Tammy Shannon

Well made it through my banding yesterday with no complications. Experienced nausea and the typical gas pains. Didn't take pain medicines until bed time. Did sleep for about six hours. I have been walking..twice yesterday and once already this morning. Plan to walk every hour. I am able to sip on water thus far. My throat was really sore from the tube.felt like something stuck in my throat, but on day two much better. Best of luck to the pre-opers and today' s banders!!! Tammy

Well made it through my banding yesterday with no complications. Experienced nausea and the typical gas pains. Didn't take pain medicines until bed time. Did sleep for about six hours. I have been walking..twice yesterday and once already this morning. Plan to walk every hour. I am able to sip on water thus far. My throat was really sore from the tube.felt like something stuck in my throat, but on day two much better. Best of luck to the pre-opers and today' s banders!!! Tammy

So much has gone on this week...we had a freak storm come through Monday morning and we have been without power since Monday morning. Thought my surgery would be cancelled, but that area of Chicago still has power. Pre-op diet day 10-14 went like a charm; had a hard time getting four shakes down a day. Usually three was all I could take. Getting ready to leave for the hospital in about 15 minutes. Not really nervous; ready to get it done. Will have one overnight in the hospital and then home some time tomorrow. Hopefully the power will be back on. Best of luck to my fellow July 13th banders. I am with you in thought and prayers. To all the July banders still on pre-op...hang in there. You got this! All my love, Tammy

Well, the challenges just keep coming and coming. Chicago experienced a really bad freak storm yesterday morning. Hurricane force winds, nearly 1,000,000 people lost power. Twenty-four hours later...we are one of the 300,000 still with no power. I believe my will power is being tested...I had to reheat that yummy smelling pizza hut pizza from the night before in a frying pan on top of the stove (because our gas oven has an electric ignitor). Talk about torture. But I hung in there. Tomorrow is band day...can't believe it. Seems like it was forever ago when I began this process in February. I hope all the pre-op dieters are hanging in there. I know it's hard, but you can do. Best of luck and congratulations to all today's banders. Looking forward to joining your club tomorrow.

This has been a long and rough two week pre-op...did really good the first seven days, then the 4th of July came. Couldn't resist a little BBQ. Then back on, tried to focus; only had one slip up. Then this past weekend we went to Alabama for a family reunion. You can't even begin to imagine how incredibly hard it was to sit at a table watching all your family eat ALL the wonderful homecooked food you know tastes amazing, while I drank my shake and ate a bowl of plain steamed broccoli and mushrooms (thanks to my cousin who is a bariatric surgery alum and looked out for me). OMG that was the test of all test. Then after the 14.5 hour drive back to Chicago my boyfriend orders pizza for him and the kids for dinner. I don't blame him...he was tired and didn't feel like cooking. I was doing fine with the smells for about the first 30 minutes then I started to feel weak. I decided, I didn't care that it was only 7:30, I was going to bed because I knew if I didn't I would succumb to the bacon and cheese pizza sitting in the kitchen. Woke up this morning and very happy that I didn't cheat. Surgery is Wednesday and I can get there. Hope everyone else is doing well on their pre-op. I know it's hard, but it's hard for a reason. Best of luck to today's banders! Tammy

Ok, so I fell off the bandwagon this weekend. The pre-op diet was a bust...couldn't stay away from the BBQ. Today is a new day. Already did my exercise (elliptical) and back to the shakes I go. Surgery in 8 days...I can do this. Best of luck to today's banders!!! Congratulations to those already done (AlyGurl)! Here's to a happy Tuesday!

Welcome to you! Sounds like you are well on your way to knocking out all the requirements. Way to go! The pysch eval for me was fine. Thirty minutes or so talking to Psychiatrist, then about another 30 minutes taking a personality test (multiple choice). Not sure if it's like that for everyone, that was just my experience. Just be honest; that is all you can do. I will keep you in my thoughts. Before you know it, you four monthly nutrition consults will be done and you will be banded! Woohoo! Keep us posted on your progress! Tammy

Welcome Amanda! Congratulations on making the important decision to be healthy. It's one I struggled with for years. I am happy at my weight, just not healthy. The process will fly by...I started in February of this year and get banded in 10 days. I'm not scared...just worried will I get all my stuff at work done in the 6 work days I have left??? Anyway, keep us posted on your pre-op appointment and how you are doing! Welcome again! Tammy

You so got this! Don't beat yourself up...the lifestyle changes we have already made are more than most people can handle, let alone adding the pre-op diet restrictions. Keep your head up...stay as focused as you can. Safe travels and best of luck on Tuesday. Look forward to hearing your stories on the post-band side!

Congratulations to all the July 1 banders... you guys are my heros! Seems like everyone that checked in has been doing great, with no big issues. That is definitely reassuring. Day 6 of the pre-op is getting better...discovered that food itself is not my trigger, but the smell of it. I can look at the food and walk away, watch Paula Dean all day, no issue. Someone cook/heat-up some food and the smell makes me crazy hungry for it (even though I'm not hungry). I'm going to spend this weekend cleaning my house trying to get ready for the surgery (in 11 days - wow...that was kinda scary saying that). We are going out of town next weekend, so this is it. I'm working 10 hour days every day until surgery, so it should keep me busy and go buy fast. Everyone at my work knows...and has known. I don't have issue with telling them, my friends, my neighbors (probably because it's quite common here); everyone has been supportive. They too can't wait to see the healthy me. The only two that have issues is my two daughters (ages 20 and 14). My 14 year old who has ALWAYS been physically fit, gives me the most grief. I thought my oldest (who is built more like me, just lighter) was okay with it, but said last night..."I don't want you to be too skinny." So I asked her "what was too skinny to her?" She said, "a size 10." On my 5'2" frame, a size 10 is still an unhealthy weight. Better than the size 26 (at my high) or the 20-22 I am now. They have never seen me during my skinny phase; only pictures. I think they believe their mother will be different on the inside. Seems like I am going to have to make sure they get all the reassurance they need that mom is still mom. That will not change. I'm looking forward to being able to do things with them that my weight has prevented (like going on the 7 mile bike ride through our local nature preserve, swim at the water park and not be embarrased, etc). I'm also looking forward to my 25th high school class reunion in 2014. I have not gone to any reunions thus far, not because of weight, just other issues going on at the time. I will look like I did in high school again and that will be fun! Well, I hope everyone is having a great Saturday and that the July 1 banders are resting and healing beautifully. Thank you for being our leaders in battle. You have paved the way for the rest of us! You are much admired and appreciated! Tammy

Thank you MassMommyRebecca and Coco'sMum for the support! Today is a new day. Suppose to be my day off (work 4 ten's), but have to go in to get caught up. No, I don't work in HR, although some of that department's mishaps end up in our laps. I work in the Business Office for a large school district co-op that services special needs children. Love my job 99% of the time. Yesterday was just all I could take. I could feel myself emotionally starting to break-down and that is not the norm. I'm usually the one putting out the fires. I was ready to start one yesterday. So I will start anew this morning. Scale didn't move quite as much as it has the past couple of days, then again I didn't exercise yesterday. So this morning, I will go get on the elliptical, get ready for work and try this again. Hopefully it won't be a full day, was looking forward to 4 days off. Best of luck to all the July 1st banders this morning! You are carrying the torch for those that follow you. Here's to a happy Friday!

Congratulations! Have a great night.

Ok, I need to vent...so if you don't want to read...please skip over my post. Today has been awful...day four of my pre-op diet. That is enough to make the day crappy. Got to work, boss brings in bagels and cream cheese. Then had three CPA's come in for an audit of our retirement plan. OMG...I wanted to kill them. Then someone orders pizzas for everyone for lunch. I'm sitting in my office and all I smell is sausage and cheese pizza. I really wanted to kill someone. Auditors take up so much of my time I missed my shake time by two hours....starving. Finally get my 2:30 shake at 5:30 (after being and 1.5 hours late on my second shake). Auditors finally leaving. Now I have to stay late to do the work I was suppose to do today, but didn't have time. So, 11.5 hours later and no lunch break...I finally make it home. All I want now is a piece of roast beef and to go to bed. Instead, I will probably have my last shake and go to bed. I don't know if I can take 12 more days of this. UGH!!!! Nighty-night July banders. Best of luck and well wishes to all tomorrow's banders!!! You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Sounds like you are doing all the right things. You really need to feel comfortable with your doctor and their team of support staff. The testing is pretty easy...didn't have any problems making the appointments or getting through them. The pre-op diet is by far the hardest thing I've experienced in the process. What better way to start the new year than with a new you and band! Good luck and keep us posted!!!

I haven't really felt tired because of the shakes (I'm on day 3 of my two week pre-op). We have to use Slim Fast High Protein, 4 shakes a day and certain raw veggies as needed for hunger. My biggest struggle is wanting some meat...chicken, hamburger, fish, I don't care...just really want a bite of meat. I excercise 20 mins a day on an elliptical....still feeling ok. Good luck! I'm sure you will suprise yourself and do great!

What made me decide to do the lap-band? I've been wanting it for years. I lived in NE Florida until 2008. My insurance company there did not cover it and I could not afford it. Simple as that. Moved to Chicago...and everyone here knows 2-3 people who have had it or some form of bariatric surgery...so I thought why not? Insurance covered 100% of it, woo hoo! I'm looking forward to being healthy, not skinny. I want to be able to go ride my bike on the bike trails here with my family. To go up and down the stairs without huffing and puffing. Oh to be able to buy clothes in any store...my dream. I would love to be able to wear boots during the winter. I want to live a long life and enjoy my children and grand children (if they have any...but not right now). I want to feel good about myself for the first time in my life. Even when I was 104 pounds and 20 years old, I still had self esteem issues. After spending the second half of my life on the otherside, I realize that the problems are still there; skinny or overweight. I've worked on fixing the inside me...now time to make the outside reflect the inside. Day three of pre-op...no cheating. Lost 4 pounds, which is what is keeping me from sneaking a bite of something I shouldn't have. Everyone at my job knows I'm having the surgery...I'm not ashamed; proud to share. Anyway...my boss comes to me yesterday and asks if I want to go to Panera's for lunch tomorrow in between two meetings we have....really???? She forgot. I don't think she was being mean...she is actually one of my biggest supporters. Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!!! Pre-op'ers....stay focused on your goal. July banders...thank you for ALL your support. I feel very blessed to have you all around me.

Best of luck with day two!!!

That is great! Makes it a lot easier not having to look at the food knowing you can't have it.

Don't be concerned...you can and will do this for you!! You deserve to be healthy and happy. We are all here to support you every step of the way!

I too survived day 1 on the pre-op diet. 4 shakes, lots and lots of water and 1 cup of steamed green beans. That was it, no cheating. I did go to bed dreaming of having just one bite of the homemade turkey pot pie from my last meal. It's now day 2...I'm going to bring some celery sticks to snack on at work (as I can only have raw veggies in addition to the shakes) to help curve my morning snack cravings. Didn't really get hungry yesterday until between 5-6. Boyfriend had dinner cooked, fed the kids and the kitchen cleaned before I got home so I didn't have to see or smell the pork chops, scalloped potatoes with bacon and green beans. He is really being very supportive. Hope everyone has a great day, especially the pre-banders on pre-op. We can do this!

YEAH!!! I hope I do equally as well.

Haven't started my pre-op yet, but my doctor said we could use stool softners if we got contstipated. Not looking forward to that aspect. Good lock on the pre-op!