Cocoabean

I like the gallbladder idea, if you haven't already gotten it removed. Or could you be vague and just say you are having a medical procedure? As you will be in over a Friday night, can you tell them you and DH are are going out of town for something special, and need them to sit for you? Maybe you could even take Saturday night as well and stay close to the hospital at a hotel? (Not sure of finances, of course) Is it possible for him to come pick you up on Saturday with the kids in tow? Not ideal, but then you'd not need a sitter for the pick up, only for Friday getting them either to or from school. Last option that comes to mind, pull the kids out of school on Friday and bring them along, get a hotel near the hospital and have them nearby. With the price of gas these days, not having to drive back and forth can offset the price of the hotel. Of course, that would be a lot for your DH having to take care of them while worrying about you. Plus our local hospitals are not allowing youngsters inside due to swine flu fears. So, that might not be the best idea...but I am brainstorming here. If you see your parents often, be aware that you are going to be moving ginergly for a week or so after the surgery. So, if they do watch the kids, don't be the one planning to go pick them up right from the hospital! Best wishes to you!

Thanks for the update Melody, have been thinking of you!

Listen to your doctor. Relax. Lapband is not about fast weight loss. You need to heal and get fills. It is about calorie restriction. Weight loss is an AVERAGE of 1-2 pounds per week. This is after you have healed from the surgery and gotten to a good restriction level with fills. Give it time.

Are you speaking of a band over a bypass? I have read of a few people doing it, yes. It is not without risks. I believe there was a thread about it a year or so ago on thinnertimes.com You could also look into having your pouch revised if it has stretched. They can return it to its original size.

Something to keep in mind when eating in a group. You need to be very aware of chewing and swallowing. When in a group we tend to get involved in conversation, and our mothers always told us not to speak with our mouths full. There is a tendency to swallow a large chunk of food to say something. I've gotten food stuck this way on more than one occasion. So, cut the food up very small. If food gets stuck and you start to slime, it is very hard to explain that away.

There were two ladies on the cruise who were working on the hand portion of quilts. They'd sit by the pool and do their thing. They were soooooo pretty!!

Beautiful Crystl!! Wow, wish I had the patience that. Elcee, update on your son??

It is best to be prepared, some people DO notice and will comment or ask questions. A lot of good info has been shared. I was having a rough time when I went on a new medicine that caused my band to tighten temporarily. I was also on travel for a meeting for work. I met some new people and went out for lunch with two of them. I ordered Soup, and could not even get that down. My co-workers noticed. One asked if I was feeling OK. I could easily have said my tummy was a bit off or something, but I am pretty open about my surgery. So I told them. One person's father had a band, the other's aunt had had bypass. So we had a bonding moment over my discomfort.

Melody, you can always come clean my house! Glad you are feeling great! So is the shoulder pain all resolved?

Thank you for sharing your story, best wishes for the future!

You are losing about a pound and a quarter or so per week. That is a good loss rate. Bandsters only have restriction of calories and not malabsorption to create a caloric deficit, so we can expect a loss of 1-2 pounds per week. You are right on track. Not at the high end, but doing fine. Especially when most surgeons say to not worry so much about losing until you are 1-2 fills into the process. We want it faster, and sometimes it happens, but not always. My average during the losing phase was 3/4 of a pound per week, but it added up. At your current rate you'll be down about 65 pounds in a year, that's nothing to sneeze at!

http://www.ehow.com/how_5669480_donate-skin-after-bariatric-surgery.html http://www.livestrong.com/article/126643-donate-skin-after-bariatric-surgery/ There are two websites I got from a google search about it.

Elcee, vicodin's generic is hydrocodone it is an opiate and tylenol. Melody, glad you are doing well. I finally took my wedding ring into the jewelers. I haven't been able to wear it for about a year. It's just too big and spins like crazy. They could not make it any smaller, at least not small enough to stop it from spinning. My knuckle is size 4 1/2 but below that is a 3 1/2. So, I ordered a solitaire setting that is hinged to have my diamond reset into. I'll wear it with a band in a traditional setting. In my other ring, I'll have an aquamarine set (my hubby's birthstone) and wear it on my right hand. It still spins a little bit over there, but no where near as bad. I figure that with my weight loss stopped, I am safe to get it now.

I use vicodin for my joints. I like the little buggars! Glad to hear it went well, Melody. Even though you are not a bandster, you will always be a bandster, you best not leave us like Anne did! It sounds as though it was a big success! I am very pleased they were able to tell the exact cause of the problem. Too bad they could not seat it properly for you, but better out than in, as Hagrid says. Keep us posted on how you are doing!

Been thinking of Melody today. Does her lack of presence mean she had surgery?

If money is an issue, do keep in mind that the band is not a set it and forget it procedure. FIlls cost. And it can take many fills before you start losing. It can also take some unfills, for which you will have to pay. Be sure to check how much the aftercare will cost.

Thanks Cat Lady! My PCP says a tighter band can lead to erosions. He's had gastric bypass. So is into WLS. He also says that an inflamed port area is a sign, so he checks each time I go to see him. I had an upper GI in September, all was well. This has been the easiest weight loss/maintenance for me, ever. I hope it goes as well for you! I had to appeal my medical group in order to see my surgeon for a consult. It was very worth it!!

In honor of Melody, I woke up this morning at 4am with a very raw throat, thanks! :-) Hoping you are feeling better and they are able to proceed. So, since both of my bosses are off today, I called in sick. Took some Advil (I am allowed some from time-to-time) and went back to bed. The fact that it was raining this morning didn't help the attitude. How you feeling, Melody? Any word from the surgeon on proceeding? Shammah, I hear ya with the budget cuts and stuff. My employment keeps getting extend 2-3 weeks at a time (Federal). So every few Fridays, I don't know if I am getting an unpaid vacation. Bobbie, can you get generics or do the pharmaceutical companies have an coupons? It sucks when you have to choose rent over meds. Course if you choose meds over food, diet problem solved? BF might go hungry though, then he'd be grumpy, too...hhmm...that might not work.

Let the airline know in advance that you will need a wheelchair. That way you won't need to stand in the long lines for security. They will also have someone waiting for you if you need to make a connection.

Not only speak to your surgeon about it, but have a back-up plan as well. If you aren't feeling up to the travel or if there is a complication, be prepared.

Congrats to you!! Stick around here, your experience can help others in a similar situation.

Your orders say clear liquids, which is anything you can see through. When others could start on different stages doesn't really matter. What matters is what YOUR doctor allows. If you need something more, call your surgeon's office and ask if you can add protein shakes or something else. I was expecting to be on clear liquids for 7 days, but was able to move to full liquids after 3 as I was healing very well.

Your primary care doctor and surgeon can discuss it. My surgeon took me off BP meds right before my surgery. I haven't needed them since, but I monitor it regularly. You might need to go back on it until you have lost more weight.

I had superglue and steri-strips. I could shower but not take a bath. I also could not scrub them. They needed to just come off on their own. If you truly cannot get them wet, but need a shower, you can probably tape a plastic baggie over the top of them to keep them dry while you take a quick shower. Caffeine seems to be different according to the doctor. Mine doesn't have a problem with it. I have one or two cups of coffee a day.

Elcee, stupid question of the day, when you head to South Africa, do you head east or west? Obviously my geographical knowledge of the southern hemisphere is limited. It sounds like a great trip!