Calling all upcoming bandsters...

I just wanted to start a thread where everyone can post their surgery dates and we can start to compare notes.

I am scheduled for 9/12. I have ALL my pre-op stuff next Wed & Thurs, including psych eval, sleep consult, lab work, 4 hr nutrition class, and pre-op appt with surgeon. It is going to be a couple of very full days.

My parents are coming for a visit the following week, and I don't plan on telling them about the surgery, so I am rushing to get through all of that before they get here.

How is everyone else doing getting their pre-op stuff scheduled?

Here is the list of September Bandsters: I'll try to keep it updated for everyone.

9/1 okiegirl

9/1 TexasBr@t

9/1 TruBlueSue

9/1 finallyonmyway

9/1 ashley

9/4 JamesA

9/4 SLHarrison

9/5 Em1125

9/5 kittylover54

9/5 mcw12985

9/5 chabutter

9/5 BigBZ

9/5 TamifromAL

9/6 Ashlee

9/6 Cole

9/6 Kathy S

9/6 r2ht4u

9/6 Gjdf52

9/6 babyjessica

9/6 P McDonald

9/6 harlito

9/6 kareyquilts

9/6 LindaN

9/7 bibytz

9/7 kristyinusa

9/7 sunnshyne411

9/7 MICHELLE43

9/7 cassandra

9/7 green

9/7 happykat

9/8 dovie6523

9/8 valgal1968

9/8 PattyMartin

9/9 mary9

9/9 msgoat4949

9/11 cindyn

9/11 BJean

9/11 SheryBery

9/11 SherryA

9/11 RHCPgirl

9/11 lamamama

9/11 PHAT TX

9/11 drcollier

9/11 fraleyk

9/11 Dana Kwt

9/12 want2lose

9/12 ItsGottaGo!

9/12 TxAngel

9/12 HopeWorks

9/12 kattiegirl

9/12 brendab

9/13 katt

9/13 jewel

9/13 avasa

9/13 whlatimer

9/13 twiceblessed

9/13 suleehci@yahoo.

9/14 gonnabethin

9/14 mom of many

9/14 spike6

9/15 swanny

9/15 fugnick

9/15 coryW

9/15 ericergoman

9/15 melissa0915

9/18 Linstadt

9/18 tayvia99

9/18 April

9/18 Turmoil

9/18 LovinColorado

9/19 vv0710

9/19 susoue

9/19 Elaine53

9/19 reredc

9/19 missSD

9/19 sweet31eve

9/19 lisalee

9/20 mariecarmen

9/20 wantlapband

9/20 samos

9/20 labradoodle

9/20 ErinS

9/20 beechpad

9/20 lifelongband

9/20 mejomojogolow

9/21 jgandg

9/21 WandaKay

9/21 Dallasmist

9/21 JewelsInLove

9/21 YellowRoseKnows

9/22 diane5467

9/22 kellieatkins30

9/22 Lila

9/22 shell04937

9/22 venetiaann

9/22 butterfly1973

9/22 teachmath

9/23 tgjones

9/25 buzz321

9/25 sandranoelle

9/26 marie noone

9/26 christy

9/26 Lin

9/26 The Woman

9/27 Bettina

9/27 tommygirl

9/27 GettinThinMan

9/27 MimIN

9/28 Tracicat

9/28 jumbojet

9/28 "D"-n-OK

9/28 rbabcock61

9/28 Lisa99

9/29 Lapoli7

9/29 ratgirl

9/29 sweetsue

9/29 chattanoogabrat

9/29 phw72

9/29 JessyInSD

9/29 Chrissy "O"

To everyone: I was banded 9/12/06 and I haven't had any bowel trouble except not going very much but with liquid in what could I expect. I also haven't had the pain that some of the others have written about. My stomach is still swollen more on the left side but I go in for checkup tomorrow so I will just wait to ask. I am still on liquids for another week and I can tell I could hold more but am cautious. Thanks for all the posted information it makes me feel better knowing I can read and find out if I am normal. I have lost 10lbs so far 246/236.Thanks Brendab

First attempt at ticker using Photonut's directions

Ahhh. Now I get it... NOT!

FYI and FWIW.. my doc showed me medical photos of a cross section of an esophogus before LB, after LB, and what a normal esophogus should look like after a year of being banded, and what one looks like after someone who decides to bypass the issue of not being able to eat as much.

In the last picture, the esophogus is all misshapen and stretched out. He explained that food is sometimes held in the esophogus waiting for it to slowly move down past the band into the stomach. Over time, a person who overeats and stuffs food on top of food just above the Band, can get used to that feeling of fullness mistaking it for being a good thing. They keep over filling that area just above the band. Then the esophogus starts becoming very irritated and things can happen like slime production, coughing, hernias, etc. Sometimes they have to go in and remove some of the abused esophogus. When you run out of healthy esophogus, no more banding, and probably lots of spit ups and other side effects will follow.

Put the fear in me, that's for sure. I wish everyone could see the picture. It sure makes a believer of you.

Another bit of info he shared yesterday was that he can't do any restriction (told him I was hungry) until all of the swelling from surgery has happened - usually 6 weeks. If done before the swelling has gone down and healing has happened, the restriction can do all of the negative things we've heard about here - PBs, sliming, vomiting, etc. And he said that then you get into the extremely serious situation where your band will slip and eventually have to be removed. :faint:

I hope I'm not repeating stuff that's already been said here. But he sure helped me to understand why they insist on the post-op diet and waiting for healing before any restriction.

BJean,

Thanks for the good info!

I went in yesterday for my post-op appointment, and it went very well, and I will get my first fill on Oct 17th...Yeeha!

Sherry

FYI and FWIW.. my doc showed me medical photos of a cross section of an esophogus before LB, after LB, and what a normal esophogus should look like after a year of being banded, and what one looks like after someone who decides to bypass the issue of not being able to eat as much.

In the last picture, the esophogus is all misshapen and stretched out. He explained that food is sometimes held in the esophogus waiting for it to slowly move down past the band into the stomach. Over time, a person who overeats and stuffs food on top of food just above the Band, can get used to that feeling of fullness mistaking it for being a good thing. They keep over filling that area just above the band. Then the esophogus starts becoming very irritated and things can happen like slime production, coughing, hernias, etc. Sometimes they have to go in and remove some of the abused esophogus. When you run out of healthy esophogus, no more banding, and probably lots of spit ups and other side effects will follow.

Put the fear in me, that's for sure. I wish everyone could see the picture. It sure makes a believer of you.

Another bit of info he shared yesterday was that he can't do any restriction (told him I was hungry) until all of the swelling from surgery has happened - usually 6 weeks. If done before the swelling has gone down and healing has happened, the restriction can do all of the negative things we've heard about here - PBs, sliming, vomiting, etc. And he said that then you get into the extremely serious situation where your band will slip and eventually have to be removed. :faint:

I hope I'm not repeating stuff that's already been said here. But he sure helped me to understand why they insist on the post-op diet and waiting for healing before any restriction.

SherryA: You already have an appointment! I'm envious. At least you now have a date to look forward to.

I have to go back in 2 weeks to meet with the Dietician. I'm sure the whip will come out. I'm actually doing better today with the hunger thing than the past couple of days. I'm working much harder at getting more protein.

How are you feeling? How about the hunger thing for you?

I made it!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

:wow2:

Congratulations. I have 15 more to go to I can visit you in onederland!

gonnabethin: YEA for you!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is absolutely fabulous!! It's all downhill from here. I am very proud of you. I hope we can both hang in there and reach our goals in record time. Having you rockin' along with me is going to be a huge help!

BJean: I am feeling perfectly fine! No problems here. I started mushies on Monday, and I do get hungry, but I am so determined to make this damn thing work for me, that I wont "cheat" or it will just be my old ways haunting me. I havent varied much in the diet that my nutrionist gave me, but I see her next Tuesday... I can start solids this coming Monday (2 weeks post-op) if I chew the heck out of it...I am looking forward to that.

Gonnabethin: WOOHOO! I cannot wait to get there..I have about 10 to go...So close!! CONGRATS!!

Good luck to all the upcoming bandsters!

Sherry,

I started mushies yesterday. What have you been eating? I'm looking for ideas.

Sherry, our dieticians must be in sync. I can add baked fish and tuna on Monday, plus (and I'm so excited about this) toast or crackers! The thing that seems to help the most with my hunger is scrambled eggs with non-fat chedder cheese on them. I've never eaten lo-fat, or non-fat cheese before in my life. I mean, what's the point?

But the cheese just seems to give the eggs more body and it's very satisfying. Also, cottage cheese with canned pears (packed in lite juice) is almost like having a dessert at this point.

Last night I had a baked potato, no salty skin - like I love - but the lo-fat sour cream I put on it was surprisingly good.

And, I've found the best popsicles. They're Tuttie-Fruttie Pops under the Kroger brand. Only 15 cal ea. and they take a long time to eat, and there are 2 flavors in one pop. Much better than regular popsicles!

Also working harder at drinking water 1 to 2 hours after eating. I think that has really been helping.

Glad things are going well for you and you're feelin' fine! What's your favorite food right now?

Hello All,

Glad to read everyone is doing well.

Tomorrow will make number seven I am surviving sometimes a little down especially if I watch tv and see all those food commercials.

But the losing weight is helping I can't belive how much I have lost. But I won't melt so that is kewl!!!!!

Just can't wait for the surgery to get here, just want to have it done. The closer it gets the more excited I get but nervous too. I know everything will be fine its just the worrier in me.

Well almost my bed time but wanted to check in. I am tired of seeing glucerna and pudding:speechles I will do what it takes if anyone has any tips on how to make the liquid portion better let me know.

I am hanging in there and exercising on my lunch for at least 30 minutes a day.

Have a great night

Today I am 8 days post op. I am very very hungry today. I still have to be on clear liquids only and 3 protein shakes a day (4oz) for another week. I don't know how I'm going to make it. I am debating trying some cream soup, but I don't want to disobey my dr.s orders. It's amazing that two days ago, I couldn't choke down a 1/4 cup of broth and today I am starving. I knew that wouldn't last. I will call the dietician tomorrow and ask. I sure hope they say I can have some thicker liquids. I have been on 3 shakes a day, broth, sf popsicles, sf jello and diet tea for 3 weeks now!

ItsGottaGo, hope that you find a way to stave off your hunger!

I'm having a setback -- my husband found out today that they're going to do a bunch of layoffs at his job in the next few weeks. This makes me SO uneasy because I'm selfpay -- if I cancel surgery now I'll be out $500 (by just a freaking day, if only they'd been told yesterday), but at least I'll get the rest of my payment back. At the same time, I've so been looking forward to this, and I hate to lose that $500!