Lynn B

I'll be leaving in a half hour for the hospital to be banded. I want to wish good luck to everyone else starting their journey today! See ya'll tomorrow!

buying the big "kegs" is the most economical - if you can find one you like. Go to GNC and pick one out that has protien Isolate in the ingredients - that is a higher quality than the concentrate. Keep your receipt - try it for a few days - if you dont like it GNC will take it back and refund your money. Keep trying untill you find one you like. Good luck,

Wow, it is amazing how different each doctor is with their after care. I am on a full liquid diet for the first 3 weeks (banded 9/12/05 the day before you) This is my menu until I go back for my 3 week check up - that is when I can move to mushies. Beverages: Skim or 1% milk Low sugar, decaffeinated, non-carbonated Fluid (crystal light, Fruit2o, etc) Low sugar, low fat, high Protein supplements (CIB, Protein shakes) Dairy products Low fat, light yogurt SF, FF pudding & custard Low fat cottage cheese (blended) Soup Low fat cream Soups thinned down with 1 cup low fat milk (strained of chunks or blended) Low fat broth Miscellaneous Plain hot cream of wheat or otameal (must be pourable consistancy) SF popsicle unsweetened applesauce SF Gelatin So far I haven't been hungry but I am getting in 3-4 CIB with Carb Countdown milk so that I keep up my protien. The rest of the day I'm sipping Water or popsicles. Good luck,

bandayed - welcome to the site. Which surgeon are you using? Dr. Jones just did my band on Monday - he is wonderful. If you have any questions that I can answer from a patients point of view ask away. Good luck,

Here you go - Awsome pic!

Hey Christi, Welcome to bandland - I just arrived on the 12th and today is the first day that I have had a problem with gas - I personally find that walking is breaking it up and getting it out better than the gas-x. Good luck,

OK Here is mine!

Thanks for all of the support, you guys are great! MaseAnn - I have had my band for two whole days now and have yet to feel anything that I thought was the band. I am still to sore to poke around and find my port - I did see it under flouroscopey(sp) and that was way cool. The only "pain" I am in right now is major gas pain....sorry if it sounds gross but I wouldn't encourage any company around day three 'cuz you sound & smell pretty funky!! That being said everything else seems to be working fine, I am weaning myself off of the percoset and am comfortable as long as I dont stand up to long, but that is getting better every day. I guess that I had hoped that I would be one of those people that were out shopping & sightseeing the next day (as I have seen in a couple of posts) but alas I feel like I've had surgery and I will be taking it very easy for a few more days (but I would do it all over again if this tool helps me the way I think it will). Good luck next week - you will do great!

I'm back and happily medicated - ebonysilk how are you?

Hey all, I made it! My band & I are home and will be enjoying our liquid percocet. I am in more pain than i expected but i think my expectations were slightly out of wack. Coupled with the fact that i got zero sleep at the hospital I am a little cranky. hopefully a good nights sleep will have me feeling 100% better tomorrow. Barium is woderfull compared to the clear stuff they have you drink first, But seeing your band & port under flouroscopy is awsome!! Let me kow if you have any questions while it is still fresh in my mind. Thanks for all your kind words & well wishes,

My doctor quotes between 1 & 3 hours depending on your individual situation. Good luck tomorrow.

I will be thinking of you also - we will be starting this journey together.

Thanks!! I am sooooo excited. Good luck on your journey...first step is always the hardest to make!

Enjoy!! Good luck,

My surgeon asks everyone to lose 10 lbs. I am down between 20-25 and am being banded tomorrow. It more you lose before surgery the smaller, the fatty deposits on liver get making it easier for the surgeon to do his job. Good luck,

And last but not least just some cool things we've seen along the way: The Tetons with a storm rolling in Yellowstone after a storm Sunset at the Grand Canyon Keep em coming!

The crew got wet at Sea World San Diego: Stopped in at Vegas Grandma loves them to

This has been so much fun. I enjoyed everyones pics so much. Here are my contributions: DH and the kids at the Grand Canyon (2004) DH and I (we do not know the guy in green)

Thanks!! I will keep you posted on how everything goes. (I have my fingers crossed for your approval!)

For the program at BIDMC it goes like this Appointment with Medical director & Bariatric nurse ($500 program fee due), EKG, Blood draw. Nutritionist appointment Psychologist appointment Gallbladder Ultrasound (additional tests as needed: Cardiac Echo, Pulmonary Function, sleep study) 2 support group meetings (held every other thursday night) Once all of this is done (the girls that do the scheduling are really good about trying to get as many appointments as possible done in the least number of visits) and you have been reviewed by the bariatric team and found to be a good candidate for surgery you get an appointment with the surgeon. When you meet with the surgeon they schedule your surgery date and your pre-admission testing date Pre admission testing (more blood, EKG, anesthesia nurse) Surgery day I started this journey with a support group meeting on 6/8/05 and will be banded in 5 days (9/12/05). I also had my gallbladder out during this process due to stones (8/18/05). of course every program and doctor are different. Good luck!

Dee Dee, The following list of food is concidered Full Liquids and is what my surgeon sends you home from the hospital on. This is his recomended diet for the first 3 week (then you see the dietician as she can advance you to the next step). Give your doctor or nutritionist a call and ask about these foods because it really helps to add some variety. Beverages: Skim or 1% milk (carb countdown fat free contains more protien) Low sugar, decaffeinated, non-carbonated Fluid (crystal light, fruit2o, etc) Low sugar, low fat, high Protein supplements (CIB, protien shakes, etc) Dairy products Low fat, light yogurt SF, FF pudding & custard Low fat cottage cheese (blended) Soup Low fat cream Soups thinned down with 1 cup low fat milk (strained of chunks or blended) Low fat broth Miscellaneous Plain hot cream of wheat or otameal (must be pourable consistancy) SF popsicle unsweetened applesauce SF Gelatin Once you get some food that you body can use into it you should start feeling better. Good luck,

Congrats on you surgery date! I am going in on 9/12. I am a diet coke junkie and have just about given it up (down to 2-3 a week). Inamed recomends no carbonation, most doctors do also but I have read posts from bandsters that have tried it and have no problems. Where you are talking infrequent, small quantities you may be able to get away with it - It depends on how much your willing to risk. I have noticed thought that a nice fresh micro brew doesn't seem to be as carbonated as say canned soda. DH and I were up in Maine this summer and toured Atlantic Brewing in Bar Harbor - they have a wonderful blueberry beer and one that is made with honey and has 12% abv. It was a good time. Good luck with your surgery,

Hi, congrats on taking the first step. You can click on the link in my profile for Dr. Jones at BIDMC. Their program is excellent! I am being banded in one week, I started this process on June 28th and had my gallbladder removed 2.5 weeks ago by the same doctor. I can not say enough good things about the team there. Good luck - if you have any questions please feel free to email me.

Pianoman, I am assuming that you are on a modified (or full) liquid diet (stage 3) - this is what we are released from the hospital on. The following items fall into a full liquid diet: Beverages: Skim or 1% milk Low sugar, decaffeinated, non-carbonated Fluid Low sugar, low fat, high Protein supplements Dairy products Low fat, light yogurt SF, FF pudding & custard Low fat cottage cheese (blended) Soup Low fat cream Soups thinned down with 1 cup low fat milk (strained of chunks or blended) Low fat broth Miscellaneous Plain hot cream of wheat or otameal (must be pourable consistancy) SF popsicle unsweetened applesauce SF Gelatin The stiches on your stomach are still trying to heal and eating something as solid as eggs may not be a good idea. Although five weeks does seem a bit long. I will be on this eating plan until my 3 week post op appointment and then the nutritionist will evaluate me to move to stage 4. If you really need a change I would encourage you to try something above that you might not have thought of and then call your doctor on Tuesday and discuss your eating plan. It is better to be safe than sorry. Good luck,

Jack your awsome! I tend to get same way as connorsmom in general - the doctor is an authority figure and if I am not doing what I should then he will be angry. I have come to realize that he is my partner in health and although he may be disappointed in my lack of corrective action he should always be the one to gently help get me back on track when needed. Connorsmom, go see doctor bertha and just say "I need a little help getting back on track" (It is never usually as bad as we fear it is going to be) Good luck,