bobbiezhere

Thank you for this info Rosie!

My surgery was 7/7....and i returned to work today, 7/15. I feel good..just minor soreness but i'm sure i'll be tired tonight! I miss my afternoon naps! I would have liked to have had a couple more days just relaxing at home, but...oh well!

Thanks for mentioning that Donna - cuz i dont know where mine is either, lol. I was banded 7/7. Nice to see another So California girl here :wub: . When they did the first fill - could you feel that right away? I'm curious as to a "normal menu" too....contact me too - in case you dont want to share that on line. Thanks!

Ok....im probably not alone, but help please! I was banded on 7/7. On my pre op i lost 18lbs. So far, one week post op i'm down another 6lb. So the pre op and post op diets have been good for me. I'm looking forward to being off soup at some point..but....I am thinking ahead and i'm so afraid to start eating and having to make choices again! How do you forgo the protein drinks and eat normally and still lose weight??? This is so foreign to me! I'm so afraid that when i'm no longer restricted with my meals, that I will go b ack to chosing the wrong things and then will gain. Its been nice seeing the scale go down a little each day----it will flip me out to see a gain--yet, if i'm barely eating about 800 calories right now...once i start to eat normal every day food again---it seems to me I would gain. Granted....i guess i dont feel any restriction yet (dont get fill till week 6).... I guess i just need some of you seasoned bandsters to let me know its possible to eat regular people food (including carbs) and lose. I'm just afraid of failure i guess~~~i welcome any and all comments!

Congrats Ruth!!! It does get better! Take your pain meds so you take the edge off the discomfort! I was banded 7/7 and return to work tomorrow...i'm so glad the apprehension of the surgery is over...each day will get better and better! Would like to keep in touch if you feel like it! Good luck!

Good luck tomorrow! I was banded at Arcadia methodist hosp last tues! You'll do great! Keep us updated! There is a 2009 July bandster area you can go to as well!

I am diabetic..i stuck to my pre op diet religiously - lost 18 lbs. and was banded no problem on 7/7. You can do it....i dont think there will be an issue--the pre op is key. Good luck to you!!!

Hmmm i was banded 7/7. I have no bandages or steri strips. They stitched and covered with super glue (or some type of glue adhesive! They told me i could shower the next day - tho i didnt ask about swimming since i had no pool. I'm pretty healed, but not 100%. Although i will say i still feel swollen in that area---from the inside almost...i wonder how long until that swelling goes down!?

Hmm....i just was banded on 7/7 and I was never even given a choice as to what band i would get. The doctor showed me what he uses...and until they handed me a card that said "realize band"....i had no idea which one it was. This is a medical group that specializes in gastic bypass and lapband procedures. I guess i feel they have a better idea of what works best for most patients. I dont know if i would have wanted to choose actually.

Ah...well so far i dont have to take my diabetes medication...so thats good...but i did buy a blood pressure machne and my bp is kinda high still....my doctor said "i even have skinny people on bd meds"...uh..ok lol. So hopefully one day i can get off them too - thats my goal!

I know this must be somewhere, but.... On prescripition meds...i take bp pills--they are capsules and arent tooo big--maybe the size of a tylenol capsule. Do you think they are too big to swallow? My PCP told me i should be able to swallow it (im afriad) and i tried opening it up in pudding..i didnt get the whole thing in and it was awful. I did take a smaller capsule with no problem. My diabetes pill is huge--but right now i dont have to take that, i can cut that one up when the time comes... I'm just concerned with the bp pill . I was banded Tuesday. Thanks for feedback...i just know i dont want it to get stuck!

Just posted my 7/7 surgery story under the "surgery day" thread.....didnt realize there was two different threads for this...

Well, its done and im so happy! As everyone else, my hospital experience was good--people were friendly, my doctor and anestologist (how ever you spell that) were great...the doctor came into see me at 10;45 - and i joked - oh are you taking me early??? He said the room was being cleaned (surgery was scheduled between 12/12:30) - but they came and took me at 11! I dont remember anything except waking up in recovery. I could feel the pain/discomfort...nothing as bad as my gallbladder surgery - but defianately not fun..lol...then they wheeled me into recovery #2. My only complaint there is the recliners we were sitting in were NOT comfortable! Anyway, I was not an overnight stay--so by 4:45 they were ready to send me home...but realized i was in some pain and asked if i wanted a dose of the pain reliever for the ride-and i said "yes!". thank goodness! It took the "edge" off the drive home. I got home saw my family and basically headed to bed. It was a little tough getting up, but i kept a crutch by my bed to help pull me up. I also had a little light and when i woke up at 1 and 5 (pain meds wearing off) i took more and went right back to bed. I figured "pain management" is just that and i knew for the first day or two i would be taking that elixir as often as i needed . The 2nd day i was allowed Clear liquids, but to be honest, i wasnt really hungry..sipping Water was good for me...but by the 3rd day i was ready to sip on the Protein drink and a little (very little) Soup. I'm feeling much better today and very glad that i'm on the road to recovery and this is done! My ex came into town Wednesday and has been a big help...he had housecleaners come in to clean my house for me, he's taking care of the girls..its been great. I'm glad i did this.i'm looking forward to a new emerging..and each of you waiting for this process...just know that a couple of days of discomfort will be very much worth a lifetime of self confidence, happiness and good health! My best to all the "Freedom Fighters"..and beyond...will be looking forward to hearing success stories and before/after photos!:thumbup:

Good Luck Kim! I'm right there with you...15 lbs. lost and surgery at Noon on tuesday....we're almost at the top of that hill!

They told me i had to take something like Flintstones (childrens) chewable Vitamins (taking 2, not 1), chewable Calcium tablets. On my prescription, i will have to crush up the one large Metformin tablet i take and may have to open the capsule i take and put it in pudding. But im hoping to soon be off medications for high blood pressure and diabetes... I did buy liquid tylenol for after banding on 7/7. Oh and i got a list of medicines i should no longer take after surgery. Things like advil, motrin, etc.

That is sooo good to hear....I'm sitting here, Sunday night...tomorrow i work - and i have to be all Clear liquids...and tuesday i go get banded. I find myself getting more nervous---but actually just wanting to get it over and done so i can be on the OTHER healing side and on my way to a new me. I just wish it was Tuesday night already and i was home resting, but through it! :tongue_smilie:

Everyones pre op is different. My pre op appt wasnt until a week before surgery, but i got instructions via mail to start the pre op diet 2 weeks out. Mine consisted of 70-80 grams of protein (protein shake or food) no veggies no fruit - just s/f jello, crystal lite, no milk products.

Lucky 7 it is! I'll just be going under when you're heading home....wishing you lots of luck and a speedy recovery too!

Good luck to you Tomina! I'm the day after you! :smile2:

I never get the weight chart stuff...for 5'7" ive been told to weight between 130-150...You kidding me? Me at 130! Ha! Honestly i'm hoping for 170 - 150 would be sweeet! I think really it depends on you, how you feel, how you look etc... Healthy is key! Good luck!

I think its probably a feeling we all have--the "why couldnt i have lost the weight on my own"...but..it is what it is and we've at least chosen to do this, be healthier and in the long run, be happier. I was thinking..maybe there should be a thread of weekly weigh ins to see everyone's progress? Just a "week one ___" ??? It would be nice to know that your not alone on weeks you dont move...and nice to cheer on weeks you do lose... Just a thought. In the meantime - take care!!!

Hi Sean..congrats from another so. californian....good luck with your new life!

I hear ya Sunshine! There are quite a few of us 7/7 banders! I had my pre op today and pre admission stuff at the hospital..so all i need to do is show up! Woohoo! Good luck to you!

Wooohoo! congrats!!! Much success to you!