Diamond2008

Hey Summer08 -- I also meant that your body will be tired and let you know that way that you need more protein. At least that is what I've experienced! And I really am wanting to avoid the whole hair falling out part!!!:cursing:

Summer... have you tried V8 juice? I kinda liked that during that phase. I got the low sodium kind and then just added a little seasoned salt. I also tried a bunch of different Soups and just picked out the lumps (cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, etc.). It was nice to have something that was salty and savory. The sweet got old! Just make sure you are getting your Protein in, otherwise your body will let you know! Others have used Isopure and said it's good. I have just used Sam's Club protein mix with soy milk. It's okay, but not great! Christy.... I am so excited for you!! Both on the drop in weight and that you get to go swimming!!! Yippee!!:smile: Bandgeek... there is so much to know about being banded!! I would start at the pre-surgery section of this forum and look at anything that catches your eye or that you have questions about. Then maybe read some post-surgery threads to see what folks are going through after the banding. There is some great information out there!

Hi Lolipopkid! This is a huge decision and I think that all of us go back and forth on it. I had my surgery 3 weeks ago today. For the most part I am very thankful that I did it. I have gotten rid of 23 pounds since my weigh in before the surgery, and my body seems less stressed and I'm breathing easier. I know my chances of getting diabetes now are very small and I'm hopeful that my sleep apnea will go away as my weight goes down. But it is very weird not to be able to eat much. And what I do eat, I don't really enjoy like I used to... my tastes are definitely changing! But I miss the happy feeling that eating used to give me. I am missing that a lot right now. I think it will decrease over time, but I wasn't expecting to have less joy in my life because of the less food!! I ask myself if I regret getting the band, and I keep thinking, no because this way of life will actually get me to a healthy weight. And that was my most important goal at this stage in my life. I have (God willing of course) about 40 or 50 more years in this body and I better start treating it well so it will continue to walk me around this planet!! I wish you the best and I'll pray for your decision making. Unless you have pressing health issues or insurance deadlines you might consider taking your time with this decision and letting your head get used to the idea! The mental part is probably the most important part of the lapband experience! That's why I love this website, it helps so much to read about other people's experiences to help us deal with our own! :smile2:

Hey Shannon, sorry to hear that you are having such a rough time!! Are you drinking anything with protein in it? (there is a clear one called isopure, that I've heard others talk about.) That would help with the wanting to eat your arm off! The other thing that I've heard is that the anesthesia can make a person moody. I know that it really has made me feel depressed. I've tried to go and sit out in the sun and read a funny book. It's getting a lot better -- I've been banded 3 weeks today! I hope it improves even faster for you!! And if you have any concerns about anything, call your doc -- they can help! take care of you! Diamond

Hi, I was banded on 5/20 and am doing well -- I think I'm finally over the shoulder pain!! I was loving my heating pad, as that was the only thing that helped! I'd love to hear other's experiences on two questions.... first, how are you all getting the Water in?? I'm supposed to drink 64 oz. a day. I'm lucky if I get in two or three glasses of water! I've gotten rid of 20 pounds since surgery, but I wonder how much of it is not enough water!! And the second question... does anyone else have the feeling that they have a packet of splenda in their mouth? My mouth seems to have this sweet taste most of the time. At first I thought it was because I started to have cravings for chocolate or Cookies about a week ago, but then I read that it's because of the ketosis. What do you all think? Is it head hunger or something else?? It's a mystery to me!!:tongue2: And I'm really not feeling hungry -- my doctor put 3cc's in my 10cc band when he banded me and I feel pretty restricted/full after 4 bites of something, whether it's pudding or chicken. Anyone have similar experiences??

Thanks everyone for the prayers for my mom! She was diagnosed with breast cancer about three weeks ago, but the surgeon thinks he got it all in the lumpectomy that she had yesterday! Praise God! My mom is a Christian and just kept saying that her life is in God's hands. It's a good thing to remember for all of us!!

That's great Ducky! Hope the time flies by! Christy, that is wonderful that the pain is gone for you! My pain is much less now, but still there. I don't know if I mentioned it but when the surgeon banded me he also did a liver biopsy and fixed a hernia where my esophagus and diaphragm meet. So I figure I may have more areas that need to heal! It's encouraging to me to hear that you feel so good, as my day should be soon too!:biggrin2:

Hi everyone, I'm on the other side too now! Christy and I were banded the same day -- May 20th. Mine was done by Dr. Dan Smith in Park Rapids,MN. I had a WONDERFUL nurse after recovery, he was so attentive and helpful! But he also let me sleep for many hours that night! I went home to my parent's in the afternoon on May 21st, and have been sleeping and walking a lot since then. Thankfully the pain isn't too bad. The pain meds keep me a little dazed and confused though! Thanks everyone for the prayers!

Ducky..... congratulations!!! Isn't that a great feeling, opening up that approval letter and seeing the response that you've been waiting for??? I did a happy dance when I got mine too! And I hope your sore throat goes away quickly! NumberGirl.... thanks for sharing the sweet story! I will think about the fact that God knows where we are all the time on Tuesday when I have my surgery. Thanks! SmilinApple.... how are you doing? And for all of you have said a prayer on behalf of my mom, thank you so much! She will have her lump removed on 5/27, so I'm glad about that!

Can't Hardly wait... thanks for the scripture! They are so fitting!! Christy, 5 more days!! Tuesday will be here before we know it! I'm trying to get my post-op diet ready. I'm going to be staying with my parents after I get out of the hospital, so I'm already packing! And I'd like to ask for prayers for my mom. She was diagnosed with breast cancer this week. She is having the lump removed on 5/27, and then the surgeon will know what stage it is and all. My lapband surgery date is 5/20 and I asked everyone in my family if I should postpone and they all said NO! I have gone back and forth about it, as I have been waiting for quite some time. But I have realized that if I don't take care of my self, I won't be able to help my mom fight that horrible disease. So, I'm really going to have to learn how to stop the "emotional eating"! God will give us strength when we need it, right??? Diamond

Hi! I haven't written for awhile because I've just been waiting!! But today I got my authorization letter from my insurance company. And I was able to schedule my surgery for May 20th!! (I really like my surgeon and his staff, they are great!! Three hours away from me, but well worth it!) So Christy we will have the same day!!!! I am so excited how about you??? It's coming up soon!! I just keep thinking about the verse "He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it". I believe this is the next step in that process!:thumbup:

I'm pretty excited, as I got my authorization letter today and got to pick my own surgery date. My date is May 20th too! I am being banded in Park Rapids , Minnesota by Dr. Dan Smith. I am driving about 3 hours to get there, but staying near PR with my parents for about a week afterwards. He also has everyone stay in the hospital overnight, which makes me feel a little less anxious. I am kinda in shock that this day has finally come!:thumbup:

Please add me to the list..... I just got my approval and surgery date today... it's MAY 20th!!!:thumbup:

AZChick..... welcome! It's a great thread! Wombat..... love the before and after pictures!! You look fabulous!! You're an inspiration to me! Thanks for sharing them. Livin.... what a great time with your sister in law! It's so amazing how God can take something that doesn't seem to be for our good and turn it into a positive experience for us. I love that!!:biggrin2:

Candy --- I couldn't agree more!! God has been good.... I have been able to find a surgeon that can do my surgery in May! I'm just waiting for the final insurance authorization... which should be in 2 to 3 weeks. Been praying for all on this thread. Diamond

I'm from Duluth, Minnesota, where we just had 9 inches of snow on April 11th!! It looks like I'll be banded sometime in May:biggrin2:

That was a very cool gadget! Too bad it's fake.... I would have believed it too, if you hadn't have warned us!

Hi 2bemeagain, I'm still here, checking in every once in awhile. How are you doing? I'm hanging in there, waiting for my surgery date to be scheduled. I think it will be between May 8 -22, depending on all various factors. It's hard to wait, but I've found out that my surgeon doesn't require the 2 week liquid diet prior to surgery. I'm pretty happy about that! Have a great weekend! Diamond:biggrin2:

Great thread, thanks for posting it Watcher. Cakegal, I like what you said about strong people facing this and getting the help they need! Just like many of the folks on this site, I have had many a-ha moments. I get that I'm fat. It's hard not to notice when kids come up on the street and say it to you. (Welcome to Los Angeles in the 90's!!) The many moments were very embarrassing and until reading them on this site, it felt like I was the only one that experienced them. Being the only one that didn't fit in the booth at a restaurant, or struggle to make the seat belt fit, or find clothes that fit, or get turned away from a ride at Camp Snoopy at Mall of America. The rejection at that ride was probably the most embarrassing, as I had convinced my cousin -- begged her -- to ride the swings and then they come up and tell me that I can't ride, it was such a shock! and she ended up riding it by all by herself! All of those were painful but not the last straw. My mom and many other family members have diabetes. I know that it's coming after me .... I can tell after doing the South Beach diet that my blood sugar is all messed up. I have sleep apnea and wear a CPAP at night. I feel very unsexy with it. And it's really hard to go camping! But I need my rest, so I always use it. And my back hurts and it's a struggle to move. But all of these weren't the last straw either, I had kinda learned to live with all of those, even though I was scared about the diabetes. The last straw was kind of low key, but important. A person I occasionally work with had a heart attack around January of this year. One day she was there and then the next she was gone... out on medial leave indefinitely. She is about my age and size and seemed very similar to me in a lot of ways. I couldn't believe that she almost died because of her weight. I had been looking into the lapband before then, but that was it. I made my decision. A small laproscopic surgery and a huge lifestyle change is what I'm doing about that last straw. Since then, I have already lost 30 pounds "through diet and exercise" .... for about the 5 or 6th time in the past 15 years. I know the weight will come back if I don't do something differently. (I'm glad I've been able to shed those 30 pounds but I know that for me diet and exercise alone haven't done it in the past.) My surgery is tentatively scheduled for May 8, 2008. I am ready!:huh2:

Talkinjack.... thinking and praying for you today! I hope everything went well with your surgery. Phyl, so sorry to hear about the death of your aunt. It's hard when you can't be there with family to say goodbye. Maybe you can do something special with your mom later. It can help to have some of those special times spread out over time. I haven't been on for awhile, as not much is happening with the banding process, but very busy otherwise! But I'm still praying for you all (and myself!) I've been reading the different posts to keep getting more information for when my surgery time comes around. I've had a lot of ups and downs with scheduling, but it seems most people have that too. I'll post it when I get a surgery date. I'm looking forward to hearing from Lynn and Talkinjack to hear how their surgeries went! And for those of you who are enjoying spring weather, just know that we've gotten 2 more inches of snow here in Northern Minnesota today! I think it's our early April Fools joke!! God is good all the time.....

Karen, May you continue to praise God throughout it all. I'll be praying for you and your husband. I like how you are trusting in God. It's hard but worth it. My dad just recently had cancer and looks like he kicked it. There are so many better treatments now! Wombat and Smilin' it's good to hear how you are doing with your fills and all. It helps others know what to expect! And Candy... it's great to hear about someone hitting their sweet spot :biggrin2: I'm sure that we are all ready to be there with you! An update on me..... my case was reviewed by the surgical team on Wed. and they want me to do a sleep study to make sure that the insurance will approve my case. I had a one done 3 years ago, as I have sleep apnea and wear a CPAP at night to breathe. I'm hoping I can get that paperwork from my previous Primary care Physician and move forward. That's the latest. I'm still praying that it's God's timing and His will and not my own.

First of all, sorry this is so long!! I've been wanting to reply to people all week, but it hasn't worked out. So here is a weeks worth of responses in one!! (Got to love the weekends!!!:huggie:) sisterC, Yeah, I am a little concerned about what others think. Because I’m not banded yet it seems to some people that it might be open for discussion about whether it’s going to happen or not. The thing is that I’m about 99% sure that I’m going to do it. It seems like a great way to help keep my eating in check. I won’t be able to overeat like I can now. I try not to think about the other’s opinions and focus on my own need to be healthy. I think God let’s us use the LapBand as a tool to be healthier. Kinda like some people need to take medicine to help them be healthy (heart meds, insulin, anti-depressants, etc.). I sometimes wonder if I’ve told too many people. But I can’t go back on that now! I haven’t told anyone at work, but a lot of my friends and family know. I wanted support from them (emotional and prayer!!) but I also wanted to prepare them to the changes I will be making with food. I didn’t tell people so they could vote on whether I should do it or not. But that is the response from some. Mainly from those who don’t know how much I’ve struggled with weight, body image and self-esteem OR they just don't know about the surgery. I do try and just take their opinions as how they care about my well-being and leave it at that. coltorismom, I like Joyce Meyer’s a lot. She is such an encouragement to me. I watch her show on-line while I work out on my elliptical trainer in the morning. It works out well because I can watch it when my schedule allows. She seems like she has a good balance of self care and taking care of others while following Christ, and that’s helpful for me. I think a lot of my earlier teaching was about how to only take care of others and then I’d eat to take care of myself! How did your eval on Thursday go?? Wenjea, How’s it going with the food choices?? I’ve been struggling with that too. I’m trying to just breathe deeply when I’m feeling like I really NEED a hot fudge sundae. (That and a massage were suggestions at a support group I went to and massages are great but need to be scheduled!!) Everyone, thanks so much for your prayers! It’s so encouraging to know that there are folks out there praying for our surgery dates and the actual surgeries! And I love reading your prayer requests and being able to lift them up in prayer too. Prayer Changes Things!:w00t: I have a praise, I was able to talk with the RN of the WLS program and she’s said I could call her on Wed. to find out what happened at the surgical review team meeting. (At the hospital I’m going to they review all the baratric cases 2 times a month, and last time I didn’t get reviewed because they didn’t get all my paperwork in time from my psych eval. After the review they send a letter to let the person know the next step/ doctor’s appointments/ surgical date.) I’m really glad to not have to wait for the mail! She seemed very encouraging about it. And I really appreciate that!! As a side note, the group I went to had Gastric Bypass patients too, and I felt scared at some of the side effects they were having (vomiting EVERY time this one guy ate, the dumping thing, and one lady was down to 105 and couldn’t stop losing weight. But all of the situations seemed to be self-inflicted….. eating really solid food really fast, eating a lot of sugar, and for the lady she was smoking and not sleeping and other stuff.) It made me think that the LapBand was definitely the surgery for me. Does anyone else think about whether they should do Gastric Bypass instead of the band? (Thinking about it helped me see all the positives for how the band fits for me!) Allens, love the drug story!! :biggrin2: blessings to all, Diamond

Thanks for the encouragement 4giveN ..... I'm slowly backing away from the bag of Cheetos they are going in the trash right now!!

Hi Everyone! Well, like a lot of things in life, things have taken more time. It wasn't two short days!! I wasn't put on the list of people to review for surgery on 2/20. So I don't have a surgery date yet. When I called on Monday before the Wed. meeting, they said that they had made the list earlier the week before and that my psych eval hadn't come in until Friday. I asked if I could still be included, as they had my paperwork and a couple of days, but no go. They seem to be super swamped, but I found out more about it. The hospital that I'm working with used to have 3 surgeons and is now down to 1. I also learned that I need to meet individually with the surgeon prior to my surgery and he is booked up to April right now. When I met with the RN in December she said that the surgeon would meet with us as a group of about 4 or 5, but they've changed that. I guess that's probably better, but it does take a lot longer. I feel disappointed BUT I trust God's timing. Luckily feelings come and go. I also know to knock on doors..... so I called the other local hospital (that hired one of the surgeon's away!) but they said I'd have to start over, with a six month supervised diet. I'm not wild about that! So, I think I'll just stick with SMDC (St. Mary's Duluth Clinic). I'm now on the list to be reviewed on 3/5 and then they will send me a letter saying if I'm approved and hopefully have a scheduled appointment with the surgeon. I was really hoping I'd be banded mid-Feb to late-March. Now it's kinda anyone's guess! Thanks for all the prayers about this. It feels similar to buying a house.... all the appointments and the paperwork and the waiting. But it eventually seems to work out. The other good thing (besides it eventually working out) is that my weight isn't going up. I'm doing pretty well at using my elliptical trainer most days (after a horrible bout with a sinus infections where I couldn't do anything!!). At first with the delay of surgery I was worried about losing too much weight to qualify for my insurance. (My insurance paperwork -- Medica -- says that it goes by the weight one month prior to surgery.) But I have sleep apnea, so that lowers my BMI needed to qualify, so I'm still in the range. It's so bizarre that I have think about weighing too little!!!!!! Another really cool thing that happened this past week was that I met someone from LapBandTalk.... the Minnesota thread... for lunch. She told me all about her experience -- even how the nurses in the hospital are so great! It was really helpful. It was good to just see how she can eat... slowly and small, but still eating!! She says it's the best thing she's ever done. And I think I will be feeling the same way, once I settle in with having the band. I agree with what someone else wrote just recently and that this is a tool that God has for us. It may not be for everyone, but it seems to be a great fit with my situation. I have struggled so long with taking care of my body and having my body be a temple. (I would like it to be!) It's been a hard concept for me to even get my head around, because it just hasn't been my experience much as I would like it to be. And I think with the band, I can continue to make a temple for God to dwell in. Well, I think that's enough for today. I wish you all a bunch of blessings!! Diamond "Something good is going to happen to me today" Joyce Meyers