gurlygirl

Benson - I am a self pay patient. I did not take out a loan, we had extra cash after purchasing our home and after much deliberation with DH, I decided to go for it. I flew to Colorado to see Dr. Kirshenbaum. He charges $9950 which includes 3 months of free fills and then fills after that are $15. I loved him and would recommend him to anyone who is a self pay patient with a tight budget. He is an excellent surgeon. I am 2 1/2 weeks post banding and can say that this has been THE best decision of my life. Good luck to you.

Mermaid - I am glad things went better for you yesterday at the Doctors. :clap2: As for me....the scale has not moved for me in almost 2 weeks and I was getting a little down about it. But yesterday I had to go shopping for a couple of new clothing items including some workout wear and I am down a size. I love the no scale verification (NSV) that this is working. It is not showing on the scale but I am definately seeing it in my clothes. I didn't want to go out and spend money knowing that I probably would shrink out of it soon, but in hindsight this has given me motivation to work through this bandster hell and maintain...maybe even lose a few pounds in the process. Have a great weekend September Bandsters. If you have a NSV - please share it. :whoo:

Mermaid - I am the same. I lost 13lbs the first week. Since I started eating mushies and soft food I went up 4lbs which I think was me not getting enough water in. I have worked at it and since then lost 3lbs. Which gives me a total weightloss since surgery of 12lbs. I am just trying to maintain until I get my first fill. Everyone thinks I have lost more weight than I have, including my husband. It might be inches that I am losing but it is definately not on the scale. Just hang in there. I agree with kellymovinon....don't make this Dr. Evil intimidate you or make you feel bad. Keep us posted and let us know how it goes tomorrow. Just remember - this is just a small part of the big picture. Don't feel like a failure. :whoo:

I was banded 6 days before you and each day gets better and better. I am on mushies and feeling better about the variety of foods. I was getting a lil sick of Soup soup soup.

unjury.com has a Protein calculator and I have been using this as a guide. Protein Calculator Seems pretty close to what my nutritionist gave me as well. The Protein shakes with milk will get you to the amount you need if you are running on the low side. Have a great Sunday September Bandsters.

I could not keep anything down for the first 3 days. I just sipped water. I think you could start on the broth tomorrow. My Dr. just send the big thing is not to get sick for the first month. Well that went out the window. The first three days I couldn't keep anthing in me. One thing I remember the first 4-5 days post op was that my stomach made these HUGE sounds almost like it was growling at me for taking away its food. haha - I think the rumbling is all the air in your digestive track and it should pass over the next 3-4 days. Hang in there girl!! Don't be shy about using the pain meds. I used them and it made sleeping more comfortable.

Bratz99 - everything will be over before you know it! Good luck tomorrow! I will be thinking of you!

rachel1972 - I was more nauseated from the drugs and being put out than being in pain. The only issue that I have had is the sore neck from the referred diaphram pain. I am feeling much better and I am 6 days out and trying to get all my fluids and Protein in seems work at this point. Good luck with your surgery and be sure to post when you are feeling up to it and let us know how you are doing. :gluck: You can do this!!

My nutritionist said even though you may feel up to eating more. You need to force yourself to slow down and let your stomach heal. I find that if I eat soup with some Protein powder mixed in and don't drink within 45 minutes after eating - the fullness feeling stays longer. Maybe give it a try. Good luck with this bandster hell phase of the journey.

poohlvr - I must be a wimp right along with you. I had my surgery last Tuesday and with the post op nausea and travel I am completely wiped out. I was supposed to go back to work today and I called in sick and may do so again tomorrow. I have also lost 13 lbs since my surgery. Do you have any neck/shoulder pain? I have it in my neck and I cannot sleep at night without the pain medications so I am tired all the time. Trying to up my Protein today to see if that helps things. Congrats on your weightloss and staying positive for all of the rest of us. I was in my hotel barely lifting my head off the pillow and there is your email wishing everyone best of luck with their surgeries. You so ROCK girl!!:rockon: Let's keep in touch.

Thanks for the encouraging words. I too hope my recovery is as quick as yours. I would love to think of it as a well deserved rest. I just hope I am feeling up to going back to work next Monday. Having said that I would love to see your list. You can send it to me in a private message it you get a chance. Congrats on your weight loss to date. :clap2: Thanks again.

Katmeg99 - I would love to keep in touch. I am leaving late tonight to fly to Denver for my preop appointment tomorrow. Then Tuesday is "THE DAY". :omg: Starting to really feel like this is for real. :nervous There is no turning back. I have spent the money, bought flights for DH and myself, hotel, car rental. So, I am commited to my new healthier lifestyle. Congrats on the two pounds. :clap2: I will be logging in from the hotel tomorrow night. Please either post a message or send me a private message to let me know how you made out at your appointment. :gluck:

artzygirl - You have had a rough go of it. I can't imagine having 2 surgeries in under 2 weeks. Hang in there. Your Dr. is only looking out for your health, and not to punish you with an extra long liquid preop. You will have a better recovery if go into the surgery with a smaller liver. The date will be here before you know it!! We are all here for you.

Katmeg99 - I hope everything goes well for you on Monday with your weigh in. I think it is hard enough trying to deal with the surgery itself, but to have the stress like you have of losing a lot of weight in a short amount of time is very difficult. I am being banded on the 18th and I hope you enter bandland with me girl! THINK POSITIVE THOUGHTS!! :gluck:

Redgirl - How are you doing? I hope your pain has subsided. Please post an update. Worried and wondering how you are making out with your band.

Hi Kimmie - I am being banded on 9/18. I am nervous too, but I look at the thread "Before and After Pix" and I want to be able to post on their down the road. That is my motivation when my nerves try getting the better of me. I wish you all the best on Friday with your banding. Please post as soon as you are feeling up to it. :gluck: Would love to hear how you are doing and any tips for beating the gas pains everyone talks about. I leave for Denver Sunday evening. My preop is Monday afternoon and then I enter bandland on Tuesday morning at 11am.

Good Luck September 11th Bandsters: Loveto Live, want2bmeagain, Andrea71, nanann, shawn, bellesmommy, tazz, NM Sunshine, tinker3433, RHCPgirl, cindyn, sherilee310 and beach girl. Next week at this time I will be in the same spot as you are tonight. I am trying not to let my nerves get the best of me.:nervous Keep us posted on your day to day progress when you feel up to it.:clap2: :gluck:

Stacy73 - You better change your September to Thanksgiving goal. At the rate your losing you will make your goal as early as tomorrow. LOL! Do you not have the desire to eat? How about drinking fluids...how much are you able to take in each day? 9 more days and I will know what you are all talking about. Whoo Hoo!

You are now being banded the day after me. :whoo: I think I recall that you were originally thinking of going to Dr K. in Denver? But the amount you said your cashiers check was for, I am assuming you went to someone more close to where you live. I thought it would have neat to possibly meet up with another newbie bandster, if you were one day after me and seeing Dr. K. The week and a bit should go by pretty fast. My kids are staying at my moms for a few days, so I have to get their stuff packed and my stuff in order before we fly out. I had my last supper at Olive Garden on Wednesday evening. Ate a big plate of Pasta and a few breadsticks. Good luck on your preop diet. I started mine today. No carbs. Felt a little empty this morning without my morning coffee ritual and I am not a morning eater so this morning I did not feel well to say the least. :puke:This afternoon has been fine though. I guess it should get easier by the day or at least I am hoping. :gluck:

Stacy73 - Did you do a liquid preop diet? Your weightloss so far is awesome. I am hoping for the same. Woo Hoo.

:gluck: Good luck September 7th bandsters: butterfly17, ghostbuster, Natie716, Allisarin, mdicurn, mermaidpuppy, cin, tpagern, thebrick.

Katmeg99 - You can do this! An 11 lbs weightloss already is a huge success in itself on a liquid diet. You are scheduled for the same date as me 9/18/07.:whoo: You can be my band twin. lol I'll be there for you for motivation and support. I start my pre-op diet on Saturday and I will definately be needing all the help I can get. :cheer2::banana

I am so excited to get this journey going. I wish I didn't have to wait another week and a bit. :cry :gluck: I would like to wish the Sept 6th Bandsters good luck!! : Missy, Chelsea62, LoserwannaB, and gmccon!!! My fav for the group name is "to the nines". :rockon: Or another possible name could be "the whole nine yards"

Good Luck Sept 5th Bandsters: Stacy73, surfbored, redgirl, toots2, chase's mom, sarahdavis, littleroo1 and RossG We will be thinking of you tomorrow. Post as soon as you are feeling up to it, to let us know how the surgery went.

Good Luck to : Guinessgirl77, PCracker, suemtt, purpletina79, and rwel4 You will be the first of the September 2007 Bandsters to get to the other side of this journey!! Keep us posted on how you are doing following your surgery. We want to be here for you. 2 weeks tomorrow for me and I am getting excited and nervous all at once! Woo Hoo