Dody

Are you getting anxious? The 26 is almost here and I'm excited for you. Please post as soon as you are able. I'll keep you in my prayers. Dody

I can't wait until I get home and get to attend one of them Susan. They sound like a great group. I'm not as interested in the one at St. Al's...worked there toooooo many years to want to go back there and I wasn't banded there, but the other group sounds great. After I'm officially a bandster and am home I would love to attend and meet some of you great Idaho people in person...especially you P'Nut. You have been such a wonderful inspiration to me and have had such a wonderful journey with the band.

Hi Lorrie, Weiser is familiar territory to me. My husband (he was killed in an auto accident 10 years ago) was born and raised on a farm in Midvale, so I've traveled to Weiser many, many times. My husband loved the small town life. I live in Caldwell, Idaho and am currently in Tennessee with my daughter and son-in-law to have my surgery at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. They don't accept Medicare in Idaho, and the fact that I would have been alone would have really bothered me, so when the kids suggested I come down here and have the surgery where they took Medicare and also had wonderful facilities I didn't think too long about it. I'm going Thursday to Nashville to see the surgeon and we are going to take in Music Row. I love the countryside here. My surgery is on June 5, and although anxious, I'm also very excited. I hope you can get to a support group or so there in Idaho, but I realize it's a very long drive for you. I wish you the best of luck, and please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing.

Thanks so much for your well wishes. I've never been so sick with pneumonia before. I got my pneumonia shot too...what's with that??? Anyway, it is finally subsiding and yes it did virtually wipe me out. My knee is still hurting, but the surgery for lap-banding comes above everything and perhaps that in itself will help the knee and I can run up a flight of stairs as P'Nut stated (although I have no stairs at home). It would be nice just to take the dog for a nice long walk. Thank you for thinking of me. It is so appreciated. Dody

Thanks Susan for being so supportive. I do have that surgery date and I am getting anxious. I think that is only normal, but I'm oh so ready to make some life changes. Welcome Linda to the board. There are some really great people from Idaho on here, including P'Nut. She is my inspiration and I'm sure she has some to spare too. She is doing a wonderful job. I wish you the best of luck on your band journey.

I'm going to be banded on June 5. I don't drink alcohol but am a diet soda junkie, which I know I have to give up for the band to work. I've stocked up on juices and other things to take the place of my diet drinks. You have to totally commit yourself to the fact there are some things you have to do in moderation if at all. I have heard an occasional drink won't hurt (not sure on that) and that I can have a flat soda pop if I choose but that sounds horrible. It's a very personal decision to get the band and it takes lots of work to get to the stage that you know it is what you want. You found us, so apparently you are quite interested. Where did you plan on being banded. In the US there are some tests required which vary state by state such as sleep studies for sleep apnea; a psych test to be sure you are ready; sometimes an upper GI. By the time you are through hassling with insurance (or perhaps you are self-pay or going to Mexico) you will be ready for your surgery. I've been preparing for the better part of a year now. Emotionally, I am more than ready. Physically I know I have to have this done in order to enjoy life to the fullest. I have aches in my feet and knees and am hoping that taking the weight off will help. I wish you the best of luck and welcome to LBT. It is a great source of support and strength and some very good friendships.

I flew to Tennessee to visit my daughter and son-in-law and have the surgery. It is scheduled for June 5. If I had stayed home in Idaho I would have been going to have the surgery myself and that wasn't an option. I am 64 and not sure how I will get along after the surgery, so it felt wonderful to have my kids ask me to come here so they could help a little. I don't intend to rely on them for anything if I don't have to, but it is nice to know they are with me for the surgery and the ride home and a few days afterwards. You can never be sure what kind of complication you can run into. Do you have someone from church or a friend that can accompany you? I'm so glad I made the decision I did and would do it again in a heartbeat. I am Medicare and needed a Center of Excellence and that turned out to be Vanderbilt (what an awesome and huge hospital). They have a shopping mall in there!! (not that I'll be doing any shopping, but the facilities are state of the art. I have a heart condition so knowing I'm at a full service hospital is a wonderful feeling. God Bless and I hope you find someone to go with you for your surgery. I have no idea if you are planning a trip to Mexico or not, but I think they might keep you a couple nights if you have no one with you...not sure.

Just one more thing we have in common besides NASCAR. Gray's Anatomy is my favorite TV show. I don't miss it for anything. I would pick it over American Idol or any show on TV....of course I don't like either of the two finalists in American Idol so that choice was easy. Gray's Anatomy rocks and so too does McDreamy. Hum, does this mean we have the same choice in men with Tony and McDreamy. Talk about heaven.:Banane20:

Congrats on the surgery date, but with an already fat liver isn't your dr. concerned about a pre-op diet to shrink the liver. I've heard of people not being able to be banded because of a "too fat liver". I don't want to rain on your parade, but the pre-op diet is for that very reason...to shrink the liver. Please ask a few more questions before you jump in with both feet.

Vanderbilt Hospital just called me with a surgery date of June 5th. I couldn't believe it, because I still have to see the surgeon and anesthesiologist and nutritionist, but they tell me they will schedule in about a week for that, but wanted to get the surgery scheduled. They think I should have the surgery and it may help the knee. They know I'm seeing a good dr. and they aren't concerned. They have done surgery on people in wheelchairs. I am walking alright with the steroid shot, and hope it lasts. I'm praying this will heal, but don't want to delay my surgery anymore. I can always concentrate on getting the knee fixed if it comes to that after the lap banding. Woohoo..........I have a date.:confused: :confused: :D :D

I came to Tennessee to be with my daughter to get my lapband surgery at Vanderbilt. The first two weeks here I had pneumonia, but fortunately before it hit I went to the seminar and also saw a PA with all my paperwork done. They said it would be a couple weeks before I heard back. Well, here goes, Sunday I tore the medial meniscus in my right knee and ended up in the ER. I can't walk at all. I was at the orthopedists today who shot me full of steroids in hopes of getting a grasp on this but I have to go back next week and may need surgery to fix it. Meanwhile Vanderbilt is ready for me to proceed. They want me to see the surgeon and get my surgery date. I can't do it right now....walking is something I have to be able to do...so although I'm all approved and ready to go I can't. If you guys could throw a couple prayers my way that my let heals I would appreciate it. With God all things are possible. This is just one more test I think, but oh what a bummer.

I guess if things go according to plan we can follow each others progress. You aren't that far from me in N. Carolina. I'm at my daughter's in Tennessee...not too far from the N. Carolina border. Good Luck with your upcoming surgery. I'm not sure how they have mine scheduled before I see the surgeon (I've only seen a PA) and I haven't even seen a nutritionist yet, and won't for a couple weeks. It must be they don't require a long fasting period on liquids. I'm as tenatious as a bull dog :confused:

I just got my surgery date today of June 5. Isn't it a great feeling to finally know you are almost on your way?

Now if everything goes according to plan I have something to look forward to. It's been a long, long journey and ready to give up so many times, but glad I kept at it. I'll be so thrilled when the day finally gets here.

This 64-year-old Grandma who loves Fuel is one of a kind I think. I love rock and I love Chris's voice. Ryan Seacrest announced yesterday on Extra Chris was signing with his favorite band, and he has said on several occasions that Fuel is his favorite. Because they have recently lost their lead singer I'm positive it is them. Isn't that great news. I will be the first in line to buy that CD. Chris is better than the lead singer they had before...but then I'm prejudiced. I'm disappointed because I don't think anyone truly deserved to win over him, but his career is going big time. He can't sign officially until after American Idol and not sure if he is committed to tour with them, but he was on Jay Leno last night and he is one happy guy. He didn't like the way Seacrest gave him the news on American Idol when he said "Chris everyone thinks you are going to be American Idol's next winner" and then he said "Chris tonight is the end of the road you are going home tonight". That's the part ticked Chris off and shocked him. This was all about people thinking he was safe and not calling in. Now the show kind of sucks, because with the exception of Elliott there really aren't any great voices. Tayler would be OK if he quit convulsing...the man can NOT dance, and Kathryn...what can I say...beautiful but can't sing that well. It will be boring without Chris there, but he will be a great success story. He is definitely in negotiations for a huge contract and well deserving. He will be bigger than anyone that is left there for sure.

Chris has been offered a contract to be lead singer for his favorite band. This band could be nothing but FUEL, as they have lost their lead singer. He is going to be big time. He can't commit to the contract till the end of American Idol but Chris is going places for sure. I will be the first to buy his CD. A grandma that loves Fuel, now that is something isn't it?

I called Vanderbilt this morning, but this is a huge facility where you always get an answering maching with a promise to return your call within 24 hours....they are on the phones all day there. This hospital is a teaching hospital and is blocks long including the University. I've never seen anything quite like it, and I have to say I'm impressed. They are ready for the surgery consult, and I have to meet with the anesthesiologist (that's a requirement I've never had in surgery but it is theres), also a nutritionist. I think their program with the nutritionist is about 3 weeks. I will get a surgery date when I see the surgeon. One thing though, they require you attend two lap band support groups before surgery and they are a mo. apart here....but I'm going to do everything within my power to get this done. Things are at least begun. My knee is feeling good with the steroid shot. Now, to see if it lasts or not. I think I'm going ahead with the lap banding and I will walk, walk walk on my walker if I have too. I think it will be a good idea to take weight off the knee and that may make it better without surgery. You are very right. With God all things are possible. My plate is full right now, but I've been there before and things have worked out. My kids have been great about all my setbacks and very encouraging that I follow though as planned. Now I just have to hear from Vanderbilt and tell them the whole story, although I won't have a dual surgery if taking weight off helps. I'll deal with the knee afterwards. Thanks everyone for all your support and prayers.

vanderbilt has no idea I've injured my knee. Having a dual surgery there would be a really tough job. It is so very hard to ever get to see anyone anyway. If I can get pain free with my knee I want to have the lap-band done and then worry about the knee, but I realize I have to be pain free first. I don't think my cardiologist would ever give me clearance for a dual surgery because of the time I would be out, and I would prefer having me knee done under a block if possible. I have a good orthopedist here. Tennessee has some fine hospitals and he is known as a very good orthopedist. I'm just going to keep on praying and hoping, and I thank you all so much for those prayers. Please keep them coming.

I can't believe Chris is gone. He was my American Idol. The only one there that is left that can sing is Elliott. Kathryn can't sing worth a dam. She is definitely not in the league of Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood and would be as big a flop as Fantasia is. I'm so sick of "old white hair" dancing his weird steps like he is convulsing that you forget he has kind of a good voice, but Elliott, alas nothing to look at, is the best of the 3 that is left. This is a misjustice that Chris is gone. Did no one vote? That's all I can think is they thought he was safe. Poor guy....but he is going to be big. He has an amazing voice. Just my two cents. Kathryn does NOT have the voice to be an American Idol and she is getting worse it seems every week.

Hi to the newbie, and hi to you Susan. Just my luck I come to Tennessee and throw off all hopes of surgery for awhile. I've had pneumonia for 2 weeks and am just starting to feel better. I've been to Nashville once for 2 days to get acquainted...seminar here...saw a PA and turned in my history. It has been sent in to Medicare and I won't here anything for a couple weeks, but the fact is I need the time to get better. This is the sickest I've been since my heart surgery 5 years ago. I'm on a home nebulizer prescribed by the doctors here and am slowly getting better. This isn't the way I visualized this trip. As for getting fills in Boise if you were banded elsewhere...it doesn't happen. The two dr's. in Boise only see patients they have operated on and only do their fills, but any problems like it was stated they have to see you at an ER. I'm from Caldwell. I don't belong to the walking group but know Susan from being online. I came to Tennessee to Vanderbilt Hospital to have my surgery near family...but the date is really up in the air. Welcome to LBT.

I've been off lap band talk for a couple weeks now. I came to be with my daughter in Tennessee to have my surgery. I have had pneumonia for the last couple of weeks and been very ill....much too much so to do much with my surgery at this point. The dr. figures it will be 2 weeks before I can even think about finishing up my appointments and the Lord only knows how long after that it is going to take. I know one thing...I sure have to feel a lot better first. I guess we all have some setbacks in life and there isn't much to do but take them in stride. Much luck to you.

I hear of a lot of bandsters using egg drop soup for protein. Do you make it or buy it. If you make it would someone supply me with a recipe please. It would be much appreciated.

Why not buy a dog? Mine eats what I eat...OK spoiled rotten, but it is better than throwing food away.

Oprah is once again gaining weight and it is apparent...I don't think she has had any type of surgery. As for Wynonna...she loves food and is NOT ready to change that aspect of her life. I love her anyway. She is truly beautiful. I can't stand her mother however. Star Jones had bypass..sure of it. She couldn't have lost as fast on the band.

It's a dangerous drug. Along with never sleeping, dry mouth, non-stop talking and being jittery I got serious heart problems to go along with it. It isn't worth the risk.