A little update--

Ellen86 · August 21, 2008

I don't think I've really posted much at all since being banded, so I figure I probably should come here and say something! I was banded with a Realize band on August 5th by Dr. Brian Lahman at Silver Cross hospital in Joliet. The experience there was wonderful, everyone I dealt with was extremely nice, and I had a private room to stay in over night with a flat screen tv and everything. Just a very pleasant experience over all I highly recommend Dr.Lahman if you're in the area.

Surgery day- surprisingly enough, I was not nervous at all, I was anxious to have it done but wasn't the slightest bit nervous. I kept thinking "oh well, I'm sure it'll settle in once I'm there, or once I'm all hooked up, or when they wheel me to the operating room." and I was just, surprisingly calm about the whole thing. I was admitted quickly, and they got me hooked up and set to go, with about an hour to go until surgery. My parents stayed with me until I went back, I was given a sedative, which actually knocked me out before the anesthesia did Next thing I knew I woke up in recovery, feeling like someone had used my tummy as a punching bag :thumbup: It was about 45 minutes to an hour before they brought me up to my room (though I slept through most of that time) I wont lie, My abdomen was very swollen and sore, and the morphine just kinda took the edge off (later that night they upped the dosage a tiny bit, which helped.) It just helped to be more medicated when I had to get up to use the bathroom and such. I had lots of visitors though, which was really nice. My parents were there, my friend and her mom stepped by, 2 of my very closest friends came and stayed for a few hours, and then my mom's cousin, who had bypass about 3 years ago came too:biggrin: It was nice, and helped keep my mind off of my sore tummy. Then even late at night when I couldn't sleep, my very close friend/sweetie stayed up online with me, making me feel better. I'm so lucky to have such an awesome support group in my friends and family! :lol:

I learned quickly that warm liquids were the only thing my tummy liked, the cold made it hurt morseo.. so I lived on Decaf tee for 2 days. I went home still on Clear Liquids the next day and felt pretty good with the vicodin and all that, it was the next day where the hunger/gas pain came in, and I actually got really nautious from the vicodin (clear liquids just wasnt cutting it when it came to keeping the vicodin from making me sick) So I switched to tylenol and after a few days the gas pain subsided.

As for now, I feel great! I've lost 10lbs since surgery, and even though the scale hasn't moved in a week, my face, shoulders, middle, legs.. etc, are all showing signs of shrinking little by little! I must be losing it in different places then before, because I'm wearing a medium sized shirt and it's not a sausage casing! :lol: So far, I don't mind the strict Protein diet much at all. I get 4oz of protein each meal, 3 times a day, and will be doing so until 3 months post-op when i can start adding non-starchy veggies back in, after 4 months I can add fruit again, and when I lose 75% of my excess weight, or at twelve months, I can have carbs again (as in whole wheat breads/pastas/etc) It's all going to be so worth it! I already can't wait for my annual trip with friends next summer, they wont have seen me for a whole year, aside from pictures, so I can't wait to show them the results of the surgery!! I'm so glad I had this done, for the first time ever, I feel like this time, I AM going to drop the weight , I AM going to be healthier, I AM going to look and feel so much better! No more maybe's/hopefully's! :tongue:

Roheryn · August 21, 2008

Congrats!! I think warmth may also help in the morning when our bands are supposedly feel a little tighter

Lanakila · August 21, 2008

I must be losing it in different places then before, because I'm wearing a medium sized shirt and it's not a sausage casing! :wub:
I'm so glad I had this done, for the first time ever, I feel like this time, I AM going to drop the weight , I AM going to be healthier, I AM going to look and feel so much better! No more maybe's/hopefully's! :smile2:

You Go Girl!!!!!!! I love the sausage casing analogy. I'll have to keep that in mind when I am finally able to get back into some clothes without looking downright vulgar. Keep your super positive attitude...it has really revved me up for the day!