WorththeWeight

WOW Karmen! Congrats on your band and even bigger congrats on going back to work the next day!! I can't imagine having done that (I took off one week). GL and welcome to band land!

Did I tell anyone? Yes...my husband, my sis, 3 of my closest friends and one coworker. Havent regretted it yet. Didnt and am not going to tell my parents or in-laws. My mom is incredibly judgemental. She was overweight years ago and through hard work and diet, she lost over 60 lbs. She would have given me tons of grief. As for how did I keep it secret? Much like everyone else. Told my boss I was having surgery (female issues) and would be out for a week for recovery. He never asked for any more details and as far as my coworkers know, I'm on vacation (I was banded on 11/30. RTW on 12/10). It's a very personal decision and obviously it's up to each one of us as to how we handle it. The band is mine and all that goes along with it!

Thanks steph_cn. That helps a lot! When that goes away, I think I'll be just dandy... Good luck to all those waiting. And big thanks to everyone who's been helping me! :whoo:

Debbie and emadrak It does get better. I am 4 days post-op and my doc has been wonderful. Lots of portside pain but no other issues and she refilled my pain meds one more time for me. Just drink very slowly and take your time. Walk around as much as you can and then just rest. Your body has been through a shock; it needs some time to adjust it's new environment. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. I'm scheduled to go back to work on Monday (12/10). Getting lots of rest and learning to get all the liquids in right now. Hang in there and keep posting for support! It helps a lot!:biggrin1:

Hello! I made it and I'm glad it's over. Nothing too bad, the gas is weird. Never had anything like this with 3 c-sections. My port site is the worst and the dr bruised my liver but I blame myself for that (I didnt follow the pre-op diet as well as I should have so my liver didnt shrink as much). Other than the gas, just trying to figure out when I'm full. No nausea or vomiting, able to take in liquids np and I'm not uncomfortable so not sure when I'm full. Doing liquids only and staying close to pain meds. My port site hurts like crazy. I've been walking a lot and I've got ice on the site (per dr instructions). Oh well, I'm sure it will all go away soon enough but I'm so glad I did this!! Nice not to worry abt it anymore!! WOO HOO!! To those waiting, gl and it's the best thing you'll ever do.

Gas issues, yes! Noises I've never heard before...gas-x and walking seem to help. Also, lots of port site pain...feels like it's gonna just flip right out of there. No nausea or vomiting (thank goodness) but I'm not sure if that's cuz of the phenegran or what. I havent eaten anything without taking that first and I've been able to take in everything normally. I can't imagine not having the pain meds for the port site pain, tho. I've read some posts where some people are getting away from the meds. I'm actually calling tomorrow to see if my doc will give me more! Other than that, everything's been fine. Took a shower today (which really felt good!) and I had a cup of coffee. That was good, too!

I think that anyone saying they could go back to work the day after surgery hasnt gone through the surgery. One week would be ideal. That will get you back to work feeling normal, not feeling 100 percent. I've had lots of surgeries (3 c-sections, hernia repair, gall bladder, ACL repair, meniscus repair) and I wasnt able to go back to work the next day after any of those. The closest would have been the gall bladder. Went back after 3 days, but was still weak. I wouldnt go back the next day for no other reason than the noise from the gas pain!! Wow, is that ever loud (and funny)!! Good luck on your surgery! Take as much time as you can.:notagree

Hi everyone! I was banded on 11/30 and completely agree on the gas pain thing. I was one of the lucky ones with no nausea or problems drinking. Today is the first day I feel miserable from too much liquid. I guess I couldnt feel the restriction before but today I had one slim fast and am miserable from being too full. No vomiting or nausea tho so that's good. Have LOTS of pain at the port site. Wasnt expecting it to be so bad but it's tons worse when I get up and down. Faithfully taking the pain meds for that and general soreness. I also had accidental diarrhea but it seems to have stopped late last night. Good luck to all on your recoveries! I am so looking forward to everyone seeing less of us!! Let's just all hang in there and keep posting for support!:whoo:

So I made it through the surgery, no issues (really). So glad it's over. I arrived at the hospital at 5:30 for 7:30 surgery. They called me back right away and I got into my gown. Nurse didnt come in until 7:00 am. Only took 20 minutes for them to do everything, for the anesthesiologist to come in, and I was wheeled back for my cocktails at 7:25. Woke up in recovery at 8:45 am. Dr. bruised my liver during the procedure but no big deal. Turns out I have sleep apnea and I kept stopping breathing and the nurses would yell at me to take deep breaths. Finally the put oxygen on me and let me sleep. Went back to my room abt 11:30 and there was my DH. So great to see his wonderful face. Lots of poking and prodding and checking. Left the hospital at 4:30 (couldnt believe they kept me so long but whatever). Felt great while I was there but I think the ride home messed me up because I was so extremely sore and in pain last night and today. Feels like everything got mushed up into my diaphragm and I'm just very uncomfortable today. Good news....no pain in shoulder, little gas pain, got all the fluids down I wanted yesterday and today. No nausea or vomiting. Bad news...I have diarrhea and I am extremely sore. Even the pain meds arent helping much. My dr. called this morning and told me take the pain meds closer together. IF that didnt help, call her back and she would prescribe something stronger. Anyway, that's it. I'm finally on my way. And for those of you out there agonizing abt doing this, I was the WORST and I'm so glad I did it. You'll be great!! Thanks for all of the wonderful support from this board. Longhorn, especially!!:clap2: Woo hoo!! I'm officially a bandster on her way to ONEderland!!

Hi all! I made it through the surgery. Everything went really well except the surgeon bruised my liver. I blame that on myself because I didnt follow the preop diet as well as I should have. It really only made me more sore but no complications. I'll post my recovery story on the other thread. Thanks so much for all of your well wishes. BTW, got to the hospital at 5:30, surgery was 7:30 and I didnt go home until 4:30 pm! Was surprised they kept me so long but oh well. Felt really great to be home!:heh:

I'm one day post-op and was really surprised by how much pain I was in last night and today. Felt great at the hospital but the ride home seems like everything got scrunched up into my diaphragm and I've felt nothing but extreme soreness since, even with the medication. Talked with my doc this morning and she suggested taking the meds every 3 hrs instead of 4 and walking more. She told me to call her back if this didnt work. Just general soreness (bigtime) across the middle for me too. Fortunately no gas pain or problems getting liquids down. That's all been really easy.

Okay, good to know, thanks! I don't want to stay overnight (you're so right, it's better at home). Thank you for the encouragement! I will let you know how it goes as soon as I can.

Ha! Thanks! Well tomorrow is the day for me! My surgery is at 7:30 am. Was a juggle to get all of the kids taken care of (we don't have any family here so friends pitched in). Our son is staying over with his friend tonight, our daughter, same thing, and my best friend is coming over to watch my baby girl so she doesnt have to go to the hospital at 5:30 am. Hope it all works out. I'm scared, apprehensive, worried, and wish it was Saturday already!! Will check back in with everyone as soon as I can!:omg:

Went to see them first (in Austin, TX). They told me during the process that I would have to go to San Antonio for the surgery because they did not have facilities in Austin. They were going to get them eventually but not for awhile. When I told them that I wouldnt be able to do that (kids, school, work, etc) I asked for help to find a local facility. They said they would help me and I never, ever heard from them again. I had to do the research and everything on my own (wasnt hard, but TrueResults promised they would help). I would NEVER refer them to anyone. The guy at the front desk who was answering phones turned out to be the "physician" I saw for the medical evaluation. Made me really leery.

Chin up, Candy!! You will be there before you know it!! It really sux getting rescheduled (which is my fear before Friday) but just knowing that it IS gonna happen vs. IF it's gonna happen makes me thrilled!! Good luck and you will do great!! Looking forward to everyone seeing less of me!!

Congrats sweeth20pearl!! So happy for you and way to go on the weight loss!! My surgery date is this Friday, Nov 30 and I am totally freaking out. Thinking abt postponing but I really need to get on with this!! Did you have much pain when you woke up from the procedure? Just wondering because everyone is telling me to make sure I take pain meds to stay in front of the pain. Congrats again. Wish it were Saturday already!!:faint:

Good luck to everyone! Please check back and let us know how you're doing as soon as you can. I'm on Friday and I'm so nervous! Wish it were Saturday already so it would be over!!

Good luck and let us know how you are doing! My surgery date is Friday (Nov 30) and I'm nervous as all get out!

Good luck, Poppy20. Are you sure that's your BMI? I'm 209 and that's my BMI. How tall are you? I'm 5'3" so that's probably why. This is a great forum but you HAVE TO avoid the negative posts. They will discourage you and freak you out to the point that you might reconsider your decision. I'm not much for the "rah rah" police, but I love the support on this board. I'm being banded on 11/30 unless something changes so I can't wait to let everyone know how I'm doing and get the "positive" vibes. Merry Christmas!!

I'm nervous, too (my surgery date is 11/30). I want it, I want it very much and I've decided that I HAVE to do this. It's a personal decision and you have to make it yourself (along with our Dr's advice). I'm scared speechless (which, if you knew me, you'd understand that) but I'm going through with it anyone. Avoid the negative posts on this board. Stick with the good stories, because there are more of those than the yucky ones. My date is 11/30. I'm worried, scared, and want to not do it. But I'm gonna anyway because I'm tired of the alternative. Remember, people only change when it's too hard to stay the same. Good luck!!:whoo:

Good luck tomorrow! And congrats on taking this step! You'll do great!!

Congrats! It's so awesome that you have that kind of support. I havent told anyone at work what I'm doing, not even my boss. I have 6 days of vacation and I told him I was having surgery and would need to be out for a week. He asked if everything was okay and I said yes and that was it. Hoping I'll have that kind of weight loss initially, too. But if not, just hoping for support!! So happy for you!!

Congrats on your surgery! Hope you get better very soon!!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!! 10 days til band day! Scared to freakin' death!!

To help you get through this, STOP READING THAT STUFF!! It will freak you out so much that you will NOT want to do this. Yes, these cases happen, and YES they are very real. But give it a chance. Don't borrow trouble. Go to the December Monthly forum and talk with those folks. DON'T READ all of the bad stories before you read ALL of the wonderful ones. We have to give this a chance or we're just going to stay in the cycle of never-ending diets that fail!!! Give yourself a great Christmas and let's do this thing. I'm scheduled for Nov. 30 and I PROMISE to let you know how it goes. I have the same worries that you do, but I'm doing it anyway. If it sux, I'll be honest and tell you. But if doesnt, I will tell you that too!!