matilda01

Hi Fiona,

How's the preop diet going? Did you start the milk diet? I'm not sure if I've heard of the milk diet before....does that mean you only drink milk and nothing else?

Hi Laurel,

How are you doing? I'm feeling pretty good finally. Gas is going away. I'm really looking forward to adding to my clear-liquid diet tomorrow when I get to have three 4-oz Carnation Breakfast shakes. Doesn't take much to make me happy these days!

Hi Robin,

I hope you are starting to find your way around LBT. How are you doing? I have my class tomorrow morning, then I have my final appointment with my regular doctor so he can give his ok for the surgery, one last appointment with the surgeon, start my 5-day liquid diet, and then surgery on 3/22! Wow...you will see....time flies! Soon you will be having your surgery!

Hi Robin,

How are you doing? I don't know if I told you this, but I work at RGH, so I hope you had a positive experience there! Did you stay in that tiny private room on 4500? That's where I stayed and so did my friend who was banded a week after me. I'm down 50 lb (including my preop loss), so I'm pretty happy. I had my first fill 2 weeks ago and it went very well. I really notice a difference, and I need to careful to remember to chew lots & eat slowly. Well, I'm here if you have any questions or just want to chat....

Hi Robin,

Not sure what to tell you about your sugars, maybe you should call the surgeon's office today and let them know what's going on there. Maybe they will add another Atkins drink or have other suggestions for you. As far as the surgery goes, you will be fine. I was nervous, too, but I was determined to go through with it and I'm so glad I did. After surgery, remember to walk as much as you can because it REALLY helps with the gas pain. The first few days aren't much fun but not unbearable at all. Feel free to email me with any questions, and I will try to help. Where are you having your surgery again?

Smart thinking to back the surgery up to spring break. I have a friend at work that is having a lap-band also. She just found out today that her surgery will be 3/30. That means, I will be taking the week of surgery off and possibly 3/29, but I really should be back on 3/30 if I can. The only other person in our office is pretty new, and it wouldn't be fair to leave her alone (yet). My job is very sedentary (I transcribe medical reports all day), so I think I'll be OK.

I've been reading the March forums and several March people have already had their surgery. Sounds like they've done very well! Gives me peace of mind to know that.

Hi Fiona! You sound like you're doing really well. I know you're sick of milk, but the results are pretty amazing! I still haven't started my preop diet. I think I will start it tomorrow even though I don't have to until 3/17, but I've made some bad food choices that I feel I need an extra day. Oh, gosh! I had my appointment with my internist today so he could send the surgeon his statement that I'm fit for surgery. He reviewed the EKG, chest x-ray, and lab work from the hospital preadmission exam a few weeks ago. He said, "do you smoke?" Nope, I did when I was a teen but only for a few years and not since then. Well, my toxicology was positive for nicotine! What the heck? He thinks it's a lab mistake, but now I'm worried the surgeon won't believe that I don't smoke, and not smoking is one of his requirements. I wonder if he will have me take the test again?

Good luck tomorrow, fellow March 22 surgery girl! See you on the other side!

Hi Fiona, Just wanted to tell you that I uploaded some pictures finally. Ugh....I sure don't like to look at them. I can't wait to get some "after" pictures. -Matilda

Hi Fiona, How are you doing? I saw a post from you today that you were feeling icky. Get some rest, baby yourself. Tomorrow you will feel better! Hey, it's almost our 1-week bandiversary!

Hi Fiona! How are you? Sorry about not checking in for so long. Life gets in the way of my computer habit! I hope you are doing OK. Slow and steady for me....down 20 lb since surg and a total of 52 since my initial visit with the surgeon. I'm supposed to have my 2nd fill on 6/11, probably will only get a small one. I'm so afraid of those stuck episodes everyone talks about. I've already PB'd twice because I ate too fast. The second time it happened, I was PB'ing for 45 minutes! Didn't hurt really, just glad I was at home and not out in public! I am feeling pretty good overall and hope you are, too.

Hi Fiona! I'm doing well. My first fill is Thurs, 5/06. I've been losing a little bit, down 45.1 total (13.1 since surg). I wasn't feeling any restriction really, but I am starting to get little signals when I eat that I need to slow down, chew more, or just stop eating. I get kind of a fullness in my esophagus sometimes. It seems to happen with chicken (especially if it's dry). I think I read that you had your first fill...how's that going?

Hi Friend, How are you? I'm doing well. I see the surgeon tomorrow & if all goes well, I can start pureed foods. I think he will also release me to go back to work, so I will start back on Saturday. I only work weekends about once every 3 months & this is my scheduled weekend, so I will work Sat and Sun, have Mon off, and then finish the rest of the week. A good way to ease back into work I think. Are you working again? Let me know how you're doing. Weight loss for me has slowed down a bit. I've been really tempted to nibble and have cheated a bit (peanut butter candies of all things). Stay in touch!

Hi Laurel, How have you been this past week? I uploaded some before pictures finally. Ugh....I can't wait to get some "after" pictures. -Matilda

Hi Laurie, I just had to share this. I think I figured out a way to burp. Yesterday, I had that feeling in my chest like I had to burp again. Well, I was outside with my dog at the time, bent over to pick up his ball, and out came a hearty burp and I felt instantly better!! I've tried it a few more times since then. When I feel that pressure building up, I bend over, wait a couple of seconds, and out comes a burp. Doesn't always work, but when it does, it sure feels good! Give it a try if you are still having issues with burping!

Hi Robin, How are you doing on your preop diet? Did you call your doctor about your sugars? I just wanted to make sure you're doing okay.

Hi, I saw your post about not losing weight after surgery. I'm 5 days out & when I first got home from the hosp, I had GAINED 7 lb from day of surgery weight. Seems odd since I've only had Crystal Lite & broth (20 calories I think). I'm now down about 5 lb. I've decided to ignore the weight for now & let my body heal. I had an IV for about 30 hrs, and I still have incredible gas in my abdomen & chest which feels like 25 lb! Don't get discouraged. We'll get there. By the way, I'm also a 52-y-o medical transcriptionist. I work for the hosp where I had my surgery. I just found out today that I'll be out of work until my followup appt on 4/09. I planned to go back on Mon, 3/29, but when I called the surgeon's office to tell them I just wasn't ready, they told me I wasn't cleared to go back until my followup. Thankfully, the hospital pays 100% for short-term disability. I'm so glad I'm not self employed anymore! Let's stay in touch if you'd like.... :thumbup:

I had an appointment with the dietitian back in Dec. I didn't really learn anything more than what I've picked up here on LBT and Youtube. Hope your class was more informative. I do have that 3-hour class on Thurs that I hope will be worthwhile. I've put off buying too many postop things (shakes, etc) until I learn exactly what the surgeon allows and what he doesn't. No need to waste money on something I really can't use. Tired like a toddler? I hope I don't fall asleep while at work!

I had an EKG, blood work, chest x-ray, and physical. It's part of the hospital's requirement before any type of surgery. I don't think I will hear anything about the tests until I see my regular doctor on 3/15. The hospital is sending him all the results so he can give his final approval that I'm fit for surgery. I see the surgeon on 3/18 just to go over everything one last time....maybe they will take pictures then. I'm feeling a little better, coughing a bit less. Usually when I get a cold, the cough hangs on for a couple of weeks, so I'm going to do my best to get rid of it! Do you know what kind of tests you'll be having on Thurs?

I had my preop tests yesterday and everything went very smoothly. Hopefully, the results will all be good. My only problem now is a bit of a cold but the worst part is a nagging cough. If it doesn't go away soon, I will have to see my regular doctor to see if he'll prescribe something to make it go away. I don't want it to postpone my surgery. Good luck on Thurs, don't be nervous, you'll be fine!

I have a desk job. I transcribe medical reports all day long. That's how I first learned about lap-band surgery years ago, I transcribed the operative notes. I just put up a couple of pictures....

I just wanted to say, good luck to you, too. I will be thinking about you! I took your advice and brought a nightgown! See you on the other side!!

I think I might try some strained wonton soup for supper tonight....thanks for the idea!

I think those 6 weeks are referred to as "bandster hell" because we probably won't have any restriction. I guess at first there is swelling which helps with restriction but after that goes down, we are pretty much on our own. I've lost 6 pounds since I started the liquids...so that's encouraging! How are you?

I work at the hospital where I'm having my surgery. I'm definitely taking a week off but might take 3/29 and maybe 3/30 off if I'm not ready to go back. I can't even remember what the surgeon recommended, so maybe he will have a different idea about how long to take off. How many days are you taking off? I just had my preop testing done. Took about 2 hours to get the ekg, blood work, exam, chest x-ray. Hopefully, all the tests will come back ok. Next appointment is the 3-hour class in the surgeon's office. That's good that you went to the support group. My doctor really encouraged me to go. I went for the first time a couple of weeks ago and liked it. I think I will keep going (it's held once a month). How did the "owies" look? I'm not nervous yet....just want to get it over with now.....