valvinnek

I wish everyone the best this week. I am getting jealous of you guys!!! Please post with details!!!

My husband is taking the week of surgery off and my mom is too, so yes I do have support. Now that I am thinking about it, I'm going to save my frozen stuff for when they go back to work. I'll let them deal with the feedings of the "animals".

Ok, I have four children and I just am wondering how its going to be when I am at the liquid/mushie stage trying to feed my family. Do any of you have a plan of action as to the running of your house, most of all dinners? Just curious. I have put some spagetti sauce in the freezer and taco meat, but thats only for a few days. I just think that its going to be really difficult to prepare meals for the family while on the post op diet.

I have been having attacks for about 5 years, and I too have been putting it off due to pregnancies and fear, mostly fear. My surgeon did say he could do it laproscopicly (sp?) at the same time as the band. I guess it all depends on the surgeon as far as if they will do it or not. My plan way back when was to have them done at the same time because I didn't know if the band would be covered. If you do find someone to them at the same time, even if the insurance won't pay for the band, but they will pay for the gall bladder, something is better than nothing.

See the way I'm thinking is not only the smell. Just having to prepare it, I'm sure I'll be cranky, then to my kids either complain or not eat. I don't know if I'll be able to handle that without totally freaking out and not being able to chew. But I guess that will be the first test in coping without lots of food. I am a pretty organized person. My surgery isn't for 3 weeks, I am trying new meals until the preop so I can store more in my freezer.

I'm having surgery later this month, and my surgeon is going to take my gall bladder and then do the band. He said that the gall bladder part will probably add an additional 20 minutes to the procedure. Now, my insurance is covering my band, and now my gall bladder. My dr, is a general surgeon with a bariatric specialty (which pretty much all surgeons are) . Hope this helps!

Krista, thats my biggest fear too. Don't be so down on yourself. My husband just went to his consult and the doctor told him to expect and 8 pound loss per month. From what I've been seeing either people start off losing quickly or they are slow starters. Be patient, that skinny girl will show herself soon. Chin up!!!

Hi, I am so excited to finally be scheduled for surgery. Real quick, I talked to my pcp about getting the band back in 2005 and then right after I got pregnant and was breastfeeding. Then in January of 2006, I attended my seminar and it took a while, but by May I started my nutritional counseling (12 months were needed), then January 2nd of this year I got a phone call saying that my insurance only needed 6 month of the counseling. So things suddenly went from surgery seeming so far away to things happening very quickly. All of the sudden I feel like my best friend is dying of cancer or something and I'm grieving and trying to satisfy her all at the same time. I'm not really doing the round the world last meal thing, but in a way I just feel blah???? It's almost like when you give up the dieting thing and just say whatever happens happens. And like I said, I am so excited to finally be this far. It could be nerves too, I guess ( I've never been put under before).

yeah, Gibson!!! I finally have someone with my date!!!!

We are going to Disney December 1-8, fortunately I will have plenty of time to adjust. I already plan on bringing my magic bullet with me, and sending down protien powder and such before we even get there. Also with 4 children, we do 4 big birthday parties every year, we have Christmas Eve (2x) and Christmas Day at our house. I'm sure it will be fine, like I said at least we have time to adjust before then!!

Best of luck, I can't wait to hear when you get back. I've never been put under and the smelll of the oxygen mask makes me want to puke!!! Happy Band Day tomorrow!!!!!

I know that I can do this, and I do look at it as a way to get back my old me, (I loved her...she was soo much fun and confident). I'm hoping that this is normal to feel this way. I'm a pretty happy person, so its out of the norm to be in the dumps. Oh yeah, my treadmill broke to just when I was getting a routine going...I guess it's not used to all the use. LOL. But even that has got me down.....the feeling of failure already. Hmmmmm, its time to go look at some before and after pics to pick me up!!!

Wow, things are starting to move along now!!! I am anxious, excited, nervous, and a VICTORIOUS VALENTINE!!!! YEAH!!!!!

I was just wondering how long you had someone with you after surgery? I'm a stay at home mom to 4 children (3 are in school), I just don't know how much time my dh should take off of work? Thanks! Alyssa 260/248/140?

Hi, well I am starting to clean out the cupboards. I got 2 out of 4 food cupboards cleaned out and part of the pantry. I am just afraid to go grocery shopping. I have 31 days until surgery. We have four children so I know that there will be a few goodies around, but usually they eat better than my dh and I. Fortunately they love fruit, and meat. It veggies that they complain about. If anyone has any practical, kid friendly recipies send them my way please!!!! Oh, and my dh had a consult with my dr. on Thursday, he'll probably be banded in July/Aug., so I think our house will be a happy and healthly place to be! Its going to be so hard!!!!!!!!!!!!! Alyssa 260/248/140?

Hi, my name is Alyssa. I'm 35 and a stay at home mom to my 4 children (3 boys and 1 princess). I've been married for 9 years. I was a gymnast until I was about 18, at 19 my parents got divorced and I got comfy with my dh (boyfriend at the time) throw in hashimotos/hypothyroid and 4 pregnancies I got to my highest (non-preg) weight of 260. I hover around 245 now, but my surgery is scheduled for Feb 25th. It's my time now! Best of luck to all of us!!!!! Alyssa

I just want some success, that will be motivation for me to keep going. I'm tired of playing with the same 5 to 20 pounds. I am too, tired of waiting to live! Alyssa

Originally Posted by nikki2001 Bandster.................... Name (Optional)................... Surgery Date ______________________________________________________ TachaBaby505..................Natacha................................. ...9 January 2008 crystalcml.......................Crystal.............................. .......28 January 2008 Sadie.............................Sarah............................... ........2 February 2008 Big marathoner................Amy......................................... 5 February 2008 JaxBandster...................Karen................................... .......7 February 2008 TinaBobina......................Tina.................................. .....11 February 2008 LilMissBand-Aid................Irene......................................11 February 2008 Mac the Knife...................Mac......................................13 February 2008 Viridescence.....................Viri................................. ......14 February 2008 travel_anna.....................Anna.................................. ....13 February 2008 Valvinnek........................Alyssa.....................................25 February 2008 Amieru...........................Amie................................. ......26 February 2008 Mel119..........................Melinda............................... ......27 February 2008 Nikki2001...................Nicole..................Feb 14th 08!

I am in month 7 of my 12 consecutive months of nutritional counseling and this afternoon my dr office called and told me my insurance has updated their requirements and and I only need 6 months. So I am ready!!!! All I have to do now is get clearance from my pcp and I can get my date!!! I am sooooooo excited! I also want to say you all are such and inspiration. I've been looking at your photos and reading your posts and I just know that this is the right place to be. My doctors office warned me about websites that will give you ways to cheat or whatnot with the band. I haven't seen any of that here, just positive, encouragement, and support. I can't wait !!!! (I made so many type o's during this, I'm so excited!!!) Alyssa

Thanks! I think that the hardest habit will be the smaller bites and not drinking with meals. I am going to start working on the drinking this month, and add a habit a month from here on out. Thanks!

Hi! I've got about 5 months to go before my surgery and I am slowly changing my habits so hopefully "bandster hell" won't be so bad. What was your hardest habit to change? How do/did you deal with it? What was your process for changing your mental way of finally doing things right? I want this so bad, but like someone on the board says, there's a skinny girl screaming to get out, but I can shut her up with food. Thanks! Alyssa

I am so nervous! I have my psych eval. this afternoon. If anyone could tell me what its like, what types of questions do they ask?? I guess its one step closer to surgery,( I am still 6 months out) but its one of those realities that are setting in! Alyssa

Ok, well it was just like you all said. I met with a pa and she asked me the same family support, why I wanted the surgery etc. Then she gave me the 567squestion true or false test. She said that it would be scored this week and then I have an appointment with the psychiatrist for the evaluation the first week of December. So far so good, the pa said that I should have no problem getting approved. Thanks for your help! Alyssa