K8_MA

Hey thinking- I went for my second fill today and DR.R didn't do my fill the blonde lady did [i think shes russian?] anywho- she was AMAZING! she got it on the first try and she was so delicate. I told her how bad Dr.R was at filling me and she said she will do mine from now on. So needless to say there was NO pain. I had zero restriction the first fill, which was 4 ccs. I got 2 more ccs for a total of 6 so we will see how my restriction is. Ive eaten soup today and could eat it ok and had nice restriction/felt full. I had not lost weight since my last fill [the no restriction and hurt knee was not helping] but atleast i didn't gain. Im really excited for this second fill and seeing how it will work with my everyday eating after this post liquid fill stage. I NEED to make it to the brigham meeting. I live a 5 minute walk from there so its the easiest for me to go to. I also think that going to the meeting will give me the extra nudge i need to keep this going! sorry I have been MIA--last semester of undergrad school/applying to grad school is taking up soo much time! ps. also Dr.R was late again. My appointment was at 815 am and i didnt see him until 850. Im glad the other dr did my fill at 830 so i wasn't waiting with anxiety for Dr.R good luck to all

I was planning on going tonight but ever since last night I have had MASSIVE pains in my stomach. I feel really bloated and my belly looks huge (even though I am still losing and haven't gained weight-I weighed myself this am). It is getting me nervous. I may wait it out and if it is still bad tomorrow I may call the Dr.s office. I just took 2 gas x strips and took some tums. I am hoping that those will help. This may be TMI for some people but I have noticed that my bowel movement have been very different the past few days - aka not as much as I usually do. The gas pains are as painful/uncomfortable as when I first had surgery. A hot shower helped - I hope it goes away. :cursing: I'll have to wait until next month to go to the meetings.

So I had my fill this am and I'm going to lie it was SO painful. First he showed up at 845 and my appointment was at 830 and there was some poor woman who was there since 8am waiting for him - then it took him 7 tries to find my port. He pressed down so hard SO many times and kept sticking the needle in. It hurts to sit :thumbup: He said it will be better when I lose more weight but I never heard of anyone having this happen. I guess its motivation to lose ALOT of weight before my next fill. AHH I am also very nervous thinking that he may have missed the port. I wont know until next time when he hopefully checks to make sure the 4cc he put in is still there. Let me know if anyone else went through anything like this. Dr. R did my fill.

Heidib - I just checked on the website and its the third tuesday. of the month. Im going to try to make it then. I hope I can meet some of you. I am going for my first fill tomorrow AM (Oct 6). I am very nervous/excited because I need a fill ASAP. Hope all is well. ttys k8 :thumbup:

Hey all -- Sorry I have been MIA. I hope everyone is doing well. So my weight loss is slow but atleast its coming off. I have been going to the gym and was feeling great until my knee started acting up. I had 2 knee surgeries 7 yrs ago and NOW it decides to act up again. So i bought a sweet hinged knee brace with patella support -- ahh! I've been good at the gym - not killing myself but getting in at least one hour of cardio a day. I can't wait ti get filled. Almost ANYTHING can go down. I still really can't eat alot but nothing gets stuck. Tuesday oct 6 is my first fill. Is it painful? Im a wee bit nervous about that. SHould I do/take anything in preparation? When in the next meeting at Brigham? Is anyone planning on going? K8

On telling people - I only told a few people. My boyfriend whom i've been with for 6yrs so I had no gripes about telling him and he was excited - said the usually I dont think you need it you are beautiful but if you want it I am ok with it. I had to tell my best friend in the whole world who came with me to almost all of my appointments. She just moved to paris for 6 months so she couldnt be there for my surgery, I was sad but we skyped! [My goal is to lose weight for paris! im going over thanksgiving!!!!:frown: My mom and dad knew of course since Im only 23. My roommate is a pharmacist and I am extremely close with her. I have another roommate but we decided she shouldnt know because she tells her boyfriend everything. its good too because when my eating habits change I can have my roommate there and she wont question anything. She is also very very fit and healthy and is a great work out buddy. Lastly I told my marathon running friend who will be my personal trainer when I get back to school. When I told her she screamed in excitement. My mom had told her best friend whom i was going to tell after which I am ok with because she wont tell anyone and is a really great friend. So Its not like I told EVERYONE but I def picked and chose whom I thought would be the best help for me. For me I need friends to go through this ride with me and I wouldnt change that. secondly, It has been almost a week since surgery and I can NOT drink anything more than 3 ounces and only sometimes can have a 6 ounce lipton cup of soup. I get ridiculously full. I still feel acidy and gassy. I got gas-x strips and tums quick pak instant dissolve powder which help but I still cant eat/drink more. Is this normal?? It kinda gets me nervous. My port suture is still a wee bit painful it looks pseudo like a hack job haha I hope it doesnt heal ugly. goood luck meg on your surgery!!!!

Thinking - Well I was banded august 27 and am going out with some friends for trivia night on this wednesday - sept. 2. I have been to this place before and looked at the menu and they have broth soups. My friends never ask, "Why aren't you eating?" if I say im not hungry. My bf is going and he knows I got this done so I will feel better. Im pretty excited to go out though. I feel alot better than the first day but def not yet to go "normal" BUT everyday when I wake up I feel 100% better than the day before. Ill let you know after [if plans dont fizzle out, which they sometimes do] how I feel and what not. Good luck with your journey. :biggrin: k8 :blushing:

megan - I barely lost anything on my pre-op and he did surgery. He said surgery went really well. You will most def have to stay if you have dr. R for a surgeon. I called wednesday to see when I had to come in. I came in to faulkner at 600 am and was in surgery at about 8. My mom and dad came with me. right before surgery they ask you questions [nothing you havent heard yet or answered yet] they give you and IV and you meet with the anesthesiologist and dr. r and his team. Then they roll you into the surgery room and i was knocked right out. After surgery you are taken to a post-op area where I had some amazing nurses. I was under alot of drugs but still in pain. [my port is the most painful] after waking up i was brought to my room. I was given a morphine button so i could click it whenever i needed it. The only thing is i do not do well with narcotics and am allergic to percocet so whenever i clicked it for pain i got an instant headache. so needless to say my first day and a half was not comfortable. They come in every like 6 hrs to give you heperin shot. i had some acid reflux problems which caused nausea which was also not comfortable. I left friday from the hospital - the smell of the hospital was not helping me in my recovery. I've been drinking alot of crystal light to stay hydrated and my mom made some homemade chicken broth. Im trying to keep down the protein shakes but for some reason ive lost taste for them. I would recommend buying one of those homedics massagers. It helps with the gas. My port area is still uncomfortable but feel alot better than i did yesterday. I hope this helps. I have no idea how some people went back to work after 2 days. there is no way i will be doing that!

Hey all - So I had surgery thursday am and stayed in the hospital until friday night. Im not going to lie i was alot more uncomfortable than I thought it/I would be. My port area/the biggest incision is really painful. The gas pains are not fun at all and I can't walk around normally yet. I am not hungry one bit which is getting me nervous because I need to somehow not get dehydrated. I really hope that the pains go away soon because I want to start being normal again. How did you all recover? when did you all start to walk around normal again etc. Im kinda feeling sad because Im not feeling good and wish I was feeling normal again. :frown:

So I go in tomorrow @ 6am for surgery. I am really nervous because I barely lost weight for pre-op. I also haven not been able to work out much because I was taking care of my mom since she had ankle surgery :thumbdown: I mean everything is going through my head about what is going to/could happen. It's the usually pre-op jitters. Anyone have any last minute suggestions/opinions on healing/any last minute thing I should know?!? Here we go - k8

im getting banded on august 27! -- excited/nervous!

So I had ordered UNJURY powder for my pre-op diet which started last thursday and everyday I have had it I have had diarrhea and can't stop throwing up. Needless to say I have called them to see if I can return it because I just can't stomach the stuff--before my surgery. BUT on a happy note I found some AMAZING whey protein product. Its called SYNTRAX nector. it has 90 cal no fat no sugar and 23 grams of protein. I got the ice tea flavor, tropical punch flavor [forgot the name] and a cappuccino flavor. The tea and fruit punch is made from real tea and fruit, respectively. They do not have aspertame in it which Unjury does have. And by looking at the ingredients you actually know what they are! It also mixes so well its not even funny! [They are sooo filling also] !! I am a fan of juices instead of chocolate shakes for a meal and THEY DONT UPSET MY STOMACH!!! :sad: some of the best tasting stuff! I was getting discouraged because I couldn't stomach the unjury and was thinking that I wasn't going to be able to follow the pre-op diet or get filled/quench my thirst before/after my surgery. I am so happy that I found a protein powder that I am excited about drinking and not dreading it!! I recommend it! SI03 INC.

So my pre-op appointment with Dr. R was 30 seconds - I kid you not! I feel so overwhelmed/excited/nervous and seeing him for 30 seconds made me worse. Today I start my liquid diet and 2 weeks from now I will be banded. How was the liquid diet for you all. I just ordered some unjury [chocolate/no flavor/chicken soup and getting samples of vanilla and strawberry. I am getting bored of carnation instant breakfast. Does anyone eat unjury? whats your favorite & how was the 2 week diet? Also i want to go to some meetings at the brigham or faulkner. the brigham would be easier since i live on mission hill [a 2 minute walk to brigham] are there wtill meetings there? thank you all, kt

Getting Banded August 27!!

I just had my pre-op appointment. I start the liquid diet thursday and my surgery is August 27. It is all hitting me now! I can't believe that it is so close. Any advice for the liquid diet? Anyone have a favorite protein shake? I have butterflies!! Keep up the great work everyone

Hey all - I was wondering what to expect during the anesthesiologist appointment?

I also have had problems with getting a hold of jennifer. I, even this morning, called to make sure they received the ok from my insurance and she asked if she had told me about meeting with the anesthesiologist and what not and my answer was no [but in my head it was-well if you would return my calls and call me back when you say this would all be scheduled-but i did not say that] She asked my contact number and said she would call me back in 10 mins and of course never called me back. I usually get through to her by being nicely-aggressive. I call multiple times a day in order to actually get something completed with our conversations. I pseudo chose my surgery date. Im getting it done at the faulkner august 27th. So i really need to see the anesthesiologist soon and figure out what needs to be done prior to surgery. You will def get in before December. Dr. Robinson, atleast after talking to him, doesnt like having his patients wait too long after being ok'd by insurance - an in and out sort of deal. Just keep calling and don't feel like you are being intrusive. Im calling tomorrow since she didnt call me back today so I can get my pre-op stuff done. Good luck and keep me posted - k8:laugh:

After FINALLY getting through to Dr. Robinson's office I finally have a surgery date for August 27. I am also ok'd from insurance. I am really excited to start this journey into a new life.

So I met with Dr. Robinson yesterday and he could not believe I had not booked a surgery date! I told him he said not to until I saw him...his response was "we have to get on that"! LOL So he wants to try and squeeze me in for july at the faulkner! I talked to jennifer and she said that he wants to schedule me for July but he doesnt realize he is booked but he wants to sneak me in! So basically IDK when exactly I will be having surgery but hopefully it all does work out for july!!!! :ihih:

luv2teech7 How much weight did you lose between your first appointment with Dr. robinson to your second one after the dietition/psych etc appointments? K8

So I did end up calling back today. I really felt bad about always calling back but 4 times not being called back was getting me nervous. I apologized about calling but said I wanted to make sure that I was not just being tossed around. She then scheduled me appointments. I have to call back to get the times and places for 2 appointments but overall I am happy. I just don't want my name tagged as being the annoying girl [LOL] I have my psych appointment may 11 and upper GI late may along with the dietitian appoint the beginning of june and middle of june my 2nd appointment with dr. robinson. I am nervous/excited for this process especially now that I have my appointments. K8

So I had my first meeting with Dr. Robinson April 28th. I had to make an upper GI, Psych & nutritionist appointment that day but the secretary said she would call me back to make the appointments. They did not call me back so I gave it a week then called back. They then said they would call me on Friday to book the appointments and did not call. So I called today and they took my name and number and said they would call back. What should I do? Whomever had Dr. Robinson did they have trouble making appointments? K8

I def can relate to you with the knee problem. I am 23 y.o and had 2 knee surgeries 5 yrs ago from a field hockey accident in highschool. I have arthritis in my right knee at the age of 23! It can get depressing not being able to do much cardio at the gym or walk long distances without my knee throbbing. The ortho and my PCP told me that losing weight will help my knee. So I am hoping that the Lap band will allow me to walk and run again. Good luck with every thing and congratulations!!

So I am pretty excited that I got my consultation date for April 28th at the Brigham with Dr. Robinson. I am very nervous though, of course. My best friend came with me and took work off to come with me to my consultation appointment. I LOVE her support. I m very healthy besides my weight. No high BP or cholesterol, etc. I did have 2 knee surgeries 5 years ago which never healed perfectly because of all my weight so I could not work out and strengthen my muscles. So there really is not any reason for them to say I am not a good candidate. I am at 245.8 lbs (my highest EVER) and am 5'5" so my BMI is 40.8. I am crossing my fingers and hoping that this all works out for me. I am so excited for this journey to start. I think my nervousness may stem from my excitement but there is not anything I can do except wait for the appointment. I'm going to have to call my PCP and make sure they send my referral because I don't want to show up and them say "Oh we didn't get it" [yikes] If anyone has had Dr. Malcolm Robinson at Brigham and Womens in Boston, Ma let me know how your consult went and any words of advice. Good luck & congrats to all. You all deserve it!

So I am pretty excited that I got my consultation date for April 28th at the Brigham with Dr. Robinson. I am very nervous though, of course. My best friend came with me and took work off to come with me to my consultation appointment. I LOVE her support. I m very healthy besides my weight. No high BP or cholesterol, etc. I did have 2 knee surgeries 5 years ago which never healed perfectly because of all my weight so I could not work out and strengthen my muscles. So there really is not any reason for them to say I am not a good candidate. I am at 245.8 lbs (my highest EVER) and am 5'5" so my BMI is 40.8. I am crossing my fingers and hoping that this all works out for me. I am so excited for this journey to start. I think my nervousness may stem from my excitement but there is not anything I can do except wait for the appointment. I'm going to have to call my PCP and make sure they send my referral because I don't want to show up and them say "Oh we didn't get it" [yikes] If anyone has had Dr. Malcolm Robinson at Brigham and Womens in Boston, Ma let me know how your consult went and any words of advice. Good luck & congrats to all. You all deserve it!