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!