Bandista

Hi Debbie, so glad repair went well -- things are really coming together for you. Congratulations on baby and now a working band!

Hi there, hope you have a great day. I'm scheduled for a barium swallow at 7AM then probably home by noon. Was not allowed fluids after midnight so I'm pretty thirsty but have a saline drip. Walking, walking, walking every time I have to get up to pee. Feels food to move! Best wishes -- we did it! Yippee!

Yippee! So happy for you.....

Great posts here -- thanks! I have Gas-x and small firm pillow with me for the ride home from the hospital tomorrow if needed. At home: Milk of Magnesia, stool softeners, filled pain medication prescription I hope not to need, juices for clear liquids, Popsicles, soups, etc. for moving into full liquid phase. Let's see, heating pad, ice packs....

I work out with a cousin and it's that mutual benefit equation -- doing it for and with another person gets me there. But now I'm trying to do the solo stuff, too, as add-on exercise. Walking down the road, etc. That is harder -- oh the head games! When I exercise I feel so good but I'm never exactly wanting to get on that treadmill, etc. Have to force myself. Want to change that up now and like it from the get-go and have the wanting to do it.

Thanks all, nighty night! Every one will have to do extra workouts as I won't be doing that for a while but I am definitely going to take one more walk up and down the hallways now. It is helping clear my head from the anesthesia and loosen up my tight shoulders -- need to move! feeling good -- very excited about this new chapter. Here's to health and vitality!

Put those medical professionals to work -- they are there for you. Don't worry about embarrassment, etc., just worry about your health goals and what you are trying to achieve.

Many people take Biotin and I think there is a special shampoo out there. A dermatologist may have recommendations. Good luck -- it will come back! And congrats on the 40......

Congratulations on the 85 -- wow! You are doing beautifully.

Some one suggested writing a letter to yourself. I did that and marked it with my goal weight. It's in my jewelry box waiting...... Also I made myself a measurements chart and will watch those dimensions change even when the scale might be poky. And I'm going to use clothing sizes, too -- today on band day I am Lee long 18 on the bottom and 2x in Lands End or Coldwater Creek tops. Will be fun to watch that change.

Follow your instincts, Lisa. They are such good ones -- why rush it just prior to a trip?

Hi there, I will be thinking of you. For me this has not been as bad as things like dentistry or a hurt rib, back out badly, etc.

Congratulations! Look forward to keeping in touch. Are you able to drink wel? I have no pre-fill in my band and am having quite a bit of Water, cranberry & aloe -- my comfort drink. I look forward to home but am exceedingly comfortable here. It's nicer than I expected -- none of the weird hospital vibe or anything like that. About to get a heparin shot, standard protocol. Have been walking -- so much trouble to get up to pee (unplugging stuff, moving my zillion pillows) that I figure I should walk while I'm at it. That feels really good. Hope you have a good night!

Hi there, reporting in from Band Land! Everything went beautifully and I am recovering well. Just did a long walk with my IV pole up and down the halls for a while and some boullion is cooling as I write this. Let's see, 8AM registration then gown donning in short stay unit with nursing intake, anasthesiologist, hello from surgeon, etc. They put on an oxygen mask on me and the drugs into my IV then I woke up in recovery without ever knowing I was wheeled out of there. My surgery time was 9AM -- don't know what time it ended or how long I was in recovery -- an hour or teo? They let my husband sit with me and that was good as it was a bustling place and I felt some of that shoulder gas pain many people mention and mild anxiety. He did quite a bit of neck massage for me. It is still stiff in that area but I would describe it as discomfort rather than pain. I was coming off of the anasthesia with in and out napping until about 5PM. Very thirsty! Drinking lots of Water I brought from home -- we have beautiful water in our well and here in the city it is chlorinated. I am not taking the Dilaudid offered. Nurses concur better to stay away from that world of side effects if possible. Really hoping for narcotic-free experience. I think that pain medication can cause a kind of hyper-focusing on pain that makes it duller but more apparent if that makes any sense. There is ibuprofen in my drip. Have been doing yoga breathing -- have my sleep mask (CPAP) and I go home tomorrow following barium swallow. I have pain prescription filled should I need it as well as liquid Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Will keep you posted. Oh, I had a hernia. How many times have we heard that here but still I didn't think it would be me. Now I need to do hernia research as I don't really know what that is -- but it doesn't matter, all taken care of now. This actually allowed my husband to "out" my surgery to my parents in a way that keeps my lapband private as I am one of those who don't want many people to know. Nurses and aides all fantastic. Extremely quiet and near-empty by chance -- very nice for me to have my own room. I will go walking again soon, not to walk off any pain but more as a preventative thing and because I feel a little antsy. Planning to watch old episodes of all the Masterpiece Theater stuff my husband has suffered through once already. Hope our other Recent Bandits are doing well and every one else. Many many thanks to all of you who helped me get ready for this day. You are wonderful!

Thinking of you during this very stressful time and sending best wishes for your daughter's heart issues -- and your father-in-law as well. Take good care.....

Hi Ruth, I started my process in June and am getting banded tomorrow. It seemed like it was taking forever but now all of the sudden the big day is almost here. I am choosing LB because, like you, I have tried every diet in the book and just cannot lose this chunk of weight I have been carrying around for 22 years (I am 52). I can't wait to be banded!

Yes, here's to variety! I have five different tubs of protein powder/meal replacement shakes to choose from. I know the ones I like pre-op may not work post-op but at least I'll have choices. Also I have a Popsicle once in a while. Using Outshine brand, no icky chemicals.

What are fiber chews? Of course I'm on my pre-op liquid diet and I would eat anything right now just for the sake of chewing. Cardboard comes to mind!

So happy for you! Arm candy, yes indeed, but also just such a lovely person. He is one lucky guy. And congratulations on the new wardrobe additions. I used to love clothes and have just been wearing a sort of uniform for many years now -- jeans and black v-neck top (slimming!?) then a few outfits I struggle to put together for business meetings or dressy events. All that will be changing!

Packing my bag now!

Hi Calista, just saw another thread on constipation -- check that out. Good luck with all!

Every one is different, of course, but pain medication can really do a number on the digestive tract, particularly for people who are already prone to constipation anyway. I am taking Smooth Move herbal tea with me to the hospital tomorrow to get a little head start just in case. Figure I'll be able to sip on some hot tea tomorrow night in the hospital, don't know! Hope I won't need the Milk of Magnesia or stool softeners I purchased -- really hope I won't need a lot of pain medication either, but I guess I will find out when the time comes. Once I'm on regular food again I suspect I will need extra fiber in my diet.

Hi there, I hope you get word soon -- I use the squeaky wheel approach sometimes with a little catch more flies with honey thrown in for good measure. Perseverance!

Have you been through the process and just waiting for a date?

Yippee! I can't wait to be out of food jail...