kathyc02@alltel

Hi Alicia. Dr. Allen said I had lost 11 pounds in 6 weeks, so he didn't feel that I needed a fill at this time. Yes he would have given me one if I wanted one. He and I both feel that the fill is a tool to be used when you have stalled out on your weight loss. I don't want to use it unless I have to. I don't have much restriction, but I sure can't eat like I used to!! You seem to be kind of down right now, and I hate to hear that. We all want a fast fix for losing our weight, but lets face it. We didn't get fat overnight, and it's not going to come off overnight. I certainly would rather be losing a pound a week than gaining a pound a week!! For me, it's easier to eat right and control my portions knowing that I'll have adverse reactions if I don't. You do have to stick with it though. If you feel like you won't follow the program, then don't spend the money. I really don't see any sense in that. For myself though it's been a wonderful journey. I feel better physically and mentally. Of course I still have quite a way to go. Dr. Allen's goal for me is 170 lbs. I told him I thought I'd still be overweight at that weight (I'm 5-5). He said that that was HIS goal for me and I could choose my own individual goal for myself. I'm not sure what that is at this time. I'll get to his goal first and go from there! Anyways, hang in there. It really is worth it!! Feel free to send me a personal message and I'll be glad to chat with you give you pep talks!!:girl_hug:

Hi Leeshalynn. Dr. Allen does not require the liquid pre-op diet. If he doesn't want you to do something then I wouldn't do it. He only asked me to eat a low fat diet 2 weeks before surgery to reduce the fatty liver. As far as the "sweet spot" I can't really say. I went for my first fill and Dr. Allen said I didn't need one yet. He said I was doing fine on my own, and that he really only gave fills if you aren't losing about a pound or so a week. I go to see him again tomorrow, so we'll see if he gives me a fill this time or not. The best advice I can give you is to stay away from what you have been told to stay away from. Bread, thick cuts of meats, lots of carbs, that sort of thing. Watch your portion size also. Just because I don't really have much restriction doesn't mean that I have to eat and eat until I feel stuffed! Good luck to you.

I'm here too!!

Hi Rumar-Thanks for the kind words! I started working out about 2 months before I was banded, so I had lost 20 or so lbs before surgery. The rest I lost after I was banded. I haven't been exercising like I should, or I would have lost more by now! I lost quite a bit the first month with the liquid and mushie stage. When I moved to regular food I stuck with strictly 1/2 cup of food per meal and no snacks. I've increased my meals somewhat, but I'm still eating less that a cup per meal. I do snack on popcorn, which is my one vice!! I went for a fill on Oct. 18th, but my Doc said I didn't need one because I was doing so well. I'm scheduled for one at the end of this month, and I'm going to tell him I want one regardless of whether he thinks I need one or not. I have no restriction at all, and I haven't been losing as much here lately as I'd like to. I also need to jump back on the exercise train!! So that's me!

Hi All-I had the same problem, but it was solved with three words....prune juice daily! Not the greatest tasting stuff in the world, but the results are certainly worth it!

This is for all of us scheduled for August 27 (Monday!!):clap2: Everyone chime in and we can use this thread to keep up with each other's progress. Everyone keeps asking if I'm nervous. :nervousI'm too excited to be nervous. :DI'll let everyone else be nervous for me. I don't have time for it! Good luck to everyone. We're going to be just fine. We'll get through this together.:dance::gluck:

Hi All-Hope everyone is well today. I'm fine. Still needing to nap each day. Yesterday went running errands for like 6 hours, which was a big mistake. Didn't get my nap, or my protein in the way I should and I was was sick sick sick for several hours. Then only way I felt worth a crap was to lay perfectly still in the recliner. Better today. Had some yummy cream of mushroon soup w/protein for lunch. After my nap I fixed a vanilla protein shake. Not as gassy today. Still have that stupid pain up in my left shoulder. Walked around at Walmart and Kohl's today. Not for 6 hours like yesterday thank goodness. Learned my lesson there!! Well that's all from KY today. Best wishes to everyone for a great night sleep and an even better tomorrow!!

I don't know why, but what I think tasted fantastic yesterday tastes crappy today.....

Hey Jody, I get these things that are like single hiccups. They hurt, so luckily they're not a whole bunch of them like when you get the hiccups. Maybe they are a type of spasm like you're describing. I get mildly nauseous occasionally. My roommate thinks it's because I'm pushing myself too much. I've been trying to do a lot of walking and she says I'm doing too much too fast. I really don't know. I just know that I get to feeling pretty crappy in the early afternoon and have to lay down and nap awhile, and I feel much better when I wake up. Are you getting plenty of rest? I don't see how these folks have surgery on Monday and are back to work by Thursday. My hat's off to them. I haven't really been eating much. Just some tomato soup blended with cottage cheese w/ some unflavored unjury added. Haven't had anything that just really knocked my socks off in the yummo department. I looked through the recipes here, but a lot of them just sounded like too much work for me right now. That egg drop soup sounded like something I could handle, I just need to figure out if I'm supposed to have the egg part...Anyhoo, hang in there, I think you're just fine. Get plenty of rest, Protein, and sip, sip, sip those fluids.

Hi All, So glad to hear everyone is doing well, gassy, but well! All of mine is up in my left shoulder. Walking seems to help the most. I haven't been at all adventurous with my meals yet, although that egg drop soup is sounding really yummy....maybe I'll make that tomorrow. Well ta-ta for now my friends. Hope everyone has a restful night!

I was banded Monday August 27th by Dr. Jefferey Allen. Everything went great!

Well folks-We made it!! It's 3:30 am Wednesday morning. I was cleared yesterday at 1pm to go home. Took them 1 1/2 hours to get a wheelchair and take me to the car. I could have already drove home three times.:car:I was exhausted and cranky :mad:and not a happy camper. Everyone in recovery was fantastic! They took great care of me and made me very comfortable. Amen for warm toasty blankets! :clap2:Everyone was great once I got a room, but when night came, that's when my lovely visit took a turn for the worse. I got no sleep at all Monday night. It was very noisy (I was right outside the nurses station)not to mention folks coming in every 1/2 hour to check on me. I guess the best thing is that it's over! The worst thing is the gas. I hurt constantly from it. I've tried Gas-X peppermint strips. Yuck! They don't really seem to help much. Walking seems to help more than anything. That's why I'm up at this hour instead of sleeping! :ranger: My son was very happy to see me. He was alot more worried about Mommy than he let on.:nervous My surgery was over by 10:30 am, but it was 3pm before they got me a room. I guess that's because it takes 1 1/2 hours to get the folks trying to leave the room a ride out...My family and friends all thought something was wrong because they had told us that I would be in recovery 2 hours tops. Oh well, it ended well anyhow. So here I am, gassy and sassy:p! Drank some chicken broth for dinner. Had a SF popsicle before bed. Sip sip sip the Water. Guess I'd better head back to bed. :notagreeBest wishes to all. look forward to seeing more posts from my 27th buddies. Bye, Kat

I didn't mention that I have to be at the hospital at 7:30, surgery scheduled for 9:30. :clap2:

Dana, I'm sure you have done all of your research and have made an educated decision based on your findings. Don't second guess yourself!I'm sure the doctor you chose has done many lap band placements, and for him is a routine procedure. You WILL wake up and you WILL be just fine! Have faith! I really don't think banana leaves and coconuts are on our list of things we can eat! Seriously though, use your imagination, and also use this website as a guide for delicious recipes. If we create a recipe or even find one already posted that we like we can post it here for others. Good luck to you and everyone else here. We will get through this together!

Kat Louisville, Ky banding scheduled for 8/27/07 :whoo:

Hi Flipper-I'm scheduled for the 27th also! I'm so excited. I haven't had to have a special diet other than "low fat" before hand. I've lost 26 lbs in the past month or so. I've been exercising and watching what I eat. I have UHC and they approved me in a week. Everything has been pretty smooth. We'll if that changes after Monday!! Anyhoo, good luck and keep us posted.

Wow! You folks are back to work quick! My doc won't see me until 2 weeks post op and I can't return to work until he clears me. He won't clear me until he sees me. Geez....

Hi All, I found a wonderful book at the libarary, read it, and went out and bought a copy. It is "Weight Loss Surgery- Is It Right For You?" by Merle Cantor Goldberg, George Cowan Jr. and William Marcus. This is a great book for any one considering WLS, but it also takes you every step of the way, through 6 months after surgery and beyond. There is even a chapter for your support person to read. I highly reccomend this book!

Hi Marilyn! And then there were four!! Sorry about Optifast thing-that sounds rough, but hang in there! You'll do fine! My doc doesn't require anything other than a "low fat" diet for two weeks before the big day. That sounds kind of fishy about the "one bite" thing. Anyhoo-Yippee for us!!!:clap2:

Hi Pat, Shelli-I'm to be banded on the 27th also!!

:whoo:Yee-haw!! I'm so excited! It's been a long time coming, but I have the feeling time is going to fly by till the 27th for me.:clap2: Good luck to everyone!

Hi Wanda! I've only met Dr. Allen once, but I like him just fine. He's got a great reputation. So far I've paid $100 @ my initial consult @ Norton's. That included the psych consult, nutritionist and nurse consult. Then I paid $250 when I went to my appt to meet with Dr. Allen. That will cover any other appts that I have with him, including the pre-op appt on Aug. 16 for bloodwork, etc, and any post-op appts. I have United Healthcare, and was approved within 1 week. I had wanted the group @ St. Mary's to do my surgery, but they are out of network for me also. The Norton Bariatric Center is also a Center of Excellence, so I chose them. I strongly suggest shopping around for someone in network for you.

Hi All- My name is Kat and I live in Louisville. I started my journey this past January when I called Dr. Allen's group @ the Norton's Bariatric Center. My seminar was in March, first appt. @ the center meeting with the nurse, nutritionist and psychologist was in May. My appt with Dr. Allen was in June. I have United Healthcare and my info was submitted to them and approved within one week! My pre-op appt is August 16th and my banding date is August 27 @ Norton's. I've been exercising and being more mindful of what I eat, and I've lost about 18 lbs. :clap2:Dr. Allen doesn't require any pre-op diet other than a low-fat diet 2 weeks before surgery. It seems like it has taken forever to get to this point, but I feel like I'm finally in the homestretch! Good luck to everyone on their journey. I look forward to keeping in touch.

I will be banded August 27 by Dr. Jeffrey Allen @ Norton's in Louisville.

My doc only requires nothing after midnight the day of surgery. I'm trying to cut back and start my exercise program. I'm to be banded on the 27th. I keep hearing about this "fatty liver" that they want to avoid, so 2 weeks before surgery I'm going to cut out as much fat as I can. I also quit my weekend beer...:eek: