jarvis

I was banded 12/12. I emailed Dr Miranda last week about pudding and jello. Her answer was simple, "No....if you can't drink it, don't eat it for 21 days"

I have to say the hospital bed was most comfortable (with the adjustments) and the next morning when they release you they give you a nausea and pain shot which makes post op day 2 Much easier!!! Don't be too anxious to go to the hotel. Cindy

I figured I woold be last due to extra medical conditions....and I was. I asked the day before, how do they decide who goes in what order. I was told the doctors meet in the morning, go over charts and decide then.

Hi Becca, Please don't beat yourself up. I 100% understand. For the last 7 years I have done my yearly blood work with my original surgeon (also out of state), but have not seen or talked to him in 4 years. Absorption is also a problem with me. I now have peri-osteoperosis, I have iron infusions every 6-9 months, take 50,000 units of rx vitD daily..etc. However, that does not attirbute to our weight gain. I did go to a bariatric doctor in Oregon who chuckled when I said I want the lap band. He said no board certified doctor would do the lap band with my "low" BMI. But I knew I would just continue to gain more weight. I have worked out 3x a week for the last year (I still am not used to it, and don't enjoy it) and have maintained my weight, but not lost any....due to my large appetite and addiction to food. Which lead me to Dr Ortiz (the Mexico dr on Oprah). I knew I needed help to get my food back under control. We all deserve a second chance if we need one. The cost for "band over bypass" is (edited) with Dr Ortiz......Well worth it! So far I have lost 19 pounds...I see light at the end of the tunnel. My 67 year old mother had the band surgery with me on 12/12 also. Please feel free to email me if you have any more questions. The support on this board is amazing, helpful and comforting! Cindy

You might try the www.goodnightinn.com no frills, just a cheap, clean place to stay...we paid $48 a night 10 minutes from the airport

I can't believe it! I lost 5 pounds pre-op, and got on the scale today and lost 4 pounds since yesterday??? The best thing is needing to move my weight loss ticker!!! A total of 12 pounds in 11 days. Yesterday I was thinking I can't drink anymore yogurt, I am so ready for food. However, my weight has given me the kick I needed to embrace another 10 days of liquids.....I CAN do it!!! Cindy

Good Morning Anne! One of the lucky ones.....no gas pains! So glad you're home and back to normal routine (sans eating...hehe). One thing I am changing after talking with Dr Ortiz, is I will be traveling back to OCC for my first fill. During our stay there was two people that were there for correcting previous fills (done somewhere else). Dr Ortiz talked about this quite a bit and the bottom line is the first fill is the most important. And after doing 10,000 of them, their the best! I figure I've spent this much money, I might as well invest 300(airfare) more to get the best care....which is why I chose OCC in the first place. My only complaint is the hunger. Today I get soups....which I will have after coffee! All my best, Cindy

I must agree with Dana. I take 4 pills each morning since 1 day post op without any problems. Dr Miranda told me there was no restriction until your first fill. I hope you fell better.

Hi Sarah! Glad you're feeling better today. I also had a lot of nausea Sunday (over doing it I suppose). I couldn't take the hunger pangs any longer, and had about 1/4 c of liquid yogurt this morning.......oh man, that was good and satisfying. I think I will have that 3x a day. I am feeling great. Came back to work full time Monday. Did you get email addresses from everyone? If so, can you email those to me? Cindy Cynthia1081@yahoo.com

Thanks for all the good advice girls. jude, you stated clear liquids for the first 7, which is my plan...but then you say drinkable yogart day 4.....this isn't clear. Can you clarify please. Cindy

Will, thanks for your reply. However I am only 4 days post op and really hoping to make it thru day 7 (although Dr Miranda said day 4 for soups "if you must") prior to moving from the clear liquid stage. You were able to eat chili on day 10? with no upset? Cindy

Hi Everyone! Surgery was on Friday. Saturday I went with 4 other patients and we went to Revolution to shop. After a few hours, we returned to the Lucerna restaurant for lunch (broth for us post op). A word of caution for pre ops. We all felt so good 1 day post op, we spent at least a couple of hours shopping (and walking), the next day I realized I over did it.......What I also realized that day was they gave os a pain shot and nausea shot prior to leaving the clinic, which lead me to feel no pain and go like the energizer bunny......So my advice would be take it very easy the next day, even though you feel no pain. The best part of 1 day post op was meeting my new friends, we all went shopping, shared a cab (this was like a cartoon.....9 of us in a cab! yes I said NINE). It was a van, built for 7. We had a great laugh, we laughed so hard it hurt!!!!! It was just too funny! After dinner that night, everyone met for a card game. Mom and I had to pass because we had to get up at 3am to catch our flight. Day 3 was very good. I worked 8 hours without any problems or discomfort. I am not like most. I have had growling since 1 day post op. This morning is the worst, it won't stop. I took chewable fiber, chewable vits and I'm on my second cup of coffee. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Gas pains today are almost gone....not bad at all. My mom who had surgery on Fri too (and is 67), has had no pain, no gas, no hunger, doing fabulous!......shheeesh!!! Now for my question. Can I have powdered hot chocolate (made with water)? This board has made my journey, which has only just begun, so much easier.....thank you agian to all of you! All my best, Cindy

My mom and I arrived in San Diego last night at 12:30am. Got to the OCC at 7:30am There were 9 surgeries today...mom was #8 I, of course, was last.....long day! No pain, only gas discomfort. This staff is amazing, they all have a very good sense of humor....we had lots of laughs while waiting our turn. We are looking forward to a sleeping pill at 9pm, for a good nights sleep. The hotel Lucerna is very nice, and OCC is so clean! Anne, Make sure you pack warm clothes.....it was down to 59 today. Best to all of you! Cindy

You all are just about the sweetest bunch of ladies! Thank you, I feel so much better I'm not the only one! My mom has been so good about sticking to her pre-op diet I just couldn't tell her what I did today,......which was eat 2 days worth of junk food, and M&M's.....I felt so guilty, thanks for easing my mind! Cindy

I hate to admit this.....Here it is the day before surgery. I've lost 5 pounds on the pre op diet. Combine that with this need (emotional) for some desperate eating.......I keep finding myself going back into the kitchen thinking "eat it now and get it out of my system", the next trip to the kitchen "I hate to have to throw it out", next "one more bite won't hurt". Now that I'm full, I feel terrible.......pretty much a feeling I have almost daily when I overeat. Can anyone relate? Cindy

1. Name:Cindy Clark 2. Location:Bend, Oregon (the sunny part of Or...yes, there is one) 3. Age:47 4. Band Date: 12/12/08...TOMORROW!!!! 5. Married: At one time 6. Children of the human or furry kind: Two grown boys ....I live alone with my lab mut "Harley" 7. Hobby(ies):Travel 8. Work: I own a hotel amenities company (the little shampoos and soaps) 9. What was the deciding factor(s) on getting banded: I've gained 50 pounds in 3 years 10. Interesting factoid: I'm a car nut....I own a restored 66 mustang convertable and a 03 Dyna Low Rider (Harley Davidson)

Hi Anne, I mentioned this once before, but worth mentioning again (I hope). You said you also favor Atkins protein shakes, the response I had on this board was they were as good as any. Right now GNC.com has buy 1 get 1 free. And if you spend $75 you get free shipping. I ended up paying .87 cents each (usually they are $2 in the grocery store. Yes, you live quite a ways out there.....I live in Oregon and had to google Enterprise. If you go to Portland to see Dr Fitzpatrick, let me know when( I have my first fill on 1/23 with her). I travel to Portland a couple times a month (friends and family live there), we can meet for a cup of coffee....or broth! I will be flying out of Bend tonight at 7pm, change plans in Las Vegas (and to pick up my mom), we will arrive in San Diego tonight at 10:45pm for surgery tomorrow . Mom and I are both super excited to start our new journey together! I'll keep you all posted this weekend! All my best! Cindy

Trav, you're a riot!...Thanks for a laugh. I have a good friend who's a vet, everybody always asks him for his medical (people medicine)....and I've heard him offer stuff from his bag.....he says other than dose, it's "just about the same"......hehe, no thank you! I enjoy your posts! Thanks, Cindy

Hi Dawn, She is in Milwaukie, right off the freeway. From what I understand (2nd hand info), she used to be a bariatric nurse and then got her MD. She is really comfortable, and knows what she is doing. I will definately travel to Portland (I live in Bend) to see her for my first fill in Feb. I worried about a dr not wanting to see my son after having the Lap band in Mx (which he did last April)...she doesn't mind at all and is very understanding about it. She general MD who focuses on a nature pathic practice and specializes in the lap band community. Here's a link to her www.http://gastricbands.com/_wsn/page2.html Feel free to email me anytime. Cindy Cynthia1081@yahoo.com

Hi Jenn, It seems as I've tried about 6 protien shakes. The best I've found (and it's as good as a milkshake) is Atkins. Chocolate (not the dark, yuk!) and vanilla are really good. Right now, you buy one, get one free at GNC.com. I bought the 24 pack, with the get one free I ended up paying .87 cents each. Cindy

Hi Anne, Are you ready for Monday? Exciting isn't it? GNC.com has Atkins buy1 get 1 free, so I bought 24 and got 24 cans free.....that's a savings of $48 (usually they are $2 each)! Regards, Cindy

I will definately be posting. I can't find a single person (which makes me feel like a bigger failure at weight loss- or lack of it) who had the DS. I plan on being a success story for the lap band!!! BTW, thanks for the soup recipe...it was awesome! Cindy

I am scheduled for surgery this Friday. As I continue my research and make my notes I realized I have never read anything about Atkins shakes for protien. I love these and just purchased 48 cans. They have 1g sugar and 17g protein.....are these ok? Thanks for all of the information all of you have shared (especially you, Jazzy Jude)! Cindy

looks fantastic. I will try it tonight! Thanks, Cindy