BlueEyedBaby

LOL:rofl::confused::rofl: I have been an RN for 20 years now and us "old" nurses call this "RN itis" or "LPN itis" Be very proud that your daughter has chosen such a wonderful career. Tell her to hang in there! She is now in what is known as the "teen years of nursing" In a few years she will realize just how much she really didn't know.....just like a teenager :grouphug:

I have been on the liquid diet since last Tuesday. I was kinda nervous about it at first but I have challenged myself to find different "allowable" liquids to "eat" so I won't get bored with it. There are many different types of liquid diets but the one I am on allows me to have a limited amt of cottage cheese and yogurt so I do get a little variety. Beyond that, as long as it is sugar free/low carb and liquid I can have it. I have discovered several types of "broth" Soups. I fill up on egg drop Soup and have tried a new recipe that I will soon use as a "gravy" for different meals. I truely loved the taste. Just mix 1 can of Campbells beef consume' soup (It is a broth type soup but do not use beef broth) and one can of cheddar cheese soup and heat to boiling. I also have added a small can of tomato sauce to it along with a touch of splenda to take the sour out of the tomato. It is scrumptous. Low cal and low carb. If you will view it as a challenge, it makes it easier to handle. Hang in there, you will do great! :whoo:

I feel much the same way in that I don't want to hear the negative nellies. As a nurse who worked bariatriacs, I feel like I probably know as much or more about this surgery than most ppl will ever know. I, too, would be pissed. Thankfully, not many ppl in this area know what a lap band is so no one has an opinion one way or the other. They are just now being done around here so I am on the leading edge. But I could imagine myself feeling as you do about a negative response. Just remember, this forum is full of true "experts" who have lived it and that, to me, is the best witness ever.

Hi LauraP I'm from Kingsport, just north of you. I was beginning to believe I was the only one here from East Tn. Hey everyone!!!! I'm so excited that I can't sleep. I go for my surgery this coming Friday I am on this lovely pre-op liquid diet but it hasn't been too bad. I'm a pretty inventive cook so I have managed to keep from being bored and still stay on the diet. Any more East TN folks hiding out there?

Havent seen it yet but I do record them so I will definately watch that one

:whoo: OMG! I can't believe it. I have been working on this thing since January this year. The last visit to the surgeon I was told I had one more visit and still had to come up with the past 5 years worth of weights before the insurance would approve it. While the office manager was on vacation last week, someone in the office accidentally sent my stuff on in to the insurance company and they actually approved it as it was. Did not ask for anything else. Needless to say, I was totally surprised when someone from the MD office called to tell me I was approved!! :clap2: Soooo.....this means that I am now scheduled for my lap band July 27th. I have to start on liquids the 17th, pre-op testing the 20th, start that wonderful prep the 26th and surgery at 8am the 27th. When I asked how long I would be off work, they said to plan on 5-6 weeks.....I told them "yeah right" and "dream on" I told them that the majority of ppl on here say they are out for 1-3 weeks max (for office jobs like I have) and I would give them 3 weeks at most. I personally plan on being back in about 2 weeks at most. Ha, Ha....there are some advantages to being a Nurse. That is as long as all goes well. I'm still in shock that they approved me so easy and with out all the "required" information. I don't think I am dreading the pre-op diet. I love liquids of any sort and simply could live off cottage cheese and yogurt. I can go without the food, just dont take my liquids away. I am also lucky enough to live near a smoothie King. Mmmmm...love those Protein drinks.... I'm so excited!!!!!

I am going for my first consult appt. today.....:scared:

That is so cool. BTW, where in Fl? Hubby and I just moved back to Tn from Florida. Spent 6 yrs in Pensacola.

The most important thing.... I asked the FNP (who used to work for the company that owns the hospital where I work) if anyone else from this hospital system and insurance company had had the surgery and she said "lots" so I asked her if they ever had any problem getting the band approved and she said "never" Good news, huh?

Ok, I had my first consult yesterday. I thought I was quite prepared for anything they would throw my way but I was kinda surprised at a couple of the things they require pre-op (not that they are bad or anything). My doctor requires a gallbladder ultrasound and a EGD along with the insurance required 6 month weigh-in's and the psych consult. Anyone else had to have a US and EGD pre-op? My band surgery will be done outpatient. 5 small incisions. Port will be placed just below my xyphoid. They use staples (bummer) I suggested surgical glue...who knows by the time I have surgery maybe they will be using the glue. 2 weeks of liquids post op then advance as tolerated. First fill done under flouro. Does this sound about average?

:scared:

:help: I, too, would be interested to hear from someone on this subject as I also have a auto-immune thyroid disease-Hashimoto's. I never thought anything about it till I saw this question posted. So, anyone out there with any experience on this?

That is about 1.5 hrs north of Knoxville and I do come to Knoxville occasionally. Haven't had my surgery yet. Just starting the process actually, but would be happy to be friends. Stay in touch.

:banana Hello everyone. What an awsome forum. I'm so glad to have found you. I am 40 years old and have been slightly overweight all my adult life, but have really ballooned over the past 10 years, mostly I believe due to thyroid and hormone problems. I, too, have tried just about every diet out there and a few made up ones of my own, without success. 2 years ago my best friend had a RNY done and although she had great success with the weight loss, the complications were massive and because I was by her side the whole time, I saw first hand that I did not want to go through that no matter what. On top of the fact that I am an RN and have an aversion against cutting out parts of my body. But my curiosity was peaked so I started doing research on weight loss surgeries. That is when I came across the lap band. The more I learned, the more I liked. I was so excited. Then I found out that my insurance would pay for RNY but not the lap band. It was "too new". This was a year ago. Since then I have moved from Florida to Tn and have a new insurance that says they will pay for it. Which is why I am here now. I have made the decision to go for it. My first MD appointment is Jan. 17th. I have full support of my awsome hubby and the rest of my family just says "cool". I guess they know that as an RN, I have enough medical knowledge to not venture into something like this without researching it thouroughly. Anyhow, I just thought I would intro myself and jump in because I just may need a little support from some "old pro's" and maybe I can eventually contribute to someone elses success. Sign me, Taking the first step.....

Well, I guess I'm the second Kartrina on this site, except my name has an extra 'r' in it (silent). And speaking of the hurricaine, I went through that thing down there....went through 4 of em before I got out of Florida. Anyhoo...my username comes from what my DH sometimes says when he calls me. "I'm looking for my blue eyed baby" Do ya wanna guess what color my eyes are? :party:

I notice that the original threads here are kinda old. Anyone here from my area? I know I am not the first band patient in this area so if you are from Tn and wanna chat, just shout. :clap2:

I stayed up all night the other night and read the whole thing. I was quite impressed. Especially with the surgical procedure section (Ok, so can you blame an old RN who used to work surgery?) I thought it was the most informative, comprehensive thing I have read so far. Thank you for posting this for all to read. Great Job!!