orea15

It's really sad when the people close to us can't find it in themselves to give us the respect and support we deserve. After a while, as one of my mentors puts it, we have to realize we can't get pizza from a Chinese restaurant. It just isn't there. Fortunately, we have other places to go, like this one, where we can support and encourage and advise each other. If the people in our lives won't suffice, we can make new friends! Orea

It's important to stick to the diet and avoid solid foods so your band can settle in and scar tissue can form to anchor it in place. Liquids keep your stomach from churning to digest as it does with solids. (How your stomach knows which is which, is something I still ponder!) Don't jeopardize your investment in your health and your future by ignoring the rules you were given. Think how awful it would be to have to tell your surgeon, "But someone on the Internet said it was okay!" :cursing: Hang in there. You can do this. Orea

Your mom probably thinks it is dangerous. You are precious to her and she is afraid something will happen to you. That would be my best guess. My mom had similar feelings about WLS when she was living. Keep talking, and try to reassure her how very safe this procedure is. (If she doesn't come around, do it anyway! You deserve to be slimmer and feel better just as much as I do or anyone else does.) Orea

What's the worst that can happen when you get an IV? That you faint? That it stings? -- A small price to pay for a tool that can help you become slim and live the rest of your life comfortable and fully, don't you think? Here is my advice as a seasoned volunteer platelet donor with over 100 donations to my name: Drink a lot of Water for several days prior to hydrate yourself well, which will make their job as easy as possible. And do warn the phlebotomist if you really think you might pass out. Yes, the needle will sting a bit, but you can handle it. I don't like needles, either. But the funny thing is, the little finger prick they give to test your blood actually hurts more than the big old needles they use with the platelet machines! No kidding. And yours will probably be much smaller than that. You CAN do this! Life is short, don't waste any more time. You'll be glad you did this and you'll wish you had done it sooner, judging by what I hear from my banded friends. Orea

My date is July 30. :cursing: Dr. Halmi, Fair Oaks Hospital, Fairfax, VA

That's the hardest part, isn't it! Good luck! Orea

The seminar is an excellent way for you to get the basic information as well as get a feel for the surgeon presenting it, and whether you feel comfortable with him/her. You can ask questions. It's well worth your time. And they are free! Orea

I finally got my approval this week! My surgery date is July 30. Who's joining me? Orea

I have Dr. Halmi, too! What did he way about preop diet?

So far, since I heard on Monday, I've gone through: stunned disbelief nervous stomach -- hard to find something I really want to eat I'm losing weight well on my own, do I really need to do this? Ordered a pizza for dinner and demolished half of it. (In all fairness, after three days of really light eating, I was famished.) Decided from the pizza episode that yes I do need the band! LOL Comfortable feeling that this is the right path for me. Wondering what I have to do next to get ready. I won't know until the 23rd. Quite the roller coaster for one week. Orea

Keep us posted on your progess! Good for you for doing what you had to do, to make this work. Orea

I attended a seminar in February. I started my 3 month intensive program in early March and finished in early May. I had to wait for my psychologist to submit her report, so the paperwork was complete somewhere in the 20's of last month, I estimate. The surgeon's office told me that it usually takes 2-3 weeks to hear back from Aetna, and they were spot on. I got the call on Monday! I'm approved!!!!! Orea

Great work! Wow. Thanks for sharing this experience with us. Orea

One thing that hasn't been mentioned about the bypass is that you will have to adhere to a rigid schedule of eating, drinking, Protein shakes, and numerous supplements for the rest of your life. How do I know? They accidentally sent me to the bypass class at the hospital instead of the band class! Add to this the increased risk factor, the irreversibility if something goes wrong (God forbid you get cancer or another serious disease and need increased nutrition), and the fact that studies show that 3 years out, the weight loss between the procedures is the same---I just don't see the justification for the bypass. The hospital class merely strengthened my feelings on that. My surgeon, at his seminar, outlined the person for whom he recommends the bypass. Well, he was describing me. I spoke to him afterward and asked him if he would be willing to give me the band instead, because that was all I was willing to commit to. He was fine with that, and explained that the reason he recommends bypass for people like me who have a lot to lose, is that he's concerned that they will get impatient with the slower weight loss. I'm fine with taking a couple of years to lose if necessary as long as I don't have to center my entire life around babying a bypass, just to maintain my health. Add to all that, that there are people getting bands over their bypass. That tells me that the bypass alone isn't enough, long term. The band can be adjusted forever. These are my thoughts. Your mileage may vary. Good luck! Orea

You can also check the prices and availability on half.com and Ebay. I second the recommendation of Jessie Ahroni's book. I am on an email list she supports and she's great. I've learned a lot from her. Orea:thumbup:

You, Froggi! Last I checked, my BMI was about 63, and that's after losing 40 pounds (so far this year). Orea

My BMI is higher than yours and Aetna requires 6 months of supervised dieting or the three month intensive program I did. Every insurance company is different, and often it differs from policy to policy. Orea

It looks to me like you are doing fine. As you know our bodies don't lose weight in an even manner. One thought that occurs to me, though, is that if the chicken broth is really high in sodium, you could be retaining Water from that. Keep up the good work! To make a bad joke, this, too, shall pass. Orea

If you run it through a blender and it's thin enough, you should be fine. Egg drop soup is on my list of potential liquids when I get there. Orea

Sometimes we just have to wait until we are really ready. In my case, life had to pretty much hit me in the face! Congratulations on making a good and life-affirming decision. Orea

It's a good question for your surgeon or your dietician. The hospital where I will be banded holds a four hour class about what to expect and what to do before, during, and after. They were very clear to us that they only consider whey Protein to be acceptable. In fact, the following month I had to bring my protein powder as well as my chewable Vitamins and papaya enzyme to show them I was properly prepared! Just tossing my info into the pot for you... Orea

The great thing is, when you get there you can experiment and see what weight feels best to you. I have NO idea where I want to be in that regard. I haven't been anywhere in the neighborhood since my teens! So I'll just wait and see. Orea

Lunabeane, I forgot to say, your soup looks great! I'm going to try it.

Sorry about the knee! How lucky you were to have a doctor right there on the spot. No waiting forever in the emergency room for you. Good for you for resisting the temptation to dive into comfort food! The thing about eating for comfort is, it doesn't really work, and you end up hating yourself for doing it. All in all it's a bad deal, isn't it. Now you get to pat yourself on the back! :thumbup: Orea

Can you go to a different GP? <Insert rant about doctors with God complexes here.> Orea