KarenK

Thank you, SeaSide. I am so glad to know that I'm not alone in being just a bit miserable. I really needed to hear it. With a little luck in a few days I'll pass this stage - in the meantime I think it's a good thing I arranged to take a full week off. Thanks for the hug.:crying:

I was banded on Thursday. I am frustrated with how lousy I still feel. The incisions don't hurt. I'm guessing it's still gas. My back hurts around my shoulder blades. My front hurts around my breast bone. The heating pad doesn't seem to be helping. The Gas-X strips don't seem to be doing anything either. I've been walking, but probably not enough - it's snowing like crazy out there. I think I'm at that "what the heck did I do to myself" stage and need to get over it.

Anyone have the gas make their back hurt? I can't seem to get rid of the pain in my back - in the lower shoulder blade area. It's driving me nuts, and I'm wondering if it's gas-related? Whatever it is, it hurts!

Pistol - Dr. Avila is no longer at Blackfoot. They have a new guy - don't know much about him. I was banded yesterday by Dr. O'Byrne at EIRMC in Idaho Falls. I'm still pretty sore, but am up and around. Everyone there was very nice. I did a self-pay (blasted Blue Cross!), and the total cost was about $13,500. The clinic up there is called the "New U Program." The cost includes free adjustments for the first year, and a support group as well.

I was banded yesterday, Thursday Oct. 9th, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho. My mother, daughter and I had driven up the night before. It's only 45 minutes from home, but was worth it (we went to the bookstore, and swam in the hotel pool). I checked in at 7:15am. I was second on his schedule for the day. They got me situated - put on the lovely leggings, put in the iv, gave me an albuterol treatment. By 8:15, I was in pre-op and very, very scared. Betelnut - I understand what you're saying about your daughter completely. I'm a single mom too (my daughter's father died when she was a baby) - and the idea of her losing another parent scared me to death. They rolled me into the surgical suite. I remember seeing it and that's about it until recovery. I had some nausea when they moved me to my regular room. My blood pressure was a little slow to rebound as was my oxygen saturation level, so I was hooked up to a number of machines most of the time. I had been planning on going home - they had been planning on my staying. So, I stayed. Had I lived in town, I might have fought it harder. I walked the halls a lot - the nurses teased me that my fellow bandster and I should have races. This morning, Dr. O'Byrne came by about 9:30 and checked on me and finally set me loose. After the drive home, I took some pain meds and took a nap and have slowly been getting more active and less sore. My daughter is staying the night with my brother & his family - they even took the dogs - so I'm on my own until they bring her home from dance tomorrow around noon. My next appt up there is for what they call "First Breakfast" next Thursday. So, that's where I stand. I'm glad it's over, and I'm looking forward to feeling better and getting to work.

I didn't have to do liquid. I did two weeks of very low carb low calorie diet. Ended up losing about 14 lbs. (give or take depending on what scale you look at), and the dr said my liver was fine. Good luck on the 14th!

Hi all. Quick note before I go take a nap. I was banded yesterday morning. They ended up keeping me overnight, which was all for the better. I am sore, but all went well. Was there by 7:30am, surgery at 9:30, on my feet walking by 1:30. Ended up staying because my b.p. and my oxygen sat #s were low (happened last time I had anesthesia as well). Met the lady who got banded right before me. I'm starting to ramble, so the meds must be working. Off to nap. Thanks for all the well-wishes.

Quick note before I go take a nap. I am now among the banded. Had the surgery yesterday. Very glad they talked me into staying the night. Still sore, but overall everything went very well. Everyone was super nice. Had surgery around 9:30. Was up and walking by 1:00. One other lady there banded right before me - we talked and walked quite a bit. I'm rambling, so the meds must be kicking in. More later.:smile2:

Thanks Digiro. I'm getting more nervous - I may even be verging on just plain scared - but hearing all the positive stories and the words of support really helps.

NFaith - so glad to hear from you and to hear that everything went so well. Stories like this give the rest of us hope for similar results!

Kelli - I am so glad your mother admitted her lack of support was born of fear. That I can understand. If I had a family member whose presence was going to make me even more nervous than I am, I think I would ask them politely not to come. I'm doing it the opposite way - everyone is coming! My mother & daughter are coming up tonight with me. My father & brother are driving up tomorrow. It's going to be like one big family reunion with me laying there in a hospital gown. I may have to rethink this quickly. Best of luck.

That's really great, MississippiGirl. Sounds like you're handling it all well. Tomorrow is my day. I'm driving up this evening and have to be at the hospital at 7:30am. I am second on the schedule. I am really hoping I get to go home tomorrow as well, but since I don't live in town they may keep me.

I'm sorry you're having a hard time with your mother. Do you think it's worry? Take your time - tell them when you're ready and on your terms. Maybe make it clear how you feel about the decision up front - "I am really excited that I'm going to take control of my weight and use this great tool...." Right now my daughter, parents, brother & his wife know. At work my boss, my assistant, and one friend know. Everyone has been very supportive. My boss is even considering it for herself depending on how it works for me. I don't expect others to be unsupportive. In fact, I'm a little worried that it will make me and my weight the center of attention. That sort of attention has always backfired with me.

Mississippi Girl congratulations! Sounds like everything went perfectly. How soon after surgery were you up and walking?

Had my final pre-op appointment this morning. It went very well, and I am now set to go on Thursday. My mother, daughter and I are driving up to Idaho Falls on Wednesday evening and staying over night. It's only about a 45 minute drive, but I'd rather not do it at 6:00am so why not play in the hotel pool. I have to be there at 7:15, and am second on the schedule so expect to be in around 9:30am. He may not let me go home the same day, but might be able to stay at the hotel an extra night and at least not pay the hospital for the night. He's promised I get to meet the anesthesiologist Thursday morning. That is where most of my nerves lie right now. Depending on which scale you choose, I've lost between 11 & 16 pounds and they were pleased with my progress. Here we go!

Thanks LoneStarLoser. I haven't had the best of experiences with anesthesia - I think that has me the most nervous. What supplies did you lay in at home before you went? I have plenty of broth, Jello and crystal light. No one has said anything about Protein powder, but it sounds like I should get some of that - and Tylenol. Has anyone tried that Special K protein Water?

Good luck Betelnut! Hope it goes well and we hear from you soon. Have a safe drive Toosywoots - we'll be waiting to hear from you too. I'm still on for Thursday. Admitting called today and got me all registered, and got some health history. I'm due at the hospital 7:15am on Thursday! Yikes!

It's getting closer! I spoke to the admitting people at the hospital today and got all set there. Another nurse called for my health history. My last pre-op meeting with the surgeon is tomorrow morning at 9:00am. I am scheduled to be at the hospital at 7:15am on Thursday. Wow. I'm nervous. Ready, but nervous.

My surgeon prefers the Allergan band, so that's what I'm getting. I'm fine with whichever he prefers. I'm on for Thursday, and starting to get impatient.

Thanks SickNTired - that was just enough help to get me going. Glad to hear so many October bandsters have had such good experiences with the surgery. I'm nervous, but ready!

I didn't realize there was another October thread. This is great. I'm having surgery on Thursday in Idaho Falls, Idaho. I've been on the pre-op diet (luckily not liquid) for just over a week now. I'm down 9 pounds! I'm impressed - honestly didn't think I could do it. I bought my daughter and me a Wii Fit yesterday (got lucky - wasn't easy to find and I got the last one and as they were ringing me up someone called looking for one). I'm going to use it as my scale for a while. It's actually quite fun. I'd like to put in another ticker for weight loss, but can't remember how. I apparently figured it out before, but can't this time. What kind of code am I supposed to use - tickerfactory gives more than one. Can anyone help? Thanks!

My surgery is the day after yours. I'm taking off the afternoon of the 8th through the following Friday (the 17th). I may have to go in for a couple of meetings, but I'm going to try very hard not to. I figure I deserve the time for myself to heal properly. They can live without me.

So glad to hear from the banded among us. Reminds me it's all worthwhile. One more week to go here.

I'm really glad to hear that. I will definitely be looking for one. Hopefully they won't be quite as hard to get as they used to be.

Unfortunately, yes it does. I understand it has you input your height and weighs you and tells you where you fit on the BMI scale. If I buy one, I might just suddenly become 6'4" instead of 5'4". Ok, maybe 7'4"