Bandme08

Kerri!!! WTF??? Man, I'm so sorry that happened! I guess you can look at it this way- you want Dr Trieu fresh and rested when he bands you, not tired and worn out from a day of emergency surgery! I was praying for you at 12:00 noon today for a great outcome- I'll just have to do the same on Wednesday! Chin up, and have 2 more blowout dinners- an excuse for dh to take you out!! Talk to you later- Sarah

Kerri, There is a GNC in the plaza next to home Depot in Augusta- in the Market place across from the Civic center. I think I misquoted the price. I looked at the recipt, and before discounts, it was $3.89 a bottle, i think. Pricey, but get it on sale, it's premixed, clear as a bell, and if $8.00 a day to fulfill protien requirements will do it, it's good for me! Get a case, if you can, on sale- alot at first, but it's the only thing I can tolerate!! Good luck tomorrow! ~sarah

I bought Isopure Alpine Punch (fruit punch flavored) and Isopure icy orange flavor from GNC- in store or online. It's pricey at $4.00 a bottle, but it is 20oz of, what I consider tastes just like Gatorade. I can't stand thick milky shakes! That one 20 oz bottle contains a whopping 40g of protien! It is absoluetly clear, with the exception of a scant bit of Protein floating inside, but you don't notice it when you drink it. They also have the powder for the same flavors, you need to mix with Water, less$$. They also have pineapple orange flavor, and green apple, I think. One more tip- GNC has a buy one, get one 50% off sale the first week of every month! I saved alot of $ by timing when I went! Another good source of protein is the whey Protein Powder, unflavored, they sell there too- you can bake with it, put it in anything at all,(scrambled eggs, yogurt, gatorade, anything- it mixes clear!) and it adds 21g of protein per scoop!! A 1.5 lb tub, which is 25 scoops, was marked $27.99, but rang up $13.98, before the buy one get one 50% off- I spent $48.00 there, but according to the recipt, I saved around $ 68.00!!! (Total would have been $116.00 off sale). Sorry to go on, but I hope this is helpful info! Good luck, and happy losing! ~Sarah

You've been given the tools, and it seems like you definetly have adhered to, and gotten used to the band lifestyle. Try drinking a protien drink or shake before your meals- that should put a damper on hunger, and fill you to a point where a small regular heathly meal will do! Good luck on your continued efforts towards a healthier you!

You're getting banded on my 30th birthday!! Happy Losing!

Jennifer, Thanx for the update! Congrats on the weight loss! One pound at a time is how we all need to look at it! - And convince ourselves that one pound- gone forever! Once your body realizes (sp?) what's going on, the other #'s will just fall off! Congrats on your continued efforts. You have alot of stregnth to continue your journey after having a bump in the road. Take care, and happy losing! I can't wait until I can go to bandland too!- Hopefully the end of April- not soon enough! ~Sarah

E Coli is always present in your system in your (sorry) fecal matter. Ecoli urinary tract infections (uti's) occur when (mainly)females wipe from back to front, instead of front to back. When the E Coli in your stool contamintates your urinary tract, a nasty infection results. It is not contagous! She will prob be on antibiotics for a few days, and should be fine. I am assuming she has an E coli uti- not the E Coli 0157 toxic bug from uncooked meat. If that is the case, YOU shouldn't be effected by it, with the exception that it is your daughter. Her infection , although not fun, as I have had them during both my pregnancies, will clear up with treatment, and should not effect your surgery. Last bit of advice for all- Wash Your Hands! The urinary tract is not the only thing that gets contamintated if you get certain "matter" on your hands, and they arent washed! - Sorry for the graphics- Not a germaphobe, I just see alot in the hospital I work in!

Kerri- Just think, you wont' have to rush out the door Monday for an 8:00 surgery! ok, the dirt on the GNC stuff- HUGE TIP- go during the first week of the month- that's when all their protien stuff is buy one, get one 50% off! I hit it on the head today! I bought GNC pro performance Whey Protein, unflavored. You can bake, cook with it, stir it into water, milk, jello, pudding, anything! each scoop has 21 g protein. It dissolves almost completely, although there is that protein presence there! - a 1.5 lb can, which is 24 servings was marked $27.99, but rang up 17.99, plus buy one get one 50% off- I also got premixed isopurte Icy orange and the fruit punch kind. It's a 20oz bottle, either orange, fruit punch, mango, or apple flavor. It's clear- and tastes just like Gatoraide. It also packs a whoping 40g protein per 20oz bottle!! 2 a day and your requirement is done! It's a little pricey- $3 something a bottle, but buy one get on e50%off again, the first week of the month!! A case is discounted 20% on top of that, and my GNC GOld card discout was an additional 20%! So, I spent $34.00 there, and saved $84.00!!! Super nice staff, too! I could go on and on!!! Have a great last bash weekend, and good luck Monday! Sarah

Jennifer, I'm so glad your fill went well today! Hopefully, that fill will do ya for a whyle! Dr Trieu is so awesome! He's not my Dr, but he did an info night seminar I attended- He seems so nice! Your son is 6" taller than me! A gentle giant, I imagine- Good luck with the liquids for the next day or 2, and I hope to hear from you soon on the thread! Sarah

Kerri, have fun shopping! My Psyc eval was at Me General. It went ok. I guess if you lead as much of an uneventful life as I have, you shouldn't have problems. He was astounded to hear that I dont, and never have, smoked, drank, used drugs,or caffeine! I don't drink coffee or soda, and only have food as a bad habit. Nothing else to say or ask, so he sent me into a closet to answer a 136 true/false eval type thing where they ask you the same questions 10x over, just reworded... man, I hate those! I did manage to go to GNC in Augusta too, and picked up my protien drinks to try, and the powder you can bake and cook with- clear and tasteless... You say that you never have good luck- well, your luck has changed- now, stay healthy, and get lots of rest Monday afternoon, because I want to hear all about it Monday night or Tuesday!!! I am so excited for you!!! Sarah

Yeh Kerri! Man, some people have all the luck!! Just think, by your original surg date, you will be 1/2 way through the liquid stages!!! 2 days may not seem like alot to some, but when you've been waiting for so long, hours even seem to matter!! I am so happy for you! I hope you will be well enough to let us know how it went Monday pm or Tuesday! I finally have my psyc eval tomorrow, and another nurtrish apt with Jackie 4/15. Geez., it seems like such a long time from now- I just want it done now!!! I'm so jealous, but happy for you. I know it's been a long wait for you, and you deserve a little good early news! Best of luck this weekend! I'll be thinking ' bout ya on Monday- sending good vibes... Sarah

Hael-eyes, How are you today??? I hope you are much better! There is so much going around right now... Feel better!

try Zicam- it will shorten the severity and duration of a cold by a few days- my father swears by it- it comes in nasal spray, nasal swab, quick melt sheets, etc- over the counter at any grocery store or pharm. Good luck!

Welcome, Jennifer! Wow- you have alot of band experience compared to all of us! Any last minute advice?? Besides not to get an un-fill? Any and all advice is welcome here, as are you! I'ts great this Maine thread is alive and well again after being neglected last year! Take care, welcome, and we all cant' wait to hear your advice! Sarah

1 week and counting! I hope your pre op went well! I hope that your lightheadedness is only nerves! they can really reak havoc on you! If you feel like you are coming down with something, load up on vitamin c and Zicam, if you can. I know there are limitations so close to surgery! Zicam is a spray or nasal swab you can give yourself to shorten the severity and legnth of a cold or flu like virus- worked like a charm for my father! My nutrition appt went well. I had alot of questions about protien drinks (yuck) answered. I think I'll try the no taste , add to anything powder you can add to anything from GNC. What has worked for you? Well, good luck, and i'll be thinking about you on your surg date! (Someone told me something cute the other day in regards to treating the band as a life changing event- "With this band, I thee loose!" How true!! - Talk 2 u l8r! Sarah

Hi Kerri! 10 days and counting!! I have #2 dietary appt tomorrow at 4:00pm. I think there might be a support meeting tomorrow night as well in the new meeting place- I'll find out more tomorrow, and i'll have to hop over to it if there is! That'll be #3 for me. Psyc eval this Friday, then ins approval, surg date, Nate, then B day! I know it's a hurry up and wait game, but my patience is wearing thin- I should keep off the before and after thread here- I'm getting discouraged, because I want to be a year from now, NOW! I'm heading for bed, 4:30am is coming early tomorrow- stupid time change- I'll be screwed up for weeks! Plus, tomorrow is my first day back to work after being out for 2 weeks with the flu- I"m glad I'm out at 3:00 rather than 7:00pm! Thank God for appointments!! Take care, Chat later, 9 more days once you get this!! Sarah

Just to add, I had the pre bottled stuff- about 1.50 at walmart.

Yes! That stuff is awesome! I like the tropical splash, I think i'ts called. So much better than the whey protien powder junk. I would rather drink 4 Special K than one of the other!

Hi Kerri! Glad you are getting closer to "B day". Yes, I got my flu shot. I work in a hospital, so not to would be lethal! The flu shot was supposed to cover both influenza A and B. I have influenza B. The shot this year didn't cover all strains of type A and B... go figure- everyone that has gotten the shot, then the flu has the same story. My advice, wash your hands, don't let your hands go north of your shoulders (don't touch your face,), and when you feel sick, go home and rest. Today is the first day I haven't felt like waking up on the "wrong side of the grass". Keep healthy! I can't wait to hear about your progress in the near future! I'ts almost here! Sarah

Hi Kerri! I just got home from the hospital after a 2 day saty with influenza and asthma problems. I'm out of work for 2 weeks..hoarding money as we speak! Great job on the 8.5 lbs! I have done atkins in the past, and have always been able to drop 1.5-2.5 lbs a day durring induction. I have eggs with cheese and sasuage with 24 oz of h2o for breakfast. for lunch I'll have 1 cup of lettuce with either egg, chicken, or tuna salad on it (real mayo, not diet or light!) with cheese, a hard boiled egg, and oil and viegar dressing. for dinner,I'll cook a chicken breast wraped in cheese and bacon, or a bun less cheeseburger with sour cream and bacon, rather than the ketchup. I know they say low carb, <20g a day, but ususlly I have 5-8 carbs a day. For a snack I will have string cheese or a sugar free fat free jello cup. You can even cheat and put real whipping cream with a little splenda in it to make whipped cream with your electric beater- the aresol caned stuff only has 3 carbs / serving, so i't worth the carbs for the conveinince! I was thinking that I lost a lot of wt quickly, but in the hospital, I was so dehydrated, they gave me 6 bags of fluids over 24 hrs. I feel like a blimp- that will all come off in a day or 2 with induction. I need to drink more water though- sorry to babble! I hope your waiting days arent too bad for you! Protien - Special K makes protien water- tropical splash, premade in a water bottle, at walmart. 10g protien per 12oz bottle- it tastes like gatorade, no aftertaste or chalky taste! it's worth drinking 2 of thoes to 1 powder protien drink- I''ll mention it to jackie next week to see if that will surfice, and I'll let you know! Good luck and have a great week! sarah

Hi Kerri! I'm jealous. I wish I were where you are right now! Yes, you were just about right on with my appts- 3/10 psyc eval and 3/14 2nd nutrish appt with Jackie. I'm hoping my psyc report will be in by my 3/14 appt so I can get ins approval rolling. I'v e heard good and bad things about ins approval. Take the 2 guys in the support group earlier in the month- they've been trying for over a year for approval, to find out they may need 5 years of documented wt loss by their dr! If my Ins goes through smoothly, I think I can expect a late April date. In my case, I am down 20 lbs in 2 weeks on my own. I really hope they take the starting wt at my eval appt for determination. If I keep losing at this rate, I may not qualify anymore by my surgery date! The trick is, I can lose all the wt I want quite quicly. The trick is, keeping it off!! That is where the band comes in! - Sorry to ramble on. I hope I can make it to the next meeting! I was at the one we spoke of earlier- I came in late- made it from Damariscotta to Augusta in 32 minutes- usually a 45 minute trip! Talk to you later! ~Sarah

Does anyone know if having an IUD will effect things? I'ts non-hormonal, so I don't think blood clots would be an issue- I'm having it implanted next week, and would hate to have to have it removed for surgery. I don't have a band date yet, but I am assuming sometime the end of April.

Yeh kerri!! I've been under the weather, so I'm sorry It's been so long since I've posted. 19 days and counting- how exciting! I am so happy for you! Keep up the good work. This is one of those times it's great to be a "loser!" Take care, I'll post more often. Sarah

Hi- I just had a question to throw out there. Do they consider you a candidate from your first appt weight, or your final appt weight? I'm losing alot in the months before surg, but will they cancel me if my BMI goes below 40? I know it seems rediculous to have the band when I am losing by myself, but I really need that tool to keep it off! What do you think???

Anyone here from Maine? My surgeon is Dr. McKee in Augusta. Very nice bedside manner. My appointment was mainly focused on my questions, the port location, and the proceedure itself. I am very happy where I am going! I'd like to hear from anyone else in Maine on this site!!