Mscarter007

I did it! I can't jump up and down and Celebrate but I'm happy its over. Yesterday was pretty bad for me, especially because I didn't expect to be so groggy. The anesthesia made me feel like I was on drugs..........ok I was but you get my point. Today is much better. I declined meds because I wasn't in pain as much as I was in discomfort. I will be blogging about my experience in details so follow me to check in on my journey.

Morning fellow future banders! I'm crossing over in about 2 hours. I am almost at the hospital so I thought I'd say a quick see you later! I'll post as soon as I can!

Its the day before surgery and I have to drink this laxative called Miralax. Its a powder that has to be mixed with 64oz of liquid. It not that bad since I mixed it with white grape juice. My stomach is rumbling and i'm still at work. I leave work in 30 mins, so i'm hoping it doesn't kick in until i get home! Does anyone else have to take a laxative before going in?

We have made it through this long wait as we thought the month would never come! I wish all my fellow August banders much luck before during and after surgery! :welldoneclap:

OMG.........Dr. office re-submitted information to insurance on Wednesday and check voicemail at work on Friday and insurance approved. I was off on Friday and out of town, but something told me to call and check. So I will get to keep August 11th, just need to call and schedule pre-op appt with surgeon.

I am so happy for you. Don't forget minor yet major things like medical clearance and such. I am facing a problem now because I need a referral to see my surgeon tomorrow so I can have my surgery on Wed. I'm hoping my pcp can jump through some hoops for me to get a same day referral because it usually takes 72 hours for it to go through. Crossing my fingers and praying I don't have to move my date.

Check out my new blog. a work in progress.

Does everyone have to do the upper GI? This is the 1st of heard anyone mention it.

Most surgeons want either the endo or the GI. For some reason my surgeon wanted both. My pcp wouldn't approve both so the surgeon had to write a script for it.

My bands name is Chokum. This makes no sense in English but it means small or a little in Korean. It only seems fitting since it only lets me eat a small amount or a little bit of food.< /p>

I never named my first band and it wasnt until I had drains that I came up with names ( with the help of some of my bandster sisters). Chokum has a very close friend Polo (port), and they are always attached at the errr hip? Polo causes some problems sometimes though and likes to hide from our frienemy Marco ( The doctor).

It really hurts me when Polo hides from Marco, but since Chokum is a bit afraid of Marco I can see why Polo is only trying to protect him.

Did you catch all that? lol

LOVE IT!!!

G :) D LUCK TO YOU!!!!!!!

Today is my last visit with my pcp before my surgery. I have to sit with her to go over my medical clearance and I am happy its coming to a closing. I decided that I willbe starting a blog tonight. I'm kind of excited about documenting the upcoming days and my journey with the band.

what is pre -op not sure

Pre op means Pre operation. Anything you do before your surgery is considered pre op

Karma,

You just had surgery a week ago and you are healing. Some take longer than others to heal, especially when they have: housework and kids. Ideally, you should be resting, but it doesn't sound like you are getting a lot of that. Take your pain pills when you can, pamper yourself as much as you can and, avail yourself of ALL help offered by friends and family. I had my family waiting on me hand and foot. LOL My kids are big (at the time 19 and 20) and my sister came to stay a few nights. I didn't really need much help, but I accepted it cuz surgery can wear you out! LOL

I had surgery on Monday and went back to work half day on Friday. I was really glad it was half day because I was pooped when I left at noon. By Monday I was feeling better. Fortunately, my workload wasn't bad. It has to be pretty hard on you to have (small?) children to care for while you are trying to recover from surgery. Please remember that if you don't take good care of yourself, you won't be able to take good care of them.

As for your boss being angry, well, I understand your anxiety, what with the economy being what it is today. But, the bottom line here is that you have to put your health first. Don't worry about how angry your boss is, she will probably give you a chilly reception when you return since she wasn't happy that you were going to be off for week in the first place. Remember that you had this surgery so that you can have a healthier future. Don't let her atitude make you anxious. There are going to be a LOT of people that aren't going to be ... hmmmm ... let's say "happy" when you lose weight. People are just like that. So don't give others a thought (beginning with your boss), just try to keep your head up and remember the bright future ahead for you and your family.

Be sure to wear something loose so there won't be pressure at your port site. Hopefully that will keep the pain at bay. Hunger is a part of the process for many. Be sure to stay hydrated -- very important. I imagine your are still on a liquid/semi liquid diet so be sure to get plenty of Protein, it should help with the hunger. Also, be sure to take Vitamins -- good ones. If you must go back to work tomorrow, try to get a good night sleep tonight and have everything prepared (nourishment-wise) so your day runs as smoothly as possible.

Good luck to you. Let us know how your day goes.

It gets better.

~fran

You took the words right out of my mouth. This could not have been said any better.

I completed my last test this morning. I'm so happy to have this done and over with. I meet with my pcp on Wed. for clearance and sit with my surgeon on Friday for all the legal stuff. I am very excited that the ball is running.

I really hope that you feel better. If you need more days, I would take them. Don't push yourself beyond your means.

Anyone have a "last meal" like something you need to eat before you start pre op or get banded? I've been dieting and working out but now I'm making a food "bucket list" I'm feeling guilty for wanting to eat pizza, outback blooming onion, and tgifridays sesame jack chicken strips these are my weakness lol I start my pre op this Friday so I'm really excited and almost looking forward to the liquid diet to lose weight. Haha I don't know if I will say that 3-5 days in though lol would you or did you eat your trigger foods before your having surgery??? One last time??

My "last meal" before my prep diet was: Fried pork chops, rice with gravy, and asian medley veggies. It was good for me because I stopped eating pork and beef since February, and that chop was nice and succulent! Lol!

My "last meal" before my surgery I'm still thinking about. Probably steak and seafood!

I'm on day 2 of my pre op diet and its not bad! (low carb high protein). I am nervous about the future days because I will run out of options! Im taking it one day at a time! How is everyone else doing?

Well, they just sent me a list in the mail about the pre-op tests I had to take a couple of days after I was approved. I haven't seen anyone in person since then.

Most likely you have to take the list to your pcp and have them schedule the appointments for you. They would be the people to most likely explain to you what the exam entails. I had a stress test that required me to walk the treadmill.

My surgeon submitted my paperwork to the insurance on 7/13 and today the nurse called me today to say that insurance denied. She said not to panick that I just need to have physical with PCP and get a letter of recommendation, but I will mostly have to postpone my August 11 surgery date. I slipped into a state of depression. I immediately call my PCP after this week he is out for 2 weeks.

I'm sorry hun. My suggestion is to ask about all different possible scenarios. Can you get a physical from a partnering doctor? I'm kind of in a similar situation because I didn't complete all my testing and my surgery is on the 3rd.

I start my preop tomorrow. I'm a bit excited because I also have my pre admission testing tomorrow as well. I am determined to have this surgery done on the 3rd. I am also heavily looking into starting a Blog. I want to use a fancy phrase with the word "BAND". I've seen a lot of cool ones thus far.

I drove home, damn near in tears, I went for my pulmonary consult. Keyword......CONSULT! All along, I was told that it was a test. I'm not going to get to see my surgeon until sometime after Monday. :'( I hate this waiting game.

It seems that I forgot to do a sonogram so I will not be seeing my surgeon tonight to sign papers. I am bummed because this may push my date back. I will still be an August bander but I just want this process to be done and over with. I hope i can get the sono done tonight or sometime this week, otherwise...............my date gets pushed! :'(

I would rather have a few small incisions, a better recovery and less pain then one large incision, longer recover and more pain. Just my thoughts.

Its not necessarily a larger incision. It takes about 5 tools to do the procedure normally but each incision is for one tool. They use a different device that hold several tools in it all at once. Some go through your belly button others go right above/below it.

Congrats on telling your mom and her supporting you! My dad was very sceptical but sees how much ive done my research on this, and that I am fully prepared for what im getting into. Parents want the best but my dad is 67 years old, back then you didnt have these kinds of surgery and surgery to my parents was either tonsils or cancer. I think cosmetic surgeries are incresing and my 86 year old grandmother was apprehensive too but i have read so much on WLS, done my homework on lap band surgery, and joined a gym and changed my eating all family and friends are supportive. if they are not..who needs em right???

Killerhighlights goodf luck!! you are so close to your liquid diet...let me know how it goes, im right behind you, should start 7/28 but I will be on vacation then so have to start 8/1. Im not packing a heavy case of Optifast while away lol BTW killerhightlights your blog was amazing. LOVED it!!!! Well Aug banders another day down, our month is just around the corner. Im going to a support meeting wed night, I hope to meet more ppl and gain insight into this surgery and more support system, I cannot fail!!! best of luck all!!!!

Thanks. I just began looking up support groups on another website and I seen your surgeons name as #1 on the list. its kinda cool that some of us have a lot in common such as where we live. *Don't worry! In no way shape or form am I a stalker. And I won't show up* I just think that it could be helpful since we may utilize the same eateries and shops, that we could offer each other some local support.

I realized that I have been posting my progress in the "August" topic as oppose to this one "August 2011". So to update this topic.......

I told my mom about me having the surgery (on her b-day). She was shocked but said she'd support me. My mom's way of supporting me is being negative. It not something she does on purpose but that's just her way of showing that she cares. She did some research and thought she should tell me the # 1 risk of having the surgery....which would be the # 1 risk of having any surgery! I don't think I need to say because we did our research ( I hope we all did). I just know I will have to keep her at bay with things. I don't need her to bring me down during my journey.

On a lighter note.....I have my last preop visit with my surgeon tomorrow. I will ask to have the single incision surgery. I hope he says yes. I'm not being vain or anything, its just the less incisions, the better I should heal. What do you guys think?

My preop starts on 7/20. That's my 2 week mark! I'm getting very nervous about a lot.

YOu have have to do it all on your own you will be stronger for it, if you have support that's great . My wife is negative about everything so i cant count on her for support so i know its all up to me. shes one of these people that's naturally 110lbs and she thinks anyone just has to want to lose weight and it will simply fly away.

Sometimes we just have to face the heat! I told my mom about me having the surgery yesterday! She was shocked, said I didn't need it but she'll support me. Naturally, she's negative. So I wasn't suprised today when I saw her and she told me she did her research. She said "I read the side effects.......the #1 risk is death!" *I don't mean to scare anyone*. I reacted calmy and told her "yes, I know. As with any surgery, the #1 risk is death!"

You will learn who will support you and how to support yourself just in case......