idahoanmom

Corned beef and roast beef hash and scrambled eggs saved me!!!

Well, chemo went as well as chemo could have gone. I was cleared as no signs of post chemo growth the 8th of August. I go back in December for another scan to check again. I was finally banded on aug 30th and am on week two of mushiness...and down 17 pounds! My first fill will be oct 15th! Yay!

Hello all. Well I won't be banded for a while so I am going to log out for a while. I start rchop chemo on the 23rd. Should take about five months to get through. Need to focus on that. Bad news is I will lose all my hair by the end of the month...good news is I wont have to shave my legs all summer long!

Keep the group going...wonderful support April bandsters! I would sooo much rather be losing it with y'all than going through this...but life is an adventure and apparently I am on a different ride! Goodluck to everyone! Stay strong I know you will all succeed and be fit an fabulous in no time at all!

Hey everyone' date='

I am 2 weeks post-op (surgery date was 4-18-12) and feeling really, really well. I went back to work 5 days after surgery. I was on liquid diet for 1 week. At my 1 week post-op appt., my surgeon said I was doing great and to advance to soft foods and within the next week advance to regular diet. My first fill is on May 17th. With pre-surgery weight loss and liquid diet, I am down about 25lbs. However, my appetite is back, I feel no restriction and have gained about 3 lbs. Needless to say, I'm worried about contining to gain weight. Is this normal? Is anyone else on a regular diet? Do you feel restriction since your surgery? Thanks for any input![/quote']

My preop visit I was told not to worry about weight loss and weight gain post surgery. The first six weeks are for healing only. Track what you eat before your dr visits to the spoonful so the fills can be more accurate. If you lie and tell them you can only eat a bit and aren't losing they are less likely to put more of a fill in if you report the fact you can eat a whole plate and still starve. Be honest so you get the right fill. Think of the band like a new toy you can't really play with for six weeks. Post surgical swelling will make you feel full for a while but you really need to just heal. After six weeks is when the fun weight loss will happen. I know...another exercise in patience. But it is what it is! Goodluck!

Well, lab tests came back cancerous, actually only 5 other reported cases type of cancer, but non aggressive. So heading to oncologist for tests and if they come back clear I shall be banded may 24th. Talk about a hiccup! But on the bright side...my surgeon is getting to know me well! I am dubbed the surprise girl!!! Lol! Life is sooo funny!

Congrats to all other April bandsters who made it through!

That's exactly what my husband and I were talking about last night. We were so bored because we had nothing to do. Usually we goi out to dinner or do something that involves food. Now that I got surgery he's trying to do better too but we're so bored!

Start golfing!

Ramblings....

My beautiful step daughter is getting married June 23rd. Her mother is about the size I am. We do not have a good relationship. Like if I walk in the room' date=' she leaves kind of tense.

I have got to look better than she does in June - if it means I have to bribe one of you ladies to come use a chainsaw on me, I have to have a waist by then. I don't have to be a size 10 or anything, but I have to be down some! LOL

Like most of you I have tried every known diet. I'd been very successful at times, but gained every bit and then some back, each time. I am terrified that this will result in the same thing. I know that ultimately I am in control. I know that I have to change my lifestyle.... of couse I knew all that 30 yrs ago when this started too!

I lost 120 pounds with phen/fen.... I joined a gym and worked out every day, I spent money on clothes and fitness magazines. Then the gym membership ran out - I thought I had "arrived at my goal" and didn't renew - over the next couple of years I gained everything back. Phen/fen was off the market by then....

The what if's that go through my head are about failure - not a fear of surgery. I am scared silly of needles and thinking fills won't be any fun, but I do donate blood just to prove to myself that I can do it. I do believe in mind over matter, to a certain extent.

I haven't told my adult children because .... well, I don't really have a reason. I don't want to hear the expected "why don't you just lose weight the normal way?". I was going to tell my son last night but he and his wife invited us over for dinner - chicken, and I'm in the pre-op phase and didn't want to go for dinner.

It seems all socializing we do it around food and drinks. I don't know why. But does anyone have friends over and not have food? [/quote']

Don't fret over the mil she has issues! Tell the kids...they will be supportive if you can explain why you are getting the surgery. You need to know why it is your decision. As we get older hitting the gym hard is usually not physically an option long term.

Socializing.... Start playing cards or doing game nights. People don't notice if you don't snack. And you will be noticeably thinner so just play the your sticking to your diet no matter what card!

Goodluck!

Anyone know the differences in the different size lapbands? And maybe why one size is chosen over the other?

Just now reading all the info the doc gave me months ago' date=' can you tell? LOL[/quote']

Bigger band is the newer better band with same amount of restriction. It can open wider and in

Most cases can rectify a slip by being emptied. Less erosion. Better for bigger patients too. It is what my doc uses on all patients.

I'm trying my liquid diet today. So far it hasn't been bad. I made biscuits n gravy with sausage for my fam this morning but didn't even sneak a piece of sausage! Major coup for me! But then again...I'm a night eater' date=' so I'll see how it goes!

As for support, my fam is really supportive, but I do have that friend who seems disappointed in my decision. She thinks I could do it on my own. My response to her is if she thinks we could do it on our own, why are we in our late 30's and still so overweight? If I could do it on my own, I wouldn't feel like this and probably wouldn't have diabetes![/quote']

That's funny! Even with the lapband you are doing it on your own! It simply picks up where your willpower shuts down! You still have to make the right choices. It is still life changing! I think your friend might get a wee bit jealous but dont let it discourage you! It is a tool! If you have made this decision for the right reasons then you are a step ahead of her! Hang in there, keep your chin up and let your happiness shine through!

I don't know about the US (where I assume you are) but all surgeons in Canada (where I am) are at least general surgeons. My surgeon is a gastroenterologist.

I'm sorry to hear that there might be something else going on for you' date=' and I hope it was benign, and you are in good health.[/quote']

Not here in the us. Some lapband doctors only do lapbands! Choosing the right doctor and knowing his credentials needs to be everyone's priority! That alone should reduce everyone's fears. Being in good hands! Worth every penny!

Everything happens for a reason.

I am one week post op. After waking up without a lapband I count myself lucky. My lapband surgeon I chose him because he wasn't just a lap band surgeon but also a general surgeon. Y'know just in case. The fear of anything going wrong should not be discounted. After he got in there his expertise as a general surgeon allowed him to see something that wasn't right. He found an egg shaped tumor on my spleen. After two hours of precise carving they removed both whole. Recovery has been hard. It hurts like hell, especially since he had to carve a bit of my diaphragm too to get the spleen out whole. The pathogist has found abnormal cell groupings and has had to send my sample out to another lab for diagnosis. So, I sit here on my norco recovering and waiting. It could be a weird benign thing. It could be lymphoma. I had my day of tears! But honestly I am so lucky my surgeon was who he was. That he could literally, by accident find this growth before it spread or became symptomatic. I may still be headed to chemo and down a different path than skinny land at the moment. But if nothing else I hope my story can help others be patient and make these decisions not in haste, choosing your providers for the things that "could" happen because by not listening to your fears and taking appropriate steps to cover those bases, ie running to the first doc who will put it in the fastest,choosing accredited providers, there wouldn't be chances for miracles like mine!

I still plan on moving forward with the lapband after I get through whatever THIS is. Either way overweight and cancer free or skinny and cancer free I look forward to living. It has humbled me to know that I could die! I speak softer to my kids, I think twice about everything! Now if the pain will just heal quicker I can move forward with healing inside and out! All because of a great doctor, hamburgers and sweets!

Was discharged from hospital last night. Apparently the tumor was behind my spleen not somewhere it would ever have been found unless I had gone in for lap band surgery. So praise the Lord for that! Still waiting on lab results to be sure it was indeed benign. It was the size of an Easter egg! Doc said I should heal in about three weeks and can get the band then. After this pain...I bet it will be a breeze. I am more susceptible to getting sick like pneumonia and meningitis now but that is ok if it saved me from a different cancer down the road. I guess a tumor that size can cause a spleen to bleed internally and you can die from just that! By the time you become symptomatic it's over! I have more reasons now to be healthy....if I had said no lap band i could have died from being overweight! We just don't know do we!!!!??? Anyway, will keep y'all posted!

Susan

So sorry about your surgery. I know that you are disappointed' date=' but the tumor is gone and hopefully you will be able to get the band at a later time. All the best in your recovery.[/quote']

I was devastated and worried about $ as a self payor! But found out hospital is preferred otherwise for me and should be covered. Doc said as soon as I am healed 3 weeks or so. So I guess I might be a may bandster!

So sorry to hear that idahomom. Did they say when you can have lapband?

Thanks everyone, I'm doing okay. Better than earlier but still in pain. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

So I woke up, no lapband. I had a tumor on my spleen so they removed it instead. Both tumor and spleen Been puking all day and in recovery. Doesn't look malignant but will know in a couple days. Bummed and in pain!

So I had a dream last night that I was out of surgery and felt GReAt...then I forgot I had it and popped a mini snicker in my mouth...realized it and spit it out...rinsed my mouth but swallows a nut! Ahhh the horror of it...I am supposed to be on a liquid diet! Then my stomach gets this weird bump like the heel of a baby pushing out but I could feel the ring. Terrible...so I wake up and my alarm hadn't gone off...but I'm ok for time so I jump in the shower...and my sweet little five year old comes in. Now last night she was in tears at the thought of someone cutting me and me dying! So she has her little radio mp3 player device and she serenades me to the song "if I die young" by the band perry! OMG!!! What a beginning to surgery day! On my way to hospital! Surgery at 10:45! Is today really here?!

Uve been doing so well with the cals and exercise. U are almost there!! Ur gonna do fabulous

Smmrsue...Right there with you! 10:45am tomorrow am! Nervous, excited, apprehensive...especially after quennies post. Best wishes to you tomorrow! See you in lapband land!

I will keep you inmy prayers.

My surgeon said there are three sizes. He Only puts the largest in because it can be filled to be as small as the others and when Un filled can usually correct a slip. Some still use the older smaller bands.

Getting banded in the morning! Will blog as I can!!!

I just got back from my PreOp. No special Diet or anything

Thank goodness! I thought I was the only one not on a preop liquid diet! Phew!!! Was afraid my doctor was missing something! I have my surgery Thursday the 5th!

Wow! That is great!

It amazes me how different everyone and their doctors requirements are. For example I had to lose 12 pounds preop...that was my preop diet...post op I am on liquids for 3 wks, mushies for 3 weeks then week 6 I can start solids...no fill til week 6. Dr wants scar tissue to heal.

Perfect!!! Hubby is out of town on post op day 4. But I have a 13 yo boy for heavy lifting, an 11 year old girl for other things and a 5 year old girl, probably for emotional support (hugs ) None can drive though!!! Lol. Thank you! I am way less stressed about recovery now!

Ok so I have my surgery this Thursday (yay) and Monday the kids have track and 4h etc....so I should be fine by then! Just want to be safe! Thanks!

You are kidding right?

Heard a quote on tv yesterday that stuck with me...had to share!

"YOU are your only problem and YOU are your only solution!"

Kind of fitting I thought! So when we get depressed and down... realize the problem, gather up your strength and bootstraps and realize you are your own solution!!!! Nothing else!!!