Monihottie

LOL, Kari...sorry to freak you out...let me explain my ticker! I also included the numbers above the ticker as: 310 was my highest weight, but when I went for my first office visit (about a month before my surgery), I was 293. I really don't know what I was right before surgery...maybe about 285. So, not sure if my ticker's right, but I weighed in today at 272; therefore, I would say that since the day I was banded, I've actually lost 13 pounds. Hope that puts you at ease...boy do I wish I had lost 30 pounds since the 10th, though!!!! Anyway, this means that our loss since surgery is the same! :biggrin:

Hi!!! I can understand, I started to get nervous and scared too. Try to keep yourself really busy....it definitely helped! The surgery is intimidating, but it was over quickly, and I never felt horrible. I stayed one night in the hospital, but would totally have been fine going home the same day. I had the surgery on a Monday and stayed out that whole week. I could have used an extra day or two. In that respect, if you work a normal Monday through Friday schedule, you have a good arrangement having your surgery at the end of the week and taking off the next week. I wanted my surgery on a Friday, but my surgeon only did procedures on Monday and Tuesday. Anyway, if you're on FB, come find me!!!

We're still reaching out to fellow August bandsters! We're a pretty diverse group and look forward to welcoming new members! Come join us!!!!!

Two to three weeks does seem like a long time, unless you have a high impact job! I had my surgery on a Monday and was out the entire week. I just returned to work this Monday, and I feel like I could have used a few more days. Sitting up in the chair all day definitely makes my incisions and stomach hurt. Also, I've been having severe lower back pain....all combined, I wish I could still be at home! So, I would say at least a week, but maybe a little more. The people who posted above seem to have been very fortunate with wonderful recoveries!!!

WOW...great story...very relateable! Congratulations on your success...especially since you started with a complication! I'm proud of your success and hope to follow in your footsteps! Again, congratulations!

I also felt scared and excited....but now I'm just excited...for the new me and a new life!!!! Hang in there, and stick with that diet. I had to do one week of ALL liquids, so at least you get to chew something!!! lol. I have read about people's surgeries being cancelled mid procedure b/c the liver was still too fatty...who wants to risk that? I feel that strict, though it sucks, is GOOD. I think it shows that the doctor is genuinely concerned for our well being....he/she is not simply trying to punish us. Also, sticking to it will give you a great sense of pride and accomplishment! You can do it!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure you won't be reading this before your surgery, so let me say, YAY, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! =) I hope you're feeling comfortable and remember that walking REALLY does help the pain! Looking forward to seeing you on FB!!!!

Are you currently on Facebook? I searched your full name, and didn't find you. I also searched your first and last name, but there were a lot of results. So, first let me know if you're currently on FB, if not, it'll be up to you whether you're interested in creating a FB profile so you can join our group. Just let me know!!!

Excellent! Find me, friend me, and I'll send you a group invite! Are you excited?!?!?!? Best of luck as you prepare for the big day!

Banded on 8/10/09, and I'm also still having port pain. I find it interesting that the "younger" patients seem to take longer to recover! I'm going back to work tomorrow, and that scares me b/c I don't think I'm ready to sit up in a chair all day...yikes! Guess we all just have to hang in there and focus on the better days ahead!!! Feel better soon, everyone!

Yes, the pre-op liquid diet was a bit of a struggle, but I did not cheat once, and I am SOOOO proud! You will be too. I got through it by constantly reminding myself that I CHOSE this, no one was forcing it upon me. Also, one week is so short compared to the infinite happy time you'll have after losing weight. Just keep up with the positive self-talk...it will help! Good luck, hang in there...it will all be worth it. Also keep reminding yourself that sticking to this pre-op diet will make surgery safer, which is what you no doubt want anyway!!!

There are many different sites you can obtain tickers from, and I may be changing b/c I've seen some tickers way cuter than mine!!! Anyway, mine is from www.tickerfactory.com. Go there and create your ticker. When you're done, it will give you code to use on the bottom of the page. Copy that code and paste it into your lapbandtalk signature. I see you don't have any signature yet, so in case you don't know how to create one, you select UserCP from the main screen...under the LapBandTalk logo and Home; then, on the right select edit my signature. Let me know if you need more help than that. Good luck!

Go ahead and send me a friend request, and I'll send you the group invite! Since the big day there has been a lot of sleeping! Judging from reading everything on here, I would say that my pain/recovery experience was/is about average. It was honestly less pain than I expected, and mostly due to gas from the surgery! Otherwise, I've just been focused on getting in some walking...luckily we have a treadmill b/c it is SOOO hot and humid outside! I've also been really faithful to the post op liquid diet and have been getting my 70+ grams of Protein by adding unflavored whey Protein powder to everything I consume! The scariest part for me was being wheeled into the OR. Had I known, I probably would have prepared better...knowledge helps me combat fear, so I probably would have done more research on the OR experience and what to expect. Along with some focused thinking or deep breathing. Instead, I let my anxiety peak, and I was shaking in fear as I was being prepped in the OR. Honestly, it wasn't even that scary...I made it scary. Fortunately for me, though, I was knocked out before I even had to count!!! Anyway, I look forward to seeing you FB where we'll talk more! Good luck with your pre-op diet...DON'T CHEAT, you'll only be cheating yourself, and trust me, you'll feel sooooo proud of yourself after completing that part of the process!

UPDATE: Please still read the following message, but know that I have created the FB group! It is a SECRET group meaning that nothing will show up in your profile, and your friends will have no idea you're even a member. The group will not even show up in searches!!! Just wanted to add this info in case you were hesitant about getting too public....I haven't told many people yet, and there have been no references to banding or my surgery on FB, so I COMPLETELY understand!!! Soooo, go ahead, friend me and join our group!!! I've been spending a LOT of time on this site since my surgery, but after I go back to work on Monday, I'm afraid I won't be able to devote as much time to the forum. :sad: I'm also looking to specifically work with fellow August Bandsters - Auggies?!?!? I was hoping to maybe create a private group on Facebook where we can keep in closer contact on a more frequent basis. I feel like that medium may be easier to meet each other on a deeper level, and form a tight group that sticks together for a long time! Feel free to send me a message there: Monica Wroblewski, Washington, DC. If there's enough interest, I'll go ahead and create a group. However, it's only two or three of us, maybe a group won't be necessary, but we can still use FB to keep up with each other. I've never really posted to boards like these before, and it is REALLY hard for me to keep track of everyone. I'm really interested in forming a closer relationship than I feel can be developed here. Hope to hear from you on FB!!!

I'm happy to find someone banded on the same day...what better way to compare current experiences/progress/etc. I'm still having some significant gas pain, as well. Are you walking? I've been doing small stints on the treadmill...today's really worked a lot of gas out. I don't mean to be gross, but obviously, they (my medical team) wasn't lying about walking to alleviate gas pains!!! I've been using GNC Pro Performance 100% Whey Protein (Unflavored). It's pretty reasonably priced, has great nutrition facts, and blends well into cold and hot (not above 130 degrees!!!) drinks and Soups. I put it in everything, so I've been consuming the 70+ grams of protein recommended so far. I'm sure I'll still use it after I'm well into eating regular foods. How many incisions do you have? I have 5, and they're starting to itch, and not scratching is sooooooo hard! I was a little afraid at first to shower, but now I enjoy it...I just use the gentlest setting on the shower head. Let's continue to keep each other updated!!! :biggrin: