lindatatu

I will be walking.

Dee, how was the gas pain? I am more concerned about that. It was pretty bad after the colonoscopy. Do you feel bloated? Are you hungry? I am ready!

Hi everyone, it is so nice talking with everyone and even getting to see one another at the support group meetings. Judy and I think it would be super to all meet and have a get together and perhaps even a clothing exchange. I happen to have the perfect place and since it is also my home it is free, has an elevator and parking. It is in South Buffalo on Seneca Street. We could do it on a Sunday afternoon or whatever seems to be best for the group. I cleaned out my closet in preperation for surgery. I will never wear this size again and if I fail and don't lose weight then I guess I deserve to be naked!:wink2: I suspect everyone has clothes that are way to big for them. So what do you think? Anyone like this idea?

Dee I am glad you are so upbeat. Makes me more confident. My surgery is Monday at 7:30 so I don't know what time I will be going home Tuesday. Was that your husband I was talking to? Love the accent! Keep us posted. I have one comment - I am hungry!

The next Lapband support group meets October 15th at 6pm at BGH. The meeting is held on the first floor in a room off the lobby to the left of the coffee shop and past the gift shop. I think the double doors says something like 'not an exit' but go through them anyway. I doubt if I will be there as I will be two days post op but if I feel good I will go.

Czarbaby, yes the support group is open to everyone. It is way different than the seminar. There is a small group of pre and post banding patients (10-20) and a moderator who has a topic to discuss but then we all just talk about how things are going. It is a great way to meet people from this site. Another great way to meet people on this site is to walk with us Saturday mornings in Delaware Park at 8am. Exercise and friendship-how much better can it get!

Sorry Bandofgold, that was for NoBuffalogal, I couldn't get in to send her a private message. Now she wont know if it is for her anyway duh. I just came back from the WLS Center for my final weigh in and I asked who was scheduled to run the next support meeting. The support group meeting on the 15th will be run by NP Laurie. I stopped up to see Dee at 2:30 and she wasn't in her room yet. Her family was getting anxious but I am sure she is fine.

Val, Dees name is Donna Haylock

Hi do you know there is a thread for Christian bandsters? There is pretty much a thread for any group on this site.:tt2: I am a diabetic and will have surgery October 13th. I hope I can say I am off my medicine also. I have been off insulin once I started the program and now am just on Januvia. I also have sleep Apnea and depression. I would be happy to be off the CPAP machine as well as Januvia. Praise God for this surgery and the brothers and sisters in Christ we make through it.

TXNurse, my surgery is October 13th and I too am nervous, not so much about surgery but the pain after. I am a wimp.:tt2: I totally understand about the not telling people. I too am afraid I will be the one who fails. I have started telling some people because failure is not an option. On vacation a month ago everytime I looked at a tshirt my husband told me to buy a smaller size. I was successful on my weightloss to get insurance approval, and people started to comment on my weight loss AND ask me how I did it. That is what I am afraid of. I am thinking of just saying I had surgery to cure my diabetes and a wonderful after effect was the weight loss. I think as we get more comfortable with our life style change we may be more comfortable telling people. We have a wonderful support group in Buffalo, monthly support meetings in the hospital and we started our own thread on LBT. Tomorrow I go in for my final weigh in and will stop and see someone who is having surgery tomorrow. I never met her except on line. Plus the doctor started a walking group in a local park at 8am on Saturday mornings. Sometimes there are only two of us but it still is nice to talk to someone while walking. I stay overnight so I will be getting my barium swallow when you are going into surgery. I will say a prayer for you. BTW one woman I walk with is a nurse and she told her staff she had her gall bladder out:tongue2:

Well I tried to send you a private messge but no go so here is my email address: Lindatatu@adelphia.net. I use my real name anyhow so... BTW if anyone wants to see what I look like and gets the WNY Catholic newspaper I am on the inside cover with Bishop Kmiec. I will use it as a "before" photo

These posts are addicting. I can't stop reading and digesting all the information. It is so interesting that we are all on the same journey but it is so different. Pre op diets lasting from 6 months to none at all, hospital stays from 4 hours to overnight. Bottom line is we all have the same journey ahead of us I start the preop diet tomorrow, South Beach Phase 1 which is basically no carbs. Surgery is the 13th at 7:30am. I have finally calmed down and am not as nervous. BUT I will really need your support after for my new lifestyle! Proud to be a smashing pumpkin.:tongue2:

LoneStarLoser, I too have been contemplating wearing the exact same thing (a lounger dress). Thanks for helping me feel it is okay.

Shar, I'm glad you decided on Lapband too. I just came from my PCP who did my medical clearance. I also got a flu shot so that was a bonus. My Psychitrist is retiring and I don't care for my endocrinologist so I asked if my PCP would take over both (the psych is just for refills of cymbalta) and he said yes. When I left he said "well I guess I will be seeing more of you." I said "no, you will be seeing less of me, but more frequently" LOL

I am so glad we have this thread to talk with others in the same WLS program at Buffalo General. I have been surfing Lapbandtalk, especially surgury day stories and there are bandsters who arrive at the hospital or OP Clinic at 1pm and are out the door by 5pm! And are sent home on full liquids. Wow, we may all be in this club together but how different our experiences can be.

I have a question. Should I take a book or something to do to the hospital or will I have no time and should I take pajamas or will I leave the gown on? Thanks

My surgery is on the 13th. Mine is Columbus Day (celebrated) and yours is Veterns Day. Through which website do you correspond with Margie or do you talk to her through her personal email? She is a very positive person.

Do you think you see yourself as bigger or smaller than you are? I never wore tight clothes and so I think I fooled myself into thinking I wasn't as heavy as "those" girls. Well I passed along my too big clothes to a volunteer of mine and she came in today wearing them. I was horrified! There is no way they could have looked like that on me. What a wake up call. Over the next months as I (hopefully) lose weight she will serve as a visual of the old me, kind of like a walking before photo, and be a reminder to keep faithful to the band. 11 days and counting!:w00t:

Shar, I don't know about the vitamins but I take the Viactiv with no problems and believe I would know cause I am off the hormones and the hot flashes are fast and furious. And I am not taking the viatamins or viativ as you should stop them a week before surgery so I just stopped them early. Do you have a surgery date? Have you lost your 5%? Once you are approved I don't believe they will cancel surgery for weight gain but SB Phase 1 is very important for the week before surgery. My final weigh in is Monday and I suspect I have gained a few pounds after my marathon poor eating this week.

If I can add my two cents worth-dehydration, especially with new banders, is a cause of tiredness. Drink, Drink, Drink.

Brandie, good luck. I understand. I have 10 days to go and I am not sleeping and eating more than I should. My feelings are all over the map. But I look forward to getting rid of my diabetes and maybe sleep apnea. I look forward to being healthy. Monday I start South Beach Phase1 to shrink my liver and then the surgery is October 13th.

Obviously you have recieved enough answers but I was approved with a BMI of 35 but I have diabetes, sleep apnea, GERD and High bp. They warned me not to lose an ounce though cause I was at the lowest you could be. I will be banded October 13th.

I shouldn't post here cause I am not post op yet but I am amazed at the number of people who are home within hours! In Buffalo we stay overnight and at this point I am very glad. I may not feel that way when I am trying to sleep in the hospital! My surgery is October 13th.

I am so confused about the band fills. Gee I hadn't thought about being filled to the fullest. I think this is a good subject to bring up at the support group meeting. Very few people in Buffalo have been banded long enough for long term studies. I guess we have to rely on what our doctors advise.

Way to go Rain!!! Wow, you sure don't look like you need to loose 99 more pounds! You are beautiful right now!