I get banded in three days!! EKKKK!!

[lisalisapsl]

So you guys that have already been,, any advice? I think I have all my stuff together... I just can't wait to get there.. This time next week, I'll be banded and back home !! I am not scared at all,, just wished that my husband would chill out!! Oh well he loves me.. Thanks xo Lisa~

[julieburns]

I'm sure your counting the days, even hours to bandland. my tips:

1. Pack light, like very light. I only took a rolling backpack and it was way too stuffed.

2. For the airport security have only 3 oz liquids and all liquids must fit in 1 quart size ziplock bag. Have it easy to get out

place in the bin they want it in going through the x-ray. Also wear shoes you can just slip off without untying.

3. Take your own bouillon cubes, powder if you don' want to have to pay $6 in the restaurant for a bowl. It's also just

very handy. You can have them on the plane trip home too.

4. Buy some special K protein water powder packets to add into your water while their. 5gms of protein and 5gms fiber.

5. Gas-X strips, phazyme are the most recommended anti-gas OTC meds. I took beano and tums and they worked well.

6. Stock up on these items at home before you go so you don't have to go to the store too soon after you get home

chicken/beef/vegetable broth, apple juice, popsicles (preferrably sugarfree), jell0 (same sugar free if you can tolerate)

cranberry juice, grape juice, any other "CLEAR" juice you may enjoy, special K protein water, crystal light.

Maybe other will add to this list for you as it is nowhere complete but it's a start for you.

Also check out recent posts by c1bandedbabe because she asked for a list of what to bring and other advice. She got great tips.

I'm excited for you. Keep posting and you'll be ay ease when you go.

[Kittycat]

Best of Luck! You will do great!

Let us know when you are a bandster...take care, Cathy

[DiamondJim]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Let us know how you are doing.

[fat2nrml]

I took tea bags [you can heat water in the coffee pot in the room] I'm a coffee drinker, but the first few days I wanted tea?? Anyways, I found that warm or hot drinks [room temp] felt better in my belly, cold drinks tended to kick up the shoulder \collarbone area pain. Suitcase with wheels is a blessing, especially is you're changing flights. If you get air sickness on planes, make sure you take Dramamine.... I forgot mine for the flight out and got so nausious :bad: They fixed me up at the OCC, but I felt horrible. They also gave me a couple Dram. for the flight home, bless their hearts! I know that you've read it on here a hundred times, but it is SO TRUE.... the more you move, the better you'll feel! You may not feel like moving, but make yourself!! Also, keep a bottle [i prefered room temp] water with you all the time and sip constantly! I went shopping on Rev. Ave the day after banding and carried a bottle with me and sipped. The hotel has 2 bottles in the room, but just call the front desk and they'll bring you more. I used it for my tea too. [Not sure of the safety of the drinking water down there... didn't want to take any chances.]

Is Hubby going with you?? Relax and enjoy your trip! Before you know it, you'll be posting your experiance Best wishes, Darlene

[lisalisapsl]

I took tea bags [you can heat water in the coffee pot in the room] I'm a coffee drinker, but the first few days I wanted tea?? Anyways, I found that warm or hot drinks [room temp] felt better in my belly, cold drinks tended to kick up the shoulder \collarbone area pain. Suitcase with wheels is a blessing, especially is you're changing flights. If you get air sickness on planes, make sure you take Dramamine.... I forgot mine for the flight out and got so nausious :bad: They fixed me up at the OCC, but I felt horrible. They also gave me a couple Dram. for the flight home, bless their hearts! I know that you've read it on here a hundred times, but it is SO TRUE.... the more you move, the better you'll feel! You may not feel like moving, but make yourself!! Also, keep a bottle [i prefered room temp] water with you all the time and sip constantly! I went shopping on Rev. Ave the day after banding and carried a bottle with me and sipped. The hotel has 2 bottles in the room, but just call the front desk and they'll bring you more. I used it for my tea too. [Not sure of the safety of the drinking water down there... didn't want to take any chances.]

Is Hubby going with you?? Relax and enjoy your trip! Before you know it, you'll be posting your experiance Best wishes, Darlene

Thanks everyone.. No my husband is driving us to the border and dropping us off and then getting us a few days later. My girlfriend is going with me. My hubby won't leave the country for anything and he thinks he is the ONLY one (besides me) that can take care of our two year old.(?) He's a freak about her. She is the youngest out of my four with a 13 year spread,, yes she was a little surprise....but a good one at that!

Tea sounds really good.. I keep hearing about shoulder pain,, whats the deal with that? Why is that common? Do you know? I am not taking a flight as I live 2 hours from the border, I think those of you who fly all this way are very brave. I am very worried about sleeping, I am have had insomnia for years which comes and goes and I sort of feel it coming again... I'm sure it is nerves. I don't take anything for it other than a tylenol pm sometimes.

I will move move move,, I know how important it is after surgery. Did you use your spriometer? I bought one to bring with me. I am a compliant patient so I will definatley do what I am told.

My Friend that is coming with me is a native from Mexico, so I feel very comfortable having her with me. They have family in Mechoacan, MX and crosses often. She is really great for going with me. One of her good friends loves the hospitals and Dr's down there so much that she crosses for her health care and procedures. Much better than here in the US. She says.

So I will keep everyone posted on what happened with me espcially those who are waiting as I know it is very nerve racking wondering. I am going to embrace this experience in a positive way so that I wake up happy.. Besides I'll need the sleep ha ha. So thanks for your tips it is greatly appreciated!! XO Lisa

[fat2nrml]

Thanks everyone.. No my husband is driving us to the border and dropping us off and then getting us a few days later. My girlfriend is going with me. My hubby won't leave the country for anything and he thinks he is the ONLY one (besides me) that can take care of our two year old.(?) He's a freak about her. She is the youngest out of my four with a 13 year spread,, yes she was a little surprise....but a good one at that!

Tea sounds really good.. I keep hearing about shoulder pain,, whats the deal with that? Why is that common? Do you know? I am not taking a flight as I live 2 hours from the border, I think those of you who fly all this way are very brave. I am very worried about sleeping, I am have had insomnia for years which comes and goes and I sort of feel it coming again... I'm sure it is nerves. I don't take anything for it other than a tylenol pm sometimes.

I will move move move,, I know how important it is after surgery. Did you use your spriometer? I bought one to bring with me. I am a compliant patient so I will definatley do what I am told.

My Friend that is coming with me is a native from Mexico, so I feel very comfortable having her with me. They have family in Mechoacan, MX and crosses often. She is really great for going with me. One of her good friends loves the hospitals and Dr's down there so much that she crosses for her health care and procedures. Much better than here in the US. She says.

So I will keep everyone posted on what happened with me espcially those who are waiting as I know it is very nerve racking wondering. I am going to embrace this experience in a positive way so that I wake up happy.. Besides I'll need the sleep ha ha. So thanks for your tips it is greatly appreciated!! XO Lisa

Doc's say that the shoulder pain is trapped gas from surgery but I think alot of it is pain from your actual surgery. The pain is from your stomach being banded and swollen, but it feels as if it's in your shoulder and collarbone area. When I'd drink cold stuff I noticed that that pain would get worse and when I drank warm, it soothed it. It is very common, but I've read that a few bandsters never got it! I never used my spriometer [and I have asthma] but they gave me breathing treatments before and after surgery. They give you a spriometer at the OCC to take home with you. It's nice that you have a friend to go with you.... are you going shopping??? Do keep us informed!! <' /> Best wishes, Darlene

[julieburns]

Lisa:

The shoulder pain is from gas but also it's something called referred pain. The body does this weird thing due to all the nerve endings and where they connect and it just so happens you get shoulder pain sometimes from an abdominal surgery.

I had it too and nothing really helped it but time.

[fat2nrml]

Lisa:

The shoulder pain is from gas but also it's something called referred pain. The body does this weird thing due to all the nerve endings and where they connect and it just so happens you get shoulder pain sometimes from an abdominal surgery.

I had it too and nothing really helped it but time.

Thanks Julie..... it's one of those things... I knew what I meant but didn't know the name for it. :yes: I got the pain off and on but nothing exreme.

[Kim2BSlim]

You have nothing to worry about..it will all be fine!

[reallyshygirl19]

You have nothing to worry about..it will all be fine!

o my god kim you look amazing already! i,m nervous about being banded but those before and after helped me think towards future and i would look after being banded good luck! kim keep losing and striving (reallyshygirl19)

[Guest sdejong]

Lisa

I look forward to meeting you as well..... I am so glad that you have a close friend coming with you.... I know we will all form good bonds but it is always nice to know that you have someone their just for you.... OMG..... 3 more days....

shy