banded_for_life

I do local rate testing on telephone switches for MCI. That is my other day job, my other job is getting this surgery. :0)

I agree that you might want to get your gallbladder checked...if it hasn't already been removed..the symptoms remind me of when I was having gallbladder attacks. They would last from 2 to 3 hours and I would sweat and shake until the attack past. I would have pain in my chest and back. Once it past I would be totally fine. I suffered with for 8 years and had seen my doctor about it as well as going to the hospital one time. They thought I was having a heart attack...never even considered my gallbladder. I finally hit upon the right doctor at the right time and she diagnosed on the nose. I hope you get to feeling better.

I went with Whey as well and like Penni, I got GNC's Chocolate carmel and I mix that up with some low carb milk, with 1 tablespoon of choclate or banana cream surgarfree ff instant pudding mix and a half of a banana....lord is it good@!!! I occasionnally use peanut butter.

Hey gang, I have been worried that won't be getting enough Fiber in my diet post band. So I created veggie bundles last night and I am here to tell you they are fantastic! (it probably has been done on here many times before, but I was so excited about it, I wanted to share.) Even my 8 year old daughter ate one and fell in love with it. She wanted to take two to school today. I took jicima, zucchini, red and green bell pepper, baby carrots, spring onions and a raw sweet potato and just did finger length slices of everything and then took three thin slices of turkey(made some ham ones as well) and put a mixed combination of the veggies on the turkey and then rolled it up tightly. I layed out my meat where a quarter of the meat was overlayed by the next slice. That gave me the length to do the roll. I then put it in a press and seal piece of wrap and twisted it like a tootsie roll at both ends. A neat snack that is easy to put in a baggy and carry anywhere. I am using two servings as a snack. Haven't quite got the calorie/carbs/fat/fiber thing worked out yet. Also, I want to mention that Walmart has their own no calorie drink mix, that comes in those little take-a-long tubes like the expensive brand. The orange and the punch are absolutely fantastic tasting and alot less expensive. They have lemonade as well, but I didn't like it as well as the others. Happy snacking! Keri

Well, the letter went to UH on 8/12 and I have confirmed that they have recieved it and it is under review. Everybody say a prayer! I want this so badly for myself. It looks like I could be a September bander!!!! BRING IT ON!!! :-) Keri

Hey Spy, fellow Texan here, welcome to the board! What are dissappointed about exactly? We might be able to help. :-) Not banded yet, but very soon will be! Keri

I don't work for AA, but I do have UH and I am going through Dr. Benavides as well. I started out at AIGB Diagnostics as well. I have done the bloodwork, psych exam and sleep study. They send that info to Dr. Benavide's office. My letter of Medical Necesity to UH was sent off on the 12th of August. I started the entire process on July the 28th. Hopefully this will be approved very fast, as I have a BMI of over 50 and severe sleep apnea.

Very well said, ladies! You gals ROCK! I can't wait to be asking all sorts of advice, once I get my band!!! HappyGirl I second everything these ladies said! Enjoy that vacation! Keri

I have two ladies in my office waiting to see how my band goes and they are both going to consider it. I have given them all my litature and websites. I hope to get an exboss on to the bandwagon. She already has some comorbitites and I want her to stay around for along time. Keri

Found out today that my psych results are in and while I am a nutbag to some degree, I am completely sane when it came to getting my band!! My husband said he would check with my four personalities a little later...lol. So all that is missing now is one doctor's records!!! So hopefully by the end of next week my case will officially be in the hands of the insurance company and in two weeks I will have a surgery date!

Jen...you are too funny! :-)

Right now I am just trying to loose some weight preban. I have a protein shake for breakfast and then another for dinner and a good lunch. My favorite is 100% Whey Chocolate Carmel from GNC and then 8 ounces of low carb milk, a banana and 1 tablespoon of sugarfree fat free pudding. Yummmmy! Sometimes I add peanut butter to bring the protein up, if I didn't do well at lunch. Keri

Luckily, I have always used Dove, so they already had my money. But I too applaud them for using just regular gals. Of course, I know they are not true BBWs but they were not going to push that envelope to far!

I totally agree with Alexandra. I too did ALOT of research on both types of surgery. After my two cousins had their RNYs I knew for sure that I did not want that surgery it was just too risky. The both are still having issues with their surgeries and they are both over their two year mark. I have kids and I just couldn't take the chance with it. Lapband became my option, because it was safer and if worse came to worse I could have it removed. I haven't yet been banded, but hopefully next month I will move in to bandland. My cousin said that the reason she didn't chose the band, because there were no consequences. I disagree, based on all I have read on this site alone, there are consequences for overeating. She also felt the band can be defeated. I say so can the RNY, a person determined enough can defeat anything...but why would you? What was the point of going through the process in the first place? It always has to be a person's decision on what path they choose to take and what becomes their end of the line. I refuse to spend one more year in this unhealthy state.

Hi Ellen, Tx pre-bander here. Welcome! This is an awesome site and the people on it are extremely helpful. Congrats on your band and I hope to be in the September bander class! Keri

I saw Dr. Barker right before he learned to do lapbanding, he was strictly a RNY dr, prior to mid 2003. He is a nice guy and he was in a different office than he is not. When I was there, it did seem that I had to wait awhile before I got to see him. But it was a well organized chaos back then. I couldn't get my surgery approved before my insurance ran out. Once I had insurance again, I decided to go with a different dr. Sorry to hear that your last experience wasn't good. Keri A friend in Mesquite.

When were you banded? Waiting for approval! What was your weight ON DAY OF SURGERY? No surgery yet, but for initial consultation 270 What is your weight now? 265 What size do you wear? 20/22 How tall are you? 5'1

Hey peoples, food journaling for the day: Breakfast 1 cup of Hood's Low Carb Milk 45 Calories 1 scoop of GNC 100% Whey Protein chocolate Carmel (Yummy!)120 Cal 21 Grams Protein 1/2 Banana 50 Calories 1 Tablespoon of Fatfree SugarFree Chocolate pudding lunch chicken dinner from Weight Watchers 210 Calories 18 Grams of Protein Snack cheese Stick Yogurt Dinner 1 cup of Hood's Low Carb Milk 45 Calories 1 scoop of 100% Whey Gold Standard by ON with 24 grams of protein(vanilla ice cream) 120 Calories 1/2 Banana 50 Calories 1/4 cup of diet V-8 Splash tropical punch 2.5 Calories 1 tablespoon of FFSF Banana pudding Snack 3 cups of popcorn low-fat 1 cup of V-8 juice 1 cup of tea with splenda

I don't have my band yet, but I am trying to get some weight off, so when I do get my band I won't have to wait while I lose weight for the surgery. I will have already done it! Breakfast 1 scoop of 100% whey Gold Standard by ON with 24 grams of protein(vanilla ice cream) 120 Calories 1/2 banana 50 Calories 2 tablespoons of Orange juice concentrate 25 Calories*guess* 1 package of orange crystal light 5 Calories 1 cup of Hood's Low Carb Milk 45 Calories 235 Calories Total lunch Mexican food 4 Billion calories...lol. ok, but probably did eat around 700 calories: 1 small bowl Alvocado Soup 1 1/2 beef enchilada with verde salsa 1/2 crispy taco Ice tea with sweetnlow chips of course dinner 1 scoop of 100% Whey Gold Standard by ON with 24 grams of protein(vanilla ice cream) 120 Calories 1/2 banana 50 Calories 1/2 cup of diet V-8 Splash tropical punch 5 Calories 1 tablespoon of fat free sugar free banana pudding 0 Calories 1 cup of Hood's Low Carb Milk 45 Calories 210 Calories Total Of course I have had Water througout the day and did have about a 1/2 cup of regular sweet tea at home. I think I had about 1300 Calories today. I am not goint to beat myself up too much! :-)

Hi everybody, new poster in Dallas, Texas. I am a 40 year old mother of two. An 8 year old going on 18 year old girl and a 2 year old boy who rules the house with one iron fist and sucks the thumb of the other. :-) Today I weigh 270 and am looking for approval for my band surgery very soon. I have a wonderful supportive husband. I even think our Boxer, Casey is supporting me. The 3 cats and two turtles could care less...as long as I keep coming with the food. This is a wonderful forum and I am going to be one of the losers on here pretty soon!

Welcome Renee, another Texan here. Waiting on pins and needles for insurance approval for my band. I know it will come...just patience has never been my strong suit! I am sure things will go well for you. This is an awesome site! With loads of info and alot of great people on here just ready and will to help! Keri

Congrats! Esmerelda, I wish you all the best. I had alot of trouble getting pregnant with my first one, took losing 50 pounds to do it. My second one, my husband just winked at me and I was preggers. Get started on those prenatal vitamins! I think a baby girl is in order. lol huggs!

Mesquite pre-bander here. Dr. Benavides.

I hope everything goes well and she starts feeling better. [link=http://www.TickerFactory.com/] [image noborder]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/3;12;2;0;1/c/265/t/130/s/270/k/ec81/weight.png[/image] [/link]

The weirdest and best diet I was ever on was getting pregnant, I lost 41 pounds on my first one and 21 on my second...I was borderline diabetic with my babies, so I had a diet like a diabetic and I stuck to that diet like glue. Of course when I had each one, I would gain the weight back...darn it. I too have been on every diet under the sun and then some. The shich one though..that sorta takes the cake...glad i didn't get to that one in the diet alphabet.