JulieNYC

Slept in bed last night instead of in the recliner (pillows under my knees to keep the required "crouched" position) and that was glorious. Now we get to start the count-down till my first post-op shower. 8 days to go!

Kat, your ranches sound AWESOME. It's on my goal list to ride a horse. A horse and a lot of roller coasters. This summer for both, I'm sure! Ellen, welcome! We're so glad you joined us. The liquid diet is a pain, but do as Boo says with keeping the Protein up and remind yourself that you're doing the only thing you can personally do to make your surgery go as smoothly as possible -- following the diet. It is a very limited amount of time and as soon as the surgery is behind you, I promise you won't be hungry. For those first few days you really will want to NOT eat (which is different from not wanting to eat). I had a hard time with the liquid diet and I broke it a few times. If I'd have truly believed I wouldn't be hungry post-band, it would have been easier to follow, so I thought I'd share that with you. Hopefully, you'll stay distracted, full on protein, out exercising, and you'll have an easy time of it! Good luck! I slept in bed last night instead of in the recliner. Ahh, what luxury! I slept great and even put on a little makeup this morning. My Stepmother washed my hair yesterday, which made me feel like a new woman. 8 days till I can shower. I think we can start a count-down now! Come on, 8 days!

I haven't peekend mostly because I can't. The binder is an impressive thing. I might get the bandages off my breasts tonight and move into a sports bra. If so, I'll get to see the girls in full. I can see the tops of them now and I'm thrilled. We'll see what I think once I can see the whole deal, scars and all. No pain, per se, at all. I'm sore -- as if I worked out way too much a day or two ago -- you know, how it's hard to get started moving, but once you do, it's ok. I haven't been emotional about it yet. I'm still at my parents' house for at least another 10 days and my emotional guard will probably be up until I get home and am alone with it, for better or for worse.

OK, things are going pretty well. I looked in the mirror a little yesterday (with the binder still on) and I really look a lot different -- a lot thinner. I joked with Dad asking if he took out a rib, à la rumor about Cher. Plus, when seated, I have a true lap. That's cool. Still waiting to see the results when the binder comes off for the first time. Not sure when that'll be. Three drains came out yesterday. Two didn't hurt at all -- I mean, not AT ALL. The third one was a little dried out and did hurt quite a lot (like a 6 out of 10) but it only lasts a second or two, so at least there's that! Boredom and immobility are my biggest current challenges.

Kat, my toes felt the hug, thank you! Today, I'm feeling better and better and annoyed that I still have to limit myself physically so much more than what I feel I "could" do. So, I'm going to log on to my desktop at work for a little while and see if I can ease the boredom....

Well, I'm back! The surgery went very smoothly. I lost 12 lbs in 5 hours. I had to stay in the hospital a little longer than I expected because I had a little post-op fever (around 101). I couldn't be discharged until it was under 100 for 24 hours, so it was Friday afternoon before I left. By the time I left the hospital, I was quite comfortable without pain meds. I'd had IV pain meds and shots in the hospital, then moved to liquids on Friday morning. They sent me home with liquid narcotics, but I haven't needed them. The pain hasn't been that bad. I can't speak about the results yet. I haven't wanted to look! I have 4 drains (I had 2 more "pinrose" drains in the breasts, but they came out on the first day post-op). 3 are coming out today. One will stay in for 10-12 days, so they say. It's really not outputting much, so we'll see. The worst part, by far, has been not being able to do things for myself. I'm not even supposed to walk to the bathroom by myself (they don't want me to fall, even though I'm quite certain I wouldn't). The second worst thing was having the IV in for 2 days. Geeze, those things are painful! I'll post more when I have more strength and when I have a little more to say about the results. Thanks for all of your well wishes and good thoughts.

Well, I'm back! The surgery went very smoothly and losing 12 lbs in 5 hours is pretty cool. The recovery is pretty grueling and I can't really comment on whether it's "worth it" because I haven't looked in the mirror without the bandages yet. The nurses seemed pretty impressed ("Wow, Dr. Dyas, can you make my stomach look like that?" -- was my favorite), but I haven't had the courage yet. I want the drains to come out, then I might get up the nerve to look. I was in the hospital for 2 nights because I had a fever that needed to resolve before they'd discharge me. I really wasn't in that much pain by the time I left the hospital and I haven't needed pain meds beyond Tylenol since I got home. The worst part is not being able to do ANYTHING for yourself. Since I'm single and live alone, it's just such a departure for me to not be able to go to the bathroom unassisted (mostly just because I'm not super stable in walking -- once I get there I can take care of things myself), not be able to go anywhere, etc.) Mostly, I'm just sitting in a recliner and watching TV. I don't really even feel like reading yet, which is weird. I'm a reader. My band has been a little mean to me as well (or maybe I was mean to it). I'm just accepting that I'm not ready for solid food yet. As long as I do liquids, I'm 100% ok. Mushies are only comfortable for very small amounts. Solids, yuck. I think it's probably all the swelling that I've got going on. It's like the extra tightness I get with my period (which I have too -- double whammy) times 10. Anyway, I figure since I'm good with liquids, I can give it a while to resolve on its own, or, I'll get an unfill. Anyway, that's all for now. Thanks for keeping the challenge going. I'm going for the "tin foil" level myself this month. I think that's just great! I'll check in soon. I wonder how much I weigh right now....

You are a doll. Thank you for your sweet words. Listen up, too, "bsouthern" because you're going to do GREAT. You're just very early in the process. If it makes you feel better and more confident about your future band experience, I actually GAINED weight during the period you're in -- i.e. from about week 3-7 (was feeling better and moving from mushies to solids, but pre-first fill). I didn't lose a thing -- even at a high BMI -- until I got my third fill. Then BOOM -- the weight started flying off because I didn't care about eating anymore and was very satisfied on a small amount of food. It was glorious. You'll get there too. Be very diligent about getting your fills until you get the feeling everyone is talking about. So, I'm feeling very jittery. Nervous, excited energy. I'm NEVER going to sleep tonight! Hey Karey, I don't quilt and everyone says I should -- that I'd get addicted (I'm big into sewing, just have never quilted). What do you love about it?

I was tired and nervous. Feeling much better this morning. I took a good look in the mirror (and at the pics from a friend's child's birthday party yesterday) and it's time for the first round. I still have extra weight in my hips and thighs, but there's really not much left in the torso. This is going to be fine. Mazie, I don't know what my goal weight is. My band doc's goal was to get me under 200. I weighed about 175 a few years ago (Optifast) and I was comfortable at that weight. I know I don't want to try and maintain what the charts say I should weigh (115-130). My goal is probably in the 160s, but I just don't know. Dad said it's not likely that I'd avoid a follow up procedure, even if I was at goal. He said with that much skin removal, it's kind of like fitting a dress -- you need two alterations before the final reveal. One gets rid of the major excess and, almost always, you need a little bit of extra fitting to make it perfect. There's a chance I'm asking for 3 surgeries by doing this early, but he thinks probably not. I've got to trust the medical professionals here and go ahead. I am feeling better today though.

That's the sweetest thing I've ever read on these forums. Way to go for finding such a keeper husband. Give him a big kiss, ok? Congratulations on being banded and I'm so glad you're on the road to recovery. sleeping better in a recliner at this point is completely normal. You'll be back in bed in no time. Take care,

Today I'm feeling too fat for plastic surgery -- feeling like I'm rushing things. I know this is just a first step and that there will be follow up procedures, but I just plain feel fat. My band doc says to go ahead, my Dad says to go ahead. I'm going ahead. But, I feel FAT and like I should wait 40 more lbs before tackling this beast. It's going to be fine -- just sharing the thought process with you all....

YEAAAAAA DAWN!! I'm so excited for you! So, are you addicted to racing now? WOOHOO! That's great. And in such "balmy" weather too (wink). I'm beaming for you. Dancing bananas! :bananajump:

Molly, My opinion is stick where you are with the calories. The second I notice I'm smaller, the weight on the scale pours off, so I bet you're about to see a big jump. Come on 70s! WOOHOO! GO MOLLY!

I have posted clothed pre-PS pics on the main pic thread. I will never be able to post full nude pics (akin to Spydr), be they pre-op or post-op, because I have family in politics and I just can't do that to them, should my identity on this board ever not be so anonymous. That said -- and you cannot hold me to this because I don't know how I'm going to look and feel post-op until it actually happens -- I HOPE I'll have the courage to post some very "honest" pre-op and post-op shots (full incisions and everything, just with the most "important" body parts covered or photoshopped). I think it's important to share this journey with the WLS community. I'm just too close to it right now to promise what I'll be comfortable doing. I need to hate my body a little less first. Of course, that's what the PS is about. Mazie, I am 5'2 and I was 200 lbs overweight. Every body is different, but there's just no way to have NO excess skin with the loss of 200 lbs, even with the young. Dad said waiting a year for apron removal was pointless. We're waiting on the arms because there's a chance they might tighten up enough to where I can live with them as-is, but even if my stomach tightened a lot, it still wouldn't be enough. I think -- and this is a generalization -- people in their 20s and 30s MIGHT get away with losing 100 lbs and not requiring a tummy tuck, but 200 lbs is just asking too much of the body. That said, I COULD live the way I am without a tummy tuck. It's cosmetic for me. It's not hanging so much that it interferes with my body functions, I've never had a rash or irritation problems. So, I think if I'd have waited 10 years, I could have been a lot worse off with the skin problems, you know?

Hi Guys, I've been SWAMPED at work getting ready to be gone for at least 3 weeks and I haven't been getting in my LBT time as much as I'd like! That said, let me catch you up.... ChinaMom, I completely understand the question (about family members performing surgery on family members) and it was something I had to work through. Perhaps most importantly, my father has ZERO concerns about operating on me. In fact, one of the biggest reasons I went with him -- truly -- even moreso than the free factor -- was that it would hurt him if I went to someone else. He is the best in his field -- people fly from around the country for his work -- and being a surgeon is so a part of him that it would have been like rejecting him to use someone else. I asked him directly if this was too big of a surgery to perform on his daughter and his response was, no, it was too big of a surgery to let any OTHER doctor perform. He's quite self-confident, which, I suppose, is what you want in a surgeon. He did my Mom's face lift, my brother's otoplasty (ear tuck), by SIL's nose, HIS own MOM's face lift and knuckle replacement, the list goes on. So, he'd rather do it than have someone else do it -- even taking money out of the equasion. So, that brings us to MY feelings about him doing my surgery. I've largely worked through my concerns and a big part of why I was able to work through it is that I really think he's the best man for the job. That said, I had three major concerns. First, I did NOT relish the idea of standing in a room all but naked having my Dad poke at me. Second, my Dad is a control freak and I was concerned that, since I'm his daughter, he wouldn't treat me enough as a patient -- who has her own goals for this surgery -- and would make all the decisions without me. Third, I worry that, God forbid, something goes wrong with the surgery, the emotional toll that will take on him. So, for the first concern (the exam), I decided to "get over it." It's 10 minutes of my life, as compared to about $40,000 of free surgery. And you know, it wasn't so bad. He was so clearly a doctor and not a father when looking at my body. It was as if a switch flipped. And, I had my Stepmother there with me (she's a nurse), so she talked to me and tried to distract me throughout it all. For the second concern, I had to really take the reigns there. For example, I had to be really vocal about the fact that I didn't want him to decide what surgery was appropriate based on his thought that I MIGHT have pregnancies one day. I asked him to hear me as a patient and believe me when I said I didn't plan on having children, though I admit that life can take you in places you don't plan. So, he agreed to do a full tummy tuck and not just the mini-tuck (below the belly button). As for the third concern, I still worry about that one, but I figure it would be just as bad if something happened to me and he wasn't the surgeon -- he'd blame himself for not being the surgeon and "letting" something happen to me. So, yes, there are issues with it being my Dad operating on me. But, they're much more my issues than his issues. As long as the one holding the scalpel is comfortable and the best one for the job, I'm OK with my own trepidations.

Kat, I have felt what you felt in watching the heavy Mom at the park. It's so hard to watch someone else struggle, when you know the "answer" and they might not have even started looking yet. Anyway, I don't think there's a thing you could have done differently, but I know it was hard for you to watch. I'm so glad you found the band (and the rest of us too)!

No more fainting, I promise. Actually, I took the "eat a little more" suggestion from my doctor a little too far -- I went on what can only be called a 2 day binge. I've had a few binge days post-band. Very few because I usually remember that binging makes me feel worse, not better, but I really went for it and ate completely "around the band" like you read about. It was a little scary, but the thing is, this only ever happens to me when I'm a few days before the start of my period AND something else is going on (i.e. right now with the surgery stress and insane work stress). I guess what I'm saying is, before the band, I could binge eat every day for a month. Now, I don't like that I can still lose control of my food, but the certainty is that I AM going to come out of it. It might be one meal, or 4, but it's not going to be 10. I guess there's security in that. So what was the binge? Well, I ate a pint of ice cream in one sitting and didn't even bother to buy low fat. 1200 cals. Then I ate an entire order of saag paneer (spinach with sort of like cottage cheese) from the Indian delivery place around the corner. If I'd have mixed in the rice like the dish is supposed to be served, I wouldn't have been able to eat the whole thing, but I intentionally didn't eat the rice so that I could eat the whole thing. Probably 1000 cals. I ate a side order of beans, but by that point I couldn't eat much more, so probably only 200 cals or so. I did this 2 days in a row. So let's see, that's 2400 cals when usually I'd eat about 600 cals for those 2 dinners. And I did workout BOTH days (I met the challenge today), so it's probably only about 1/2 lb in true damage. All that said, I've come out of it. I'm going to handle the stress in a different way now. Binging didn't make me feel better. It made me sleep poorly and feel unproductive. Strangely, I didn't feel "guilty" per se. Just not good, physically. That's probably a turning point too.

You're amazing Spydr. Way to go on an awesome NSV.

Sara, you're very welcome. And you WILL feel this way about yourself in a year. Probably even less than a year. After about 3 months, when I got good restriction and stopped being so driven by food, I started truly feeling better about myself. True, the weight loss wasn't so noticeable to the outside world at 3 months, but things were starting to change within me about how I felt about myself. Believe me, the time FLIES. You'll be feeling so much better about yourself much sooner than you think. April 2nd is really soon. Just hang in there. You're going to make it and you're SO SO SO doing the right thing!

Oh, Betty, that's FABULOUS news about Alan. Aren't you just thrilled? He'll be home before you know it. I'm so glad the worst is behind you. Boo, I can't believe how sick you've been and I'm so glad you're on the mend. I know I said this on the main board already, but your bandiversary thread is really cool. As for me, I had a great run last night. Tons of energy and increased my speed a little because I felt so good. Strangely, I had the weirdest moment at work this afternoon, just after lunch, where I actually passed out sitting at the lunch table (my colleague caught me, so didn't actually hit the floor). They took my blood sugar to make sure it wasn't something with that and ultimately determined it was just a combination of stress (I had a VERY stressful hearing this morning that I'd been worried about for a week) and side effects from the weight loss, probably combined with low BP, though it was normal by the time they took it. Anyway, no cause for worry unless it happens again, but it really was the weirdest thing.

I had glue only, and I've got to say my scars are the worst I've seen. I can't say it's attributable to the glue -- maybe I'm just a bad scarrer. It has me scared for my upcoming PS, but given that a PS is more concerned with residual scars than even the best band doc would be, I'm hoping for a better outcome. I'm nearly a year out and my port scar really hasn't faded all that much. I'm not sure I'd call it a full-blown keloid, but it's raised a little puffy. Yuck.

I'd take GasX, unless you're having acid reflux and not gas pains. If it's the former, I'd call my doc because zantac wasn't on my list of post-op approved meds, but that doesn't mean anything unless you ask.... Sorry you're in pain!

This is a cool idea for a thread. Thank you, Boo! What is your "Bandiversary" goal? To be recovered from my tummy tuck and breast lift (March 28th) enough to schedule my flight home (to actually be home is a stretch). What have you learned this past year? I've learned that it's better to head off a binge than to fight it. It's like turning a boat. You might not be able to turn on a dime, but if you plan, you can still get the boat turned. Could you share your most rewarding NSV (non-scale victory)? Flying without a seatbelt extender. Walking anywhere in the City just because and not worrying about breaking out in a sweat even in the cold. What is your biggest challenge? Learning how to not act like an adolescent in my new body. What tips would you pass on to the April 2007 newbies? Measure your food, at least some of the time. It keeps you accountable. Also, if you're not losing as quickly as you'd like, consider counting calories at least for a few days. It'll let you see where you can make adjustments to meet your goals. What is your greatest fear? Regaining the weight. I know it's not likely, but I still fear it. What goals do you have for the future? To figure out what goal weight is and reach it. To run a 10K. To run an average mile in under 10 minutes. How has your life changed? Oh my gosh, what a question! I fit into life again. I don't worry about finding the "right" seat on the bus or whether a folding chair will break under my weight. I can shop anywhere. I care about my appearance. People treat me with more respect, even just walking down the street -- it shouldn't be that way but it is. I got a new job making triple salary. Triple! Men hit on me. I'm excited about tomorrow. Has living with the band met up to your expectations? It's far exceeded my expectations. I expected to be about 250 or 275 now. Instead, I'm in the 190s. All I expected from the band was to get back to Twoterville. Actual day-to-day life, the band exceeds my expectations as well. I thought I'd have way more limitations on the types of food I'd be able to eat. If you could talk to yourself a year ago, what would you say? I'd say be kind to yourself. You're a pretty cool person and even though you don't like yourself a lot right now, you've got the potential to love yourself. I'd also say, self, since you've got this ability to talk to yourself a year ago, try to see if you can talk to yourself 5 years ago and get a band then. Don't waste time trying to find another option. You're going to exhaust them all and still wind up 350+ and banded. Save yourself the emotional and physical trauma.

I had a close friend through childhood and college who broke off the friendship very suddenly. Turned out she had a mental break. She's not the same person now. It was completely psychiatric, but it was still really hard for me to accept. The last time I talked to her (something professional), which was a few years ago, she talked about our former friendship as if it was with someone else -- not with her. It's very strange. I hope your friend is OK.

Yay, Molly!!! Dancing bananas for you! :) That's FANTASTIC that you got out with your family and did your walk/run! Keep up the great work. I know how good that must have felt. You're already a huge inspiration for your stepdaughter and it's only going to get better the more exercise you do. She's at a great age to learn from you. You made my day! Woohoo!