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Hi Tabby! Welcome to the boards! This is a great place to be while starting your journey. Congrats on the approval - the hard part is done...now you just have to go through the information sessions and get ready to be banded! :wink2: I was banded on May 19th. Like you, I have tried every diet known to man, miserably failing and gaining even more weight. I decided to get banded and it was the best decision I have ever made!! I feel great knowing that I can and will finally lose the weight. I wish you the best of luck! :thumbup:

Congratulations ladies!! I don't go until July 3rd :scared2: Was the fill covered by insurance? That is the one thing I forgot ask...

I am now almost 7 days post-op and am having terrible gassy, crampy diarreah-like pains. I sometimes pass the gas and I am having really soft bowel movements, but for the most part, it's just the pain. I am on full liquids until June 6th. Today, I mashed some white navy Beans and mixed it with the broth and a little rice from chicken and rice Soup. It was yummy but soon after, I got the pains again and my stomach still hurts 7 hours later. :sad: The same thing happened yesterday when I pureed vegatable beef soup for dinner. Has anyone else experienced this? Should I be concerned? I read that Immodium AD would help or yogurt. Any advice is appreciated!

Hi! Congrats on being banded! I was banded on May 19th and I was (and still am) in pain - my somach was really sore espeicially where the port site is...and the gas was terrible. BUT it gets better. I feel normal again and the pain is very mild. I think moving around and walking helps alot. Good Luck! :rolleyes2:

Hey Terri! Congrats on being banded!!! I will have to give that drink a try! 40g of protien in one drink sounds like a great way to get it in!! Is it really expensive?

I am on FULL liquids (creamy Soups, yogurt, pudding, etc) until June 6th. AND I am supposed to have 54 grams of Protein a day (yeah right)...boy is it hard! I am looking for new ideas...I think I am hungry, but it may just be gas. :cool2: I have been drinking alot of apple juice and Water. And decaf ice tea. I had half of a protien drink yesterdy - it was delish...banana Peanut Butter. I have the vanilla soy protein from GNC, but have yet to try it. I am also going to start making the slim fast shakes soon...I'll need them for work for sure. I have also tried some cream of wheat and was only able to get down a few spoonfuls. That's about it...I am not getting in enough calories for sure. What are you guys having? I can't wait to progress to mushies, I want some tuna or some refried Beans and cheese! :thumbdown:

Go Kate with your skinny little legs!!! :cool2: You carry the weight really well - looking very slender! My goal is to get into a pair of size 14 designer straight-leg jeans (with some spanx of course) and feel fab!! Now if I can just muscle up the courage to buy them! I was carrying a pair around a store last weekend and decided to leave them behind! That is one thing that we still need to do together, Kate - GO SHOPPING! :biggrin2:

Hi Dorothy, I am doing well..still sore and very exhausted. BUT I have been trying to rest and walk at the same time - so it gets a little crazy. I am having a hard time keeping liquids down - I can only take 1 sip at a time, which is a welcomed change!! I am NOT hungry at all, I hope this lasts!! I tried a Protein shake for the first time today - it was really good (the 2 sips that I had of it, LOL). It was CHIKE brand banana Protein powder - my surgeon's office gave me a ton of samples - half cup of 1% milk, half of a banana, 1 tbs of Peanut Butter and ice, blended until smooth...it was yummy - if only I can finish it! I really don't see how I am going to be able to get 54 grams of protein in a day on just liquids...I can barely get in 32 ounces of tea, Water and apple juice... Hopefully it gets better... OK, off to move around a little more. May 19th-ers please post and let us know how you are doing and what you are drinking.. cheers!:tongue:

Hey everyone - just thought I'd check in. I am doing a little better, still really sore near the port site and a l ittle nauseous and gassy. This time it's the burping though. It's like I have to burp and it's stuck but it won't come up. Having some black cherry Jello for Breakfast with apple juice. I will try a bit of protien shake later today, even though I tried to have pureed chicken noodle soup for dinner and could only take 2 spoonfuls before I felt like I was going to explode! LOL! OK - off to take my Lortab elixer and do my breathing... hope everyone is doing well!

Doing great girls!! Was just banded yesterday - can't wait to start losing with ya!! It may be a good idea to buy a scale, LOL! I threw mine out years ago and never replaced it. :cursing:

Hey May Bandsters! I was banded yesterday morning. My husband and I arrived at the hospital at 5:45 am...I was a nervous wreck. I got admitted, signed more paperwork and went into pre-op to prep. The nurse there was really nice, we chatted to take my mind off the surgery, I guess she could tell I was nervous. I met with the surgeon, who was so sweet. She gave me a hug and had me sign the release forms. She assured me that I was in good hands, made me feel really comfortable! The anesthesiologist then came in and met with me. Had me sign release forms and explained that I was only going to be out for an hour and a half and that he would administer the medicine through my IV and oxygen mask. They wheeled me off to the OR. It was about 8:30. On the way, he gave me a nice relaxing IV shot - which made me smile ear to ear, LOL! The last thing I remembered was the nurse saying, "you are going to smell something sweet through your oxygen mask, it's going to put you to sleep"....and I woke up in the recovery room, at about 10:30. I remember the room being a blur since they made me take my contacts out before surgery. That freaked me out a little when I woke up. I also remember my left side of my stomach being on fire in pain! They gave me morphine through the IV, which made things better - but not good. I was wheeled into my room. I was greeted by my husband which made me cry - I guess it all hit me what I had done. He came over and asked how I was, holding my hand, which was comforting. Then the work began. I immediately had to begin my breathing exercised and coughs which was soooo painful! The medicine had worn off (the morphine) so they gave me another dose. It helped, but again, I wasn't pain-free which for some reason I thought I would be. :cursing: At 1 pm, I had to go down and get an x-ray of the band. They tried to make me walk, but as soon as I stood up, I got faint and nauseous - which made me cry again - I DID NOT want to throw up! The nurse got a wheelchair and wheeled me down to get the x-ray - thank god! After swallowing the barium (YUCK) and having to stand up for the x-ray, I got nauseous again!! :cryin: They were done and had me go back up to my room. When I got up to my room, they gave me something to take the nausea away - which helped. They also started me on the liquid pain meds Lortab, which was a little better and I finally began to be comfortable. I did not get to rest at all, I was either walking, do breathing excerises or getting poked, and having my vitals taken. This continued all night! Up until I was relased today at noon. All in all, it was a much painful experience than I had imagined. I was in more pain than when I had my C-Section, I guess because I was not given a morphine pump this time...I dunno. I am just happy to be home. My surgeon gave me a Lortab prescription, which I started and am still very soooooooore!!! And GASSY beyond belief :sad: I am sipping and walking and breathing and repeating the cycle...not fun...but hey - I will do it - I WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL! Wishing us all continued recovery and success! sorry for the typos.

One word = LEAKS! I was seriously considering going with the Bypass - until I started reading about the complications. The Lap Band is far less invasive, no re-routing of any intestine. I also like the fact of losing slowly, but steady. It's a more natural pace, which I like. No radical weight loss which can come with that droopy "once-obese-now-skinny" look. All in all, I think the Lap Band is a fabulous tool for those of us who are tired of trying every diet on the market and is ready to lose weight and get healthy without a radical procedure.:welldoneclap:

Thank you for sharing your story! I had butterflies reading it...hope mine will go as smoothly as yours. The anesthesia is the part that worries me...coming to in pain. Hope you are getting rest and taking it easy...cheers to a speedy recovery! :thumbup:

:angry_smile: How can it be done? I have plans for lunch and a movie with a grlfreinds and clients - when I will be on full liquids. I don't care to disclose why I can't eat and I don't want it to be awkward with me just drinking as everyone else digs into thier meals! How did you do it? Any advice on how to handle this situation would be appreicated! Thanks!!

How can it be done? I have plans for lunch and a movie with a grlfreinds and clients - when I will be on full liquids. I don't care to disclose why I can't eat and I don't want it to be awkward with me just drinking as everyone else digs into thier meals! How did you do it? Any advice on how to handle this situation would be appreicated! Thanks!!

Ang - I didn't have any tips for you as I am pre-op... I hope it will click for you soon. It is tough with the Lap Band - especially since we can pretty much eat whatever we want, just slower. For one, we don't get the caloric malabsorbtion like with other bariatric surgeries. AND we don't get the dumping syndrome like the the bypass - which is a major deterrent to cheating. We do - occasionally (from what I have read) get things "stuck". But there is a way around that - chew more. Some banders (I know 2 personally) don't even get that full feeling. Bottom line, Lap Band patients need to work harder to lose weight. When I went to my appointment for pre-admission testing, my nutritionist said something that stuck. She told me to treat my "how to be successful with the Lap Band" book - like a bible - live it and breathe it - DO IT. Think of it as a new start. I am being given an opportunity to have what I have always wanted. Why would I mess it up? What would I do something that can possibly stop my dream of being healthy and "normal" from becoming a reality. I HAVE THE CONTROL. That stuck with me. I posted reminders around my house with the word CONTROL. That's what it is all about. The tool will be there, but it is ultimately on me. I know it is just too easy to eat the wrong things, especially for us - we have always been able to pig out and get away with it - while gaining weight. It may take more planning and regimens. I hate cooking too - my husband does most of it - but you may need to cook and plan more...it is probably a requirement. You will then have CONTROL over what you are eating. Planning will be important too. I know for a FACT I will need to plan my meals for the week and pack lunch everyday. I am an executive assistant and I pretty much pick up lunch and coffee for my team everyday. Without my "own meals" and snacks, it will be too easy to eat something bad. I refuse. Hang in there! I wish you success - I have been following your blog, you are doing really well! You are losing weight. I can't wait to be where you are. I have never been able to lose more than 20 pounds EVER! - at least with the band, we will achieve weight loss!! It will click - have faith. :thumbup:

WOW! Thanks for a very positive story! I just said a prayer that my surgery goes as well as yours did!!

Congrats Shannon!! We share the same date!!! It'll be here before we know it!

Glad to hear you are doing well bandfan!!! I wish you a speedy revovery - good luck going back to work on Monday. :frown:

I love reading these!!! Thanks for the information!!! I only wish my experience will be like yours was!!! I wish everyone could take a few minutes to tell the expeience like you did...I really helps us get an idea of what's to come.

I went today for my pre-op testing and NO liquid diet for me! I just have to "watch what I eat and not gain weight"...pretty much - don't go on a last supper binge. Oh - and my BMI is 44. The day before my surgery, I have to be on full liquids and then nothing after midnight. I guess every surgeon is different.

Great idea! Good Luck to everyone being banded TOMORROW!! WOW! Please take it easy at first - but be sure to log on ASAP to let us know how it went!!

May Firsters - good luck!!! Can't wait to hear how things are going!!!!

I went in today for my pre-admission testing and no pre-op diet for me either. I only have to "watch what I eat"...and not gain any weight. I was shocked that 5 months after my first appointment in November, I only gained .4 pounds. I knew for sure I would be up by at least 10, the way I have been pigging out! Anyway...I am kind of bummed - which my husband could not understand...I just want to get started.

LOVE this thread! very inspiring!! I can't wait to start to the results that we will all have! This is going to be so exciting!