citygirl4616

Hi! I haven't posted on the GA board before, but I am from East Cobb and having my surgery done at Dekalb Medical Center on Thurs. (1/10). I went to the surgery center for my pre-op today, and the center is really nice! Very swanky! I start my 48 hour clear liquid, pre-op diet tomorrow. I am so excited to get the surgery. Anyway..just wanted to say hi!

So glad to hear how well it all went! It must be great to have the surgery behind you. I start my 48 hour pre-op clear liquid only diet tonight, so I am right behind you with the hunger pains! Hang in there!

Hi Everyone... Even though I still have one week to go until my surgery, I made my list of what to bring to the hospital with me on 1/10. I did a search on the boards, and came up with a list to share for anyone staying overnight. Feel free to add anything else that may be useful: paperwork lip balm PJ's (if you don't want to walk around in a hospital gown) slip on slippers, or warm socks underwear toothbrush, toothpaste Rx meds you need to take body spray (to get rid of the 'hospital smell') book or magazine clothes to go home in that don't bind the waist (dress or drawstring pants) hat (your hair may be gross), or pony tail holder face cleansing wipe (very refreshing after surgery) pillow (for the car ride home, to cushion the seat belt) These are items that showed up multiple times, and all make sense to me. Hope it helps! Gwenn

OMG!!! Am I crazy? I signed up for a 'First-Timers' mini-triathalon on May 10th. It is a 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike ride (all flat), and a 3 mile run/walk. Only first-timer triathalon competitors can enter this one. My surgery is 1/10, and I guess even if I have to wait 4 weeks to start the running-walking training (hopefully sooner), that will give me 2 full months to train. I currently exercise, so I won't be starting from scratch. DH is doing it with me. He runs marathons, but never a tri, so we can train for the cycling and swimming together! I won't be anywhere near my optimal weight at that point, but I figure it is a good goal to work towards (I will be in a bathing suit or wet suit in front of alot of people!). Also, I am not telling any friends about my surgery (just my close family and DH know), so as the weight drops, and people ask how am I losing so much weight, I can proudly say, "I am training for a triathalon!";) I also feel like publically training for this race gives me some accountability. In the back of my mind, I feel like one of the reasons I am not telling people about my surgery, is the fear of failure...again. My friends all know I have been on Jenny Craig, Nutri-Systems, WW, etc.. and have seen me lose some weight, only to gain it back and more. By signing up for this race, with my DH, and telling people about it, well...I am going to have to follow through on a regular exercise program, and actually complete the race! Even if I come in last place, I am going to finish this race!

What day was your surgery? My guess, is that at the hospital, you were pumped with fluids through your IV, and you are retaining much of that fluid. You probably entered the hospital a little dehydrated from a 24 or 48 hour pre-op fast? Remember, you are looking for long term weight loss. What you lose or don't lose in the first few days after surgery is not really significant to the big weight loss picture.

Hi and welcome! First of all, you are going to have to make the decision about whether Lap-Band surgery is right for you on your own (and with the help of your doctors). Randomly asking friends and family is probably not the best idea, because to them, it most likely sounds like a drastic idea that you are just thinking about. You really should do the research, talk to the doctors, check out the various Lap-Band boards, and get all your questions answered first. At some point, you will have to call your insurance company, and see if they even cover Lap-Band surgery. Then, once you have made your decision to go ahead with the surgery (if it seems right for you), and you have gotten medically approved, then you can decide who is going to be supportive enough to tell. You need to do what feels right to you!

Nadean....Do a google search for 'beginner triathalon' or 'beginner 5K', or whatever event you would like to try. Not only did I find an event in my area, I found free, online training schedules for beginners (don't pay for an on-line training schedule..I found tons of them for free), for almost anything you would want to do....marathons, diathalons, 3K's, half-marathons, etc. Just pick an event, sign-up, and find a beginner's training schedule! GL!

Hi FryRn....Welcome! I am from around Atl. too, and getting my surgery on 1/10 at Dekalb Medical Center in Decatur, with Dr. Steinberg. My insurance (Coventry) doesn't cover lap-band, so I am self-pay. Keep checking out the various boards. You can probably get all of your questions about the procedure, and pre-op, and post-op lifestyles right here!

Thanks for the logo! Very nice.....

It amazes me the thoughtless things people will say! I can understand when it comes from kids, but from adults?!?! I have a few gems... The first hurtful comment I remember was from a friends daughter. We were on our way to a girls getaway weekend, and we were loading our luggage into the car. I had a large suitcase, and as I was lifting it into the trunk I commented, "Why is my suitcase so big?". Her 9 year old daughter said, "Probably because you're so big" Okay...... Also, I have been working out at the same gym for about 7 years now. Sadly, I have gained about 25 pounds since joining, but I still go. There is this one personal trainer there who makes a special effort to greet me every time I am there, and look me right in the eye, and say, "You have such a beautiful face.", then walk away. Every time! Okay..I get it..pretty face, but....... Then there is my Mom. She is incredibly supportive, but feels the need to point out that I have gained weight (just in case I haven't noticed!), and make comments like, "you know, you are too pretty to be overweight" or "you have to watch your weight because there are women who think Phil (my DH) is a real catch, and if you are overweight......". Or a favorite of mine.."You have to stay beautiful and well put together for your husband."

Hi Donna....Wow, you came up with the perfect solution to your problem. I met a couple in my surgeons office who got banded together a year ago, and they said it was a GREAT experience! They got to go through the whole journey together. Her only complaint was that her husband lost weight much faster than she did (you know how men always do!), and she had to remember to not make comparisons. Good luck with your surgeries, and let us know how it goes. Gwenn

I wasn't given a pre-op diet. My surgery is on 1/10, and I will have to do a 48 hour pre-op clear liquid diet, and nothing after midnight on the day of the surgery. Definitely do-able. I thought that without a pre-op diet, I would be gaining weigh like crazy, and going nuts with all of my favorite foods, but that didn't happen. After about a week of allowing myself to eat anything without guilt, I was kind of "over it". I guess I am just ready to be banded and change the way I think about food.

Wow!!!! Excellent start! Keep up the good work.... Gwenn

That is so funny...I was wondering the same thing! My guess is hospitals probably do not have wireless b/c the signal could possibly interfere with some of the more sensitive equipment. I have my pre-op appointment at the hospital this Monday (my surgery is Thurs., 1/10), and I will ask them about the wireless signal then.

Hi and welcome! I am from GA too, and getting banded on 1/10 as well. Where are you getting it done? I am doing it at Dekalb Medical Center. I am really excited. I am having the occasionally bout of nerves as it gets closer. At this point, I wish it was already next week at this time!

I am being banded in 6 days, on 1/10, and was given no pre-op diet. I do have to go on a clear liquid diet for 48 hours prior to surgery (only broth, juice, Jello..that kind of stuff) and nothing after midnight the day of surgery.

Hi! I am scheduled to get banded on 1/10 (yeah!). I play tennis year round, about 2-3 X per week. I am trying to guess when I may be able to play again after surgery. I play doubles, which is a little less strenuous than singles. Also, I am not telling my entire tennis team about my surgery. I am the captain, and am trying to figure out how to explain my absence to them. I hate to lie, but once I tell my tennis team, my entire community will know, and I am definitely not up for that. Any suggestions on how to explain my temporary 'hiatus'?:nervous

My doctor requires an overnight stay. I would probably prefer to do it as an outpatient, but I don't have a choice. Oh well...at least it is only a one night stay.

Thanks Big-D....it definitely helps to hear things from another perspective. Oh...and by the way..welcome to the Jan. 08 board! Gwenn

You definitely need to eat your Protein. You don't want to lose muscle mass, or even worse...your hair! Sounds like you need to try some different protein supplements. Syntrax nectar Protein is fruit flavored. You can order it through a great website you should check out...bariatriceating.com. GeniSoy is unflavored soy Protein Powder you can mix in broth, or other liquids. i think you can get it at GNC, WalMart or Target. Isopure is another good one to try. i think its at GNC, but maybe do a google search. Also check out Body Fortress whey Protein from WalMart. Basically, it is trail and error until you find a few things you like. I really like that bariatriceating website. Also, check out the 'Food" thread on this website. Good luck! Gwenn

Congratulations! Keep us all updated on your progress. It is so exciting that the 'New Years Knockout' got her band! Take care... Gwenn

Hi Gillian, and welcome to the boards! Don't worry, you cannot do anything wrong. First of all, to make a signature, go to the top of this page, and click on "Quick Links". You will then see a slot for "Edit Signature". To get a ticker, go to "TickerFactory.com", and follow the directions there. If you do a search on the boards, someone did a really good tutorial on putting up a ticker, but if you are familiar with cutting and pasting, you should have no problems. When you go to edit you signature, you will see a place to download your photos as well. I personally haven't done that yet, but I imagine it is pretty self explanatory. I think it is great your surgery got bumped up! Might as well start losing weight ASAP! It is only natural to be nervous. I think as you read through the various boards (especially the Jan. 08 board), you will see everyone gets a attack of nerves as their surgery date gets closer. My date is 1/10, and I am usually OK, but everytime I go to the store to stock up on pre-op and post-op essentials, I start experiencing mini panic attacks! Hang in there, in the end, once the weight starts dropping off, and you start feeling and looking better, you won't even remember how nervous you were! Gwenn

See? This is why I come to this board! Everyone is so kind, understanding and supportive. Thanks for the awesome responses everyone. I feel much better this afternoon. Update: When my husband got home from work this morning, he told me that he had his front desk rearrange his work schedule to be off the afternoon of my surgery, and the whole next day (originally, he was only taking off the afternoon of the next day). My Dad is still taking me to the hospital, but that was a big deal for my husband to change his schedule, without me asking him to. When I asked him why he did that, he said that he was sorry for being such an ass. He said he did not realize how much of a big deal this was for me, and that he is glad that I pointed out now his lack of support (rather than later). In addition, he is also really nervous about me undergoing an abdominal surgical procedure, and having to be under general anethesia. Anyway, I feel so much better this afternoon. Thanks to you all for the incredible support on this board. Even though I feel like I have a ton more support at home now, the advice I get on this board is priceless!

I think all of your feelings are completely normal and justified. I think we all are excited, and as our surgery date gets closer, a little more nervousness creeps in. Keep focusing on your "future self". The healthier, thinner version of yourself. I think if you focus on the positive outcome of the surgery, it will help shift your focus away from any negative thoughts. Think of all the things you will be able to do as you get closer and closer to your goal weight!

Hi Amy... The best thing you can do, is what you are doing. Do you research. Ask people who have had the procedure done. When you go to the seminar, make sure ALL of your questions are answered, and make sure a support group is available, and a nutritional consultation is offered. Believe it or not, the nutritional consult, was the most educational part of my pre-op preparation. That is where you learn about any pre-op diet required (my doctor requires a 48 hour, pre-op, clear liquid diet), and exactly what you will be able to eat 1 week post-op, 3 weeks post-op, 6 weeks post-op, etc. This is where you really learn about your new post-op daily life style. As for the surgery itself, I can only tell you the results of my personal research. You, of course, should do your own. The Lap-Band surgery is a fairly safe procedure. There are many pre-certification tests you will be required to get (psy. evaluation, pulminary function test, internal medicine clearance, etc.), so that by the time you are medically approved for the surgery, it is a pretty safe bet, you are medically ready for it. As for complications..no one can predict that. Your doctor will tell you all of the possible complications. If you follow all instructions, and do not "cheat", you, of course, minimize any chances for complications, but you can never be assured there will be none. The reading through the various lap band forums, I think you will find most complications are minor, and temporary. I hope some of this info helps. Keep up the research, and visit more than one doctor, if you have to.