October 2006 Bandsters!

[purtynailz@aol. 0]

I am so glad everyone is doing so great! It gives my alot of courage to get my band done on Tuesday the 17th, Today I weighted in and lost 10.2 in a week with the liquid diet. Just got off the phone with a very nice nurse and am signed in I have to be there at 5AM YUK surgery at 7:30am I am 1st on the list for the day.I started this back in May and am now just getting this done. I can't wait. I also asked not to have a resident do surgery on me. Just my surgeon and she said no problem. Just when I sign the paper the hospital gives me, cross off the res. part and I will put my name by it. I want experince doing my surgery. no students. Dont mean to be mean, just had bad experinces with students. Well good luck to everyone tomorrow will be looking to hear from you soon. Mary

[Auntie Aud 0]

Congrats to all those who have had surgery this week - I hope you are all recovering well!

I had a pre-op seminar last night, we met with the nurse, a social worker, a dietician, and an exercise specialist. We were able to ask any questions we had, and were given lots of information on what we needed to do and where we could buy things we might need. (Rather than a food processer, they recommended a baby food grinder that can be purchased a Babys R Us for 14.95, etc)

One of the things that came up was the pain in the left shoulder. The nurse said that it was from the diaphragm being irritated during surgery. She said to put ice on your tummy right below the rib cage and at the same time put a heating pad on your left shoulder. Sounded odd to me, but since she was the doctor's first patient I am thinking she would know.

I am so anxious now for surgery! 11 days and counting!!

My Dr. doesn't require a pre op diet, but I have put myself on one. Might as well start eating right now. I had my "last supper" last week at Morton's, and started my self-imposed liquid diet this week. So far, I'm down 8 pounds!

Thanks to all for sharing their experiences and successes, it has helped keep me excited about the process!

[MarySue33 0]

Hi all,

I was banded on Monday and have been anxious to get back to my computer to see how everyone did this week and to update all of you on my own surgery.

I had my surgery on Monday with Dr. Currie in Harrisburg, PA. All went well. He did find a hiatal hernia which he repaired while he was in there, but told my friends who were with me that things went well and that things looked good. He keeps patients overnight in the hospital (fine with me) so that we get to have that lovely barium swallow the next morning before we are released. I go back for my first post op appointment a week from tomorrow.

The only new advice that I can think of is that if you have not stopped drinking caffeine before your surgery, do it now if you can. I didn't -- I have filled my last few weeks with 'last hurrahs' and 'last suppers' and decided just to go cold turkey on everything -- soda, caffeine, sugar, white bread, other junky stuff, etc. I had a whopping headache in the hospital on the day after surgery. I said something to the nurse and the first thing she asked me was if I had been a big caffeine drinker before surgery. Yep...I had my last diet coke Sunday evening before heading up to Harrisburg.

I live about 85 miles from the hospital so I spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights at my friend's. (She only lives 10 min from the hospital.) She had to talk me into it, but it was the smartest thing I could have done! I still felt pretty crummy Tuesday and started to perk up yesterday but there was no way I was ready to drive home 85 miles on those gosh darned PA roads (they have awful roads) with an ouchy tummy. I woke up feeling great today and headed home by noontime. I tucked a pillow between my tummy and the seatbelt and did just fine. My incision spots are still a little ouchy, but thanks to all of you I was prepared for the gas and walked around a lot the past few days and was really glad I had my Gas-X strips and my heating pad.

It is just now sinking in that I am really banded...and that I will never be eating junk again. I'll tell you...I didn't realize just how many food ads there are on tv (and not healthy stuff, either) until the past few days. If I saw that TGI Friday's appetizer ad one more time I think I would have had to buy her a new TV...I was ready to hurl the remote right at it!

Anyway...I am happy and excited and feeling great and I just wanted to share. Glad to hear that most everyone has had good experiences this week. Best of luck to tomorrow's new bandsters!

One last thing...are any of you going to get medic alert bracelets? I asked my dr about him and he said that some patients do and others choose not to. I figure if they need to snake a tube down my throat I want them to know it's there. I will also definitely carry that little card in my wallet, but I don't always have my wallet with me...What do you guys think?

[NewBeginnings2018 81]

Congrats MarySue! Glad to hear things went so well!

I've been meaning to order a medic alert Bracelet, but have some apprehension since I am keeping my band private from people other than my family and close friends. I suppose I should worry about my health more.

[KStar 2]

Surgery in 12 hours and counting, i don't think i will be able to sleep. i can't stop cleaning my house....lol

[Joy Joy 0]

This liquid diet SUCKS so bad.....ugh this was the first day....and oh boy was it hard! 13 days til im official

[Auntie Aud 0]

Congrats MarySue! I'm glad that your experience overall has been positive! It's good to hear.

I've had those coming off of caffeine headaches, they are nasty! That's good advice to get off of it before surgery.

I hadn't heard about the medic alert bracelet... My Dr. hadn't mentioned it, do most Dr.'s recommend? Sounds as though it may be a good idea?

[~Jules~ 0]

Joy Joy,

Hang in there. It does get better. The first couple of days was the hardest for me. I am on day number 4 right now. I think it is going to be the longest two weeks of my life. lol Maybe not, but it sure seems like it.

Good Luck to you!!

[MarySue33 0]

Thanks, Chrispygal!

I have been keeping mine pretty private, too, but I think I'll lean toward safety on this one. I have been looking online and there are lots of bracelets and watches that don't look like the clunky old ugly medic alert bracelets that spring to mind when someone mentions the subject.

There are actually a number of somewhat discreet and stylish options available.

Check out the following:

www.laurenshope.com

www.aboutmejewelry.com

http://www.rosemarybeads.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=9&zenid=556a7995a474075c856bfb5392415558

http://www.hahoriginals.com/catalog/default.php/cPath/64

http://www.milnejewelry.com/Doc_Tock/watch07.html

http://www.petitebaublesboutique.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=MedicalIdAlertWatches

Right now I think I am leaning toward a watch. All of the private medical info will be on the inside and the medic alert symbol is on the clasp or on the face.

My family knows, but they are sworn to secrecy, so they will never tell. Most of my friends are polite enough not to ask. They didn't pry when I was having surgery -- they are just all there for me and being very supportive. I work with some really bold and nosy folks and if one of them asks me what that is for, I will just politely say, "It's kinda personal..." and leave it at that. It is none of their business, anyway. I love keeping them guessing...it drives them nuts!

[purtynailz@aol. 0]

joy joy, I was on the diet for 4-5 months 1 1/2 years ago so 2 wks is nothing, just to give you a lift, I lost 10.2 lbs today after 1 week. It get s easier as the days go by. Our food is good and can have chili, Soups, oatmeal and bars and shakes or puddings. There are alot of choices.

Oh and everyone try the new spenda sugars made for coffee with french vanilla, hazelnut and mocha. I added the french vanilla in my oatmeal and it was great. 3.49 for 30 packets. Mary

[MarySue33 0]

A lot of folks have said that they carry their band card in their wallet with their driver's license, but I like to spend a lot of time in the woods and I don't always have my wallet with me, so I figure to be safe I will probably just get either a watch or a pendant and wear it religiously.

[JWH 0]

Hi All!

I am very excited to see weight loss and progress from everyone! Way to go! Good job Joanne!

Today I had kind of a bad day. No energy, just needed to sit and be still. Kind of depressed even though I'm losing weight because I can't move around like I want to. Oh, well, it's surgery, so this shouldn't surprise me. The good news is the pain is much, much less.

[KStar 2]

okay the time has arrived for me to leave for the hospital. Surgery at 10:30am. I am so excited. I slept better then i thought i would last night. Hope all is well with everyone! I will talk to yall when i get home. BANDLAND HERE I COME!!!:clap2:

[kayleesmom 0]

KStar...get off the computer and get to bandland!!! LOL Best of luck. I'll say a quick prayer for you. You will be through before you know it!!!

[mzsmartypantz 0]

This liquid diet SUCKS so bad.....ugh this was the first day....and oh boy was it hard! 13 days til im official

Joy:

It gets better. I had a hard first day with the liquid diet too. Major caffeine withdrawal headache. I am now on day 10 and it is so much better. Hang in there!