Hey Ladies and Gents!

Having my Surgery done April 4th. Starting my Pre op diet tomorrow. They said Protein shake for Breakfast, small low fat/sugar lunch, Protein Shake for dinner until surgery. Any suggestions for the low fat/sugar lunch suggestions?

Im heading down to LA to get it done. They will arrange for me to be driven to and from there as I live in San Jose, Ca. My hubby is going to come with me for support. Hopefully they will give me enought pain meds for the ride home. Heh Woot! I'll be a Hollywood starlet by next summer haha!

So who else is getting banded in April? I could use a band-buddy for my journey!

Yeah, I scrubbed everything last night, shaved my legs, etc... then this morning I sat on the side of the tub and did another cleaning of the private area with peppermint soap! Just worried that I couldn't shower today. Freaks me out.... just grossed out if I dont have a tub bath every night and shower every morning

So glad everyone is doing well this week. Congrats! I'll start clear liquids tomorrow for surgery Friday! I wish I had the last super green light too! I like that Dr. Need to make the run to store tomorrow as thought prepared but had nutrition class today and learned about the extra protein powder etc. Kind of stressed about the puréed week and soft week as feel like I need to plan out to make sure to get protein and not a good planner. The liquid diet was easy as not much choice and just made 2 shakes in am to take to work.

Now that I had a great night sleep, I can share a little more about the surgery and overall experience yesterday.

I was the doctor's first patient yesterday at 8:30am and had to be there at 6:30. I wasn't particularly nervous until I left my family and got into the OR. But was oddly comforted when I looked over the resident's shoulder to see her playing Draw Something on her iPhone. We had a good laugh guessing bagpipes, and it made me feel like this wasn't going to be a big deal...

Surgery took an hour end to end, and recovery was fine, though they made my mom and husband leave the room and even though I kept asking for my husband, they never got around to letting him back in... I suggest if you want your significant other to be in there with you, urge them to be a little aggressive about it and keep trying to go in...

Left the hospital around 5pm. A little sore, but not too bad. Mostly EXHAUSTED! The worst part has been my throat. The breathing tube just destroyed it. I've been using the numbing spray, which helps a lot, and lollypops, which helps a little, but is a little too sticky-sweet... It's weird, before surgery I was all about the sweet. After surgery I'm all about the savory... I was able to get down surprisingly more liquid than I thought I would!! But because of my throat, BY FAR the most helpful thing to drink has been matzoh-ball soup broth. I made my husband go out to the Jewish Deli last night (it felt like a pregnancy craving, HAD to have it!!) and it lived up to every fantasy. There's something amazing about the heat and all those spices like dill and pepper that opens up my throat. I feel like a sponge filling up.

As others here have described, my stomach has been achy, but not really painful. It's like I've been kicked in the stomach, or did too many sit-ups. The later it got last night, the worse it got though. And even exhausted, I had a pretty bad night... I just couldn't get comfortable or fall asleep.... And every time I did fall asleep, I'd JOLT awake to one of those dreams where you're afraid you're holding a drink or your computer and are about to drop it... This went on for hours, and I finally started crying I was so tired... The only way I was ultimately able to fall asleep was by laying on my side. It hurt a little more in that position, but since it's my usual position, I think I was asleep in less than a minute...

Woke up at 5:30am feeling tight and dry in my stomach. Like a scab feels tight... Took meds, drank some broth, and feeling really good. Very well rested, relaxed, and it's a lot easier to get up and down from the bed and walk around.

My shopping list for post-surgery:

- GasX strips that melt on your tongue

- throat spray

- Lollypops

- hot drinks with lots of flavor—home-made chicken soup broth, tomato soup, tea, etc

- cold with a lot of flavor—V-8 Juice, diet sports drinks, crystal light, etc.

- bed tray would have been nice...

- and if you wear reading glasses, make sure you don't leave them at work.

Anyway, I'm so excited to be feeling better today. I had such a great sleep!!! I'm looking forward to taking a walk around the block later, get some air.

Now that I had a great night sleep' date=' I can share a little more about the surgery and overall experience yesterday.

I was the doctor's first patient yesterday at 8:30am and had to be there at 6:30. I wasn't particularly nervous until I left my family and got into the OR. But was oddly comforted when I looked over the resident's shoulder to see her playing Draw Something on her iPhone. We had a good laugh guessing bagpipes, and it made me feel like this wasn't going to be a big deal...

Surgery took an hour end to end, and recovery was fine, though they made my mom and husband leave the room and even though I kept asking for my husband, they never got around to letting him back in... I suggest if you want your significant other to be in there with you, urge them to be a little aggressive about it and keep trying to go in...

Left the hospital around 5pm. A little sore, but not too bad. Mostly EXHAUSTED! The worst part has been my throat. The breathing tube just destroyed it. I've been using the numbing spray, which helps a lot, and lollypops, which helps a little, but is a little too sticky-sweet... It's weird, before surgery I was all about the sweet. After surgery I'm all about the savory... I was able to get down surprisingly more liquid than I thought I would!! But because of my throat, BY FAR the most helpful thing to drink has been matzoh-ball soup broth. I made my husband go out to the Jewish Deli last night (it felt like a pregnancy craving, HAD to have it!!) and it lived up to every fantasy. There's something amazing about the heat and all those spices like dill and pepper that opens up my throat. I feel like a sponge filling up.

As others here have described, my stomach has been achy, but not really painful. It's like I've been kicked in the stomach, or did too many sit-ups. The later it got last night, the worse it got though. And even exhausted, I had a pretty bad night... I just couldn't get comfortable or fall asleep.... And every time I did fall asleep, I'd JOLT awake to one of those dreams where you're afraid you're holding a drink or your computer and are about to drop it... This went on for hours, and I finally started crying I was so tired... The only way I was ultimately able to fall asleep was by laying on my side. It hurt a little more in that position, but since it's my usual position, I think I was asleep in less than a minute...

Woke up at 5:30am feeling tight and dry in my stomach. Like a scab feels tight... Took meds, drank some broth, and feeling really good. Very well rested, relaxed, and it's a lot easier to get up and down from the bed and walk around.

My shopping list for post-surgery:

- GasX strips that melt on your tongue

- throat spray

- Lollypops

- hot drinks with lots of flavor—home-made chicken soup broth, tomato soup, tea, etc

- cold with a lot of flavor—V-8 Juice, diet sports drinks, crystal light, etc.

- bed tray would have been nice...

- and if you wear reading glasses, make sure you don't leave them at work.

Anyway, I'm so excited to be feeling better today. I had such a great sleep!!! I'm looking forward to taking a walk around the block later, get some air.[/quote']

Thanks for posting this. Im on my way there now. It helped.

Went to my Pre-op doctors appt yesterday. Had a group Q&A session and the Patient Advocate said the night before surgery go out and have whatever you want for dinner So I get a Last Supper too. Going out tonight with the family, we have Anniversary celebrations anyways. Ready for tomorrow morning, I am the first patient for the day. Good luck everyone.

Forgot to mention, these boards have helped so much. During the group session yesterday I pretty much knew everything they went over because I have heard it here. There was just one thing I didnt hear before, my doctor says if we get the flu in the future and are throwing up all the time from it, he wants us to come in so they can unfill us so throwing up doesnt damage the band. It makes sense but has anyone else heard of this.

One more day!! I am very anxious, I just want it to be tomorrow, I think I'm getting stress headaches. I'm kind of scared about what some of you are posting about pain and gas.

I am scheduled for 10am tomorrow morning and for some reason I feel like I am forgetting to do something, weird!

Forgot to mention, these boards have helped so much. During the group session yesterday I pretty much knew everything they went over because I have heard it here. There was just one thing I didnt hear before, my doctor says if we get the flu in the future and are throwing up all the time from it, he wants us to come in so they can unfill us so throwing up doesnt damage the band. It makes sense but has anyone else heard of this.

Yep, my doctor said the same thing. Puke once, leave it alone; have the flu, get unfilled.

Well I had my band put in on tuesday morning. I ended up getting very sick from the ansethisa and pain meds. I couldn't start my stage 2 until yesterday morning. I had very bad neck pains from the gas. I begged the hospital to let me go late last night (missed my family) they said if I could start stage 3 then I could. They also found a hiatal hernia while in there and repaired it. Today i am home... very sore and woke up to a nice big fever blister. Hoping all the negative is behind me and I start to feel better soon. Cannot take any pain meds except tylenol. So I am a bit sore. Lucky I have a great family who have helped me sooo much. Sorry if I am giving bad impression but just want to share my experience because everyones is different. Hope everyone is having a great day

Hello most of you have had surgery and the latest and the last comment on this thread Is for tomorrow surgery. Good luck! I have mine on may 9th just got the call from the hospital to ore register. I'm a bundle of nerves too. I was wondering if any of u got a recommendation to do the lap band and gastric plication from ur doc? Please lmk of u did? If not, lmk how are u feeling please I need some support

I am sitting in the waiting room, and I'll be seeing the anesthesiologist in half an hour, and I'll find out if I am good to go for surgery. I am 2 pounds below the cut off for my real height, and like 13 under for the height the surgeon put down for me. Hopefully their scale is kind

I am sitting in the waiting room' date=' and I'll be seeing the anesthesiologist in half an hour, and I'll find out if I am good to go for surgery. I am 2 pounds below the cut off for my real height, and like 13 under for the height the surgeon put down for me. Hopefully their scale is kind <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Omg... Good luck let me know how you do!

Well I had my band put in on tuesday morning. I ended up getting very sick from the ansethisa and pain meds. I couldn't start my stage 2 until yesterday morning. I had very bad neck pains from the gas. I begged the hospital to let me go late last night (missed my family) they said if I could start stage 3 then I could. They also found a hiatal hernia while in there and repaired it. Today i am home... very sore and woke up to a nice big fever blister. Hoping all the negative is behind me and I start to feel better soon. Cannot take any pain meds except tylenol. So I am a bit sore. Lucky I have a great family who have helped me sooo much. Sorry if I am giving bad impression but just want to share my experience because everyones is different. Hope everyone is having a great day

I don't understand the "stage" part. What is that?

They weighed me, and measured me with my shoes on! Surgery at 11:15 tomorrow!

This is what I have in my journal from my doctor:

Stage 1 Starts after surgery with IV fluids continuing... this lasts 1 day or less.

Stage 2 Completed in hospital. low sugar decaf non carbonated Clear Liquids (2oz-4oz per hour) this lasts one day or less

Stage 3 Getting ready for discharge you will be introduced to Stage 3 and evaluated for tolerance. low sugar high Protein modified full liquids. (4oz-8oz per hour) this last two to three weeks.

Stage 4 Home-follow up in clinic (approx 2 weeks after surgery) lean/soft ground foods. this lasts 4 to 5 weeks.

Stage 5. Home follow up in clinic (approx 6-8 weeks) lean meat, fish, poultry, Protein Bars, fresh fruit and veggies, whole grains, legumes, healthy fat and low fat dairy. LIFETIME.

hope this helps