gabi311b

Aww, thanks! Yeah it's AWESOME!!!!! How are you doing?

Hey, I haven't talked to you in a long time and I just wanted to see how you are. I was banded a little over a month ago and have lost 22lbs. I'm struggling right now since I haven't had my first fill yet but hopefully I will start losing again soon.

OMG I feel you! I go for my next Sunday since this Sunday was Easter. Have you had your fill yet? I am going to rollerblade 3 miles today, should be interesting! I am so frustrated and I feel like I'm failing.

YAY that's awesome. I am down 22lbs since surgery but I'm flat lining now with no movement for almost two weeks. I'm really bummed. I should be going in for my fill on Sunday but since it's Easter I don't think that will happen. I'm really trying to eat the right stuff and exercise but getting into the routine of exercising everyday is HARD!!!!!!!!!! How are you doing?

Hi Kennedysj427, I was actually a self pay so I didn't have to do that but my roommate just finished it yesterday and it wasn't too bad. Her name on here is Kellster. She could definitely answer your questions. Good luck, what stage are you at?

Hey Sita,

I just found your post in the Intro section and I wanted to send you a message to say welcome! I also live in Pasadena and was banded almost 2 weeks ago. Your portraits are BEAUTIFUL! You are very talented. If you don't mind me asking, what part of Pasadena do you live in? I live on Allen.

My roommate is also going to be banded, hopefully in April or May so it would be cool for us to keep in touch since we live so close to each other. Talk to you soon and welcome again!

Aww, thanks! I know that support is the number one way to success and I will take all I can get! How are you feeling a couple days out? I am 12 days out and I feel wonderful except for some soreness and slight pain at my port incison. If I bend the wrong way or lift something it HURTS!

I am so proud of us all, my mom keeps telling me I am so brave, but really we all are! I can't wait to see how our March ladies (and a few men) do! Keep us update...post some pictures! Where are you from?

I am feeling way better. I went back to work on Monday but I've been taking my pain meds every afternoon cause I just get pooped and achey. As of this morning I was down 16lbs from the day of surgery and I'm so excited!!!

Does the support thing go under your clothes? How much have you lost? I'm on my 3 week of clear liquids (2nd week post op) and I'm starting to get really hungry. I weighed this morning and I have lost 14 lbs since surgery. It's awesome!

I am down 11lbs since surgery and I had my postop appt this morning. I'm healing well and I'm happy. I am hungry but so far protein shakes are qwelling that. My port area hurts quite a bit...it's really sore and if I move the wrong way I literally see stars....Did you go through that? How are you doing?

I am home now and unfortunately not pain free...but I am now banded and today is much better than yesterday was. The gas pains were horrendous! I think all of my muscles are soooooooo sore...the incisions don't even really hurt but all the muscles around them hurt. My neck is so stiff from only sleeping on my back so I hope tonight I will be able to sleep on my side. How are you doing?

It's today!!!!!!!!!! I'm leaving in 5 minutes!!!!! OMG I can't believe it!

Hey you, it's been awhile since I heard an update. I'm having my surgery on Sunday in San Dimas and I'm soooo excited! I started my liquid diet this past sunday and it's going pretty well. Let me know how you are...Gab

I know! I can't believe it. The liquid diet is going ok...it's better now but man it's hard! I'm finding that I'm really emotional...I don't know why!!! How are you feeling? Better? Are you back at work?

Haha I'm sometimes a dork! Apparently I like to talk to myself and tell myself how proud I am of me! I'm so glad that your surgery went well. What was it like? How are the gas pains? I started my liquid diet today and it's been so hard. I have felt nauseous all day and I've had a terrible headache. I could never be anorexic...it wouldn't work! The other problem is that I get super moody when I'm hungry and I have no patience for anything...this is going to suck! Let me know what it was like so I can anticipate mine a week from today!!!!!! That is if I can make it through the liquids....

I was just thinking of you today. I was going to write you. I bet the liquid thing gets better after your surgery since your tummy will be smaller. I am so proud of you for sticking in there and I can't wait to hear what happens tomorrow. 12 days until my surgery and I start my liquid diet on Sunday. I am so excited for you and I know you are going to do great! Keep up your spirits and I know everything will go wonderfully! Keep me posted and I'll be thinking about you tomorrow.

Hey, I'm from Sacramento and I am here visiting until 3/4. My surgery is on 3/8 and I can't wait! It seems like we have a few things in common since I've been going to OA too and had some struggles with telling them or not. I have chose not to so far.

Did you grow up here? What do you do?

Gabi

YAY!!! That is so exciting! 19 dyas for me...I've been super busy. I had a pretty good Valentines Day. My boyfriend and I just went out to dinner and stayed pretty low key. I'm having a really stressfull day today and I'm ready to go home! How was your V-day? Are you so excited?

An endoscopy is where they stick a tube with a camera on the end down my throat to see if I have a hernia or ulcer or something. It's more invasive than an upper GI. I have bad acid reflux so they want to make sure I'm ok before surgery. My list is:

-papaya enzyme - it helps when/if food gets stuck (trader joes)

-pineapple juice - it also helps break down food when/if it gets stuck

-liquid tylenol

-gas-x strips

-cocoa butter lotion to help reduce scars and stretch marks

-mederma - reduces scars

-heating pad - good for healing as it will help relieve gas pain

-protein shakes

-protein bullets (3oz of liquid that have 42g of protein)

-colace - stool softener since we will be plugged up and it will hurt to use the br.

-pillow for the car - nice to buffer your tummy from the seatbelt

Let me know if you can think of other things I missed but that is my list!

You will do so well! I made a list too...all the things I need to buy, all the things I want to bring with me to the hospital, etc. I hopefully will have my endoscopy this weekend then blood next week then I'll be all set on the testing front.

I will only be on a 2-3 day liquid diet to shrink the liver a little. The surgeon said I didn't need to do the 2 week thing cause I'm not big enough. I did lose 4 lbs since the last time I went to the surgeon and I didn't even try!

OMG!!! YAY that is so exciting! I went for my second consultation yesterday and got all my questions answered. We are only going to be a few days apart. I am having mine on 3/8. How long do you have to be on the pre-op diet?

That's awesome! So you might not be a March Bandster? We just came up with our name...The March Melters!

I grew up in Sacramento and came down here (to Pomona) for college in 2000. I graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2005 with a double major in International Business and Marketing Management. Once I graduated I moved back to Sacramento and started working for Bank of America. In 2007 I moved back to LA (Pasadena) because I was offered a really nice promotion. I work in Business Banking (sales) and I absolutely love it! I have told some of my friends and I've told my immediate family but there are definiely some people I haven't and will not tell. I just don't want to hear them ask me about progress and stuff...I just told my boyfriend last night and he was so supportive! I was shocked. I thought he was going to say...I like you just the way you are.

What do you do? I see a graduation pic...

Are you telling people? If not, why not?

How soon can they get you in for surgery once you have approval? Where are you having your surgery at? Maybe we will be close to the same day! That would be so awesome. Like a lapband twin!

I am so excited! I only chose the Irish stuff cause of March. I can't wait! You are so close to me! How long until you get your approval back?