SilverBand

Hi There! I live in Frederick as well and would love to start a friendship with someone going through the same thing as I am! I was banded on Aug 28 by Dr. Gorman with Summit Bariatric Group out of Chambersburg Hospital! I know, a long distance to drive, but when I started the process (1/08) Frederick and Hagerstown hospitals were not offering any programs! So, now that I am banded, my doc's office said that I can attend other support groups that are closer to home. I plan on attending the support group in Hagerstown with you! I know that you must be excited about your upcoming banding! I am still very happy but ready to go back to regular foods. The creamy stuff is really boring and it is difficult on my family when we are out and about and they are hungry. We have to search around for a place where I can eat something too! Sucks for them. Congratulations on getting this far on your journey! I look forward to talking to you again soon!

Has anyone ever tried to use Nivea Skin Firming Lotion and Nivea Reshaping treatment to promote skin to form over the new skinnier you? Has it worked?

Congrats on doing so well after surgery! I was banded on the 28th! I did well on the liquid diet post-op for a few days then got hungry and kinda moved myself to starting some creamy foods. They stave off the hunger a lot better than the Protein drinks and because they have some volume to them, I am only able to eat about 1/4 cup before I feel full. I am still losing weight even though I only now have about 1 Protein Drink a day (if that). But I feel so much better! Hope my doc isn't upset that I sped up his plan! I have not tried the chew in your mouth for taste then spit out, but that is a great idea! I have a sweet tooth and that may be enough to satisfy that without getting those calories!

So...I started allowing myself to have things that are a little creamy - cream of wheat, cream Soups (very little due to calories). Then I got a little adventurous and moved to mashed potatoes and blended soup (like chicken noodle thrown in a blender so it is consistency of baby food). I feel like I am moving up the timetable, I am not supposed to start baby food consistency until I see the doc on Monday 9/8, but I am hungry, and I haven't experienced any problems at all! The food fills me up and keeps me full for at least 2 hours so I am pretty much eating 3 very small meals a day and getting in my Water, etc. So, should I tell my doc that I sped up his plan? Or, should I act like I was completely faithful on his yogurt and Protein drink diet? I am still losing weight at a consistent pace so it is not like I am taking in too many calories. What do you think?

I was banded on Thursday as well and right now the sound of refried bean thinned out and cream of wheat is awesome! My doc has me on Jello, pudding, yogurt, Protein shakes and Water. But I am still hungry, even with eating about every 1-2 hours. I think that I will try the options suggested. As long as it is thin, it will not hurt the stomach or the band. And if I can have yogurt, why not cream of wheat???

What a difference a day makes! I feel so much better today! No painkillers (besides tylenol) and no nausea! I feel up to walking and I have been getting in all of my fluids/proteins! Things are looking up! Every day gets better from here!

I am back from surgery (actually got home yesterday but in too much pain to get online). I have struggled but hopefully every day will get a little bit better. I had a sensitivity to the morphine drip that they gave me right after surgery which made me so nauseous that I could not even stand! Then they switched me which made things better so I didnt get enough walking in at the hospital. To top that off, they sent me home with percocet and I discovered this morning that I have a sensitivity to that as well! The nausea is unbearable! Because of that I have not been able to eat as much of the protein/liquids that I should and the doc threatened to put me back in the hospital if I couldnt keep anything down! So I stopped taking the percocet and have slowly been able to eat again, but it is rough. Here's to a better tomorrow!

Hi! My name is Sherri. I am not new to this site but I am new to this group! I love to have people of similar minds to talk to about all that we are going through! I am to be banded in 2 days - 8/28/08! I love the list that was posted. It gave me some ideas of things I should go get before my surgery! I have been on the pre-op diet for 4 days now and I can't wait for the time when I can eat cream of wheat again! Just that would make me happy right now!

Hi There Angelynn!! Congrats on getting your approval! I got mine today! My surgeon is Dr. Gorman in Chambersburg, PA! My surgery is scheduled for Thursday 8/28! My doc only made me do 5 days of liquids (Carnation Instant Breakfast)! Don't know if I could handle this for 2 weeks!

It depends on the surgeon and on your insurance company. It is a little faster if you are self pay. There are a lot of variables to consider. Personally, I am exactly 8 months from Information session to surgery date. And, boy, it was a long 8 months!

What a great story! I am so glad that your surgery went so well. My surgery is on Thursday (2 days) and I am so ready! I am a little scared but also feeling a little invincible thinking that I won't have much pain and I will be able to get back to normal things soon. What do you think? Feel like cleaning the bathroom yet?

Congratulations on your successful surgery! I am so glad that it went so well for you. My surgery is in 2 days and I hope for the same. Tell me, how is it with only drinking the clear liquids right after surgery? Are you starving or in too much pain to think about that?

I wish! My surgery is in 2 days as well! But my doc insists on an overnight stay. So, I will be staying. Are you doing a pre-op diet?

Hi All! Got my approval today! What a wonderful feeling! Now we are definitely a go for Thursday 8/28 banding! I am so excited! I broke down and cried when I got the news! 20 years of being overweight and yo-yo dieting is over! Now to begin the rest of my healthy life! Thank you all for your support! I am SOOO looking forward to Thursday!

Hey Ashley! I am shocked by how much alike we are and I think that we could both set a goal for under 200 by xmas! I am to be banded on 8/28! I am starting at 246 pounds! I have been on my pre-op diet since the 23rd and have already lost 8 pounds! We can do it! Under 200 by xmas!! Sherri :smile2:

I agree about the pre-op diet. Although it is a tough one. I am currently on my diet (my dr requires 5 days of it!!) and I am scheduled for surgery on 8/28. The first day was bad but now on day 2 my body is getting used to only getting liquids. Already I have lost 5 pounds on the pre-op diet and I am sure that I will probably lose another 10 before surgery. That should do the trick for my liver! Good luck on your surgery tomorrow. You will have to re-post and let us know how it went!

I hope everything went well for all those banded today! I am so glad that I found the "August All-Stars"! I am to be banded on the 28th! What a wonderful journey! Don't know what I would do without this forum!

Hello everyone! I am a fellow Marylander but in Western Maryland and I went with Dr. Gorman's office in Chambersburg, PA. He is with the Bariatric Group there. I am scheduled for surgery on Thursday 8/28! What an exciting time after going through the 6 month process with Aetna! Glad to finally be here with just a few days to go. I have started my 5 day fast to prepare for surgery. Tough, but definitely worth it!

I don't have a date yet but will be getting one on Friday!! I have asked the surgeon's office to speed me through the last steps because my insurance is changing in September and I would hate to have to start this process all over again! So far they are helping me out! According to the coordinator, my date should be before the end of August! I have waited so long! Good Luck to everyone that has recently and is about to have their surgery!

I feel as though my progress is going to take forever. I thought that I had it good with AETNA POS II as my insurance. I didn't think that this process would take longer than just a few months. I started my process in January. Attended the seminar the end of January and had my meeting with the surgeon 2 weeks later. Then had to wait a month and a half for my first appt with the nutritionist. I have now found out that I have to see the nutritionist for six solid months and while I see her I have to get a sleep study done, see a psychiatriatrist and get some more documentation before they will even send anything to my insurance for approval. I am looking at the end of September/October before I get my surgery! I am so frustrated! I want it done now and if I had the 21,000 dollars I would just schedule it on Monday! I have done all the research (for the past 4 months) and know that this is what I want to do. Sorry for venting. I am sure that this is normal, I am just ready to move forward with the process and it feels as though there is concrete at my feet!

Thanks for the supportive comments. I just started watching what I eat today. In addition to seeing the nutritionist I have found out that I am hypoglycemic and need to go on a special diet for that. I will try to stay positive and work through this. I have a call into the surgeon's office to give me some clarity as to when my next appointments will be scheduled. I don't want to fall through the cracks.

Wow! Things went so easily for you! I started about the same time. Did my information seminar at the end of January, saw my surgeon 2 weeks later. Then had to wait a month and a half for my first appt with the nutritionist. I have now found out that I have to see the nutritionist for six solid months and while I see her I have to get a sleep study done, see a psychiatriatrist and get some more documentation before they will even send anything to my insurance for approval. I am looking at the end of September/October before I get my surgery! I am so frustrated! I want it done now and if I had the 21,000 dollars I would just schedule it on Monday! I have done all the research (for the past 4 months) and know that this is what I want to do. Sorry for venting. I am very happy for you. I just wish it was that easy for me.

When I started this process (Jan 08) my BMI was 39!! I knew from my ins company that I would need a BMI of 40 or they wouldnt do it without comorbities. Unfortunately I don't have any but do have some running in my family (found out that is not good enough). So I needed to gain 5-10 pounds before my first appt with the surgeon. I ate everything in sight and gained almost 15 pounds. Now, the nutritionist wants me to lose 10 pounds over the next 6 months of meetings with her. I am so afraid that if I lose too much I will slip back to the 39 BMI and disqualify myself. Somehow I have to figure out how to lose the 10 pounds and still be eligible. My husband says if I work out with weights instead of cardio then I will be able to be on the nutritionists diet and not lose too much weight. I hope it works and I hope the process doesn't last too long. I hate having even these extra 15 pounds on me...nothing fits anymore and I don't want to buy new clothes when I should be getting my lapband around september (fingers crossed).