TXbandit

TXbandit is a for-sure on Dec 4 - one more week!!

Thanks for the info - I travel alot for work, too, and was wondering the same thing. Like right now, I am in the Rio Grande Valley and the Mexican Restaurants are unbelievable. This is my last week to travel before surgery. Yikes!

That is a good way to look at it!! "It's hard, but it is the kind of hard we can do.....love it!"

We nurses know the CNAs do the hardest work THANKS for all you do....Just wait 'til your co-workers see you flying down the halls with tons of energy!

Hi, Longhorn! Well, today's the big game......wish I were in College Station. I was born and lived awhile in Bryan, so I know what a big deal it is to have a home game in such a small town. Where did you go to high school? I went to Lee in Baytown, and marched in the band. I used to be 5'9" and weighed 155. Now I am 5'8" and weigh 225, but have a 6.5 inch wrist measurement, which I have always known meant small/medium frame. I can't even wear bangle bracelets because they are too big. I also have broad shoulders, and had to remove the big pads in the 80's too. Remember when your blouse had shoulder pads, your jacket had shoulder pads, and finally, your coat had shoulder pads? Gee, I looked like a linebacker.....with big hair to balance it all out. It did make our butts look smaller, though! Hope you had a good TG and had a few good things to eat. Sounds like you are feeling good, too!

December is finally here, and I am trying to stay calm as I prepare for surgery Dec 4. Nashville (the country music capitol of the world) is beautiful - I lived in Chattanooga back in the day and really love the actual 4 seasons. Here in Austin (the live music capitol of the world) there are 2 seasons, warm and hot, with a couple of frozen days and a couple of fall-ish days sprinkled in. At age 55, I would prefer the cooler weather! I have 2 grown children who don't know about my plans for surgery. My daughter is in Iraq and I don't want her worrying about me. She and my son will both just see a thinner mom one of these days - then I will tell them. Of course my German Shepherd, my 14-year-old cat, and my 2 outside cats know ALL about the surgery. And I am driving my dear husband crazy with all my "what-ifs." He is a rock, thank goodness. Keep on posting and reading about other's experiences. It really helps. :bandit

Motherkittie, I also am an RN, and also felt I "should" be able to do this myself......but I finally realized that I can't. Since I can't do anything about it, I changed the way I think about it. Now, I feel positive and want to go into the surgery with good thoughts and not negative ones. I have never had surgery before, but I have seen many and know what to expect. The posts here help me know what to expect later! My BMI is 34, and I am 55 yrs old. Since 50 is the new 30, I know I will enjoy a new slimmer me when I turn 40 again!! :bandit

Hi, longhorn! How are you doin'? How's the pain, food (or lack thereof), etc? I got a date - Dec 4th. I get to stay in Austin. I am such a worry wart - I had my mammogram today, and got to worrying about it being bad and messing up my surgery date. I'm more concerned about getting my band than ANYTHING....hope I can calm down. It's all I can think about, and I am probably becoming a real pain in the patooty to my sweet husband. I will owe him big when this is over!

I am looking forward to the date - I really appreciate reading everyone's posts about what to expect and what I need to have on-hand.

Hi, Longhorn! Glad to hear things are going well for you. I finally got a surgery date, Dec. 4th. They take the "harder" cases first, so it may be afternoon for me. I don't know what I'm gonna do with no coffee that morning! I appreciate your posts, and was wondering how you were doing. Lookin' forward to the Longhorn vs. TX A&M game!!

I have read in a couple of places about how you are not supposed to drink liquids with meals when you finally begin to eat solid food - wait an hour and then drink. Is this helpful? :ranger: Also, I read about foods lap-banders can't tolerate, and I am wondering how you know if you can't tolerate something - is it just a tummy ache, or actual barfing? :sick Thanks!!

Not yet.....my doc has to drive up to Austin from San Antonio and does so twice a month. Guess I will hafta be patient!!

I think more and more people are becoming informed about the banding surgery and realize it isn't as drastic as they may have previously thought. In fact, the few people I have told know someone who has been banded, and even give me envious looks! I think that once the weight loss starts becoming obvious, I will tell those who are closest to me. If someone really looks distressed, wondering HOW did I do it - I will for sure tell them, because they will probably want to do it too!:gossip:

Hi, Nurses and students! I work for my state health department as a hospital surveyor/inspector. It is interesting, but lots of travel. Any ideas for traveling and eating? I have gained at least 20 pounds eating at all the good restaurants in the towns I visit, plus I get bored and snack. I have lately been getting out to museums, zoos, etc, and that helps. I have only told one co-worker, and she was a little shocked at first, then I noticed some envious looks after I explained the band to her. Most people don't really have alot of info, but when it is explained to them, they aren't so surprised....it will be a little weird telling my boss, but he is very understanding. Students, I graduated from nursing school 17 years ago, but have never forgotten how STRESSFUL it is. Hang in there - we need you!

I haven't been banded yet, so I have a question....when you say you find you "can't handle" a certain food, what does that mean? Just a tummy ache, or actual vomiting?

MollyBrown, you are 44 years old . I wish Lap Band was available to me when I was 44 (now I am 55). You are making a great decision, because chances are, you would remain on the same roller coaster of weight gain and loss and accompanying misery for the next 10 years as I have done. I am keeping a Word document with all the good ideas I read in these posts, and I am surely going to check on the Isopure. My blood sugar plummets and I feel really bad on a liquid diet - plus those shake things gag me as well! You go girl! You got what it takes to push through. Only 5 more days to go!

Thanks - I finally figured it out with help! Funny, I am such a dork - I thought the "Ticker" thread was for people with heart conditions!!!

I am a state of TX BCBS Healthselect employee, and the procedure is totally excluded - I will be self-pay. TrueResults (offices in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas) has a $15,000 charge and it includes fills and follow-ups for 2 years - and the diagnostics like lab work and xray, etc are included. I just think about it like I am buying a car. I know I have spent almost this much in the past for Jenny Craig, LA Weightloss, Weightwatchers since age 13.....etc. etc....Nutrisystem, blah blah

That is very comforting! BTW, the ticker instructions worked!

So you had this done YESTERDAY??? Wow. What did they give you for pain? I liked your comments about the baby's foot.... I have never had surgery, but I compare everything to the pain of childbirth. Back in the 70's everyone was on drugs except women having babies. The "natural way" was in back then! I will try that info for the ticker. Thanks

Probably - but December is fine with me, and the austin surgical hospital is alot closer. Maybe you can help me....I went to TickerFactory and made a ticker, but can't figure out how to move it to this site...what is the secret?

I called them on the phone - the consult included exam by a nurse practitioner, labwork, xrays, EKG, and a talk with a lap-band support person I keep in touch with about what to do next. I am self-pay (wonderful state employee insurance!) Just awaiting a date that the doc comes from San Antonio.

I am getting banded in December - possibly the 4th. It was a difficult decision, but now that it's made, I feel like the world has lifted from my shoulders. I am so tired of thinking CONSTANTLY about my weight, etc.....I've been on a diet since I was 13. Those thoughts are already gone, just knowing I am doing this. Stupid question - how do you get the cute line of avatars with your goal weight, etc. at the bottom of the messages? :help:

I am in Cedar Creek - Bastrop County about 20 miles southeast of Austin....I am going to True Results - Dr. Marsden. I had my first diagnostic appointment 10/19, and will probably have surgery the first part of Dec. He travels up from San Antonio. My mom lives in "Drippin'" - beautiful place! PS - Gig em Aggies (he he)

We have same age, weight-loss goal, and home town! I will probably be banded the first part of December, and look forward to reading about your experiences.