DLW

I'll just be about 30 miles from home. I live near Ithaca, NY - the hospital I'm going to is in Elmira, NY. Dr. Taesun Moon. I'll need to pick up those supplies this weekend. Do you feel like having them or are you not hungry? Dianne

The stories do help allot when it's getting closer and closer for all of us. The month has just begun - many will be banded and having great things to say. Good luck to everyone! Andi, 4 days after me! Hopefully, I'll be able to get online at home after to give everyone an update too! Getting excited!! Whoo hooo! Dianne

You had same day surgery then? I go in Monday and stay until Wednesday. Guess I should be pretty good by then huh? The rest will do me good I guess. It's only me and my husband at home anyway, but being waited on in the hospital sounds good too. :-) I see that we are almost the same age. That's encouraging to me too. I was afraid that I might be getting to old to start something like this. I'm looking forward to it now. What did you get for food for the next month? My doc wants me on clear liquids for a month - with the exception of milk. He did also tell me that I could have the yogurt too though, without the fruit of course. I didn't care about the fruit. I was really happy to know that I could have something of substance! How cool is that? Yay!! So, what can you have? Are you hungry? Starving? Or don't even have much hunger? Thanks Longhorn for your imput. Blessings to you, Dianne

Longhorn!! How very cool is that that you let us know how it went so quickly! I so appreciate it because i'm going in on Monday myself. You are soooo encouraging to me and I thank you for it my fellow bandster. Take care and heal quickly... you are on your way to a happier you! Blessings, Dianne

Yep, a size 14 would be pretty much a "little ol me" too. I don't remember the last time I saw 14. I think I went from toddlers to 16 directly! 16 is even pretty down there for me. I just can't wait to shop for a medium or a large - in the regular size clothing mind you, not the Lane Bryant or Alfred Dunner type 16's. Hell, the 16 in Alfred Dunner are probably more like a 20 in regular woman's sizes. No wonder Alfred makes so much money. Larger woman picking out size 16?? Now that's what I'm talkin bout! Smart man that Alfred Dunner. I like the banana too! Some day I'll figure out how to use all the fancier stuff in here... I hope anyway. :-) Dianne

hahahaha. Too funny Stranger. I say that often, "now, what's that supposed to mean". LOL Hey Andie, it's nothing to worry about then. Sounds like my doc is just precautious? Maybe because of my age??? "Now, what's that supposed to mean?" LOLOL We'll all do just fine. No worries. Think down the road......... thin little ol me kind thoughts!!

Sorry Andie, I meant to mention this.... a friend of mine had the procedure and she said that the norm for the stay, according to her physician is just overnight too. So, don't worry too much about it. Just tell them you have pain and stay the night. :-) Sound like a plan? Dianne

Andie, I don't blame you for being concerned. I don't think I'd care for that. Maybe you should just tell them that you are having pain and stay until at least the next day to take the burden off of your shoulders? I would. Good luck to you Andie, where are you having the procedure? Dianne

Hey Stranger138 I soooo can relate to what you said about the shopping experiences! And why the heck do they put all that flowery stuff on those frumpy old dresses? I'm 50 but not heading to the grave yet!! Give me color for pete's sake!! I absolutely can't wait to put on the "I never thought I could squeeze into" clothing!! I was just thinking this morning how I will probably wish I had done this when I was thirty. You go girl and enjoy the rest of your life!! Your boyfriend sounds like a great guy. Husband material? :-) Good luck to you kiddo. I'm just a few days away.... November 5th banster I shall be!! Blessings, Dianne

I'm having mine on the 5th. Eeeeeek!! I'm really excited about it too. Like Laura, Linda, Bobbi I have the concerns about being a failure after being banded. I really have to work on that chewing, chewing, chewing thing. I'm the type to chew, chew swallow. I guess I will learn not to do that. I have to be on clear liquids for the first month. The doc said that I could have milk though. You know he even said that I could have the plain yogurts too. He said that it shouldn't cause any problems. My first fill will be in a month after. I'm so looking forward to all of what everyone else talks about. The "normal" size clothing is just going to be so wonderful. I see a shopping spree in my future!! Yay!! The going to a restaurant and not thinking that everyone is looking at you or if you can fit into one of the booths!! Gosh how I hated that. I would avoid going. Soooooo.... Monday for me her in upstate NY!! Dr. Taesun Moon. He has a great sense of humor. He even said something like. "So it won't bother you if I come in on one of my rounds after your surgery with a steak sandwich now would it"? What a hoot. It was funny. really. How long does everyone have to stay at the hospital? I have to stay from Monday through Wednesday. Okay, we can do this!! I'm looking forward to hearing of all the progress!! Dianne

I've been looking around on the website and saw you post Griz Girl. I'm being banded on the 5th - next Monday! It is good to hear from those who have been so recently banded. You seem to be doing pretty well. I think I'm going to pick up some of the liquid Tylenol and maybe a heating pad. :-) I go for my pre-op and surgeon visit tomorrow. i'm not real sure what to expect. I couldn't ask anyone on here because it seems that the surgeons/doctors all differ big time. I haven't had to do the liquid diet thing prior to the surgery though. We'll see what he says tomorrow. Good luck to you and please keep posting with your progress. Thanks, Dianne

Hi everybody!! I have my pre-op visit tomorrow, then over to see my surgeon. I'm being banded on the 5th too!! I'm excited and nervous at the same time too. I also had that protein question. I'll ask my doc tomorrow to see what he says also. Nervous, nervous, nervouse, excited, excited, excited. What a ride huh? I bought one of those "Magic Bullet" blenders to make the upcoming smoothies with. I think it will come in real handy with the blended foods stage. I'm looking forward to making fresh homemade creamy soups. It has a small cup blender too so I won't be overdoing it, hopefully. Guess we'll all find out what that means, huh? Over doing it? Congrats to everyone and hope to talk much more as time goes by! Blessings, Dianne

I wonder if I have to have that done too? What are they going to do about the reflux and hernia? anything prior to surgery? will having the lapband in irratate the reflux? What did they say about that? all these questions. haha. sorry. Dianne

Coming soon Nessa!! Mine is Nov. 5th!! I'm excited about it too. Here we go......... yipee!!!!!!!!

Isn't that funny? We even spelled their names similar. How was the pre-op physical? Tell, tell... :-) Hopefully it was much easier then you anticipated. talk to you soon Kristin, Dianne

Hi again Kristin, I just read that you lost a 4 1/2 year old son. I too lost a daughter (Nichol) back in 1996. She was 19. A car accident/no alchohol involvement though. She just over corrected. She would have been 30 this past June. I miss her very much. :-( My other daughter/the one having a little girl in December is also 27 like your daughter. I love her with all of my heart too. She is my only child now. So we have allot in common my friend. We can do this band thing! Let's make it happen!! Dianne

Hi Kristin, I'm having my surgery on Nov. 5th. I am 50 years old and also have grandchildren. Well, one on the way - December baby girl! My other grandchild is a 9 year old boy whom I just love to pieces. Like you I want to be around to watch them grow up, get married and such. I have my pre-op testing on the 30th of this month. I have no idea as to what they'll be doing so I can't help you there. Let me know how it goes with you though, okay? Good luck to you my fellow November banster and hopefully we'll be able to talk with one another as the time gets closer! Take care, Dianne

You've already gone through all of the processes then? Why is meeting your surgeon the last step? It was my first. ??

I'm from just outside of Ithaca, NY - Newfield. Being banded Nov. 5th at the Arnot Hospital by Dr. Moon from Elmira. Have you been banded yet???

I'm from Newfield, NY - just outside of Ithaca, NY - home of Cornell University. Yep, Hawaii sounds really nice, and will sound even better come February!!

Wow Sweetviolet!! You went from a 5x to a 16??? That is so totally awesome! How long have you been banded? I will be banded this coming November 5th by Dr. Moon - Arnot Hospital in Elmira, NY. I'm so excited about it and to see how much you have accomplished is sure encouraging. I'm 50 and was thinking that I might be too old really to have it done. You have a great testimony! Dianne

Nessa & Kristina, you two hang in there with the quitting smoking. I smoked a pack a day since I was 12 years old. I quit when I was 43. That would be over 30 years! I "tried" to quit like 3 times unsuccessfully. I would last from anywhere between 3 days to 3 months. The last time I quit was for good on Jan. 5th 2007. I used the patch #14 strength and my doctor also put me on Zyban. Using the both of them really did it for me. The patch was for my anxiousness - I'm sure you know what that is, the thing like... I HAVE GOT TO HAVE A SMOKE!!! It worked well for that. And the Zyban was for my husband. HAHAHAHA!! So I wouldn't kill him in the process of my quitting. Actually, the Zyban helped with the depression you will get not having your long time friend around. It can be like losing a huge part of you and your identity. It so helped me in that area. I stayed on the Zyban and patch for about 3 or 4 months. Maybe you can check with your doc to see if you can get either of them or better yet both? Even though you can get the patches over the counter now, your doctor can write a prescription for them too for insurance purposes. Good luck to you with the quitting!! You can do it. Just think of the journey your taking now.... getting healthier all the way around!! Not to mention that you will smell better too. :-) And you will be able to smell things that you've not really been able to smell before!! Good luck my fellow bansters! My date is Nov. 5th at the Arnot Hosp. in Elmira, NY. Dr. Moon. Dianne

Neen7171, why so nervous about social situations? Is it because once you start losing the weight people will be more friendly toward you? When are you due to have the surgery? Mine is set for November 5th. I'm nervous, excited and so looking forward to feeling good in clothes and even moving around in general. I'm getting sick and tired of my back and hips hurting. I look forward to walking with no pain. Look up girlfriend! (If you are a woman that is) haha. Look to the future of comfort and well being.

I'm not a self-pay but am also having my surgery on November 5th. I'm excited about it too. All except of course, the part where the food may get stuck, eating too fast, not chewing enough - and yes Linda, dying on the operating table. I have my DH, my daughter, who is pregnant for a little girl, due in December and my 9 year old grandson. I wouldn't want to leave them by no means. That is part of this procedure I really try not to think about - "the risks". I just want to go into it with confidence that everything will work out just as it is supposed to. This site is a wonderful place to come share our concerns and to ask questions, look for recipes - find new friends. :-) I'm grateful that you are all here.

Hungryforchange! You and I have the same date! Yeah! :-) I go for my pre-admission testing on the 30th at the hospital then over to see the surgeon once more before the surgery. Do you have to do the liquid diet before surgery? I haven't been asked to do any kind of diet. I just started on one a couple of weeks ago because of all I've read in here. I want it to go as smoothly as possible. The doctor did say that he'd like me to lose weight prior to the surgery because of the shrinking of the liver thing but nothing was set in stone - so to speak. Good luck to you!