August rush 2010!!!

[Qtjan5 17]

Hi Everyone...I am being banded on the 23rd. I'm self pay at NYU...so I didn't have to go through the hoops that the insurance companies send everyone through (although my dad's insurance has an exception so I wouldn't have been covered by them regardless.) I am really excited and nervous.

I started my liquid diet on Monday and I'm not finding it hard to drink the many shakes a day but I've been getting really bad gas pain from the slim-fast shakes. Is anyone else having this problem? I work with little children at a day camp so I am constantly running around and out in the sun...

Oh, and for those of you who are on Protein Shakes and don't like the flavor...I just tried the Unjury brand Protein Shake (chicken Soup flavor). It is so good and it doesn't taste like a shake at all. I've heard from people the other ones they make are good too, including a non-flavor one so you can mix it with anything you like. (unjury.com if you are interested)

To those being banded soon...I wish you all well! :thumbup:

[sherun 1]

Hello ALL! I am failry new to the boards, I first started this journey in Feb 2009! I finally got my insurance approval and Surgery is scheduled for Aug 23! I started my pre-op diet today.. My doctor requires 14 days of Clear Liquids only! I am trying to figure out which Protein Drinks are the best! So far I have tied the Adkins, which wasn't so bad, and the EAS advantage, which i didn't really care for... I'm thining of getting the unjury- especially the chicken Soup and the unflavored. I am so excited to get banded.. although I am nervous and worried about what I will eventually be able to eat.. My problem isn't usually over-eating.. Its eating the wrong things, especially fast food. I am glad to have the support of everyone here, and love all the great info..

[zeniada 9]

Hello ALL! I am failry new to the boards, I first started this journey in Feb 2009! I finally got my insurance approval and Surgery is scheduled for Aug 23! I started my pre-op diet today.. My doctor requires 14 days of clear liquids only! I am trying to figure out which Protein drinks are the best! So far I have tied the Adkins, which wasn't so bad, and the EAS advantage, which i didn't really care for... I'm thining of getting the unjury- especially the chicken Soup and the unflavored. I am so excited to get banded.. although I am nervous and worried about what I will eventually be able to eat.. My problem isn't usually over-eating.. Its eating the wrong things, especially fast food. I am glad to have the support of everyone here, and love all the great info..

i have tried the Isopure and luv luv luv it! they have ready to drink that comes in all different flavors and the powders like stawberries and cream, Cookies and cream, banana something or another they are really good and can be bought at GNC...

[Qtjan5 17]

Hello ALL! I am failry new to the boards, I first started this journey in Feb 2009! I finally got my insurance approval and Surgery is scheduled for Aug 23! I started my pre-op diet today.. My doctor requires 14 days of clear liquids only! I am trying to figure out which Protein drinks are the best! So far I have tied the Adkins, which wasn't so bad, and the EAS advantage, which i didn't really care for... I'm thining of getting the unjury- especially the chicken Soup and the unflavored. I am so excited to get banded.. although I am nervous and worried about what I will eventually be able to eat.. My problem isn't usually over-eating.. Its eating the wrong things, especially fast food. I am glad to have the support of everyone here, and love all the great info..

I just got the Unjury chicken soup flavor today and it is so good. I was shocked at how good it was. I've read on their website that the unflavored is great too, especially if you pour it into crystal light or iced tea...

[dm5201 1]

I bought some new shakes last night (frosty chocolate) at Target. They are called Eat Good. Look Great. Pure Protein with 23 g of protein, 120 c, and 1 g of sugar. I was pleasantly surprised at how great they tasted and it was 12 oz.

[ArmyWives 1]

Hey "August Rushers" Well Im day one post op and already im really pretty good for just having had a surgery!!!

I sore as to be expected, but all in all, feeling really well!

Good luck to all that are coming up and congrats to that have been "BANDED" already!

Look forward to the shared continued success of everyone!

[RiahRiah 0]

congrats to everyone who's already had their surgery! Hope everythings running smoothy. Just had my pre-op appointment yesterday... I had picked realize band before and switched to the lapband. My dr. said that it was totally up to me and that there werent any huge differences. I liked the lapband website better than the realize website b/c for some reason the realize one wont ever load for me at work?? so anyway. I am on my way. no real pre-op diet. they told me to watch my fat intake and eat lowfat. They said that sometimes they have had patients have family memebers etc treat them to dinner out the week before surgery and they end up with their liver enlarged. she said i should be fine and just told me to watch what i eat but that I didn't need an actual diet to follow. I am more excited now than nervous since I talked to my surgeon. she explained how everything would go and now i am READY.

[Amaris 0]

Good to hear that you are really ready -- I think that will make a big difference in your recovery.

Interesting that you don't have a pre-op diet! At the time, I wished I didn't, but now I can see how much good it did me, in preparing me for what was to come.

Good luck to you, RiahRiah, and everyone else that is to be banded soon. The other side is great!

[ArmyWives 1]

Congrats! You'll do amazing, and if you'd like to follow my blog please feel free to. I just got banded yesterday Aug 11, 2010, and Ive decided to blog the whole experience and I think it will help answer some of your questions....

[ArmyWives 1]

Hi Everyone...I am being banded on the 23rd. I'm self pay at NYU...so I didn't have to go through the hoops that the insurance companies send everyone through (although my dad's insurance has an exception so I wouldn't have been covered by them regardless.) I am really excited and nervous.

I started my liquid diet on Monday and I'm not finding it hard to drink the many shakes a day but I've been getting really bad gas pain from the slim-fast shakes. Is anyone else having this problem? I work with little children at a day camp so I am constantly running around and out in the sun...

Oh, and for those of you who are on Protein Shakes and don't like the flavor...I just tried the Unjury brand Protein Shake (chicken Soup flavor). It is so good and it doesn't taste like a shake at all. I've heard from people the other ones they make are good too, including a non-flavor one so you can mix it with anything you like. (unjury.com if you are interested)

To those being banded soon...I wish you all well!

Congrats! You'll do amazing, and if you'd like to follow my blog please feel free to. I just got banded yesterday Aug 11, 2010, and Ive decided to blog the whole experience and I think it will help answer some of your questions....

[Amaris 0]

Congrats! You'll do amazing, and if you'd like to follow my blog please feel free to. I just got banded yesterday Aug 11, 2010, and Ive decided to blog the whole experience and I think it will help answer some of your questions....

What is the link to your blog? My blog is listed in my signature.

[ArmyWives 1]

What is the link to your blog? My blog is listed in my signature.

LAP-BAND

Good luck and congrats again!

[timandmich 3]

I got my phone call! I have to be there at 7:30 a.m. Tomorrow! WOW!! This tomorrow I'll be banded!!

[kellyodoran 12]

Good to hear that you are really ready -- I think that will make a big difference in your recovery.

Interesting that you don't have a pre-op diet! At the time, I wished I didn't, but now I can see how much good it did me, in preparing me for what was to come.

Good luck to you, RiahRiah, and everyone else that is to be banded soon. The other side is great!

AMARIS......how much did you loose on your pre-op diet? Just curious.

[ddow58 2]

Okay everyone I am back and didn't die! Imagine that! Below is an account of the surgery day from start to finish...I posted it on the Surgery thread but decided that there may be a few curious August Rushers out there who would like to see it. If not then just skip cause it's LONG! Once again, thank all of you for your support. I think I would have scared myself and backed out if it wasn't for all your positive comments! Happy to be banded!!!

"Today was my surgery day. I can't believe I am sitting up and writing this so forgive the spelling errors and the rambling (Vicodin is my friend right now).

My surgery day started with a call from the doc last night saying that my surgery time was changed from 7 am to 10 am. I was bummed because I then had to change all of my son's scheduling around AND without letting anyone know why. Everyone was great and no one pried although I am pretty sure they knew something was up. Doesn't matter now since I am now officially ON THE BAND

This morning I got up super early and so made corned beef and cabbage for my husband and son (daughter is away at college) by putting it in the crockpot. It was somehow therapeutic to prepare, peel and place all the food inside and know that I would come home smelling the house like I had been cooking even though I hadn't. I don't know what it was but sitting here now I love it. Comforting or something. After that I had a shower and did all the usual stuff. MISSED my coffee but figured the Vicodin with mask the caffeine withdrawals and it did. We got to the hospital right at 8 and had to pay for the anesthesiologist and some last minute paperwork. I had to take a pregnancy test (YIKES if that had been POSITIVE!) However, all was good there and they said all my levels were positive.

I then went back to the surgery prep room and changed into gown, calf sleeves and booties. None of these warm fuzzy socks so what's up with that? Anyways, not a big deal. The prep room was small and there were only four other surgeries that day (2 by my doc and I was the first for him). It was quiet and I had two nurses assigned to me full-time. Joanne was the best (not that the other one wasn't - Lee -but Joanne was my main nurse). They were great with my husband which was good cause he gets really freaked around needles and hospitals. He really was so good and supportive and tried hard to hold my hand at all the right moments. I am very lucky to have him. The doc ran late cause he had an emergency so I didn't have surgery till 10:45 am.

I don't ever remember a Heparin shot. In all honesty they either forgot or I just didn't remember, which is very possible. I talked more with the anesthesiologist than I did with the surgeon. Everyone was pretty amazed that I had a lower BMI and absolutely no comorbidities, allergies, etc. I write this because I want anyone else who is like me to feel supported. I chose this because my ankles were just starting to swell up in the past year and my varicose veins are nasty and my knees were starting to hurt and I knew that for me, I wanted this done as a preventative measure against all the seconday risks associated with WLS.

Anyways, in went the numbing stuff for the IV which STUNG and then the IV. Happy juice followed after. My husband said I wasn't loopy at all and he was worried about that but i told him it just made me press back into the bed, like a heavy blanket was on me, and it took away the stress. Up till that point I was asking the question,, "what would happen if I took these iv things out and took off" and after the shot I was like "Hey let's do it and let's do it now!" No more worries! They wheeled me to the OR and had me slide to the other table and strapped my arms down. They asked me to think of a favorite vacation, my mind was blank and I couldn't do it, and then I was out. The OR was the scariest. It's so official looking with instruments out everywhere and everyone is more serious there.

So then I woke up and I was in MAJOR PAIN. I don't want to scare anyone but I want to be true to the experience so there are no surprises for you. It was gas pain and it was in the area just below my sternum. It was in my left shoulder too but not as bad. I was moaning because I couldn't vocalize yet and I couldn't open my eyes at all. I tried but it was barely. The guy finally gave me a shot in the rear but even that barely touched the pain. It was bad. He kept rereminding me that I had begged to go home today and so he was reluctant to give me more. I listened but I think if I could have vocalized more at that point I would have said "F$%^ going home, give me the F$%#ing drugs." It's good I didn't cause I am so happy to be home now. But THEN? Wow.

finally he (the recovery nurse) said if I would walk the pain would go away so I told him I want to walk NOW and tried to get off the bed in recovery. He gently pushed me back on, packed up my stuff in a flash and then wheeled me into the surgery prep room again and dropped me off to Joanne. He was a nice guy and even came back to check on me before I went home. He teased me about how different I was by the time I could go home. Poor thing probably deals with that all the time!

I almost started crying when I saw my husband but I could see in his eyes that he was so worried and then I knew how bad I must look. I immediately went back to sleep for 1/2 hour. I guess I should throw the times in there. I went in for surg at 10:45. I was out of recovery by 1:15. I walked in the door at home at 4. While in the surg prep room I had to walk and try to eat/drink and do the breathing machine thingy to open up my lungs so no pneumonia. I did these things but very slowly. Oh and also had to pee. Finally I got everything ticked off the list and was ready to go. They wheeled me out and my husband drove me home. (The Jello was BAD for me. It hurt and felt solid going down. Terrible. My suggestion is to stick to broth and Water and that's it. It hurt!)

At home I immediately had two fat free/sugar free popsicles to wet my mouth and get a little sweet into me. I also felt good enough to drink more water. Within minutes I took a nausea pill and a Vicodin (I had ALOT of nausea but no vomiting all day after the surgery). Once the Vicodin kicked in I was out like a light. My husband had stuck a heating pad on my back and I SLEPT. I felt better when I woke up which was 1 1/2 hours ago. Now I can feel my stomach again and the soreness so I am about to walk again and then maybe more Vicodin

I hope this helps with the journey for all of you. I am also on youtube with jenontheband and you can google me. I am going to do a video tomorrow which will be much of this same stuff but hey, you can see what I look like

Thanks again for this community! Your support has been a blessing in my life!

Jen thanks for the update on your surgery. Mine was similar but I didn't wake up in pain. I woke up wanting to puke!! They gave me something and it settled down. Today is day 2 and I have been having gas under my rib cage. It comes and goes. The incisions are ok. Not really painful at all. All I am taking is liquid tylenol every 4 hours and it seems to be enough.

I have to admit that I was freaking out prior to going to the OR. I was really questioning what I was doing and why. Even today when I was having some bad gas pain I was saying why did I do this?! I'm sure I will happy in a day or two.

Overall it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I am having trouble figuring out what to eat. My doc wants just liquid for a week and then add soft foods.

I also can't figure out if I'm hungry or not. Is it pain from the surgery or is it rumbling because I'm hungry. I'm sure that will sort itself out too.

I have been sleeping a lot as I am more comfortable lying down. That's about it.

Doing ok.