sorcia1

Thanks Erica...I can only hope I'll be so lucky!

Best of luck tomorrow to all our July 5th banders! Please check in afterwards and let us know how you are doing!

Well, they found a hiatal hernia when they did my EGD, but that could be good news! That might mean that my insurance would cover part of the procedure! (I'm self-pay). I will hopefully find out tomorrow at my pre-op appointment. Don't forget that we have a post-op thread Here everyone! Although I hope the post-ops will keep coming back here too to give us some inspiration! OK, I am so bad...I keep missing my blood work appointment. When I first went in last week, the woman told me I had broken my fast because I had A PIECE OF GUM. She said my insurance might not pay for the bloodwork because of it. I said it was sugar free but she INSISTED on putting it down. I was so mad! Then I went in at 7 am Saturday, thinking I would beat the crowds (you can go in without an appointment but have to wait). There was a line a mile long, and I said screw that. So now I'm not getting my blood taken until tomorrow, the same day as my pre-op. I'm nervous something might come back on my blood test (later in the week) that will postpone the surgery. Last time I tried to give blood but they wouldn't let me because I was slightly anemic. I'm eating lots of red meat to try to overcome that, because I have a feeling they won't do the surgery if I am. Not sure what else they test for. Start pre-op diet tomorrow and found some good egg-protein powder (I'm lactose intolerant so can't do any of the yummy and ubiquitous whey proteins), but it's so expensive....like $2.50 a shake. I bought this big container but it was half empty when I opened it, then the scoop was huge and I read the nutrition info and it said there was only 10 servings...in this big container! This is the Jay Robb egg protein shake. But I also found a less expensive soy one that I bought ages ago that was pretty good, hope I can find it to buy again. Another soy one that I bought tasted like chalk...definitely going into the trash! Shauna

Probably nothing to worry about, but might want to call the doctor's office tomorrow to make sure.

Hey guys, sorry for my absence the last couple of days...I love this site but the administrators have got some serious login problems, seeing as how 3 of us in this thread alone couldn't log in. I finally got in using my username (not my display name or email address), if anyone else has the problem. I thought I was going to have to recreate my whole profile, which really p!ssed me off! Welcome to our new members, Moe-Moe, Meerkat135, Erica Pizzi, Wanttobeskinny22, Banded Karebear, GinaJmm4...sorry if I forgot anyone. Here is our updated list: No date yet: kychick1294, 30Something (JeVona), nickieredd79 June 27:pkjjm31049 June 30: Nechama L July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, Banded Karebear, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy) July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527 (Steph), Allison0927, Harvest Farmer, wannabe21bmi (Kate), Kim from CT, blackmajyk, Xtinabrown13, Ecinaj, Wanttobeskinny22 July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905, Lorelei, Kimiky, Diana1980 July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769, Short and Chunky, LisaB68, pinktink, dare2bthin July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985, Breezybbyy July 12: BandedApril (April), merlina, mfrancis July 13: CurlyDiva, Tammy A, Lisa_MC, Ginasjmm4 July 14: crystalddm, BandItOrLoseIt, MassMommyRebecca, schmidty42, CruiseGirl2011, Denise'sjourney, Meerkat135 July 15: Shauna Deanne, Corize, JohnnyBoy, Labella624, Moe-Moe July 18: Colee85, Bandmebaby! July 19: Mrs. Schultz July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum, Rock4Light401 July 22: razzcat July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary) July 26: Serifa July 27: Healthy4Ever July 28: Erica Pizzi July 29: ButterflyM, PungosMama Shauna

Welcome to our new members, Labella624, Diana1980 and Serifa! Here is our list of members that were banded yesterday, July 1st: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy) Let's keep out eye out for them and hope they come back and post soon! Thanks to those that have already posted how they are doing. Here's our list: No date yet: kychick1294, 30Something (JeVona), nickieredd79 June 27:pkjjm31049 June 30: Nechama L July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy) July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527 (Steph), Allison0927, Harvest Farmer, wannabe21bmi (Kate), Kim from CT, blackmajyk, Xtinabrown13 July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905, Lorelei, Kimiky, Diana1980 July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769, Short and Chunky, LisaB68, pinktink, dare2bthin July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985, Breezybbyy July 12: BandedApril (April), merlina July 13: CurlyDiva, Tammy A, Lisa_MC July 14: crystalddm, BandItOrLoseIt, MassMommyRebecca, schmidty42, CruiseGirl2011, Denise'sjourney July 15: Shauna Deanne, Corize, JohnnyBoy, Labella624 July 18: Colee85, Bandmebaby! July 19: Mrs. Schultz July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum, Rock4Light401 July 22: razzcat July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary) July 26: Serifa July 27: Healthy4Ever July 29: ButterflyM, PungosMama

Hi Labella, I'm also getting banded on the 15th, and start my pre-op on the 5th! Drop me a note anytime to let me know how you are doing. Shauna

Congrats Tracy, sounds like you are doing well. In other news....I'm so mad. I went in for my blood tests this morning and I was supposed to fast. Well, apparently CHEWING A PIECE OF GUM breaks the fast and the lady said my insurance might not cover the blood tests because of the piece of gum! So now I have to reschedule. If this puts off my surgery date I'm going to be p!ssed. Shauna

I'm also thinking about what to say when I get invited out to eat...might do a little white lie and say my stomach is a bit upset, that way they don't take it personally! Fortunately, most of the people who would be inviting me out know about the pre-op and the band so they will understand.

Nechama, it is great to hear from you and I'm so glad you are doing so well! Tammy and Aly, so sorry you had such bad days! I'll be on pre-op starting July 5th and will be joining you guys in the struggles. I feel lucky my doc is only making me do 10 days instead of his usual 14! How is everyone else doing on their pre-ops? Shauna

OK, here are today's bandsters: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy). My thoughts are with you guys, I know you will do great! Oh, and everyone, I finally have my date! Got it yesterday after my EGD. It is July 15th. The did find a hiatal hernia, which they will repair when I get banded. I'm sooooo hoping that it doesn't make recovery harder. Here is our updated list, welcome to Lisa_MC and BandMeBaby! No date yet: kychick1294, 30Something (JeVona), nickieredd79 June 27:pkjjm31049 June 30: Nechama L July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy) July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527 (Steph), Allison0927, Harvest Farmer, wannabe21bmi (Kate), Kim from CT, blackmajyk, Xtinabrown13 July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905, Lorelei, Kimiky July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769, Short and Chunky, LisaB68, pinktink, dare2bthin July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985, Breezybbyy July 12: BandedApril (April), merlina July 13: CurlyDiva, Tammy A, Lisa_MC July 14: crystalddm, BandItOrLoseIt, MassMommyRebecca, schmidty42, CruiseGirl2011, Denise'sjourney July 15: Shauna Deanne, Corize, JohnnyBoy July 18: Colee85, Bandmebaby! July 19: Mrs. Schultz July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum, Rock4Light401 July 22: razzcat July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary) July 27: Healthy4Ever July 29: ButterflyM, PungosMama

Merlina, My first fill is 6 weeks out...I've heard of them being done as early as 4 weeks out, but it depends on your surgeon, so you would have to call them. Shauna

Let's send out good thoughts and prayers (if that's your thing) to Nechama today...it's the first day of the rest of her new life!

You will do great! Best of luck tomorrow!

Read the wikipedia article on H. Pylori at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._pylori. More than half of the worlds population has it so screw that doc that made you feel like a freak! It is good they caught it though, it can lead to GERD, ulcers, and even cancer. Shauna

Welcome to our new members Healthy4Ever and Denise'sjourney! Here is our updated list...pkjjm31049, let us know how you are doing. Nechama, best of luck tomorrow! No date yet: Shauna Deanne, kychick1294, 30Something (JeVona), nickieredd79 June 27:pkjjm31049 June 30: Nechama L July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy) July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527 (Steph), Allison0927, Harvest Farmer, wannabe21bmi (Kate), Kim from CT, blackmajyk, Xtinabrown13 July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905, Lorelei, Kimiky July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769, Short and Chunky, LisaB68, pinktink, dare2bthin July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985, Breezybbyy July 12: BandedApril (April), merlina July 13: CurlyDiva, Tammy A July 14: crystalddm, BandItOrLoseIt, MassMommyRebecca, schmidty42, CruiseGirl2011, Denise'sjourney July 15: Corize, JohnnyBoy July 18: Colee85 July 19: Mrs. Schultz July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum, Rock4Light401 July 22: razzcat July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary) July 27: Healthy4Ever July 29: ButterflyM, PungosMama

Denise, See if your doctor will give you Zofran...it is the best anti-nausea medication out there. It is designed for chemotherapy patients and is the only thing that kept me from constant vomiting during my pregnancy. Your doc isn't going to want you throwing up at all as it can cause the band to slip. Be sure and let them know your past experience! Shauna

I don't know what to tell you on when to go home, but I can wholeheartedly recommend that you bring a pillow to press against your belly on the drive home. Learned how essential that is from reading posts here. Shauna

Yay! In a way, not looking forward to pre-op, but know I will probably lose a few pounds so looking forward to that! Lizzy, your daughter is wonderful! I'm also motivated by my 7 YO son...I took him to Legoland over Memorial Day weekend and was in pain most of the day because these poor feet and knees aren't meant to be carrying 60-70 extra pounds! I'm very fine/slender boned so this weight just kills me. I'm looking forward to taking him to Disneyland in a year and not being in pain the whole time. Good news...I have gone from being able to walk 2 miles on my treadmill a week ago (with considerable pain) to walking 3.2 miles last night. I walked slow though, only 2.5 miles per hour. I've got to get up to 13 miles at 3.3 miles per hour by January to make my half-marathon...surely it will get easier as the weight comes off. Meanwhile I am limping around today...going to get some better fitting athletic shoes this weekend so hopefully that will help. I am still pigging out though...got a bad case of "last supper syndrome". Plus I wanted to clear all the food out of my house to prepare for the pre and post-op diets. Figured it will be easier to not have all the food around. I'm hitting all my favorite restaurants with foods that may not go down easy after banding, or have high carbs (my nutritionist wants us to stay on a high-protein diet as long as we are trying to lose). Take care everyone, and hang in there pre-oppies! Shauna

Thanks guys! Feeling better that I'm not the only one feeling this way. Tomorrow is a new day. Amy, that list was awesome. I also have been thinking a lot of the many humiliating things that have happened to me. Lizzy, thanks for the kind words. Sometimes I forget to like myself. Nancy, thanks for the support. I'm sorry you are having problems with your friends...I am sure they will come around later after they see your success and happiness. So let's start a new topic...what finally made you decide to pursue the lap-band? My final straw was when I realized I would actually consider taking illegal drugs to get thin again. Fortunately I didn't know any drug dealers or otherwise I'd probably be a meth-head with my teeth falling out! Shauna

Is anyone else feeling crappy about themselves? I just keep thinking "if you could just keep your piehole shut you wouldn't have to resort to SURGERY just to be a normal weight!" Shauna

Yay Lisa on your reunion! I have skipped all of them (most recently the 20th) because I went from the skinny hot girl in high school to the big old fattie and couldn't face them. Here's to going to the 25th as my old skinny self! Shauna

Is anyone else setting a firm goal for exercise? I've committed to walking a half-marathon in January and not sure if I can do it or not (according my surgeon I should be at or close to my goal weight by then). I think it's going to help make sure I walk a lot though! I've gone from being able to walk 2 miles a week ago up to 2.7, with less pain. So I am making progress. I think I can get up to the 13 miles, but the course closes after 4 hours so the walking has to be done pretty fast. Shauna

Here is our updated list. As for me, I'm shooting for July 15 or 22 but haven't heard back yet. I'm still going through some tests this week and everything has to come back clear. I'm a little worried about showing up anemic for the blood tests as the last time I tried to give blood they turned me down for that reason. No date yet: Shauna Deanne, kychick1294, 30Something (JeVona), nickieredd79 June 27:pkjjm31049 (a special welcome to our "senior correspondent" LOL) June 30: Nechama L (another "senior correspondent") July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy) July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527 (Steph), Allison0927, Harvest Farmer, wannabe21bmi (Kate), Kim from CT, blackmajyk July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905, Lorelei, Kimiky July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769, Short and Chunky, LisaB68, pinktink, dare2bthin July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985, Breezybbyy July 12: BandedApril (April), merlina July 13: CurlyDiva, Tammy A July 14: crystalddm, BandItOrLoseIt, MassMommyRebecca, schmidty42, CruiseGirl2011 July 15: Corize, JohnnyBoy July 18: Colee85 July 19: Mrs. Schultz July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum, Rock4Light401 July 22: razzcat July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary) July 29: ButterflyM, PungosMama

Welcome to all our new members. For those getting nervous or having cold feet, I made a list of reasons I'm doing it (and emailed it to my family). This really helps me when I wonder "What the hell am I doing!?". List is: 1. - My health is deteriorating rather quickly due to my weight. I am now pre-diabetic, have sky-high cholesterol and triglycerides, and fatty liver. I want to be around to see my grandkids! 2. - I took my son to Legoland and after 1 hour my feet, knees and ankles were killing me. I was in pain most of the day and couldn't enjoy myself. This has been going on for a decade. 3. - I spend 90% of my day thinking about my weight and how ugly I feel. This affects me in psychological and social ways that are hard to understand if you have never been obese. 4. - After losing 50 lbs. the year before last, I have put 30 lbs back on in the last year, and will probably gain another 30 this year if I don't get this done. This despite working out 4-6 times a week. 5. - This surgery is especially effective for over-eaters like me, who have problems with portion control. 6. - My weight has been a constant struggle for 25 of my 39 years now. It's time for something to change once and for all. 7. - While I could probably lose the weight myself, I'm clearly unable to KEEP it off, which is one of the benefits of the Lap Band. You keep it indefinitely, but is fully reversible if there are any problems. 8. - The surgery is done laproscopically so it is very minimally invasive. It leaves 3-4 tiny incisions.