Who's out there? We don't have too long to wait!!!:clap2:

Anjul19- What brand are those hawaiian pineapple popsicles? I need something new in my daily diet (like food LOL)! I weighed this morning, down 23.6 lbs. so far!

Popsicle (the original brand) Sugar-Free Hawaiian Tropicals--Hawaiian Pineapple, Tropical Orange & Caribbean Fruit Punch. Honestly, they don't taste sugar-free at all!

melissa o,

Good for you for having the courage to go! It may be easier than you ever could have imagined. I hope so!!

I'm official now!!!

Home from the hospital, if the port pain were gone I'd feel great. But, that port pain is reall something!

all went very well, but very sleepy at the moment. I'm going to snooze now...will post more later.

Sue

Thanks legster!

This weekend is going to be PURE torture!! I'm leaving in a couple of hours for the beach... and I'll have to turn down all my favorite foods at my favorite places!! Thankfully I'm going with a good friend of mine who is very supportive... she'll surely smack my hands if I go reaching for something I'm not supposed to have!!

Good luck and enjoy yourself. It might be easier than you think. I went out with my son for lunch and while he had a patty melt with fries, I had cream of potato soup. I thought I was in heaven, it tasted sooo good, and it didn't bother me at all that he was eating a patty melt. Just don't let yourself get real hungry and I'll bet you'll be OK.

Hi all,

Thanks to everyone who has posted as an a-MAY-zing bandster! Your comments and insights have made my journey so much easier.

I was the first surgery on Wednesday, showed up at the surgical center @ 6:15 and was home by 10am. My doctor also found that I had a hietal hernia (who knew?) and fixed that while there. No soreness EVER from any of the five surgical sites except for the port site. Still a little sore, but I'm very grateful for the teensy pain pills (I'm allergic to codeine as well). Some soreness in my shoulders, more so in the right one, so the heating pad has been most helpful. The gas has not been a problem.

My biggest surprise has been how so not-hungry I've been. Today was my first try at a protein shake and that went well.

Blessings to those of you who are yet to be banded this month, and grateful prayers to each of you for helping me on this adventure thus far.

Time for a nap...

SC-Cindy

Hey rag! Glad to hear you are allright. I was the 23rd too. Got up this morning and drove 35 miles back to my house from my Mom's. Was dreading it, but other than bumpy streets it was okay. Feeling stiff a little but really feeling pretty darned good considering. I took my pain meds REGULARLY for the first 24 hours, as well as Gas-X regularly. Only occasionally I have some twinges in my left shoulder. Back hurts today but I think that is from sleeping so much. Having no problem getting anything down. Have had two cream of chicken soup packets in the last several hours and keep a juice drink by my side. So far so good.

I have't notivced any stitches on the outside either. Maybe it's a combination of internal stitches and external glue...

Have a great weekend and rejoice in the fact that we don't have to be a slave to food anymore.

Amen! It is wild all the time I have now that I am not in the kitchen all the time.

Had to share this, I just made the most amazing bacon-wrapped, horseradish stuffed grilled shrimp for my hubby & I wasn't even tempted to eat one bite! Unbelievable! A week ago I would have eaten half by the time I served them! Banding is terrific!

p.s. Don't get me wrong, they smelled good, looked good & I would've probably loved to eat one, but I just didn't have the interest!

Kacee,

I was banded on Tuesday, May 22 by Dr. Spivak as well. How cool is that. I am doing well.....down 8 pounds today. I can not believe that I am also not hungry.....find it soooo werid but exciting. Are you planning on going to the Tuesday night support groups??? Maybe we can me meet and chat. Love to hear from you. Take care!

Sandra

Banded 5/22/07

Dr. Sprivak

Houston

Surgery 243

Now 235

Goal 160

Julie,

Congrats on the newly found disinterest/willpower. That absolutely rocks. You should feel mega proud of yourself!

Kacee,

I think they stitched mine internally and externally I have tape to seal the incisions. The tape is amazing stuff, it hasn't budged even tho I've been fairly active. I also showered and lightly washed my tummy and they didn't show any signs of being affected by that either. Of Course, I guess they wouldn't send us home with scotch tape to seal our wounds! LOL.

Thanks tons Kacee! It's great to have some place to go & share all of these steps with people who understand!

How are you doing on the liquids? I am jealous of all of you who get to eat soups, yogurts, etc... I am strictly on protein shakes & sugar-free liquids until I go back to the surgeon June 7th.

I did hear of a good protein pureed meal through a band-mate at my hospital--Progresso Lentil Soup in the blender--packed with protein & supposedly tastes great! Only two more weeks until I can try that!

My incisions have a "glue" over them, which the surgeon says will naturally dissipate when it's ready. I have showered a few times & the glue seems looser around the edges, but no problems to report. I bought a vitamin-E stick today to start applying to the scars once the glue is off.

hi all, i just got banded on the 23rd, still kinda sore on a couple of spots, that glue is surprizing, does anyone have any fear of their belly pulling on the incisions, i have the bottom belly fat and i worry about it pulling, i wear my belly belt most of the time, im really excited about this site and i love hearing about everyones experiences, im not as energetic as some of you, i dont think i could of drove home today from anywhere, but i hope it all comes back, still dealing with some breathing, my deep inhales sometimes feel painful, but i hope its just from surgery, good luck to all of the may banders........

Banded: May 23, 2007 :clap2:

Dr. Blain Nease, Cabell Huntington Hospital, WVA

Highest Wt: 357

Join me in the Phentramin support group!

Hey tumonbug and welcome!

I had a hard time with the breathing too. I'm a (n ex?) smoker, and I can tell you the pain when breathing deep went away by the 3rd or 4th day for me. Just keep doing your breathing excersizes (assuming you've been given that breathing thingy to do them with).

I have a total fear of ripping my incisions. To the point where I actually hold my left side whenever I'm moving about. My port is on that side and therefore the pain is most prevelant on that side, so I think that's why I picked that side. But yeah.. I guess I'm trying to hold it all in.

I haven't had a problem with any of the incisions though, so I think you'll be fine with the belly belt you're using. It sounds like you're doing awesomely after your banding. Congrats! It's a big step to get the surgery done, so you should be most proud!

So I had my post op visit and was down 12.7 pounds. Not bad, but looks about typical for a lot of you. I am itching like crazy. Not so much the port incision, but the outer ones. I was driving and scratching around my belly. Lots of traffic here so I hope no one saw . I still have to take it easy a few more days before I can do the true mushies. Drat. I tried to get away with some quiche yesterday but he said it was too much.

Turns out I have one of the new AP bands...10cc, which is the smaller size. My Dr. was one of the practices that got the early release. It is the one with the little "pillows" rather than an innertube looking band. Supposedly it gives more consistent pressure around your stomach. I also got the card others were talking about. Dr. said that if you get wanded at the airport -by a real sensitive one-that it can set of an alarm:) . So we are supposed to carry a card to show we are banded. The metal at the back of the port is what can set it off. Oh, another tip the Dr. said for getting the gross residue off from the strips is to be sure to use a petroleum based product rather than alcohol.

I have found that ANY of the progresso soups are really tasty when blended. Not great to look at, but yummy. I am still struggling with Water consumption. I am going to fill a pitcher in the morning and keep track of what I should be getting in.