singingintherain

I do find that the periods of tiredness come and go throughout the day and I have to nap. No pain for me now..just sore upon waking. Can't say I have any difficulties such as the severe shoulder pain some go through from gas. I think getting through this liquid diet stage is going to be the toughest thing. Especially while watching tv and seeing the food commercials!

Yay! I just realized as I was heating up some broth that I am caffeine free! I was a huge addict. I must say that my bowel feels a lot better without it too! I have some carrot juice in the fridge and think I will try a tiny bit of that mid week. I like the idea of a clam broth for variety from chicken and beef broth..didn't think of that. It is going on my shopping list. No pain. Sore upon waking, though. Took a nice shower this a.m. Gas is being released..finally..in day 4.

Is the egg drop soup from a chinese restaurant, or home made? Never had it. Is it slimy in texture?

Liquids liquids and more liquids..glucernas, popsicles, protein water, crystal light, and clear broth..all are more than I can handle today. It is difficult not feeling stuffed having a glucerna even over the space of an hour!

Napping and sipping. I get filled fast, but I can't get Jello down..sticks in the 'pipe' no matter how slow I go. Maybe tomorrow. Now I know what you all were talking about when you mentioned that 'warning' signal your stomach and esophagus give when there is too much in there! So far it's only 1/2 glucerna at a time and some home made sugar free popsicles. Gonna try some broth at lunchtime along with decaf green tea. Funny...right now I weigh more than when I went in because of the bloating, etc. This is healing time for me. So I sip my liquids and knit and nap and take a stroll around the house.

Home the same day! I must say that I did miss my own bed, but stayed overnight, even tough they wanted to have me satay another night too!. I am trying some shakes..very slowly and they seem to be very filling right now. I can only drink 1/2 Glucerna at a time..4 oz. I tried Jello, but have a tough time with that. Perhaps I am eating it too fast, but I can feel it sitting in my 'pipe'. So I will forgo the Jello for now. I made some freezer pops and they are good too. For lunch today I am trying some broth, 1/2 Glucerna, and my usual medications and vitamins. I weigh more now than when I went in because of all the gas, I guess. I am real bloated, but not in pain. You have your Hubby as a great helper..be nice to him LOL!

Just got in the door and feel like a water balloon. Procedure went fast and easy. Recovery is going well, but the ache and gas are still there. Off to bed now to get some more rest.

Just got in the house from having my Band placed yesterday by the Good Doc Robnson! Everything went well. Loved the private room and the nurses! Call me the Oxy Queen right now. I am off to bed and feel like a water balloon!

OK. I gotta vent. If I don;t let it out, my blood pressure'll go sky high and tomorrow will be a 'no go'. So... I like the Brigh/Faulkner. I like my Surgeon, Dr Robinson and I trust his expertise. I really like the support group at the Brigham although I have yet to attend the smaller one at the Faulkner. Having said all that... here's the vent: Why is it easier to reach a live person regarding my Verizon residential land line phone(and we all know how difficult that is)...why is it easier to get them to pick up than getting a live person at Dr Robinson's office to answer a call. One can call for DAYS and get an answering machine each time regardless the time of day! If a message is left, the call is NEVER returned(I have only had 1 returned). That is not good. It's wrong. It's wrong . It's wrong. Not only is it wrong,It is very unprofessional for a Surgeon;s office and totally unacceptable for a Hospital with the reputation of the Brigham/Faulkner. I am not a happy camper regarding this on the day before my procedure. What if a health issue arrises? I guess it's "go to the ER..let them deal with it". Thanks for listening.

Hi tinywishes! With this pre-op I am trying to fight hunger. I don't know what I am gonna do about tv. The commercials are so enticing..think I will have to hit the library more. No joke. I have the Ali book and have it ready to tote along to the hospital tomorrow. Yep Tomorrow is my Banding Day. 5:30 at Faulkner bright and early. It looks like a very good book..about someone's journey rather than explanation of procedure only. Well, the board IS quiet. I had given up on this thread because I was getting the reputation of the Posting Queen LOL. Glad to see someone else posting here. Keep on fightin' that hunger. (Don't ya hate that gnawing..it gets on my nerves.) BTW..Yesterday Dr R had a student in the room went I went in for my pre-op visit with him. Did any students participate in your procedure or just certified members of the team? Funny story...I had surgery a few years ago. The Resident assisting the surgeon came in after the operation and asked if he could check the incisions. After he took a peek, he had no clue as to what to do now they were uncovered. He looks at me, shrugs and says "I guess I should not have done that"!!!!! That's the reason I am asking that question, not because I watch too much Grey's Anatomy! LOL

The day is almost here! Speaking of freexer pops...Yesterday I got some fruit juice pops, and I just came in from the local drig store chain and found some Pedialite Pops mentioned here on the board. Those in particular are supposed to help with keeping one hydrated. They are in the Baby Aisle. I have been trying to get used to sugar free...Crystal Lite especially, but I get the 'runs' something awful. I have made some jello in the fridge out of half sugar free and half regular. Somehow I can't tolerate milk or sugar substitutes.

when did you have your procedure?

Getting ready to go in tomorrow. Cleaning the house, stocking up on liquids, etc. Gotta be there at 5:30 a.m. I would love to know if there are any on the forum getting ready to be Banded tomorrow morning Thurs May 28th. ....How are you preparing? RU Ready? Give a shout out!

I can honestly saya that I have had many many questions answered, not by talking to a professional or attending a lecture, but by chatting with those who are living with the Band and know the experience first hand..positives, negatives, glitches, as well as boost in self esteem and well being as they head towards their goal, one fill at a time!!! This board has been key. Call me the posting queen! LOL Thanks tinywishes for recommending that book. I do own the one written by the Surgeon at Beth Israel..and it was informative as was the lecture at the facilities. HOWEVER...this seems to be a book by one who is LIVING with the Band. I just reserved a copy at the library, and will be reading it next week as I go in to the Faulkner. I just came in the door from Pre-Op. So far, so good. Keep on keepin' on! We start each day anew.

It is an x-ray of your alimentary canal or digestive track. They give you some barium liquid to swallow and as you are flat on a table, they watch it going down through the esophagus and into the stomach. Not a bad test at all.

I would DEFINITELY tell the doctor about the seizures and the medication..not something to be quiet about with anesthesia. IMO. Others will jump in with some information on their journeys towards being banded as the evening progresses and folks get home from work.

Sleep study and psych eval are not there, but nutritionist , dr and upper GI can be, I believe. Consolidating the appts to one location where possible may slow down the process. I went for my sleep study in Medford, my psych at the oldWomen's Lying In Hosp, my appts with Dr R at Brigh and Faulkner , my initial info meeting at Brigh and my upper GI (required) at Brigh ..some on same day. I had 3 on one day... the upper GI at the Brigh, then walked past Children's Hospital to the Wonen's Lying In for the psych, and then went in the afternoon to Faulkner for the nutritionist.

I went to the meeting in January and pushed to have it done as soon as possible which was in May. It all depends on the surgeon's schedule and also the openings for appointments for a psych eval, nutritionist consult, initial surgical consult,sleep study etc. The insurance is usually all set before the appts...HP is fast. re sleep study: if you don't tell the dr at the initial consult that you snore or have any problems sleeping, chances are that you won't have to have one. Don't mention snoring like I did!

Hi ! I am scheduled to be banded next week. I also have Harvard Pilgrim and they approve within a very short time. I wouldn't worry with your cholesterol and BMI..especially if the Bariatric surgeon says that you qualify. I am having it done with Dr Malcolm Robinson at the Faulkner and he is known and reported to be one of the BEST! Scheduling is rather slow, though in the Brigham/Faulkner program, so you have to make many calls to get your appointments scheduled. I found that it was not a question of my being approved, but a secretarial matter. You will find it almost impossible to get an appt for surgery with Dr Vernon. Dr Robinson and Dr Lautz are really good. The info meetings are very informative with slides and talk by a surgeon, someone from finance talking on insurance, etc, and a nutritionist...all make a great presentation. Questions from the audience are plentiful and they encourage questions. I wish you the BEST! Let us know how you make out.

Glad to hear you are on the mend! Carnation has milk...are you Lactose Intol? If so, there is a liquid Carnation which is totally Lactose free. I ordered unjury powder(unflavored) to add to my Glucernas after procedure because I don't want to have thinning hair as some do. It is thin enough already! I am supplementing also with Biotin. I also find that Crystal Light causes D in some, myself included..it's the sugar substitutes. Are you drinking a lot of Aspartame or the like?

Congrats! You are now officially BANDED!!!!! I am glad to hear that you are so up-beat the day after, and feeling better. ' You mentioned 'painful'. Where was the pain you were experiencing and what did you take for it? Are you in pain today? I go one week from Thursday and am so afraid of abdominal pain...!

THIS Tuesday's Brigham Support Meeting scheduled for MAY 19th will be in another room for that night only: Duncan Reid Conference Room directions: * enter through 75 Francis St *take escalator to 2nd fl *turn rt, past gift shop onto the hallway called THE PIKE *take exit 3 off the pike, on your right , and proceed past elevators *take 1st rt, the Duncun Reid Conf Room is at the end of the hallway directly ahead ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just remembered and thought I'd post it for anyone planning to attend.

Someone on another board said that Unjury was not suggested because it made you vomit. Has anyone found Unjury to swell when mixed in liquid? Did it make you vomit? I was thinking of getting the unflavored to add to my Glucerna shakes on post op diet.

Yay! You made it through successfully. No doubt you are feeling rotten and in pain. I have had surgeries in the past and each time I had those regrets for a day or 2 and then they subside and life goes on anew! Take it easy. I have not been banded yet, but I know some of the others who have will jump in and offer suggestions about the gas pain. Did you request pain and anti nausea meds before you had your procedure or after you experienced the pain and discomfort? I had it thru IV during my last procedure and pre-requested it. I wonder if the Brigh/Faulkner does that.

The Office came through! Got my dates, got my times. HOUSTON, WE'RE GOOD TO GO!