Serena

Angeladarling, Your program is really letting you down! In mine, you have to meet with the dietician twice before you even get a date. Even the first orientation gave us a lot of written material about the post-op diet. How can a person commit to a procedure if they don't understand what's involved? Our dietician is a treasure. She gives samples of Protein supplements and told us to call her anytime if we have questions. I hope you can connect with your dietician. Good luck!

EVA, My sleep study (done 3 years ago) was a disaster like yours. The connection to the wall outlet was bad and everytime I moved an alarm would sound and two techs would burst into the room, turning on all of the lights. I was told that on the average I stopped breathing 35 times an hour and I asked how they could come up with that figure since I doubt that I slept an hour's total all night......I was given a C-PAP but never felt any different after using it for months. I was told to be sure and bring the C-PAP to the hospital and I reminded staff in pre-op, recovery, and inpatient that I had it. Guess what? It was never once taken out of the bag.

Thank you, Batgirl. Your reply makes so much sense. Speaking of swelling, about how long does it take for the swelling to subside?

My program forbids caffeine after surgery because it is a diuretic and would then contribute to dehydration. I was caffeine-free for two days and I finally decided that I would allow myself one (big!) cup of weak coffee in the morning for sanity's sake.

The pharmacy in the outpatient building of the hospital where I was banded sells Unjury. It calls itself "medical quality protein" so you might call some pharmacies.

Quadmom, I was banded on June 4. I felt great--no gas and no pain medication at all. I was sore but I was able to walk all over the hospital. When I got home I "crashed" a little. I didn't sleep much in the hospital so I guess the fatigue and "anesthesia hangover" keep me sleeping most of day 3. You are young (so your body rids itself of anesthesia faster) and you must be quite accustomed to sleep deprivation (in the last 7 months at least!) so I bet you can wing it. Good luck!

I just discovered this thread and fee compelled to share my opinion; Abortion is repugnant. Abortion is a horror. Abortion is a necessity and I have marched many times to keep it legal. I abhor women who have multiple abortions as a form of pregnancy prevention but they should have the legal right to do so. "If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament" -Gloria Steinem

Dr. Hekier, Thanks for the reassurance! I did check all incision sites before I posted in case I was mistaken about which one was the port. My best guess was that the port was the biggest incision, which is the only one feels sore.

Toni and MM, Does your dietician require you to sip liquids slowly--30 minutes for 4 ounces? I called ours today to ask at what point I could sip a little faster, and she said not for quite a while. She said it avoids nausea. I'm a little concerned that I cannot feel my port--and I've been feeling for it since the day of surgery.

Musicalmomma- Thanks for the explanation of weight gain! I was a bit freaked out.

Can anyone explain how I could be up 10 pounds since the morning of my surgery?? It was there when I came home on Tuesday and is still there.

Hi Everyone! I also just got home, It was great! I took no pain meds and had no problem with gas. This morning I walked around the hospital and stopped to watch the babies in the newborn nursery. Three times a day I got a tray with 2 juices, broth, SF Jello, decaf tea, a drink in a juice box called "diabetshield" and a sorbet called "Sin Free". The dietician said to sip 2 oz. slowly over 15 minutes. It was way too much food for a new lapbander but we could take the leftovers home.

Mandy, I went to that physician for 8 years. I read about it in his office sometime during those 8 years. At the time the lap-band was not approved for use in the United States.

Janine, I saw Gas-X strips at Krogers, Walmart, and Target. I checked the website and they do not offer a liquid Gas-X. Other companies make liquid simethicone drops for infants, but you would probably have to swig half the bottle! The strips are only half the strength of the extra-strength chewable Gas-X and they don't dissolve so well if your mouth is dry.

Lapdancer, Oh Ann, say it isn't so!! I just read Khaliah Ali's book, and I bet she was also paid. Her surgeons co-wrote part of the book and one of them dedicates the book to the inventor of the Lap-Band. It seems to imply that Ann Wilson got the band fairly recently. I first read about her band in a People magazine in a doctor's office that I quit going to in 2002. She said that she sought out the band when she adopted a child. I went home and immediately read about the procedure on the Internet and it was definitely not available in the US. Strange........ You're a resourceful one, Lap Dancer!

I am watching the Brookhaven marathon and it's helping me with my anxiety. I realize how fortunate I am to have this option available and grateful that despite my age (56), I haven't developed any complications from my obesity other than arthritis. The only problem is that I want to get all the housework done tonight and instead I'm glued to TLC. I have to be at the hospital at 6:00 AM EST. How about you Huntersmom?

VH-1 Rock Honors was new last Sunday. Inductees besides Heart were Genesis and ZZTop. You can watch the videos at VH1.com. Gretchen Wilson (I think that's her name) did an awesome tribute song and Heart did two songs, Straight On and Crazy. Speaking of awesome--I just noticed your weight loss. Sweet!

I saw Ann Wilson on VH-1 Rock Honors and she does seem to have regained a lot of her weight. She had the lap-band outside the US before the procedure was approved here. Does anyone know if she had it removed? No matter what, she is still the same vocal powerhouse as always!

What I meant to say--I worried that the surgeon would also have the Monday morning fog!

Toni, I guess I was just thinking about how bleary-eyed I am early on a Monday morning, but you're right, I would have been so restless waiting around for those extra hours! I was told that I could bring my fan but a maintenance employee would have to inspect it to be certain that it is grounded properly (one of the standards of JCAH accreditation). Of course the fan totally fills the small carry-on I was planning to take with me! What a lovely family you have!!

Kara--I'm being banded by Dr. Kerlakian in 18 hours! Mine is the first surgery on a Monday which is not the most desirable time. I'm looking forward to Maria's lap-band support group in August. Have you attended the general support group?

Toni--ugh, a week of clears! I only have to do 3-5 days of clears. After the pre-op diet our bodies are screeching our metabolisms to a halt, assuming we're in dire straits...........I bought a case of 12 Isopure clear ready-to-drink Protein, but it turns out that we are not allowed any protein during clear liquids. Mine is the first surgery on a Monday morning which is less than desirable. I'm taking a fan because I get so hot and lying on a mattress with a plastic cover could send me over the edge! Crabby--I hope you adjust well to your C-PAP. I'm not sure if I really have sleep apnea either. During my sleep study I was in a room with a bad connection and everytime I moved around the connection broke, an alarm went off, and two techs ran in. That happened about six times, which was not conducive to relaxation. I didn't think that I slept at all . Their results said that I stopped breathing 35 times per hour--and I don't see how there could have been any accuracy. I'm am looking forward to retiring my C-PAP down the road. Insubordination--Thanks for being so supportive to everyone. Musicalmomma--I hope your discharge happens soon!

Ohiorosejanelle, I'm also from Cincinnati. Who will be your surgeon? I'm going to Good Sam with Dr. George Kerlakian. Right now I'm a nervous wreck! Have you heard about the book "Fighting Weight" by Khalila Ali? It is about her experience losing 100 pounds with the lap-band. It just came out this week. My copy came in today so I do have something to distract me. I'm not used to dealing with anxiety without burying it under an avalanche of food......Trust me, there is no comfort food on the pre-op diet!

:omg:My usual (but counter-productive) remedy for excessive anxiety is to bury it under an avalanche of food, but there are definitely no comfort foods on the pre-op diet...........! Luckily I did find one distraction. I had ordered a copy of "Fighting Weight" by Khalila Ali. It's her account of losing about 100 pounds with the lap-band. The book came in today, which was perfect timing. I live alone and chose not to tell anyone that I am having the surgery, so the anxiety is churning inside me and I can't express it to anyone (except LBT). I lost my two good friends who both died this year in their mid-forties and I'm really missing them. Good luck to our June "pioneers" tomorrow! We're looking forward to your first posts when you get home. Thanks, Toni, for posting so soon.

Had a date of May 31. Surgeon's office called me when I was in waiting room for pre-op physical to see if I could do May 29. However my doc thinks that to be extra safe I should have a stress echocardiogram before surgery, so my new date is June 4. My doc was afraid that I would be angry about the delay but I said that a delay was far better than going into cardiac arrest on the table ! I have no history or family history of heart problems but I have been too sedentary due to severe back problems that make my legs weak and extremely painful. Apparently going under anesthesia is very hard on the heart. I'm having my surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. The 2-week pre-op diet is unjury Protein plus a few solids --one fruit, 1/2 cup oatmeal, salads, and raw vegetables (last chance for "crunch" for a long time!!). I had lost 20.6 pounds on my own from initial consultation to surgical consent meeting so I initially going to be required to do the pre-surgery diet for 5-7 days. Does anyone know--does the Liquid Protein diet reduce the fat around the liver more effectively than the same calories in a more solid diet?