New Hope

For me, Mylicon Baby Gas Relief drops worked better than Mylanta. (I got the Walmart generic version - cheaper.) Also, Tylenol liquid Adult Strength (or Tylenol Sore Throat -- it's the very same thing, just different packaging). You won't want to try and swallow pills for a while. I also bought a mild expectorant cough syrup (to help get rid of the phelgm in your throat following surgery (again, the Walmart generic). Pack lightly. I wore a Mexican wedding dress (very baggy, pull over) to the hospital, around the hospital, and on the trip back home. It was comfortable and presentable if someone visited. I also wore slip-on house shoes. You probably won't want to bend over and tie or tug for a few days. Shave your legs the night before surgery. May not feel like bending over for a little while. Try to walk as much as you possibly can, as soon as you can, after the surgery. This helps w/ the chest congestion, soreness, and the gas. I pushed my i.v. pole all around the hospital hallways. Are you having your surgery locally or out of the U.S.? You'll do great! I'm so excited for you!

If you have the time available, I'd take the full week off. You probably will do just fine. But you'll have little aches and pains pop up in various areas of your body for several days. These will lessen in strength as each day goes by. Plus it will give you time to concentrate on getting your ton of water in and just learning to live w/ your band.

My surgeon is in Houston. His cash price is $12,000, includes 1 year follow up and as many fills as needed. After the year, fill is $120 each. I pm'd you his website. I was very, very pleased w/him. He's very qualified, done over 700 bands. During my band placement, he also removed my gallbladder, previous existing abdominal adhesions, amd an esophagus benign tumor (not the normal find). His primary speciality is abdominal laproscopic surgery. Wow, this sounds like a recruiter! I promise I'm not!!!!

Rica, maybe it's just your "magnetic personality" zaps your husband in CA, and me in TX. You didn't know you were that powerful, did you? Really, though, hope the pain relief is on it's way. Have they ever said anything about a cortizone shot or draining Fluid from the swollen knee? Do they recommend any type of orthoscopic surgery that could repair and alleviate the pain? Is your pain and swelling caused by arthritis? I noticed that Walmart has 3 different versions of a knee stabilizer. Maybe that would help. It still gives you mobility, but braces the inflamed area and supports it.

Cynder7, be sure that you're drinking enough liquid. That will cause dizziness and lightheadedness. You don't want to get dehydrated!

Leatha, did they give you any Milk of Magnesia afterwards? That barium can solidify and cause bowel problems. I'm keeping my fingers, eyes, and toes crossed that you'll get good news and get to feeling better SOON.

Hi, Rica, how's your knee today? I swear it's all in my head, but for the last 4 or 5 days, my knee has been hurting and "grinding around" inside. I promise I don't want to be a "copycat"! I took my prevacid, celebrex, and gluco. and used some Ultra-Strength Ben Gay. It's a lot better today. The Ben Gay also opens up any head congestion. Whew!!!

O.K., Leatha, where are you? Hope you got good news! Please let us know when you can.

I usually make a protein shake for breakfast. In the blender, add skim milk, unflavored protein powder, one sliced fresh (not frozen) banana, various frozen fruits (strawberries, blueberries, etc.), sweetener, and a handful of ice cubes. Blend thoroughly. The ice cubes make it thick like a smoothie. This makes enough for my husband and me. The fruit helps you get your fiber in. Best of luck to you, Courtney! You better start wearing your favorite "big" clothes as much as you can. Because in a few weeks, they're going to be forever "too big" for you!:cheeky :cheeky :cheeky

Rose, best of luck to you on a quick insurance approval and minimum pain surgery! Your weight loss puts you that far ahead in the game! What did you do to lose that much weight?

You can pm him. Look his name up under members.

I went through a roller coaster of emotions. Excited, thrilled, scared, wondering if this will work, wondering if I was setting myself up for another failure, etc. This seems to be a pretty common feeling with bandsters. Please start walking, drinking a ton of water, not eating with meals, and waiting at least an hour to drink after your meai. It will put you that far ahead of the game when you have your band. You'll do great!

Cindy Lou, if I haven't already told you, Congratulations on your surgery date! Best of luck to you!

Debra, I could have written all of your thoughts! I'm so ready to blend in. Can't wait! But I'm heading in the right direction after so many years!

Sending best wishes and prayers with you, Leatha, for your scan. Please keep us posted.

Debra, please share your great bandster tips here! I think people are just getting used to seeing you at your current weight. You're no longer obese. You just fit in with "normal" and don't stand out. Wow, what a wonderful problem to have! I can't wait until I get to that spot! And you have made an impression. Two other people have been banded because of your influence. Wow!

If something hurts, please follow up on it. You don't know how long it will be before you'll actually get relief. Everything seems in slow motion when you're seeking help. The PCP visit, referral, Specialist, referral, authorization, treatment --- aah! frustrating!

Unfortunately, unless you're bleeding profusely, having chest pains, or unconscientous -- no one seems to get in high gear. A few years ago, I had a large, firm mass on my upper thigh. Several dr. visits later, he finally decided to do an mri. By then, the pain,swelling, and numbness were so intense. I went to the ER (with my mri film). While waiting indefinitely, I could hear the dr. talking about his ski trip plans. The ER dr. looked at the films and told me to go back to my dr. "They wouldn't assemble a surgical team for this", he said with almost a sneer. I asked if I could at least have a shot of demeral before leaving ER. Fast forward, the surgeon made a 9" vertical incision and removed a 4 1/2 lb. tumor. Fortunately, it was benign. It had hurt so bad because it was pressing down on the nerves. He said it was as big as four of his very large fists. Gee, maybe we mere patients aren't totally stupid!

Scott, you have done fantastic in a very short period of time! Are you doing any type of exercise yet? You're probably still getting over your surgery, so please don't overdo. And please get your surgeon's o.k. before starting anything. Drink that ton of Water required. It helps fill you up. Also, don't eat too close to bedtime because of possible reflux problems. I've gotten into the habit of bike riding w/my husband after dinner. We were walking, but biking is so much "cooler" in this heat! Sunday evening, we saw a spotted tiny fawn and mother, then about 15 more deer. What a treat! A few months ago (pre-band), I would have missed out on all of this because I would have been "parked" in the house in the air conditioning. There hasn't been anything on t.v. so that helps encourage me to "get out the door". I really look forward to it now! When I come in, I don't want to eat a lot to "undo" all that work. I do allow myself one sweet each day. Usually it's a fat-free pudding or ice cream. That may be slowing down my weight loss, but it seems to satisfy my urge. A lot of people do water aerobics. Please come here and "talk" to us. We need some more males on this board.

Yeah, Rica, me too!

What an inspiration!! No wonder your hubby looks so proud! I can't wait until I'm that far down the road! It even changed the color of your hair! :) :eek:

Leatha, didn't you have some bad bruising on your abdomen following your last surgery?

Hopeful 1, I responded to you on another thread.

Cynder, are you drinking, drinking, and then drinking again? In this heat, it's really easy to get dehydrated! I had the super dizzy, weak problem, too. But once I got into the routine of drinking so much, it got better. If you get tired of plain Water, try mixing water w/ Lite cranberry juice. It gives you a little variety (and it's cheap). I felt some restriction without a band, also. I waited 2 months before I got my first fill. Some days I feel like I could eat a horse, then other days - restriction. The band seems very unpredictable. You're still getting over your surgery, so please don't push yourself on exercise. Start out with baby steps and you'll be surprised at how quickly you'll be doing more and more and feeling better. When you start noticing your clothes getting too baggy, you'll be so happy! I thought about food all the time, too. (After all, food was our "friend" (ha! ha!) for so long.) I think it's a process we all go through after banding. Best of luck to you!

I have ins. through United Healthcare. I really don't know why it took 8 months. They sent the initial denial in 10/2003. I appealed it. Then 05/2004 my lap. dr. office called and said I'd been approved and when did I want to schedule the surgery. So the usual "hurry up and wait" routine, or in my case..."wait, now hurry up!" That certainly is NOT the case for everyone! They all seem to have their own little protocol. I'll certainly hope that yours will be faster. In the meantime, look up Alexander's appeal letter on this forum. It is excellent! Don't give up, just get determined! Now's the time to start working on walking regularly, drinking tons of Water, and not drinking with meals. These are all great habits to get into whether someone is banded or not.