Miss Michelle

Hi! Choosing a surgeon is a very personal decision and you have to do alot of research and find the doctor that is best for you. With that said, you should look into Dr. George Fielding of NYU. That is if you are anywhere near NYC, I am not sure where you are located exactly. Anyways, He is my surgeon and I chose him partly because he is exteremly experianced, super friendly and is also a bandster and has been for over eight years. I loved the idea that he is not only the doctor but also a patient and can share his prespective from both ends. He has offices for fills in White Plains, Brooklyn and New City. Google his name along with NYU and the website should come up. Good Luck to you! P.S. If you have insurance coverage for this procedure you should contact them first. They can give you the full list of surgeons in your area that work with your insurance. GOOD LUCK!!!

I got a date, I got a date, I got a date, hey-hey-hhhheeeyyyy! I had my surgical consult yesterday and am scheduled for testing 5/8 and surgery 5/23, pending insurance approval of course...*fingers crossed*

I have been nervous on and off for the last few days. I ran out of things I have to do to prep for surgery (i.e. doctors appointments, testing, medical clearances, etc) so my mind has had some time to wonder about things. So today I was off from work and truly srubbed my house so clean it sparkles and then my mom treated me to a pedi to relax a little. I think I am all set to go and I really appreciate all of the good thoughts and am sending mine to Sarah! Sarah, Good luck to you and dont forget to let us know how it goes and how you feel afterwards. XOXO, Michelle

I know that you must be in pain, but just think of it this way-you made it! I am gonna be banded on 5/23, this Friday and cant even begin thinking about the pain. I am just praying to God that I make it through the surgery. I will worry about the rest later. Just take it one day at a time. Pretty soon you'll be feeling better and the weight will be falling off!

My surgeon once said the cadillac of insurance for this kind of surgery is Oxford. I have it and was approved in a matter of days and so was my hubbys cousin who had gastric and Oxford as well. Good Luck:thumbup:

Hi there! Just wanted to let you know that I am on that bus too! Once you get past the first three days you'll be fine. I have been on my pre-op diet for a week and a half now and am to the point where I am ok with it now. Losing 10 lbs has helped me keep on track too! Just take it one day at a time and try not to watch the food network all night like I was doing, lol Its just torture!!!

Good luck both of you, you'll do great! Let us know how everything goes!!

K, so I am officially approved by my insurance and cleared for surgery! YAY! Thanks to you all for the congrats and best wishes!:scared2: Sarah, congrats on your date too! If you are up to it let us all know how it goes!!! Good Luck-only a few days left...

I am not banded yet, but will be on Fri 5/23 and have been on my pre-op diet for over a week already. I havent gone grocery shopping yet since begining my diet but in the last week I must have saved $70 on my breakfasts and lunches at work. I used to spend $4+ a day on coffee and a bagel every morning for breakfast and atleast $7-10 on lunch. I am so excited at the thought of never going back to this. Now I am going to use my grocery and lunch money savings for new clothes and shoes!:leaving:

Ok, wow. I think this is a great case of somethings are better kept to yourself. Hearing this from a best friend is one thing but a boyfriend/spouse is totally different. Maybe its stupid of me but even if I had that experiance of thinking of someone else I would never tell my hubby something like that simply because I would not want to hear if he does! I'd rather talk about our fantasies that we can act out together:wink_smile:. Sometimes guy say things without thinking and he was probably just responding because the assumed you'd say something similar. I would not worry to much if hes a good guy but I would atleast tell him how you feel.

I am schedules for surgery 5/23 and already had a blender and have gone out and bought a food processor. I got a large one for a great price from Walmart. It was only $27 while the small 1 cup size is $17. I figured it would be great for cooking for me post op and even for daily meals for my family. I really have no plans on buying a scale though. After reading this I will probably buy new measuring cups because like half of mine are missing.

I say buy some sexy lingerie and heels and take a few teasing pic's - nothing crazy that would have you worried about them landing in the wrong place, just enough to make him hot-and send them to his cell while he is at work. Start off with something sweet and then sexier as you send each additional one. By the time he gets home you wont have to ask for it :thumbup:

Teenagers can be so mean! I am sorry that you had to go through that but I have a funny story that might make you smile about a time I had my feelings hurt recently. I have a beautiful, smart and very very outspoken 5 year old son. He is very much into sports and health after hearing that I am going to 'get help' to lose weight has actually said that he can't wait for us (myself, him and my hubby) to be a 'skinny family'. Anyways, I bought a whole bunch of slim fast for my pre-op diet and stocked the fridge. He saw them and asked if he could have one since he thought it was a milkshake. I told him no because it makes you lose weight and then he would just be a head on legs. So that was that and he forgot about it. Well, my diet started and he saw me drinking them for the first time and was so excited. He says "Mommy, your drinking those? The one that makes you skinny?" So I tell him "Yup, do I look skinnier yet?" He thinks about this for a moment, then reached over and pinches my belly fat. "Nope. I think you better drink all of the other ones in the 'fridge too." FUNNY, YES! But boy did that bruise my ego!

So, I called NYU today to check on the status of my insurance approval and guess what- they told me it was already approved! Yay! So excited! Now I just have to get medical clearance from my PCP, oh, and get through the next 10 days of this pre-op diet...

I got my approval from my insurance today and was so excited. I immediately called my PCP to have them submit a medical clearance form to my surgeon and was surprised to find out that I have to go in to meet with the doctor. So now I am worried that he will order more tests (I have had two sets of blood work, a physical, ekg, and chest x-rays already) and the results wont be back before the 20th when my surgeon needs them for me to stick to my scheduled surgery date. Anyway, if anyone knows what I should expect at this appointment I'd love to know. I think it would help calm me just knowing what I am up against. Thanks!!!

I LOVE SHOES!!! I can't wait to be able to wear cute ones like these!!!

Yup. The longest part of the whole process was waiting for my husbands open enrollment through work to add me to his insurance once I made the decision to pursue this (my insurance didn't cover any kind of weight loss surgery). I attended my 1st seminar 1/8, I think, or somewhere near that time. I have started my pre-op diet and have had everything submitted to the insurance for approval. *Fingers crossed* I am hoping to have an answer sometime early next week from them. Wish me luck!!!:wink2:

Hi there! I am scheduled for 5/23 at NYU w/ Dr. Fielding. Good luck to you and I will let you know how it goes!

OK, instead of having your knees facing downwards touching the bed/floor, try squating down onto the on top position, so your knees are bent foreward in an updside down L shape. Your knees will be bent in the way where they do not rest on anything. This way your weight is primarily on your bottom then your knees and your thighs do not get in the way.

I am currently 325, pre-op and can still be on top, but not as comfortably as I used to. I think I was ok with being on top until about 265-275 range and after I gained more weight I had to...(how can I say this without being super graphic...) switch the way I sat on top so that my thighs did not get in the way so much. One good thing about my gain though is it forced us to try new things but I can't weight to lose and try even newer things...:biggrin:

I had my surgical consult this past Wednesday, which was also the day I got my surgery day (YAY!) and the surgical coordinator asked if I'd be interested in using a new version of the band. She said that it was made by a new company, but just like the original and they were looking for people to try it out. I freaked, and told her no way, I wanted to stick to something that I know works well and that has been used over and over. Now that I am thinking about it, I regret not asking more about it before immediately saying no. I mean, why wouldn't I want a newer more improved version if it is available? But I also don't really know if this option is actually a better choice or if it is sort of like a generic? I know I should call my surgeon and discuss this further, but I'd love to hear from experianced and soon to be bandsters. THANX!

I feel your pain. Ihaven't been banded yet, but I recently had my nutritionist appointment. I was sooo sad to see that I would have a hard time eating seafood other than fish and scallops. I really expected that my main source of protein to be from seafood. Except fish, I hate it, but its apparently great for bandsters. Have you had any issues w/ shrimp at all?

Hey! My surgeon, Dr. Fielding co-wrote that book! :biggrin2: He had the band himself years ago in Australia before it was FDA approved for the U.S. He did Khaliahs surgery and its so funny you mention it because I just got my surgery date yesterday and ordered that book online today!

May 23rd for me!!!:crying:

Yay! I finally got a surgery date and I am a May Flower! I am scheduled for May 23rd, and cannot wait!!! My name is Michelle, I am 25, turning 26 in July and live in the Hudson Valley Region of New York. I have a wonderful husband and son who are supporting me through this. Like alot of people I have been fat nearly my enitre life. The only time I was average was three years in highschool when I nearly killed myself taking Phen-Fen. I have tried everything from pills to 500 calorie a day diets, to weight watchers, LA weight loss, atkins, etc. etc always to regain all of my lost weight plus some. At this point in my life I am not looking to be a size 5, I just want to be healthy and happy and able to lead a normal life. Truthfully, the credit for opening my eyes to taking control over my life again through the help of the lap-band, has to be given to my sweet five year old. He said something so honest and unintentionally harsh to me over a year ago that changed my life and made me realize it was time to make an effective change. In speaking with a family member, I was told about the band and I researched for about 9 months before begining my journey. I am going to be banded by Dr. Fielding in NYC, who has himself been banded. I am nervous, excited and scared all at the same time. Overall though, I just can't wait!