JoannMarie

Welcome Steph! The 29th will be here before you know it! We are glad to have you as a Holiday Hottie! I hope you have time to read back a few posts and meet all the great people who are December Bandsters.

Marg, Thank you for your kind words. (I especially liked the part about sexy sixties!!) I am glad you are feeling better and things are working out better for you. We all need support on this journey - that's why we come here. I know you will be holding my hand many times before we reach our goals - and after. I am just glad to have friends to share the journey with. God bless you,

Hi Skittles, I will definitely keep in touch. I am so anxious to get this show on the road - tonight I am feeling so excited and ready to start this journey. The people who brought my machine told me they have a way of checking my apnea with the machine I have so I don't have to have another formal study. Don't know how they do that, but I will certainly check it after I have lost much of the weight I want to lose. Good luck with your machine. Keep me posted on your progress and I will do the same!

Hi Gretchen, I am Dec 4th also. We have 10 days and a wake-up!! My surgeon gave me a pre-op diet to follow for one week before surgery. Technically it should start Thursday, but since that is Thanksgiving, I am hoping she will let me start on Friday. I can have Adkins protein shakes (GNC), clear broth soups, sugar free jello, SF popsicles and SF fudgesicles, the lower sugar fruit juices such as apple and orange, light yogurts (3/day), 1/2 cup cottage cheese (3/day), and sugar free drinks such as Crystal Light and variations of same. I have started a modified version today and had protein shakes and a reasonable dinner. I kept busy with an art quilt project nost of the day, and did not have any problems. I believe the key for me is to keep my mind and hands busy! I am so anxious to get this show on the road! I see the surgeon on Wednesday after all my labs are drawn and she will give me my post-op diet at that time. She went over it quickly at my consultation, and it sounded pretty standard. I have not told a lot of people about this - my DH, of course, and my kids, and a couple of close friends. I figure there is plenty of time for me to share later if I choose to. Meanwhile, "I am eating smaller portions and exercising." After all - that is the truth.

Many thanks to all of you for your kind thoughts about Abbie. She is doing so much better today - finally ate some turkey and rice last night - decided it was pretty good stuff - drank some water and finally got the plumbing working. She is having some issues with getting out of the house quick enough, but I'm sure her muscle control is a little out of whack. She herded squirrels with Jack this afternoon, so getting back to her normal routine. We are very grateful for her company as long as we can have her. Sounds like everyone else is doing well this weekend. Welcome Mimi - your life sounds very busy! I understand about the dog situation. We frequently have granddogs visiting - some have stayed a year or more. We are down to just our two dogs now, but we still have our daughter's 12 year old cat. DD and her family are posted with the Army in South Korea and we are all concerned he would have a hard time with the 24+ hour trip in a cage. I know he would complain about the service on the aircraft - he gets pretty much whatever he wants from us. 10 days and a wake up... I am being a very good girl. Protein shakes and a reasonable dinner today. I guess I just can't wait!!

Hi Lori, Thank you for the concern. We have 2 shelties - Abbie, who is 10 and Jack, who is just 2. He is having a hard time understanding why she is not playing with him. At least she is getting some rest now - she had been pacing all afternoon. I start my pre-op this week. Wednesday I will be at the hospital getting my lab work done, and then to surgeon's office to visit with her. Technically my pre-op diet is supposed to start on Thursday but since that is Thanksgiving I am going to see if I can start on Friday. If she plays hardball with me - I will capitulate immediately and enjoy turkey broth and Jello for Thanksgiving! My son and his family are preparing Thanksgiving dinner at their house, so at least I only have to cook a little (I always bring the cornbread dressing and the sweet potatoes). I am so glad not to have leftovers to deal with - hoping DH will not miss them too much. Just getting started on this I really don't want leftovers in the house. Like Janet I simply don't allow dangerous foods in the house. I'm having a lot of time to think this weekend. Not sure that's a good idea right now! I feel like I have already thought this through a million times, now it begins to feel more like worry and I don't need that. When do you leave for South Dakota? I hope you have a great trip and enjoy your relatives.

Skittles, do some checking on that machine trade-in. I just got mine about a month ago and the Water reservoir is very easy to change. I also have arthritis in my hands, but have no problem with this reservoir. Medicare paid to rent my machine from the company for 13 months and after that it is mine. No one said anything about a trade-in or when that could take place, but if you can't use it - it should be replaced. Medicare may take care of that for you. It is scary when you think about all the bad stuff that happens with sleep apnea, and if yours is severe, you are at risk. It is time to be assertive. I would love to hear more from you also. I feel pretty cocky about this whole thing many days. I have been on LBTalk since last spring and feel like I've heard it all. HA! That's just when something will come up and bite me in the backside! I know I will need all the support I can get, and especially from banded people who have been successful. Thank you for your help!

Oh Marg - you are going to do so well. Look at your track record - you have not taken "no" for an answer, no matter what the obstacle was. At this point you are a steamroller that cannot be stopped! You are right about the "good cry." That day was a trigger for you to get rid of all the stress of insurance denials, loss of your sister and your parents and everything else that was piling up on you. As women we tend to stuff that grief inside in order to comfort everyone else. Along with the grief we stuff food, too, unfortunately. I am not telling you anything you don't already know - WE ALL do it. Maybe the act of taking this major step in your life helped you to release all that stress and grief through your tears. Timing and location might not have been the best but we don't always have the choice of time and place. I'm so glad everything is working out for you now. Maybe rumors about a hysterical woman got back to the powers-that-be and they decided to behave better! You will be in my prayers for your surgery and recovery.

Well, I am at home on Saturday night while hubby is deer hunting. Not many deer in the area where they hunt - there was a lot of spring and early summer flooding there (friend who farms there replanted 3 times), and we're wondering if the deer moved to other areas during the flooding and did not return. Our little sheltie Abbie had emergency surgery on her bladder Thursday. She came home yesterday and is not doing great just yet. She is not eating, not drinking very much, and the usual functions have not returned. I called the vet this afternoon - he said to give it until tomorrow morning - if no results I'll have to take her back to the animal hospital where they can treat her with catheterization, etc. She is 10 and has been a ball of energy - it hurts to see her feeling so bad. On vet's advice I made chicken and rice for her - real people food! - she would not even eat that... Sorry to be off-topic. I hope everyone is doing well this weekend.

As my DH says, "11 days and a wake-up!" It's 12 and a wake-up for me. I'm getting alternately nervous and excited, too. It's hard to believe this is finally happening.:cool2:

Erica, I think Indio is right about the out-of-network situation. I think you need to do a little more research on surgeons in your area who might be in your network. Your ins company should have lists of surgeons in their network. There are a pot full of WLSurgeons in the Kansas City area - must also be the case for your area. It will give you a starting place. I would be likely to feel okay with the surgeon you talked with based on the info he shared with you about the certification process and numbers of surgeries he has performed. Part of the certification process includes numbers of surgeries performed. I am a little more nervous about the owners whose licenses were revoked. If they handle the purse strings for this group, what kind of corners might they be cutting? WHY were their licenses revoked? Is there a state agency where you can ask that question and maybe get a little more information? Just my 2 cents... Good luck in this search.

Orea, you and your husband are in my prayers. We have been through the same situation (more than once). It is so scary. Try not to panic, though it is hard - the two of you will come out of this okay. He has been interviewing, so he has part of the job done - the resume and the contacts, etc. One of these will come through and it will all work out. Be strong...

Katy - we are all thinking about you and wishing you well. I am so sorry you are going through all this physical and emotional pain. I wonder if your parents realize how hard their lives would be if you were not there? Your mom probably could not visit you because she could not face that possible outcome. Take care of yourself - get as much rest and good nutrition as you possibly can - and get well. You are in my prayers.

I see my surgeon on Wednesday before Thanksgiving and will ask her then. My hope is that she will give the okay to postpone my pre-op by one day and allow me a modified Thanksgiving. I will not be cooking it (thankful for THAT!) so I won't have leftovers to be concerned with. I plan on small amounts of my favorites - of course there are many of those - but keeping to very small amounts will satisfy me, and I hope satisfy my surgeon. If she plays hardball - I'll have the turkey broth and cranberry jello - and be thankful to have my surgery date the next week. It's all in what you set your mind to, and my priority is my surgery and following the rules for success. When Thanksgiving rolls around next year, I'll be close to goal, and my bet is I will eat very small amounts of my favorites!

Marg, did you say you were in a low BMI study? The latter part of my career (retired now) I worked for a major pharma company, and later for a contract research company in clinical research. I worked on the administrative side, doing fun stuff like making sure all the FDA requirements were met, finding investigators for clinical studies, patient recruitment, informed consent documents, etc. Clinical studies are very controlled by regulation and scientific protocol - that may be why you have been subjected to so many tests. With the family history (your sister) of heart problems and your own medical history, they want to be sure you are a good candidate. But more to the point - a clinical research protocol is set up with certain tests required, and that may be affecting your situation. This protocol probably has a lot of tests required so the results of the study will be valid over time. You sound so much better in your last posts. I hope you are able to put all the yucky stuff to the side where it belongs and realize what a great thing you are doing for yourself. That is the first step toward doing great things for others, too. Make a positive commitment to YOU and your health. Everything else will follow and the doors will continue to open for you. I'm 66 this year - and after the last 2 years of AGING much more rapidly than I ever dreamed I would, I've made that commitment, too. We all get old and it's not easy under any circumstances, but it can be made better at any point along the way by making the commitment to a healthier lifestyle. You are doing that, and you are going to be successful!

Interesting - there are so many things associated with major weight loss we don't consider. Drivers license picture - I would not have thought of that till I pulled it out for ID. Imagine the problem you might have at the airport... Passport picture and DL both show you 100 pounds heavier. Something to think about before I approach the counter at KCI in April as we leave for Korea - and maybe even worse when I try to come home! However, by April I will not have lost enough weight to raise a major question. It will still look like me, just a little bit better! teehee.

Pete, you are doing really well. Congratulations on weight lost before your banding - getting used to a new eating lifestyle and starting your exercise program ahead of time. Way to go!

Lori, you'd better plan to get that drivers license renewed early - or claim to have lost it! You sure don't want that weight on there when you are at goal - no one will believe it's really you! CONGRATULATIONS ON 85 POUNDS!! Wonder Woman!

Mr. Mike, let us know what your doctor's office has to say about the way you are feeling and the drop in sugar. I don't know what kind of pre-op you are on, but could more protein be added? I do worry about this with the pre and post op diets - if I don't have plenty of protein I have a major drop in blood sugar, too. I have ordered some samples of protein supplement drinks from Bariatric Advantage just in case. There are tasteless powders that can be added to other foods also. Please keep us posted on your doctor's advice to you.

Kay, I have been told the same thing, but the psychologist with my group told me I can lose 100% of the weight I want to lose - if I am committed, and if I am patient. I told him I wanted to lose this 100% (a little over 100 lbs.) in 2 years. He said I can do that. Then I came to LBTalk and met IndioGirl who lost 100% of her excess weight within a year. Then there was Apples2, and AthinnerDenise who met their goals within a year. And there is Skittles, who is my age. These people who tell you that are talking about averages - you know what that means. Some are higher and some are lower... I am going to be higher. How 'bout you???? I thought so.

Ellen, there are also other ways to get nourishment in your system - after my dad had his stroke he was not able to swallow. They used the NG tube for a few days, then put in a tube that went directly into his stomach. He used that for several weeks until he learned to swallow again. I'm thinking the bracelets are a good idea. My friend who had breast cancer cannot have any needle punctures in her right arm due to danger of cellulitis. She wears a bracelet. I'm always concerned that in an emergency situation the wallet card might be checked after the damage is done.

Auggies and all - I am glad this has come up. I was also beginning to think I was the only one. I mentioned this to the psychologist I am seeing for the surgery, and he said this is very common. He also said it is not a bad idea (of course, not carried to the extreme!) because many people have a period of mourning after surgery. He said it can be good to "say goodbye" to these foods we will not be eating in the future. Let's face it - we can still eat a hamburger later on - but it will never be what it has been in the past. It's what it was in the past that we think we will miss. and maybe we will for a while. I believe that will pass if we just have patience with outselves, just like Jodi says. So I'm trying not to go too crazy, but to have a few "last meals" this week. One will probably be a milkshake. Funny - I have not had, nor have I missed, milkshakes in the last 5 years or so. But in the last few months (since I found out that will be THE BIG NO-NO - I am craving them. Go figure...

I am so glad to hear from so many other Dec bandsters! My date is the 4th and I am supposed to start the pre-op on Thanksgiving. I see my surgeon the day before T-Giving, and will see if I can postpone a day, but if she says no - it will be broth and jello for me - without complaint! I am so excited to get this done (at least that's how I feel today - maybe not so much another day...) I hope everyone who is December bound will continue to post and keep us informed about your progress.

Hi Skittles! I have been coming to LBTalk since February when I started this journey. I've read your posts before - not sure which thread because I monitor and post on several. I always enjoy hearing from you because you have been so successful - you are my age - and you are so positive and supportive! I have finally reached the end of the wait and all the tests - my surgery is scheduled for Dec 4th. I alternate between peace and panic (as my cyberfriend Phyl says), but overall I am very excited to begin my new life. It is so good to hear positive experiences from another person close to my age (I'll be 67 in May). I am sorry to hear of your fatigue. Has your doctor done any blood work for you? There are several possible causes for fatigue that would show up in blood work and your problem may be easy to fix. I did discover in all my testing I have sleep apnea (also a cause of fatigue). It is mild but I use the CPAP machine like a good compliant patient. I hope weight loss will make that unnecessary in the future, but I understand the apnea may not go away since it can also be the result of being my age... They haven't yet made a band for that, have they! I am looking forward to losing weight, being more mobile, less joint pain, a healthier body, and the ability to hike with hubby and play with the small grandchildren now being added to our family (youngest daughter is finally coming through!). I would love to keep posting with you - I know you have a lot of success behind you and you will have good insight for me just starting this new life experience.

Hi Kim and welcome! Looks like there are lots of December bandsters, judging from this and other December threads. You can put your ticker up anytime (I got mine from tickerfactory.com). Hopefully you will lose a few pounds on your pre-op diet, whatever that may be. It will look good on the ticker and give you a head start! I am amazed at the differences in the pre and post op diets from all the surgeons out there. I don't start mine until Nov 27th - and my surgery is Dec 4th - only 7 days... It is pretty strict, though. Good luck to you!