Dody

I took very little with me to the hospital as they had everything there, but on arriving home I made sure I had Gas X strips and liquid Tylenol. They seemed to be two of the most important things. Someplace on here is a great list of things you should have on hand.....maybe someone could bump it up for you. Good luck.

John Wayne and Elvis are both dead, so that comparison is hillarious. Do what you think is best for yourself. I found colon cleansers to be anything but a scam but that is my personal opinion. If some people think they are scams they are entitled to their opinion. I personally didn't want to go the mineral oil route. Like I said there are dr's. that perform colonics, and loads of people that buy them....so I guess we are all being scammed and feeling good in the process. Do whatever you want and don't let anyone with an ax to grind influence you. I for one think they are great every 6 mo. or so, but that is a very personal opinion. Take good care of yourself and never worry about feeling defensive about your choices.

My kids made spaghetti last night and although I wasn't hungry there was certainly nothing wrong with my sense of smell...it smelled delicious. I didn't even go near them, as they are kind enough to take it in the other room. I didn't want any per se, but I thoroughly enjoyed the smell of it cooking. It would be nice if the things I did like turned me off

I order Smashbox cosmetics from QVC. One order lasts me 6 mo. One container has everything from face powder to eye shadow in it and the other is for my eyebrows. It really isn't that expensive (about $34.00 every 6 mo) and I love it. Aside from the basics I'm not into a lot of make-up, but I can definitely see where it would be an addiction. My addiction has always been clothes.

This morning I'm still sore in the port area, but don't have that beat up feeling I was beginning to wonder who I had ticked off in the OR to be feeling so beat up I can drink and take my pills just fine and last night had my first chocolate pudding with absolutely no problem. I have to admit it filled me up completely. I realize I'm at that wonderful state with post-op swelling and before any fills and I'm going to enjoy it, because I know life will change after the fills begin. My dr. is very non-aggressive with fills, so this may be a good thing for me. I'm 64-years-old so definitely no kid having this done, but it has been so worth it. I have always looked and felt younger than I was until my heart surgery, and I hope to be feeling that way again before too long. I haven't set my goal to low in my weight loss, although I'm hoping for more, but know I will look good at 170 as I'm 5'8" and wear a size 12 when I'm that weight. It's too soon to imagine 150 for me, but maybe some day. Thanks to all of you that responded. The forum is an awesome place for info.

I googled Isopure and ordered it online from a company. I couldn't find it locally. It is a little spendy but well worth the price. I choose fruit punch and grape. Many companies sell it online. GNC didn't even carry it here where I live.

I have been using colon cleanse for years now about every 6 mo. or so, and feel so much better because of it. There is some evidence to support it prevents colon cancer also. I don't think it's a scam at all and I'm a retired nurse. It has a lot of benefits to it in my opinion. I will continu to use it every 6 mo. or so. There are dr's. (very legitimate) that do colon cleansing and I don't consider them quacks at all. I would dread the thought of mineral oil or many other harsh products, but this is gentle and works beautfully...and the truth is if you haven't tried it you have no idea what you are going to find the results are. They are amazing to say the least. I highly recommend it, and then make your own decisions.

the shoulder pain sounds like trapped gas from the surgery. Walk, walk and walk some more. It's great you have no pain from the incisions. I have pain from the port incision most of all, but would do it all over again. Dody

I was just banded on Tuesday, and although extremely sore it is tolerable, and I would do it over in a heartbeat. I'm not the least bit hungry and looking forward to this journey. Best of luck to you. God Bless

I knew I treasured your friendship for lots of reasons I look younger than I am, but I have a permanent appt. with Lady Clairol for sure. I got my genes from my mom who at 84 looked 64, so I thank you very much. Giggles at the grey hair....I don't do grey well!! My daughter did everything on here for me in no time flat. I didn't know where to start. I didn't want anything on here before I was banded, but now it's out there for all to see. I just had a Protein drink and the family is having spaghetti. Somehow, it isn't bothering me one bit. Do you suppose that is purely psychological? I'm sooooooo glad I had this done, even with the soreness. Thanks for the little "strutter". I ordered a gold necklace and earrings from QVC tonight as a gift from me to me on the banding....I treat myself well don't I? Thanks again for being there all the time for me. Love girlfriend and God Bless, Dody

I was a normal weight 5 yrs. ago when I had 5-way-bypass, but I was living on cigarettes, coffee and working round the clock. When I gave up smoking I substituted food...what a dummy I was. I have now had weight loss surgery to lose the extra weight and my dr. feels it is the best thing I can do for my heart. God Bless, Dody

My dr. recommends this the day before surgery to prevent gas, and Ihave to say it's doing it's job. I ordered mine on-line. Dody

Isopure is my drug of choice...delicious, but then I despise milk so I didn't like having to do 7 days of Carnation Instant Breakfast. It is a lot better in a Magic Bullet Blender though...don't know what I would do without that blender. Thanks to my friend 3 Loves who recommended it...fantastic!! Dody

Even though it is just around the house I've been walking and walking and feeling better. I think I slept much too long last night in just one position which didn't help much. I only stayed one night in the hospital and between those things on my legs pumping up and down and the blood pressure monitor and all the interns I got NO rest, so I made up for it last night. I'm happy to say I'm feeling better...have no gas, and not hungry. I have absolutely no regrets over having this surgery. It is something that because of this forum I was well prepared for. I have had 5-way-bypass surgery and the pain from that can't even compare to this. I was 6 mo. recovering from that excruciating pain. I know my age isn't helping much either, but I'm going to do everything I can to make this work. Thanks all for all the support. God Bless, Dody

My stitches are absorbable, so I know nothing about pulled stitches, but would think with surgery in June your stitches would be pretty well healed. Hope you are feeling better. Dody

It sounds very much like you could use a slight unfill. Hope you get some answers soon. God Bless, Dody

I absolutely despise milk and am not sure how I survived it, except one night I snuck in a little broth and a little hot tea. I have since gotten some Isopure and it will give me the Protein I need, and I find it much more tolerable. I would have done anything to get this band. I think determination was a big motivator also. After the 3rd day the headache stopped and my stomach stopped crying for food, and I've been fine since. I'm 3 days out and still not hungry Thank God. Perhaps part of it is psychological. I am, however, really sore, but I guess time will heal that. I'm so very glad I took this step in my life. It's been a year long process to get everything done, but I fully committed myself to this a long time ago. Thanks for all the good thoughts. God Bless, Dody

I thankfully have been spared the gas up till now anyway. As for being run over by the freight train....that is really a strange feeling. My abdomen is of course the worse of all and the fact that I was so tired last night after the ride home from the hospital and the fact I probably didn't move all night probably added to the intense soreness. I so feel horrible for you with the gas pains. I'm hoping to avoid them. I did Carnation Instant Breakfast for 7 days before surgery and did a bowel cleanse before surgery, as this is what my surgeon recommends. I do believe it helped, although I had no gas with my gall bladder surgery either. The gall bladder surgery was a piece of cake compared with this, but then I'm no kid either I hope you feel better quickly, and please keep in touch. I love hearing from older bandsters out there. God Bless, Dody

Great plants, but they require a lot of shade and don't do well in the sun at all. I have 6 huge planters of them. Dody

The soreness is complete upper body, but may be age related also. Thanks for your reply. I'll give the surgeon's office a call and see if I can get any answers. Thanks again. Dody

I am on Medicare and my fills are covered for 6 mo. I don't know about other insurance companies at all. I hope you get all the right answers. I am visiting my daughter in Tennessee (where I came for my surgery) and have to travel 3 hrs. to Vanderbilt when I start getting my fills, but I will stay as long as it takes to get everything right, which the Dr. says should not be longer than 6 mo. They also cover yearly check-ups. You didn't say who your insurance company is, God Bless and hope you get all your answers, Dody

I was banded on July 18, and have no gas at all, and am not hungry. These are two great things. I have port soreness which I know is to be expected, but I feel like I was hit by a "freight train" in my upper body. I am 64-years-old and wonder if this is normal and perhaps age related. I just had arthroscopic knee surgery one week ago and force myself to get around, but the knee is still painful. I had a wonderful surgeon at Vanderbilt and wonderful staff and have the low profile port. The beat-up feeling worried me. It came about when I received a blood thinner shot before leaving the hospital and by the time I got home I was sore all over my upper body, but then we did have a 3 hr. drive home. We did stop and I did walk around the car a couple times though. Dr. C. is what I'm feeling normal? Thanks for your answer. I can take my pills without crushing them. Is this OK? God Bless and Thank you for being here, Dody

I don't know much about putting tickers or anything on here, but my daughter is a computer genie and promised to help me with it soon. I can't believe after this year long wait I am finally banded. I just took a hot shower and feel somewhat less sore. I have no gas at all, but I had none with my gallbladder surgery either, so I feel extremely lucky there. I am walking as much as possible, although I just had knee surgery a week ago, but doing the best I can. Thanks all of you for your support and kindness on this forum. I don't think I could have made it through without being so well informed of what to expect on here, although I had never encountered anyone mentioning the "beat up feeling". I'm relieved to know it isn't that unusual, and is probably somewhat related to being older than most of you. Gosh, am I the oldest on here at 64? I'm going to keep up with my protein and pain meds and walk all I can. Thanks again for letting me know the soreness isn't unusual...I was worried. God Bless, Dody

I don't know where I would be without this forum and the great support I have found here. I'm so glad I discovered it long before my banding. I had just never encountered anyone saying they felt "beat up" after the surgery. I'm going to chalk this up to age also, as I'm 64 and won't bounce back like you young ones. Aside from the soreness, I feel good. The port area stitches are unconfortable, but bearable. I have the newer style port and it is very small and I can't even palpate it. The dr. says I may never be able to feel it. I had a wonderful surgeon in Dr. Willie Melvin and wonderful staff. I stayed one night in the hospital, but even with meds didn't close my eyes once. I came home exhausted (3 hr. drive home from Nashville) and I bet I didn't move all night...could be part of the problem. I was exhausted. I feel better now knowing some of you have encountered this, and thanks again for all the help and support I have received on here. I'm so glad after a year to finally have been banded. This as been a great source of strength and learning for me and I thank you all. God Bless, Dody

You are so right. I'm no youngster at 64, and had knee surgery just one week before. I'm glad someone else can relate to this feeling. I just took a hot shower and feel somewhat better. It just helps to know someone else has experienced this feeling also. I'm sure I'm not going to bounce back as fast as the young ones on here, but I have no gas whatsoever and I'm not the least bit hungry, which seems to be the problems most have on here. I can take my pills without crushing them at all, and seem to be able to drink everything just fine, so I guess I'm doing OK. I got a shot in the hospital right before I left (a blood thinner) and that arm hurts like heck and that is when the rest of me started hurting. It is so good to be back at my daughters, and so glad to know I'm not alone in this soreness. I will chalk it up to age related and thanks for sharing. I will walk as much as possible. God Bless, Dody