Betelnut

Yes, it helps keep you hydrated.

I'm a month out from surgery (today!) and I feel like I do have some restriction. Frankly, I'm not sure if my doc put saline in my band or not (I forgot to ask during my first post-op visit), but I definitely have had moments of intense pain and pressure right at the band, usually after eating bread. My first fill isn't until early December so I'm using this time to get used to eating slowly, chewing a lot and not drinking during meals. I'm also counting calories so I won't gain during this period of "bandster hell."

Yeah, I'd love to drive for an hour and a half for an un-fill if I'm sick with the flu! :biggrin:

My program also says "no snacks" but when I read the rationale for this it simply states something along the lines that people tend to overeat if Snacks are allowed (nothing about how it might stretch the band, etc.) That doesn't seem like a good enough reason to totally restrict a snack, in my mind. As long as your calorie intake for the day is low and the snack is healthy, I don't see why you can't have one.

My doctor recommended chewable Vitamins (NOT children's though!), chewable Calcium and sublingual B12 pills. I ordered all from Bariatric Advantage.

It is interesting how every doctor seems to have different post-op instructions (frankly, I also got different instructions at the hospital than I got from the pre-op class and the nutritionist!) My doctor has us on two week liquid (Soups, etc.) then two week mushie. After four weeks, "normal" food is allowed. I too (two weeks post-op) am starting to feel the hunger. Today I've already had several bowls of Soup and cheated by having a small piece of chocolate and it is only 1:00. I think I can be strong until my two-week follow-up (in a couple of days) but I'm looking forward to the mushies. I agree that I was expecting to have more restriction at this stage (I'd forgotten that the first restriction isn't until after the first fill), but I'm hoping that I can just diet (and not gain weight) until then.

Congrats Rose! I need to lose about 130 pounds too and chose the lap band because it is so much less intrusive. Too bad your family is being negative. I hope you can bring them around by the time you have your surgery! Welcome to the boards!

Well, I've lost 10 pounds in a week (surgery on October 7th), so I would think it is possible!

I chose 165 because I had actually gotten down to that weight before about ten years ago and was able to maintain it for 3 years (before going up again). I've actually gotten down to 145 before but, almost immediately, gained up to the 165. I'm tall (5'10") and have a medium build. 165 puts me easily into a size 12. Of course, if I ever decide to have a tummy tuck, I may actually go lower! (That is, if I'm successful...)

This has probably been answered somewhere--sorry if so! I'm one week post-op and on a two week liquid diet. I frankly don't feel "restricted." That is, I am able to easily eat a cup of Soup and then drink a shot of liquid protean then a few sips of Water. (Then I do "feel full.") Of course, in reality, a cup of soup and a few more mouthfuls isn't much food and, before the surgery, I would probably eat 2 cups or more of soup (plus bread, etc.)! But it also is a lot more than the "few ounces" of food that I'm supposed to be able to eat while banded. Is this because what I'm eating is liquid and thus it is "slipping" past the band easily? Please tell me that once I start my "mushie" phase, I will feel more restricted! Thanks!

My doc has me on a liquid diet for two weeks, then two weeks of "mushie."

My surgery day story: My surgery was on October 7th, 2008 at 10:30 (needed to be at the hospital at 8:30). I got up around 5:00 a.m. because I needed to get my daughter off to her day care (where she was staying the night) at about 6:15 so my ride to the hospital could pick me up at 6:30. I don’t have a good support system around me so I was depending on the husband of one of my staff members to take me to the hospital (another staff member’s husband picked me up!) (I love my staff!!!) The drive to the hospital was about an hour and fifteen minutes and we made it to St. Agnes’ (in Baltimore) in plenty of time (around 8:00). I hopped out of the car, thanked my ride profusely and entered the building. A very nice staff member of St. Agnes’ hospital checked me in and within about 45 minutes I was in the pre-op room being prepared. A pre-op nurse took my history and security took away my “valuables” (cell phone, wallet, checkbook, and keys). After about 30 minutes, various doctors visited me—the surgical residence with a medical student in tow, the anesthesiologist, the surgery nurses etc. My surgeon also popped in and had me sign off on a final waiver. We chatted and he assured me that all would go well. My nerves were in okay shape but not great. I’m a single Mom so I kept thinking about my 2 ½ year old daughter and what would happen if something went wrong. Silly, but true. At one point, when I was being given some of the first meds for the operation, there were about three or people in the room all looking at me, and, I must admit, for some reason (the drugs?) I felt sort of weepy. I kept flashing onto my daughter singing “Twinkle, twinkle little star” and that made me tear up a bit. The nurses kept assuring me that it was normal to be nervous and that all would be fine. Well, I don’t remember too much more after that except being wheeled into the O.R. Waking up, I felt groggy but I knew to expect that after reading all the surgery day stories on this forum! I felt some pain but it wasn’t too horrible. I had requested that I have the post-op x-ray on the same day as my surgery so I could check out earlier the next day (since I was depending on the kindness of a stranger, I wanted to get out as soon as possible). So, very soon after waking up, I went up to x-ray and had the post-op swallow test. Apparently all was well because I was allowed to “eat” later that day. The rest of the day was spent in my room going between periods of sleep and restlessness. I had about 4-5 episodes of EXTREME nausea which was much worse than any of the pain that I had. I never actually vomited but came close a few times. The nausea actually made the pain worse because of the strain on the surgery site when “heaving”. Ugh. It was gross. I was also worried during those episodes because they talk about the band slipping due to vomiting but (I guess) that didn’t happen. Later the nurse told me that maybe the pain medicine was causing some of my nausea so I stopped “hitting the button.” The nausea really sucked. During the night I must have gotten up about 5-6 times to pee, so it was an extremely restless night. Early the next morning, I felt pretty shitty. I was in lots of pain and had worries about getting nauseous again (which never happened, thank goodness). About mid-morning though, I started feeling better and I was able to walk about 5 times around the halls (pretty short jaunts really) while waiting for my discharge. I was visited by the surgical resident and medical student but not by my surgeon which I think is somewhat odd. I wonder if that is typical… I wanted to check out of the hospital as soon as possible because I knew that my ride home was on his way and I didn’t want to inconvenience him anymore than I had too (he was already driving 1 ½ hours to pick me up). I had been told at the pre-op seminar that check out would probably be around 10-11, but, of course, that didn’t happen. My ride arrived and we ended up sitting in my room for a good hour and a half waiting for my discharge orders. I kept apologizing to him, but he was a true Southern Maryland gentleman and tutted away my concern. FINALLY, I was discharged around 12:30 but it was more like 1:30 before we finally got out of there since I had to stop by the pharmacy to get a few prescriptions. The ride home wasn’t too bad. I had my pillow as advised by my fellow forum members and, for some reason, the bumps in the road didn’t really bother me that much. About two hours after being dropped off, I climbed into my car to pick up my daughter from day care. Luckily, it is only five minutes away, but I was nervous driving. It turned out to be fine. She was glad to see me after spending the night with her day care provider. I’ve been home a few days now and every day I’m feeling better. I’ve had a hard time getting in and out of bed (pain) and adjusting to the liquid only diet. I actually do feel some hunger but find that a few swallows of soup or Protein drink or even Water will assuage it. I’ve been having terrible headaches. I’m not sure if they are from caffeine deprivation, high blood pressure or dehydration. Anyway, today, three days after surgery, I feel like I’m at about 60%. That’s not too bad.

TWO DAYS! Literally. BCBS.

Tomorrow's my surgery (October 7th). Starting to feel nervous. Wish me luck!

My shoe size doesn't go up and down but, when I'm fat, I need a "W" (for "wide") and a lot of shoes don't fit but not because of the length but the "roundedness" of my feet, if you know what I mean.

Protica: 3.2 fl. oz. Profect Vials - 50g Protein per vial (two, 25g servings) Only 3.2 ounces and 50 g of protein Protica - Product Catalog

If all goes well, I'm having my surgery on the 7th of October (Tuesday). I plan on going back to work the following Tuesday (after the long holiday weekend). So I'm missing four days of work. I've heard that some people have the surgery on a Friday and go back on Monday, but others say 2 weeks was necessary!

Okay everyone! I heard you. I will try to arrange something. I'm going to throw myself on the mercy of my co-workers, and, if that doesn't work out, I'll look into getting a car service. It is sort of a drag since I live in a rural area and the hospital is an hour (or more) away, but hopefully someone (or more than one) will be willing to help. I hate to use a car service (although I will if forced) because, frankly, I've had bad experiences in the past with reliability. But one does what one must, eh?

Hmm. I wonder what I'm going to do then. I live an hour's drive from the hospital and don't really have a support group to help me. Us solitary types are at a disadvantage, that's for sure. I'd hate to drive to the hospital and have to leave my car there.

Hello all! Well, I'm in a bit of a shock. I finally completed my required 6 months of supervised dieting and sent in my insurance information on Tuesday of this week. When I faxed it over, I thought to myself, "Well, it will take awhile to get approved--I probably won't be able to have the surgery for at least a month or six weeks." No. I get a call on Thursday, "You're approved! When do you want the surgery?" So, exactly two weeks after submitting my paperwork to the insurance company, I'm getting my surgery--October 7th! I don't even know if I'm emotionally ready for it. First there was the shock, then some dread, but today, only one day later, I'm starting to feel excited! I'm happy to be a member of the October brigade!

October 7th here! Very soon....

After staying overnight, did the hosptial require you to have someone drive you home? I'm planning on driving myself there and back but someone was saying that the hospital might not release me if I'm driving myself! (I was thinking, "What are they going to do--handcuff me?") Anyway, what was your experience?

October 7th for me too! I posted a separate thread because I was so excited.

Wow, that is going to be hard. My surgery isn't for another 6 weeks or so, so I'll need to start training my 2 1/2 year old now to get into her car seat, etc without any help!

I'm also worried that I'll get denied even though I've actually done the 6 month "dieting" period (3 months with Weight Watchers and 3 months with Jenny Craig). I have BCBS too. I think it is weird how some BCBS offices don't require six months dieting and some do. If I'm not approved I'm not sure what I'll do. I need to lose 120 pounds. I think I can do some of that on my own, but permanent loss to goal? Probably not. I've done it before and gained most of it back. Hopefully both of us will get approval and get to move on with our lives!