont want to wait two years!

The Health Insurance Situation is a bit easier in Australia though, and as I have been paying for top health insurance since I left home I will only be out of pocket $5000AUD.

[onceuponaband 0]

Hi all!

Just catching up here. I had my preadmissions stuff at the hospital today. They were calling me by the wrong first name....that made me nervous. I was glad to get the straightened out and avoid getting some other sort of procedure. :biggrin:

Looks like everyone is doing well. Our pre-op is pretty laid back. I haven't been following it well, because it is pretty lose. So, I think I am going to self impose some Liquid Protein shake for most of the meals just to help control myself.

Looking forward to hearing everyone's war stories as they start recovery. I want to know how it feels and what's happening! If nothing else it will take away some of the fear of the unknown....

Have great weekends - and for those of us in the US - long weekends!

Paige

[swissnis 0]

so, something happened to my ekg and now I have to get clearance from my pcp to have surgery on tuesday, if I dont get this clearance tomorrow (saturday) then my surgery is cancelled! cross your fingers for me please!

I'm cleared!!! Surgery is Tuesday!!!!!

[CSinTX 0]

SUGGESTION-

As of October 1, when we are ALL banded. We should start a new thread for our post-op journey. Skill keep the name September 2010 but no more Looking for.... What do you all think. Start a fresh thread?

Sounds great. I like the idea of everyone getting banded and then we all migrate to the post-op section together. Lets do it:thumbup:

cndalbs, AnnaOz, SarahMarie123 and Marte80 -- Congratulations on getting your surgery dates and glad to have you guys part of our family.

Brian-LA - Hi Brian - I feel no different in drinking. I have not eaten anything yet (except the tiny pieces of chicken in my cream of chicken Soup but no difference there either). I can't say I have really gone poking around to see what I can feel (I don't even know which of my 5 holes has the port) but the biggest cut underneath my left boob definitely has a knot. I don't know if it's the band or swelling but thought I would ask the doctor when I see him Wednesday.

"Well I didn't ditch her because I didn't really land her. We are " special friends " but as much as I do Love her she won't commit and maybe its for the best. I do tell myself I should move on and maybe I will. But yes we do have a Saturday night dinner date and I have told her about my upcoming surgery / I won't be going out with her to dinners / lunches or breakfasts for awhile and when I do it will be about two decks of cards worth. :biggrin: If I find that my " relationship " with her is making me go sideways I will have to be something I am usually not - selfish and ditch her. I always look out for other people and try to help them and not help myself - I am usually the guy who gives and gives and gives but I think it is my time be a little selfish and take care of myself first for once." You know Brian if you keep talking like this you will have every single lady on this thread contacting you. Hope you find your happiness. I have been thankful. I met my husband in college (like so many others) except he was my teacher. He is 25 years older than me and we have been married for 24 years now. We have 1 daughter who will be turning 21 next month and is the apple of his eye. Talk about having Daddy wrapped around your finger and she knows it.

AnnaOz -- It will be interesting to hear about your surgery and your op-diet because your pre-op sounds so different than the ones we have been given here in the states.

My husband and I raise cockatoos and this morning before I was on the computer I was catching our young Galahs and moving them to larger flights. So funny now to hear from someone in Australia. We flew down to Australia about 5 years ago for a month and drove from Cairns to Alice Springs then to Adelaide traveling along the coast seeing Melbourne than flying home out of Sydney. You live in a wonderful unique place. Just loved our time there, though I did keep getting confused when everyone was asking if I was on holiday. We even have a Bennett's Wallaby now for a pet, thanks to our trip down there. She is a sweety.

swissnis -- Congratulations on your clearance and now you can enjoy your weekend:smile2:

Gosh, today you learned alot about me and my personal life. Cathy

[pooky032281 8]

I'm cleared!!! Surgery is Tuesday!!!!!

Congrats girlie!!! I wish you the best!

[Lanah 0]

Good Saturday everyone!

Just wanted to give a quick update on my surgery. I was scheduled for 6AM, but was not wheeled into the OR until 8:30. I remember nothing about the OR room or the first part of the recovery...NICE!! I was taken to a second room in recovery and was told that they were waiting for Radiology to call so I can have my x-ray. I went for the x-ray about 11:30 and failed. I ended up spending the night for observation. They thought they had seen what looked like a leak, but it wasn't. I still don't know what it was. I need to ask the doctor on Friday when I see him. I was on nothing but ice chips and finally had broth at 5pm yesterday. I got home and fell into the best sleep I've had in the past week. Woke up last night and got out of bed and boy did I get a very bad pain in my incisions. My bed is higher than the hospital bed and it doesn't have the nice rails either. I couldn't go back to sleep. BTW I have not had any pain meds since noon on Thursday. I haven't needed any.

About the gas pain--since i was in the hospital all day yesterday, all i did was walk, walk, walk. And I have to tell you, DO IT. The pain has been tolerable. Still uncomfortable and annoying, but very tolerable.

Today I am at about 89.999%. Very happy, not hungry, and what I need most is to relax.

How is everyone getting all their fluids? I'm not hungry or thirsty at all and that is because I have only had two cups of broth (not at once) since surgery, very little Water, and ice chips.

Also, (TMI) but I am planning to go back to work on Tuesday and I am afraid of--liquids in/liquids out. If you know what I mean. Any suggestions on what I could/should do?

How is everyone else doing?

Cathy, I think you are so great keeping up with everyone. How do you do it? Glad to hear you are doing well.

1. How long after surgery will you be on liquids?

2. How long will you be on mushies?

3. At what week can you move to regular food?

1. 2 weeks. One of Clear Liquids and one of full liquids

2. 2 wekks. one of mushies (this is where I can introduce creamy soups) and one of soft foods

3. The beginning of week 5. can't wait.

[Kierstyun2010 0]

I go September 23rd and cannot wait!

[CSinTX 0]

Also, (TMI) but I am planning to go back to work on Tuesday and I am afraid of--liquids in/liquids out. If you know what I mean. Any suggestions on what I could/should do?

Glad to hear you are doing so well. You sound great.

I just always drank even when I was not thirsty. The liquids in, liquids out has not been a problem for me, expect once which was on day 3 of being home. My husband said, it's probably more from what went into my IV than me drinking and he was right because it was only a 1 time thing.

I am drinking a Protein Shake for Breakfast and dinner and drinking Soup (1 can) split into 2 servings. Other than that, it's tea. Here goes the TMI: After the diarrhea on Sunday, I have been having normal stools (very very very very tiny) but they are there, just like before the surgery. What I save in TP on #2's I use now on #1's.

I was told that I could take Imodium AD if needed. I know it comes in a chewable tablet and I think even liquid.

Cathy

[playermimi 0]

Hi everyone sounds like we are working toward the same goal with a few differences in our doctors approach with pre op diets. I am counting the days until tuesday the 7th of September and looking forward to being post op. Cathy I"m glad you shared a little about yourself because it wll bring us closer together. I sometmes think because I am older(but young at heart) I don't quite fit in. Because of everyones honesty and caring I feel this is my safety net. I am going to lose some friends because of this surgery. We have been eating buddies and foodaholics for many years. Although we always talked about weight loss we kept on eating. Since my talking about lapband and proceeding with surgery things have cooled off with them and I can't help but feel left out. I know a real friend would be supportive andI am hoping they will come to grips with my decision. Thanks for being here.

[lillyegg 3]

Hi All,

I will have to be something I am usually not - selfish and ditch her. I always look out for other people and try to help them and not help myself - I am usually the guy who gives and gives and gives but I think it is my time be a little selfish and take care of myself first for once.

-Brian :biggrin:

Oh Brian. Cathy is so right. You keep this up and you are going to have a group of banded women chasing you through the streets. (Remember I was here first. LOL)

My therapist once said to me "Putting yourself first is not inherently selfish. Always putting yourself first is selfish." That sticks with me. I had the same problem as you of not wanting to be selfish and thinking that giving in to someone else's needs before my own made me a selfless human being. In actuality it made me an obese and unhappy human being. Sometimes you HAVE to come first.

Good luck with your special friend, but remember it is not selfish to take care of yourself.

[gracerev 0]

Hi friends!

So amazing to have finally made it to the "other side!" Surgery was yesterday (Friday). Stayed at a nearby hotel with mom the night before and got there at 5:30am Since I was the first case for my surgeon, there was no waiting and I went at about 7:30am.

Pain isn't too bad - I agree with everyone else that walking is the best. I get sore if I sit around too long. The gas pain has been switching from one shoulder to the other but isn't awful. Just got home from the hotel (we stayed last night to be close to hospital since it's an hour and a half home). Think I might break out my heating pad for my shoulder.

Haven't actually seen the incisions yet but will tomorrow since that's when I can finally take the big bandages off and get an honest-to-goodness shower!

All in all, I am feeling better than I thought I would. Taking nurse's advice to stay on top of pain med for first couple days just to be sure.

I have 7 full days of liquids (3 Protein Drinks and one "liquid snack" a day). Had my first shake last night and have had 2 today. I found the coolest neon plastic shot glasses that hold 2 ounces each, and I'm using them to portion out my shakes over an hour's time as we were instructed by the dietitian. An hour for 8 ounces seemed overkill to me when we had our class, but I sure understand it now!

Slept ok at the hotel last night but it was fitful and interrupted every 4 hours by my pain medicine dose. Praying that I'll do better in my own bed here at home tonight!

I also got a bonus with my surgery - a hiatal hernia repair! It didn't show up on the upper GI test from a few months back but the surgeon repaired it anyway. Yay, I guess!

Hoping that all who have recently had surgery are doing okay. For those who are still waiting, hang in there! You'll be there before you know it.

gracerev

[bandalley 0]

way to go Grace!

Sounds really straight forward!

Thanks for the update, it makes it more exciting to hear a success story, keep up the good work!

[CSinTX 0]

gracerev -- So glad to hear from you again and that you made it to BandLand.

Do you know if your doctor filled your band after putting it on? I ask because I am out 1 week post-op and I have no trouble gulping down my tea and I can drink a 10oz Protein Drink within 5 minutes. I do feel full and I'm good for 6 hours but? Starting to wonder about me.:scared2:

playermimi -- I have opted not to tell any of my friends, mainly because I did not want them watching everything I ate. I don't see why you can't continue to go out with them - you'll just eat a whole lot less. I still plan on going out to eat (when that time comes). I'm excited to be able to control my appetite and be picky about what I want to eat. It's all about quality now not quantity. Do you think maybe your friends just don't understand and therefore don't know really how to act around you once you get your band?

If things don't work out between you and your old friends, you can turn to us for your support. :biggrin:

Cathy

[rkwilliams1013 0]

Hi All! I just wanted to give everyone a quick update on how I was doing, I would have posted sooner but my internet has been a little screwy!

I went in at 7:30am on Thursday and was leaving to head home by 3:30 in the afternoon. I've had very little pain except for gas pain which I found was relieved with a fart! The port site is to the right and a little north of my belly button and its the sorest of all the incision sites. I do feel a weird "pulling" sensation when I stand up, but was told that would eventually go away.

The hardest part so far is getting down all the Protein I'm supposed to be drinking. They wanted to me drink three a day, and I physically can't do it without wanting to puke. I feel so incredibly FULL that it took me two hours to finish 8 oz of Protein Shake.

Yesterday I could only get two down, but I'm doing a little better today and sticking more with clear liquids, broth, etc.

I'm sleeping sitting up and slept through the night for the first time. I'm only taking Tylenol throughout the day and roxicet right before bed to help me sleep.< /span>

So far, so good! No REGRETS!

Good luck to everyone being banded this week!

Grace, its good to see you're doing well, I was thinking about you yesterday!

Edited September 4, 2010 by rkwilliams1013