Hey There,

Just looking for any July 2011 banders. I just started my process, but as that I am "self-pay", I am on a fast track to surgery. Although, not terribly obese (bmi 34), I am using lap band surgery as a tool for continued success after loosing weight. I have always been able to join a program(diet or exercise or prescription) and loose weight.....I've done it several times with several different programs (not a good thing), but I always gain the weight back and more. Now that I am in my 40s, it is harder to loose and faster to come back. No more, I say! I want to be heathy in my future - family history/genetics dictates that I will/can be using a walker or wheel chair from degenerative bones and joints, heart disease, diabetes. I am trying to steer clear of that but still keep seeing myself heading in that direction, so now is the time for further action. Although apprehensive about going under, I am reading all the good things about the lap band procedure and am hoping that it is just a little more than the tubiligation and endemetrial ablasion that I had done last year. At least, I am thinking of it that way, so as to not scare myself too badly!

Lisa B - Northern Virginia

I had my surgery on thurs and went to work on mon, I'm a nurse so my job requires some physical things but had assistance lifting. I was not in pain just still gassy.

I am being banded on the thursday and hoping to be back to work on the Monday, but its a sit down job so I am hoping for the best.

Good Luck with the job thing!!!!! Hopefully you won't loose it.

Thanks everyone for encouraging words. I am going through with the procedure as planned - if I lose my job over it I'll probably go look for a lawyer because I'm pretty sure that's not legal. Worst case scenario I will find another job. I'm great at what I do, I'm not worried about it. I'm already a happy person, and outgoing and very goofy -- add on top of it the added happiness and self esteem boost of finally losing weight and I'm sure I'll find one in a week or two.

Hi Jen.

I can't wait until Monday and dread it at the same time. I think coming on here makes me much calmer. Am very excited to meet you in recovery! To be completely honest, I am having a beer! I don't really even like beer but it's my last one for while.

I feel so inspired by all the newly banded. Thanks for keeping us positive! It means so much. I look forward to being on the other side!!!

All the best.

Lisa

Hey everyone, figured I would check in here on the pre-op thread. I had a mixed bag of a day, thought I would share with you. I got in a lot more water today than I thought I would. Not quite the 64 oz I'm supposed to but much closer than yesterday. I'm down by 4 pounds to 174.4! Haven't seen that in a few years.

I experienced sliming today. From water. Easy on how fast you sip and make sure it clears your tummy. I did not enjoy the sensation of water backing up into my esophagus.

Gas pains are ok but getting rid of the gas been an experience. I mean, even my cats have cleared away from me. My kids are holding their noses, even I'm a little disgusted.

Hi everyone. I was banded on the 5th and getting better every day. I weaned off the codeine and am on Tylenol only today and feel ok. Surgery went well at Stanford, besides being 2 hours late, once I went in, I was out by 3.5 hours later and in the car on the way home. I'm getting sick of liquids and have no interest in eating. Gas pains in my neck are killer in the morning and evenings. Overall doing well. Good luck to everyone coming up soon!

Glad to hear all of you recently banded friends are doing well!! Keep on feeling better.

Hey Erica!

You should look up the Family and Medical Leave Act. If you've been employed for 12 months and worked 1250 hours in that year, you cannot be the victim of any adverse employment action. Just a thought.

Kate

Does anybody else have IBS? All this liquid is still going right through me. I'm more miserable because of that than I am because of any denial of food. In fact, I haven't consumed my allottment of protein shakes and other foods that I'm allowed because if I'm at work I'm going to have to go run to the bathroom 4 times over one protein shake. Yesterday all I had (besides water) was half of a protein shake.

Hey Erica!

You should look up the Family and Medical Leave Act. If you've been employed for 12 months and worked 1250 hours in that year, you cannot be the victim of any adverse employment action. Just a thought.

Kate

Family Medical Leave Act only applies to companies that have greater than 50 employees. Don't want to discourage you - just want to add a fact from the law.

HI Crash, thanks for this. I have been doing ok, having a little cheat here or there. But for the most part staying strong.

tell me how its been so far, so are you on day 4 today? How does your belly feel? how does the restriction feel?

Dawn Marie

I know I'm not Shauna or Rebecca, but I thought I'd just add to what you posted... I was banded on July 6th, just 3 days ago. I had to do a preop liquid diet, no food, just protein drinks, for 2 weeks. Granted, a few nights I did have some lettuce, onions and peppers with a tablespoon of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and on the second to last day I did cheat a little at a BBQ. But for the most part, I stuck to the diet. After surgery, my surgeon requires only water or crystal light the day of surgery and day 1 post op. Days 2-6 post op is clear protein drinks and clear liquids like broth or herbal tea. Days 7-14 are protein shakes with milk. Days 14-21 is pureeds and mushies and last but absolutely not least, 1-2 weeks after mushies I can start introducing regular foods slowly.

With all that being said, for me personally, there is NO WAY I would be able to handle all that without a 2 week liquid diet. Mentally, I wouldn't be able to handle it. I know myself. And if I had to deal with just having surgery and the realization that I wouldn't be having real food (as opposed to fake...? lol) for weeks, I would probably not be able to do it. My surgeon has strict guidelines but I completely trust that he makes the right decisions for his patients. I know 2 other patients of his and they have had great success.

Also, the preop diet takes off some nice lbs! I lost 10.2 in my pre op. So it's a nice jump start for weight loss too. So keep your head up and you'll be in the hospital for surgery in NO TIME! I can't believe I'm post op already!!! A year of thinking and researching and here I am

Best of luck

I'm on day 4 of my pre-op and I can't decide if it's getting easier or harder! It's a little easier now as I'm not constantly thinking about foods I can't have (although I did drive by a Carl's Jr. today and briefly had a thought!). But I'm finding myself hungrier and hungrier, and the things I'm allowed don't make me feel full. I'm so lucky because I'm not on a full liquid diet, I would be cheating like all get out! I'm already cheating a little bit by putting a little BBQ sauce on my plain chicken. I'm also allowed plain turkey, egg whites (ewww), and plain tuna. Again, I'm probably gonna cheat a little by putting some mayo in the tuna. Is that horrible? This whole pre-op diet just seems kind of ridiculous since so many doctors don't even require it...I mean, how important can it be then?

Shauna

Thank you, Shauna for being hungrier and hungrier as you know I am right there with you. One day I do fantastic and the next day I struggle. I keep telling myself this should be easier. As for the the nervousness I am so nervous that I can't sleep at night. It seems to be consuming all of my thoughts. I will leave on Tuesday to travel to Dallas. I have my pre-op on Wednesday and then surgery on Friday. My husband is flying down Wednesday night to be there for the surgery on Thursday and then drive me back over sometime on the weekend. I don't want to sit in the car for 6 hours right after surgery. I'm thinking that would or could cause blood clots. Good luck the rest of the week on our diet. I agree with why are we even doing it because some of the doctors don't require it. I know it is to shrink the liver, but does it really do that since not all of the doctors require it.

Denise

For those of us in the Massachusetts/NH area, today's Groupon is for GNC! Read the fine print, though, because it's three specific locations: Canton, Wilmington and Milford, NH. For the $19 Groupon, you get $40 worth of merchandise. The link is http://www.groupon.com/r/uu3759504

For anyone who has gone to GNC, you know that the $$ can really add up quickly (I just spent $50+ yesterday for small quantities of things to try!)

Twilled,

Thanks for your thoughts, best wishes to you, too. I am 4 days post banding, feeling pretty good today. I have been sore over the past few days, but whats not to expect, right? Keep reviewing the postings on this forum, it will provide lots of information and support.

Lisa

Hi Lisa B,

I am scheduled to be banded on 7/21 and I'm excited. I started this process over 6 months ago and really didn't feel that confident that my insurance would over the procedure because I too have a BMI of 34. Thankfully they authorized it with no questions so I am counting down the days. My history is very similar to yours in that I have tried numerous diets and lost the weight, but gained it all back. (How frustrating is that?) I am over 40 with three children and finally realized that I needed to take control of my weight and lap band is just the tool to help me along. Good luck to you.

Surgery July 13th. Glad to see everyone has had positive experiences thus far!

I'm scheduled for July 19 and pretty excited and nervous of changing my entire life!!!