SpecialK

Since I only have to stay overnight 1 night, I was bringing my pajamas (so I can get out of a yucky hospital gown), slippers, robe and not much else. Sending my street clothes home with family overnight and they'll bring them back the next day. I suppose a little bag of toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush. Not really going to worry about primping too much! LOL! P.S. I'm leaving all jewelry, purse at home and just taking my insurance card and picture ID to the hospital in the a.m. to check in. Hope this helps.

I bought the balloon tonight to mark our spot for Saturday -- a green shamrock! I get to take it home though this time to save for St. Patty's Day - my surgery day.

Question for those who have been through or going through the pre-op liquid diet -- did you notice being cold - hands cold or just couldnt seem to feel warm like you normally were? that is if you were not someone who noticed the cold alot before? I'm sipping some hot chicken broth tonight to warm me up.

I know now the date of the Style Show will be on April 7th but don't know the time yet. Will update this post when I know more. I was told it was very inspirational to see the Before and After photos and the mall stores apparently help dress the patients who are in the style show in some great clothes to accent their new healthy bodies. I guess some of us could look at those who are thinner now and be envious or depressed but I look at it as examples of those who succeeded and it helps to give me confidence to succeed too.

This is a great bunch of March 2008 band date folks and if you want to come on over to the thread for March 2008 bandsters, there is a group of everyone starting the journey about the same time together. The thread is under Monthly Support Groups - 2008 and then March 2008.

I think that's what I was trying to say about the liquid diet portion. Kind of feeling jittery and/or feeling decreased energy when I get about 4 hours past the last time I had a weight loss shake. I seemed to do better day #1 when I ate the meat/veg meal at lunch and then did the weight loss shakes for breakfast and dinner so I think I'll do that again today.

Got my letter in the mail and I'm all set with what I need for pre-op testing. Made it through Day 2 pre-op diet but it was getting harder....

So sorry to hear about your experience. You might try checking the thread out called Doctors & Hospitals and be sure others considering this Topeka facility know of your experience and maybe someone will contact you. Best wishes.

I'm doing the same thing approximately except for 3 weight loss shakes of about 180 cal plus about a 300-400 calorie meal of lean meat/vegs. I really hit a wall this afternoon about maybe 3pm after having my lunch shake at about 11:30 and I had to break down and get an extra shake out of my stash in my drawer at work - I felt a little panicy if that makes any sense. Within about 30 minutes, I was okay again and now almost 3+ hrs has gone by and I don't feel drastically hungry yet to eat my dinner. Found out my pre-op admission testing isn't until March 11 with my surgeon visit on March 14 and then surgery date on March 17. I am doing the pre-op diet on my own discipline because I know so many others have said their doctor requires it but technically until I go on March 11th and they tell me otherwise, I could still be eating. Its just a voluntary act on my part to get into the right mindset.

I'm scheduled for Pre-Admission Testing March 11th -- not this week with the other 2 of you guys. Surgeon appt on March 14th and surgery time is 1:00pm March 17th. Feels better knowing what time I need to block off work for the other 2 pre-surgery things.

I'm staying on the plan today (for pre-op diet ) so my surgery can be as successful as possible. Day #2 at 1000 calories which is a big change for me.

Here's a funny one for y'all. I went to last night's Mt. Carmel Bariatric Support Group meeting and didn't realize the topic when I got there -- it featured a Sex Therapist taking questions from the attendees for the whole hour and a half. It started off pretty slow but then people got braver and braver submitting questions for her to answer. Not at all what I thought I was getting when I went last night. LOL At the very end, one lady asked who in the audience had Lapband surgery and how were they doing. Only 2 people out of maybe 40+ in the room raised their hands and they shared their experiences so I guess that means the vast majority of who else was in the room are RNY or still waiting for insurance approval for surgery. Several brought their spouse with them which was nice to see. One lady sitting in front of me had my surgeon Dr. Price and lapband in December and she said she's doing great. She didn't raise her hand though when they asked for how many had lapband in the group so maybe there are more lapbanders out there that didn't want to speak up. I personally think it would be good if we did speak up and share our experience in case there are still people considering LB vs. RNY that they can have what information they need. I told the lady in front of me about the lapbandtalk web site and she hadn't heard of it before. Off to work so I can pay all those deductibles and things....

I think she's referring to me posting the Queen song..We Are The Champions as our theme song. LOL P.S. Still no letter in Monday's mail and I called and left a message at the doctor's office and didn't get a call back. Maybe today. I successfully made it through yesterday with just about 1000 total calories. Wow

Hippiegirl - looks like you've done great pre-op diet. Hope all works out for you to have your surgery tomorrow if your doctor agrees if not, let us know. Take care.

I have the Shrinking Shamrocks logo added onto my Signature File just below my TickerFactory logo. If you know how to update your Signature, you just upload a file or copy/paste a graphic into your signature.

Started my voluntary Slimfast Optima shakes this a.m. - I'm going to do 1 for breakfast, 1 for mid morning, eat a lean lunch (my boss is taking me out to an Irish restaurant downtown), and then 1 shake for dinner and 1 for an evening snack. They say they are 180 calories each and 10 gr protein so 4 of those will be 720 calories and I'm going to try to stay as close to 500 calories for lunch as I can. I know this didn't work out to have my starting day being a day with a business lunch. Tomorrow, it will be a Lean Cuisine lunch so I know it should be easier to make 300-500 for lunch plus the shakes. Sue & Greg - let me know how pre-op diet is going for you.

Yes, congratulations Thinner Me! Sounds very likely you'll be a Shrinking Shamrock too!

Sue - no packet in the mail yet. I plan to call first thing tomorrow. Maybe its because I have a different surgeon. NDWife - yes, when I had my lap gallbladder surgery at Mt. Carmel East in October 2007 when I went for pre-admission testing the prior week, they warned me that the day I got there for surgery, I'd be asked to pay my co-insurance portion which is 15%. I'm glad you reminded me to get mentally ready for being asked for that here soon.

I had seen a thread a while ago and it was a lady saying "I think I'll stay away from the forum for a couple weeks before surgery" because she didn't want to see anything negative, complications, failures of lapbanders, etc. in this last 2 week period before surgery. Well that's kind of where I am, with about 2 weeks to go now, and I really want to stay focused on the Positive. I feel like I know the negatives and I'm fully informed so I want to think Positive Now! I had been capturing ideas from at least one other thread on ONE THING I CAN DO NOW...positive things other successful bandsters have said we can look forward to as we lose weight. Please add any you want and SMILE! :biggrin::glare::biggrin: ONE THING I CAN DO NOW...OR WHEN I LOSE THIS WEIGHT I can tie my shoes without losing my breath. My eyes don't shut when I smile. My big hips have less bruises. I can see my feet I can wear an underwire bra! I can run! I can feel my muscles! I can see my cheek bones. I can walk much further without getting tired. I can cross my legs. I look younger ( I got carded twice in one week!) I can shave my legs in the shower! I can get out of the bathtub without 911 on speed dial. I can bend over and..... GET BACK UP! I can shop......anywhere! I have so much energy especially after I excercise! I can bend down without getting out of breath. I'm more flexible during sex. My big bow hips have went down more than 20 inches. Men are turning their heads constantly. My face is so much thinner and prettier! I have collar bones. The fat from my back is disapearing. I feel so good! I'm starting to like what I see more and more. I have a Fricking Rib cage and can feel it I fit comfortably in an airline seat My back doesn't hurt any more My double chin doesn't choke me while I sleep. I'm excited about life again. I can wear REAL jeans(no more elastic waisted, pull ons). When I sit down or sleep on my side, my underwear doesn't "roll" down the front of my abdomen My sex life is sooooo much better No more weird cramping in my feet I don't take arthritis pills anymore I am already less embarrassed about my appearance I'm not snoring like a bear anymore. I can get out of bed in the morning,stand up and walk without having to first sit on the edge of the bed and get balanced, reach for the headboard and pull myself up. I fit comfortably in theatre and airline seats! I can do work in tight spaces that I could not before. My pants fall off with no belt on. I can run up stairs and not have breathing problems I can look in a mirror I can look on a shelf in the clothing store and say "this is too big" A weird one... i can pull my knee up to my chin My cholesterol is WAY down I am no longer on anti-depressants My underwear doesn't cut into me I can wear a belt I can buy something without an X in the size My knees don't hurt I get compliments instead of being ignored I can ride all of the rollercoasters I want! Whee! I Have Dimples In My Cheeks.....they Are Coming Thru! I Can See Them! Now, As For The Dimples In My Butt!!! I Hope I Will One Day Never See Them!!! I can curl up in a chair with my knees up like a little kid. I can give myself a nice pedicure. I am amazingly small boned, who would'a known? I can wear belts again and I can tuck in my shirts and sweaters I don't have to wonder if I’m going to break a chair I sit in – will it hold me? I can wear those cute holiday socks that are nylon and really cut into your legs! I won't have to pay an 'overweight' surcharge for vacation excursions (like a helicopter ride) where there are weight limits and overweight passengers pay double. Don't need to lie about my weight on my Drivers License any more! Don't need to hide by real weight from my husband/wife/significant others and family. Get off Diabetes medications. Get off High Blood Pressure medications. Give up CPAP machine for sleep apnea. Go to the Beach or public pool (and hold my head high!) Wear a cute costume for Halloween! No more size discrimination in work or career opportunities! Spend the money I save on groceries on Jewelry or New Clothes! Don't need the handicapped (larger) stall in restrooms. No fear of using airplane restrooms on long flights. Enjoy!

Calendar is in the FAR Top Right Corner above where they have an advertisement box --before you get to your browser's own area/toolbars. Also Advanced Search to search this site is there and I've found that helpful at times.

Anybody getting brave enough to take Before pictures or even body measurements with a tape measure ...scary

ROFL!!! I don't have any tattoos - said I'd never want one but I'm been thinking the same thoughts as you! My sister would die to read this!

I Totally Understand The Excitement!! March 1st Is Here Already.

My prayers for quick healing and pain relief are going up to heaven right now! Take care. You've been such an inspiration to so many.

Yep, here is the link: March 08 Bandsters - Lap Band Talk Forum - The largest forum for Lap Band Surgery Discussion and Lap Band Surgery Support