Lynn B

Welcome to the club - try a sippy cup (for toddlers) to slow down the Water. That and baby utesils when you start eating tend to keep your bites small enought.

Good luck!

I weigh daily (some time a couple of times a day just to get a feeling for how I fluctuate) but I only pay attention to my Monday morning weigh in (that is the weight I use for the week) No shoes but I keep my PJ's on.

9/12/05-10:30am Arrived at BIDMC, waited about a half hour before being brought into pre-op, one of my anesthesiologist came and started my IV (BIDMC is a teaching hospital so although he got my IV in with no problems you could tell that he needed to practice more - he almost forgot to put on gloves - but he did a good job).

2pm still waiting to go into the OR - they were cleaning the room - must have been the cleanest one around when they were done. The anesthesiologist came and wheeled me into the OR - My main anesthesiologist is also my surgeons wife - Stephanie Jones, she was wonderful - she went out and talked with my Mom after surgery and told her that I wake up very well.

3:45ish Surgery went great - no problems, I lost 25lbs before so my doctor was able to fit me with the smaller band. Recovery - my first though "What in the hell have I done" I was in pain but that was quickly remedied.

5pm Into my room (my room mate had been taken to brain surgery and did not return until the next day) I rested comfortably - had a morphine pain button that I could dose myself with - Wonderful. Nothing by mouth until tomorrow but the mouth swabs are great for getting that dry feeling in your mouth and throat to go away.

Vitals ever hour or so - I don't remember what time I got up for my first walk - it must have been around 8pm. One lap down the hallway and back - the nurse said that was enough for day one.

9pm-7am I don't sleep well away from home and this was no exception I was away every hour and the night crawled by but I wasn't in any pain.

9/13/05-9am my IV stopped flowing - I was getting back in bed from a walk and bent my arm and that was it - no more IV. A nurse tried to start one in my hand but couldn't get it - no fluids and no morphine - but still OK.

10:30am Transport came to take me down to have the barium swallow done - still no IV but my nurse got me a couple of Morphine injections - oww. Fluoroscopy was awesome (barium is not as bad as the clear stuff they make you drink first - gag) I got to see my port and all my plumbing - pretty cool! Back to my room - more walking - went to the solarium to read. Got to have my 1oz of Water by mouth - it was sooo good.

12:30ish tolerated water well so I got to have 1oz strawberry CIB per hour. Not bad. Walking & resting. IV nurse came to start an IV - tried two additional locations with no luck - said that they should put a long line in my whole arm (I think not) - feeling like a human pin cushion. Got my catheter out - Yay.

1pm another IV nurse arrives - told her to go away that I was leaving in a few hours and she wasn't poking me anymore - she left.

3pm Peed - cleared to go home!!!

5pm chocolate CIB for dinner - Yum.

6pm My surgeon stops by to check on me. Told me I could stay and leave tomorrow. I had to convince him I was good to go (I needed to get some sleep and it wasn't going to happen there). He reluctantly agreed (Dr. Jones is so over protective - I like that in a doctor)

Home by 8pm exhausted, sore but happy. (all times are approximate as morphine has a way of making you a little fuzzy)

If you got a spirometer from the hospital (the breathing thingy with the ball that Lisa discribed) I would use it as much as possible - clears the lungs up and prevents pneumonia. If not take very deep breaths several times an hour - it really does help. If you doctor is local he may also be able to get you one.

Good luck,

I went out with the girls friday after work and had one cranberry juice and parot bay rum. I enjoyed it and stopped at one. Drinking poses no problem for me other than the calories in the mixers. At home or at friends houses I do vodka with lemonade crystal light and have had no weight gain from it - but always in moderation.

Good luck,

I have found that most chewable Calcium is calcium carbonate. calcium citrate is absorbed more easily and is recomended by my nutrionist for RNY patients because they mal-absorb. Band patients can take either one because we don't mal-absorb. We also need less calcium for that same reason. The nutritionish said 1100 for band and 1500 for RNY.

I bought the GNC chewable in cherry flavor - very good!

Hope this helps,

I got a 47 - right on track (but I have to agree with Lisa, Dr. Phil is an @$$, IMO)

41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming,

amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in

the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it

go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and

understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

Hi, when you were released from the hospital were you tolerating liquids? If not they shouldn't have let you go. You don't need to worry about nurishment at this point but hydration is a must. If you can not keep Water down go to the ER now. Dry heaves at this point are detrimental to your band placement and must be stopped. I would call the doctors office every 15 min until they had someone that can help you get back to you. I hope you feel better soon!

Good luck,

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Hi,

I lost 18 lbs between surgery and my first fill at 7 weeks. I was afraid to do damage to the new surgical site so I followed the doctors eating guide lines almost to perfection. I know that "dieting" is hard for most of us but I would recomend trying to stay with in your doctors guidlines during this time so that you don't do any damage to your new pouch or band. Now that I've said that - I did eat a couple of things that I shouldn't have but I made sure that I chewed well and kept the portions very very small. The first 6 weeks is for healing so don't be to concerned about loss during this time, just pamper your pouch and keep your foods soft.

Good luck,

Congrats on the loss - that is awesome. I fall asleep the minute the plane leaves the runway - happens every time. I took a red eye from LAX to Logan in Boston and slept all 6 hours - except when they brought Snacks (of course). Bring some gum to chew during take off and landing - it will help your ears pop and equalize the pressure so it doesn't hurt (just don't swallow it). Also, I have never gotten motion sickness but a pop a dramamine every time just in case.

Have fun!!

Hi, the meeting in Hyannis is at Cape Cod Hospital - to far for me. I registered for some training and will let everyone know how it goes.

Your still in the rough spot - at 6 weeks out I feel totally normal (have since about 4 1/2 weeks out). It may not feel like it now but things do get better - just tough through it and it will pay off in the end. Keep using the pain meds as long as you need to - your body heals better when you are not in pain. I went back to work on day 9 and came home every night for the first week and fell a sleep. Now I cant even tell that I had surgery except for the funky little port - If I put my hand on it when I walk I can feel it.

Good luck!

You can find me on ebay at lab012189. If you like the liquid silver style I would wait - the one on there is glass beads but I have some real liquid silver on order (as well as some Swarovski Crystal and some neat silver barreled beads) and it should be here soon.

I got my tag from diabeticdrugstore.com - for just the tag it was $16 with shipping. I have been making my own bracelets and also selling them on ebay. If you would like me to make some bracelets for you just email me and I will send you the link to my web site (still working out some of the bugs with the site)

Hi Bandayed, You are using Dr. Schnieder right? You are going to be so thrilled. I am 6 weeks post op now and have not had a single problem. I go for a fill with Dr. Jones in 1.5 weeks. Sit back and enjoy - the hospital staff is wonderfull and that fist sip of CIB on day two is like heaven. Beware of the clear stuff they make you drink before the floroscopy (it is nasty so get it down quick) the barium is yummy compared to the clear stuff. They have a patient solarium that is a nice place to wheel your IV to and do a little reading.

Good luck - update us when you return.

Awsome - Your bandday will be here before your know it!

Dont crush it!!! Unless you enjoy the most bitter - nasty tasting stuff ever invented. I went to the PCP for a UTI at the end of last week and asked for a pill that was crushable or a liquid. I got the big white horse pill and crushed it. Mixed it with Peanut Butter and that wasn't bad but I have to take these 2x a day for 7 days so that was out just on calories. Next I tried Jello - dont do this - it just sticks to the outside and gets worse. I tried applesauce and one pill contaminated 4oz of applesauce to the point where it was almost not edible.

I switch to the pill cutter and I cut them in half and in half again and again until they are small enough to go down but not powdery. I have been doing this for 3 days and have not had any problems yet.

Good luck,

Well here is a funny flip to the coin - at my DR's office I kept running into another patient - we were on the same time schedule so we hung out and attended some meetings together. I was getting the band and she lap RNY. I told her the RNY was to drastic for me - I couldn't stand the thought of having my insides cut up and re arranged. She didn't want the band because she got the same feeling about having a foriegn object implanted in her.

To each his own - I'm happy - she's happy so everything is good (different) but good. I would not bash anyone elses choice and I would expect the same from them.

Thanks for all the great ideas - remind me to never get sick again - yuck!

Cool, I didn't think of that. Its thick enough and maybe the sweet will counteract the bitter of the pill. Thanks a bunch (I have some instant stuff in the kitchen I can whip up for tomorrow)

Yay!

Hi all,

I was just prescribed some antibiotics for a UTI and they are huge. I have been crushing them (OK'd by the DR) but I am having trouble finding something to mix the powder into that doesn't make me gag. I have tried Peanut Butter (the best so far but at 2x a day for 7 days thats a lot of extra calories), Jello and apple sauce. The pills are really bitter and I feel ill for about a half hour after getting the stuff down.

Any advise would be appreciated!!

Thanks,

Hi all

I have found that there is a lack of support groups in my area. It seems that Boston or Hyannis are the two big locations and they are both to far for me to travel on a regular basis. I am thinking of starting a support group that would meet some where in between. I just wanted to get a head count of anyone that would be interested. I will be getting some training and will need to secure a location so it won't be immediate (unless you would like to have an informal get together to meet everyone)

Let me know

Hi, one of the majority here. Welcome to the site. So what does that average out to like 60-70 women for every man. Now guys be honest - is that every mans dream or every mans nightmare

Cissy - another bandster getting it done!! Your stats are great - keep up the good work!

Hope you wear glasses cause it looks like you could poke an eye out trying to drink from a glass with its own weapon.

Thanks for the mystery!