Janiece

I agree with Sue. I had surgery on 11/6 and I'm still wearing a light girdle (:thumbup:). It keeps my pants from rubbing on the port scar and helps keep the jiggling to a minimum.

I am pleasantly surprised to report that I am almost completely back to normal. I go back to work on Monday, and I'm really glad I took two weeks of STD to recover. I mostly slept and walked, but I think my body needed the break from the stress. Driving is still a little uncomfortable, but unfortunately I have a 45 minute commute. Hopefully it's not too bad. My incisions, with the except of the port one, are almost impossible to find. The port incision is the only one that still tingles occasionally. I'll post pics later this weekend. My boyfriend and I took a weekend trip to Ocean City, MD. I'm still on mushies, but l count crab legs and crab cakes as mushies! This is definitely the hardest phase for me, b/c I can rationalize that everything is a mushie (if I chew it enough). I'm scared of screwing up my surgeon's hard work though, so I'm not taking too much leeway. Question: Any lunch suggestions? I'm going to end up with mercury poisoning b/c I eat tuna, salmon, shrimp or some kind of seafood almost everyday. It's soft, and easily mushed with light mayo or italian dressing.

I am pleasantly surprised to report that I am almost completely back to normal. I go back to work on Monday, and I'm really glad I took two weeks of STD to recover. I mostly slept and walked, but I think my body needed the break from the stress. Driving is still a little uncomfortable, but unfortunately I have a 45 minute commute. Hopefully it's not too bad. My incisions, with the except of the port one, are almost impossible to find. The port incision is the only one that still tingles occasionally. I'll post pics later this weekend. My boyfriend and I took a weekend trip to Ocean City, MD. I'm still on mushies, but l count crab legs and crab cakes as mushies! This is definitely the hardest phase for me, b/c I can rationalize that everything is a mushie (if I chew it enough). I'm scared of screwing up my surgeon's hard work though, so I'm not taking too much leeway. Question: Any lunch suggestions? I'm going to end up with mercury poisoning b/c I eat tuna, salmon, shrimp or some kind of seafood almost everyday. It's soft, and easily mushed with light mayo or italian dressing.

I think we made it 4 days. I put pillows under my hips to make it a better angle so he wouldn't lean over me and rub on my port. :redface: sorry if TMI .

I had the first post-op appointment this morning and I was moved up to soft foods 5 days early! Thank God. I was SO hungry the last few days. I also received some pics from the surgery that I will post later today. Dr Pinnar reviewed the pictures with me and I'm so hungry b/c there's a large gap between my stomach and the band since it's empty and I don't have much fat around my stomach. He said my first fill in a few weeks will probably be pretty aggressive to help close that gap. I'm off to search for the best refried beans around to have for lunch! :biggrin:

I had the first post-op appointment this morning and I was moved up to soft foods 5 days early! Thank God. I was SO hungry the last few days. I also received some pics from the surgery that I will post later today. Dr Pinnar reviewed the pictures with me and I'm so hungry b/c there's a large gap between my stomach and the band since it's empty and I don't have much fat around my stomach. He said my first fill in a few weeks will probably be pretty aggressive to help close that gap. I'm off to search for the best refried beans around to have for lunch! :thumbup:

I started writing this 2 days ago. I am suck a slacker! I can't believe I had LAP-BAND® surgery 5 days ago! Hospital: I had my surgery at the Reston Hospital. The pre-op staff was great. They kept me mildly entertained and tried to tell jokes to keep my mind off everything. My boyfriend almost fainted when they were trying to find a vein for the IV. It took them 3 tries but they finally found one (Apparently I have small, rolling veins...). After the anesthesiologist and Dr Robert Pinnar came in and left. I had about 10 minutes alone with my boyfriend before they wheeled me out. Those were the worst 10 minutes ever! Tears just started leaking out of my eyes. They wheeled me into the operating room, asked me to move over to the other bed, and I don't remember anything after that. I am disappointed with the post op nurses b/c no one seemed to know anything! They'd bring me some pills, I'd ask if this pill was too big and she'd be like "hold on, I'll go ask". Then she'd come back an hour later for her rounds, I'd ask if I could take the pill, and she'd just say 'yes' with no further explanation. I don't think any of them were familiar with bariatric surgery. In the morning, I waiting around for 3 hours for some Dr to come and discharge me. Eventually a nurse came in and said I could be discharged. I told her that the Dr never even came in and saw me! She just said to sign the papers, take my prescriptions and I could leave. So basically I was waiting around for nothing. Pain: From some of the stories here, I was expecting to be in excruciating pain. I guess I am lucky. I really haven't been in any pain. :confused: When I woke up in post-op, my incisions were stinging but that's the most pain I've felt. Since then it's been mostly discomfort and pressure under my diaphragm and gas. I spent the first night in the hospital and asked for the IV pain meds only when I was trying to go to sleep b/c I just couldn't seem to get comfortable. I took the percocets the next two nights when I came home. I probably didn't need them, but get into bed and trying to shove pillows around and get comfortable was a little painful. Scars: I think my scars are going to completely disappear. They look great already. one weird thing: my port is in the middle above my belly button! I thought everyone had theirs to the right btwn their waist and bust? I'll ask my Dr about this at my post op appt. I'll put pictures in an album. Overall, I'm mostly just tired. I've slept 10 hour nights for the last few days. I'm a little bored, but I'm glad I took off two weeks from work. There's no way I could make the 45 minute commute and my temper is still a little short b/c I want more than crappy protein shakes!

I started writing this 2 days ago. I am suck a slacker! I can't believe I had LAP-BAND® surgery 5 days ago! :confused: Hospital: I had my surgery at the Reston Hospital. The pre-op staff was great. They kept me mildly entertained and tried to tell jokes to keep my mind off everything. My boyfriend almost fainted when they were trying to find a vein for the IV. It took them 3 tries but they finally found one (Apparently I have small, rolling veins...). After the anesthesiologist and Dr Robert Pinnar came in and left. I had about 10 minutes alone with my boyfriend before they wheeled me out. Those were the worst 10 minutes ever! Tears just started leaking out of my eyes. They wheeled me into the operating room, asked me to move over to the other bed, and I don't remember anything after that. I am disappointed with the post op nurses b/c no one seemed to know anything! They'd bring me some pills, I'd ask if this pill was too big and she'd be like "hold on, I'll go ask". Then she'd come back an hour later for her rounds, I'd ask if I could take the pill, and she'd just say 'yes' with no further explanation. I don't think any of them were familiar with bariatric surgery. In the morning, I waiting around for 3 hours for some Dr to come and discharge me. Eventually a nurse came in and said I could be discharged. I told her that the Dr never even came in and saw me! She just said to sign the papers, take my prescriptions and I could leave. So basically I was waiting around for nothing. Pain: From some of the stories here, I was expecting to be in excruciating pain. I guess I am lucky. I really haven't been in any pain. :confused: When I woke up in post-op, my incisions were stinging but that's the most pain I've felt. Since then it's been mostly discomfort and pressure under my diaphragm and gas. I spent the first night in the hospital and asked for the IV pain meds only when I was trying to go to sleep b/c I just couldn't seem to get comfortable. I took the percocets the next two nights when I came home. I probably didn't need them, but get into bed and trying to shove pillows around and get comfortable was a little painful. Scars: I think my scars are going to completely disappear. They look great already. one weird thing: my port is in the middle above my belly button! I thought everyone had theirs to the right btwn their waist and bust? I'll ask my Dr about this at my post op appt. I'll put pictures in an album. Overall, I'm mostly just tired. I've slept 10 hour nights for the last few days. I'm a little bored, but I'm glad I took off two weeks from work. There's no way I could make the 45 minute commute and my temper is still a little short b/c I want more than crappy protein shakes!

I have gas pain in my shoulder, but I think my biceps and wrists are sore from trying to move myself around without using my abs. Pushing off the sofa and pulling against my boyfriend to get up. . .

Good luck! Let us know how you're feeling when you're up to it!

Hey, I'm getting banded by Dr Robert Pinnar in Reston, Va. Anyone else a Dr Pinnar patient or getting banded the same day? It might be cool to stay in touch and have someone to talk to who's as miserable as I am! Strangely, I'm not that nervous. I'm sure I'll be a wreck tomorrow morning though!

I wish mine was outpatient. I'm young with no health problems and my Dr was going to send me home the same day, but my insurance said they would pay for the overnight stay. So, the Dr changed his mind and now I have to stay. :thumbup: Booooo! I'd much rather be miserable and in pain from the comfort of my own home!

Hey! My surgery is on Friday (11/6). I've been on the pre-op diet for 5 days. Congrats on your loss! So far, I'm down 11lbs. You're right, I don't think it gets easier. I'm on a liquid diet, and last night I was SO close to driving to the wegman's a buying a filet mignon :thumbup:. At the pre-op meeting, my nurse made the mistake of telling me that she knew I was probably going to cheat, and I should eat a lean meat instead of any carbs. Now, everyday I ask my boyfriend if I can have a steak yet. . .but he keeps saying no. That's why I keep him around!!:thumbup: So far, I've only accidentally cheated by having 3 skittles. I opened them for my nephew and I didn't even think about it when I popped them in my mouth. Hang in there! We're so close!

Hey! I'm on a 7 day liquid diet, and my surgery is on 11/6. Are you getting in a enough Protein? I honestly haven't been hungry since being on the liquids. I've definitely WANTED food that my boyfriend has been making for dinner, but that's because I know that his food tastes delicious and I'm stuck sucking down another chocolate shake for dinner. I'm sorry you have to cook. That's cruel and unusual punishment! I almost cried in the Trader Joe's yesterday b/c I was frustrated with their Soup selection and I had to walk past the 4 samples carts and say 'no thank you'. I am very impressed that you're cooking dinner and sticking to your liquids! Hang in there!

Surprisingly, I haven't really been that hungry since starting the high protein, low carb pre-op diet. Don't get me wrong, I would totally kill for a cheeseburger right now, but I'm not hungry. . .I just want a cheeseburger. My emotions are running wild right now. I'm glad I had the weekend to get used to the diet. I have a short fuse, and I've randomly bust into tears a few times. I went to the Trader Joe's with my boyfriend b/c I wanted to pick up those papaya/pineapple tablets and see what soups they had. They had a few sample carts cooking and it smelled really good in there. I was only mildly disappointed that I couldn't try them. Then some lady next to me on the soup aisle was talking to her son about how good the sweet potato bisque was. (I can't have that one b/c it has like 28g of carbs per serving). I don't know what happened, but all of a sudden my eyes welled up and I almost burst into tears in the middle of the store. I told my boyfriend I had to leave, paid for my stuff, and bawled in the car for 15 minutes until he finished shopping. I've read a few other posts about mourning the loss of food and I think that is definitely a part of it, but I think one of the biggest reasons I'm so emotional is b/c I don't have anyone to talk to about everything I'm feeling regarding the band: the surgery, life afterwards, being embarrassed that I even need a band, etc. My boyfriend is the only person who knows I'm getting the surgery (for now). I love him for trying to stay interested in what I'm doing, but he's never weighed more than 150lbs and has no idea what I'm going through. Anyway, I only have to make it through 4 more days. I'm really nervous about the actual surgery (I'm just a nervous person. I worry about everything!) so I'm just trying to keep it together and wrap up everything at work over the next 4 days. :smile: No work for two weeks! At least I have that to look forward to!

Surprisingly, I haven't really been that hungry since starting the high protein, low carb pre-op diet. Don't get me wrong, I would totally kill for a cheeseburger right now, but I'm not hungry. . .I just want a cheeseburger. My emotions are running wild right now. I'm glad I had the weekend to get used to the diet. I have a short fuse, and I've randomly bust into tears a few times. I went to the Trader Joe's with my boyfriend b/c I wanted to pick up those papaya/pineapple tablets and see what soups they had. They had a few sample carts cooking and it smelled really good in there. I was only mildly disappointed that I couldn't try them. Then some lady next to me on the soup aisle was talking to her son about how good the sweet potato bisque was. (I can't have that one b/c it has like 28g of carbs per serving). I don't know what happened, but all of a sudden my eyes welled up and I almost burst into tears in the middle of the store. I told my boyfriend I had to leave, paid for my stuff, and bawled in the car for 15 minutes until he finished shopping. I've read a few other posts about mourning the loss of food and I think that is definitely a part of it, but I think one of the biggest reasons I'm so emotional is b/c I don't have anyone to talk to about everything I'm feeling regarding the band: the surgery, life afterwards, being embarrassed that I even need a band, etc. My boyfriend is the only person who knows I'm getting the surgery (for now). I love him for trying to stay interested in what I'm doing, but he's never weighed more than 150lbs and has no idea what I'm going through. Anyway, I only have to make it through 4 more days. I'm really nervous about the actual surgery (I'm just a nervous person. I worry about everything!) so I'm just trying to keep it together and wrap up everything at work over the next 4 days. No work for two weeks! At least I have that to look forward to!

Really? I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!

I am such a slacker with updating. I'm so busy trying to get everything taken care of before surgery, but I know I'm going to regret not being able to look back on these posts! My surgery date is 11/6.:smile2: I'm still kind of in shock that I'm getting banded in 10 days! I originally started looking into the band last year, so it's crazy to me that I'm actually going to get one now. I had my preop appointment yesterday. I told Sue I was a nervous wreck even though the surgery is so far away, but she said that she would be worried if I wasn't worried. That makes me feel a lot better. I found out that Aetna will pay for an overnight stay. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I understand it's better to be there in case something happens but I would much rather be miserable at home. At least at the Reston Hospital all the rooms are private. I love my boyfriend so much.:boink: He's going to spend the night with me there b/c he knows I'm upset that I have to stay. We only live 5 minutes from the hospital and it's kinda silly for him to stay, but I appreciate it! I've been buying supplies like a fiend. I've decided that none of the protein shakes are good so I'm going to stop wasting my money. They're all either milky, chalky, smelly, or something. I only have a 7 day preop diet, so I'll just drink what I have and deal with it. The only thing left on my list to buy (for the moment) is pajamas. I am SO not wandering around the hospital with my butt hanging out of that gown! I'm most confused about the financing part. I called Aetna, and she said my out-of-network out-of-pocket maximum is $2000 + $300 deductible. I don't think insurance covers the $2500 program fee from my doctor's office though. So I took out a Care Credit loan for $5000 and hopefully that will be enough. I have yet to see a bill from anyone but if I show up for surgery and everyone is expecting a check I want to be prepared! I'm also confused about the short-term disability at work. Does anyone else work for Booz Allen Hamilton? I know they cover it, but the process is a little weird. I plan to take 2 weeks off b/c the environment is very dramatic on client-site and if I'm grumpy, hungry and in pain, I won't be able to grin and bear it as well as I do now! I start the preop diet on 11/30 which is messed up b/c I can't have any Halloween candy (but my boyfriend and I already ate a couple bags we bought a few weeks ago, so I guess I'll be fine. :wink:). I'm not too concerned about the liquids, I'll do what I have to do to make it easy on my surgeon, but I am worried about the headaches. I've done other diets and the drastic change in calories gives me ridiculous headaches. I think Sue said tylenol was the only pain killer I can take. I'll call and confirm that. It's lunchtime so I need to figure out what to go get. I know this sounds weird, but it's almost a relief that I'm going to be on liquids. It's so exhausting for me to decide where to go, what to get, what size, etc everyday for lunch and try to eat healthily, then hate myself when I just end up getting a burger and fries.

I am such a slacker with updating. I'm so busy trying to get everything taken care of before surgery, but I know I'm going to regret not being able to look back on these posts! My surgery date is 11/6.:scared2: I'm still kind of in shock that I'm getting banded in 10 days! I originally started looking into the band last year, so it's crazy to me that I'm actually going to get one now. I had my preop appointment yesterday. I told Sue I was a nervous wreck even though the surgery is so far away, but she said that she would be worried if I wasn't worried. That makes me feel a lot better. I found out that Aetna will pay for an overnight stay. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I understand it's better to be there in case something happens but I would much rather be miserable at home. At least at the Reston Hospital all the rooms are private. I love my boyfriend so much.:wub: He's going to spend the night with me there b/c he knows I'm upset that I have to stay. We only live 5 minutes from the hospital and it's kinda silly for him to stay, but I appreciate it! I've been buying supplies like a fiend. I've decided that none of the protein shakes are good so I'm going to stop wasting my money. They're all either milky, chalky, smelly, or something. I only have a 7 day preop diet, so I'll just drink what I have and deal with it. The only thing left on my list to buy (for the moment) is pajamas. I am SO not wandering around the hospital with my butt hanging out of that gown! I'm most confused about the financing part. I called Aetna, and she said my out-of-network out-of-pocket maximum is $2000 + $300 deductible. I don't think insurance covers the $2500 program fee from my doctor's office though. So I took out a Care Credit loan for $5000 and hopefully that will be enough. I have yet to see a bill from anyone but if I show up for surgery and everyone is expecting a check I want to be prepared! I'm also confused about the short-term disability at work. Does anyone else work for Booz Allen Hamilton? I know they cover it, but the process is a little weird. I plan to take 2 weeks off b/c the environment is very dramatic on client-site and if I'm grumpy, hungry and in pain, I won't be able to grin and bear it as well as I do now! I start the preop diet on 11/30 which is messed up b/c I can't have any Halloween candy (but my boyfriend and I already ate a couple bags we bought a few weeks ago, so I guess I'll be fine. ). I'm not too concerned about the liquids, I'll do what I have to do to make it easy on my surgeon, but I am worried about the headaches. I've done other diets and the drastic change in calories gives me ridiculous headaches. I think Sue said tylenol was the only pain killer I can take. I'll call and confirm that. It's lunchtime so I need to figure out what to go get. I know this sounds weird, but it's almost a relief that I'm going to be on liquids. It's so exhausting for me to decide where to go, what to get, what size, etc everyday for lunch and try to eat healthily, then hate myself when I just end up getting a burger and fries.

I'm scheduled for Nov 6th. I just got all me pre-op testing done and I have the pre-op visit on 10/26. Now I just need to figure out what my out-of-pocket cost will be.

My BMI is 44 but I don't have an comorbidities. I just had weights from 08 and 09 too. I did the 3 month program and they approved me. Good luck!

I'm going to be banded (hopefully) on November 6th by Dr Robert Pinnar. :scared2: I'm freaking out already. If anyone lives nearby and is getting the band soon, PM me. It would be nice to have someone I can meet in person who knows what I'm going through.

I switched to the other Dr Pinnar (Robert) in Reston, VA. I have nothing against Dr Eric Pinnar, I just feel more comfortable with Robert Pinnar and his staff. They seem more down to earth and like a family. Anyway, after doing the 3 month pre-surgical program, Sue called and said there was a problem. Aetna said they wanted me to see the doctor every week during the 3 months, not just once a month, which meant I'd have to start all over. Sue said she'd call the Aetna person back and see what was going on. Today she left a message with my insurance approval number! I don't know what happened and I don't care. I called back to set a date but she's out until Monday. That's kinda bogus that no one else can do scheduling. I'm counting down the minutes until I can call and set a date. Very, very exciting!:biggrin:

I switched to the other Dr Pinnar (Robert) in Reston, VA. I have nothing against Dr Eric Pinnar, I just feel more comfortable with Robert Pinnar and his staff. They seem more down to earth and like a family. Anyway, after doing the 3 month pre-surgical program, Sue called and said there was a problem. Aetna said they wanted me to see the doctor every week during the 3 months, not just once a month, which meant I'd have to start all over. Sue said she'd call the Aetna person back and see what was going on. Today she left a message with my insurance approval number! I don't know what happened and I don't care. I called back to set a date but she's out until Monday. That's kinda bogus that no one else can do scheduling. I'm counting down the minutes until I can call and set a date. Very, very exciting!:thumbup:

lol. It stands for time of the month