mia31771

Did it hurt bamboo? Did she numb you? For someone who hasn't had an awake fill yet- can you describe the process? I wanna know is it gonna hurt and can I ask to be numbed..

Sounds good to me.

Whenever I drink through a straw I get horrible gas- it seems it brings too much air in- Also with a straw you tend to take bigger gulps of Fluid than reccomended. Keep that in mind- you might be able to do it successfully- I still can't.

Oh- BTW- Georgia Girl- any plans for another support group meeting? We should get something together! It will be great motivation for all of us- And this time I PROMISE not to have surgery!

Hey I emailed Terri at Dr. B's office on friday asking about the size of the band situation- Here is her response- Makes sense but I had invisioned in my head that the reason I ate SO much was because I had stretched my stomach to such a large capacity that it took a ton of food for me to feel full- I guess that still could be true though- because he places the band at the top of the stomach which is considerably smaller than the rest. Terri's response: Everybody is different on the inside and out. I know it sounds strange but when you are big on the outside that is not a given to being big on the inside. Example: larger women tend to have a c-section when giving birth because they have smaller pelvis’s. smaller women can give birth more naturally because their pelvis is larger. I know that example doesn’t have anything to do with the lap band but it was what I could think of. I hoped it helped.

Brina- I can understand keeping yourself busy- it will do you some good!! Did you get your ride situation worked out? Everything is going to be fine and the next post from you will be of you at home and LOVIN the drugs! LOL You will do just fine! Good Luck!

I have a ton of cute clothes that are still way too tight on me, and I'll wear them till I can't fit in them anymore myself! It felt SO good to get into that pair of jeans!! In fact, I've worn them at least once every day this weekend, lol- I tried on a pair of capris that I have- still a good bit too tight-dangit- but I will get in them! Good luck on your surgery.

No, I don't feel any restriction at all =( Dr. Bagnato said that most ppl probably don't with the first fill. I will get a good bit of a fill this time- so I am hoping it really kick starts some weight loss for me!! Don't be too dissapointed if you don't feel any either with your first fill. It will be awesome if you do- PS update on how the fill went- this will be my first /awake/ fill on this thursday- so I will be all ears on how it goes!!

The Scales may not be moving but I'm losing inches!! I just got into a pair of pants I haven't worn in over a year- actually a couple of pairs of pants!!! SO YAY! I go for my next fill on thursday and I can't wait to see if I have some restriction!! I totally blew my 'eating on plan' yesterday. We went shopping and ate out three times and restaurant food has SOO many calories- even healthy stuff (of course nothing I ate was even remotely healthy) Oh well, fall off ya just gotta get back on!! Anyway good luck to the surgery folks this upcoming week- update when you feel you can!

I hope they get that sorted out for you pamela- sounds like its not pleasant. Maybe Terri will login and be able to answer out band size questions. I'm very curious myself.

I couldn't wear my bra- it went right over where the incisions were- maybe yours will be differetn!

Brina- I brought with me the anti nauseau med (the one you take an hour before surgery) my liquid pain med (lortab), gas x strips and a pillow for the ride home. Wear comfortable clothing (stretchy pants and a loose top) I could not wear my bra home so I was glad I kinda had a loose fitting top on cause my girls are humongous. Wear shoes that are easy to slide on- you won't want to be bending to tie or fasten anything. Since you are by yourself just bring a few items so you wont have much to carry. I watched tv while waiting to go to the OR and while waiting for discharge so I dont think you'll need a book or anything. Good Luck and update as soon as you feel able to!

Any idea how they come up with what size band to give you? I know I'm bigger than a few of you with the 14CC band- I thought surely I'd have goten the bigger band, lol. Maybe I'm confused with how that works. Anybody know? YOu would think my stomach would be bigger than littlier people.

I have the 10 CC band also with 3CC's in it so far- I go next thursday for another fill and am hoping for restriction!! It seems I've hit a plateau and cannot get these darn scales to move- I'm not gaining thank goodness- but I'm not losing either- I weighed this morning and I'm still stuck at 351- what I would give to kick those scales past 350!!! I have only been in the 340's once and seems like it just will not get back down, lol. Only a few more days till my fill!!

Both times that I had surgery (lapband and my port revision) they DID NOT weigh me either time. The procedure's pre-op went pretty much the same each time- they call you back, you get changed into the lovely gown and socks with the bumps on the foot - the nurse comes in and does the IV and enters some things in the computer and then you wait for the OR people to come get you. THey will wheel you in your bed down to the pre-op waiting room and set you up with the anti-nausea Patches and give you something to relax you in your IV- the anesthesiologist comes around and talks to you and then you will see DR. Bagnato for a quick second and then you will be off to the OR- once they get the monitoring patches on you and get you on the table you will be knocked out and the next thing you know you'll be waking up in recovery. Anything else you have questions about? I Feel like a pro at this surgery stuff, lol...I graced the halls of palmyra medical two times in the same amount of weeks!!!

Dr. Bagnato doesn't ask that you lose a certain amount of weight (I know because I was worried and called and asked too!) He just asks that you stick to the sugar busters diet so that your liver will shrink. At the hospital they did not weigh me either time before I had surgery. I lost about 15lbs on the sugar busters diet (according to my home scales) BUT my body was so used to eating fatty foods, high carb foods, sugar out the yazooo- that cutting it out, even for only two weeks sent it into shock and I lost a good bit of weight- Just keep in mind that although dieting sucks and we as fat ppl suck at it- this is necessary and is also going to set you up to the post-op diet which IMO is MUCH MUCH harder to stick to. At least it was for me- I REALLY sucked at following the post op diet- But just realize- if we could stick to ANY diet for the long run- we wouldn't be having lapband surgery right? So don't beat yourselves up about it- just take it minute to minute and try for that minute to stay on plan. If you get to craving those bad foods try something to get your mind off of it. It was really hard for me to stick to the sugar busters diet too. I won't lie. But I let fear be my motivation- maybe you gals can use that as morbid as that sounds- I would just ask myself- is that peice of bread worth him not being able to do my surgery and then I'd quickly say NOOOO WAAAY! We all struggle, I'm struggling now myself with not gaining until my next fill- Let's try to keep each other motivated!! We can do this!

I am surprised nobody mentioned that gallbladder problems were sometimes a side effect of rapid weight lost to you during all the information insurance ppl have to go through- It usually occurs more to bypass people than lapbanders but I know several ppl on the board have had it happen- Call your primary care physician nurse and describe the pain you're having and tell her about your weightloss (lapband) and see if she thinks you need to come in- I think it will really save you alot of pain if you catch it early- they might be able to RX you something to ease the irritation and you might not have to have your GB removed. I know one girl I was talking to on the forum is taking prevention meds ( I never even knew that existed) So its something to check out. Hopefully you can get it figured out and not have to hurt anymore. It could a gall stone. The only real way to know is to go see your Dr and have some tests run. GOod luck and let us know how it goes...I hope they can figure out why you are having the pain and can eliminate it!!

You are not alone- I'm right there with ya- my next fill is 02-28 and I cannot wait!

I didn't cheat on my sugar busters diet at all- Frankly I was too terrified that he would get in there and not be able to do my surgery, and I'm self pay so that was just too much money to gamble with for me- that being said- there is nothing you can do about what you've already done- Just make the decision that you aren't going to do it anymore and stick to the diet. You will get your surgery and then be on your way! Since you've said you've been doing low carb since January- you are probably alright- but just be sure to stick to it from here on out- You don't have that much longer left and YOU CAN DO IT!! I kept telling myself 'its only for two weeks'- and that kept me in check. It's funny - but I did better on the pre-op diet than the post op- We all suck at dieting and sticking to them- or we wouldn't be having surgery- so just forgive yourself, and make a promise to stick to the plan until your surgery. Tell your head whatever it needs to help you stick to the plan- I'm finding out that my 'head' is more trouble than my stomach!

They will give you a bag to put all of your belongings in and keep it at the desk with the other out patient belongings so don't worry about that. I was well drugged and not out of it at all- I was walking up and down the hall in the hospital and could've walked down to the car upon discharge but they insist on the wheelchair- I would let the nurse know that you are taking a cab from the hospital and to have the number ready for her to call so that he will be waiting on you once you are discharged- Ask the nurse to call him 30 min before she lets you go home. My cell phone would not work inside the hospital at all ( I have cingular service) so don't plan on being able to use your phone inside- My fiance had to go outside and away from the hospital to make calls. I wish I didn't work- I'd come and get you myself. But you will be fine to take a cab I would think- You can phone ahead to the hospital and ask if they minded you staying a little longer- they seemed pretty ready to discharge patients though who looked well enough to go home to get the extra bed, each time I've been there. I've had surgery on a thursday and a friday- which may have been busier days- but each time I got the feeling that they were eager to get my bed if I was eager to go home- which I WAS! You won't really know the time of your surgery until the day prior- What is your surgery is at 6AM- Will the cabs in Albany be running that early? You might call and ask the surgery scheduler to schedule you for the latest possible surgery that Dr. B has- I think he operates until lunch time- so ask and see if its possible to have you scheduled for like 11 or something- and maybe by the time you are out and in recovery your friend could be off of work?! Something to check into! Good Luck!

LOL, brina- nope you won't be the first lapbander they've seen whine and cry! At my first surgery with Dr. Bagnato, I told the anesthia nurse that he needed to give me a double dose because I tend to feel pain more than others, lol seriously. In the pre-or room they will put on your anti nausea patches and give something to relax you in your IV and then once you are in the OR and on the table the anesthesioligist will come in and give you the good stuff and next thing you know you will be waking up in the recovery room. I always make a habit of immediately asking for pain meds as soon as I wake up so that I don't get to the point of hurting. On my first lapband surgery the nurse in recovery gave me some in my IV- now on my port revision I had to wait- but if you are a chicken like me- by all means ASK for it, even if you think you might not need it (grin) Plenty of time to be brave later on. On my first surgery I took the painmeds like clockwork for the first 3 days- and I didn't hurt at all- with my port revision I didn't take the pain meds once i got home and boy could I tell a difference. If you have any questions, hit me up on myspace or here- You will do fine!

Good Luck! Sending good vibes your way!

Welcome Brina! I was just banded on 01-17! Congrats on making the decision to be banded! WE haven't decided on the next support group date but Georgia_girl will let everyone know and it will be so great to meet everyone!! If you have a myspace or LJ and would like to add me, feel free to PM me, I always like having new friends and I journal alot about the things I'm going through or struggling with bandwise- It's okay to be nervous- I cried all the way into the operating room. Compared to my back surgery, this surgery was literally NOTHING. I had to have a port revision and it was actually worse than the original entire lapband placement, lol- you will do fine! If you have any questions or anything, ask them. Everyone on this thread has been so supportive and helpful to me- It has been a God send- I'm 29 and Live about 45 min from albany- SO glad to have you aboard!

I wont lie and say its been all roses- I've had lots of What the hell have I done to myself moments- Its NOT easy- but nothing worth having ever is- its a big commitment and a life change- I think maybe I went into this knowing that, but thinking somehow despite all of what I'd heard or read, it really wasn't going to be all that bad...don't kid yourself- It was and still is a LEARNING PROCESS for me- but it is very doable- you didn't get fat in a month or two and you won't be getting skinny in a short time either- its a long and steady journey but in the end I KNOW it is going to be worth it!

Yup, it is UNREAL the amount of calories in restaurant food- On days when I have to run errands during my lunch break I just wound up purchasing a lean cuisine while out and heating it up back at the office- There is nearly NOTHING under 300-400 calories that I've found that is band friendly.. On days when I do eat out I try to save the calories for that special occasion. Its insane the caloric count in eating out. And pre- band I usually ate out once a day- sometimes more- no darn wonder I'm fat.