Kristin1031

Good Luck Vanessa:) I hope everything goes well for you tomorrow:)

Well the second week of my self imposed liquid diet. I am having Protein shakes for Breakfast and lunch and then light dinner. Drinking crystal light and Water. It has not been that bad, but I am really looking forward to the dinners. So I think the all clear liquid is not going to be any fun at all. LOL Although I get to eat as much of the clear liquids as I want. Time will tell I start that on Sunday. I see the surgeon on Thursday my last time before surgery. Will find out what he thinks about all of my preop testing and the Hiatal hernia and the reflux. Almost there, and then the real journey begins.......and the road to recovery. Good Luck everyone who is having surgery on Thursday you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Hugz,

My doctor requires we get 65 gms in one day of protein.

Hi Dianne: I was told by the nurse at my surgeons office that they will repair the hernia when they place the band. I already am being treated for GERD so I do not think it was a surprise that I have the reflux either.......Most overweight people have it I have been told. Funny part is that I do not have the symptoms of it....LOL I am getting nervous and very anxious. I did really good this week at work on my self imposed liquid diet....LOL Dreading the 4th when the Clear liquids begin. How you doing? When is your surgery scheduled again? Have you had your preop testing yet?

Hi Laura: I am being banded one week after you. I am also getting nervous and having second thoughts. I think it is natural to be a little frightened of the unknown. And on here we hear so many stories of problems people have that it can be scary. Be careful about reading all of those right before surgery. Read the positive ones. They will help keep your outlook up. We all know the risks we have been drilled with those. We all know the possible side effects after surgery as well. WE need the support of each other. That we can get through this together. That whatever comes we will deal with. Because we have waited so long 4 this tool that WORKS!! Hugz, and hang in there.........:car:

I found out at my UGI yesterday that I have a Hiatal Hernia to. I was told it is small. I called my surgeions office and his nurse told me not to worry about it, that it is really common. I see him on Thursday for my last visit before surgery. So I don't know what to tell you, seems that they just fix them when they find them. Unless I suppose that they are really bad and they would have to do an open procedure rather than lap.

Hi Dianne: It sucked...LOL I still feel as if I want to vomit. The Barium is not fun. They found a small hiatal hernia and reflux. I am very glad to have it done. Now it is just hurry and wait some more. Yes I found it interesting that we spelled their names so similary. Hugz, Kristin

LOL sorry No way I want to do it twice..>>>>grin Thanks for catching it though.

Longhorn thanks for the input yourself. I have learned alot and read alot and spen many hours with others who have been banded. The program that I am in requires it. Any time I can help I will. I know that all surgeons have different opinions and I don't necessarily think one is better than another, I would always follow what your own DR has recommended.

Hi Diane: Sounds like we do have alot incommon. My daughter's name is Nichole:) imagine that. I am glad I found someone going through it with me that is close to my age.....I feel sometimes like I am too old to be doing this, but then I just slap myself and remind me that I am nto OLD...LOL Your daughter Nichol and my son Adam are watching over us in this process I know. He would be my biggest supporter I do believe. I too would love to chat sometime, take care and I will let you know how tomorrow's pre-op testing goes. I am dreading it. LOL

I must be fortunate because I do not mind the Slim Fast High Protien at all, it takes some getting used to at the beginning but the more you drink them the less they taste bad. I do think they need to be chillled though I do not care for them warm. Kristin

My surgeon requires 5 days of clear liquids before surgery to shrink the liver. Three days post op clear liquids. Then Full liquids 4 two weeks and then mushies or soft diet for two weeks. Then solid food as tolerated. I began a liquid diet on Monday to prepare me for the clear liquid phase. I am eating Slim fast High Protein Shakes for breakfast and lunch and then a small meal at dinner and water lots and lots of water. I will begin the full clear liquid diet on Nov 4th. So far it has not been so bad. I do not notice a whole lot of hunger. But the protein is the key to that I believe. Kristin:)

Yes I am being banded on Nov 9th!!!!

Hi Goldie: You are so right WE CAN DO THIS and we will succeed!!! Owe wow twins...I can't imagine. We had our second grandson one year ago and he was 7 1/2 weeks early and was only in the hospital an additinal 5 days after being born. You would never know to look at him now that he was premature, and I want to be around 4 them as well. My husband is also supportive and very much in favor of my surgery he is tired of my weight being an issue in our lives. He has no weight issues he is 6'5 and 220 pounds and is in the military full time. I have on daughter who just turned 27 and whom I love with all my heart. She is also supportive, she is herself obese. After 2 children she is determined to follow my examply and lose her weight. We lost our 4 1/2 year old son Adam in 1988 to cancer and I began putting on the weight after that. It has gotten to it's worse point with me weighing the most I have ever weighed in my life. I decided enough is enough. I have lost and gained and lost and gained for 25 years and I am tired of it. Just hang in there we will get through it all together!! Hugz, Kristin

Thanks Longhorn I added my name to the list:) 1st PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy sanderro Holiwood Longhorn 2nd lizzie_07 lindata KristinaDawnB lindseyann2u sconie 5th DLW Hungryforchange Forestcat 6th Wishes4444(Ann) Diva Inside ndmom kandiceb jetti vanessav 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 Cota129 8th anw5102 dawndannae stranger138 needto ebrow39 9th Banded4Life neen7171 maccy mariaxoxo4u Kristin1031 10th Selisejohnson omlagirl jen6740 kristin1031 12th jrsyshoregrl684 suebob 13th CCFRA Princessannod1 14th lightenup! dream'n2bthin 15th RxTracy steph_cn 19th Mrs Smartypants27th 731Shawty Cherlita Julie-Ann 28th lukin puppy 29th Sassafras 30th Sasquatch

I am doing Protein shakes now, my Clear liquids start on Nov 4th. Yes, you can do protein shakes on clear liquids as long as you do not mix them with milk. So I hear unjury is good the chicken broth one and strawberry these are mixed with Water. I am going to do Isopure that you get from GNC as well. I hear these are not bad either. There is one called profect that I hear is nasty....but a good source of protein. My nutritionist said the whey is best. But for now I am doing the low carb high protein Slim Fast shakes. I like them and my body tolerates them well. I will be on clear liquid only 3 days after surgery, then full liquids for and additional 2 weeks. Clear is anything you can hold up to the light and see through, popsicles, Jello, broth, cranberry juice, grape juice, water, protein shakes mixed with water, crystal light. I am right there with you won't be fun but hey, as long as I am not weak I can do it. Kristin

To those of you who are trying to quit smoking, hang in there it can be done, I never thought I could do it either. I smoked a packa day for nearly 20 years and I was able to quit without help from patch or perscription. My surgeon requires everyone 2 quit smoking 3 months prior 2 surgery and they test 4 it before and if you have nicotene then they won't do the surgery. They say it is because smoking is horrible on the stomach. It causes all sorts of gastric problems. After reading all of the posts in this thread, I am happy to be a part of this group there are certainly caring and compassionate people here. We all need that support while we heal from this surgery. I agree that it doesn;t matter if self-pay or insurance, this is still a huge investment both physically and mentally. This is a tool....the LAPBAND...it is not the cure!! If you think it is, you might be disappointed. I say this because if you continue to eat what you have before surgery, and have no excersize in your life then you will not succeed in this lapband process. I have learned that over all of these months of classes and support groups. Talking to people who have it had it done with success and meeting those who have it had done and gone back to their original size. Yeap that is right....they ate their way through the restriction....and ballooned right back to the pre surgery size. Our minds still have the cravings and still have the reasons as why we ate the way we did before they place our bands, so we must address these reasons in order for the band 2 work for us. It is not easy, it is not always going to be pretty, there is going to be pain and probably a setback or 2 or 3 even. But with determination that I know we have, we can all make this tool work for us. We have to love ourselves. Yes LOVE ourselves, even our fat selves. If you can learn to love yourself, then you won't need food to be your comforter any longer. You will have each other and yourself to give comfort to you. Get a hobby, something that you can do when you feel that urge to be bad, like eating the KFC or whatever it might be. Take yourself out of the situation. I am being banded on Nov 9th and my family is freakingout about Thanksgiving. I will be on full liquids then. They want to cancel the holiday. I do not want to, I still want to get together with my family and share the love of each other. I will be fine, they don't seem to understand that I won't be hungry. That I will be healing and may not want food...LOL My birthday is October 31st Halloween, and I am ready for it, can't wait 2 see my grandsons trick or treating!! I am so glad that I have found you guys. Hang in their Bandsters.......The waiting is always the hardest part:) Kristin Awaiting Banding Nov 9th

I am not self pay but am having surgery Nov 9th. I am nervous about alot of things, dying is one of them. But I know that if I don't do this I will die from the weight. I am nervous about the pre-op testing tomorrow. I hate upper GI's have had one before and it was awful. So I am stressed about that. I was wondering if anyone has had their testing yet and if they had to get the Upper GI and how was it? Be Honest please...LOL I am anxious to get on with it, I have been waiting on the process since May, my surgeon and insurance require you go through an accrediated program and so I had to go to classes and psych eval and nutrition class and they make you wait and pretty much do a class a month. I know it is a for life decsison and they want you to be sure you know what you are getting yourself into. I began working out at a new health club my DH and I joined then end of August. I have been walking in the pool 5 2 6 nights a week. Then WHAM I developed a rash all over my body. After two weeks of prednisone my Primary care doc thought it was due to the Chlorine in the pool, because it was going away and then I got back in the Water and it got worse. I had begun water Aerobics class twice a week. I am so bummed because he banned me from the pool til after my surgery:) I am glad that I am working up until the day of, because it helps to occupy my mind. I am 45 been married for nearly 28 years and have 2 grandsons one is 4 and one just turned a year old. I want to be alive and watch them grow up and be able to play with them without getting winded, I want them to actually have a lap to sit on...LOL I want to feel alive again, because I haven't for a very long time. I don't think you are ever to old for this surgery, it can take years off your death....by losing the excess weight........in turn adding years to our lives...... I am glad that I found this place and plan on spending my recoop time here on line. I hate daytime TV...LOL Kristin:clap2:

My surgeon require a clear liquid diet for 5 days pre-op and 3 days post op. So to get ready for this I began a protien shake 4 Breakfast and lunch and light dinner. By next week I will do Protein shakes for all three meals. I am drinking Crystal Light in between meals. I am peeing like crazy already, but I am not tired and feel pretty good. I do miss the chewing I think. So 2 get around that I have been chewing gum. Although I know I must stop this after surgery.....which in my opinion will be hard for me, it was I took up after quitting smoking 7 years ago....LOL I have noticed some headaches that I was not having before, and can only contribute this 2 caffeine withdrawl perhaps, although I had stopped my soda months ago, I was still having an occasional one every now and then so perhaps I was still addicted. I have not tried the unjury yet, although I do have samples that I got at our last support group meeting. So I suppose this is the time to try them and see what is going 2 work. I have my preop testing in the morning and the dreaded upper GI. Yeah!! Go Bandsters!! Kristin:)

I am being banded on Nov 9th, Dr. Debord, Peo, IL Kristin:)

I am being banded Nov 9 by Dr. James Debord - Peo, IL I am definately ready and very anxious and nervous at the same time. Each day I hear more horror stories about recovery and inability to eat. BUt I am trying to block those out....lol I am working up until the day before surgery and planning on returning to work the following thursday. I am being optomistic that I can do this. I don't have more time than that to take since I started my new job in June. I wish everyone luck, that is being banded with me this next month. Hugz, Kristin:)

Congratulations!! I love hearing the success stories.....I am being banded on Nov 9th and I am nervous as the time approaches. But I also know that I will be on the road to feeling better. Keep up the great job. I hear from others that you should be able to eat pretty much anything you want just in very very small amounts..lol My mentor through our bariatriac center here is 18 months post banding and she went from size 26 to a size 8 and she eats anything she wants, but she limits her sugar to occasionally and watches the fat content of her food and justs keeps remembering to put good food into her mouth. Hope this helps. Kristin:clap2:

I am scheduled for Nov 9th, with Dr. Debord, Peoria IL. I am nervous and excited at the same time. I am nervous about the clear liquid diet and anxious to get on with it. I am certain that this will be the rebirth and tool that I need to reshape my life:) And my body while I am at it. Any pointers that I should know before going into surgery? I am all ears.

:clap2: I just received my surgery date Nov. 9th. I am very anxious and nervous as well. I have battled my weight for over 25 years and am ready to have it behind me. I am looking forward to the journey this new beginning and rebirth will afford me as well. I am being banded 9 days after my birthday..... I joined a healthclub 5 weeks ago and have been walking in the pool 5 2 6 times a week 4 an hour, feeling good about the exercise. I am going in tomorrow for a pulmonary study to see if I might have Asthma and have to have my sleep study this next Saturday to see if I have sleep Apnea. Pre testing will be done on the 25th. So I have a full plate over the next few weeks. Still am nervous and anxious at the same time. I love reading and hearing from others who are walking this walk with me.