GREATFUL

Hey Everyone, Nothing like a hot shower to make you feel like a new person. Sill having some gas pains, taking the gasX and walking. Never knew I would be so proud of burping.LOL or any other form of gas release. Overall it has not been that bad. But I had 2 c-sections. This is just a little diffrent. The insecions are smaller and higher up, I have six holes. Heating pad helps, oh and the pain meds are great. Just a reminder, get your prescription filled before your surgery. The doc call mine in and I picked it up the day before. It was nice not to have to worry about stopping somewhere to have it filled while on the way home from the hospital. I am a big beliver in taking your pain meds and using them to work out the soreness. I learned that from doc who did my c-sections. Take the meds and move, move, move. Then sleep. Well good luck to everone else. Talk at you later.

Hello All, Well, it done. I was banded yesterday. It all went well, I guess. Doc found a hernia and repaired it. Shoulder pain was pretty bad yesterday, but this morning it is much better. Heating pad, gasX and walking. Surgery was at 10:00 AM, checked out of the hospital at 3:00 pm. Was about a 30 min drive to the house. Don't forget your pillows everyon, I sure made it alot more compy, and DH took it real slow. Slept most of the day after got home. Sipped Water and walked and slept. My DH is the greated nurse. He took today of as well, I am being spoiled. Good luck to everyone else, let us know how you are doing. I will post more later, took some pain med and it is time for another nap.

Hey cindyluhu, I have been on the liquid diet for two weeks. I am on clear liquids today. (Big Day Tomorrow, YEA) Hang in there, the time will pass. My doc said I could have about 10-12 walnuts per day. They have good oils. That was my saving grace. I looked forward to them, and saved them for when I was really starving and just need to chew on something. Also, sugar free hard candy helped while at work. And popsicles, they helped while watching TV. Good luck, you will be there before you know it.

Thank you Crabcake. I would like to be able to hug my husband real close without my big belly getting in the way.

Hey Susan, Tomorrow is my big day also. I decided to come on to work today, I thought it would help to make the time go faster. I dont know if it is working, all I can think about is tomorrow. The hospital just called, I am to check in at 7:30 AM. It hit me..... this is really happening. I have just been dreaming about it and wanting it for so long. This is better than Christmas. Good Luck Susan, we will have to keep in touch and compare notes.

Hey Everyone, The calander is wonderful. I have been out of town for the weekend and really missed this place. I am so very excited. I received a call from my surgens office last Thursday, while I was in Wal-Mart, I was APPROVED. I was so excited, I squealed and Wooohooed, everyone was looking at me like I was crazy. I didnt care. I can't believe in two day I was be a bandster. I have my pre-op visit today, and only clear liquids tomorrow. Wednesday morning BABY.............. wish me luck.

I am still looking at May 2nd. Pending Insurance final approval. Supposed to hear something today. I can hardly contain myself. Today is day 7 of the liquid pre-op diet. I have flubed up a few time, but just keep telling myself if I'm going to mess us now is the time to have it happen. Have more margin for error now then after surgery. So I pick myself back up, and start again. Overall I feel I have done pretty well. I just keep repeating to myself, I CAN DO THIS, I CAN DO THIS!!! Good luck everyone else. WE CAN DO THIS!!

I can fully understand what you are experiencing. I statred my 2 week pre-op liquid diet today. I am to be banded May 2nd. Doc. requires you to be on a 2 week, 5 protein shake a day plan. I also have to go weigh in each week. That is what is going to keep me honest I think. Today is just the first day, it has been real hard. I have had to replan alot of the normal things that I do. I went for a walk today while everyone else was eating lunch in the break room. Then when I was coming back from my nice walk, felling all good about myself. I get on the elevator in the parking garage, goes up to the ground floor and stops...who get on but a Dang Pizza Delivery Man, with a hot steaming, wonderful smelling pizza. I got off at my floor, mouth watering. Sit at my desk and drink a shake. Repeating to myself, I can do this, I can do this........

I started my 2 week liquid pre op today. I cant believe it is only 2 weeks until I am banded. I am excited!!! I hope these 2 weeks fly by. I intend to stay very busy, cleaning house, planting the garden etc. I know I just cant sit around and watch TV, I will go crazy with the head hunger. I am armed with my protein shakes and water and I brought my walking shoes to work today and intend to take a walk while everyone else is in the break room eating their lunches. Any other suggestions on making it past this time would be greatly appreciated!!

I love working in my garden. I want be able to bend, kneel, dig, pull weeds etc. for longer that 10 min. without getting tired. I want to go for long walks with my DH and not get winded. I want to feel sexy. I want to live to see my grandbabie.(that is when ever my kidos decide to have any)

I love working in my garden. I

I know that the May 2nd surgery date is tentitive. I know, I know. BUT I want it!!! Insurance company is driving me nuts. I have made it a habit to call them every day, plan to drive them nuts along with me. I call them yesterday and they said "The status of your predetermination is......will you hold for a moment?"..........:notagree "Ms., it showes you received the request from you Doctor on the 11th, and it normaly takes 30 day for us to get a response to you" WHAT???? I called back today and asked what the same question. Guess what, after being on hold again for what seemed like FOREVER, I got a diffrent answer. "We show that your predetermination status is under review, we will have an answer to you within 7 to 10 day." I liked that one better, but it is still cutting it close. I will be calling again Monday. I am in the second week of the pre op diet. I have lost right out 10lbs so far. Excited about that. Doc requires a liquid diet 2 week prior to surgery, supposed to start that next week. I will start it even if I dont have an answer from the insurance company. I have faith that this is all going to work out. Today has been tuff here at work, two co-workers having birthdays, lots of food and cake here in the office. I had my shake this morning, salad with chicken for lunch and staying at my desk drinking water and crystal light. Everyone keeps offering me food. I have told them that my doctor has determined that I am borderline diabetic, so I am watching my diet. That has stoped alot of it. And it is not a lie, my blood surger was high, and my PCP said I was insulin resistence. I have not told anyone here at work about me having the band. I just dont want to deal with them. I told my boss I would need off for a outpatient surgery. He asked if everything was alright, I told him YEA, just a girl thing. That made him stop asking questions. Not totally a lie, I am a girl and the band is a thing, Right. LOL

I know that the May 2nd surgery date is tentitive. I know, I know. BUT I want it!!! Insurance company is driving me nuts. I have made it a habit to call them every day, plan to drive them nuts along with me. I call them yesterday and they said "The status of your predetermination is......will you hold for a moment?"..........:notagree "Ms., it showes you received the request from you Doctor on the 11th, and it normaly takes 30 day for us to get a response to you" WHAT???? I called back today and asked what the same question. Guess what, after being on hold again for what seemed like FOREVER, I got a diffrent answer. "We show that your predetermination status is under review, we will have an answer to you within 7 to 10 day." I liked that one better, but it is still cutting it close. I will be calling again Monday. I am in the second week of the pre op diet. I have lost right out 10lbs so far. Excited about that. Doc requires a liquid diet 2 week prior to surgery, supposed to start that next week. I will start it even if I dont have an answer from the insurance company. I have faith that this is all going to work out. Today has been tuff here at work, two co-workers having birthdays, lots of food and cake here in the office. I had my shake this morning, salad with chicken for lunch and staying at my desk drinking water and crystal light. Everyone keeps offering me food. I have told them that my doctor has determined that I am borderline diabetic, so I am watching my diet. That has stoped alot of it. And it is not a lie, my blood surger was high, and my PCP said I was insulin resistence. I have not told anyone here at work about me having the band. I just dont want to deal with them. I told my boss I would need off for a outpatient surgery. He asked if everything was alright, I told him YEA, just a girl thing. That made him stop asking questions. Not totally a lie, I am a girl and the band is a thing, Right. LOL

Well yesterday I had my Pre-Op seminar, that is where you go and be briefed on pre and post surgery diet. It was good, but did'nt hear anything that I had not already heard here on LBT. That made me feel good. I am doing real good so far on the first part of the pre op diet. I am in week two of the four weeks. They weighed us at the meeting lastnight and I have already lost 5 pounds:clap2: . That is wonderful. Makes me more determined to keep faithful to this. Received a call from the Bariatic Center (BC), she told me all of my paper work looked ready to be sent to the insurance for approval. YEA! Do the Happy Dance!! Then she calls me back and tell me because she had not ever worked with my insurance before (UNICARE) she thought it was best to call them, one more time, just to make sure she was sending in all they needed. And they told her that she would need to check out their web site to get all the requirements for bariatic surgery. She did and it said I need to go to a dietition. :omg: When she call them the first time they did not tell her that. So I call them, after staying on hold for twenty min. and talking to 3 diffrent people, I was told they could not advise me on this until I had a file set up, and they could not set up a file for me until the doc sent the stuff in. I told them that the doc was trying to find out what all to sent in and that is why we were calling. Was their any way they could tell me, and give it to me in writing JUST WAHT DID THEY NEED and she told me I would need to talk to their nurse. I said OKAY let me talk to your nurse. And she said sorry, the nurse was in training and would have to call me back. So I left a message for her and she has yet to call me back.:angry So I told the doc office to go ahead and send in what they had, I would call the insurace company every day until I got some answers. My worry is, they have given me a tentitive surgery date of May 2nd, and the insurance is moving like a snail. Well if worse come to worse, the date will be changed :think .

Well yesterday I had my Pre-Op seminar, that is where you go and be briefed on pre and post surgery diet. It was good, but did'nt hear anything that I had not already heard here on LBT. That made me feel good. I am doing real good so far on the first part of the pre op diet. I am in week two of the four weeks. They weighed us at the meeting lastnight and I have already lost 5 pounds:clap2: . That is wonderful. Makes me more determined to keep faithful to this. Received a call from the Bariatic Center (BC), she told me all of my paper work looked ready to be sent to the insurance for approval. YEA! Do the Happy Dance!! Then she calls me back and tell me because she had not ever worked with my insurance before (UNICARE) she thought it was best to call them, one more time, just to make sure she was sending in all they needed. And they told her that she would need to check out their web site to get all the requirements for bariatic surgery. She did and it said I need to go to a dietition. :omg: When she call them the first time they did not tell her that. So I call them, after staying on hold for twenty min. and talking to 3 diffrent people, I was told they could not advise me on this until I had a file set up, and they could not set up a file for me until the doc sent the stuff in. I told them that the doc was trying to find out what all to sent in and that is why we were calling. Was their any way they could tell me, and give it to me in writing JUST WAHT DID THEY NEED and she told me I would need to talk to their nurse. I said OKAY let me talk to your nurse. And she said sorry, the nurse was in training and would have to call me back. So I left a message for her and she has yet to call me back.:angry So I told the doc office to go ahead and send in what they had, I would call the insurace company every day until I got some answers. My worry is, they have given me a tentitive surgery date of May 2nd, and the insurance is moving like a snail. Well if worse come to worse, the date will be changed :think .

I had a great Easter weekend. We did'nt do anything special, just knocked around the house. DH is being very supportive of the diet. Spaking of the DIET.... I went by the health food store to get supplies, all determined to stick to this. Had a hard time last week because I just did'nt have the supplies. Had all the bad stuff still in my kitchen, chips, icecream, candy, you know what I'm talking about. Well I wanted to arm my self with the protein shake mixes, two diffrent flavors, and some samples of some others. I like the cherry, mixed with lemonade crystal light, it almost taste like a cherry limeade from Sonic. It is real refreshing. Did real good Saturday, had my monrning shake, made a salad with chicken breast for lunch, DH B-B-Qed chicken that night, had baked beans and asparagas. Feeling all good about the day!! Easter Sunday, had to get up real early for church, had my shake, went to church, friends invited us to lunch, I was starving and tired. I know that when you start a new diet it can make you tired for a few days. Had roast cut in tiney pieces (chew, chew, chew) , greenbeans, carrots and NO ROLLS. I was feeling all good about myself, I have this thing in the bag, Out comes the lemon ice box pie.....:faint: Yep I had a piece. And I loved every bite. I guess this is part of that Last Meal syndrom everyone talks about. Evey bite I savored thinking, this could be the last pie you every eat. How silly is that. I just get me how our minds can convience our mouths to open and our hand to cram food into it. But it is okay if me can have a very good reason for it, RIGHT :tired . Well you know what they say, baby steps, and today is another day. So I sit her sipping my shake and full of determination and shaking my fist in the air saying, TODAY by GOD, I will make it.

I had a great Easter weekend. We did'nt do anything special, just knocked around the house. DH is being very supportive of the diet. Spaking of the DIET.... I went by the health food store to get supplies, all determined to stick to this. Had a hard time last week because I just did'nt have the supplies. Had all the bad stuff still in my kitchen, chips, icecream, candy, you know what I'm talking about. Well I wanted to arm my self with the protein shake mixes, two diffrent flavors, and some samples of some others. I like the cherry, mixed with lemonade crystal light, it almost taste like a cherry limeade from Sonic. It is real refreshing. Did real good Saturday, had my monrning shake, made a salad with chicken breast for lunch, DH B-B-Qed chicken that night, had baked beans and asparagas. Feeling all good about the day!! Easter Sunday, had to get up real early for church, had my shake, went to church, friends invited us to lunch, I was starving and tired. I know that when you start a new diet it can make you tired for a few days. Had roast cut in tiney pieces (chew, chew, chew) , greenbeans, carrots and NO ROLLS. I was feeling all good about myself, I have this thing in the bag, Out comes the lemon ice box pie.....:faint: Yep I had a piece. And I loved every bite. I guess this is part of that Last Meal syndrom everyone talks about. Evey bite I savored thinking, this could be the last pie you every eat. How silly is that. I just get me how our minds can convience our mouths to open and our hand to cram food into it. But it is okay if me can have a very good reason for it, RIGHT :tired . Well you know what they say, baby steps, and today is another day. So I sit her sipping my shake and full of determination and shaking my fist in the air saying, TODAY by GOD, I will make it.

I can fully understand. It is like I have been invisable for so long. It has been like this protective layer between me and the world. People go out of their way not to notice you when you are large, heck lets stop being so nice, when you are FAT. How will I act when people notice me? Will I be uncomfortable? Silly questions I know.

I had a tuff night last night. My DH and I have both suffered from some kind of tummy bug. Extreme gas and running to the potty. My stomach is a bit tinder today. I just wonder if the change in diet has anything to do with the gas being so bad. I am doing good so far on the first part of the pre-op diet. Today is the 5th day. I am going to get some new protein shakes today to experiment with. I picked up samples at the DO, they were lemon and cherry. I mixed them with crystal light, they did taste okay, but I know I would get tired of them drinking them day after day. Just trying to get ready for the full 2 weeks liquid. Getting excited, the band is all I can think about. Not very good at work, I even dreamed about it last night.

I had a tuff night last night. My DH and I have both suffered from some kind of tummy bug. Extreme gas and running to the potty. My stomach is a bit tinder today. I just wonder if the change in diet has anything to do with the gas being so bad. I am doing good so far on the first part of the pre-op diet. Today is the 5th day. I am going to get some new protein shakes today to experiment with. I picked up samples at the DO, they were lemon and cherry. I mixed them with crystal light, they did taste okay, but I know I would get tired of them drinking them day after day. Just trying to get ready for the full 2 weeks liquid. Getting excited, the band is all I can think about. Not very good at work, I even dreamed about it last night.

Well I have thought I would start this jounal not just for others to read and but for me to reflect back on. I though it would be good for when I get discouraged to be able to look back and see where I started. In was the first of March, My LabBand journed started with a talk I had with my PCP. (we go to church together, this was over casual conservation) I was visiting with him about going on Medifast. I am 5'2'' and weighed in at a whooping 225 lbs. My BMI was 40.8. He said that Medifast was not a diet, people can and do loose weight with it, but over 90% of them gain all of the weight back plus additional weight. He said that he had recommended a few people for the lab band surgery. I asked him what he though of it. My sister had gastral bypass surgery 3 years ago and had good success with it. I just felt it was so drastric. He felt that the lap band was a very good thing. Well that is what sharted me researching. I checked with our insurance (Unicare) and WOW they covered lab band. They told me since my insurance was PPO all I had to do was go to a surgen who was in my network and have a BMI over 40 (I should have know that this sounded much to easy). I was very excited, because I at least had the option. I joined the LBT forum on March 7th. Time to talk to my DH. He has his concerns and fears but over all he is open to the discussion. I don't know why but this talk took a little of the wind out of my sails. I dont know what I expected. But he didnt talk much, just listened to me. I called and registered for a seminar the first one I could go to was on March 21st. Call the surgen and they said they would not make an appointment with me until I attended the seminar. So I waited. Went to the seminar on 3/21/07, it was very good, learned alot. Visited with the doc. office (I will call DO) and gave them all of my insurance info and filled out the questionare about you history and stuff. I thought it was going to be easy. I received a call from the DO and they told me that I had to have 1) a letter of necessity from my PCP 2) 1 - 3 years of medical history 3) a TSH clearance. I was ticked off. Why did the insurance company tell me this stuff when I called. I called them and got the run around until my head was spinning. The DO said I had it easy, lot of people have to do alot more and wait months or even years to get all of the required stuff completed. So I made an appointment with my PCP on March 27th. The DO also told me that they required that I attend at least one support meeting and have a phsy. reveiw. Not an insurance requirement but theirs. So I attended the support meeting on March 29th. Also had the phsy reveiw that day at 12:00pm. Very excited, looks like thing are falling into place. DH visits with our PCP and now he is 100% supportive YEA!!! I just know that I could not go through this without him being on board. I make my appointment with the surgen - 4/02/07. All goes good, he seems like a great guy. I have a "tentative" surgery date *May 2, 2007*. Called the DO today, we are waiting on the letter from my PCP. Called PCP, he is waiting for my bloodwork to come back before writing the letter. I called the lab, they faxed it to him. So I will call DO tomorrow and see if they have received the letter. Also waiting on the results from my pshy review to faxed to them. I am doing a follow up with that Doc. today. Will ask her if it has been sent. After she gets these two things the DO can then send off for approval. She said my insurance acts fast. that is why they gave me a "tentative" date. If not I would be waiting on the hospital to get an opening. So I am glad they did that. Also the DO put me on a 4 week Pre-OP diet. The first two week is low carb with a protein shake in the AM. The next 2 weeks is all shakes. I am on day 4 of the first two week part. So far so good. I also have to go by their office every week to weigh in. I also have to attend a "Pre-Op" seminar, this is on April 10th. I have used almost a week of leave just doing the "Pre" surgery stuff. I am now 27 day away from surgery (tentative). Can't wait to take off the tentative.

Well I have thought I would start this jounal not just for others to read and but for me to reflect back on. I though it would be good for when I get discouraged to be able to look back and see where I started. In was the first of March, My LabBand journed started with a talk I had with my PCP. (we go to church together, this was over casual conservation) I was visiting with him about going on Medifast. I am 5'2'' and weighed in at a whooping 225 lbs. My BMI was 40.8. He said that Medifast was not a diet, people can and do loose weight with it, but over 90% of them gain all of the weight back plus additional weight. He said that he had recommended a few people for the lab band surgery. I asked him what he though of it. My sister had gastral bypass surgery 3 years ago and had good success with it. I just felt it was so drastric. He felt that the lap band was a very good thing. Well that is what sharted me researching. I checked with our insurance (Unicare) and WOW they covered lab band. They told me since my insurance was PPO all I had to do was go to a surgen who was in my network and have a BMI over 40 (I should have know that this sounded much to easy). I was very excited, because I at least had the option. I joined the LBT forum on March 7th. Time to talk to my DH. He has his concerns and fears but over all he is open to the discussion. I don't know why but this talk took a little of the wind out of my sails. I dont know what I expected. But he didnt talk much, just listened to me. I called and registered for a seminar the first one I could go to was on March 21st. Call the surgen and they said they would not make an appointment with me until I attended the seminar. So I waited. Went to the seminar on 3/21/07, it was very good, learned alot. Visited with the doc. office (I will call DO) and gave them all of my insurance info and filled out the questionare about you history and stuff. I thought it was going to be easy. I received a call from the DO and they told me that I had to have 1) a letter of necessity from my PCP 2) 1 - 3 years of medical history 3) a TSH clearance. I was ticked off. Why did the insurance company tell me this stuff when I called. I called them and got the run around until my head was spinning. The DO said I had it easy, lot of people have to do alot more and wait months or even years to get all of the required stuff completed. So I made an appointment with my PCP on March 27th. The DO also told me that they required that I attend at least one support meeting and have a phsy. reveiw. Not an insurance requirement but theirs. So I attended the support meeting on March 29th. Also had the phsy reveiw that day at 12:00pm. Very excited, looks like thing are falling into place. DH visits with our PCP and now he is 100% supportive YEA!!! I just know that I could not go through this without him being on board. I make my appointment with the surgen - 4/02/07. All goes good, he seems like a great guy. I have a "tentative" surgery date *May 2, 2007*. Called the DO today, we are waiting on the letter from my PCP. Called PCP, he is waiting for my bloodwork to come back before writing the letter. I called the lab, they faxed it to him. So I will call DO tomorrow and see if they have received the letter. Also waiting on the results from my pshy review to faxed to them. I am doing a follow up with that Doc. today. Will ask her if it has been sent. After she gets these two things the DO can then send off for approval. She said my insurance acts fast. that is why they gave me a "tentative" date. If not I would be waiting on the hospital to get an opening. So I am glad they did that. Also the DO put me on a 4 week Pre-OP diet. The first two week is low carb with a protein shake in the AM. The next 2 weeks is all shakes. I am on day 4 of the first two week part. So far so good. I also have to go by their office every week to weigh in. I also have to attend a "Pre-Op" seminar, this is on April 10th. I have used almost a week of leave just doing the "Pre" surgery stuff. I am now 27 day away from surgery (tentative). Can't wait to take off the tentative.

Hello Paulette, welcome. I understand what you are going through. I am to be banded on May 2nd. We will be fellow May Bansters. Check out that thread, we can all go through this together. I understand about the last meal thing. I am dealing with that myself. The encouragement I have received here has been the best. Everyone saying to CHILL, you will eat again, you can have your fav. foods again. Just you will be the one in control, not your hunger. Good luck and look forward to talking to you more.

I feel your pain. I was undecided for awhile. Like you I had to face the fact that I had a weight/eating problem. I also had to face the fact that NOBODY was coming to save me, but me. When I made the decision to go forward with having the band (MAY 2nd YEA), I decided to only tell 2 of my sisters. My DH already knew of course. One of my sisters was very supportive, she had the gastric bypass 3 years ago, so she understood what I was going through. The other, when I told her she said "Laura, have you tried Weight Watchers? Have you tried exercising more?" DUH. Just hang in there. The way I look at it is, this is your life, only you can live it, and GIRL, live it, live it to the fullest, live it with passion. Remember this is not a dress rehearsal. So, do lots of research, read this forum, pray and take care of yourself. I had someone tell me once how to make a difficult decision; What you do is is imagine yourself when you are 80 years old. See her in your mind, picture her how you want her to look, feel, how healthy she is, how happy she is, etc. Now ask her how she got there. What did she do to make her life happen. You know how you alway say if you could go back and talk to yourself you would tell yourself not to do this, or to do that. This is just that in reverse. Sounds crazy, but it helps me. When Ms. Laura is 80, she is a healthy, happy, spry, vibrant lady. And I am going to make her happen! Sorry to go on and on...Good luck.

27 days and counting. I have a big calander, marking the days off with a big red sharpie. Hey, healthyny, when I went for my phsy. review, she suggested a book "Rules of Normal Eating" by Karen Koenig. I have started it and it is good so far. Supposed to help you deal with the overeating, head hunger and stuff like that. Nice to see our May 07 Bandsters group growing.