June 2009 Surgery

[spud.mama 7]

ME TOO! ME TOO!

Finally in BANDLAND!!!! And yes the pain is NOTHING like I thought it would be, just the port area and the gas--not much but enuf to be uncomfortable. Oh yeah and my mouth is so dry and throat is like that last few days of a cold--alittle scratch and flemmy.

Before surgery I felt fine until the anestigiologist (sp?) came in then had to sign the dreaded paper that if I DIED... Then he gave me some drugs saying it would relax me and take the edge off the anxiety, I didn't know it would knock me out!! Then I woke up in recovery and they let me sleep and wake up on my own. Which was very nice and weird cuz I could hear everything everyone was saying but couldn't wake up. I just stayed there praising God that I woke up and was not in any pain.

I am still so surprised that it's not bad at all!! :thumbdown:

[spud.mama 7]

Hey Jill!! I thought of you yesterday as well. I almost called you last night but I was fading fast. For some reason I thought you had it the same day as me. Good luck!! It's really not that bad. I will call you tomorrow (sat).

[rebahorn 0]

Hi everyone!

My surgery date is June 17....:laugh:

I have started my pre-op diet and I am on my 3ed day its getting better . I was worried that I would not be able to do it but I have surprised myself and I am doing quite well. Good thing my doctor has me doing the diet for only one week.

Good luck to all who are getting band and the pre-op diet dose get better....:thumbdown:

[YankeeFanatic 0]

Had my surgery yesterday June 11th in Long Island New York, I gotta be honest I almost chickened out but I Didnt. I just got home frm the hospital today and I just feel a little sore not to bad at all. The first day was a little uncomfortable I am glad I was in the hospital and not at home. I woke up this morning feeling a 100 times better though. Good lck to everyone that is getting it done soon believe me its not that bad at all before you know it its over. Just remember that you feel alot better the second day good luck everyone.

[Corliss 0]

Ok, my surgery is in 2 days. I have been pondering why I'm not scared like everyone else, I'm excited and at peace about it. Then I realized a few minutes ago that thru the years in emergency/serious type situations God fills me with this strange strength to get thru it. i.e. car accidents, deaths, almost dying child, etc. But it seems to be after that I fall apart. The past week I have been trying to think of/anticipate any psychological or emotional issue that may arrise. And I think I might have just pin-pointed a big one. I struggle with depression so I am well aware of the post-surgery depression (add to that PMS!!), and I have pondered the let down after surgery of 'what now?', since I have worked several months to get the this point and it will be done (for the jumpin thru the hoops part) after surgery. But today I have been realizing that I have this unrealistic dream floating around that my whole life will change for the better after I am skinny. Where the heck did I get that thought?? Do skinny people get treated better? Will I? I do know skinny people get better tips, so will I when I lose the weight? Will I really be comfortable going outside without feeling everyone is staring at the fat girl? Or will I not mind to be stared at cuz I'll be one sexy Spud?? :thumbup: Will my husband be apart of this unrealistic fantacy of mine (too late! he already flunked the mariage fantacy)? Or will I find some other sexy stud to be with this sexy Spud?? LOL

Just puttin my thoughts out there, I'm sure if I've thought of it someone else has to, so you're not alone. :confused: Now I have to copy and paste this to my journal since I shoulda put it in there. But thanks for playin.

Hi Spud Mama,

I am going for my second lapband on June 18 or 19. I had a lapband in Oct. 2005 and lost from 373 lbs (356 day of surgery) to 160-170 range before loosing my band. I can tell you with 100% certainty, people absolutely treat you better when you are small. There is no comparison between the things life has to offer when you are small enough to access them than when you are morbidly obese, especially super morbidly obese. I am morbidly obese now and it is ten times better than being super morbidly obese and I never want to go there again. I can hold out to work my long shifts but don't have any energy left when I get home from work, and my legs hurt. When I was skinny, and I was skinny at 165 I could even take shortcuts between the desks and a big post at work that cut about 25 steps off going to the drug room and since I have to do this many many times in the day, it made a big, big difference. I didn't have cramps in my legs the day after I worked either. I am so looking forward to all these things when I loose my weight again. It will be amazing. Don't get me wrong, if I can keep this band and avoid a slip, by keeping it super loose and don't get back down that far, I will just be greatful not to keep gaining. I had hoped I might be one of the few who could keep it off without the band, but alas I am not!

As far as the romantic end of the spectrum goes, please do not make the mistake so many younger bandsters and RNY'rs do and make radical changes because they are "high" on the attention which they begin getting from men that they have never got or haven't got in a long time. The results are usually disasterous. I know you don't plan on doing something like this, but just be aware that attention is addictive. Fortunately I was of an age where those things just aren't that big a deal and I was focused on the great fun my normal size partner and I could have together and the great fun the grandkids and I have had. Shopping, OMG, it opens up a whole new world, lol!

I have had a friend tell me that I am much quieter now, that I don't have to make shocking or controversial statements in order to get people to see and hear me. They tend to look through you as a super morbid obese person regardless of how intelligent or creative you may be. Now being in my fifties and loosing a huge amount of wt. left me looking much older close up than I am. I am hoping a little bit of plastic surgery ought to help some people avoid hooking into their stereotypes of "old women" being almost as worthless as fat women are viewed.

I just wanted to share some of my experiences as I have been there and hope to be back soon!

Corliss:thumbup:

[spud.mama 7]

Hi Spud Mama,

I have had a friend tell me that I am much quieter now, that I don't have to make shocking or controversial statements in order to get people to see and hear me.

Corliss:thumbup:

Thank you Corliss! And with what I quoted from you you hit right on the head. Some times I irritate myself cuz I can be obnoxious. My moto usually is "as long as I laugh", you know when you get the crickets cuz people don't know what to say cuz they are too shocked. So it would be nice to not have to be the shocking one.

Thanks again.

[JulieM. 0]

Hello everyone! I am 4 days post op. The second day was the worst. Whatever they gave me during the surgery to numb my belly wore off and the soreness really started to sink in. Today was good because I got to start on slimfast and have coffee!! First three days was just Water and broth. Which sounds bad but I really didn't want anything heavier. So far the gas has been my worst problem. I take my little gas stripes regularly. I also found out that when I drink anything I stand up and walk around. Seems to go down better. Luckily I have not been nausious once. I've had lost of sleep and loving support. So far its been really good. No suprises.

[Tia1966 0]

Hey Breanne, My surgery date is June 19th too!!! Lets keep in touch since we are going down this road at the same time. By the way, I read your blog, please keep it up...it inspired me.

[patricksmom 0]

oh at 3 pm today it will be 24 hours for me. The surgery went well but all I can think today to write is "ouch". I have had many surgeries and I am bummed I am in pain. I hate to take pain meds but just broke down to do it I think it is the gas really and the port site :drool: I am no wimp either but this is uncomfortable. "Ouch" is the word of the day.....any encoraging words, when does this pass???

[nuevavida 0]

I am two days post-op. My surgeon was Dr. Roberto Rumbaut in Monterrey, Mexico. I know it would go smoothly and had a lot of confidence in the doctor, the facilities and other arrangements, but everything has been even better than I had expected! As long as you are flexible with some of the minor cultural differences (being told something will happen at a given time and it not, or taking a few hours to see the doctor) then you will have an amazing experience in Monterrey. Dr. Rumbaut has done so many of these and has such a competent staff that everything works like a well-oiled machine. The Dr. could not stress enough how easy I made his surgery by strictly following the pre-op diet. He said my liver had shrunk a lot and it made a big difference in making the surgery a success. His bedside manner and just overall personality is unmatched and the effort and time he takes with his patients individually means a lot—especially considering how many patients he has.

[Duce 0]

Hey, how did everything go with your surgery. I'm being banded tomorrow by Dr. Baptista, getting really nervous.

[updegraff 0]

Hi....Good luck on your big day tomorrow!! What time is your banding? Dr. Baptista is just wonderful. He makes you feel so relaxed. Once you are in recovery he will go out to the waiting room and give a report to whoever is there waiting for you along with COLOR PICTURES of your insides!!! That was just amazing!! I had a hernia that had to be repaired so that takes a bit longer. I am feeling 100% better today the first couple of days were a bit rough but let me give you this STRONG advice!!! When you are tired REST!! I tend to fight it and that only makes you feel worse. So take your meds, drink your Water and rest, rest, rest!! Did I say REST!!??

Let me know how ya do. Welcome to a NEW YOU!!!

I am down since banding......DA DA.....6 pounds. Keep in mind, it is not about the loosing right now it is about the healing and all the rest will fall into place!!

[Ritalou 0]

My surgery is going to be June 30th 2009, i'm pretty sure, go to the doc Friday will know for certain then.really nervous...

[TopTier 0]

nuevavida, good job!

Great news to everyone who has gone so far this month!

9 more days to go for me!

[Ritalou 0]

Having my surgery done by, Dr. Schuster how about you, Top Tier?