WELL HOW CAN I START I HOPE THIS JOURNEY IM TAKING WILL DEFINE THE PERSON THAT I AM FOR MY FUTURE AND HEALTH. I CAN ADMIT THAT IM A LIL SCARED ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE ANY ADVISE FOR ME PLEASE HELP!

Welcome. First, check your insurance to see if WLS is covered. Lurk around these boards and read about people's experiences and ask questions. Also, while reading this, realize that everyone's experience is their own, and yours will be somewhat different. Find surgeons in your area that perform the surgery and attend some seminars. Listen and ask any questions you may have. Once you find one you feel comfortable with, attend a consultation appointment and become friends with the "case manager" who will handle your paperwork (insurance, etc). They probably know more about what you need to do at this point than the surgeon does. Good luck!

Congratulations! I was banded June of last year and it's been the best decision I've ever made. It's amazing how a simple 45 minute or so procedure and so incredibly change your life. Good luck on your journey. There's probably a January group on here for 2010 that you can join. Good luck on recovery. It won't be bad. Unfortunately if you're like a lot of us, you'll have to do the 1-2 weeks of soft foods. I did fairly well on the weight loss the first two weeks but then after that, you really won't have any restriction unless your surgeon leaves some fill in the band from surgery. So don't get discourage if after the first few weeks you aren't losing and can still eat. Thta's normal until you start getting your fills. That can vary widely from surgeon to surgeon. I had to wait like 4-6 weeks before first fill and then he did 3 ccs which is fairly common.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask but you can find a wealth of information on here...some not so needed and some greatly helpful. If you have a local support group, that's really not a bad idea either. I don't have one close. So I had to rely on online groups.

Again, congratulations. You'll be surprised at how quickly it all goes.

Trisha

thank u so much for all the information u guys aRE putting have questions for u guys did anyone take long to recover how was ur first day after leaving hospital? im a lil scared that it will be extremely painful

The worst pain you'll have will be from the expansion gas they use. My doctor had a technique where he sucked back out as much of the gas as he could. So I had no gas pains at all. My daughter's lasted about a day and really it varies...some people it's not so great, others it's okay. I also had to stay overnight because of sleep apnea, which was okay because I was able to get some anti-nausea meds right away. So you might ask your doc about that. But they give you some pretty decent pain medication. As far as your stomach, it will feel like you've done about a hundred situps and were only in shape for one. For me, at least, it wasn't really pain, but just sore. I had surgery on Monday, came home on Tuesday and went back to work the following Monday. I probably could have gone back sooner. My daughter had to fly down to Houston from NYC on a Sunday, watch a silly little film on Monday, surgery on Tuesday, flew back to NYC on Friday and worked Saturday and she's a hair colorist. So she was up on her feet all day. So recovery is no big deal. You'll be surprised. But I would either get some anti-nausea over the counter med or ask doc. I was also given a script for Zantac in case I needed it.

You'll do fine.

trisha

If there was anything I would recommend it would be:

Take a pillow with you for your ride home.

Make sure you have GasX to help with the gas pain after surgery and for the first few months afterwards.:cursing:

Walk a little every day going farther and farther each day. This will help with the gas pain as well as help you on your weight loss journey. I started walking around the house and then ventured outdoors as I could tolerate it. It really helped with the recovery period!

Good luck and let me know if you have any further questions.

I had surgery at 11:00 and left the hospital by 4. Make sure you have your pain meds filled before surgery and take it as prescribed for the first few days. I needed help getting out of bed for the first two days, because I couldn't go from lying down to sitting up unassisted. I did NOT however experience the killer gas pains most do, thank Goodness. I guess my surgeon removed most of it, bless him. If you surgeon would give you a prescription for a nausea medication, I would suggest that, also. I left with a script for phenergan which I still have needed and used on occasion (maybe 3 times) since my surgery 18 months ago. Vomiting is a big no-no and should be avoided after being banded.

Edited January 24, 201016 yr by crzytchr

new-nette, hopefully all went well for you yesterday and when you're feeling better will let us know how you're doing. Congratulations!! You now have a place on the loser's bench!!

Trisha