Chris S.
One year progress report
Dec 04, 2008
Unbelievable is all I can say . .. I'm off all my meds - I can sit on a plane without an extension . . . I put on a 44D bra today - as opposed to the 56DD I had to wear last year . . . I feel better . . . I'm happier overall . . . Life is good and this is the best thing I ever did for ME!!!! I was 306 at my highest . . . and hit 80 lbs down on my one year bandiversary. Not as fast as many - but makes me happy!
My operation
Dec 04, 2007
I'm almost embarrassed to say I had a "text book" experience . . . checked in, did all the sticking and stabbing with needles . . .down to preop - with 6 other people who were all "first". My Lord, you have a nurse, anesthelogist and doctor at each bed . . . along with relatives . . . it sounded like a bee hive. And then we rolled . . . and the last thing I remember was someone saying they were putting another IV in my arm "in case .. . " and I was out. Never did find out WHY they did that . . . and I had to tell each nurse "got me". I woke up in recovery and was there for an hour . . . and then back up to the room at 11:00 am.
I wasn't expecting to spend the night - but they said outpatient is anything up to 24 hours . . . so I figured I might as well stay there where they could keep an eye on me. I never went to sleep until 11:30 last night. I had the pain medicine once when I got up to the room, and once about 10:30. Haven't taken any today, but I might now that I'm home and can really rest a bit. Was up walking the halls by 12:30 and then made a point of doing it every 2 hours. Then room service came and I'm going "huh???" and she had 4 bottles of water and 4 bottles of Propel . . . my food lol. I haven't had much pain for gas . . . just a slight bit in the shoulder, but the gas-x helped that . . . I LOVED the leg things . . . I don't have anyone to rub my legs and feet . . . so that was a treat!
The poor woman in the room next to me did not fair quite as well. She had nausea quite a bit, and was crying when they were trying to get her up walking. However - today she was walking the halls too . . . and smiling a LOT . . .
So that is my beginning journey - and I'm hoping everyone else has good stories too!
I wasn't expecting to spend the night - but they said outpatient is anything up to 24 hours . . . so I figured I might as well stay there where they could keep an eye on me. I never went to sleep until 11:30 last night. I had the pain medicine once when I got up to the room, and once about 10:30. Haven't taken any today, but I might now that I'm home and can really rest a bit. Was up walking the halls by 12:30 and then made a point of doing it every 2 hours. Then room service came and I'm going "huh???" and she had 4 bottles of water and 4 bottles of Propel . . . my food lol. I haven't had much pain for gas . . . just a slight bit in the shoulder, but the gas-x helped that . . . I LOVED the leg things . . . I don't have anyone to rub my legs and feet . . . so that was a treat!
The poor woman in the room next to me did not fair quite as well. She had nausea quite a bit, and was crying when they were trying to get her up walking. However - today she was walking the halls too . . . and smiling a LOT . . .
So that is my beginning journey - and I'm hoping everyone else has good stories too!
My steps to banding
Nov 13, 2007
I went to an orientation meeting on September 5th and was way impressed with my doctor and the staff presenting the information. Went home and filled out all the information online for the office, and the next day my case was submitted to my insurance for a predetermination, which was as YES YES YES!
I was set up for all my appointments - labs, consults, nut, internest, phycologists (I can't spell) on the same day - October 3rd. I didn't find out until that day that I had to be smoke free for 8 weeks . . . soooooo . . I went home and quit cold turkey. All the doctor reports came back, were submitted to my insurance, and on October 22, in the middle of all the San Diego fires, I got a call from the insurance saying I was approved. The doctor's office was my next call and she said "quit smoking on 10-3 . . . ok . . .12-3 will be your date" . . . and now I wait. My preop class is most of the day on 11-28 - and then I'm Good To Go!
I was set up for all my appointments - labs, consults, nut, internest, phycologists (I can't spell) on the same day - October 3rd. I didn't find out until that day that I had to be smoke free for 8 weeks . . . soooooo . . I went home and quit cold turkey. All the doctor reports came back, were submitted to my insurance, and on October 22, in the middle of all the San Diego fires, I got a call from the insurance saying I was approved. The doctor's office was my next call and she said "quit smoking on 10-3 . . . ok . . .12-3 will be your date" . . . and now I wait. My preop class is most of the day on 11-28 - and then I'm Good To Go!
