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"

Okay guys I need some help... I was banded on Sept 4th...

Just went back to work last Friday back on my delivery route (I am a rural carrier for the USPS).. I was off of my route for almost 3 weeks due to the physical requirements of my job and I didnt want to mess anything up.. Here for the past 3-4 days I have had this really bad pain on my left side right by my rib cage.. not the port.. above the port to my left.. I'm thinking where the band is... Feels like a pulled muscle.. Have not had any problems eating or drinking no pb, burps, nothing but the pain.. I am SO FREAKED OUT!!! When I push around nothing hurts to the touch!!! Yikes guys help.. I am a self pay and can not afford another if I slipped..

scared

Have you called your Dr? Can you take a few days off and see if it feels better? I wish I had some advise. Take care.

KarenK,

I am so sorry that you have to go through all of this. I know you will build that Iron up. My prayers are with you through your hard time.

I am now officially no longer a September bandster. In fact, I no longer have any date at all set.

I am apparently anemic enough that they want me to take about 3 weeks to try to build up my iron levels.

Unfortunately, I also have developed something wrong with my throat (I'm coughin up quantities of blood), and need to go in for an upper scope on my esophagus tomorrow. They're afraid it might be Barrett's esophagus which would not be good news at all and may take me off the list for a lapband permanently.

In the meantime I'm trying to take things one day at a time.

KarenK

I've been off-line for a couple of days. I've been catching up with the posts from new bandsters from the past couple of weeks. You guys are scaring me!! :help:

Everyone's docs are different, but if my doctor says lift nothing over 10 lbs. for six weeks, I worry about those of you who are lifting children, weights and UPS packages! He was pretty graphic about what can happen if your band slips or erodes. And it ain't pretty! :omg:

Also, for those of you who are so hungry that you are breaking the rules by eating things that are not on your post-op food list, I'm afraid you're asking for trouble. If you are not eating enough Protein you will be hungry and if you are eating carbs (in almost any form) you will get VERY hungry. If you aren't getting your Vitamins, your body will start craving anything you'll give it so that it won't feel like you're in starvation mode.

If you want to come out of this surgery as a healthy, fit person, and if you want to have the energy to make your band work for you, playing by the rules is really a small thing and it will only last a couple of months. The payoffs are fantastic and worth it to me. I hope ithey are for you too, because having a gizmo implanted in the middle of my bod and 5 scars isn't worth it, otherwise.

I really don't think you should be lifting any packages yet. You should absolutely wait 6 weeks to lift anything heavy. You may have pulled a muscle from lifting. Not a good idea. You should have some help with you until your feeling 100%. The first 6 weeks is about taking care of yourself. Absolutely, no lifting.

Call your doctor and just let him know that your back to work in that type of capacity. Take care of yourself.

I would love to be able to take off work longer but I just dont have anymore leave time to take off.. and I need to get paid if ya know what I mean!! I have not had any really heavy packages here lately .. I just didnt realize how many times a day I have to bend over for something.. YIKES!! I have been trying to take it easy.. Just need other Sept Bandsters input on things to see if I need to go to the local ER or something.... I'm prob just paranoid... :sick

Thanks!!

Steph

want2lose: I plan on calling Monday if the pain hasnt let up... When Im not moving around as much it does not hurt..

When I first checked it on my day of surgery I told them I was a mail carrier and Gave me instructions not to lift anything over 35lbs for 2 weeks.. *SIGH* Other than this I LOVE MY BAND!!

Today is my off day.. then 3 more days untill my next off day.. I can make it!!! heheheh I have too!!

I work in a clinic and all of the bending and stooping yesterday and just grabbing charts I injured myself. I called and the nurse told me I either pulled a stitch or popped a stitch on my port. I don't know if this will change your mind. I have my post-op today and I don't think I will go back until Monday. I am going to be asking my doc for a note for specific light duty.

Good luck to you Steph.:bandit

Erin

I work in a clinic and all of the bending and stooping yesterday and just grabbing charts I injured myself. I called and the nurse told me I either pulled a stitch or popped a stitch on my port. I don't know if this will change your mind. I have my post-op today and I don't think I will go back until Monday. I am going to be asking my doc for a note for specific light duty.

Good luck to you Steph.:bandit

Erin

I wish I could go back only on light duty!! In my craft we have no light duty unless we were hurt on the job.. All or nothing in the Postal Service!!

I'll try and talk to my station manager and see if we could possibly make some arrangements.. aka get on my knees and beg for mercy!! LOL

Thanks Erin!! Good luch on getting better and let me know what the doc says..

TTFN

Steph

hmm..I wonder why my doctor didn't do that. I see him tomorrow. The area where my port is, is very very sore, a sharp pain to move and touch. Touching it makes me scream thats how much it hurts.

I cannot go to the bathroom either unless I force myself to go, I get no signal that little tickle feeling to go anymore??? Anybody else had this?

I will let him know everything tomorrrow.

I cannot go to the bathroom either unless I force myself to go, I get no signal that little tickle feeling to go anymore??? Anybody else had this?

I will let him know everything tomorrrow.

Did you have a catheter? I remember on the main board someone posted about the same issue.

Did you have a catheter? I remember on the main board someone posted about the same issue.

Hi, I had no catheter. I just don't feel the urge to go. I make myself go every hour, but I have to push, no natural urge at all.

Maybe you aren't drinking enough water.

hi, I am drinking alot of water and drinking my 5 protein shakes, plus popsicles and jello.

I'll find out tomorrow.

Thanks!

Six days later and boy does my port still hurt. I called my doctor's office today and found out it's normal, but I'm just bummed b/c I wasn't expecting it.

I also have a slight tightness in my chest, kind of like I have to burp, but I don't burp, it just sits there. Anyone else have that feeling?

We are in the home stretch now. Good luck tomorrow to Tracicat, jumbojet and "D"-n-OK. I hope all goes well and you have a quick recovery. Update us when you can.

I had that massive lump feeling in the middle of my chest for 5 days after my surgery. Couldn't burp it up. I found walking and lifting my arms up and down made it go away for awhile. Must have been surgical gas.

On my post-op visit, my surgeon told me to take MOM as I hadn't gone and didn't feel the need to. Worked like a charm and my barrel-shaped torso went down considerably, too.

I'm a little disappointed. I was looking forward to advancing to liquids after my post-op visit. I bought the cookbook, went shopping for ingredients and made and froze 5 different soups in 1/2 cup containers.

Not to be. 2 weeks of 3 protein shakes/day. No apple juice, no broth. Oh, well, like the pain and discomfort, this too shall pass.

Feeling better everyday,

MC