Hey fellow Samurai, let's use this thread to check-in every time someone has surgery!

Here's how it works: After you have surgery submit a post to this thread giving the date and any other details that you may wish to share.

gg2007 will probably be the first to check -in. Her surgery is today in Belgium.

It is 9/1/08. Officially the month of the Samurai!

Game on!

Hey all! Im checking in!! Everything went very well...please check out my video blog all info is on there( i will be sitting here forever typing an essay otherwise lol lol )....you havent gotta watch through them all...i think its from number #7 onwards. When im feeling a lil better..(once the pain meds from the hospital wore off, i was in a lil pain, but just taken some parcetmol and its doing the trick) i will do another vid and talk u through the whole process. (i know everyones will be slighty differnt, but will give u an idea)

Good luck my fellow Samura's!!

gg xxx

ohh i forgot to say!! i haven eaten/drank a protein shake since sunday afternoon and im still not hungry!! This band must be working!!! lol ...so far ive just been drinking water and have taken soluable paracetmol and a soluable multi vit! xx

ohh i forgot to say!! i haven eaten/drank a Protein shake since sunday afternoon and im still not hungry!! This band must be working!!! lol ...so far ive just been drinking Water and have taken soluable paracetmol and a soluable multi vit! xx

I am so glad everything went so well!!

Well, I just got home from my banding on Tuesday. I feel good. I'm just haveing gas pains...As it moves and trys to escape. The good news is I have already lost 5 lbs...so, I'm on my way. I didn't sleep much in the hospital, so I am looking forward to a good nights sleep in my own bed tonight. Getting up and down to pee is starting to getmore difficult. I hope it gets easier as the day progresses.

GG I'm glad to see you are doing good as well... Good luck to everyone who are going in for banding soon. I already know I have made a good decision and I can't wait for this chapter in my life...

Thank you for everyones thoughts and prayers...

Hello all. I had surgery Tuesday, Sept. 2nd. It took all of 15 minutes before the Dr. came out to tell my husband he was finished. Fortunately, my liver was flat with NO fat and he was able to maneuver around well to get the band in place. Other than incision pain and a litter soreness from within, I feel pretty good. I am still taking a pain elixir and have a dramamine patch behind my ear for motion sickness since I have to drive almost 2 hours home. I have only drank water, chicken broth, sf jello juice and 100% juice diluted with water, chewable vitamins and gas ex. Fortunately, I don't have much gas. I'm just a little swollen in my stomach which is normal and some mucus coming out of my throat from being on the ventalator. The people at the surgery center called this morning to check on me and thought I sounded great and wanted to make sure my incisions are clean and not leaking and that I'm up and walking around. I thought that was realy nice of them. I'm ready now to start losing weight and will begin an exercise program after 2 weeks. I am so excited to begin this journey and think it's important to be on threads like this to be able to share experiences and keep one another supported. I pray for all that will have this surgery after me and that theirs will be as successful as mine. Thanks for starting this thread.

Congratulations a2bachik.I didn't sleep too well either last night. I hope to be able to tonight though. Let's get this show on the road.

Well, I just got home from my banding on Tuesday. I feel good. I'm just haveing gas pains...As it moves and trys to escape. The good news is I have already lost 5 lbs...so, I'm on my way. I didn't sleep much in the hospital, so I am looking forward to a good nights sleep in my own bed tonight. Getting up and down to pee is starting to getmore difficult. I hope it gets easier as the day progresses.

GG I'm glad to see you are doing good as well... Good luck to everyone who are going in for banding soon. I already know I have made a good decision and I can't wait for this chapter in my life...

Thank you for everyones thoughts and prayers...:cool2:

hey ladies congratulations on your successful surgeries! Please keep us posted on your progress. God bless.

Im happy to see you all doing so well!! I hope each day you are feeling better, i sure am! I cant wait till i can start doing some exercise! Im gonna get started back with my aqua aerobics...as for food im still not hungry! im still on my Water and fruit juice!

Go sept samurai's!!! xxxx

Look forward to hearing updates from the rest of the gang!! xx

Well, I just got home from my banding on Tuesday. I feel good. :thumbup: I'm just haveing gas pains...As it moves and trys to escape. The good news is I have already lost 5 lbs...so, I'm on my way. I didn't sleep much in the hospital, so I am looking forward to a good nights sleep in my own bed tonight. Getting up and down to pee is starting to getmore difficult. I hope it gets easier as the day progresses.

GG I'm glad to see you are doing good as well... Good luck to everyone who are going in for banding soon. I already know I have made a good decision and I can't wait for this chapter in my life...

Thank you for everyones thoughts and prayers...

Hello all. I had surgery Tuesday, Sept. 2nd. It took all of 15 minutes before the Dr. came out to tell my husband he was finished. Fortunately, my liver was flat with NO fat and he was able to maneuver around well to get the band in place. Other than incision pain and a litter soreness from within, I feel pretty good. I am still taking a pain elixir and have a dramamine patch behind my ear for motion sickness since I have to drive almost 2 hours home. I have only drank water, chicken broth, sf Jello juice and 100% juice diluted with water, chewable Vitamins and gas ex. Fortunately, I don't have much gas. I'm just a little swollen in my stomach which is normal and some mucus coming out of my throat from being on the ventalator. The people at the surgery center called this morning to check on me and thought I sounded great and wanted to make sure my incisions are clean and not leaking and that I'm up and walking around. I thought that was realy nice of them. I'm ready now to start losing weight and will begin an exercise program after 2 weeks. I am so excited to begin this journey and think it's important to be on threads like this to be able to share experiences and keep one another supported. I pray for all that will have this surgery after me and that theirs will be as successful as mine. Thanks for starting this thread.

Hi September bandsters!

I had my surgery today, and so far everything has gone great. I had to get the hospital at 6 am, surgery was at 8 am and my husband got a call from my doctor at 8:45 that the surgery was complete, and that all was well.

If you're interested, this is how my day went (did not spend the night at the hospital):

At check-in (6 a.m.) my dh was escorted to the waiting area (about 6:15 a.m.), and I was prepped for surgery (everything off, and wore a robe and pressure stockings). I got a shot of blood thinner (stung a little), and an IV inserted (no stinging at all). I was given a drip of antibiotics and anti-nausea med, and at some point pain meds. I tend to get motion sick, so I also got a patch behind my ear to ward off nausea. All the normal stats were taken, and then I talked to my surgeon, anesthesiologist, the nurse anesthetist, and other various nurses. A catheter was inserted and removed while I was under. The trachea tube (not sure what it's called was done while I was under as well).

About two hours later, I woke up in recovery, with very little nausea (I've thrown up the other times I'd anesthesia, so I was very happy not to be very sick). I had a pulse and blood pressure cuffs on, and leg massagers to help ward off blood clots.I had a nasty sore throat that a throat lozenges took care of. Believe me, I kept that sucker between my teeth, in mortal fear that I would accidentally swallow it. The mostly ended my sore throat problem. I was given little med cups of crushed ice to chew on, and later, little med cups of water. My doctor checked in on me, and said my liver had been in great condition for the surgery, so the pre-op died must have done the trick.

I had to go for an MRI, and the nurse who was taking care of me left for break, (and this is the only glitch), the new nurse didn't give me the second shot of anti-nausea meds. I had to drink a normal sized drink of a bitter substance and a chalky substance for the MRI. After that, I was sent back to the recovery room to collect my things, and the nurse escorted me to the restroom. On the way, a wave of nausea took over, my ears started ringing, and I felt faint. The nurse got me the anti-nausea shot I was supposed to have right away. It worked within minutes. I also got one last shot in the stomach of blood thinner. The nurse warned me that the med might sting, but I didn't feel a thing from the needle or the med.

One thing that this doctor's office uses, that I haven't heard anyone else mention is an On-Q Catheter, which is a small tube placed near my two main incisions that is connected to an infusion pump. There's a balloon type pump filled with pain med. I have a small fanny pack to carry the pump. I took a Oxycone after I returned home, although, so far, I've had very little pain. I've taken the advice of veteran banders to stay ahead of the pain, so I'll take my prescribed dosage today, and possibly tomorrow. I have liquid Tylenol to take later too.

:crying: sip, sip, sipping; walk, walk, walking

It sounds like everyone is doing great! I am glad to hear everything has gone so smoothly!!

Welcome to your new, better lives!!!

Congradulations everyone! I'm checking in because I'm having my surgery on the 11th...less than a week away now. I go tommorrow for my pre op tests and to meet with my surgeon. I hope my tests come out ok so I can have this surgery already... it seems like years since I decided on it...wish me luck...I will check back in when I know the results.:tt2:

September Samurai's!!!!

Congratulations everyone! It seems to me all the Samurai's are recovering soo quickly! I went for all the pre-op stuff today and it was kinda scary, and a big reality check. Heres hoping my surgery goes just as smoothly! Surgery date 9-17-08! Tamara

I am so glad everyone is doing great. These posts are really making me anxious for mine. I will probably be the last to report as my surgery isn't till September 30th. At least reading everyone's progress will help me prepare.

hey kiz!!

sounds like you are doing really well!! Wishing you a speedy recovery hun! glad to have you back safe and well xxxxx

I had my banding done yesterday at it has gone quite well!

My boyfriend and I spent the night at my parent's house the night before since it was closer to the hospital and we had to pick up my mom. sleeping in separate rooms was sad, but I didn't want to disrespect my parent house (even though I live with my bf only my mom knows). Conservative I know.

Anyway I woke up at 4:30 because my dad goes to work early and he decided to go into work at 5 so he could make up some time and leave to meet us at the hospital. Took a shower, made my boyfriend some Breakfast of scrambled eggs and oatmeal.

We were in the car about 6:15 for our 7 am checkin and 9am surgery.

When we got there everyone was very nice. My mom was a nurse for years at another hospital, so of course she was eyeing their work like a hawk. She even asked one of the nurses to check my IV because the saline looked like it was running really slow. That nurse was a real b**** about it and snapped at her -- I'm glad she wasn't my nurse and the only mean one the whole day. Even the volunteen came to check on me and rubbed my feet! I had a fan club in the pre-surgery holding room and I liked it. :tongue2:

I went into the real holding room where my family couldn't go and me the anesthesiologist, Dr. Patel. She was really great and friendly. Then my doctors came in to talk to me. I was really greatful to them for putting this program together. Even though the psych stuff wasn't covered by my insurance, I think it was really worth it because I felt like gold the whole morning - my nerves were at a minimim. My doctors ONLY do gastric surgery and very very rarely have to convert to anything open.

The last thing I remember is talking to them. I don't even rememeber getting into the OR. Next thing I know someone is calling my name and I was struggling to keep myself awake. I remember realizing I was in recovery and that I wasn't in pain but I felt really tired -- I saw the clock said about 10:45. Another flash and I was in my own room because my mom and boyfriend walked in. They said they were going to have lunch while I slept.

Right after I woke up again and walked to the bathroom-- my family came back from lunch. My nurse was the best. She told me she was considering having ht procedure done as well. I told her - definitely go with the N.E.W. program they have been great.

Basically by 1:30 we started the discharge process. A representative at the hospital - the Bariatric Surgery coordinator came in with some paperwork and a tummy teddy to help me use when I get up and out of bed and if I needed to cough or do some breathing exercises. At 2, my boyfriend brought around the car and I slept the whole way home.

I feel fine so far, just some soreness at the surgery site. I had some broth and my mom made some home made apple juice dilute in her fancy blender. (Not too fond of it, it was kind of sour.) I woke up at 3:30 to go to the bathroom, and was in a little more sore than yesterday (just like when you go to the gym) but I probably will go back to bed soon since I just took my tylenol w/codine.

Have a good night. I'll update later on in the day!

Congrats to all the September Samurai! I'm glad to join your ranks!