sghatl

I was on the Optifast diet for 14 weeks. I had 5 shakes a day spaced 3 hours apart. I never had a bite of food the entire time and found it very easy to do. Eating every 3 hours keeps you from being hungry. The other secret was to have at least 64 ounces of water a day. Try not to drink 30 minutes before and after you have the shake. You will stay full longer.

Send me your fax number or email address. I have several versions.

Congrats on getting your date Carol.

Congratulations and good luck on your journey. Hope it goes by quickly.

I just added your name to the entire list. NewLife - we are scheduled for the same day. Are you ready? I'm getting there. I have purchased all of my supplies and Protein. I still have to stock up on liquids which I will do just before surgery. I am taking an 8-day cruise from November 24 to December 2 so I won't have to sit around and think about the surgery. Actually the cruise has been scheduled for around 18 month, I scheduled the surgery around it. I am just about done decorating for Christmas and have my Christmas cards ready to mail. I have never been this organized. I want to come home from surgery and enjoy the holidays without any stress. I have most of my shopping done - just have to wrap. I figure I can do that while recouperating. I will also be having an abdominal hernia and possible a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time as banding. Wish you luck with the process. We will have to keep in touch.

MERRY LOSERS Dec 3 - CarolK1 parrot0927 Dec 4 - TXbandit (tentative) kris102003 Dec 5 - mejr62 Chienne and her dad Dec 6 – Sghatl newlife Dec 7 - Newblew jen hollers Dec 8 Dec 9 Dec 10 - HeatherA (tentative) Dec 11 - ::Tracy:: LinzerPA Dec 12 - Caramel Dec 13 - jmschnapf Anyalee Mommathang Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 - 100lbsforsale MissSac Dec 18 - Mendypoo Livingthe Dream Dec 19 - Cerrin (tentative) Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 DEC 24 Dec 25 - MERRY CHRISTMAS Dec 26 - Miss Polly Dec 27 - jasmona1214 Dec 28 - The Fox imsamiam

MERRY LOSERS Dec 3 - CarolK1 parrot0927 Dec 4 - TXbandit (tentative) kris102003 Dec 5 - mejr62 Chienne and her dad Dec 6 - Sghatl Dec 7 - Newblew jen hollers Dec 8 Dec 9 Dec 10 - HeatherA (tentative) Dec 11 - ::Tracy:: Dec 12 - Caramel Dec 13 - jmschnapf Anyalee Mommathang Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 - 100lbsforsale MissSac Dec 18 - Mendypoo Livingthe Dream Dec 19 - Cerrin (tentative) Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 DEC 24 Dec 25 - MERRY CHRISTMAS Dec 26 - Miss Polly Dec 27 - jasmona1214 Dec 28 - The Fox imsamiam

I would cruise later. Why postpone the inevitalble. You know you are having surgery. I also have a South American cruise for 16 days scheduled for mid February. That one will be our 31st cruise. We really like cruising. Where are you going to and what ship will you be on?

CAROLK1- we may be limited in what we can lift after surgery. I know I will have limitations. I am also having an abdominal hernia repaired at the same time as the band placement. I also have a hiatal hernia and don't know if it needs repairing or not. I just finished the decorating today. I also have been working on small bites and extensive chewing - both of which are not my norm. I just want to come home and relax for a week - no stress and still enjoy the season.

CAROLK1 - check out the thread under FAQ's that suggests a list of things to get and have on hand before surgery. Here is a link to that thread. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/post-op-checklists-things-have-before-surgery-14814/

I have done the same Cerrin. I also have my Christmas cards signed, sealed and stamped. My house is decorated for Christmas except for the tree. I'll put it up this coming weekend. We leave for an 8-day cruise on November 24. I get back on December 2, pre-op on the 3rd and sugery on December 6. I only have to do a 2-day clear liquid pre-op diet. Neat way to say goodbye to food, huh? I do not plan on gaining weight on the ship. I have worked too hard to lose for the last 9 1/2 months to gain any back. But, I can have a last taste of many things and food in general for a little over 6 weeks.

Karen, I am being banded on the 6th also in Decatur, Georgia. I only have to do a two day pre-op clear liquid diet. How about you? But I have been dieting since February. I got all of my Protein powder delivered today for post-op. I think the only thing I have to buy yet is a heating pad. I will wait to shop for my liquids for post-op the days before surgery. I will be on a cruise vacation to the Caribbean from November 24 to December 2 so I won't just be sitting around thinking about the surgery. I plan to eat whatever I want on the cruise (just little bitty tastes within reason that is). I have spent so long and worked so hard on a diet I don't want to undo it and have to lose it again. Part of the dieting was Optifast only for 14 weeks. It's worked. Part of my new life is to live healthfully and so far so good. I have learned to separate head hunger from food hunger already and have been able to make really good choices and not feel deprived since I have been back on solid food for about 10 weeks. I still continue to lose and in fact lost 5 1/2 pounds this past week.

Sorry, I have been away for a few days. Dr. Steinberg is doing my surgery and Dr. Menachery is assisting. Congrats on your progress so far. It really goes fairly quickly. I specifically asked for surgery in December as I have a vacation planned the end of the month and don't get back until December 2.

That was great new 4Jin. Anything you can find will make it easier to get approval/ My doctor used the form at Surgical Weight Management - Bariatric Weight Loss Surgeons in Atlanta, Georgia performing Lap-Band and Gastric Bypass Surgeries for gathering information for submission to the insurance company. Check it out to get some ideas as to what info they want. Click on blue packet.

Congratulations on your banding, Kara. I will be having surgery with Dr. Steinberg in Decatur and he, too, requires an overnight stay. Join us in the Georgia thread under US Local support group thread.

TXbandit - check out the thread http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/ It has a pictoral tutorial that you will find helpful.

I received approval from BC/BS in lessthan a week.

Know the feeling. I received my surgery date on Oct. 11 and my surgery date is Dec. 6. Just keep busy. I took up crocheting. We are all here to help you through this period. We can help each other. I am focusing on a cruise I have scheduled from November 24 to December 2. I am also getting ready to start decorating for Christmas and I am trying to do all of my shopping before I go on the cruise.

I am 66 and am having surgery in December. My doctor said he has done 70 year olds. I think it depends more on your health than anything.

Good luck.

Be sure and check out the Georgia thread under USA Local Lap-Band Support. Several people there have used Dr. Lin or are going to use him.

I think you can have surgery in Gainsville too. Check around.

4Jin, I live in Lilburn. I went to the seminars at Emory and at DeKalb Medical Center. I will be having my surgery at DeKalb since Emory is not an accepted bariatric center for Medicare. Medicare requires the center to be a 'Center of Excellence' which Emory is in the process of procuring. Just haven't got it yet. Both Hospitals have seminars. I, too, called Emory and got set up for the Optifast first. I then attended the bariatric seminar. I found out my BMI was too high for surgery so I ended up joining the Optifast weight management program at Emory and have lost almost 50 pounds on it. I now qualify for surgery. Once you go to the seminar, you set up an appointment with the doctor and start your journey for approval. I was required to get clearance from my primary care doctor (some have to have a referral but my insurance doesn't require it), a pulmonary clearance, a psychiatric clearance, a cardiologist clearance (not every one has to do this one), and see a nutrionist. When I completed this the doctor's office sent in for insurance approval. As soon as I got approval, I saw the surgeon a second time and surgery was scheduled. I also had to have an upper GI for him and if I had had a gall bladder, I would have had to have a gall bladder scan. All of this is not required by the doctors but by some insurances. It's all going to be up to what your insurance requires. I was not required to show or prove a diet history but some insurances require it and some require a 3 to 6 month doctor's supervised diet program. Check out your insurance requirements.

4Jin, where do you live?

Welcome Trina. You have come to the right place to get answers. Where in Georgia do you live? You usually have to start by attending a lapband seminar hosted by your local hospital and doctors.