Zoe

A big brava to all you ladies (and bravo to Whippledaddy). As Billie Holiday said, "Ain't nobody's business but my own." Gail, you might want to check the US Dept. of Labor web site; your employer may be violating the law by refusing to give anyone a break during an 8-hour work day. Just yesterday I had to contend with an obnoxious acquaintance who overheard me talking about mushy food to a friend who is in the know. She kept pestering me -- "Why can't you eat anything else? What happened?" -- and I kept refusing to answer. Finally, after the fifth question, I left the room. Luckily, most people I know aren't this rude, and the dunderhead in question is moving across the country in a few days, probably (as Blossom suggested in her post) thinking that *I* was extremely ill-mannered! Whether we keep our bands a secret, a semi-secret, or are totally open about them, I think we're all going to hear ignorant, malicious, nosy, or just plain silly questions sooner or later. The trick seems to be finding a graceful way to handle it while keeping a sense of humor. I'm still working on it, and probably will be for a long time. Meanwhile, I feel great, I'm still not hungry, and the gossips and buffoons can do what they like! Gail, I hope you can keep the people you don't trust from (1) finding out, and (if they do) (2) using your private information against you. Remember, if they had real lives of their own, they wouldn't need to feed on yours.

Ann Wilson has posted a great three-part account of her ongoing Lap-Band journey. The type is very small, but it's definitely worth checking out, especially if you haven't been banded yet. See http://www.spotlighthealth.com/common/ediary/MO/ann/ann_story_one.aspx

Congratulations! It only gets better from here. Each day you'll feel a little less sore, the incisions will start to heal, your energy will return. Glad to hear everything went so well. Welcome to the newly banded club!

Congratulations on the big day! Please let us know how you're doing whenever you feel up to it. I hope your surgery went well.

Hi Gail. I'm sorry you were backed into a corner by the person who asked, "You're sure you didn't have your stomach stapled?" It's really no one's business. And telling people about your band can feel kind of like coming out of the closet (something I have experienced!) in that you become vulnerable by telling people this very personal information, and you're rightfully worried about becoming the subject of gossip, especially at work. Gossip we can't control, and unfortunately for us bandsters, a lot of people think this is a juicy topic. No way around that one. But there may be many people you'd rather keep in the dark, because there's no real need for them to know, just as they wouldn't need to know about any other intimate medical procedure. I respect your initial decision to keep your band a secret. And you should be proud of having a strong moral center that makes you feel guilty about "taking credit" for weight loss you may feel is not totally earned. But (as I'm just beginning to learn) the band is not a panacea for obesity, and requires a lot of work. You can still be proud of those pounds you have lost, and anyone who dismisses your progress as "easy" is ignorant. Whether you feel it is worth your time to educate such people is solely up to you. If you do decide to tell more people about the band and it gets back to your coworkers and boss, you can still save face. First, this is a medical, not cosmetic, procedure, and you can hold your head high when you say you needed it. Second, there's nothing wrong with saying that you don't feel comfortable discussing personal medical topics. That can be the explanation for both your initial lack of disclosure and your current reluctance to talk about the band. I was banded just over two weeks ago, and at first, like you, I told just a few close friends. I went off to Mexico in secret; people at work (including my boss) knew only that I was taking a few days off for a medical matter. Since I gave no details, I think they assumed it was gynecological, and I did nothing to dissuade them. But when I came back I was so excited that I started blabbing to family and more friends, one of whom lives next door to a coworker. Sure enough, last week this colleague obliquely asked me about my "surgery goals." I kept my answer vague. Since I'm so recently banded, my appearance hasn't changed yet... but, alas, word is getting out. In general, as with coming out of the closet, I have been delighted and moved by the support of people I care about, and I can't be bothered about the rest. But I realize that's a luxury not everyone can afford, especially if their work situation is precarious. Whether, when, and whom to tell about the band is initially up to you -- then, yes, it might become public information. Whatever you decide, don't be hard on yourself for first electing to keep it secret. You've taken a big step in your life, and it's not easy to share the news with people you may not fully trust. Good luck.

Hi C -- When you move to full liquids, try Campbell's Creamy Chicken Verde. It's a little more caloric, but in the liquid phase, that doesn't really matter. You mix the condensed soup with milk. It's filling, mildly spicy, and tastes great, especially if you're yearning for salt and spice.

Jeanie, I just got off the phone with Dr. Rumbaut, who said I could expect to lose weight until about a month after being banded, then I'd probably hit a plateau for a couple of weeks and be ready for an adjustment around week 6. I don't know if other doctors' patients have similar stories, but if you were a Rumbaut girl you'd be right on schedule. I know what you mean about that 200 mark. I'm excited just to be on the other side of 250 for the first time in over a year!

Dateline Chicago -- Shoppers at a northside grocery store gasped in disbelief as a local woman went on a manic rampage Wednesday night. "Polenta! Hummus!" the Junoesque patron was heard shrieking as she threw item after item into her cart. The manager was asked to intervene when the woman was observed writhing in orgasmic delight while fondling a tub of cottage cheese. "Clearly deviant behavior," he observed with a sniff. The wayward shopper had only three words to explain herself: "Mushies start tomorrow."

I had one plain scrambled egg this morning, with half a mushy banana topped with a teaspoon of Peanut Butter. Heavenly! My stomach isn't very hungry yet, but after two weeks of Jello and yogurt smoothies my brain has been craving salty stuff. I bought some gooey shrimp dip with microscopic pieces of seafood; it really takes the edge off those salt pangs. Of course I can't dip anything into it except my finger, but it'll do for now. By the way, I'm finally on the other side of 250. It sounds silly, but it's a big milestone for me. (I have friends who would be mortified to weigh as much as 150!) I can almost imagine being under 200 again... look out world, here I come.

Don't be too hard on yourself, Blossom. I think a lot of us give big bon voyage parties to food. On my last pre-band binge I got such an intense chocolate-induced headache that I actually looked forward to eating more healthily. Just remember, you WILL be able to eat almost all your favorites after you're banded. And the weight you've gained recently will come off.

Veering even further off on this tangent... I discovered a good, cheap way to satisfy a Mexican food craving during the liquid phase. Campbell's makes a condensed Creamy chicken Chile Soup with poblano peppers; it's very filling, and not too spicy. The chicken bits are tiny, so you can either chew them into mush or ignore them. My earlier problem seems to have resolved itself. Thanks, everyone.

OK, I was hoping I wouldn't have to ask this, but I haven't seen it addressed elsewhere, and I'm desperate: Has anyone else had diarrhea while on liquids? For the first several post-op days I had the bowels of a cheese-eating 90-year-old, but in the last two days I've had to dash to the bathroom a couple of times with the runs. I'm drinking lots of fruit juices and yogurt smoothies, but I didn't expect this week to be so, um, productive. My diet hasn't changed in the last few days, and I don't have any flu symptoms. Comments or suggestions? Stocked up on toilet paper, I remain,

Teresa, I always enjoy reading your posts. 62 lbs. lost and a college degree gained? You've had one heck of a season. Congratulations! I hope you give yourself a well-deserved treat.

You might have to get your wedding dress at the last minute because you'll be shrinking all year! I'm glad to hear your fiance is going with you, and that he's supporting your surgery. About bras: Dr. R painted my belly with a sticky iodine solution all the way up to my rib cage. My 47-year-old breasts reacted naturally to gravity, so for two days my tits were glued to the iodine! I pried them away two days after surgery. It felt as if I were removing duct tape. Bras were out of the question for those days. Of course, if you're younger, you may not have this problem...

Hey Andrea, everyone here is such a big help to me, it seems the least I can do is try to pass it on somehow -- but all hugs gratefully received. I don't blame you for not wanting to fly on Sept. 11. How about Sept. 12 if you think you'd like another day? Here's hoping you're feeling good to go on the 10th.

Hi Andrea -- Dr. Rumbaut's office number is 011-52-818-333-6891 or 347-4881; cell is 011-52-818-277-6719. Of course once you're in Monterrey you only need to punch the last seven numbers. The guy WILL be there to pick you up from the airport; he'll be in the waiting area, holding a piece of paper with your name on it. I was worried about this too, because my flight was late, but he stuck around. If you have any problems just call the office or R's cell. One more suggestion: pack some earplugs, because the Hampton Inn air conditioners are very noisy. Let the countdown begin!

Thank you, thank you! I'll try to cut back on the yogurt. Today has been fine so far, but yesterday I just about lost it while sitting for a professional exam. . . at least they would have remembered me. Kim, I'm right behind you: mushy food begins on Thursday. Right now I'm looking forward to hummus, guacamole, and tuna salad.

One of the great things about LapBandTalk is that so many people who have gone through the procedure freely offer their insights to us newcomers. Andrea, before you know it, you will be one of the experienced ones, ready to support someone. I know, because it happened to me. You're about to start an exciting journey. In the days before surgery, it's normal to be nervous, excited, and incapable of thinking about anything that's not related to the band. Just remember, the time will pass. Wednesday is going to come around, and then Thursday -- your first full day with the band. In another week, you'll wonder where the time went. My only other suggestion is to travel light and pack for hot weather. I don't know this week's forecast, but during the week of Aug. 26 Monterrey was in the high 90s. Good luck! We're rooting for you!

My experience was very similar to Sarah's. Chris and Leatha, as I recall, I filled out a general health questionnaire and e-mailed it to Dr. Rumbaut's team weeks before I made my appointment; it included questions about the usual morbidities (sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.). When I spoke with Dr. R on the phone two weeks before surgery, I asked him about other tests, and he said they were not necessary. The day before the surgery, I got some basic tests (blood work, EKG, blood pressure, upper torso x-ray) from Dr. Gonzalez (in a different office), who also asked about my family medical history. I'm not sure what would have happened if any of my tests came back with questionable results. I think you can ask Dr. Rumbaut about this before surgery; he's very accessible, and great about returning calls. If you have an undiagnosed problem that won't be revealed by the tests -- say, sleep apnea -- it could pose a problem, since you won't be getting a full physical from the Mexico team. So if you have any doubts, you might want to get a more thorough examination before you leave. But I'm middle-aged, with a few of the usual suspects (joint pain, high blood pressure, mild apnea) and felt confident going into the surgery without a complete exam. I was running on nervous energy because I could barely sleep for about four days before I got banded, so the anesthesia was a welcome relief! Dr. Rumbaut doesn't do, or require, a psych consult. I went to my own US shrink a couple weeks before I got banded just to do a reality check; he wanted to know all about the band because he wants to lose weight himself.

Andrea, I'm sure you'll like Dr. Rumbaut. He's warm and unpretentious -- unusual in a surgeon! -- and is a Bandster himself. Among other things, he has a sample band in his office that he'll show you; somehow everything made sense once I had the actual object in my hand, instead of just looking at photographs. When you get to the hospital you'll be given something to relax you shortly before the actual anesthesia. I remember thinking, "This stuff isn't working at all!" and then, next thing I knew, the whole thing was over. Expect some pain and discomfort for the first few days. You'll get IV pain medication when you're in the hospital, but after that it's just a combination of Tylenol and a mild muscle relaxant. Remember, everything WILL get better. You're going to get stronger each day. We'll be here for you before and after the big day. Good luck!

... or, It Only Hurts When I Laugh. (Warning: this will probably be long.) First, I have to say that this board helped me get through the first few days of banding. Before I went into the hospital, I read a lot of old posts about pain, the joys of the liquid diet, etc. -- and that heating pad suggestion was great. I was banded by Dr. Roberto Rumbaut in Monterrey on August 26. There were at least three other women having the surgery on the same day; we kept seeing each other in the hotel lobby, at the medical testing facility, and at Rumbaut's office. While this did make me feel like I was on an assembly line, I grudgingly admit that this is not a bad thing. The docs here have routines and procedures in place, based on long experience. Dr. R's patients stay at the Hampton Inn, your basic Americanized corporate motel. If you’re looking for local charm, you're out of luck. But the staff are very helpful, especially the van drivers, and the place has all the mod cons we Yanks are used to, including internet connections and HBO. Dr. Rumbaut and his staff were great. Easy to talk to, answered all my questions. Dr. R had two assistants – medical residents, I think – talk to me a couple of times in the hospital. One of them explained the best way for me to take the take-home pain medication (crush it into small pieces) and assured me that the worst was over. After the surgery, he also gave me a tour of my abdominal cuts: liver retractor goes here, port goes here, band was placed through here, etc. I was grateful for the information, although I could have done without the prolonged look at my iodine-yellow belly! The nurses were all sweet and competent; our US medical staff could learn a lot from them. Best of all, the IV in my hand, which I had been dreading because of my past two experiences, was practically painless. She gave me a local anesthetic, then in went the needle, perfectly placed the first time. What would I do differently? Well, I wouldn't go alone. Two friends offered to go with me, but the last-minute airfares were awfully high, and I thought they'd be bored senseless, so I demurred. Probably a dumb move! I also would have stayed in the hotel an extra night; I flew home less than 48 hours after being banded, and while the flight wasn't as uncomfortable as I expected (and Mexicana has pretty long seat belts), I was very weak and had to rely on the kindness of strangers for help with my light luggage. Now it's Monday. I've been banded for four days, am doing fine on the liquid diet since I have no appetite, and worked half a day today (although I had to push my chair back into a reclining position while at my desk). My belly is extremely sore, especially near the cuts on the left side. And thank you, everyone, who warned us newbies about gas pain! Mine is pretty much gone, but those first two days were rough. I had ovarian surgery years ago, so I knew that abdominal incisions dictate shoes that don't need tying or buckling, no socks, free-flowing clothes without waistbands, and big baggy underwear, if any. (I'm mentioning this for the benefit of anyone who's going to be banded and hasn't thought about recovery clothes.) Of course it's too early to make grand proclamations, but right now, even as I shift position to get my big yellow belly comfortable, I have no regrets. My only caveat to American patients regards language. Dr. Rumbaut and his staff speak fluent English, and most of the hospital nurses speak some, but you might be frustrated if you think you can rely on Dr. R’s phrase chart to help you through all situations. I speak Spanish, and my stay was made much easier because I could communicate exactly what I wanted -- especially when it came time for pain meds! Maybe I’m selling the nurses short, but every time I forgot & started muttering in English, I was met with looks of kindly incomprehension. (Of course, I *was* pretty stoned.) That's all for now. I've lost a few pounds already... maybe Water, but I'll take it. Thanks again for your support. You have created a valuable resource here.

Congrats, Ryan! Hey, if your wife would like to be a co-conspirator, the two of you can use your banding incisions as an excuse to have a quiet romantic Thanksgiving with NO FAMILY. "Gee, we'd love to come, but poor Ryan is in such pain..." Good luck. And do go to New Zealand. I've been there three times and would love to visit again. The 15-hour ride from LA will be a lot more comfortable when you can fit your bony butt into one of those narrow airplane seats!

Hi everyone -- Jemigirl, I could pack on 10 lbs. of Water just before my period, and due to my weight I tend to get swollen ankles and feet any day of the month. You've been banded two weeks longer than I have. For what it's worth, my feet have not been puffed up at all since my salt intake dropped to almost zero on the post-band liquid diet. I've lost nine pounds, and I suspect a lot of it was water. Pam offered some good advice: drink more water & avoid salt. Sheeanisland, a surgeon friend of mine (brain, not belly) wants to see my incisions ASAP out of bizarre professional curiosity, so I will hand her a digital camera this weekend and let her do her worst. But note the exchange between Pam and Leatha in this thread; other bandsters have posted their photos too, so you can have a wide range of bruises to check out! As for computer access in Monterrey, I don't remember anything about a computer room in the hospital and probably couldn't have used it anyway because I was so dopey. However, the Hampton Inn has a computer room/business center with a few PCs, and each room has a high-speed connection; the front desk can supply a cable if you don't have one. Don't worry, we will be here for you!

Thanks for the tip, Leatha. Walking helps me feel better, too. I have to walk around to go to others' offices, the computer printer, etc. -- not to mention the bathroom -- so I have some mandatory movement every day.

You can do it, Pam! This is my one-week anniversary, and I definitely turned the recovery corner last night. I got out of bed with almost no pain & struggle this morning, walked the dog at a near-normal pace, and haven't taken any pain meds. Those first days are just something we must all weather; having read a lot of advice on this board and learned what to expect, I was ready to face the difficulties, and I know you will be too. I'm going to try to work a full day today. . . not exactly strenuous, since all I do is sit at a computer, but I'm thinking I can sit up straight for longer periods. And I'm still blessed with no appetite. After seven days of feeling beat up by the band, I'm finally (sort of) normal. Pam, you asked about glue. Dr. Rumbaut placed Steri-Strips over the incisions; I peeled them off four of the five cuts this morning. It looks like I'm healing fine.