March 5th - Banding day at age 23

[Exude 0]

The time has come! Monday is the day my life will change forever. I am 23 and weigh 309 lbs. (after dropping 19 lbs. in the last 1.5 months from doing whatever I could to do so). I am hoping to get down to 225 or so since my ideal weight is 170 for my 6'2" height.

I have done "pretty good" when it comes to my two week liquid diet. There were bouts at times where I did have to have solid food, which made me feel completely guilty. I hope that this doesn't change my outcome as I hear many people on here don't even have the liquid diet requirement. Any thoughts on that?

Any last minute advice for me? I especially want to know how I should treat my last day before banding. I am required to do a fleet enema at night and not drink red liquids during the day. So I assume I can have Soups and the like since they're brown (mmmm french onion)? I will definitely try and drink a ton of Water though! NPO after midnight.

So, just seeking advice for a soon-to-be bander! Thanks!

-Jason

[QTkidsmom 0]

I would probably steer clear of salty liquid. You do not want to go in there retaining Water. Just relax and know that the hunger you feel now WILL be gone immediately after surgery. In fact, the sips of water that they will insist you begin the next day are more than you'll want or need. Sounds odd doesn't it? It's true. You won't be hungry for a few days after and then, liquid will satisfy (truly) for several weeks. Then you'll want and will be able to eat more. Don't get freaked, you'll gain a little weight back at this phase, we all do, but then you will get your first fill and the weight will again begin to drop. I am almost 4 months post op and have lost a little more than 50lbs. Some say that's too fast, others say it is too slow. I started at 309lbs and am now 251, wait, that's almost 60lbs right? Way to go me. At any rate, what I am trying to say is that we all lose at a slightly different rate, but it does come off. Best wishes to you!

[Teachlady 3]

I would probably steer clear of salty liquid. You do not want to go in there retaining Water. Just relax and know that the hunger you feel now WILL be gone immediately after surgery. In fact, the sips of water that they will insist you begin the next day are more than you'll want or need. Sounds odd doesn't it? It's true. You won't be hungry for a few days after and then, liquid will satisfy (truly) for several weeks. Then you'll want and will be able to eat more. Don't get freaked, you'll gain a little weight back at this phase, we all do, but then you will get your first fill and the weight will again begin to drop. I am almost 4 months post op and have lost a little more than 50lbs. Some say that's too fast, others say it is too slow. I started at 309lbs and am now 251, wait, that's almost 60lbs right? Way to go me. At any rate, what I am trying to say is that we all lose at a slightly different rate, but it does come off. Best wishes to you!

Holy smokes!!! That is 14.5# a month. That is AWESOME! :clap2:

[Denise 0]

Good Luck Exude! I will be thinking about you tomorrow! I am being banded on March 8th.

[ld6 0]

good luck and congrats make sure you know what to do after surgery ... i mean fully understand and you should do great ...... do exactly what they tell you

[Exude 0]

I'm banded!!!!!!!! And he fixed my hiatal hernia! I guess it took a little while, like 2.5 hours, but the placement is "perfect."

I am realllllly sore right now taking dialudid and resting as much as possible. My diet currently consists of french onion Soup (drained) and crystal light. I'll post more later, just too sore to sit up right now.

GOOD LUCK DENISE!!!

-Jason

[Denise 0]

Hi Exude,

How are you feeling? Everything was good for me until 3 days after surgery---so watch out. Since they have to pump you full of CO2 for the laproscopy--sometimes it hits a nerve in your diaphragm and the pain hits your left shoulder. Here is my advice if it happens to you.....walk...walk....and when your not walking stay horizontal. or bend over on the back of the chair. I hope this doesn't happen to you...because it frankly sucks! :faint:

[ld6 0]

so how are you doing on your post op? i am able to eat like there is no tomorrow and i had a fill on 02/21/07 so i dont know what to do and with that i have gained my weight back and so the total i lost has only been about 6 pounds. i am really confused now

[Exude 0]

Hey, I'm doing alright guys. Was banded 8 days ago so just recovering. My port site still kills! I'll lay down for a while and when I get up, it just stings. Or when I drive and roll over a bump, that little bit of shock hurts. I went off my pain killers for a few days, but have had to take a couple again recently.

As for three days after, that is exactly when I had my left shoulder pain too. That was crazy! I thought it was supposed to happen the day of surgery, then all of a sudden BOOM, shoulder pain three days later. Did you mean to say stay vertical? Like aren't we supposed to be elevated yet while sleeping?

Would it be beneficial to show scar pictures? I took pictures for each day progressing the healing. I wonder if I should do it here, start a picture thread, or contribute to someone elses.

Glad to see the surgery went well. I will keep contributing on other posts as I have been. The boards are becoming addicting .

-Jason

[Denise 0]

Nope...horizontal...at least for the shoulder pain. So what helped you?

I swear I want to cut my arm off....just kidding...

[FurEllie 0]

I was banded the same day

I still have SOME pain at what I think is the port. It's not where I THOUGHT the port was so who knows. But not enough to take pain pills. I rarely sleep on my side so that's been VERY easy to adjust to. I seem to have a head cold/sinus infection/allergies and have been dripping, sneezy and with a headache.

The mental hunger is driving me nuts. I know I'm not REALLY hungry, but I also know if I didn't have this band I'd be ordering a large pizza - and eating it.

Thank you band

[Exude 0]

I was banded the same day

I still have SOME pain at what I think is the port. It's not where I THOUGHT the port was so who knows. But not enough to take pain pills. I rarely sleep on my side so that's been VERY easy to adjust to. I seem to have a head cold/sinus infection/allergies and have been dripping, sneezy and with a headache.

The mental hunger is driving me nuts. I know I'm not REALLY hungry, but I also know if I didn't have this band I'd be ordering a large pizza - and eating it.

Thank you band

Yeah, that dang port site. I'm trying to do the same and stick with Tylenol. I've been having so much problems with sleep as well. Last night got 3 hours, the night before maybe 4. I'm getting the runny nose thing too and worried about what it would develop to... so I guess we'll both see.

Today I broke down and after seeing some of the liquid diet recipes and people going to Taco Bell, I went to Chipotle. I picked up some brown Beans, a little bit of sour cream, and salsa. I've been dying for something spicy! I've only taken about 4 bites and don't think I can handle much more... but I was freaking out needing something different than Soup. Yeah yeah, its bad........................

-Jason

[FurEllie 0]

I have fat free refried Beans on my grocery list (they used to sell them - I hope they still do). I figure if I stick those in the blender with some picante or taco sauce and some sour cream, I can "pour" it enough to make it legit

I LOVE Chipotle. Closest one is about 60 miles away but I'd get one of their burritos and eat it for 3 meals. Not bad for less than $6!

[Exude 0]

I have fat free refried Beans on my grocery list (they used to sell them - I hope they still do). I figure if I stick those in the blender with some picante or taco sauce and some sour cream, I can "pour" it enough to make it legit

I LOVE Chipotle. Closest one is about 60 miles away but I'd get one of their burritos and eat it for 3 meals. Not bad for less than $6!

Haha, Chipotle is great! Although, I always eat the entire fajita burrito at one sitting... covered with hot and mild sauce and half a bottle of tabasco. This might be too much information... but never eat an entire burrito with all that hot sauce without eating other meals... it BURNS, just like in the movies.

So lets hope our blending of Beans is legit. I didn't blend it, im just chewing the beans as much as possible since they shred up so easily. I guess I'll throw it in now and try.

-Jason

[faithmd 14]

Would it be beneficial to show scar pictures? I took pictures for each day progressing the healing. I wonder if I should do it here, start a picture thread, or contribute to someone elses.

-Jason

Congrats on the band!!! Glad to hear everything went well for you.

I just wanted to let you know there is a scar stage Sticky in the General Lap-Band Discussion Forum. I really like seeing those pics, helps me plan for the future.

Here's a link:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/scar-stages-share-t6117.html