Pittsburgher

My surgery is scheduled for june 18th and no pre op diet here but im going to do liquids/yogurt the day before good luck everyone

Congrats on yr approval. My first consult with a surgeon didnt go well either and i ended up switching surgeons so glad i did i love my new surgeon she makes me so much more comfy in my desicion i am scheduled to have my surgery on june 18th and do not require a pre op diet either but im still making wise choices i figured i would do a light day of probably full liquids the 17th day before surgery good luck to you

I am 16 days away from being banded (june 18th, they moved my date up 2 days) and I thought about having a food funeral, a good way to say goodbye to all the food that made me fat...pepsi my fav, snickers, pizza, french fries, etc...but then I say to.myself that is exactly what this food did make me fat and use.it as a stress reliever when im stressed or bored but im learning to use my energy in positive non eating ways besides I have been doing the 6 month diet and really watched what I ate....sometimes when I wanted to give up I got a pizza for my kids for dinner and was only able to eat 2 pieces instead of half the box because ive been practacing now.......i just knew I wanted that pizza and my brain said no you dont really

I am 16 days away from being banded (june 18th, they moved my date up 2 days) and I thought about having a food funeral, a good way to say goodbye to all the food that made me fat...pepsi my fav, snickers, pizza, french fries, etc...but then I say to.myself that is exactly what this food did make me fat and use.it as a stress reliever when im stressed or bored but im learning to use my energy in positive non eating ways besides I have been doing the 6 month diet and really watched what I ate....sometimes when I wanted to give up I got a pizza for my kids for dinner and was only able to eat 2 pieces instead of half the box because ive been practacing now.......i just knew I wanted that pizza and my brain said no you dont really

Pittsburgh PA

The good news finally came after all the bad news they submitted my papers yesterday and I got approved today woohooo!!!! Approved in 1 day!!!!! Now for the cardiologist clearence............June 20th is the day counting down starts now

I love Dr. Courcoulas and her staff they are all wonderful.

Thanks everone I have been lurking for awhile and dont really post that often but I read on this site almost daily.....when I went in for my nutrition appt she was so impressed with what I already knew and how much protein is so important I did learn so much on this site I know ill do great because I dont no how to fail thanks everyone

June 20th here

I had my stress test, nutrition and psych appt, on monday and this is the last of testing required now just gotta sit tight and wait...........will someone call me or will I get something in the mail if its approved?

Thank you, I called today to try to find a cardiologist, no luck so I called my surgeon to see if they could help with a appt, they did thank god cause it was frustrating......they also said they submitted my paper work yesterday and just now they called again to tell me I was approved!!!!!!!! Yea!!!!!!!

Thanks for the replies. The surgeons office did call today...but not with great news, they called to say my stress test was abnormal and that i have CAD, and are referring me to a cardiologist for further testing and clearence for surgery. Not the news I ever wanted to hear, my mom died at age 43, and grandmother at age 54, both from heart related issues. I am only 26 years old with 3 young children so I took today to cry all day but will call the cardiologist in the morning for an appt. I never wanted to hear this news, and am feeling a little anxious and nervous.

Good luck I hope all goes well

I guess.because im going with the "busy" surgeon Anita Courcoulas and the fact that I have to.work around pto to make sure I get 2 weeks off straight the scheduled it, I wanted the 18th but it was full...so the 20th it is...maybe she thought it wouldnt be difficult for me to be approved I dono

I met with my surgeon last week and a couple days later they called to schedule my surgery its set for june 20th now I just have to wait until may 20th for my psych and nut visit then everything is finished I sure hope that after everything is submitted it gets approved fast to keep my date set

I just found out I have a hiatal hernia when I got the upper gi done, the dr said it was small so she isnt worried about it...she said when she places the band it will pull down on the hernia causing it to fall into the right place I did not have any symptoms at all The only possible symptoms were probably when I was prego n had lots of heartburn n etc...

I didnt choose dr hamad either when I first called they did ask me if I knew who I wanted but I was never there before so I didnt no, they assigned me one and after my first visit I.really didnt feel.like I.was that comfy so I just looked up info for the other docs there at magee n seen dr courcoulas and seen all the great reviews and made an appt with her......i had all the testing but the nutrition n psych eval which is in may

Im also going to magee but im seeing dr courcoulas she is wonderful.....my first appt was with dr hamad but I wasnt comfy with her so I switched to dr courcoulas

Today I met with a second surgeon, Anita Courcoulas and I have to say I was very comfortable with her. Thank you all who suggested to get a new surgeon. She answered my pages of questions and listened to me and my concerns, also explained the entire procedure to me all over again. One question I had for her was about the pre-op diet, she does not require one, and does not require me to keep track of calories although I have been doing it the last 4 months so I may continue for a bit after until my comfort zone. She does not put in a fill at time of surgery but first follow up is in 10 days after surgery and first fill at 5 weeks. I also found out the name of the clotting factor I have it's Lupus Anticoagulant (I have to see a hematologist tomorrow) to probably get more test and make that a certain, and will probably have to take lovenox for 6 weeks. Also found out I have a small hiatal hernia, but the DR is not worried, she said when I have the LB surgery it will tug down on the hernia causing it to come down, therefore eliminating that problem. I also asked what kind of band will be placed she said she determines that at the time of surgery either Realize or LapBand her choice, was her words to me. But I trust her judgement. Sorry for such a long post just wanted to share my day!!

I truly did the first surgeon did not try to support my decision with the band but I think she wanted me to get bypass....no way...and overall.wasnt very comfy with her so switched to dr courcoulas, she is very nice and encouraging and said herself that bypass patients get bypass and loose weight quickly but most regain the weight back and there is nothing they can do with the band you can get fills, it there for life, with management I will do great

So I had my bloodwork, gyn appt, and upper gi done yesterday....the PA called and said one of the bw test for anticoag. Or clotting factors showed a risk for clots so he is referring me to a hematologist he said that it would not prevent from having surgery but I may need to take a blood thinner before and after surgery for maybe 4~6 weeks or so.like lovenox I am gettin anxious did anyone else have to go through this?? I kinda dont no what to expect right now I dont no what this.means

So are any of you still taking the lovenox shots now? I am just curious for afterwards in the future what will this mean for me....i have a family history of stroke, heart disease, hypertension, artherosclorosis, diabetes, etc..you name it...many family members have passed very young from these complications and it worries me for the future as I am on google trying to find info I see people on coumadin etc...did anyone get referred to a hematologist? What did they do? More tests? I am just worried they will tell me I have one of the family problems I am trying to avoid I have no health problems so this is a first

So I have not had my surgery yet im anticipating in june but I currently try to eat 3 (400 cal)meals per day with 3 (200 cal) snacks per day total cals 1800 with exercising 45 mins 4 x a week....this is the amount of cals my dr put me on for my 6 month diet...i want to cut this down alittle I never eat 1800 cals I stay around 1300 to 1600 depending on the day but my question is how many meals do you eat daily? In my lap band book it says 2 meals and 2 snacks or 3 meals and 1 snack per day im just wondering what everyone else does im trting to prepare now and my dr said to try 4 meals per day with maybe 1 snack. After surgery how many calories are you allowed? I believe its 1000 just wana make sure and see how you all break.it down for meals like each meal 300 cals then 1 100cal.snack? Or do you do it diffrent? Any suggestions???

Thanks for responding I have switched my surgeon and meet with the new surgeon in 2 weeks...my nutrition appt isnt until may I have 2 pages of questions so far this was one of them I was just tryin to figure out what would the calories be daily but I dont have that answer yet..im going to ask the surgeon so I can cut back now so it wont seem to be that bad