stateofzen

Congratulations!

I have 4 incisions and the lowest one is about 4 inches above my belly button. One just beneath my breastbone, and one a little further down under each breast. I've been able to wear any kind of waistband while recovering because they just don't even come close to my incisions. A bra is a different matter-- thank God for tanks with built in bras.

If it is a hospital that regularly does WLS, I bet their gowns are big enough. Mine was huge! Still, I took it off and traded for clothes I brought with me-- some yoga pants and a t-shirt that I could wear without a bra (i.e. black). My incisions were all well above my pants line so no discomfort there, but I did definitely say no to any bras. I also wore my crocs for walking around after the surgery. I didn't stay overnight, so that's all I brought, but if you are going to, bring a small bag of toiletries.

My husband made chili tonight and I had to have it so I put it in my food processor until pureed (I'm on my last day of full liquids- started mushies about 12 hours too early but I tolerated it well). AWESOME. 1 lb hamburger, browned 1 small white onion chopped 2 gloves garlic, minced handful sliced mushrooms chili powder red pepper garlic salt - Brown hamburger and add the rest to cook In the meantime, this all goes into the big soup pot: 1 can kidney Beans 2 can chili beans 2 cans diced tomatoes 1 can rotel -When the hamburger and veg mix is ready, add it to the soup pot and cook on low for as long as you want. I like to cook it for several hours, but if I'm in a rush I just cook it until its hot Put a scoop in your food processor, blend until there are no chewable bits, and then stir in a little bit of shredded cheese until completely melted.

You'll do great, Lisa! Just spend tonight reading your book or whatever else you bought to distract you and you'll be home with a band before you know it!

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what people are saying here. :biggrin: I haven't seen a single person say to not eat veggies or fruits because they have carbs. Low carb people *are* low carb because they avoid starches, white flour, and sugar, not because they avoid vegetables and fruit. I lost about 40 lbs of my weight doing low carb preop and i loved it. I felt good, I had lots of energy, and I got off of my cholesterol meds BEFORE my surgery that way. It doesn't work for everyone, but it works for me and it is doctor recommended in my case and once I'm back on "regular foods", I plan to keep it up. When I don't low carb, we would have bread with almost every meal and Pasta at least once week. When I do low carb, I do pretty much avoid bread because I don't find that I miss it-- but I do have pasta once a month or so because it is a true love. I can do that without gaining, and I think everyone has to find their sweet spot of moderation.

My doc asks that we take: B12 for energy-- I do the sublinguals Multivitamin-- he prescribed a chewable prenatal to start with (it is nasty, but I'm getting used to it) and I bought Centrum chewables to follow up with. They did say Flintstones were fine too. Calcium Citrate-- Tums chewables Calcium Carbonate-- Caltrate + D petites Biotin for hair loss-- I use the Spring Valley capsules, because they pull apart and you can sprinkle the powder in your food-- it has no taste that I can detect.

BetsyB gave my favorite tip too! Never wait until you "feel like" exercising. Exercise is an absolute must do and you do it whether you feel like it or not. Don't make it an option for yourself.

I've seen this show. The treatment facility wasn't created for the show-- it's a long standing facility that is allowing taping from what I can tell. The presence of the show doesn't effect the cost of treatment, just like if you had Discovery Health tape your lapband procedure, your surgeon and the hospital would still need to be paid. For a four month intensive, live-in treatment program, $26,000 is not out of line. They have a lot of professional staff to pay (though I do question the professional credentials of most of their 'counselors'), not to mention the costs of taking care of those children for that amount of time. I feel bad for the kids only because I think for most of them, it probably isn't going to work long term (it's the nature of the disease). I feel really bad for the kids who have fat parents who are "so concerned" but who clearly have issues themselves-- like the dad of the 11 year old girl. These FAMILIES need intervention, not just the kids. However, it is really heartwarming to see the kids weigh in and be so proud of their hard work and accomplishments. Kids aren't always fat because of their parents-- my brother and I were always a little overweight, even though my mom and step-dad who we lived with were normal weight and restrictive on snack foods/soda. But I do think some families establish bad habits as a whole and they need to seek change as a family unit, not give up on themselves and target the kids which then sets the kid up to fail when they come back to a house where nothing has changed.

Yay for you, Margaret Ann! Oh, today is so much better! I almost feel like myself again Last night I went to bed at 8:00 after a long stressful day at work. I woke up at 7:00 this morning (holy long sleep, Batman!), but it did wonders for me! I've been bustling around cleaning up my house and doing some other work and feeling pretty darn normal. My dermabond is starting to curl up on it's own, so I have a feeling in another shower or two it will be washed off. I have to admit I'm not really impressed with my surgeon's suture work-- my 4 incisions look really sloppy and I think I'm going to be carrying larger than necessary scars (compared to my gall bladder scars which I have to search to find). Oh well-- I'm not a bikini person and don't think I ever will be, so I'll just have to move on. MissJoany, I too had a mysterious bruise show up about 2 days ago lower on my belly below my lowest incision. It was associated with some pretty sharp pain/pulling sensation when I'd lay flat on my back and I was worried, but to see that other people have weird bruises too helps. Plus, it just feels better so whatever was irritated seems to be becoming less so. One week out I'm upping my food intake a little-- maybe a full yogurt spaced out, a full protein drink spaced out (I've taken to adding a good bit to my morning coffee instead of cream and that's helped get it all in), and a small cup of soup for dinner. No extra hunger yet, and I'm enjoying that! Still not getting 64 oz of water but I am up to at least 32, so still need to work on it. Hope you all are doing well, and for our last-of-September bandsters, good luck and its worth it! Just give yourself a week after to maybe wonder what the hell you did

My surgeon said no ibuprofen/naproxen (alleve) forever because they are super hard on the stomach and now,with our small pouches, are especially risky for causing stomach bleeding. Tylenol is the only thing that is ok. I worry about this too, because I have really bad menstrual cramps that I HAVE to take meds for if I want to function and Tylenol doesn't touch cramps. I'd hate to have to use something as strong as Lortab for the rest of my reproductive life to deal with cramps. I guess I need to ask at my next appt.

Right now we're doing PM's (I requested you as a friend), but we could start a thread if others are interested. MissJoany is already on the treadmill! Woot! :smile2:

Fantastic! I'm going to "friend you" through the site and then maybe we can update each other/set goals/etc. through the PM system. My plan is to start back on my treadmill this weekend as long as my pain is controlled by then. If tons of people want to do it, we could start a September Bandsters exercise thread instead but I don't want our exercise messages to get lost in all of the other important things people here are talking about.

Any of my September friends want to be my exercise buddy? I am committed to the idea of exercising regularly to make my band work its best, but I know it's going to be a struggle. I'd like to have a "check in" buddy who is equally committed to it, but maybe needs some external accountability like I do.

Oh pooky, I'm sorry you had such a bad day and I hope that the baby makes it. I do know what you mean about food as a coping mechanism. I always said I wasn't an emotional eater but I was clearly in denial myself. We've got to find a good substitute, quick! Is there someone you could talk to at home, or a friend you could call to help process? I know the hours you work might not always be people friendly. . . What else do you enjoy? Taking a bubble bath, writing in a journal, watching a saved episode of one of your favorite shows, maybe even taking a walk (kill two birds with one stone)? I'm a rape crisis volunteer and for me, what helps me put a case behind me is to just talk through my feelings about it with my husband (maintaining confidentiality of course). Once I've gotten out my anger and my hurt for the victim, I'm usually able to let it go-- but if it's a really hard case I might need to curl up for some uninterrupted book time too. Anyway, hugs to you! BandedNellie: Yay for you! 20 lbs + in no time! My goal was 30 by Christmas, but if I'm as lucky as you, it'll be 30 by Halloween :rolleyes2: You're awesome.

Maxi, we had surgery the same day. I think it's too soon to worry. I have zero hunger and today ate the most I have in a week-- half a yogurt, 4 oz of cream tomato soup, and 4 oz of protein shake. I feel uncomfortably full and I'm just not stuffing more down. I figure in another week, once the swelling is down, we may be singing another tune :thumbup:

Hey Lisa-- that does count my 6 month weight loss plan too- I'm counting from when I started the process. But it is great to already be a size down in clothes (two down in pants, but my chest is hanging on to the higher sizes) and I only had the surgery on Friday! My face already looks so different to me. Good luck to all of you this week!

My doc doesn't allow it, forever. I'm actually more disappointed in never ever having a beer again, but I figure I'll get over it :thumbup: He said that there have been cases where carbonation has caused stomach tearing and band failure. He said it is rare but he doesn't want his patients taking the risk for something that you don't need nutritionally. He said even letting it go flat doesn't help because there is still carbonation present to do its thing in the small stomach pouch. I was resistant to the idea of no carbonation again before I talked to him, and he convinced me on that one. He did not, however, convince me to give up my one cup of caffeinated coffee a day. But I'll let him win in everything else.

I had surgery Friday and went back today. MISTAKE. I would highly suggest people taking off a couple more days if possible just in case.

My plantar fasciitis doesn't seem to be bothering me anymore-- yay to no foot pain!

My plantar fasciitis doesn't seem to be bothering me anymore-- yay to no foot pain!

Take it one day at a time-- simple advice but I think it works. If you set the goal to be not having "x" food today, then it's not such a daunting task. I had my surgery the day after my birthday, so I was on clear liquids. One coworker brought me a cookies and cream cake, and another brought wine and cucakes to an evening meeting. It wasn't easy, but I know if I really want a cucake next year I can have it-- I wasn't saying no for forever, just that day. See if that mindset helps. For everyone else, sorry I posted when I was unmedicated. The pain is manageable and I hope I didn't scare anyone--just a vulnerable moment.

Had my surgery Friday. Checked in at 8:30, then waited around until after 11:00- out of recovery at around 2:00 and home by 9:00 p.m. I'm. . . ok. The liquid Lortab made me heave, so my first night was pretty excrutiating, but now I'm just cutting up regular Lortab and doing much better on pain. I woke up feeling pretty good today, but then I came to work and just taught a class and I am not good anymore:) It's a good thing I can go home after I meet with a student in a few minutes. I had a horrible headache for the last two days that nothing would touch- not the lortab and not sleeping- so today I finally had a cup of coffee and it went away. Caffeine withdrawal! A tip for those who haven't gone up yet or are still having shoulder pain-- I found that my airplane neck pillow really helped my pain. I don't know why- if it was the naturally occurring heat from having a fluffy pillow wrapped around your neck or if it was the support, but I always feel better when it's on. I have not felt like eating at all-- I have to force myself right now, but I know that will change once the pain is gone. I don't regret this but I am very ready to get through the pain portion. I think mine is actually mostly incision type pain, with some gas pain, but pain is pain and it doesn't feel good.

In any case, it seems to be somewhat standard practice. Shop around if you don't like it and see if you can find a surgeon who doesn't charge it since there seem to be a few out there. :thumbup:

I just found a dark chocolate fudge in addition to the regular chocolate too. It has a few more carbs, but still reasonable.