txbecca

yep.. DH= Dear Hubby in my case.. somepeople use DP for dear partner. I normally call him Mr. Wonderful. even though he can have his not so wonderful moments.

I havn't had mine yet.. I had one right before surgery. Probably saw you at the hospital yesterday, I was the one with the tall skinny bald guy hubby. 4 hour drive.. WOW.. I don't think I could do that. WTG!

PLease call the doctor.. or got strait to the hospital. That shouldn't be happening.. I was banded yesterday too.. none of those things..

I had a protein drink day 1.. as per my doc's plan. drinking one now ( day 2). Doc and DH (chef) & Nutrionalist all said.. you can't get too much protein. it's a must.

I was banded yesterday too.. I have darvocet, I crush them in a morter and pistol and mic them with about a tablespoon of grapefruit juice.. follow with a sip of water and then suck on a piece of a popsicle afterwards to the taste isn't too bad.

I'm watching you two.. I'm one day behind you so please keep posting. I'm preparing for a rough day tomorrow, as you said day 2 is the worst. I'v got Darvocet all ground up.. So far I've only need 1/2 dose. and I'm taking it every 4 hours, but I'm walking real good. I really look forward to your posts. Rebecca Banded Today

I too say it is misleading to credit it to the # of bands place. Doc Spiegal has 8000 + band.. he requires a 1 day prior liquid diet, and common sense and what I know from previous surgeries is this.. Anesthesia slows your bowels down considerably. They normally won't let a person go home after any surgery until they poop/fart/urinate, to make sure the anesthesia is wearing off.. If you eat before you run the risk of getting impacted.. (not fun).. and besides, with the incisions the last thing you want to do strain in anyway.. Not to mention being bloated.. wiping can be a bit of a challenge. I'd be more concerned about a doc who didn't want you off solids than one who did. just my .02 Rebecca

I asked the hospitals bariatric nurse that one today.. she said it you have to have time for the sutures that hold the port to heal and mold around it.. people who rush into ab exercises risk having to have a 2nd surgury for port revisions. the lady next to me was having one today, and did not look too happy about it.. she was real uncomfortable. I look at it this way.. Dr. Spiegal may not be all warm and fuzzy, but he has done more than anyone else. I can follow the rules for 3 months. Someone told me a great way to indirectly work the abs without straining them is to do the hula hoop. but even then I think I'll wait awhile

Been home about an hour. Got to the hospital at 5am. rolled into surg at 8. home by 2. So far so good.. Pain is manageable thus far, liquids going down ok. Set Dh to get some popsicles as my throat is sore, worse thing was having my IV blow and having to have a second. Got some neat photos of my stomach and band and the barium swallows to bring home with me. Will post them at a later date.. Been up walking a bit.. trying to take a nap now then will walk some more. Rebecca banded today Dr. Spiegal:clap2:

Let's see.. Where to begin. I got home from the hospital around two and I have to tell you I was a nervous wreck for nothing. The most pain I had was from the IV, They had to do it twice cause the first nurse didn't do a good job. I've had no problems getting or keeping liquids down. So far, lots of chicken stock, Jello, juice and popsicles.. and a few ground up darvocets which taste horrendous. I have 5 incisions, which I expected. I can't even feel the port. I not having much of the typical gass pan it was far worse when I had laps for female problems. Only the ocassional twinge if I have to use my stomach muscles to get up. I'm walking all over the house, and even walked down to the corner of the street in this ideous mumu I purchased yesterday. When they weighed be at the hospital I was down to 268 but I think those bed scales arn't accurate, as I was 274 on Tuesday. Chef Hubby went to the butcher a got beef bones.. (femur sliced) for about $8 and is makeing me some stock.. I don't know if ya'll know this, but Bones boiled to stock make a very Protein rich stock, to have tomorrow, it is very gelantanious when cooled and that is nothing but pure protein, A lot of people mistake the geletain quality for fat, but it is far from it and has less sodium and tastes way better than the chemical stuff they sell. The staff at University General was nice, 4star treatment all the way. I think my sense of humour shocked a few of the nurses.. I didn't have any naseua afterwards thanks to medicine. I did have a hard time coming out of anesthesia. I couldn't keep my eyes open, and they scratched my throat pretty bad.. Thank heaven for popsicles, and hot apple cider to sooth it, I'm still pretty hoarse right now. I think I'll stay on the darvocet through the night, so I can rest. I know from my own experience and from what the rest of you have said that tomorrow is the worst day.. I'll keep you posted. Thanks to all of you who sent good vibrations and warm thoughts, I can't begin to tell you how comforting it was to me. Rebecca Banded today Dr. Spiegal/Houston My goals: Get healthy, get into sz 18 by summer, less than 200 by christmas, and get a tattoo when I reach my goal of a size 12

Surgery is at 5:30 am tomorrow. I hanging in there. It almost got put off a week, (seems the financing company didn't mail the check to the doc in time).. Thankfully I was able to get things worked out. I've been on Clear liquids today, needless to say I'm hungery. I have a few last minute questions. 1. I have a few laporoscopies before is the pain similar? or different. This is a higher up incision, so I'm thinking it isn't as bad. 2. Do any of you manage to take a "premarin" pill with the band. I have estrogen Patches I can use for the first few weeks, but I really don't like them as I react bad to adhesives. I keep looking a the pill, thinking it isn't too big. I hope I'm not forgetting anything. I'm jonesing for some food right now. Rebecca

Me too for getting banded tomorrow.. and yes I'm nervous.. but I'm feeling more optimistic since I found this site. I totally agree with you about the thoughts we carry, hence i'm trying to focus on the positive and quality of life issues that will improve. The last time I choose to have an elective surgury is was a breat reduction and while it hurt like hell afterwards I have never regretted it. I'd much rather be making my own choices than having someone make them for me.

I'm getting banded tomorrow. I can tell you that depending on your insurance it take a anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. If you self pay it is faster. I'm self paying after getting rejected from the ins co. Even still it took me close to a month to get everything worked out. I get banded tomorrow morning.

I'm scheduled to get banded on Friday morning, and frankly I'm a nervous wreck. My husband is a chef and cooking together and eating is such a major part of our life. I'm so afraid that we won't be able to enjoy that anymore. I understand the need to liquids in the beginning. I learned about that in the seminar, but it wasn't until pre-op today that I learned no more breakfasts, and 3-4oz meals. I need and want to lose the weight, but I scared that I won't be able to enjoy cooking and eating again. I just about freaked when the lady at the clinic who was banded told me today that she has gotten used to eating cold foods, because she couldn't eat her meals before they got cold. Rebecca

I can't tell you how happy I am to have found this place.. I feel so much better already. I was told no powders.. that they clog the band, but in reading I see lots of you use them.. I'm glad to hear breakfast is possible for some.. There is hope..

yes I was a bit upset by that too.. but Dr. Spiegal isn't known for his love of conversing. They told me in orientation Liquids for 2 weeks, then soft foods but not the specifics. They gave me the specifics during my pre-op.

Thanks for the well wishes, I'm feeling a bit better about it today. Still scared of course. Tomorrow I start my liquids pre-op. Hubby and I had a long talk last night, at first he wanted me to cancel the surgery, he couldn't do it, food it an integral part of his life, We are and have always been foodies, food snobs, gourmands.. call it what you like. We talked about quality of life and he agreed for health reasons I need to lose the weight, and he is very supportive and on board. He is already making and freezing homemade stocks into ice cube trays for me. I've told him to consider that every thing I eat will be an "amuse bouche" which is something he loves to prepare and plate. The things I'm struggling with today is the concept of drinking breakfast for the rest of my life. I hate those Protein drinks, as a general rule I don't eat prepared foods and additives and chemicals. I went to the store today to stock up on that kind of stuff, and I couldn't believe the chemicals in them all, not to mention they just don't taste natural. I'm hoping that in time I can use a juicer and whip up my own concoction. Though to hear the Dr.'s office talk, anything with sediment is a big no-no. Rebecca Get's banded on Friday.

thanks for the kind words. While I can't see dragging a hot plate to the resturant its a great idea for at home. I'm trying to remain optimistic about things, but I guess it is normal to be scared about it.