Are there any other VA band-newbies like me? Anybody in Williamsburg, or Hampton Roads? How’s everybody doing? I'm new to the Virginia forum & just wanted to introduce myself... :wave:

I was banded on Feb 15th at Sentara Careplex in Hampton, VA by Dr. Terracina from Weight Loss Surgery Center of Hampton Roads. In the 1st 3 weeks, I lost a pound a day on average. I’ll weigh-in again on my 1-month Bandiversary before the local LapBand Support Group. Aside from some occasional port pain & a real lack of energy, I feel great! I wish I was loosing faster like so many other Bandsters seem to be doing, but A POUND A DAY sure has a nice ring to it! :eek:

I'm still on the mushies diet & I’ve tried eggs, tuna salad, chicken salad, pintos-n-cheese (both Taco Bell & homemade), and mashed potatoes. (Last night I had just a little ice cream at a birthday party.) While on 2 weeks of liquids, I stuck to Protein shakes, the broth of creamed Soups, and sugar-free pudding for the most part. I'm actually nervous to start solids like salmon...:nervous

My 1st fill is supposed to be March 29th, but at this point I can’t imagine a fill at all! I eat 1/4-1/2 cup of food at a sitting & am totally contented – not overly full and not still hungry, but actually satisfied. It’s frickin’ amazing! If I still feel like this come the 29th, they’ll postpone my 1st fill. I eat when I’m hungry & stop when I’m satiated. Wahooo!!

I've got a heck of a long way to go, but I'm really starting to think this might work… :clap2:

I had the same doubts -- it's the pre-banding gitters. I lost 40 something pounds without the band == and having my dh and bil asking -- why don't you just keep doing what you are -- and not get the surgery.

The answer is: I can lose weight -- I have done it many times -- I can't maintain my weight loss -- it always comes back!

I am getting banded to maintain the weight loss and to be long term successful!!!!!!!!! AND MOST IMPORTANT -- ADD YEARS TO MY LIFE AND BE AS HEALTHY AS I CAN BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Feel free to ask questions of me or your doctor- I have of my doctor -- and found lots of information here in LBT and many other sites.

If it's too personal to ask here -- feel free to PM me!

You will do wonderful - and will be beautiful -- I know this!!!!!

Best of Luck!

Gina

Gina,

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. I am looking forward to meeting with the doctor and I think that will get my feelings back. it has been a long wait.

When I read what you said about maintaining weight that is the same situation I am in. I have gained a bit of weight over the last two years, more than I have ever, but I ahve lost and gained weight so many times in my life, it is a crazy cycle!

what is the normal time for your fist fill? Is it 60 days? it seems to be more the norm on the posts. I will be in touch, thanks for your support, you and others on this site have been very helpful!

Gina,

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. I am looking forward to meeting with the doctor and I think that will get my feelings back. it has been a long wait.

When I read what you said about maintaining weight that is the same situation I am in. I have gained a bit of weight over the last two years, more than I have ever, but I ahve lost and gained weight so many times in my life, it is a crazy cycle!

what is the normal time for your fist fill? Is it 60 days? it seems to be more the norm on the posts. I will be in touch, thanks for your support, you and others on this site have been very helpful!

Dr Terricina - does the first fill 6 weeks after surgery - and only Thursdays. I am out of town that Thursday - so made my appt the next week.

Who is your doctor?

My doctor is Dr. Batista with Commonwealth Surgeons at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond. I know people who have gone there for bypass, but no band, but the feedback is all very positive.

did you have to stay over night? I am thinking this would be less cost on my insurance, I have Federal bcbs.

I did not stay the night.

Got there at 7:30 and was released by 2pm.

I am sure you will do great! It will be here before you know it.

Gina

Hey Dr T patients, I was also banded by Dr. Terracina, almost 2.5 years ago, I was his first lapband patient.

Glad to finally see other Peninsula and local area patients on LBT.

He's a great doctor, as well as his staff, I just love Danni, his nurse.

Hey Dr T patients, I was also banded by Dr. Terracina, almost 2.5 years ago, I was his first lapband patient.

Glad to finally see other Peninsula and local area patients on LBT.

He's a great doctor, as well as his staff, I just love Danni, his nurse.

Hi Harley Nana!

Please share with us your experiences -- as we all relatively new at this lapband --- How much have you lost? What were your challenges?

Good morning Gina and othes,

I had my appointment with my Dr, informational meetings and today I go back to the hospital for pre registration, blood work and to my doctor's office for a physcial. It is all coming together.

I start my pre opt diet today. 14 days! I have to drink 2 slimfast drinks for 2 meals, then the 3 meal can be 4 oz of lean chicken or turkey, vegies. I can also ahve a fruit from specific list and a yougurt. I think all these extras will help!

I can't beleive it is coming, finally! I have thoughts of beating myself up about not having success with other diets and now doing this. Then I wake myself up and say, you are going to be fine and a great start this will be!

Have a great day!

Janine

Good morning Gina and othes,

I had my appointment with my Dr, informational meetings and today I go back to the hospital for pre registration, blood work and to my doctor's office for a physcial. It is all coming together.

I start my pre opt diet today. 14 days! I have to drink 2 slimfast drinks for 2 meals, then the 3 meal can be 4 oz of lean chicken or turkey, vegies. I can also ahve a fruit from specific list and a yougurt. I think all these extras will help!

I can't beleive it is coming, finally! I have thoughts of beating myself up about not having success with other diets and now doing this. Then I wake myself up and say, you are going to be fine and a great start this will be!

Have a great day!

Janine

Fantastic news!!!!!!!!! I am very excited for you. Keep us posted how your are doing on your pre-op preparation (I don't want to use the word DIET) it is a new lifestyle!!!!!!!

Hugs!!!:clap2:

Good morning VA-

I had my pre opt appointments yesterday. I met with the Nurse Practician for my physical, her name is Jeanine too! She was wonderful. She will be the person doing the fills and made me feel more at ease with my concerns. Then I had the awful blood work, one area I hate. But they did great!

Day two of my pre opt diet, so far ok! The only struggle I feel I will have in the next month ( pre opt and post) will be work when I am away from the office and lunch is involved or parties, social events. We were invited to a cook out June 2, which I plan to decline. I have other things to do as well, but I would have gone for a little bit, but could not drink or eat, and no one knows what I am doing. I just don't feel like dealing with the questions. Have any of you had to deal with this type of situation? How did you handle it? When I can eat mushies or back on food, I will be fine.

Have a great day!

Janine

Hello Gina,

I recieved news back from my preopt tests and had to go back yesterday for a ultrasound on my gallbladder. The office called me and left me a voice mail late yesterday saying there is a polyp on my gallbladder and after they discuss with doctor today they will call me! did a little research and I am afraid now my gallbladder will need to come out putting my band off. I am not happy about it. I guess I will wait until today before jumping to conclusions!

My son is getting married on July 7 and if it is rescheduled then I am going to wait until after that, but I may not have a choice waiting for the galbladder. I am stressed.

Hope all is going well with you! How are you handling the heat and eating/drinking!

Hello Gina,

I recieved news back from my preopt tests and had to go back yesterday for a ultrasound on my gallbladder. The office called me and left me a voice mail late yesterday saying there is a polyp on my gallbladder and after they discuss with doctor today they will call me! did a little research and I am afraid now my gallbladder will need to come out putting my band off. I am not happy about it. I guess I will wait until today before jumping to conclusions!

My son is getting married on July 7 and if it is rescheduled then I am going to wait until after that, but I may not have a choice waiting for the galbladder. I am stressed.

Hope all is going well with you! How are you handling the heat and eating/drinking!

I know you are FRUSTRATED and DISAPPOINTED and SCARED -- you pump yourself up to do THIS and then all this other stuff gets in the way and makes the situation unknown -- I hate that too.

I have never heard of polyp on gallbladder. I had my gallbladder out May of 1992 lapiscopically - due to gallstones. I would check and see if they can do BOTH at the same time.

I can tell you the after surgery pain/recovery for me was equal or maybe just a tad bit worse with the lap-band surgery than the gallbladder. Just that the first night I wasn't able to lift my self from a sitting or laying down position with lap-band. 5 incisions with lapband spread across the whole stomach and only 3 with gallbladder - belly button I incision, and 2 under the right breast - can't even tell any more.

I had GBS thursday and return to desk job (pillow in lap) on Monday, which is about the same time frame for the lap-band as well - for me.

July 7th -- I am happy for you! It will be here before you know it!

I was banded 4-9 and 3-4 weeks afterward I was able to eat anything - including steak. So even if you are banded - you can time it so - that it won't inconvenience you to much. Actually I just got my first fill yesterday (had to wait 6+weeks)-- you will find this funny - so here it goes:

Well -- I reminded my doctor that I HATE needles and get faint during blood draws. He said I will be fine.. So they weighed me and took me in front of the xray -- located and showed me the port --

I asked --(stupidly) what is the ring just below the port -- the doctor said that's my wedding ring - the xray tech -- said yeah - he has been looking for it everywhere. I said --oh so that makes me your 2nd wife! We all laughted.

He came back -- and said this won't hurt nothing like the IV did -- I told him I plan on NEVER doing that again --if i can help it!

He swabbed me with COLD alchol and gave me a shot to numb the area ( 3 second sting) -- okay at this point got a little weird feeling - so I started talking to the nurse to take my mind off the procedure - he has now gottten the needle in the port -- and the Nurse and Doctor decide -- "she doesn't look good" -- "let's get her a chair."

"Breath - Breath" -- I apologized -- Nurse takes my pulse -- "you have barely have a pulse -- keep breathing!"

"Okay -- I feel better -- let's get this done!" I stand - he still has the needle in -- (thank goodness) Says I have .5cc's in there - fills me - asks me to drink the barum -- "are you okay???" I respond "ahh.. yea --sure let's just get done"

I drink some Barium and he takes the cup and has me rotate 180degrees and places me in the chair --- I think I am done -- but OH NO I AM NOT. I guess I was passing out -- so with wet wash clothes on my neck and face we relax and just talk. I feel so bad -- so I said -- "I Just love doctor T. so much -- I wanted to make our time together --last as long as I can... everyone laughs...

We go back up to the xray after 15 minutes -- he shows me in the xray the cup of barium almost sideways and tells me and the others -- "this is when I knew we were losing her" -- the cup was almost at a 90 degree angle.

He had me look at the 2 tech's -- the one promised me he'd take me dancing after this is completed!

He had to put the needle back in - missed the first time and clunck in the 2nd time -- filled me - I drank barium -- he took some Fluid back out. and sat me on the gurney.

Thank god I was done -- the doctor was explaining to me I had .5 and he placed another 2 cc so I have approx 2.5cc -- I had to ask him to tell me that again -- I wasn't comprehending and wanted to know the #'s --they have me stay for another 15 minutes -- before they let me go to the waiting room to take as much time as I needed.

They took the next patient back and I sat talking to another girl there for her 3rd fill -- and here comes the girl they just took back -- and I said -- see how quick she was -- she said when she entered the room - everyone asked -- are you going to pass out on us -- they all laughed.

They will remember ME!

I have lost of restriction -- on liquids. Can't get a 2nd fill for 6weeks - doctor's rules or he is scared of me(LOL).

Have a great night -- and best wishes and lot's of prayers!

Gina

<snip>

They took the next patient back and I sat talking to another girl there for her 3rd fill -- and here comes the girl they just took back -- and I said -- see how quick she was -- she said when she entered the room - everyone asked -- are you going to pass out on us -- they all laughed.

<snip>

Gina -- That was me, the crazy one with 2 kiddies & my mother in tow! While we were talking, you mentioned LBT & I wondered if you were someone I knew on-line. What odd situations this Internet business can create. Strangers, and yet... :wave:

Hope you're doing well with that 1st fill. I've got major restriction now with this 3rd one. Like never before -- not even right after surgery! But I'm not having any trouble with Soup, Water or shakes (all that I've tried thus far), so I'm hoping I'm at a good place with 7.2cc in the VG-10cc band. I'll start mushies tomorrow for dinner (48 hours after fill) with my fingers crossed. I remember being full on 1/4 c. of refried Beans topped with melted cheese & sour cream when I was 1st banded. That little food hasn't filled me up in quite a while...

I know it's wishful thinking on my part, but I can't help hoping that I've hit that fabled "sweet spot" with this fill!

Janine -- I've heard of many bypass people who have the gallbladder removed when they get their band. But I was told that removing it at the same time as banding is risky because of the bile(?) that can leak from the gallbladder. Or something like that -- it's too late for medical speak! But you know what I mean!

When I 1st looked into banding several years ago, a staff member (at a clinic other than where I ended up going) told me that if I had gallbladder issues, the doc could bill the anesthesia, surgical suite, hospital stay, and most of the surgeon fees to my INS under gallbladder removal -- and I'd only have to pay for the band itself & a small portion of the surgeon’s fee. It sounded like a brilliant plan, but then the doc said that only was an option for bypass not banding due to the bile... You should think about asking your LapBand surgeon's opinion since thoughts on this subject may differ.

Anyhow...sorry for the set back! Keep positive...and focus on what you can do NOW to improve your health. This could (ha!) even be a blessing – get your house & habits in order and start transitioning to all those good banding habits that you’ll need soon enough! (Yeah, I try to be a silver lining girl.) Hang in there, Janine!

Suzanne

Gina -- That was me, the crazy one with 2 kiddies & my mother in tow! Strangers, and yet... :wave:

On my way home - I started thinking back about the WHOLE experience and started kicking my self in the butt -- thinking I should have asked you what your LBT Name was. ---who knew...

I have lots of restriction -- only had 2 each day of the IDS 42gr Protein bullets (3.2 oz liquid Protein - Jello consistancy mixed with 6 oz of water) - and crystal light tea. Not hungry so far.... Hope it stays.

Good luck with your sweet spot. Also - great kids -- I loved watching them before I went back. Gina

PS: I go back 7-12 at 1:45 again - maybe see you there.