T'was the night before Banding....

[Lite'N'Sweet 60]

Well... here I am - on the eve of everything I've been thinking about for the last 4 months (6 years and 4 months). Reading through the site has given me a great deal of steadiness. I have to speak power and success into this process... not fear. So I'm glad to have you all to mentally lean on while I walk down this path.

The surgery is at 7:30 AM and we have to report at 5:30AM and the hospital is about an hour away. So we'll be leaving the house at 4 AM. Because of that we set the baby up to get some sleep with Grandma downstairs so that she didn't feel the shift of having to go down there at 4AM.

My mother in law who is an old school West Indian woman ( just like my mom was ) said ... "is this absolutely necessary?" And I know what she was saying. In our cultures... will power is supposed to prevail and you're supposed to win that way. And I said to her, "If I'd like to live longer than my mom did and avoid the same pitfalls and tack on a few more years to this life for that little girl right there... then YES. It is absolutely necessary - because nothing else worked yet." And she was actually satisfied with that response (which I was surprised about).

I'm gonna go lay my head down for a few hours before we make the trek to the future! Here's to dreams of success!

... And to all a Good Night!

[readysetg070113 1,476]

You will be a success the band is an awesome tool. Good luck tomorrow it's going to be one if the best days of your life and a start of ur new healthy life

[blacktxbelle 99]

As with anything we do in life, knowing why you are doing something is pivotal to your success. I know you will do great as you grow into you new healthy lifestyle. I can speak from experience when I say children are some of the most powerful motivators we have sometimes. Even when we forget to love ourselves they remind us what true love really looks like. Here's to love, health, and happiness.

Good luck and sweet dreams!

[dawalsh 919]

Well... here I am - on the eve of everything I've been thinking about for the last 4 months (6 years and 4 months). Reading through the site has given me a great deal of steadiness. I have to speak power and success into this process... not fear. So I'm glad to have you all to mentally lean on while I walk down this path. The surgery is at 7:30 AM and we have to report at 5:30AM and the hospital is about an hour away. So we'll be leaving the house at 4 AM. Because of that we set the baby up to get some sleep with Grandma downstairs so that she didn't feel the shift of having to go down there at 4AM. My mother in law who is an old school West Indian woman ( just like my mom was ) said ... "is this absolutely necessary?" And I know what she was saying. In our cultures... will power is supposed to prevail and you're supposed to win that way. And I said to her, "If I'd like to live longer than my mom did and avoid the same pitfalls and tack on a few more years to this life for that little girl right there... then YES. It is absolutely necessary - because nothing else worked yet." And she was actually satisfied with that response (which I was surprised about). I'm gonna go lay my head down for a few hours before we make the trek to the future! Here's to dreams of success! ... And to all a Good Night!

wishing you the best!

[The Icy One 518]

Good luck with your surgery! I'll be keeping good thoughts for you.

[HealthyNewMe 1,935]

Tomorrow is your REbirth day!

[pink dahlia 2,513]

I hope your band surgery goes as smoothly as mine did. Surgery at 7 am, home by 11:30 am. I was a little tired and sore the 1st 2 days, then much better on the 3rd. ( Dont forget to take into the hospital a BIG bottle of Water and a chapstick, for cottonmouth. ) From there on out, it was very easy! Hope all goes well for you !

[Lite'N'Sweet 60]

Live blogging. Lolol

We just arrived to the hospital. Going to check in.

[Lite'N'Sweet 60]

DONE!!! I am officially banded!! Feeling good. Throat is REALLY sore but it's my only complaint. I have 3 incisions and they don't look bad at all. Not sure exactly where my port is yet. They have a local anesthetic over the area still I can't really feel anything. HOMEWARD BOUND!! YaaaaaaY!!!

[Lite'N'Sweet 60]

Made it back home and moving around comfortably. I'm on Clear liquids till I see the doctor again next week. Then we move to Protein liquids. I can only take down 15 to 30 ccs of liquid at a time right now. My main question is - when and how can the sore throat go away with that little Water at a time? or is it just a wait it out thing?

[TimeforTanya 30]

Made it back home and moving around comfortably. I'm on Clear Liquids till I see the doctor again next week. Then we move to Protein liquids. I can only take down 15 to 30 ccs of liquid at a time right now. My main question is - when and how can the sore throat go away with that little Water at a time? or is it just a wait it out thing?

Congrats on getting ur band. The first week for me was an emotional roller coaster. Can u have Popsicles? Tht really helped w my sore throat. Everyone on here told me tht thngs get better in time...they were all so very right.

[Lady VS 1,147]

Welcome to banderland!!!

[Lite'N'Sweet 60]

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts and words. This site is really invaluable. I'm maintaining my sanity as i daydream about all the foods i WOULD be having for dinner tonight but obviously cannot. And I owe that to being able to vent here.

The tap block anesthetic has officially worn away. I feel everything. It's not excruciating... but on that fun 1 - 10 scale it's a definite 7 in terms of pain. So borderline on the... can't really think of anything else. The doctor prescribed liquid percoset but no one in this city carries it. They'd all have it by Monday - and by then? i'm sure I won't need it. So the hubby is out getting me liquid tylenol.

Is it alright to put lemon in my Water? I hear that works like a good flush for your system (since we have to drink all that Water anyway).

One last question... how does everyone handle the "first post poop"? I'm afraid to push too hard. I know -- it's TMI but i would hate to damage anything on either side LOL

[The Icy One 518]

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts and words. This site is really invaluable. I'm maintaining my sanity as i daydream about all the foods i WOULD be having for dinner tonight but obviously cannot. And I owe that to being able to vent here.

The tap block anesthetic has officially worn away. I feel everything. It's not excruciating... but on that fun 1 - 10 scale it's a definite 7 in terms of pain. So borderline on the... can't really think of anything else. The doctor prescribed liquid percoset but no one in this city carries it. They'd all have it by Monday - and by then? i'm sure I won't need it. So the hubby is out getting me liquid tylenol.

Is it alright to put lemon in my Water? I hear that works like a good flush for your system (since we have to drink all that Water anyway).

One last question... how does everyone handle the "first post poop"? I'm afraid to push too hard. I know -- it's TMI but i would hate to damage anything on either side LOL

Congrats on your new Silicone Friend! I'm glad that everything went smoothly and you are recovering well.

Personally, I didn't really have pain. Just discomfort. And that really wasn't that bad. I found that walking frequently, moving around was the best medicine and kept me most comfortable. If I sat still too long and let myself stiffen up, I would hurt a bit. I never cracked my narcotic pain reliever. I used a heating pad and a little liquid children's Motrin for my shoulder discomfort. Honestly, that was the worst part, for me. My left shoulder. I didn't have gas pain but I think that my shoulder was bad because of my hiatal hernia repair...

Lemon in your water? It's probably okay... But just call your surgeon't office to get the go ahead. Lemon is acidic and your stomach has been through a lot. Of course, I was slarking down coffee the day after my surgery (with my surgeon's blessing) so... Coffee... Lemon?

Okay, pooping post op. If you are using narcotic pain relievers, they are going to stop you up. A lot of people get some Constipation after surgery. I didn't, after my Lap Band. I had the opposite problem... Diarrhea. I had two weeks of the Infernal *ss Hose. It was hell. But after my lap chole, I took two to three liqui-gel stool softeners with as much water as I could put down, several times a day and two days after THAT surgery, I had a nice go and all was well, from then, on. With a new band, I would suggest a powder stool softener that dissolves completely in water and take it as often as you need to to get things going, again. You can take a bit of pushing, just be careful... Don't strain too much. If things aren't going to move after a little push, just take more softener and drink more water... Of course, run this by the experts at your surgeon's office. I am not dispensing medical advice, here.

Hope this helps, a little.

[The Icy One 518]

It is normal to have a bit of a sore throat, post op. It is from being intubated. Personally, I find hot liquids more soothing to a sore throat than cold. I sipped lots of hot tea and drank my coffee and the sore throat disappeared after a couple of days.