Pam in MI

wnt2lose - How did surgery go? Lucky you to have 2 weeks! I went back 6 days post op - which was the first day of school. I thought I was going to pass out or throw up that day -it was really hot and I was exhausted about 2hours into the day. By day 8 I was feeling great. I just had my 2nd fill today and can definitely feel the restriction. My first month was wonderful. The last few weeks were rough. The first fill seemed to do nothing. Hopefully this will get me through the next 4 weeks with a bit of a loss. I didn't lose anything between my first and second fill. OK , I lost HALF a pound! The emotional eating was getting bad. It's nearly 2 a.m. and I have insomnia, but I'm gonna try getting some sleep. Hope you are doing well.

I was banded on 8/29 and have absolutely NO REGRETS! I have lost about 24 pounds so far, but most of that was in the first 6 weeks. I've had a 1cc fill but am HUNGRY. Wish I were losing as quickly as I was early on, but I think with my next fill I will have more restriction and then I'll be on the downward slide again.

SBEE - DO IT!!!!!!!!!!! Put yourself first! I'm a week and half post op and doing great now, but Tuesday, my first day of school was awful It was 87 depgrees - no air conditioning and I was exhausted and nasueous. The next day, I put one of those nausea patches on that my dr. had given me and it really helped. Thursday night I pretty much passed out at 7:30 and slept ALL night! gotta go get some work done. Of course it's Sat. and I'm working in my classroom. Still have lots to do :phanvan

I just got banded on Wed., 8/29 by Dr. Clark. I really like him - from MI and drove over 3 hours. I too was at St. Francis. How is everything going for you after a whole month. I am a little sore and tired, but overall, feeling GREAT!

Hi everyone! I was banded on Wed., 8/29. My bmi on that day was about 35. I was only on the preop diet for a few days because I finally got approved and wanted to have surgery before school starts on the 4th. So far so good. I LOVE that even though I am head hungry I just can not eat because I get so full fo fast! Question - did any of you lose a lot of weight right off the bat? Since starting the preop diet which was only 9 days ago, I've lost TWELVE pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can that be possible? Do you think I'll gain back before my first fill? Just wondering because when there is less to lose overall I know you usually lose more slowly. I am tired and bored. Thank goodness this site keeps me occupied - especially since I lost my hobby of eating! I stayed overnight becuase the hospital is 3+ hours away. I am SOOOOOOOOOO happy!

I actually AM using insurance that is covering me 100%!!!!!!!!!!!! I am a teacher and have BCBS MESSA (Michigan). It's the one plus for the low pay for someone with a masters' degree! I am incredibly blessed. This is the answer to my prayers for the last 25 years! I can't wait to just feel FULL. Tomorrow is my clear liquids day - also my school luncheon...but that's ok, my close friend at school is pregnant and has gestational diabetes so she won't be eating what is served either. I will just sit back and enjoy my sugar-free JELLO! Now, if I can just avoid all the questions about my surgery. Not many people know and I don't plan to tell everyone for a while. Bye!

I feel so bad for you! First of all I should tell you that I'm a newbie and will be banded in just a few days - 8/29 - so I'm not sure if I have any worthy advice or not, but here goes - We have all been desperate at one time or another and odne crazy or dumb things so stop beating yourself up. I am wondering a few things. One - will this larger band ever be filled enough to give you enough restiriction? Also, does the dr. know the size of your band? I guess he can figure that out pretty easily. I think you should start getting yourself mentally prepared for the diet. I just found out a few days ago that my surgery is next week and I didn't ahve time to wrap my head around the preop diet. I didn't get to say good-bye to some of my favorite foods. Sounds silly, but you know half of this or more is all about our minds. I know the preop diet is to shrink the liver, but maybe you can start cutting back, drinking the protein drinks (yuck), etc. What day do you go for your fill? Feel free to PM me if you want. I will be thinking of you! Good Luck! Pam

Hqw do you like being at home with your kids? I'm glad I did it, but it was hard. I also put on lots of weight! Do you miss teaching? I've been back 4 full years, but the 2 years prior I did some subbing including 2 long-term stints. In just a few weeks I will have three teenagers - 16, 14 1/2 and 13 on 9/12. It's fun, but sometimes I miss the hugs and all the cute stuff they used to do. At least one of them is still a hugger (as long as no friends are around!).

20 pounds????????? I think that is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go! I only HOPE I can drop that much so quickly! Keep it up!

Hi everyone! Tuesday I go back to school. That will be the day I'm on clear liquids and we have our luncheon! Surgery is Wed! SOOOOOOOOO excited! Thought surgery would've been earlier this month, but you know insurance - at least mine is paying at 100% if you can believe that! So I will take off two days, then we have a 4 day break for Labor Day and the kids start onTuesday 9/4. That gives me all of 5 days. YIKES! I just didn't want to wait. My principal, grade partner and a few other teacher friends know so I know I'll have support - well maybe from the teachers, my principal is kinda clueless sometimes. Nice lady, but really shouldn't be an administrator.... So - I teach 5th in a small rural school. I only have 20 kids this year and when the migrant kids head south I will have only about 16! Lucky, I know. The following year it will all change as all the other grades are larger. I used to teach 3rd in Philadelphia pre kids, then took time off to be with them. I've also taught a1/2 year of first - wow was I tired - and 2 years of 6th - God Bless middle school teachers. My room is almost ready and my copies will be run on Monday so I'm pretty well set. The good thing about 5th graders is they are trained and most are willing to help out when a teacher is not feeling well. I hear it's a good group this year. Bye!

Hi there! Just thought I'd throw out a thread for us educators. I go back to school Tuesday the 28th (staff only) and would you believe my surgery is the next day??? Yep, had all summer, but finally got the approval and I am NOT gonna wait until winter break! I'll have almost a week to recuperate and my grade partner, who I love, knows about the surgery/what kind, so I know whe will be a big help. I teach 5th in a small rural district. Would love to hear from other teachers!

Oh my gosh. I didn't realize that pbing could be so often! Having surgery on Wed., 8-29. I'm a teacher and can't even imagine pbing in front of a classroom full of 5th graders! Does having acid refluc make it more common?

Try Vitamin C. A nurse 2 years ago suggested that and it works for me. Take 1 or 2 the first day or 2. If you don't go, tkae a 3rd and so on. You can't overdose on vit. C is what the nurse toldme because you pee out the excess. I have had constipation probs. all my life and this is what really workds ofr me. Now I usually take 2 tablets/day. You can try chewables.

I'm scheduled for the 29th! Just found out a few days ago so not on the preop diet for long but it came suddenly and I never go my "last supper"!! So it's been a little hard emotionally, but today I think I'm good. Check out the Crazy Ates thread and there's also another Aug 2007 thread. We being at the end of the month can see what my be ahead for us! Ticker - I just did mine yesterday finally. Just go to tickerfactory.com and set it up then copy it. Open the user CP that is at the top of lapandtalk.com and paste it on to your signature section. God, I feel so smart....

omg - my computer keeps booting off each time I try posting so if all of a sudden three posts from me show up - sorry. Aug. 29 is my date! Totally excited and not nervous at all. I know once I'm on the table I'll be shaking uncontrollaby though. I found out on Wed. and had my "education" on Thursday where I got the official preop diet. It's been a little hard because I didn't have a lot of the good stuff in my fridge or pantry except the protein shakes which my husband drinks for breadfast usually. So I never got to say "good-bye" to some of my favorite foods or have a "last supper", but it's not really bad. Tuesday will be interesting when I'm on clear liquids. It's our staff luncheon and first day for teachers to go back to school. Guess I'll bring some sugar free Jello and try to avoid too many conversations about surgery. Don't plan on telling everyone at least not right away. Anyway, love this thread. I'm at a 36 bmi and have always lost slowly. Love reading about your victories. Wish me luck!

LIive in beautiful SW Michigan, only a few miles from Lake Michigan. I'm origianllly from the east coast and never thought I'd live here or that Michigan is such a great place to live - ok well the economy really sucks, but this area is a great place to raise kids!

Surgery is August 29! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited! Do you guys check the Crazy Ates thread too? Both threads are for Auggie bandsters.

I've had constipation problems most of my life and last year was told by a nurse to try Vitamin C - start with 2 the first day. If you don't go try 3 then 4. By the time I got to 4 it was working and then I dropped back down to 2 and take 2 each day. Sometimes have to increase it. I'm not banded yet butI think it would be ok. Don't worry about taking too much because the excess is peed out!

:whoo:WooHoo! I'm a Crazy Ate - being banded on the 29th. I was beginning to think I wouldn't have surgery for another month, but alas - approval last Friday and just 12 days later I will be in Lapband Heaven! I'm a teacher and the kids come back to school on 9/4 so the coordinator at my doc's office pulled strings and minor miracles to get this all together. She has been simply amazing. So - started my diet today - not too bad considering I had no time to mentally prepare. My husband drinks protein drinks a lot so we have two jumbo containers - chocolate and vanilla. I have to say that I did break down and had some cheesecake. I felt like I didn't get my "last supper" and that was my consolation prize. BUT - I am mentally ready now to finish off my very few days. The hard part will be Tuesday - clear liquids and the first day back to school for teachers - AND the staff luncheon. Guess I'll be eating Jello and skirting the issue of my surgery which everyone will know about. A few friends know and I'm just going to be evasive with the rest - "girl issues" I gues is what I'll say! TOTALLY EXCITED to be on my way. Besides my wedding day and the birth of my kids, I've NEVER been this excited. It's the start to a whole new ME

How many days did you need/take before going back to work after getting banded?

:clap2: After "losing" my paperwork twice I was approved for surgery!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When the insurance co. finally received my paperwork (and with several calls from both my dr.'s office an me) I was approved in LESS THAN 2 HOURS! It happened Fri. afternoon so I have to wait until tomorrow to set my date. It will be very soon because I go back to teaching on 9/4. The dr.'s office knows this and is working with me to get it all going - maybe this week! Besides getting married and having my kids I have never been so happy!:whoo:

I understand too. I'm a teacher and have been waiting all summer! I finally got approved by my ins. co. on Fri., and teachers report back on 8/29! I don't care. I will make sure I don't miss the first week of school, but this is WAY too improtant to me to have to wait. WAIT? I feel like I've been waiting my entire life for this incredible opportunity. My only wish is that I could've been banded 20 yrs ago!! I hope your hubby will reconsider so you can have it done asap. When do you start school? grade? What about you sbee? I teach 5th. Good luck to you both. Keep me posted!

I have bcbs in Michigan (MESSA - most teachers have it) and I will be covered 100%! It is amazing to me that companies called bcbs are not all the same...keep trying. You might try getting your dr.'s office to help you. GOOD LUCK and don't give up!

How does it feel to be a bandster??? I'm setting my date tomorrow! Let us know how your recovery is!

Holy Cow ~ 38 pounds! That is AWESOME! I found this site browsing too and it is a wonderful place to learn and vent, get encouragement, make friends, have some laughs, etc. I just got approved and will get my band pretty soon! Keep up the great work!