MissCheryl

Hello all, I've been on this forum for a couple of months but just found this NC thread! I was banded on 3/3/09 in Denver CO with Dr.Kirshenbaum, I'm a self-payer and he has a great rate, not to mention he's the best doctor I've ever seen! So far I've lost about 22 pounds, I go back to Denver for my first fill this Tuesday the 7th. My husband of 30 years and I are originally form CA and moved to Morehead City about 5 years ago, we LOVE it here. So far the band has been SO easy, it will only get better after a fill. Hope everyone else is doing well, too! We in Eastern NC should get together sometime. Cheryl

CONGRATS! I have 8 more pounds to reach that milestone, but I'm ahead of you in another, we have our 30th in a month! GOOD FOR YOU!!!

Welcome Step68! This was the first message board I ever joined, too, it has been SO helpful! I had my surgery on March 3rd and I'm doing great. It's been so easy, it's hard to believe sometimes! I think the best advise to you all is to think positive, visualize good results and an easy recovery. Make sure you have everything you'll need at home before your surgery date. Keep up with your pain med's, even set the alarm at night so you don't miss a dose. Let yourself sleep the first couple of days, sleep on your back, of course, with lots of pillows under your knees, that will take the pressure off your stomach muscles. Good luck to you all, check back in and let us all know how you're doing and if you have any questions!

Hope your belly feels better soon, mine took about 6 days before I could say it wasn't sore anymore. Try liquid Tylenol if you don't want to take a narcotic. I know, the soup routine gets old. I also ate Greek yogurt, know it's not a true liquid but it melts in your mouth and has lots of protein. I found a great tasting protein powder on www.Vitacost.com, my favorite online store for vitamins and such, it's called Gold Standard Whey. It's quite a bit less expensive then others I've seen and has great ratings on the website. I've mixed a scoop of the chocolate with a package of sugar free hot choclotae mix for a real treat at night. The vanilla is good, too, and blends well with other flavors. Another favorite find is V8 Fusion Light, it's a vegtable/fruit juice drink really yummy and great ingredients, it comes in 3 flavors. Here's too us all, just think where we'll be NEXT March!

I just had my surgery with Dr. Jerry Kirshenbaum (lapbandrockies.com) on 3/3. I have NEVER been so impressed with a doctor, office staff or his hospital team. I flew all the way from NC because of his good name and reasonable prices for we self payers. Check him out, you won't be disappointed. There's a large thread with all of his happy clients in this forum, too. Good luck!

So how was your first day back to work? What kind of work do you do, how is everyone coping with returning to work? I'm so backed up from taking time off it's crazy, but it feels good to be productive, guess our bodies will tell us if we're overdoing it!

Congrats on your surgery! From everything I have read and what I've heard from every doctor you should NOT be drinking carbonated soda, EVER! It will stretch the new stomach area, kind of wastes why we do this surgery to begin with. I think it's probably even most dangerous as you are healing, ask your doctor.

Congrats on your surgery! I had mine on the 3rd and was able to sleep on my side on the 4th day, I think. Try putting a bunch of pillows under your knees when you're sleeping on your back, it will take the pressure off the stomach muscles and maybe you'll be able to sleep longer. I read that it's really cold liquids that make you hiccup, and that seems to be true with me. Also don't drink a bunch of Water and then lie down, or don't drink when half lying down, this will bring on the hiccups, too. Don't worry, these things go away pretty quickly and they'll all be a distant memory soon!Cheryl

Miss Can-Do, Yeah, It's been pretty easy, but each day has been different. The indigestion thing was no fun, it's like I needed to burp but couldn't. Chewable Pepcid AC has made a big difference. My stomach looks huge, even more huge than normal, feels like a balloon, guess it's the swelling around the stomach. Hardly any pain at all, just a twinge now and then. Put in a full day at work, it's a home based business so that's nice. I'm still catching up from being gone 6 days, worked hard but got through it. What a great tool, I'm very excited about the coming year!

Bernadette, Congrats on your surgery date, it will be here soon! As far as the pre-surgery diet, all doctors are different, who knows why. My doc, Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver CO has his patients go on a low carb diet for one or two weeks before surgery, the time frame depends on your starting BMI score. The goal is to get your liver less fatty before surgery, with laproscoptic surgery they need to move the liver out of the way and if it's too big they can't move it without doing an open procedure, which noboby wants. I think some surgeons don't think we have the will to stay on a low carb diet so they make them do the liquids instead. Hope that makes sense! Cheryl

Miss Can-Do, I'm SO glad to hear that your surgery went well, sounds like they gave you the liquid Versid early, good! Yeah, I'm 5 days out now and still feel a bit sore but nothing like I thought I'd feel. I do get indigestion, mostly in the mornings, I have to learn to drink my liquids more slowly. Yesterday was the first day I felt any hunger, had a 1/4 cup of tomato soup, boy was that yummy! It took away the hunger, hope it will always be this easy!

I got pretty nervous a few days before my surgery, we go through a lot of emotions, all totally normal! I did ask my surgeon for a Valium for the day of my surgery, you don't want to go under when you're that nervous, it REALLY helped.I had surgery yesterday and it was a breeze! Take some Gas-X strips in case you have gas pain, and walk around as soon as you can, it really helps. Bring a pillow so you can put it over your lap to keep it the seat belt off your belly. Be sure you have your house stocked with lots of juices and broth, enough for a few days so you won't have to go shopping. Most importantly is to think good thoughts, keep your mind clear of negative emotions. You'll do great, I'll be thinking of you!

I got pretty nervous a few days before my surgery, we go through a lot of emotions, all totally normal! I did ask my surgeon for a Valium for the day of my surgery, you don't want to go under when you're that nervous, it REALLY helped.I had surgery yesterday and it was a breeze! Take some Gas-X strips in case you have gas pain, and walk around as soon as you can, it really helps. Bring a pillow so you can put it over your lap to keep it the seat belt off your belly. Be sure you have your house stocked with lots of juices and br oth, enough for a few days so you won't have to go shopping. Most importantly is to think good thoughts, keep your mind clear of negative emotions. You'll do great, I'll be thinking of you!

Hello all! Had my surgery yesterday with the wonderful Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver. I have very little pain,mostly when standing or sitting down. Be sure to bring Gas-X strips to the hoppital, they really work, and get up and walk if you have the gas pain, it's scary at first to walk but right away you'll feel better. My doc does it out patient which is great, we're from 2000 miles away from Denver but have a great mini suite with a kitchen and sitting room with a sofa and dining table. It was nice to get into bed here without all the hospital noise. I suggest bringing earplugs if you spend the night in a hospital, you'll get much better sleep. So folks, this is easy-peasy, you can do it and think where we all will be next March!

ljlluv & addelapp5, WELCOME! We are all on our way, too cool!!!!

Thanks so much, it means so much to hear from others! I tell you, no one understands what we go through with this decision except those of us in the midst of it. I really knew it was an addiction when a girlfriend, who was an alcoholic, said "I would watch you when we go out and you'd nurse one drink all night, it amazed me! to which I replied "yeah, and when we go to lunch you automatically order the healthiest thing on the menu and then don't even finish it!" The big difference, of course, is that you can live all of your life without alcohol, gambling or drugs, but we have to face the table each day. Here's too we brave folks that have made this choice!

Yes! I keep thinking about where we March bander will be this time next year, it is very exciting! I'm a self payer going to Denver tomorrow to see the wonderful Dr. Kirshenbaum, so I'm packing today! Think good thoughts for me, I'll check-in soon.

Hello all! I'm just a few days off from surgery on 3/3. Has anyone experienced sadness about this whole thing. I guess I'm sad that I'm addicted to food and have to resort to surgery. I am also sad that I didn't have this done a long time ago, what a waste, so many diets, so much misery when you gain it back. I'm not saying that I regret this step it just makes me look back at all the time and effort put into weight loss over the years. Well, I do truly think this is the correct answer, it is the right tool for me. Guess there are all sort of emotions that come up. Anyone else feeling this way?

Hello all! My March 3rd date is coming up fast! So glad I found this forum, it's really given me lots of important info. Just think where we all will be one year from now!

My husband was against it, too. I started to talk about it over a year ago. He went on line and read about it. After a few days he said he really wished that I would try again, maybe try hypnosis. Let me add that he is overweight as well. He rarely puts his foot down with my wishes so I respected his opinion and gave it a year. Went to two different hypnotists, nothing. Lost some on my own but we all know that story, gained it back. I brought up the subject again a few months ago and told him that I tried it his way and now I want the band more than ever, he agreed. My surgery is 3/3 with Dr.Kirshenbaum in CO. It's sad but our spouses have as much baggage with our weight as we do, all different kinds. In the end we have to do what is best for us. Stand your ground and good luck!

Hello all, I have my surgery on March 3rd! I'm a self pay, too. I'm going with Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver CO., his website is: www.LapbandRockies.com He only charges $9999.00 and free fills for 3 months, after that I think they are $15. There's a huge section about him on this forum. So far everyone at the office and been really wonderful, I have had my phone consultation with Dr. K and will have one with the nutritionist next week. I know many of you have had a hard time with your insurance companies, check him out before you decide on Mexico. I'm in NC but it will actually be cheaper for me to fly to CO and spend the night than to go to a local Dr. for my fills. I'm reading a wonderful book on banding that I found on Amazon, it's called Weight Loss Surgery w/the Adjustable Gastric Band by Robert Sewell MD. Dr K. want his patients to read a book about the surgery before hand. Just think of where we will all be this time next year! So March Melters, here comes the best years of our lives!