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Calling All NURSES!!



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I'm an RN, just started a new job this week, working for a Psychiatric Hospital. I worked as a jail nurse and prison nurse for the last 4 years, and a Critical Care/Cardiac/ ER overflow nurse before that. I also worked as a Social Worker investigating child abuse, but absolutely HATED it, and decided to go back and get my nursing degree. I'm in the 6 month supervised diet program, my insurance covers 90%, but I have to jump through hoops first. It's great to see all the other nurses here, and hear the stories from those with a medical background.

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Kimberly (nicunicu)-

Did you have any luck asking Alex (the guy who runs LapBandTalk) about getting a subgroup just for nurses? I know he recently added a bunch of new ones.

Might be fun to have one just for us :eek:

-m

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2b banded, what was prison nursing like, just something I thought might be interesting even though I've never actually known anyone who has been one.

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So I guess when they say nurses care for everyone else first, then ourselves it's pretty much true! At least now we are caring for ourselves. I have been an RN since 1990. Worked mostly pediatric ICU. Traveled a bunch. Saudi for 4 years. South Korea for 2. Now in Dallas. Went to law school, passed the bar exam and now I work for a hospital doing Root Cause Analysis. Trying to improve patient safety which is very dear to my heart. Great job! I was banded Jan 2008 and am struggling to get good restriction. I have lost about 25 lbs. Am happy with my progress, just wish it was not so slow!

Jenni

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Hello Everyone!

My name is Linda. I have been an RN for about 3 years. I have worked in hospice, PACU, and now in Med/Surg. I LOVE my job - I work at the best hospital in the world! I feel so blessed to be a nurse!!!

I have three children. I was having a very hard time finding adequate childcare for my two smallest kiddos, so I changed jobs - I now work weekend nights and am able to keep the girls at home with me during the week. I have the best of both worlds - a full-time income and the joy of being a stay at home mom. I am just so blessed, the options that we have as nurses are awesome!!

I was banded last week, Tuesday 5-27. I self-paid a little over $11,000 and had it done here in my hometown, in the great state of Texas! I hated every minute of the liquid diet and advanced myself to regular foods. I chew everything very well, to liquid consistency and am feeling much better now that I am getting some real nutrition. I am 5'1" tall and started at 172 pounds. One week after surgery I am at 163.5 pounds. I really just want to be at a healthy weight again. Of course, looking great would be a big BONUS!! LOL!!

I am very glad to have found a thread for banded nurses - I look forward to getting to know all of you and supporting each other through this lifelong, life changing journey.

Much success and happiness to all,

Linda

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2b banded, what was prison nursing like, just something I thought might be interesting even though I've never actually known anyone who has been one.

I actually really liked it. I worked in a women's prison, and was AMAZED at how many pregnant women are in prison! We had about 700 women there, and probably 70 of them are pregnant. It's definately an underserved population, but you have to be able to separate your feelings. Taking care of someone who tried to kill her 5 kids, and 2 of them did die, is really difficult. I decided it was a lot easier to just not find out what they did. The stories I could tell.... I was also surprised at the number of nurses/ former nurses incarcerated.

One of the good things is it pays pretty well.:biggrin2:

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Hello all,

I too am a nurse. I'm from Kentucky. Most of my nursing career has been in Public Health.I worked as a Clinical Director of a county health department for 22 years I retired last year. I like this post . Nurses unite!!!

I had my surgery on Feb. 26 2008. I've only lost 25 lbs.I lose so slowly. I try to exercise most days of the week.I've joined a gym and I walk.I love my band even though I wish I would lose faster,

Jaunderwood

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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