I wanted to start a thread for those of us who are waiting "with bated breath" for our surgeries in March.

I am supposed to start Optifast on February 26th. I am currently waiting for the shipment, including my surgical package to be delivered. Once I get my package I am supposed to call the clinic.

Ever since committing to this surgery (which I am paying for myself via a personal loan) I have been obsessed with reading everything I can about it and about people who have had it. I am still kind of hoping for some kind of "divine word" about whether or not it is the right thing for me to do.

I am "only" 75 lbs over my ideal weight but am type II diabetic. I am trying to figure out if my reason for doing this is my health or my vanity or a combination of both. The diabetes needs to be gone (when I am 20 lbs lighter it is gone) but I am sure looking forward to losing the weight and actually keeping it off for more than 20 minutes...

lookin good!!!!!!!

I actually weighed-in at the hospital last night and have lost 4 lbs since surgery. That's 4lbs in 5 days so I can't complain. Total loss is 17lbs since starting my pre-op diet!!! :clap2:

GReAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You'll soon be in the 50's!

:mad: Hey all,

I am sitting in the waiting room of the hospital, they will be calling me back in just a minute and I will join the rest of you in Bandland. I will not be home until tomorrow and will try to post as soon as possible. Good luck to my fellow 3-21 people and Happy first day of Spring.

Linda

Hi guys..I weighed this morning and am down FOUR KILOS...that is about 9 pounds in a week. How CAN that be? I am drinking like crazy, so it isn't Water weight.....

I also had the waterproof bandages removed and am only left with the "ductape" holding my incisions closed... I can see the edge of the port scar, and if it is ANY indicator, this surgeon has magic hands... It looks smooth and FLAT! And, I keloid!!!

Karen:

Glad all went well! I've been thinking about you since we are band twins!

Mine went rather well, too, but I'm a little sore. I'm not sore enough for prescription drugs so I'm just using tylenol.

As soon as I feel a bit better I'll post a tell all story! Hang on to the edge of your seats........:guess

Off to eat my happy yogurt and popsicle!

demmemoon

Had surgery about 7:30 this morning. Now it's 1:20 and I'm ready for a nap at my house with my new sheets and clean bedroom and the windows flung open with fresh air coming in (plus an arm/shoulder massage from my very DH). Drinking some broth with the loritab. Not much pain--more like pressure in my chest when I have to breathe deep, which the dr. and nurse said I need to do a lot of because my oxygen was a little low.

Surgery took about 1 1/2 hours because they had to repair a hiatal hernia that I didn't know I had plus there was some scar tissue to work around from previous surgery (hysterectomy most likely).

Ready for dreamland. Will get back to you later. Thanks for your positive vibes, prayers, and good wishes. I'm thrilled! I made it and will be anxious to hear about my bandsisters. Karen

I wonder if this is part of the ketosis (sp) that happens to us when we start losing weight. It is the chemical reaction of the breaking down of the fat for energy and not using food for energy, because there is none available... Just my 2 cents.

It could be... people on certain kinds of diets (including strict atkins) are more prone to bad breath. If you want to know if you are in ketosis then you can test your urine with keto sticks. My brother was on the ketogenic diet for five years as a teen to help control his seizures and since then he has been on a strict version of the atkins. They are pretty similar, only the ketogenic is stricter.

Karen, I am sorry to hear about your father. Tell them you are very ill or as much as you feel comfortable saying and that you will be in to visit as soon as you possibly can and that you really wish you could be there with them, but you just can't today. I'm sure they will understand. And I think in a day or two you might feel well enough to go in-- just don't put yourself in the hospital. I was Banded 1 week ago-- and I'm a slow healer compared to a lot of these gals. I remember on Monday I asked my husband about a baby shower we had been invited to-- I asked when it was because I felt up to going even if it was the next day or whatever. I could have gone that day too! Apparently it had been the day before and oops he didn't think I would feel up to going and DH had fogotten to give the gifts we had gotten the hostess too! I think about three or four days post op is also when a lot of the swelling went down and that made it at least easier for me to move around and I was less sore after that too. I know how difficult your situation must be, just try to sleep the best you can, it will help you heal.

sounds good Machelle. you could be on to something. I tell you, the worst part of all of this has been covering it up with my friends and family...I'm a closet bandster.

I'm a closet bandster also. I have not told anyone in my family, just because of the critizism I've had in the past from them. My husband knows and 1 friend. I took off 3 days from work and all I had to tell my principal was "female problems", and he did not want to know anymore! :biggrin1: My friend has yo-yo'ed with her weight for many years, and understands the issues with it. She has been very supportive and even called me on my way home from the hospital! That's a real friend, who took the time to remember the day and the time of my surgery!

Good luck with your "closet"!

Hey all,

I am sitting in the waiting room of the hospital, they will be calling me back in just a minute and I will join the rest of you in Bandland. I will not be home until tomorrow and will try to post as soon as possible. Good luck to my fellow 3-21 people and Happy first day of Spring.

Linda

I'll be thinking about you Linda! Good Luck today and I'll see you on the other side! :thumb:

Hi guys..I weighed this morning and am down FOUR KILOS...that is about 9 pounds in a week. How CAN that be? I am drinking like crazy, so it isn't water weight.....

I also had the waterproof bandages removed and am only left with the "ductape" holding my incisions closed... I can see the edge of the port scar, and if it is ANY indicator, this surgeon has magic hands... It looks smooth and FLAT! And, I keloid!!!

WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!! That is awesome! I lost 9 pounds during the first week of my pre-op diet so it is possible. Did you do a pre-op diet? I always lose the most in the first week of starting any diet. It is just water weight though...losing water that your body has been retaining. You are off to a great start! :clap2:

Hi Everyone,

Had surgery on March 20th went well but I did not have to go on pre diet and the Dr. had to put in a 6th incision because of how fatty my liver was.

No Gas pains but the port site is very sensitive.

I had to stay over night in the ICU because of my damn sleep apnea. You Guys, I can't wait for that to go away.

Not only did I scare them during surgery and while sleeping, I also stopped breathing while I was sitting awake. I HAD NO CLUE THIS COULD HAPPEN.

**Very Important tip.

I went into the hospital weighing 266 I left this am at 271. I am so bloated. I brought jeans that were loose and I could not even begin to zip them.

I don't feel any restriction but I don't know if you can judge by just having liquid.

All in all I am glad I had this done.

On my way to onderland.

Just wanted to say Hi All,

I'm really finding all of your posts really helpful now as in what to expect, and I'm encoraged to see how your all doing post op. Its only a week and a half away then its April..... 12 days till surgery....GULP...

I want a spaghetti sandwich on thick toast, a side of mashed potatoes, some cheesey cauliflower (need some veggies, you know!) cottage cheese and a big ass cup of coffee that I can drink without thinking of small sips.

I don't really want dessert but I really am craving the above! :hungry:

:help:

the realities of day 2.5

demme

It could be... people on certain kinds of diets (including strict atkins) are more prone to bad breath. If you want to know if you are in ketosis then you can test your urine with keto sticks. My brother was on the ketogenic diet for five years as a teen to help control his seizures and since then he has been on a strict version of the atkins. They are pretty similar, only the ketogenic is stricter.

That bad breath is from ketosis and it WILL go away when you go back to eating regular foods.

Without going into lipolysis, kreb's cycle, and acetyl and everything, what you taste are called ketone bodies. When your body goes into ketosis, instead of burning glucose like you normally would, you start to burn fat. When you burn fat as part of your primary energy expenditure, ketones are a byproduct. They get excreted though your BREATH and urine. They tend to have a sweet, foul odor. If you want to know more, by some odd chance, let me know and I'll bore you to death. lol.

If you ever wanted to know, that is.

I have a question.. If you're cruising a long losing weight, maybe even before your first fill, will the Dr. not fill you as long as you continue to do well? Does he get feedback from you on what you're eating? Getting over filled sounds really sucky. I'm not a snacker or a junk food person...more of a big portion kind of guy. Before you had a fill, could you sit down and eat a whole porterhouse with all of the fixins?

Also, I've got this pretty nasty after taste in my mouth and my wife says my breath stinks now. Maybe has something to do with slimfast shakes or soup. Anyway, it's gross and makes me not want to eat at all anyway... I think I barely squeezed in 500 calories today.

Ew! I have the nasty taste too! I wish it would go away. Blegh! Guess I'll have it at least another week and a half til regular foods for it to be gone.