Hey there! I'm new to this site/forum. I was banded on 2/4/10 & am super excited to get this show on the road!

I'm lucky to have had my insurance cover my surgery, & I'm very fortunate to have family members on my side during this process.

I joined because I wanted to hear about other people's experiences along their way, & if I had any questions about any of this.

I hope to give some insight about a few topics, too!

Happy Banding,

Heather :tongue_smilie:

Congratulations on beginning your journey and best of luck to you. I was banded 2-3-10 and am very excited as well :cool2:. Support is a wonderful thing also. I have read and learned alot through this site in the short time i was here so i think you made yet another good choice in joining up. :tongue_smilie:

Welcome! Best of luck...keep us updated on your progress!

I'm just starting to look into the procedure, and will be paying cash...darn insurance won't cover ANYTHING weight related...grrrr

Anyway, can I ask you...what is the surgery like? Pain? Scars? Hunger? All that good stuff!

Thanks!

Melanie

Welcome! Best of luck...keep us updated on your progress!

I'm just starting to look into the procedure, and will be paying cash...darn insurance won't cover ANYTHING weight related...grrrr

Anyway, can I ask you...what is the surgery like? Pain? Scars? Hunger? All that good stuff!

Thanks!

Melanie

Well, I posted about my surgery here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/surgery-day-stories-64287/index33.html#post1420497

As far as pain, I was in a good amount of pain for a few days. Now, I'm sore in my lower stomach (the dr said it was from stretching/pushing on my organs to place the port). Now, the port is a little weird. It doesn't hurt, but it's an odd feeling. You can TELL there's something under your skin, but it definitely doesn't hurt.

Scaring seems like it's going to be pretty minimal. I had my gallbladder removed about 5 years ago, & it's the same type of procedure. I had VERY fant scaring from it, so I'm assuming this will be along the same lines. There's a bigger cut where my port was placed, but it's nothing major. My scaring tends to turn into a lighter shade of my skin color. It's not extremely noticeble, but I can see it.

Hunger isn't that big of an issue. I tend to only get really hungry when I first wake up. I tend to drink a lot of Water & Protein, so I'm not hungry often. The biggest thing to remember is that in the beginning, you're body is still healing. I didn't feel that true "hunger" feeling until about a week or so after my surgery. You're apetite it's quite the same in that healing stage, so you don't go looking for food, like you might have before the band.

Honestly, the hardest part of this entire thing so far has been the pre-op diet. It was so hard being on full liquids, then Clear Liquids after that. I broke down 2 days before my surgery. I just started crying because I was so hungry. The next day (day before my surgery) I was different. I guess I kept telling myself "just get through today".

Other than that, I hope I answered all your questions. If you have anything else you want to ask, feel free. I'm an open book.

Hi,

I was banded on the 4th too! This liquid post op diet is wearing very thin now. I saw you were from Louisiana and the first thing I thought was I bet gumbo strained would be really tasty! One more day of this liquid crap and I can eat normal food! I'm so ready for it! I can't remember why I was responding to you now cause I started thinking gumbo not strained would be even better.

Oh well, one more day of liquids and I'm done! Real food here I come!

Hi,

I was banded on the 4th too! This liquid post op diet is wearing very thin now. I saw you were from Louisiana and the first thing I thought was I bet gumbo strained would be really tasty! One more day of this liquid crap and I can eat normal food! I'm so ready for it! I can't remember why I was responding to you now cause I started thinking gumbo not strained would be even better.

Oh well, one more day of liquids and I'm done! Real food here I come! :wink:

Wow. You've been on a liquid diet for a long time. I've been able to return to normal eating as of last Wed. I'd be murdering someone if I'd have to go THAT long on liquids. I guess each doctor is a lot different, though.

PS - Yes, gumbo is amazing strained when you're on liquids. I did it! :eek: