keiko

My doctor said if possible he wants his patients to be off 2 weeks. I can do that so there's no problem. I wouldn't want to go back before I was ready.

:clap2: Congratulations, and thank you for the update! They say the first step in any journey is the hardest, and you've taken that step towards a healthy life. 5 days to go for me and I careen between fear of what lies ahead and impatience to have it over with. I hope you continue to have an easy recovery, and please let us know how you're "journey" is going.

ShayDee - Good Luck!

I'm glad I found this thread because I've thought about getting a bracelet after I'm banded. This just confirms my feelings on it. Thanks!

Congrats on making the decision and following through with it. Actually, you have more self control that I - there's no way I could lurk for 4 months and not open my mouth to add my 2 cents worth! Good luck!

You folks have been posting so much I haven't had a chance to catch up for a coulple of days Here's to tomorrow's bandster - JerseyDori - best wishes to you and I hope you get some sleep! One comment. A lot of folks have a pre-op diet, and I don't. I'm not concerned (I guess) just curious how different each doctor is in how they approach the surgery. My doctor, Dr. Rantis of The Kane Center of Alexian Brothers Med. Center has been doing gastric bypass and lapband surgery for years and years. I do have to drink two shakes a day until the day before surgery, but that is supposed to increase my Protein intake and help healing. I can still eat other food up to the day before surgery. The time until surgery is fast approaching, and what was just a dream before will actually become reality! It's scary and exciting. I really appreciate all the feedback from those who have already been banded this month. The moral support and assurances are PERFECT for those of us still waiting. My thoughts are with you!

Glad everything went well! It seems everyone is having a pretty easy time of it-YAY!!

OK, I'll show my ignorance - what's the difference between beer and Guiness whereby Guiness is OK? I love Guiness, heard it's good for you, but is it just Guiness, all ales, are stouts included? Explanation please!

Hi Shar, You're not old. I'm 61 and wondered about the age issue also, but I decided that I was never going to feel any better if I didn't get it done, and since the doctor wasn't concerned, I wouldn't worry either. In fact, when I looked at my weight tape readout after seeing the doc Tuesday I realized (again) that I was 61 years old, but I don't mentally feel that way! I plan on retiring soon and always planned on doing a lot of traveling. When I realized that if I didn't lose weight those dreams would never come true, I decided to go for it - I'm not ready for a rocking chair yet! :nervous Hang in there and don't let your fears deprive you of a great life! keiko

Good luck Macys granny and all the other May 4 bandsters! I had my pre-op visit with the doc and everything is OK. Surgery is scheduled for 8 AM on the 16th and I'm so happy it'll be early in the day. I worried myself silly before the pre-op testing, so an early surgery time is better for the nerves. I'll have to stay in the hospital overnight because of the sleep apnea, but if that's my only complaint, I'll take it! Keiko

Hi Wolfmaydn, I'm glad to hear it's going well so far. I'm part of the May bandsters (May 16) and I'm reading everything from everyone to help ease my worries. It's not fear of surgery (I've had surgery before) but fear of it somehow not working for me. I think that because every diet I've been ultimately failed, I can't really believe that something will work permanently. I know I will be in the hospital overnight because I have sleep apnea and the doctor said I'll have to stay overnight-grrrr! I know I'd feel much more comfortable at home. Thanks for sharing your story and let us know how things go for you. Keiko

Good luck and my prayers for Spa-chic, <O:pmommalee, Trinitys mom, chickatee and RAYSBABE tomorrow. May 2 bandsters, how is it going? Keiko

I just had my pre-surgical testing, which included an upper GI test . I felt really yucky afterward and ended up messing up my clothes (I won't go into detail!) So, I just thought of another reason to lose the weight - 25. In case of emergency, I want to be able to go into a normal sized clothing store and buy whatever I need. And one more - 26. When I go on vacation and forget to pack something, again to be able to go into a store and not have to worry if they will have something in my size! Keiko

Ok, I'm testing my ticker.

Thank you!

When I first started, it was a 12 month diet. In the meantime, there have been some changes, but that was after the fact for me.

I'm scheduled for May 16 and can't wait! After all the worrying and indecision, I'm now sooo ready for this. It's hard to believe that it's finally going to happen. Woohoo!

Ditto on the tests. They are a major pain, but I know my surgeon and I know more about my health and mental state than my PCP ever did! I had a very unsupportive PCP...in fact he told me 2 yrs ago that he would NEVER OK surgery! (Like being 100+ lbs. overweight is soooooo good for me!) He kept saying that I should go to Weight Watchers (as if I never heard or tried them!) At that point I mentally said "adios" and took it upon myself to start the ball rolling. I had to jump through hoops w/BCBS but it was worth it. Surgery is scheduled for May 16. Getting the testing done meant taking a lot of half days off for dr. appointments. I didn't tell anyone at work (and don't plan to). All my boss knows is I'm having surgery. I'm sure he thinks I have some dread disease like cancer, but too bad, I'm not telling him anything. (And I do have a dread disease-fat-which will kill me if it continues.) As far as any questions afterward, I still won't tell anyone because the company I work for is gossip heaven, and I refuse to have my life picked apart by everyone else. Sorry for the rant, but just keep telling the company that you have doctors appointments and let it go at that. By law they can't get info on your medical condition, so if you have the time off available, go to your appts. and don't worry about it.

I had to be on a supervised diet for 12 months and while it really stunk, it also gave me time to really think about what I was doing and how it would change my life. Now, with surgery being 4 weeks away, I'm just anxious.

Welcome, Meltini, I finally got a surgery date and it's May 16, so I feel the same way you do, excited and apprehensive. It seems like I've been thinking and working towards this so long that it doesn't seem real that it's finally going to happen. BC/BS ins. makes you jump through a lot of hoops. I, too, have local support groups, and have a great deal of confidence in my surgeon, since he's been doing this a long time. I look forward to your posts post-surgery to see how you're doing. Keiko

Yes, that thought crossed my mind, too. But, I wanted to have surgery last year and and had to be on a supervised diet etc., etc. Well, I lost just enough weight to think that I didn't need the surgery. Hah! Over the next 4 months I started putting it back on. I knew I only had a certain amount of time in which to get surgery approved, so I decided to go for it. That was in January. It's now April and have finally been approved, but I don't have a surgery date yet. So, when I saw your post I thought-yup, that's what I've been kidding myself with for a long, long time. And yes, if I could have kept it off before, I wouldnt have tried every diet under the sun and still managed to gain more back with each regain. I've decided I won't be cheating when I get my lapband, I'll be kind of like a diabetic who needs their shots to help stay healthy. Their shots aren't cheating, and the lapband won't be either.

Wow, nquinn, you've done fantastic. I haven't had surgery yet, and I'm 61. My doctor tells me most people are younger who have it done, and I replied that if they had lapbanding 20 years ago I would have! Anyway, you're an inspiration to an oldster like me. Keiko

Hi Michelle, I'm Keiko and am also new to the board. I have not been approved yet...I should hear something in another week, so I'm really getting anxious to have it done. Once I decided to do it, in January, it seems like it's taking forever to go get done. I'm glad things went well for you and that you're feeling great. I hope I can say the same when the time comes.