Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

Yikes. The picture alone is enough to make me have this surgery. LOL

Post-op Day 4

Hey, no fair! How come you don't have any bruising?

I'm feeling pretty good today. Energy is decent, I'm able to drink pretty well. I still have the same low-grade grumbling disquiet in my belly, like it's the afternoon of a day when I got carsick in the morning, but it's not bad.

My steri-strips are still stuck to me, somewhat to my surprise. When I shower, I keep the hot Water pounding on my back; my water pressure is strong, and I don't want to blow off the strips too soon. When I got out of the shower, I saw my tummy for the first time in a while. The wound areas all look fine, although covered by gray (eeww) steri-strips. There's a blush of tan bruising, with some purple darker bits, extending down and to the right from my port site, but otherwise it looks fine. And the bruising isn't severe - at first I thought it was some kind of leftover antiseptic scrub thing.

My stomach hair is slowly growing back, and it's not itching - I don't think they shave you as close as they used to.

One thing that's bugging me is the big haloes of schmutz sticking to the adhesive areas where my dressings and IVs used to be - how the hell do I get rid of that stuff? My girlfriend said you have to use nail polish remover, but, well, I don't have any. I'm also a bit wary of putting any solvent near my wounds, so I guess I'll just have to put up with rings o'dirt for a few more days.

What else? Nothing really. Everything seems to be functioning OK.

I scheduled my follow-up esophagram for Friday. NYU-ers, beware! The office is really busy, and they only do them in the mornings! The note that you should sked an esophagram, then book your follow-up appointment in the weight loss clinic for an hour later is optimistic at best! I have my esophagram appointment Friday, then, and my follow-up Monday morning - which is a pain in the ass.

And that's me! HOw're you Last Weekers doing out there?

Oh, a sidenote: the worst pain I've experienced with this whole damn thing came from pulling off my EKG and monitor electrodes. DAMN! It's really some kind of Superglue, plus I had to tear out a bunch of hair.

Yikes. The picture alone is enough to make me have this surgery. LOL

You're so cute! Lol!

By any chance, did you get to meet Carmen? She's the bariatric coordinator and has been a complete angel to me.

You're so cute! Lol!

By any chance, did you get to meet Carmen? She's the bariatric coordinator and has been a complete angel to me.

Cindy and Cheryl are the co-ordinators for us Louisiana pateints, so no I don't think I met Carmen. I met alot of people though on my trip to Dallas, so I wouldn't count it out though.

Out of the whole trip, the people at Dr. Maese's office (the cardiologist) we the nicest people I have ever come across in a Dr. office. All were very caring and worked extremely hard to get my DH sleep study scheduled last minute since Dr. C canceled the surgery until it was completed. We arrived at their office at 10:30 and at almost 5 and the whole time they were continuously on the phones working to get it taken care of and a c pap machine ordered for him to be able to take home. THEY WERE WONDERFUL and when I am ablt to get out and about I am going to pick them up a thank you card.

The second memorable person for me would have been Eric, my RN at The Surgery Center of Dallas. He was wonderul and caring. Explained everything and even called to check up on me today.

Besides the hiccups in my DH surgery, my experience has been pretty enjoyable......except for the gas! To hell with the gas. LOL

Hey, no fair! How come you don't have any bruising?

I have a little. It's just farily light which suprises me since I tend to bruise easily. Guess my surgeon was on a roll by the time he got to me. I was his third for the day out of 5.

Hi all! I began the Pre-op Diet on 2/21/08 and was banded on 3/6/08. Good Luck to you all!!!!

03-10-2008: EAbadie gets banded!, ButterflyChick starts pre-op diet, Christine starts pre surg diet

03-11-2008: Misty's 2 Week Post-Op

03-12-2008: robin aka mom007 is getting banded!

03-13-2008: Surgery, On the way to a new me!, band date

03-14-2008: Hazel-Eyes gets banded!

:thumbup:Good luck to those getting banded this week!

rlmoody, welcome aboard!

HOw's it going for you? Discomfort? How's your tummy?

Hi folks,

just checking in from work. Im dragging today, don't know if it is the time change or the surgery. Whatever it is Im going home early.

I totally forgot to tell you guys. Before surgery I drew a smiley face (my signature as I have one as a tattoo somewhere:smile2:) and a green shamrock on my belly for the Dr to find. It was the first thing he mentioned to my family after surgery. Said everyone got a good laugh and he put the port right under the shamrock. Im thinking of getting a shamrock tattoo there later. So I guess Im really committed to this shrinking shamrock thing. (I think my sister took a picture I will have to check when I get home)

Cheers!!

My tummy is sore. The nurse in the hospital said that walking will help rid the soreness. It seems to be working by just walking throughout the house. I still can't bend over and pick up things.without some pain. I am so glad this is spring break week in Mississippi. I have the whole week off. Hopefully by next Monday I will be ready for school again. I already wish it was May and school was out.

I cheated a little bit today, but it made me feel so good. I had a small bowl of Egg Drop Soup today. I didn't eat the chestnuts, onion, or eggs, that came inside of it though. I did drop only 2 fried wontons inside to become soggy. It was so good. I know I cheated but actually don't feel nausea and actually feel pretty good now. I do not plan on doing this again, I really want to follow my doctor's instructions I just thought I would treat myself and what a treat!!!!

I can't get the shrinking shamrocks to copy and go into my signature.

I feel very left out:sad:

I can't copy the Shamrocks either. I have tried many times.

My tummy is sore. The nurse in the hospital said that walking will help rid the soreness. It seems to be working by just walking throughout the house. I still can't bend over and pick up things.without some pain. I am so glad this is spring break week in Mississippi. I have the whole week off. Hopefully by next Monday I will be ready for school again. I already wish it was May and school was out.

I cheated a little bit today, but it made me feel so good. I had a small bowl of Egg Drop Soup today. I didn't eat the chestnuts, onion, or eggs, that came inside of it though. I did drop only 2 fried wontons inside to become soggy. It was so good. I know I cheated but actually don't feel nausea and actually feel pretty good now. I do not plan on doing this again, I really want to follow my doctor's instructions I just thought I would treat myself and what a treat!!!!

I wouldn't have done that just for the simple fact that eating something with solids in it makes your stomach start moving to digest. My surgeon said he wanted the lap band to heal into place with the stiches and scar tissue before attempting solids, which is why the liquid diet. You may not have done any damage this time, but glad to hear you aren't going to do it again. Stick to the doctors orders! They wouldn't lead you wrong! :sneaky:

I can't get the shrinking shamrocks to copy and go into my signature.

I feel very left out:sad:

I can't copy the Shamrocks either. I have tried many times.

Aww, don't feel left out!

What you need to do is save the any of the shrinking shamrocks images to your computer and then upload it to a host. Most people use Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket since it is free. Once you have it uploaded, you can put it in your signature by going to the control panel and pasting the URL o the recently uploaded image in the "insert image" feature in the "edit signature" panel.

I'm so bad at explaining these things - let me know if I need to clarify. I'll help the best way I can. I'm sure someone else here might be able to help you better, though. :sneaky: