gina s.

I got my first "refill" today, the doc put 5cc's back in which I didn't expect since I had to have a total unfill last week when 6cc's were too much. But I seem to be doing fine so far, plus I had lost three pounds in a week with an empty band, which makes my total 33.....I'm a third of the way to where I want to be!! That made my day!!

Thank you! I just got back from my "refill" and now have 5cc's again, and I lost three pounds since last week with an empty band!

I get my first "refill" on Wednesday.

I had Dr. Symmonds too! I actually see him on Wednesday, the nurse who usually does my fills is not there so Dr. Symmonds is going to do it for me. All I can say is don't worry, he's a great surgeon. And yes, I wanted to back out a couple of times too, I've never had surgery or been put under before so I was especially worried and nervous in the days right before surgery. Even when I was at the hospital getting prepped for surgery, I thought about it. But I'm soooooo glad that I did it and I know you will be too. It's totally worth it.

Which surgeon do you have? I go to Scott and White, I love it there.....good luck, let us know how it goes!

I'm okay, I had to have a total unfill last week but I get to start them back up on Wednesday, so I'm pretty happy I won't go too long unfilled.

It's possible that you might only need two fills. I got my third fill last week and it was too much, I had to go to the E.R. that night and get an unfill. All I had all day was water, and I couldn't even keep that down. Just talk to you doctor about it, they'll know what to do.

Congratulations!!! Hopefully I can sing your song in a few weeks!!!

I have a four-year old, and my husband took off from work and my parents came down the day before surgery. My parents took care of my daughter so that my husband could take me to the hospital and stay with me there and bring me home. My parents left the morning after surgery because they could see that I was feeling fine and able to do everything normally. I can't really tell you what you need to do though, everyone responds differently to surgery and you might need the extra help. I really didn't need my parents to be here, but it did ease my mind to know that they were taking care of my daughter that day. Good luck!

I was able to start walking the day I got surgery, I just couldn't walk as far as I had been. Every day I walked a bit more, I just made sure that I didn't push myself too hard. After two weeks, I was allowed to start swimming again (they banned swimming for a while due to the incisions). I'm planning on starting the water aerobics class at Abrams, I just have to wait until my daughter starts school. The website says that the classes are Tues./Thurs. from 8am to 9am, which is perfect because she has to be at school by 7:30. They also have yoga and spinning classes that I might try out. I haven't met anyone on here, but I'm looking forward to it!

Thanks Kim! Your encouragement really made me feel better! Oh, and also the doctor's office called today, the surgeon wants to see me Wednesday to start my fills back up!!! Yay!!! Only five days empty!!!

I don't mind....I chose Lap-band because it wasn't as invasive or as extreme as gastric, and I'm obese but not extremely obese. Plus I've known a few people who had bypass and there is only one who has kept most of the weight off. Plus, two of my aunts had the Lap-band done, both of them lost about 80lbs. in a year and haven't had any problems. I had to get an unfill because I got overfilled, I couldn't even keep Water down (and water was all I had all day) so they took all of the Fluid out of my band. But the doctor's office called today, and he wants me to come in on Wednesday to start getting filled back up. No big deal, they told me it happens occasionally.

I didn't have to stay the night, it was outpatient. It might depend on your surgeon though, I know some of them make you. So, since all of us want support, is anyone interested in meeting up this weekend? I had to have a total unfill last night so I could use a pick-me-up.

I was told absolutely no carbonated drinks also, but I can have caffine. There is a type of Crystal Light that has caffine in it, and I love those. I was addicted to soda before I got banded too, but I gave them up before my surgery and I really haven't missed them.

Way to go, I'm so happy for you!!! Can't wait until I can say that!!!

tankergirl, I didn't have to wait six months, I started the process in Feb. and got banded in June. As for losing weight now, I'm not sure....you said Tricare had approved you, but was the approval just to see the surgeon or was the approval for surgery? I know in my case I got approved to see the surgeon first, and then the surgeon had to write a letter of medical neccessity and send in all of my pre-op testing info and the letter to Tricare to get approval for the actual surgery. If you haven't been approved for the actual surgery yet and are borderline on weight, I would wait until after your appointment on the 8th. If you are already approved for the surgery, then it doesn't matter if you start losing. Where are you going for you surgery?

I also got something before surgery. The nurse who was prepping me had to get the I.V. in my hand, and then after it was in she gave me a shot of something to relax me. I got another shot of whatever it was about an hour later, right before they wheeled me into the surgery. Good luck!

That response made me laugh! We need to meet up one day!

I had to do five days clear liquids, five days full liquids, and five days mushies. Good luck!

Ft. Hood, and Ft. Hood......sorry, not much help. I can tell you that you probably don't want to come here though, it's a small town but there are way too many people squeezed into it. It's a pain to even go anywhere, and EVERYONE is rude! We have been here for over five years now, and I hated it the first few years. The only reason that I don't mind now is because I have made some really great friends here and I have a life here now.

Apples, you lucky dog! I absolutely adore Destin, my parents would take us there for every vacation!!! I haven't been in about five years though......take me with you!!!!

Cobrien78, I wouldn't worry about it.....what you've posted above is way more than I had. I was borderline on weight, and only had one co-morbidity. The co-morbity I had was diet controlled diabetes (I was never actually diagnosed as diabetic, but I did have a history of high blood sugar readings on record). I had no problems, and I don't think you will either but I'll wish you luck anyway.

Apples, I have a 10 cc band also and I got 4 cc's during my first fill, and then I get an additional cc every two weeks after that. I currently have 5 in my band. I see a nurse practitioner to have my fills done, and she's been banded for two years and she told me that she gives that much at the first fill because no one she knows has ever gotten to their "sweet spot" with that amount, and she wants us to get to our sweet spot as soon as possible.

I'm so happy for you! Well, about the band, not about your husband being gone. And I won't lie and say you'll be okay because you won't be, but you will get through it. Deployments are hard enough to deal with on their own, but try not to worry about the surgery, it's really not that bad at all. I'm a big sissy and I thought it was fairly easy, so I think you will be fine. You'll get an added bonus too.....your husband will be totally suprised when he sees you again! That's way better than him seeing the daily progress and not even noticing when you've lost twenty pounds!

Yay!!! Good luck, I hope it goes well!!