YoungNy

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers. I appreicate it. I'll post post-op ASAP.

I work at the airport, so I'm on my feet all day and lifting heavy bags (30-60 lbs) so I'm 2 weeks with hopefully a few weeks on light duty once I go back. Today is my last day of work until the 17th.

Oh, I am right there with you. I'm being banded on Tuesday and I know I'm in a mix of nervous and excited. I really just want to get it over with. I'm scared that something might go wrong, but I'm trying not to worry about it too much. I also have got a million things to do before Tuesday. I cleaned half of my house top to bottom this week and will attempt to clean the other half within the next 3 days. I've got to go shopping and make plans for who is taking me where and when. I'm still not regretting my decision yet, but I don't truly believe I'm doing this. I won't believe it until I'm strapped to the OR table. It's just not real for me yet. I'm sure sometime soon (after surgery), I'll have that "Oh crap, what have I done?!" moment. I'm working right up to the day before, so at least work will keep my mind off it (somewhat) for 8 hours a day. Anyway, I'm rambling now, so just know you're not alone. Good Luck on Monday!

So a Roux-N-Y is the same as a sleeve?

I haven't been banded yet, so I have no regrets, but you've got to ask yourself who you are doing this for? If it's for you, than frankly, frick what anyone else thinks or says. You're not doing this so you can hang out in bars or drink or please your mother. This was a personal decision you made hopefully for your health and sanity and if it's something YOU want to do, don't let anyone talk you out of it. Explain to your family how much it means to you and how you would appreciate thier support. I can see that they may be worried for you, or scared you may change too much, but if they truly love you they will understand that this is something you need to do to enrich your life and they will stop worrying about money and bars and respect your decision.

How exactly does a liquid diet shrink your liver?

Absolutely, I ran into a family I hadn't seen in years the other day, I was "Darn, if only that would have happened next month instead of now." I have my first high school reunion in four years, I'm excited about how I'll look then. After the band and plastic surgery. I've always been fat, so it'll be fun to see people's reaction to a thinner me.

I just bought Eating Well After Weightloss Surgery by Patt Levine and Michele Bontempo-Saray. It was reccomended on Amazon.com and it's fantastic. It's a cookbook written by a woman who got a lapband in 2003. It's full of low-fat, low-calorie, high protien meals for every stage after surgery.

I'll be honest I sounded alot like that girl about 2 or 3 years ago. There are alot of people who can lose weight the old fashion way and are successful at keeping it off. Unfortunatly that's not me. I've been on diet after diet for 20 years and I'm only 23. You name it, I've tried it. I've busted my butt on the tredmill and lost weight only to end up exhausted, starving and frustrated at my results when I gained it all back, plus some. I laughed when she said "this time I'll lose everything." LOL! How many times have we all said that? The next diet is always the last time, until we get to a point where enough is enough. When we're done with the fad diets, done with yo-yo dieting, done with being fat. Just done with all. And it's finally sink or swim time, put up or shut up. And we make the decision to change our lives for good. When she gets to that point, she'll understand, or she'll end up living out her life being miseriable being fat. Or maybe, just maybe, this is the last time for her. But don't let people like her get to you. She obviously isn't educated on the subject and doesn't know what she's talking about. Do what's best you.

Me too, I'm going to Barnes in Noble tomorrow to get that book.

Ok, first let me say I'm really sorry for everything you have been put through. You don't deserve it and any doctor who values his patients wouldn't treat them that way. On that note let me say, that most good things come with hard work, time and difficulty. Surgery is no different. I think we all can say we've had experiances in our banding process that has left us feeling hopeless or angry or depressed or feeling like giving up. I personally have a similar doctors office that is horrible at calling me back. They say they will call back in half an hour and 3 days later I'm still waiting for a call. I asked for a copy of my file to be sent to me, that was almost a month ago and I still haven't gotten it. I asked for my pre-op date to be re-scheduled so I wouldn't have to take another day off from work and they said no. I had to bug my doctors to send in approval letters (one took almost 2 months to write it). I had to bug them for weeks to get them to send my file to the insurance company and once they did, no one told me. No one called to say I was approved, I had to wait to get a letter from my insurance company. All this after my first WLSurgeon told me I couldn't have a lap band, and would only do a gastric bypass. I really don't care what hoops they make me jump through this time around. I made up my mind to have the surgery and I will have the surgery. I've talked to his previous patients and they all have good things to say (mostly) and are doing fine now with great results. He has been doing these surgeries for 20 years and I'm confident in his abilities. I refuse to let inconsiderate, rude and unorganized people control my life. So I guess my point is yes, listen to your instincts because they are usually correct, but also, don't let a little bad buisness get in the way of your ultimate goal. Try to see things from thier point of view, they probably get dozens of patients with special needs and requests and they can't possibly cater to everyone one. They are probably busy and forget to call you back or forget your requests. Messages get lost in translation or accdentally thrown away. And emergencies like patients with more complications come up. As stressful as it is for us to do everything we need to do to get our surgeries underway, think how hard it is for the doctor and his staff to keep everybody's needs, requests, appointments, dates and situations in order. Do what you think is right, but don't give up. You're not alone in your struggle. Hope that helps.

I was a CNA, pre-preschool teacher ,pre-security officer and I really think you should take the two weeks. I'm on my feet and lift heavy bags (40-50+ lbs) all day. I'm taking 2 weeks and was told I may even need to take more. I'm also going back to work with restrictions. As a CNA I don't think it would be safe for you to lift patients only a week after surgery. I'd be too afaird to rip the stiches. Take the 2 weeks if you can.

Awww, congrats and have fun! :blushing:

I know what you mean. I have a co-worker whose wife just died of MRSA. She went into the hospital for puemonia and came out dead. It happens quite often. Wash your hands often, carry antibacterial stuff, and make sure anyone who touches you washs thier hands first. It won't stop it completely, but it can't hurt.

I just don't understand how it is that some doctors can scare their patients into staying on the pre-op diet by saying they can't do the surgery if they cheat, while other doctors don't put thier patients on any pre-op diet at all. Some eat right up to the day before and everything goes fine. Not to give anyone a reason to cheat, but I just don't think it's right for doctors to scare their patients this way.

I simply sat with my nutritionist for about an hour and we talked about my diet before and after surgery. We talked about the amount of calories and protien in certain foods and shakes and items when you eat out. Made suggestions of shakes I should try. She told me what I should and shouldn't be doing, now and after surgery. She told me about the things I could and couldn't have and gave me sample menus and recipes. She explained the different stages after surgery, took my diet attempt history and asked if I had any other questions. That was it.

For those who are already banded, is it better to stay the night or go home the same day? And did you get to choose or was it completely the doctor's decision?

I am not offically required to be on a pre-op diet, but I'm cutting back on foods I cannot eat after surgery. I just started yesterday, but I eat eggs, yogurt, grits, SF/FF jello, ice pops, slimfast shakes, protien shakes, mashed potatos, green vegtables, broths and soups.

You may need to call them and ask. My doctor's office is terrible at keeping me up to date and telling me things. So if I need something or have a question, I call them. I swear I call every other day/week. They know my voice now and as soon as I start to talk they are like, "Hi, Ty. Hold on." I might be a nag, but if I wasn't nothing would get done. Call and ask. It can't hurt. Also, I have a question, does everyone have to pay up thier outstanding bills with the hospital before surgery? I owe them some money from my pre-op appointments, but was planning on paying it back little by little. Must I pay them up front or they won't do the surgery?

It's funny, my friends and co-workers took me out last night for one last horrah before my surgery and one of my friends who is thin, but doesn't consider herself to be beautiful. Honestly, she's no supermodel, but she's not ugly. She just has this thing about "beautiful people". So she begged me last night not change after I lose weight. She thinks every problem she has had in her life had been because of her looks and that after I lose weight I won't have those problems anymore. I told I would just be more confident and again she said she liked me the way I am now and begged me not to lose too much weight and not to change. I fear that after I do lose the weight no matter what I do she will see me as changed and not want to be my friend anymore.:wink2:

I understand exactly what you mean. I have very limited experiance with men and dating and the experiance I do have none of it has been good(Men are very cruel and tend to use you when you're fat). Anyway, I was always an introvert and still am, but in the last few years I've been coming out of my shell more. I talk more and when I get invited places I go. I work at a job where I talk to and interact with hundreds of people a day so I kind of had to learn to talk to people. I still get tied up every once in a while, but I can start a conversation with anybody now (even the cute guys). I can flirt with men and the weird thing is some actually flirt back. It never goes anywhere, but it's still fun. I smile all the time and people react to that. When it comes to guys I've learned that it is about 60% attitude and about 40% looks. Guys may be attracted to your looks, but if you've got a piss poor attitude to go with it, they will walk away. And on the other hand everyone is attracted to a great smile. I find that if I smile, make a joke, laugh and ask a question, I can make a conversation with that cute guy last a little longer than it needs to. I know a few guys who I'm very friendly with and flirt with all the time, but they just don't care for big girls. It hurts when you like someone and they like you, but the physical attraction just isn't there. I can't wait to be thin.

Maybe it's me, or maybe after I'm banded I'll be spending less. I start my pre-op diet tomorrow and I went shopping today for hopefully the next 2-3 weeks. I got to the register and had spent a little over $100 bucks. I have no idea how, I noramlly only spent $80-90 bucks for 2 weeks worth of food. I did buy these 1/2 cup storage containers to bring lunch to work. And a few measuring cups. I'm a little depressed now, $100 bucks is alot for food and all I bought was liquid stuff (yogurt, jello, broth, water, etc...) Oh well, only time will tell, if I spent less after I'm banded.

I had the same problem with my father. I have been thinking about this for a year and a half now and he has always told me I'm taking the easy way out and I'm just not trying hard enough to lose weight. That all I need is a little discipilne. But I was so sick of the fad diets and yo-yo dieting that I said enough is enough. I went to him one day after I made my appointment to go to the seminar and told him, "I know you don't agree with or understand my decision, but I made this choice for my heath and my sanity and I would really appreciate it if you would support me." He simply said ok, but didn't believe I was serious. I did everything on my own, from the semiar to the doctors appointments, research, everything. I told him last week when my band date was and he asked if I was really serious and if I was really going to go through with it. I told him yes. So I'm been keeping him up to date on what I'm doing and what to except and asked him to walk with me for excerise. He told me today, "hey, did I ever tell you, I've really proud of you for doing something about your weight. I see you're serious, you're really trying and I'm impressed." He's even taking my surgery day off to help take care of me. I get frustrated with a few of my older co-workers who keep reminded me that I need to excerise and keep telling me info about the lap band, like I didn't know already. I'm sure they think that I see this surgery as a magic solution to my wieght problem and have no idea what is ahead of me. But I simply inform them back that I already know and already have started doing the things that will change my life. If they are going to preach to me, then I'm going to preach back. You know what you're going through, you know what you're life is like and you know that the negative things your friend is saying aren't true. You can't change her opinions, but you can continue to do what's best for you even if you have to do it alone. Stay Strong!

This is the same question I was going to ask. I start my "non-required, but doing it on my own" liquid diet starting tueday which is exactly 2 weeks for before my surgery. I was going to go visit The Vitamin Shoppe tomorrow to get my chewable vitamins and talk to someone about high protien low-calorie shakes. Besides water and shakes what else can I have on a liquid diet?

I'm new to the forum too, but welcome anyway. I was in your place about a year and half ago. I couldn't find a wls doctor in my area that took my insurance, so I had to go an hour from home. Went to the seminar and first appointment, I so excited. Then I learned I had to go to about 5 other doctors to get approvals and lose at least 30 lbs, and then the kicker was that my insurance may not even cover the lap band, but had no problem with a gastic bypass. I was completely against a gastic bypass and was overwhelmed and frustrated. I had finally made the decision to do something once and for all about my weight and they put all these opticals in my way. I ended up putting it on hold until this past January. I had gotten a new job, with new insurance that I was told was very good. I decided that this time around I'd do whatever it took. So I went to the 5 different doctors and got my approvals. I didn't have to lose weight with the new insurance or the new wls doctor (which is in my hometown), but I did need to have a history of trying to lose weight with a doctors supervision (but not the 6 months like many others). Offically, I was never under a doctors supervision, but I was on prescription Xenical and Alli and like you said "You name it, I've done it." I wasn't sure of dates either or pounds I lost and gained on each try, so I guesstimated it mostly. I gave the same list to all my doctors and faxed everything in. My wls doctors office is terrible at returning phone calls and letting a patient know what is going on with thier file and progress, so I spent most of the last 6 months waiting. But once I knew my file had been sent to the insurance company, I was sure I wouldn't get approved. I just knew my weightloss attempt history wasn't long enough, that I was too young, etc... But I got approved!! I can be a nerve ragging time while you're waiting and everything is still up in the air. Even now after I have a date, I'm nervous that something will go wrong at my pre-op testing or they will change the date or the insurance company will "take it back", I feel like I'm just waiting for something to go wrong. I don't think I'll realize or believe it's truly happening until I'm on my way into the OR. It's a lot of work, it's not easy and getting approved is only the beginning. But if changing your life is really what you want, then isn't it worth it? Please don't lose hope so soon. If you're really ready to live, then do what you need to do and start your journey to the new you! Good Luck and I hope to see you around here more.:wink_smile: