oldiebutgoodie2

Best of luck to you tomorrow! I'd check about the 4 weeks of liquid only after surgery. It does sound a little excessive. I get my surgery May 26. I only have to do the liquid for one week post surgery, then graduated "thickness" each week after that. Looking forward to hearing how the surgery goes for you, your experiences after that! Positive thoughts coming your way!

Well, the fastest way is to pay cash! But if you are doing it the insurance way, you've got to jump through the hoops....my hoops included 6 months of meetings, 3 physical therapy appts., 3 psych appts, and multiple blood tests, a chest x-ray and EKG....and I am healthy! It's just what my insurance co. (Blue Shield) and/or my medical group (Mercy Med Group in Sacramento) requires. But as frustrating and unnecessary as it all is, the time actually comes. My surgery is scheduled for May 26th! So hang in there, and try not to get discouraged. Good luck!

Congrats! Looking forward to your postings of your journey. Good luck!

This site is so cool for so many reasons, one being that we get to hear banders experience from all over the world. So where ARE all of you? Someone talked about England, and someone else talked about a doctor in Germany But by any chance, anyone from California or specifically, the Sacramento area? Anyone having Dr. Machado for their surgeon? Hope all of you May banders are doing well. Looking forward to your on-going posts.

What you are living is exactly what I am looking forward to and expecting! My present wonderful relationships won't change (they love me fat or thin), but things like painting my toenails! Wearing heals again! Feeling better about myself and liking clothes again! Fitting better in the plane seats and not having people almost groan when they see they will be sitting by me! Very cool! Thank you so much for sharing your experience and your wonderful, inspiring after-goal experience!

I found out today that I will be banded on May 26th! Exactly 2 weeks after you! I will be thinking positive thoughts for you on the 12th! I'm leaving for Boston on Friday for 10 days, so they are going to do my pre-op tomorrow! I think that is when they will probably tell me I will have to go on a pre-band liquid diet too! :-( But I have gone to two nutritionist appts and got to try different protein drinks. They were all good! All of them were protein powder mixed with Crystal Lite. My friend was banded 2 months ago and she uses the blender and mixes various flavors of Crystal Lite with fat free milk, ice cubes and the protein powder....either the flavorless or the vanilla. She says it tastes like those yummy popsicles that taste like they have ice cream in them! And, by mixing it with milk, you are getting 8-10 grams more protein! I ordered Unjury protein powder on line, and on that website, they provided various recipes. So I printed it up and will be trying some out while visiting my daughter (and darling grandson!) in Boston. Good luck with the liquid diet. Let me know if you come up with anything especially yummy! Good to hear you only have to do it three days. It appears that some on this website had to do it for up to 10 days pre-surgery! After all you have been though, you can do this standing on your head!

Yes, the weight loss tickers! Thank you! And I see you have lost over 100 pounds!!! Super congratulations!! Has it changed you life? Any regrets? Any advice?

Now that I am an official May bander, can those of you in the know tell me how I can set up that line showing your progress....ticket-something? Thanks!

I got my date today! I will get my lap band May 26th! So now I'm one of you! I am so excited that it is finally here! Good luck to all of you going before me. I will be following your journeys daily!

It is so amazing how things happen for a reason! If you didn't decide to get the lap band, your discovery of the tumor could have been way down the road and more serious. If this isn't a sign that the lap band was the right decision! :-) Best of luck to you on the 12th. I am hoping for my surgery to be shortly after yours, so will look forward to your day by day accounts leading up to the surgery date and after!

Hi, gMommy, Thank you so much for responding, and for sharing your experience. I am so sorry you are feeling so physically bad, but like you said, and as my Mom always said, "This too shall pass!" Hopefully your appointment will give you some answers, and hope for relief. I am going to be at Dr. Machado's office tomorrow, too! I have an appointment with the nutritionist at 2:30. So we may actually run into each other! But if not, it is still wonderful to compare notes on this website. I am SO glad the Sutter support group told me about this website! I have already learned so much! For instance, your (and other's) post-surgery sharing has really helped to prepare me, to know that such experiences are normal! And, thank you for your suggestions on the mixtures for the Protein drinks! I too love Peanut Butter and I was wondering about adding it to the "shakes". So I will try it before surgery, and look forward to it again when it is possible after surgery. You mentioned the pre-surgery liquid diet. No one has told me yet about that regarding Dr. Machado patients. How long is the liquid pre-surgery diet?? I know it is supposed to be good to shrink your liver and make the surgery and recovery process better. Aren't you glad you did it...otherwise, your post surgery might have been worse! Anyway, hope you are feeling better tomorrow, and moreso each day thereafter. Happy losing!!! Keep in touch! Mavis

It was so neat reading your letter here. 50 pounds in 6 months! Fantastic. I hope to be banded in a few weeks, and hope for similar results. You said you are training for a half marathon. I can't imagine running, let alone a half marathon! How much did you lose before taking up running? I walk and bicycle (but not near enough). Hope to improve as summer and band are approaching! What a great idea to put a note in with your Christmas decorations to read the next year! I will definitely start doing that!

What an inspiration you are!! I hope to be banded in a few weeks. If you can remember back when you first got the band, any suggestions for protein intake? Any other outstanding points from your journey?

Hi! How are you feeling? I hope to get the lap band in a few weeks (Dr. Machado). You have already lost 8 pounds! Fantastic! How do you feel? Any suggestions for protein? Are there any support groups you know of other than the Sutter meetings? I went to that one once a couple of months ago. There were only 5 people there, but they were nice, and helpful. They told me about this website, for one! Regarding the marriage question, many moons ago, I was married. I was pretty thin when I got married, then gained weight over the 5 years we were married. When I lost the weight, my husband was very happy. When I regained it, we got a divorce! haha Not the only reason, of course. But the bottom line is, you have got to do it for yourself and your health. Everything else will work out the way it is supposed to. Mavis