citygirl4616

My DH only knows what I weighed on our wedding day (which is currently my goal weight). He has never asked, and it never came up in conversation. Now, as I am losing weight, he asks how much I have lost, and what is my goal. I think he would be *shocked* if he knew the actual number. Especially since, at my highest, I was 30 pounds heavier than him (and I am 10 inches shorter!). Now, thinking about it, it is so odd that I have been ashamed to tell him my weight. After all, we have been married 15 years, he has seen me naked, he has watched me give birth to two children....my weight is just a dumb number on a scale! Interesting......

Awww...that's such great news to hear! Best of luck to you. Shopping for a wedding dress is going to be so much fun for you at your new weight....

I got banded one week ago, and am eating/drinking protein shakes, ice tea (decaf), SpecialK protein water, flavored fruit water, Jello, Better than Boullion soups and some diluted apple juice. I had some decaf coffee as well. It is pretty boring, but is going by faster than i thought it would.

I was given IV antibiotics in the hospital during my 1 night stay. I wasn't given any to taken at home.

Have you seen the Better Than Boullion broth mixes? They come in several flavors, and are pretty good. They have Turkey, Lobster and Ham, all are very flavorful, and a nice change of pace from chicken and beef broth. I buy them at my local Publix in the soup aisle.

I got banded 5 days ago, and physically I feel pretty good. A little pain near the port, a little lingering gas, but surprisingly okay. My Protein shakes are keeping me from getting weak and hungry, and I am staying hydrated. Here is my problem. I cannot stop thinking about eating and the food I cannot have! I am craving sitting down to dinner, and having a "real food" meal. I feel like an alcoholic must feel when they are put into rehab and go into withdrawal (although this is more emotional than physical). I miss turning to food for comfort after a hard day. I miss 'treating' myself to a brownie or muffin as a 'reward' for a job well done. I didn't realize how hard it would be to give up the emotional aspect of eating. How have some of you past emotional eaters dealt with this? Does it just go away on its own, or are there some tricks, and/or healthy replacements for the "high" that food provided?

I had to take an MMPI-II personality test. I am assuming you already have an established relationship with a psychologist or psychiatrist. Depending on exacting what your doctor is looking for, your current doctors may be able to help you get the pschy clearance your surgeon wants. The psych eval. is primarily to weed out those with undiagnosed eating disorders, and to make sure those who get approved for surgery will be emotionally ready for it.

I had my surgery on 1/10. The 2 things I used the most was my lip balm (I kept it right by my bedside, and reapplied constantly), and my hairbrush. My hair was a mess, and I was glad to be able to brush it. The hospital supplied me booties and a robe. Gas-X has not been helpful to me at all. I bought a magazine which came in handy when I couldn't sleep. Also, I brough a toothbrush and toothpaste, but didn't need it b/c the hospital supplied me with them.

I've been home for almost 24 hours now, and here is a quick summary of my banding experience so far: I got to the hospital at 7:30, for my 10am surgery. I was brought back to the pre-op area, and given a gown and booties to change into, and told to wait. About 9am a nurse came in to give me my surgical stockings, and start my IV. She also gave me my first shot of a blood thinner. Finally at 10:15 my surgeon came in and said they were setting up the surgery room for me, and it would just be a few minutes. 10 minutes later a man came to wheel me to surgery. I get to the operating room, and everyone there was soooo nice. The nurses were telling me that it would all be over soon, and that I would never have to worry about my weight again. The anethelogist assistants said they couldn't believe I was 40, they thought I looked 25 (all us gals know that is the best compliment ever!). Then they have me scoot to the surgery table, and they begin to strap me down. Then they unfasten my gown in the back, and put something under my head to prop it up. Finally they begin to add something to me IV to "relax me" and they put a mask on my face. The next thing I know, it is 2pm, and I am in recovery! The first thing I asked was if the surgery went well. I was told it did. Then I asked if I could go to the bathroom. They said I had to use the bedpan. Ugh! I hate trying to use a bedpan. I don't remember much else until getting wheeled to my room, where my DH was waiting for me. I was so sleepy, I think he only stayed about 30 minutes. I remember the nurse hooking up these leg massagers things that felt good for a while. Then the rest of the hospital stay, was a blur of a morphine drip, and pain medicines, and vital signs. Not very restful, but I was pretty comfortable. DH brought me home Friday, day after my surgery, at 1pm. We stopped at CVS to get my pain medicine (Loritab). Then, as the afternoon wore on at home, my pain began to worsen. I didn't know if it was gas, or the surgery, but the next 18 hours were pretty painful. The Loritab did little to relieve the pain. In addition, I still had no appetite, so was only sipping Water. This morning, I called the surgeon. He told me to double up on the Loritab, and also take Alleve or Motrin. He said i was getting IV pain relievers in the hospital, but not at home. Well, that did the trick. I am currently much more comfortable, and even sipping my first post-op Protein shake.

Good luck Jan. 10th bandsters. Just a few hours away at this posting! Will catch up with you all over the weekend! Gwenn

Hi Char...I am getting my surgery in Atlanta, at Dekalb Medical Center. I have to be there at 8am for a 10am surgery. I just took a long, hot bath to get my mind of the blinding hunger. It definitely worked! Now I am doing the full on beauty treatments....mask, mani, pedi., scrubs....anything until I fall asleep! Good luck! Catch up w/ you Friday!

Hi...I am getting banded tomorrow too I am so hungry right now. I have been on a 48 hour, clear liquid only diet since Monday night (broth, Jello, apple juice, etc.) I am pretty excited right now, but know by the morning my nerves will kick in. A fast forward 3 months sounds nice about now!

Congrats and keep us updated on how everything is going! I am getting my surgery in 24 hours, and hearing everyone experience is helping to keep me relatively calm. Thanks for sharing your experience!

My doctor has me on 3 weeks of liquids, then 3 weeks of soft foods.

My doctor is pretty conservative, and as the wife of a physician, that is the only way I would go. When I say conservative, I mean the following: 1 - Obviously, all pre-op testing is required, including MMPI-II test, note from primary care physician, pulminary clearance, etc. 2 - Post-op diet is a strict 3 weeks of a liquid only diet, followed by 3 weeks of pureed foods only. No solid foods until 6 weeks post-op. This helps assure that the band will stay in place, and not slip in the future. 3 - First fill appointment is after 6 weeks. The patients in his office have all been successful in their weight loss, and he was recommended to me by a friend who is a surgeon. I want the best medical care possible, and do not mind losing the weight a little slower. It was most important to me to find the most qualified and skilled surgeon I could find.

Hi Sherri! I am getting my surgery on 1/10 too! I started my 48 hour, pre-op liquid only diet this morning. It is totally normal to be nervous. Probably, as the surgery gets closer, your feelings will get a little stronger. It's OK. In a week, you will be a few pounds lighter. In a month, even more weight will be lost. By 6 months from now, you will be even lighter. Now think of what you would weigh a year from today without the surgery. For me, that thought alone gets any doubts out of my head!

Jim..I am so happy for you! Also, thanks for the detailed report! I am getting my surgery in 2 days, and as it gets a little closer, my nerves are definietly picking up. Reading your report, and hearing how great you are doing helps to calm me down. Keep us updated..and congratulations! Gwenn

Hi everyone! I am 39 years old from Atlanta, Georgia. My surgery is scheduled for 1/10/08 (2 more days!!!). I start my pre-op, clear liquid diet in the AM. I have only been overweight the last 10-12 years of my life. I gained weight with pregnancies, got into gourmet cooking and gained more weight, took up emotional eating, etc. The next thing I knew, I saw a photo of myself at a family event. I knew I was at my heaviest, but the photo made me cringe! "Who is that overweight, puffy lady?" OMG! That's me?!?!? I actually thought I looked nice that night! My face was so swollen! I was so embarrased (like it had happened overnight, yet everyone had being seeing me that way for years). I decided to give Weight Watchers yet another try. It worked for 2 months, then I fell off the wagon, gained back the weight, plus 5 pounds. I finally realized I needed a serious medical intervention...Lap-Band seems like the solution that will finally work. Going through these boards for the past few weeks has convinced me, that although this is no easy solution, it is the best solution for me. I am so excited!

Hi! I haven't posted on the GA board before, but I am from East Cobb and having my surgery done at Dekalb Medical Center on Thurs. (1/10). I went to the surgery center for my pre-op today, and the center is really nice! Very swanky! I start my 48 hour clear liquid, pre-op diet tomorrow. I am so excited to get the surgery. Anyway..just wanted to say hi!

So glad to hear how well it all went! It must be great to have the surgery behind you. I start my 48 hour pre-op clear liquid only diet tonight, so I am right behind you with the hunger pains! Hang in there!

What day was your surgery? My guess, is that at the hospital, you were pumped with fluids through your IV, and you are retaining much of that fluid. You probably entered the hospital a little dehydrated from a 24 or 48 hour pre-op fast? Remember, you are looking for long term weight loss. What you lose or don't lose in the first few days after surgery is not really significant to the big weight loss picture.

Hi and welcome! First of all, you are going to have to make the decision about whether Lap-Band surgery is right for you on your own (and with the help of your doctors). Randomly asking friends and family is probably not the best idea, because to them, it most likely sounds like a drastic idea that you are just thinking about. You really should do the research, talk to the doctors, check out the various Lap-Band boards, and get all your questions answered first. At some point, you will have to call your insurance company, and see if they even cover Lap-Band surgery. Then, once you have made your decision to go ahead with the surgery (if it seems right for you), and you have gotten medically approved, then you can decide who is going to be supportive enough to tell. You need to do what feels right to you!

Nadean....Do a google search for 'beginner triathalon' or 'beginner 5K', or whatever event you would like to try. Not only did I find an event in my area, I found free, online training schedules for beginners (don't pay for an on-line training schedule..I found tons of them for free), for almost anything you would want to do....marathons, diathalons, 3K's, half-marathons, etc. Just pick an event, sign-up, and find a beginner's training schedule! GL!

Hi FryRn....Welcome! I am from around Atl. too, and getting my surgery on 1/10 at Dekalb Medical Center in Decatur, with Dr. Steinberg. My insurance (Coventry) doesn't cover lap-band, so I am self-pay. Keep checking out the various boards. You can probably get all of your questions about the procedure, and pre-op, and post-op lifestyles right here!

OMG!!! Am I crazy? I signed up for a 'First-Timers' mini-triathalon on May 10th. It is a 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike ride (all flat), and a 3 mile run/walk. Only first-timer triathalon competitors can enter this one. My surgery is 1/10, and I guess even if I have to wait 4 weeks to start the running-walking training (hopefully sooner), that will give me 2 full months to train. I currently exercise, so I won't be starting from scratch. DH is doing it with me. He runs marathons, but never a tri, so we can train for the cycling and swimming together! I won't be anywhere near my optimal weight at that point, but I figure it is a good goal to work towards (I will be in a bathing suit or wet suit in front of alot of people!). Also, I am not telling any friends about my surgery (just my close family and DH know), so as the weight drops, and people ask how am I losing so much weight, I can proudly say, "I am training for a triathalon!";) I also feel like publically training for this race gives me some accountability. In the back of my mind, I feel like one of the reasons I am not telling people about my surgery, is the fear of failure...again. My friends all know I have been on Jenny Craig, Nutri-Systems, WW, etc.. and have seen me lose some weight, only to gain it back and more. By signing up for this race, with my DH, and telling people about it, well...I am going to have to follow through on a regular exercise program, and actually complete the race! Even if I come in last place, I am going to finish this race!