Suzzzie.

Good luck!!

Yes I did. But I chewed it very very well. No problems. That was my first 'cheat' since before surgery.

OK, I have a confession here... I am supposed to be on pureed foods until Friday - but today I had an ice cream bar. The good news? Normally I would have had 2 or 3 of them, and I stopped at one. I was quite proud actually, but still feel like I cheated myself. Boo.

I don't think I was ever told when I could drive... I waited about 4 days to drive, and it was (and still is) uncomfortable, but I'm making it.

No no no... I haven't changed sizes so much as that my super fat jeans, which were already loose and baggy on my, are now falling off. They've always been big, but now they are too big. This is very exciting to me because when I bought them, I purposly bought them a bit big knowing that by Fall thay would be tight. I felt defeted and depressed that day, buying them. (size 30!!) My 28 jeans are still tight on me, but I'm just happy to see the 30's going BYE BYE!

So, I thought I'd start our very own NSV thread. For those who don't know, and NSV is a 'non-scale victory'. Sooo... I went to Starbucks earlier with a friend and had to put on 'real' clothes cause I couldn't wear shorts due to bending over to shave my legs is still painful. ANYWAY... I put on my 'fat' jeans that I had to buy last Fall cause NONE of my other jeans fit me, and they were falling OFF of me. I know I haven't lost much yet, and these jeans have always been a bit baggy, but I'm seriously thrilled that these huge super fat jeans are now too big to wear! They will be the first item of clothing I put in the 'Goodwill' box! I'm so excited!! :clap2:

Aw, I'm sorry to hear this! But I'm sure it's for the best!! I hope you enjoy your vacations and have a great summer!!

Pippz - That fake ice cream sounds so good!! I made a smoothie this morning from 6 oz strawberry yogurt (FF), 8 oz skim milk, 8 fresh strawberries, and a scoop of chocolate protein powder. It was so good!! I couldn't even finish it all and I'm still stuffed an hour later! Look everyone! We're on page 100 of this thread!! We've come so far! We're almost all banded now!

I slept in my bed for 5 horus last night. WOke up in so much pain I got up and went to the recliner. I ended up on my left side, which I was afraid of, since it's still so sore and tender. Oh well... not too bad. My 2 kitties were happyto have me in bed for a while anyway. Haha. I think I'll try the bed again tonight. LUCY - I know what you mean about having people assume that because you are fat you must eat alot. Hahaa. I hate it when waiters hover over my table asking if everything is alright.

That is the exact reason I have not told ANYONE in my family at ALL. haha. My mom is super supportive of everything I do in life, but she would not ever ever ever agree to an elective surgical procedure, especially one there they knock you out completely. I know its just because she loves me so much and is afraid of losing me... I just did what I had to do for ME, and maybe someday I will tell her... we'll see. Good luck to you!!! Having a resident do your banding could have cause bruises. I had bruises on 3 of my 5 incisions, still have a large bruise around my port site. Its lovely. I also have 3 very ugly bruises on my arms where the nurses were trying to start IVs. People bruise at different levels, and its always different. It may or may not be your surgeons fault. You do have the right to ask and know WHO did your surgery, although I assure you (I work in a teaching hospital) that if a resident did do it that there was a 'real' surgeon there assisting. Doing the band takes 2 people anyway, bacause of all 5 port thingines they put in your abdomen. More like the Resident was assisting. Also... where do you think these does got their 150 or 500 bands... they have to start somewhere, most likely with #1. There is always a learning curve. The most important thing is that you made it out of surgery fine, you don't get ant post-op infections, and that the band WORKS. The bruising will go away. HAng in there!

I think alot of people cheated...but thats no excuse. Fortunatly, my doc only had me on 1 day full liquids, then 1 day clear liuids before surgery. It was so hard those 2 days, I can't imagine having to do 2 weeks. The main thing is that your doc wants you to lose a few pounds the week (or 2) prior to surgery so that your liver loses weight and is easier to manage during surgery, since it lays accross your stomach and they have to move it. Try to be really good on your liquid diet at least the 2 days prior to surgery and you'll be fine!

My port did that on Thursday! I rested with a headting pack, then iced it for 15 minutes, and heated again. The swelling mostly went down. Mine is still really bruised too. Let us know what happened!

Haha, don't blame ME! I'm still in pain. Haha. I was supposed to work some OT today but got cancelled due to a low census (I work in a hospital) so now I'm lounging around doing nothing. I'm too broke to do anything fun today, but I'm BORED after spending the greater part of a week sitting around healing. I am considering going to the gym sometime today, though I prefer to go in the evenings. I just want to give it a try to see how it feels... I slept in the recliner last night, but I did take a nap yesterday evening in my bed, on my right side. It gets easier everyday! I can't wait until I have NO pain left! And before my appointment yesterday all of my incisions were fine... now they ALL itch! Its horrible. I don't want to keep scratching them, I'm afraid of infection. Overall though, I think they look really good! I've been taking pics of my tummy daily, to log the process. My bruises look much better too. Oh!! And I had 2 scrambled eggs this morning - first real-ish food I've had in forever! At first I was nervous about it, but it slid down well! I'm having trouble with taking the TIME to eat, but I am getting better about the no drinking with meals... (except the liquid meals! haha) OK, I think I have written enough... Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Fill date: July 20! I'm excited!!

Haha, you can be a man, that is OK. We like men here! Actually, I think you make our 4th man. Welcome!

I can't believe you're eating PIZZA! I had a scambled egg tonight and it was heaven. Lol. Pizza sounds good. Chinese does too. Mmm, so many good foods... it all just reminds me of WHY I needed this surgery!!

Took a nap... and when i woke up I had my TV on the travel channel and there was this thing on about BBQ!! They were comparing BBQ from TX, Kansas City, Memphis, and North Carolina...now, I live in KC, so you know where MY vote is!! Haha. One of my fave BBQ places here is called Oklahoma Joes (I think Joe is from Oklahoma...because they only have KC locations.) ANYWAY, its REALLY good, the sauce (cause in KC its all about sauce!) is good, I like the one they have called "Night of the living BBQ" Its a hot sauce. And FOOD COMMERCIALS are BAD! I saw a commercial for Heinz 57 Ketsup and then my mouth was watering for burgers and fries. Haha. - - SO ANYWAY, I now have a HUGE craving for BBQ... And I've been wanting mexican for a few days... Anyone else having specific food cravings??

Just got back from my post op appointment, apparently all is well. The nurse practitioner pulled off my steri strips, then put new ones on my port incision. She assured me that the pain my my left side will pass, haha. I whined a bit about it. Got my appointment for my fill set up for 7/20, I'm excited about that! Hope everyone here had a great day... I'm gonna go lounge in my jammies for another exciting Friday night! captain danbo - I'm 7 days post op and STILL sleeping in my recliner. I can lay in bed, on my back...but I can't sleep that way. It's incredibly painful to sleep on my sides, even with pillows for support.

OK... Im going back to work this morning! It will be a better day cause all I'm doing is passing meds until noon when I leave to go to the doc for my post op visit. I'm sooo looking forward to leaving at noon. By the way, I figured it up last night and my calories have only been around 500 - 600 a day since starting full liquids. It was around 200 when I was on clear liquids. Ugh. I still don't get hungry, but did have a FF pudding last night just cause I 'wanted' something.

Welcome Terry! BTW, I went to high School witha male Terry. AND I'M NOT THAT OLD! Hahahaa! Toni - Seriously? you're named after a hair product? Haha. I was named after Suzanne Somers. My Aunt that you remind me of (Phyllis) was named after the labor/delivery nurse when my Grandma went in to have her. Lol! So funny how people come up with names!

OMGoooooodness. I went back to work today (6 days post op) and I'm in horrible pain. All throughout my abdomen, some sharp pains, some dull pains. Some I know are gas, others feel like... I dunno. My port site is more swollen now than it has been, and I have another incision site that is swollen tonight as well. In case you're wondering - I'm a nurse on an oncology ward. I didn't lift much, but more than I'm supposed to... I didn't bend much, but more than I should have. Wahh. I still have some of my Lortab Elixor, I might go take some and camp in the recliner for the night. (Thats another thing - I STILL can't lay down! Tonight will be my 7th night in that dang chair!) I have a doc appt tomorrow and I'm going to ask him what he did to me! Haha. I hope you all had a better day than I did! PS. Is anyone else experiencing sweating?? I won't even be hot and will just start sweating! I never sweated before unless I was really working out at the gym!!!

Interesting! I was not told to stay overnight to make it cheaper. How odd... Here is the quote from fepblue.com " You Pay Standard Option You Pay Basic Option A comprehensive range of services provided, or ordered and billed by a physician, such as: • Operative procedures • Treatment of fractures and dislocations, including casting • Normal pre-and post- operative care by the surgeon • Correction of amblyopia and strabismus • Colonoscopy - diagnostic • Other Endoscopy procedures • Biopsy procedures • Removal of tumors and cysts • Correction of congenital anomalies (see Reconstructive Surgery in this section of the brochure) • Treatment of burns • Circumcision of newborn • Insertion of internal prosthetic devices. See Section 5(a) – Orthopedic And Prosthetic Devices, and Section 5© – Other hospital services and supplies – for our coverage for the device. • Voluntary sterilization (e.g. Tubal ligation, Vasectomy) • Assistant surgeons/surgical assistance by a physician if required because of the complexity of the surgical procedures • Gastric restrictive procedures, gastric malabsorptive procedures, and combination restrictive and malabsorptive procedures to treat morbid obesity — a condition in which an individual has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more, or an individual with a BMI of 35 or more with co-morbidities who has failed conservative treatment; eligible members must be age 18 or over. Benefits are also available for diagnostic studies and a psychological examination performed prior to the procedure to determine if the patient is a candidate for the procedure. Note: When multiple surgical procedures that add time or complexity to patient care are performed during the same operative session, the Local Plan determines our allowance for the combination of multiple, bilateral, or incidental surgical procedures. Generally, we will allow a reduced amount for procedures other than the primary procedure. Note: We do not pay extra for "incidental" procedures (those that do not add time or complexity to patient care). Note: When unusual circumstances require the removal of casts or sutures by a physician other than the one who applied them, the Local Plan may determine that a separate allowance is payable. Preferred: 10% of the Plan allowance Preferred: $100 copayment per performing surgeon Note: If you receive the services of a co-surgeon, you pay a second $100 copayment for those services, No additional copayment applies to the services of assistant surgeons Participating: 25% of the Plan allowance Participating: You pay all charges Non-participating: 25% of the Plan allowance, plus any difference between our allowance and the billed amount. OK, sorry, I know this made the post INCREDIBLY long... Basically, I was told it will be covered, except for deductible... and that is what I am counting on! Haha. I'll let ya'll know if/when I get a bill!

I have BCBS federal also. My surgery was just this past Friday, so no bills YET...but I'm expecting one. I know another woman from this site who has the same insurance and used the same place I did for surgery and she got a huge bill too, but she doesn't have to pay it for some reason? I dunno. THe Docs bill the insurance companies WAY higher than they know they will pay, in order to get a larger amount of money. Call the insurance people and ask them about it, then call your doc office. If you have to pay ANYTHING at all, they can set up payments for you.

haha, thought this was cute...(if it works...)

Oh Toni! I'm so sorry!! I hope no damage was done. Take it easy. BTW, you remind me sooo much of my aunt - the way you 'talk' and use the smilies.