tweenwaters

OK...sorry to post for something like this but I'm so excited I just had to do it!! I'm finally in onederland!!!!!! Of course this is according to my home scale....starting weight 229 (pre-op diet)....today, 6 weeks plus one day post-op 199.2 !!!!!! YAY!! I think I might cry! It has been soooooo long since I've been under 200. Next goal is in two months when I turn 40.... thanks for this thread and group support for all of us using the TLC group of doctors!!

I went for my first fill today and found out that I had 2.4 cc put in at surgery. Today he added 2.6 cc, for an even 5 cc in my 10 cc band. I'm feeling the restriction sipping my protein water. Hope to see the scale drop a bunch over the next few weeks.....

Dr. Kim did tell me that I was welcome to come back to him at any time.....fills, whatever....and he would just charge me my insurance co-pay. I thought that was really nice of him.... My port area is not sore anymore at all. Are you working out? If you are, then I would have to say that it is most likely your stomach muscles pulling around the port area. If not, then i would call Dr. Kim to find out. Keep us posted!!

Hi Dianne, no, it didn't hurt at all. I've had amnios with pregnancies, so I was thinking it would be a HUGE needle and it wasn't at all. They sprayed "cold spray" on the area and I didn't even feel the needle going into the port at all. good luck on your fill next week!!!! I ended up going to the Euless location instead of Grapevine. Is George doing your fill as well? What location are you going to?

I'm home and thank you for your thoughts and prayers for me!! They worked....my first fill went smoothly, no problems. The man who did my fill works with Dr. Venniga (sp?).....his name is George. He did not have my surgery file in front of him, but assumed that I had a 10cc band. He said the 4cc bands are "old" and MOST surgeons have gone to the 10cc band and/or the 14cc band. My fill was done while using a sonogram to see everything, which made me feel better. I was worried thinking they were just gone to "guess" and find it by trial and error. He first wanted to see if my surgeon had put anything in my band at surgery....which surprisingly, he did! (2.4cc put at during surgery) George said he wanted to put in 4-5 cc total for my first fill and see how I do with that. Since I already had the 2.4, he gave me another 2.6 to make it an even 5cc. I had to sit up on the table and drink water (gurgling and burping!!)....how embarrassing! He put in more saline to show me how it would feel if the water wouldn't go down ..... it felt like it was stuck right at the back of my throat. He withdrew the saline back to 5cc and said that looked good. What a strange feeling! I have been sipping my water bottle, and it really feels weird....have to be aware and sip slowly. This should be interesting ... I'll let you know how it goes this weekend. He did tell me to be on full liquids for 24 hours. and then ease back to mushies and so on.

I lost 14 on the 2 week pre-op Optifast diet......down 25 total. It's been really hard since going back to mushies and real food. I'm looking forward to my first fill this week on the 28th.

completely agree.....I can't wait to start the fills and feel restriction. It's sooooo hard right now. My weight is holding steady but I'm starving and it is pure will power to not over-eat right now. My first fill is the 28th and I'm READY!!! Hang in there everyone!! We can do this....but will have to stay strong!!

I really like that saying!

Welcome to Bandland!! Great to hear you had such a wonderful experience with Dr. Kim, his P.A. John and the nurse staff .....I agree 100%, they make you feel special in their care and not just a number...... Take it easy during your recovery and keep posting your progress along the way!! Congratulations!!!

I'd have to say the mushie stage was the hardest for me as well. I think the first two weeks, my body was going through so much healing ( being swollen) that i wasn't really hungry. It was a struggle to get in 2-3 optifast shakes per day. Then on to the mushie stage, and WOW...I was starving. I think just picking a few different choices and sticking with them has helped me on that. For the mushies (even now on regular foods too)....I would have cottage cheese and a small amount of diced peaches mixed together, Campbell's select soups (Minestrone is my fav...), 2 scrambled eggs, small amount of tuna w/ lite mayo...plus a cheese stick ... So far going back to "real" foods, I've been sticking to the foods mentioned but have also tried a grilled chicken breast (teryaki marinated) with soft cooked cauliflower. I ate about 6-7 oz chicken breast and felt I had over done it BIG TIME....chest pain, lump in my throat kind of full/sick feeling. Next time, I will have 1/2....walk away and if still feeling hungry have the rest in an hour or so. I was feeling really frustrated during the mushies that i had gained 2-3 pounds....and then it just dropped. I need to update my ticker but according to my home scale, I'm down 25 lbs since Jan 3rd (beginning of my 2 week pre-op diet). My first fill will be on 2/28......has anyone with TLC given out a guideline on fill days....what not to eat/drink and then following 2-3 days? I've read and heard different things and was just wondering. If no one here knows, I'll call TLc to ask and then post what I learn on this link later. Thanks for all the support and encouragement!! It's great to have this group to share with....makes it comforting to know we're all close together with surgery dates and can share struggles and victories. Best wishes to all of you and keep posting!!

Just bumping this link up for someone trying to find it...... Hope you're doing well everyone!!! I was getting frustrated b/c I gained a couple pounds on mushie stage....but have finally dropped it and lost another. YAY!!

I had my surgery done with TLC Edge as well....01/17/08....Dr. David Kim was my surgeon. Look for the TLC Edge entry under the Doctors forum here....there are quite a few of us that have posted our experiences. I loved the whole process....everyone I've met at TLC and the Prestonwood surgery center (same building) were wonderful. The price includes the first 6 months of fills.

I'm soooooo sorry that your surgery had to go like that. Hang in there. You will heal up beautifully and be very happy with your decision as you see the scale head downward. Stick to the post-op diet and follow your surgeons instructions to the "T". This is your VERY important healing period. I felt like to was not going to get through the mushie stage b/c I was starving all the time. Started back to normal foods yesterday and had a PAINFUL dinner experience. Had a grilled chicken breast....with soft cauliflower. I ate it WAY TOO FAST b/c I was so excited to put something real to eat into my mouth....and I was in pain for the rest of the evening. Please don't be like me.....let yourself heal properly and take things slowly...one stage at a time. Best of luck to you and check in and update your progress along the way!! Prayers to you for quick healing. Stacey

I'm guessing the 28 lbs most likely includes a pre-op diet weight loss as well..... I was banded on 1/17/08 and lost 14 lbs on the pre-op.....but my ticker is set up to include all weight loss from the time I started the band process and first consult with weigh in. I'll go for my first fill on 2/28.....not even sure what kind or size band I have. Hopefully they can tell me that when I show up for my fill.....how scary that I don't know this!!

checking in to see how Cowboy did yesterday. best wishes....we're here for ya!!

Hi there!! Yes...thank you for asking how things are going. I just replied to Road King (Dianne) so I'm sorry to repeat the same thing but I'm STARVING!! Glad to know that it just means that I'm healing though and will be ready for my first fill on the 28th:thumbup:!! Please keep sharing your thoughts and updates....it really is so nice to have a group of us in the same time period and same surgery center. Good luck on your journey!!!

Good luck Doug!! We'll all be thinking of you. The team at TLC & Prestonwood will take great care of you!! John (Dr. Kim's P.A. is sooooo nice too). Post when you feel up to it after surgery. The first couple days post-op, try to stick to a good routine with pain meds and you will do great. Hi Dianne....so glad to hear that being hungry means we are healing. I'm starving on this mushie stage and have gained back 2 pounds now. I go for my first fill the 28th, so I hope it is a good one and makes me feel some restriction and less hunger. I love cottage chesse as well....that has become my morning meal instead of an Optifast. Still having Soup at dinner though....my favs are the Campbells selects....Minestrone:) Keep posting and let me know you're doing on this band journey:)

Hi Cara! I used a low interest credit card to pay for my surgery. Tax refund will cover most of it, so I'm not worried about paying a minimal finace charge until the refund comes in. As far as check ups go....I had a two week post-op check up with my surgeon (Dr. Kim) in his office at North Hills hospital...even though my surgery was at the TLC/Prestonwood surgery center. I'm supposed to go for a 3 hour group visit at the 3 week mark...which is now but no one has called me to schedule this, so I'm not sure what to do about it. I've been busy...so I haven't called either. There is also supposed to be a 3 week...phone follow up call that I haven't received yet either. Other then those....the only thing I see in my paperwork is the fill schedule. The fills are included in the cost for the first 6 months. They have several TLC locations to choose from. Hope this helps.....best of luck to you on this journey.

very good question....I wish I knew the answer. I've been on mushies for a week and have gained a pound. It's kind of frustrating b/c I'm really hungry but trying so hard to stick with soups and my Optifast once a day. I haven't really ventured too much with different foods b/c I feel like I can't trust myself to not over-eat at this point. I will have my first fill on the 28th and can't wait. I want to feel MAJOR restriction and only be able to eat 1/2 like I'm supposed to now.

Oh No.....I'm so sorry to hear that. Did you have the option to choose a different surgeon? Are you going to try somewhere else to be banded or have you changed your mind? I'm so sorry that you are having to go through this. If you can change surgeons....Dr. Kim is wonderful. He is based at North Hills Hospital. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide. Stacey

I haven't gone back to the gym yet....I hate it, even though I know it's a must. My exercise routine has consisted of walking our dog for 30-60 minutes depending on how cold it is. I feel great walking but didn't want to get back to the gym until all my glue came off the incisions. It was really itchy and uncomfortable on the port site. I've pretty much taken all the remainding glue off and everything is healing nicely. I need to go do the elyptical (sp?) though....that is my favorite. No stress or pounding on my knees. I wasn't hungry at all either doing the Optifast. I still have a little over a case left, so maybe I should have two each day and then pick one of the mushies for my evening meal with my family. I agree....it's nice to follow each others progress having the same surgeon and just one week apart:) Let me know if you come up with a wonderful "mushie" to try. I have one more week! thanks and good luck!!

I'm going to the Grapevine location for my first fill on 2/28. Although they had several locations to choose from......Irving, back to Prestonwood, etc... If you are going to Grapevine, I'll send you the address they gave to me. I'm nervous about it and considered just paying for it myself and going to Dr Kim's office. BUT, with all that I have already paid (self-pay surgery) I thought I better go with them for my 6 months of free fills. Dianne...I can't tell you how much I am ready for this fill! The mushie stage is brutal (for me) compared to the Optifast. I've been living on mainly Soups b/c otherwise I over-eat. I feel hungry all the time. I've tried having 2 scrambled eggs for a meal.....tried cottage cheese with diced peaches (canned)....soft string cheese sticks....yogurt....but almost daily I have some kind of Campbells select Soup. My fav is the Minestrone (soft veggies and beans). I still have one Optifast shake each day b/c I'm worried that I'm not getting in enough Protein. Hope this helps. I've gained back a pound this past week on mushies. I'm trying no to freak out over it b/c I've read som many times that until i start getting fills, the restriction just isn't there now that all the swelling is gone. There is a seminar at Dr. Kim's on the 28th and I think another at TLC the week before. Are you planning to attend either of there?

Good luck Cowboy!! You will do great next week!! Dr Kim is fantastic! I was banded on 1/17/08....so almost 3 weeks ago. I feel great...my glue has finally come off and my incisions are healing beautifully. The Optifast is a LONG 2 week pre-op but well worth it. It gives your body a nice store of Protein that will help you the first couple days post-op when you're not really drinking much in the clear liquid stage. The first 2 days post-op I lived on crystal light....and had to force myself to drink ....just wasn't hungry or interested at all. I'm a week into the mushie stage and kind of in a lull....I'm bored with it and also want to chew something. Hang in there.....being in bandland, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. No more yo-yo dieting....it feels so good to say that!! Best wishes for your surgery and can't wait to hear how you're doing along the way. take care~ Stacey

Welcome back Dianne!! I was beginning to get worried about you. So happy to hear that you are doing well. Your 2 week post-op with Dr Kim will go great!! He just wants to see you and give you reassurance that this surgery is going to be a wonderful tool as you work your way towards your goal. I met with him last Wednesday:) Started mushies on Friday. Not going so well....I think I am over-eating. The first couple days were fine...eating Soup and still drinking an Optifast shake or two b/c I bought 4 cases!! Anyway...I've moved on to mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs and I'm starving!! I think I did better with just Optifast and soup...so that is my plan again starting tomorrow. I do not want to regain what I have already lost. My first fill isn't until 2/28 and I know that most likely will not give me restriction. I've been reading that it will probably be my 3rd or more....so this will be a rough few months waiting to hit that sweet spot for serious losing. Anyway.....go easy on the muchie stage and let me know how it's working for you. I'm frustrated with it. best wishes, Stacey

That's wonderful....so glad your mom is doing well with her band. I went to Dr. Kim's seminar in Sept but UHC denied my surgery b/c my BMI was barely a 37 at the time. Dr Kim is wonderful...great support and he has an awesome P.A. named John who attends many of the support groups as well. Being a self pay, with TLC Edge, the all the follow up visits with the TLC team, nurses, nutritionist etc are covered as well as your fills for the first 6 months. My 2 week post-op visit back at Dr Kim's North Hills office was also covered. Dr Kim also told me to stay in contact with him to keep him updated on my progress along the way. After my 6 months of fills with TLC....or even before that, if I choose to go to Dr Kim's office for fills he would let me do that as well....but I'd have to pay for my fills there. Not sure how much. I'm going to give the TLC Edge staff a try for my fills since they are included right now. If I have a problem or am not happy with how my follow up care is going, I feel good knowing that I am welcome to go back to Dr Kim at any point. Good luck!!! I'm getting my first fill on 2/28 and my possibly go to the North Hills LB support meeting that night.