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

Cocolossel-have you been using your breathing device? I forgot what they called it. It is to help open up your lungs after surgery and help prevent pneumonia. And pneumonia would hurt to breathe. Check with the dr.

Just breathe...I am so sorry you are scared, but I think that is probably normal. This is a big thing. Hang in there. I will be thinking of you!

The cardiologist called yesterdayleft a message I needed to call as soon as possible, but of course I did not get the message until after 3 and the office closes at 3. So I will call on Monday. I am nervous about needing new meds or additional testing before surgery. I can't even think about the surgery date being changed, so I'm not going there.

Fenton, thank you so much for posting your daily log and all your positive advice. You always find a way to make me laugh.

Welcome to all the newbies and congrats to all the newly banded.

Thank you to the person who posted those Protein shake recipies. They sound awesome!

You guys really are keeping me sane. Thank you so much for being there!

Christine

I was banded 2 days ago. I.cannot even get out of my chair or bed without my moms assistance my port is hurting so bad Is this normal I also have no desire to drink liquids:( I'm a little scared

Hi Everyone!

Hi Lynn: Yep, I hijacked the life class recipes.....Since I have tested quite a few and they were pretty good I wanted to share!

Duke: To get the "shrinking shamrock" pictures, just right click on the one you like, then go to edit signature at the upper right hand portion of this page and paste into your signature. As far as the tickers, click on one of the various ones and it will open a new window on your computer. Follow the directions and you will want to paste the gobblegook at the end to your signature. Let me know if you need more detailed instructions.

Pre-op testing - I was told by the hospital it would take 3 hours. I have already had the upper GI test and chest x-ray. I'm taking the x-ray with me. I may call the doctor's office and ask for a copy of the upper GI report. They did tell me no food or anything to drink after midnight. The upper GI wasn't pleasant so I hope I don't have to do that again. (****WARNING TMI!**** nobody warned me about the albino poop!) I guess I'll have to do the EKG again, which was no big deal and they will draw blood. I was just trying to find out if there was anything else. Thanks everyone for the information!

Nadian: Sorry to hear that it is so tough on you. I am sure that some of the folks who are already banded will come up with some suggestions for you.

This is a test to see of my shamrock is attached, if this works..., thanks Whimsy and Hopeinapril..any anyone else who attempted to help up who are computer challanged.

I was banded 2 days ago. I.cannot even get out of my chair or bed without my moms assistance my port is hurting so bad Is this normal I also have no desire to drink liquids:( I'm a little scared

Yes. It's normal. Make sure you are taking your pain meds. I needed the assistance for the day I came home and the day following. In time it will pass, I am 8 days post op and there is still a slight tugging in my port area. Nothing that I need pain meds for though and only when I am trying to get up and down. They say it usually disappears in approximately 6 weeks (could be more, could be less).

Welcome to band land!

hopeinapril

my preop went over a few months, as we had discusses at life skilles

pulmonology - had sleep apnea test last Fall, chest x-ray

psychology - just to see if I am of sound mind LOL

cardiology - EKG, 2-D Echo, cardiolyte stress test

Gastro - endoscopy, no upper GI

plenty of blood work

appt with endochrine for final medical clearance

that was it, and about 1 week before surgery more blood work for anesthesiology

good luck, it is so much fun

Hi All,

I was banded on 3/5/08 and I feel like a million bucks and change!! i think the biggest change i have seen so far is the diffference that Vitamins make in how I feel. My first few days I was satisfied with liquids, then the next 3 days I had pureed Soups, and now i am on with the cottage cheese and scrambled eggs, yogurt, and even a 1/4 of an italian sausage chewed really really well. I feel good and I feel satisfied. My only negative is it is hard to not drink Water like i used to. I was a huge water drinker, now that has to be regulated. Other than that, best choice I have ever made!!! Oh yah, had some watery mashed potatoes..........they put me right to sleep!!! carbs + me = bad news! hahaha. g2s

POD 9

Still have 90% of my steri-strips attached. There's no incisional pain now, so I'm going to be more generous with soaping them up in the shower, see if that might help them on their way - since I have my checkup on Monday, I don't want them to be tearing off chunks of flesh with the steri-strips when they're inspecting the wounds. The xposed part of my port incision looks fine - pink, a little flaky, a small crusted nodule on one pole, but no oozing or tenderness or swelling.

Not much else to report. I'm not really hungry, but I have a desire to eat. But I don't want liquids, though - I am SICK of liquids. But liquids are what I shall have.

I'm beginning to believe that much of the early weight loss is due to the fact that the liquid diet is just so not fun. You don't want the food, you don't eat the food. You don't eat the food, you lose weight...

Hi all

11 days post op. Im getting a handle on the emotional stuff. No pain. A little "pulling" under the port. Incision look good. Keeping to the liquid, still not enough water.

I did go to the movies today and REALLY wanted the popcorn. Fenton I don't know how you went to two, I don't think I will be going back for a long time. I just kept hearing crunch,crunch,crunch.Smelling the fake butter. I LOVE popcorn and I hear popcorn doesn't love the band.

Hey Fenton,

I'm curious you said you work around medical folks, what do you do? You sound very knowledgeable in the workings of the field.

Also I know someone on the Island looking for a new Dr, do you think NYU would take on someone they didn't band?

Hey, Amanda.

Yes, I do work around medical people, and am familiar with the principles and the jargon etc.

I'm sure the people at NYU would be happy to see bandsters they didn't band themselves - it's a center of bariatric excellence, and they are extremely experienced. My feeling, though, is that they're a bit overloaded - they have such an excellent reputation, that they're always jammed. The waiting rooms are always full, etc.

But if you're looking for a superb lap band team, I don't think there are any better.

As far as the movies go, I saw HORTON HEARS A WHO yesterday, making me three for three. I like popcorn OK, but only real popcorn with real butter. The smell of the movie theater stuff doesn't derail me.

It didn't even occur to me to pick up the chocolate that has always accompanied me to the movies in lo these 40 or so years as an avid movie-goer. Which is interesting and kind of cool.

I've been thinking more about food, and about how I'm going to work it into my life now that I'm banded. I've worked in the restaurant industry for the last decade or so, and am passionate about the stuff. I don't think that was what made me fat: I got fat because I'm a binge eater - if I had a rough day, I'd load up with Twixes, and then go get ice cream later, and maybe some Twinkies, easily taking in 2,000 or 3,000 extra calories in sweet junk. I still don't understand how I am not diabetic.

At the moment, I can't eat much; I assume that will change. But I also don't WANT to eat much. I went out with my girlfriend tonight, and had a hot chocolate - a real one, with chocolate melted into milk, none of this powdered cocoa mix crap. I was fine with the calories - I'm a bit worried that I haven't hit 1,000 calories of daily intake since banding (at my size, just to maintain my weight, I should be taking in over 4,000 a day). But I found that after 1/3 of a cup, I was fine. I took the rest in a paper cup to go, and will have it for Breakfast tomorrow morning, after I've choked down 20 ounces of Isopure for my 40 g Protein.

And I think that's how this process will work for me. I'll order many things I used to love, but I'll only eat a little of them. At restaurants, I'll only have an appetizer, and even that will probably be too much for me. For the first time, I think I'll be able to leave food I love on my plate.

There will obviously be serious limitations - about once a month, I enjoy a great steak - but I think it'll be fun. I actually like this kind of challenge. And luckily, at this point in restaurant history, there's a big vogue towards small plate dining. So at this point, I believe I can have my cake, and eat it too. I can still enjoy foods I love, just not in the volumes I used to, nor even in the volumes normal people do.

And I'm OK with that.

But next week I start on pureed foods, and I know two dishes I'm going to have during that time, and I"m looking forward to them tremendously.