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Judy, I have an appoinment with Dr. Hoffman on August 19th. The NP said it is usually 6 weeks later for surgery. I have a huge PR event on the 23rd of September for which a lot of my family will be in town and I do not want anything to interfere with my mind or body before that so I can't do anything before October or the very end of September anyway. I will tell my family about the surgery then also. (No use worrying the parents till its a done deal - they actually pointed out the article to me because it is said to cure diabetes) I wasn't fond of phase 1 but 2 was good. I am never hungry! To be honest, not being able to loose anymore told my heart - eat something you are not allowed. But my brain wont let me! I bought a bag of popcorn Thursday and it is still sitting here unopened. Plus I am always so full. When I get back I have a lot of results to dig up from different doctors plus check if my test results and psych report which have been sent a second time were received. I swear they loose more stuff in that office! I was thinking of the Delaware Park walkers this morning as I was hiking the mountains of NC while my granddaughter was cross country running. Longing for flat land!

Rain and Brubear, Congratulations. Keep us informed so we know what to expect. I am out of town and so happy to be able to keep in touch by the website. Someone mentioned Dr. Hoffman being out of town part of the summer....for 2 weeks in August he will be involved with his Boards. I have an appointment with him for a colonoscopy on July 10th and my surgery apointment on August 19th. I am so happy I have him for my doctor even if I havn't met him yet. Can anyone tell me how to put the ticker on the bottom of your web page?

Judy, I think certain plans just work for certain people. I do not drink with meals preparing for surgery so if I am full it is all food. I did not go overboard on protein except for the chili which I ate several times. Mostly lots of veggies. AND if I wasn't hungry I did not snack. I know there is a theory but eating when I wasn't hungry got me in this program so I don't want to start the habit plus after surgery it is only three meals. I was just lucky. Now I have to follow Phase 3 to maintain. Good luck.

Hi everyone, especially the new members. I had my first appointment today. I almost blew it. I lost to much weight on SB! My BMI is .1 above the limit. Every single person I saw today warned me not to gain or lose any weight till surgery. I must maintain it and to me that is tough! The very first minute I went in to get weighed and they lost my original weigh in information. I would have been out of the program immediately BUT I had my copy. I cannot stress the importance of photocopying everything!!! I almost wish I had not gone in early to be weighed and was starting SB today. Anyway everyone was super nice answered all my questions and was helpful. I said I would ask and the I did so....the 5% weight loss is required by some insurance companys not the hospital. Mine, Independent Helath does require it. I was assigned Dr. Hoffman and from what you guys said I was happy. I could have switched it to Forbes but I believe he was assigned to me for a reason. At the end of the appt I found out they never received my psych evaluation so I called the doctor and had that resent even though they said they did send it. I have to have a colonoscopy and Dr. Hoffman is going to do that for me on July 10th. I just had an ECD so that was good. I went and got my blood work done and will start the 24 hour urine in the am. Thursday morning I am flying out for 10 days to babysit my grandkids in Asheville, NC. Someone asked about getting an abdominal sonogram. I have to get the results of just about every test I ever had - mammogram, breast biopsy pathology report, UGI, abdomanal ultrasound, Sleep study, EKG and venous doppler, even if they weren't recent. I see the nutritionist again on JUly 22 and Dr. Hoffman on August 19th. I suspect Surgery will be in October. Whew, its been a long road but I feel like I am finally on my way. I hope to go to the July support meeting.

Daniellabee, I agree call to make sure they got everything and photocopy everything you give them. I believe you have to be invited to attend a seminar. Once they accept you into the program you will be invited to a seminar and then the process begins. Personally I sent my application on March 12, was invited to the May seminar and my first appointment which is 3 hours long and includes a meeting with the nurse practioner, nutritionist and physical therapist is tomorrow. I have a BMI of 40 with co morbiditys and was accepted. Good luck

Bloom, if you were at the May Seminar when was your 3 hour appointment and did you say you think you will be banded in August or just meet the surgeon? I am so anxious for a timeline. I guess I will find out Tuesday.

I went to my endo today and he didn't answer all my questions - he seemed like he either didn't care or didn't hear me and did not say a word when he weighed me even though I lost at least 20 lbs since he saw me last, 3 months ago. Even when I ask him about the insulin dosage he refuses to commit. His answer is always it is differnet for everyone. I asked him if my labs were better because I had been on SB and they say it does great things to your lab work and he didn't even answer me. Next stop was the podiatrist and he seemed distracted to. Geez I sure hope tomorow at my 3 hour blitz goes better.

Val, I am thinking of changing endocrinologist to someone who is familar with Lapband patients. Do you recommend Dr. Lippes? Where is he located? I am going to ask tommorrow at my 3 hour blitz. YEAH FINALLY!

Thanks Judy, I look forward to attending my first support meeting at Buffalo General next month. Thanks for the info on the fairs. Banders can't eat bread huh. Is that a forever thing?

Bloom -Duh do I feel dumb. I found the date and time on my next post. Congratulations on your success. I don't love SB but it is really working on me also and controlling my diabetes wonderfully. When I was diagnosed my sister bought me the SB cookbooks so I already had them on hand. Didn't care for the Spinich Quiche cups in Phase 1 but I made the sausage eggs one this morning and they were good plus I have breakfast already made for five more mornings. I am thinking of making them when I go babysit my grandkids for 10 days next week. I too have been successful on Phase 1 losing 17 lbs which is more than my 5%. Since Phase 2 I have lost 3 more. BUT I am a wreck that when I get weighed on Tuesday I will have to maintain that till surgery which could be months away! Makes we wish I had not been so successful. I bought the SB Supercharged book also and yesterday I bought the SB exercise CD. I have and love the Leslie Sansone tapes but I can't do them becuase some of the walking movements hurt my feet. The main problem with this forum - I am suppossed to be working and I am on here! The auditor is due in 15 minutes and I still can't still my desk! But at least I'm the boss and work at home or live at work however you want to word it so I'm only in trouble with me! :rolleyes2: I love reading and learning from all these post.

Judy If I could maintain or keep losing weight I wouldn't need the surgery. I am scared and wonder if I should gain some weight back before Tuesday. I lost more than 10%! I will be sure to ask about who requires the weight loss.

Hi everyone, I wish they put dates on these posts cause I don't know if I stumbled on something old or not but I am reading about all the SB dieting. PLEASE dont tell me I have to be on this until surgery! That could be months away. I was counting on getting weighed at my first appointment and that would be it. I did loose the 5% and then some. I actually am doing very well and I am never hungry. I am on phase 2 and still have only had two pieces of bread and it has been 9 days. I think I am scared to start eating again. I am a diabetic and I felt fabulous (but board) on Phase 1, not so great on phase 2. By the way I don't think it is insurance that requires the 5% loss but Kaleida who does. Thats what I heard. I guess I will know all these answers on Tuesday at my first appointment. Good luck to all of you who are having surgery on the 23rd. You will be getting ready to go home and I will be going in for my first time.:cursing:

Hi Buffalo bansters...I have a questions for someone who has already been banded. As I was driving around today (still on my SB Diet) I must have passed a sign for a church or community festival at every corner. What can we eat at those fairs? Also, do support people come to the support group meetings or are those just for the banders? Thanks.

Judy, my GI doctor tried to do my colonoscopy and couldn't. If I trust the surgeon to go into my body while looking at a camera I trust he can find his way around a twisted colon. I have to. :frown:

Judy, at the seminar they told us we could come in and get weighed (without an appointment) so I did and got the weight, BMI etc. Our seminar was May 1st and the first appointment isn't until June 24th so this way we got a head start on the weight loss. I haven't had my first appointment yet but I was thinking of asking for Dr. Forbes since she is a woman but you guys sure talk up Dr. Hoffman as being wonderful. I was on the GBS forum for local people and my friend told me Hoffman doesn't have the track record that Posner and Forbes do but maybe that is just for GBS. I trust all your opinions.

Bugs, Yes you use the referral letter in your packet. There is also a Medical Clearance Form/Medical Fitness Assessment. I went to see my primary dr and he filled both of them out right there with me, asking me questions along the way. If the primary doctor is for the surgery they should be very cooperative. Make sure you photocopy everything you do before sending it in - this includes bloodwork, cpap titrations etc. I had blood work this morning for my 3 month diabetes workup and a ECG scope last Thursday and had copies sent to the doctor just in case. I think more is better than less. I didn't know about the 24 hour urine until reading about it on this site but other than that I think the only other thing I need is a colonoscopy and when I told Dr. Posner and Forbes at the seminar that I went for one but my colon is twisted Posner said I need one because I am over 50 but not to worry because he would do it for me so no one else trys and ends up perforating it. I hope when I go on the 24th I will be a step ahead. Because of committments that preclude time off for recovery if I don't get the surgery in July (doubtful) I have to wait till October anyway. I am patient. I'm just not real thrilled with this SB Diet.

Bugs, my weight loss history was very vague on the application and I was accepted into the program. Don't worry.

Judy, I just found the site with the Buffalo posts so I am replying to your post of a few days ago. I have my 3 hour blitz on 6/24. I too am scared and vasilating. I had a lot of success on phase 1-lost 13 1/2 lbs but phase 2 is much slower. I am worried I can keep losing until the 24th or at least maintain. I think one of the reasons for the long process is to allow us time to really think this through and not make a rash decision. There is a lot at stake and involves a life time lifestyle change. The various stages and tasks give us time to think things through. I have a lot of information on post op foods and requirements and I keep reading it wondering how hungry I will be and if I can handle it. I understand your feelings.

Congratulations! My 3 hour appointment is June 24th. Hopefully I will be following you soon. Thanks for the timeline. It helps.

Loraine, I have my first appointment (3 hour) on June 24th. I already got weighed and have lost my 5% on South Beach, I had my CPAP titrated and they have the psych evaluation. I just had a scope on Thursday and blood work this morning for other doctors and had the reports sent to the office. Do you think this will speed up the process. Also I read someone else say this and now it bothers me. If I keep losing on South Beach by the 24th my BMI could be below the limit. I have comorbiditys so that might help. It is exciting to see other Buffalo patients on the site.

HI, Sorry I can't help you but I was so excited to see your post as I to am in the same program and have been looking for someone from Buffalo. It was a little frustrating to see how long you have been in the process! I started in March and my first appointment is June 24th but I have every issue that I know of already taken care of including the required 5% weight loss. Have you been to the LapBand support group at the hospital yet? That is where you may be able to ask questions and see results. I hope someone answers this post who can help you feel better. I have an online friend who started the process at the same time and she is very frustrated with the office and their losing things and not answering the phone etc. I asked several health care professionals for a referral including my gyn who had GBS and Dr. Forbes comes highly recommended. I don't know if we pick a surgeon or are assigned one but I was thinking of asking for Forbes. Its a woman thing. I thought they were all nice and helpful at the seminar. Good Luck and I hope to hear from you again. If you need someone locally to talk to we can exchange email addresses.

Hi, I haven't been to my first visit yet (June 24th) but at the orientation we were advised of all to have done and our insurance requires you to loose 5% of your weight before surgery. I am glad it is not 6 months BUT might as well get used to the new eating pattern as soon as possible. Our surgeon asks us to go on the South Beach Diet and I am in the strict 2 week phase but have already lost 10 pounds. Good luck.

I am already on insulin and have been since day one. I also take junuvia. I am considering asking the surgeons office is they work with an endocrinologist who is familiar with lap band. I told my endo and he said lap bands are to easy to cheat with. Nice support.

Jack, I am in the the beginning stages having been accepted but still no surgery date. As with Caligirl I am so concerned about controlling BG during pre and post op diets. Can you chew glucose tablets to control lows? I considered GBS because 95% of diabetics go into remission almost immediatley but my husband doesn't care for the mortality rate so we are sticking with Lap Band. I would love to go off meds and insulin.

Hi I am in the beginning phase. Have my educational meeting coming up. I am concerned about the liquids only phase and how you handle keeping your blood sugar level? I need assurance.