Lori_K

Hi Leah! I was banded on Thursday Feb. 21st, came home on Friday and I'm doing very good too. Some gas problems like you say, but it has become much better. I'm doing good on my liquid diet, not minding it too much because I'm not that hungry. Tomorrow I can start some mushy stage foods! :smile2: I agree with you, it really helps talking to someone that is in the same stage of your journey. I also noticed we are both Michigan Bandsters! Are you anywhere near Oakland county? Take care and best of luck with your continued recovery!

Hi Juno! Nice to meet you. :huh2: Thanks for the welcome into bandland, I still have to stop and remind myself it's really there! Dr. Krause is an awesome surgeon. Do you go to any of the doctors/dietitians at Beaumont's Weight Center? Or, did you? I see by your signature you are expecting, congratulations! :tongue2: Did you just get your band unfilled, until after the pregnancy? Sorry for all the questions, I don't mean to intrude :smile2: but I just love comparing notes with other bandsters. These forums have been so helpful! Best of luck to you, I hope you & your baby are doing well! Hugs, Lori

Well, I finally found my way into the Michigan forums, lol! Greetings and warm hugs to my fellow Michigan Bandsters / Bandsters to be! (we need the warm hugs in all this cooooold weather, don't we? hehe). :biggrin: I am post-op day 6 here, and doing very good! I had an excellent surgeon and my hospital stay was awesome. I wrote out my surgery experience up in the February bandsters forum: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f113/banded-2-21-my-surgery-story-53173/ Any one here in the Oakland County area? I'm in Waterford, near Clarkston. Nice to meet everyone!

Hey St. Louis Gal! How have you been doing? I miss a lot posts myself, lol . . . I've been resting and taking it easy, as you mentioned. Let me know how your surgery went when you get a chance! Hugs, and take good care! :biggrin:

Hi Amy! Sorry I've been slow to respond, I've been sleeping a lot this past few days, and I've had some nausea, so I've been just taking it easy. The good news is, my gas and diarrhea are MUCH better . . . and I'm doing great, without any pain. I've been trying to get as much protein as I can, I have a Protein powder I can add to my liquids. Thanks so much for your response! It's always so good to hear when others have similar symptoms. My surgeon has also told me that what I'm feeling in pretty normal. Still, I could do without the nausea, lol. :tt1: This is day 6 for me, one more day and I can try the "mushy" foods. I never thought baby food sounded so good! I can't wait to eat something other than liquids. Sorry to hear you're entering that awful place of "Bandster hell". I'm trying not to concentrate on my weight loss until I heal and get my first fill, but it is hard to not look at those scales, isn't it? It's what we started all this for! :smile2: I'm sure you will continue to do great! I'm following right behind you, so please continue to let me know how you are doing! Your glass of wine sounds SO yummy! :eek: What a treat! I love wine, and I hope to have some (at least a sip) in the future . . . just want things to heal right now! Hang in there girlfriend, we can do this! :biggrin: talk to you soon, Lori

Well, I started my pre-op diet today (my surgery date is near the end of the month) . . . I know some of you must have been on a pre-op diet already! I am just wondering what some of your experiences are. This is the diet plan I'm on: Breakfast: 1 HMR shake lunch: 1 HMR Shake Midafternoon Snack: 1 HMR Shake, 1 fruit serving dinner: 1 Protein serving, low-starch vegetables (they are unlimited), 1 starch serving, and 3 fat servings. Evening Snack: 1 HMR Shake Plus 8 cups of Water per day. Calorie total of the diet is about 1,010-1,060. (HMR is the package of shake mix sold at the weight loss center I'm going to, as directed by my dietitian . . . HMR: Health Management Resources.) So far I've had a couple of shakes, and they taste good, and when whipped up in a blender with some ice, are really quite filling. I have vanilla and chocolate, plus a booklet that has recipes to change the flavor of the shakes (adding extracts and sugar-free fruit Gelatin mixes). So . . . it's all very tasty and such . . . but my body knows the difference!!! I can feel the hunger and desire for food already . . . this is gonna be rough! I'm gonna tough it out and do my best to shrink my liver before surgery (I don't want any complications!) . . . but it sure points out how much food was a part of my life. I was one who thought I wasn't eating that bad, making healthy food choices and all (my waistline says differently though! lol). Now I see how bad I was. This is a good learning experience! And I know I'll be much healthier for it. I would love to hear what other pre-op diets my fellow Victorious Valentines are on (plus get to meet some of you, I'm kinda new here) . . . and what your experiences are, and how you are feeling! <---- trying to convince by body of this right now, lol! :eek:

Good Luck and God Bless Gibson! I'll be thinking of you and I'm wishing you a very smooth surgery and recovery! I know how you must feel . . . I waited since last May for my surgery too. It's hard to believe it when the day is finally here! You will do fine sweetie . . . take it easy and please write when you feel up to it :thumbdown: Warm hugs!

I just wanted to stop by and say God Bless and good luck to all the new banders coming up this week! May you all have a smooth surgery and speedy recovery! :thumbdown: (I'm still just getting used to the idea that I actually have a lap-band inside of me, lol!) Tammy, I think they do try and remove the breathing tube before you are fully awake. My nurse anesthetist told me they would be doing this for my surgery. I must have woke up fast after my surgery, and I felt the tube, but it was really very short. I know when I had my gall bladder surgery, I didn't experience the breathing tube at all. Please do communicate your concerns with your anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist (I've found the nurse anesthetists to be a bit more sympathetic and understanding) . . . and I'm sure they will do their best to try and make you comfortable during that stage. That's one thing I did during my surgery stay . . . if I was nervous about anything (for me I worried about pain and nausea the most) I made sure to tell everyone that would listen, lol. And after my surgery I really didn't have either. Keep up the communication! I hope it all goes well for you and everyone this week. I'll be looking for all these Feb 25th surgery updates!

Many thanks Gingercat, Angie, girlie2shooz, Amy, and Valvinnek for all your kind words! I'm glad my post was helpful to some, I'd be happy to answer any other questions about my surgery! :smile: Amy, my girlfriend! You're so sweet, and continue to be my inspiration! I'm so glad to hear things are well 3 weeks out. I do need to keep reminding myself to be gentle right now . . . I think maybe I'm expecting too much too soon! I did great with my surgery, came home feeling well, but 3 days post-op finds me with a lot of lower intestinal problems . . . mostly gas and diarrhea. Did you (or anyone else reading!) experience this? I've been taking small sips of my liquid diet, walking and actually feeling pretty good . . . but the discomfort from the gas and diarrhea have me feeling weak. I put in a call to my doctor because it got so bad . . . he said that it was probably the antibiotics I received during my hospital stay (the antibiotics knocked out the "good" bacteria in my intestines). He recommended staying off the Protein shakes for awhile, (harder to digest) and take some pepto-bismol (bleh). I'm also taking gas-x. My doctor will check on me again on Monday . . . I'm hoping this gets better! I apologize if this all sounds so icky . . . getting a lap-band, I guess one has to not mind discussing the digestive tract! :thumbdown: I'm also thinning some yogurt (actually "soy-yogurt", blending it with soymilk, as I'm lactose intolerant) to get some lactobacillus acidophilus . . . it was one of the recipes my dietitian gave me for the full liquid stage, so I thought I'd try it. Hoping something helps, and this gas doesn't last long! :frown: Amy, I also love your saying: Life is Better with the Band!! We can "just keep swimming" towards our goals, but it's great to keep remembering: Life is Better with the Band! Good stuff! :eek:

I'm happy my very long post was helpful! Honestly, the best thing (that really helped me!) for success after surgery (other than listening to your doctor and dietitian of course!) is the wonderful advice people give you in these forums. I was prepared for a lot of things, like the gas pains in my shoulders (and to walk and relieve them) by reading the wonderful advice here. I think doing your research and knowing what to expect beforehand really helps, then when things happen, you are more at ease. Stick to your pre-op diet! I found this to be *really* important . . . not only for shrinking your liver and making the surgery easier, it's also a great segue into changing your eating habits after you are banded. I was not the best exerciser, but I did try and walk everyday - the exercise will help you get fit for your surgery. So stay on your diet, exercise, learn as much as you can, and stay positive! Good luck to you, let us know how you do! :thumbdown:

(Edit Note! OK, I'm anxious and nervous today, LOL . . . my surgery date is NOT 2/25, but 2/21 . . . I don't know why I put that! I couldn't edit the title of the thread . . . is there a moderator that can? Thanks! ) Hi all! Now entering the Band Land stage of my long journey! Woot! I got my surgery time today - 8am, this Thursday, the first case of the day! I have to arrive at the hospital at 6am for all the admission stuff. That means I have to leave my house at 5:15am to get to the hospital . . . meaning up at 4am to shower! LOL I think I forgot to tell the hospital I'm sooooooo not a morning person, hehe. Not that they would care, but OY! I know I'm not going to sleep at all tonight. Since the hospital will be keeping me overnight, that means a somewhat long stay in the hospital for me. I'm guessing the surgery will be over by 10 am . . . and usually they "kick you out" (lol) of the hospital the next morning at about 11am. So I have a long time to recover in the hospital, a full 24 hours. Which is good I guess. I'll probably be sleeping (when I'm not walking) since I'm gonna be entirely too anxious to sleep tonight. I think I'll pack a book though, just in case. I wanted to thank everyone that has given me support and advice, and for ALL those who have shared your stories, it has really helped me so much. I think I'm worried most about the pain (I'm a big baby, I know, lol) because when I had my gall bladder out (done laprascopically), I woke up in horrible pain. It felt just like a mack truck slammed into my stomach. It was awful. The recovery nurse was right there giving me morphine, but oy, it took awhile to get that pain under control. I just don't want to feel that again. If I can get through the pain after waking up from surgery, I think the rest will be ok. :wink2: I hope I have a better "pain report" to post here . . . not one like my gall bladder surgery! Well, enough rambling from me for now. When I get home and I'm finally banded, I will post in this thread . . . kinda my own little journey here. So many of you have been wonderful inspirations in sharing your stories, I hope to follow in your footsteps by sharing mine! Congratz to all those who have already banded this week, and God Bless and be with those just entering Band Land! I look forward to sharing our experiences! Just keep swimming all!

This made me laugh I agree with StLouisGal (thanks:huggie: for your prayers and kind words of support!) . . . tooooo funny! Let us know if your "nozy" co-worker figures anything else out! It's gotta be funny to keep her guessing! :biggrin:

Hi Alyssa! It's nice to meet a fellow Michigan Lap-Bandster, who's also a Victorious Valentine! I live in Waterford, near Clarkston. So you're not too far away! :wink2: Please keep in touch, we've lots in common to share! Aren't you tired of this Michigan snow, ice, and COLD?! I can't wait for Spring to get here, so I can start walking outside again. Take good care & let me know how you do with your surgery!

I just wanted to say BIG HUGS and thanks for your support Amy! I don't know what I'd do without you, and all the wonderful people here! I'll post again after my surgery is over . . . I started a new thread, but I mis-typed and put it as my surgery on the 25th . . . it's not, it's tomorrow on the 21st . . . I'm too nervous to think today, LOL Thanks Megan for your info too! I've got an excellent doctor that I have great confidence in, and the hospital I'll be staying at is one of the best in our state . . . so I think I'll be ok (if it were my time to "go", I just leave that up to God) . . . my worries about the pain, as I've put in a few other posts here. Ah well. I'll get through it! Let me know how you do too Megan! I'll be chatting with you again soon Just keep swimming! :wink2:

Today marks the end of my first week on my pre-op diet, with just under two weeks to go. I had an enthusiastic start, and have been doing really good on my diet - sticking right to the plan, drinking all my Water, and exercising daily. I've lost 8 pounds in a week (I know some must be water weight), and I'm just wondering if it's too fast a weight loss? :thumbdown: Today my body feels like it's rebelling. I'm not just hungry, I'm ravenous. The shakes/food I'm allowed are not filling me up. I also feel very tired and weak for some unknown reason, when all last week my energy level has been high. I know past diets I've been on say to lose 1-2 pounds a week, but then this diet was designed to shrink my liver. So I'm just feeling a bit confused. Is this just a normal fluctuation? I do see my doctor on Monday, so I'll get some further help . . . but until then, any advice, encouragement, information etc. would be so helpful. Feeling down today, I want to attack my refrigerator . . . but I don't want to sabotage how far I've come already. Thanks for letting me vent! :thumbup:

Hugs sis! (for anyone wondering, Yankeeblue is my real sister) I sent an email to the family, (they didn't give me the surgery time until noon today) plus I started a new thread for my own journey: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f113/my-surgery-2-25-a-52892/ (my surgery is on the 21st, I messed up, lol.) Maybe I should start a blog, instead of cluttering up threads with my little stories . . . but then I like getting feedback, and sharing with my fellow sisters and brothers here in the Victorious Valentines! And you know how I am about writing, LOL . . . slow typer here. Actually, when I had my c-section, I honestly had little to no pain at all. The incision site just felt like a big paper cut . . . kinda of annoying, but no real pain. it was my gall bladder removal (done with the laparoscope) that caused me a lot of pain. Since this might be similar, I can only hope it's not as much pain!:wink2: Thanks so much for all your support and love sis . . . I'll be in touch, and be letting you know how it all goes! Hang in there with your journey! Just keep swimming!

Hugs Karen! That's got my vote! :wink2:

Hi all! I'm getting banded on the 21st, I hope that's close enough to be friends too! Then again, I feel a special bond with all the Victorious Valentines here! Good luck everyone with your surgeries, may they be smooth and uneventful! Let's all keep in touch :wink2:

Thanks so much Becca! :thumbup: Surgery is this week, I'm a NERVOUS pre-bandster, lol. And you hit the nail on the head! It is motivating to read all the success stories, share experiences, etc. I agree, it is like a sisterhood & brotherhood! I've said before, I just feel so blessed to be having surgery this month. I feel as if God blessed me with something special - all of the people here! :ohmy: And you're the second person who saw a picture of your liver! OK I'm jealous, lol! I wonder if my doctor does that . . . I wanna see mine now! ROFL :wub: I've starved myself for 2 1/2 weeks on this pre-op diet, my dang liver had better be SHRUNK! LOL Warm hugs Becca! Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing too! :tt2:

Warm hugs Sis! Thanks so much for your support, it really means so much to me. I can't wait until I can buy a smaller size in clothes! I'm soooo tired of 2X sizes. Since I'm short (5'2") larger sizes just don't fit. I think clothes designers think the bigger you are, the taller you must be! :wub: Anyway . . . good news to report! I've been sticking to my diet 100%, despite the hunger. And it's paid off! I got out of the "250's" (pounds - not hard, only two pounds to lose there), then out of the "240's", and today, I've reached my small goal of making it into the "230's" before surgery! woot! lol . . . I know it's probably not good to keep so focused on numbers, but it's helped me stay on plan, and I'm just taking it ten pounds at a time. I'm hoping to get into "onederland" (below 200 pounds) by summer . . . not sure how well I'll do, but I'm really gonna try! Good luck to you too sis! Please keep at your journey, and let me know how you are doing! It's a long haul, but all soooo worth it. It really feels good to get back in control of your life! big hugs! :tt2:

Good Luck Gibson, I'll keep you in my prayers! :wub: I hope it all works out for you, and you are banded right on schedule! Please keep warm and take special care of yourself this week! God bless you - let us know how you are doing!

Thanks Megan, I'm wishing you a smooth surgery and a speedy recovery too! And the same to everyone on this week's list! :wub: I'm really looking forward to finally being a bandster at last, but I'll admit I'm VERY nervous about the surgery (I get so anxious abut these things!). I've been so glad to hear how well everyone else before us has done, I hope I can report the same! Anyone out there that doesn't mind sending prayers and positive thoughts my way, I'd love you for it! Hmmmm . . . we've had Mardi Gras week Bandsters, and Valentine's week Bandsters, I think we're President's week Bandsters (Today is President's Day). I noticed on my calendar that there is a full moon on the day I'm having surgery (here in Michigan on the 21st). So I guess that makes me a lunar (or loony? :tt2:) bandster. LOL! Ok . . . sorry to ramble . . . I'm off to do some packing . . . can't wait for Thursday to get here and be over with. Warm hugs & good luck all!

Congratz on entering bandland Mac the Knife! It's so nice to hear you had a smooth surgery, I'm sooooo hoping I'll have the same (yes I'm nervous about the pain). I hope your cough gets better for you too. Keep up the great work without the ciggies! :thumbup:

Warm hugs taismommy:huggie: I'm so sorry this happened to you. I would have been quite peeved too. I think someone should have called you earlier. It's a case of such mixed emotions . . . you want to be happy for the doctor, but after all the trouble you went through, only to get canceled! ouch. Hang in there hun, and please don't feel bad over your dinner. I think I would have needed to go and do something for myself too! I'm glad you're still with us here in the double V's . . . you're still ahead of me :thumbup: lol . . . my surgery is the 21st. We'll both be in bandland soon!

Amy, I love the name change! And congratz on your NSV!:thumbup: I'll have to keep that term in mind, it's new to me, I'll start looking for my own "NSV's". Now, I know there's a ton more benefits to weight loss than seeing the scale move, but I just love putting the title on it! Then I can stop and enjoy my NSV moments, like you just did :crying: I think today I had something of an "NSV" . . . it wasn't lower weight, but it was diet related. I went and got my hair cut, and all over the salon were open boxes of Girl Scout Cookies, and chocolate kisses. Now, I was a (maybe still am?) "choco-holic", but when I was offered a cookie or a chocolate kiss, I felt **happy** to politely decline! I really didn't miss it, even under my nose like that! Ok, yes, I'm proud of myself here, lol. And more than a little surprised . . . I was worried about today, I thought I'd be drooling for any chocolate. But I'm ok with my diet . . . it's almost like, we made friends! lol :smile: Sorry, I didn't mean to hi-jack your NSV moment with my own story, Amy! I'm so glad you share. This gives me something more to look for. Congratz again!