Kaitiana

Here are my stats: Surgery Date: 11/17/08 Pregnancy High: 330 Pre-op Start: 290 Day of Surgery: 278 Current: 276 Goal Weight: 150

I carry my epi-pens around with me at all times because I have had two near-fatal episodes of anaphylactic shock and unfortunately we never figured out what caused it. The allergist that ran all sorts of tests finally just diagnosed it as "idiopathic" which basically means they don't know what the cause is. He said it could happen again many times, or it may never happen again. It makes me feel a lot safer to have my epi-pens because I know that chances are they will keep me going until medical help can arrive, which is very important to me because the second episode was so much worse than the first one, I don't even want to imagine what a third case might be like! I would highly recommend discussing with your primary care physician or allergist getting a prescription for an epi-pen to carry around with you just in case you get inadvertently exposed to your allergen again.

HeatherO: My surgery went very well. The surgeon told my friend that it was "textbook perfect" so I'm hoping that it continues to go that way! I am 3 days post-op now and feeling pretty good. Just tired, achy, and very gassy. In fact, my worst pain comes from the gas rather than the incisions or port site. I am just taking Gas-X periodically, and Tylenol for the pain, and walking for 5-10 minute intervals every 30-60 minutes, depending on how I feel. And of course I've been napping a lot! How are things going with your pregnancy? =) I am very curious about that since I hope to start trying to conceive in a year or so and I've been lurking around the pregnancy part of LBT.

Hi fellow thirty-somethings. I am 32 and 3 days post-op and so far loving my band. I have one son who will be 3 in January and the main reason I decided on the lap band was so I can become a healthier and more active mom for him, and so I can have a healthier pregnancy in a year or so once I've lost most of my excess weight. Looking forward to getting to know all of you!

Good luck and blessings to all our Notorious Novembers being banded today! I am three days post-op now and feeling great. I hope you all have safe and great surgeries/recoveries!

The first few weeks to months after being banded are all about healing up and letting your body adjust to the band. Some people are lucky enough to lose consistently right from the get-go, but a lot of people lose little to no weight until they reach that "sweet spot" of restriction which can take several fills to reach. It sucks--and is the reason a lot of people call it "Bandsters Hell." But if you keep on following the recommended bandster diet, exercising, and staying strong, you will eventually reach that "sweet spot" and start losing steadily. It's very important not to compare your weight loss to that of other people's, even though I know how very hard it is not to do that. We are all different, and every bandster loses weight at a different rate. Just try to hang in there and know that you're not alone!

Hello fellow Novembers! I had my surgery on Monday the 17th and according to my surgeon it went off "textbook perfect." Hooray! I impressed the nurses and other patients/family members with how quickly I was able to start walking and how much I did it, but my only thought was to walk as much as possible to help decrease the gas pains! =) Walking really does help me with that. I stayed overnight and was released around 1:00 yesterday. It would have been a little sooner but I took a shower in my room and it didn't have a bench and apparently I overdid it because at the end I got very nauseous. Husband helped me to my chair and we called for some anti-nausea meds which they gave me quickly. By that time I had most of the nausea under control but I was glad to have the meds for the ride home, just in case! I had husband fill my prescription for Stadol yesterday, but so far I haven't had to touch it. Regular old liquid Tylenol seems to be doing the trick quite well. The main problem I have besides the gas pains is coughing--which hurts like heck. I've been trying to cough as "softly" as possible and so far it's helping a little bit. Hope that everyone else has a safe and healthy surgery!

Had my surgery yesterday and my surgeon told my best friend (who was the one at the hospital with me in the day--husband stayed with me overnight and brought me home today) that it was textbook perfect. Hooray! I am pretty gassy and achy, but not feeling TOO much pain except when i cough or laugh, both of which I'm trying to limit. =) Doc prescribed stadol for me, but so far at home today I've been making due with liquid Tylenol. I have to say that this all went much better than I expected, and I'm glad to still be able to say that it was a lot easier to go through than my C-section two years ago! Now, if only I can avoid any of the other complications that creep up, I will be a very happy girl! Congrats to my fellow bandsters who have had the surgery, and good luck and blessings to those who are going in the next couple of weeks.

Hi babyface. I am also in St. Louis and would love to talk sometime! Looks like we're close to the same age, too! I get banded...tomorrow!

I transitioned myself by doing full liquids for two days and then moving to clear liquids. It made it easier, I think.

I am staying strong today--helps that this is the last day since my surgery's tomorrow morning!

Yay! Congratulations! I am looking forward to my own surgery tomorrow. I am also looking forward to getting this pre-op diet over with!

My surgery is scheduled bright and early (7:30 a.m.) tomorrow morning. I have to be there at 5:30--yuck!--but it will be worth it! So glad this is the last day of this pre-op clear liquid diet and that tomorrow I finally get my band. Here's hoping all of us yet to be banded have safe surgeries with no complications!

OMG...I would KILL to eat some meat! *lol* Well, not really, but you know what I mean! Still, I know that it's hard for all of us, no matter what pre-op diet our docs have us on. Thank GOD my surgery's on Monday! Just two more full days after this one to get through. We can do it!

I stepped myself down from regular food to clear liquids by doing some Protein Shakes and full liquids because I knew I wouldn't be able to go to clear liquids cold turkey. I was surprised by how easy that was, too--I think the protein does a LOT to help keep you full. Now that I'm on clear liquids only it's a LOT harder. But yes--I am in the bathroom even more than usual, and I was already there quite often! :tongue2:

Hang in there Anne! We all feel your pain! My surgeon has me on one week of Clear liquids pre-op, and I was doing fine until today. I am positively hungry!!! I'm just chugging liquids continuously, including Diet Dr. Pepper because dark sodas usually help make me feel fuller. It's a struggle today, but I know that the end result will be worth it and it's only for a very short period of time. I know that once I get to eat soft foods and then regular food again it will taste all the sweeter and more satisfying! Until then, we all just have to keep on keeping on!

Ebony Rose: Congratulations on getting the go-ahead for your surgery! We're getting banded on the same day! Good luck, and can't wait to hear how things go for you. =)

Me, three! I did all my pre-op testing today and met a woman who's having the band the same day as me (Monday) and the same surgeon. We had a nutrition class together and all the other lucky ducks in the class have less strict surgeons and get to have protein shakes whereas we are on clear liquids. I'm staying strong but man, is it hard!

I agree with this advice 100%. Good luck!

Congratulations on getting your approval and date. Woo hoo! =)

Good luck! I am sure everything will go well for you. Keep us posted!

Wishing you all the best!

I am on day one of my pre-op liquid diet and surprisingly I am only just now starting to feel a little hungry. Which is normal--I always get hungry about this time of day. I'm hoping that I continue to feel as full as I have today! EbonyRose: I will pray for you and keep you in my thoughts. Good luck!

I am an avid reader and writer so I just love that somebody posted this thread! =) I read many different types of books but right now have been reading mostly historical romance, fantasy, and urban fantasy. Here are the books I've read and enjoyed most recently or have on my shelf to read soon: Kelley Armstrong's Personal Demon Rachel Caine's Gale Force Carrie Vaughn's Kitty and the Silver Bullet Anton Strout's Dead to Me Karen Chance's Midnight's Daughter Mark del Franco's Unshapely Things Devon Monk's Magic to the Bone Patricia C. Wrede's Dealing with Dragons I absolutely love Kim Harrison's books, C.E. Murphy's books, loved the first 8 Anita Blake books and still enjoy the Merry Gentry series, and also loved Twilight, though I haven't read the other books yet. I liked the first few Terry Goodkind books but not so much the others. Haven't read the last few though my husband still enjoys them. Nice to see other book lovers around here! =)

I have to admit that I've been surprised that I haven't run into ANY negative reactions to my surgery yet. Some people have been curious and wanting to know more but nobody's been rude or mean or anything. Yay!