July 1st Surgery Stories

[hot tea 0]

Sweet, keep up the good work! I almost wish I could go back to work...I was climbing the walls yesterday but, my job is too physical. I'm out for 4 weeks and I'll be have knee surgery on July 23...I figured if I'm gonna be out...might as well take care of the knee issue as well. I'm so not used to this taking it easy stuff...but, it's necessary and I'm thankful that I can come here and vent a bit and read how we are all getting on since surgery.

Regina

Oh yes... I meant to report that I weighed myself the morning of surgery and every morning after. Day 1 I had gained 5 lbs (all fluid). Down 3 lbs on Day 2 and on Day 3 I am back to my surgery day weight. Looking forward to many more losing days

[hot tea 0]

Hey Regina,

Let me know how it goes with getting into your mini-cooper...I drive a VW Beetle and its also low to the ground. I was wondering the same thing...hope you are doing well today and congrats on the -2.6lb loss.

I have 2 more sleeps and then its my turn. I have been soooo good on my pre-op diet but today I fell off the wagon a bit. Was at a Canada Day/Strawberry festival and had some strawberries, a butter tart and about 4 nacho chips with guacamole....oh and 1/2 glass of wine. Ahhhh...I hope my liver doesn't balloon in size. Tomorrow I'm going to be a good girl.

Bye for now,

Mary

Hey mary,

Don't beat yourself up about the nibbles you had yesterday, it's part of life. If you read the forums every surgeon has a different take on the whole "shrink your liver thing" my surgeon doesn't believe in the liquid diet unless the patient's BMI is over 60. I did the supervised 6 month diet and at the time of my surgical consult I was down 15lbs and asked him about having to do a liquid diet...he thinks that he's patients come into surgery a little dehyrated and he ends up giving them lots of IV fluids...so, I was told to eat light the day before surgery and to have nothing by mouth after midnight.

The day before surgery I las my last meal at 5pm and drank until midnight and morning of surgery I took my medicine at 8am with a decent sip of Water. I stayed at the hospital for 20 hrs and recieved 2.5 liter of Fluid.

I said all that to stay...don't fret. Start anew today and the before surgery follow your instructions to the letter. I'll be watching for your posts.

Good luck and I'm sending you positive thoughts.

Regina

[hot tea 0]

OK, so I was climbing the walls and wanted out of the house. I talked around Target and of course bought totally random stuff...happens everytime I go to that store LOL

Getting in and out of the MINI was fine, I actually raised the seat so I wouldn't be so low and that probably helped a great deal.

It was an amazingly beautiful day here 82 degrees, bright sunshine and a warm breeze.

Got out of the car and came up the stairs and into the apartment and was so nausea...nausea to the point that clear fluid/extra saliva was forming...I was little afraid...tried to stay calm...had a gas X strips and raised my arms over my head and took some deep breaths...it worked, I didn't vomit and the feeling past within 5 mins. I think all that movement, stirred up that remaining gas....I had no futher problems...an hour later I was sippin on another coffee flavored Protein shake.

I was tired, the last few nights I'd only been sleeping 3 hours at a time... so, I took a vicodin and got a solid 6 hours of sleep...only problem...I slept 930p to 330a...so, I'm here writing about yesterday and sippin my first 4 oz Protein Drink of the day.

It's gonna be a long day LOL

[mcb2009 0]

Hey mary,

Don't beat yourself up about the nibbles you had yesterday, it's part of life. If you read the forums every surgeon has a different take on the whole "shrink your liver thing" my surgeon doesn't believe in the liquid diet unless the patient's BMI is over 60. I did the supervised 6 month diet and at the time of my surgical consult I was down 15lbs and asked him about having to do a liquid diet...he thinks that he's patients come into surgery a little dehyrated and he ends up giving them lots of IV fluids...so, I was told to eat light the day before surgery and to have nothing by mouth after midnight.

The day before surgery I las my last meal at 5pm and drank until midnight and morning of surgery I took my medicine at 8am with a decent sip of Water. I stayed at the hospital for 20 hrs and recieved 2.5 liter of Fluid.

I said all that to stay...don't fret. Start anew today and the before surgery follow your instructions to the letter. I'll be watching for your posts.

Good luck and I'm sending you positive thoughts.

Regina

Thanks for the positive note Regina...appreciate it very much. Yes, I'm quite amazed at the different approaches to the pre-op diet. I haven't had to do a liquid pre-op diet but a low carb diet that puts you in ketosis. So, no sugar, bread, fruit, rice etc. My weight was up this morning but its likely Water retention. My goal today is to drink lots of water, get some exercise and prepare myself for tomorrow.

On another topic...have you guys read through some of the other forum threads about people who have been banded and are NOT happy? Last night I made the mistake of checking out the 2005 Bandsters forum. I'm really hoping that there are thousands out there who have been successful and only the ones who have not are posting there. Geeze...talk about having second thoughts last night. I'm going to have my surgery tomorrow morning but I was reminded, after reading their posts, that this band is only a tool and will not magically melt our pounds away. Its going to take lots of work and determination. As always, its not the losing that I'm concerned with...I know I can lose it, I've done it many, many times. Its the keeping it off part of the equation that I have failed at so many times.

Anyway...just the musings of someone who is less than 24 hours away from being banded. Hard to concentrate on anything else.

Take care everyone and have a great day.

Mary

[hot tea 0]

Thanks for the positive note Regina...appreciate it very much. Yes, I'm quite amazed at the different approaches to the pre-op diet. I haven't had to do a liquid pre-op diet but a low carb diet that puts you in ketosis. So, no sugar, bread, fruit, rice etc. My weight was up this morning but its likely Water retention. My goal today is to drink lots of Water, get some exercise and prepare myself for tomorrow.

On another topic...have you guys read through some of the other forum threads about people who have been banded and are NOT happy? Last night I made the mistake of checking out the 2005 Bandsters forum. I'm really hoping that there are thousands out there who have been successful and only the ones who have not are posting there. Geeze...talk about having second thoughts last night. I'm going to have my surgery tomorrow morning but I was reminded, after reading their posts, that this band is only a tool and will not magically melt our pounds away. Its going to take lots of work and determination. As always, its not the losing that I'm concerned with...I know I can lose it, I've done it many, many times. Its the keeping it off part of the equation that I have failed at so many times.

Anyway...just the musings of someone who is less than 24 hours away from being banded. Hard to concentrate on anything else.

Take care everyone and have a great day.

Mary

Morning Mary,

You are very welcome. I have read about the people who hated their band and went for the vertical sleeve...I say to each their own. For me, it's about appetite and portions ...the band will take care of the portions and from some of the research it looks like it affect appetite as well. I personally don't want to have my GI system re-route so, that I am in a malabsorptive state...I don't want to lose weight so rapidly that my skin appears to be melting off me. Which means even more, painful surgeries.

Stay positive and take every thing you read with a grain of salt. We are all individuals with different motivations and struggles with the same problem. My motivation for the surgery was not to be thin....but, to prevent Diabetes and to get off my blood pressure medicine...now, the thin is just going to be a happy coincidence LOL

I'm thinking of you,

Regina

[hot tea 0]

Today, Sunday is going to be a good day. I slept well and just got on the scale and I'm down another 1.8 lbs for a total of 4.4lbs since Wednesday's surgery....yippppeee

Juniper, have you weighed yourself yet? or another of the others that were banded on July 1st?

[slpcat 0]

On another topic...have you guys read through some of the other forum threads about people who have been banded and are NOT happy? Last night I made the mistake of checking out the 2005 Bandsters forum. I'm really hoping that there are thousands out there who have been successful and only the ones who have not are posting there.

Mary

Hey Mary,

My sister was banded in 2005, lost 85 lbs and is doing great with her band. She still follows the program and stays in touch with her doctor. I truly feel like many many successful bandsters just don't get on the boards anymore. Hope this puts you at ease a little

[Juniper 0]

Hey Mary,

My sister was banded in 2005, lost 85 lbs and is doing great with her band. She still follows the program and stays in touch with her doctor. I truly feel like many many successful bandsters just don't get on the boards anymore. Hope this puts you at ease a little

I've wondered about this myself a few times, about how many people are actually happy with their band long term. I met a nurse in the hospital who had a band, and then had it removed, and she told me that as long as you "follow the rules", you'd be fine. And she's only one of several who have said such a thing to me. So it almost makes me think that people who are not successful with the band are the ones who have trouble "following the rules". Of course, there are probably others who have some extenuating circumstances... but it really is just a tool, not a magic wand.

I also think getting the right restriction is a big part of a person's success. If your band is too loose, then it's like not having it at all.

Ah well. Just my thoughts on it all.

[Juniper 0]

Today, Sunday is going to be a good day. I slept well and just got on the scale and I'm down another 1.8 lbs for a total of 4.4lbs since Wednesday's surgery....yippppeee

Juniper, have you weighed yourself yet? or another of the others that were banded on July 1st?

I did weigh myself yesterday morning, and I had lost all the fluids from the surgery, plus another 1/2 lb, so I'm happy!

I'm trying to not be completely obsessive about weighing, cuz I know I can get that way, so I'm limiting myself to one weigh a day. hehe

[hot tea 0]

Good job...I'm trying to only weigh myself every other day during this liquid phase but, somehow, I was on the scale again today LOL

mostly, because I walked on the treadmill for 30 mins yesterday. down another .4...and I'll take it!

I did weigh myself yesterday morning, and I had lost all the fluids from the surgery, plus another 1/2 lb, so I'm happy!

I'm trying to not be completely obsessive about weighing, cuz I know I can get that way, so I'm limiting myself to one weigh a day. hehe

[mil51 0]

So happy to hear that your surgeries went well! I'm hoping that everyone else's has too! Thank you for the surgery day stories and after, it helps the rest of us prepare mentally for when our "days" are upon us. Careful hugs to all!

[mcb2009 0]

Hey Mary,

My sister was banded in 2005, lost 85 lbs and is doing great with her band. She still follows the program and stays in touch with her doctor. I truly feel like many many successful bandsters just don't get on the boards anymore. Hope this puts you at ease a little

Thanks slpcat...that's what I was hoping. Glad to hear your sister is still working the band and is successful. That's what I hope for us all.

Cheers,

Mary

[hot tea 0]

Hey gang,

Had my post op check up this afternoon. Down 6 lbs by their scale fully clothed but, I was down 7.9 naked on my scale at 7am. He advanced my diet to first stage of mushies starting tomorrow....God love him...he doesn't require pre op liquid diet and now, he's advancing a week earlier.

My first fill is scheduled for Aug 21st.

[mil51 0]

That is AWESOME hot tea!!!! Congratulations on the 7.9 lbs down! I'm still waiting to be banded my date is July 28th! I can hardly wait, I'm so ready to start a brand new chapter! Thanks for keeping us up to date on how you are doing. It gives those of us still waiting encouragement.

Take care!

[hot tea 0]

Your welcome. It's been an amazing experience and I've had a completely uneventful post op course and want people to know...that there is a possibility for then to as well.

Hang in there...the 28th is fast approaching...use this time to get all your ducks in a row...so to speak :confused:

That is AWESOME hot tea!!!! Congratulations on the 7.9 lbs down! I'm still waiting to be banded my date is July 28th! I can hardly wait, I'm so ready to start a brand new chapter! Thanks for keeping us up to date on how you are doing. It gives those of us still waiting encouragement.

Take care!