kamicola

Wow, this list is growing... so nice to know we will all be around the same time so we will be heading down this path together... I have found out so much in the past month.... even the very scary side of banding... I am trying to prepare for all things as best as I can... it is going to be a very bumpy ride and challenging at times, but I am working on keeping my chin up and my attitude shining! Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 BMI 52 Dr. Kuri - Mexico

That's excellent... I am having surgery with my husband and parents at the end of May... I hope to lose 10 or so pounds prior to surgery and hope I am as lucky as you and lose about 20 post op in 2 weeks. ... that would be great! Kammi in Everett. WA

Darn that Safeway! Kammi in Everett, WA

Type in "Safeway" online and look for the grocery link, i don't know, maybe you can order them online, I haven't tried, but worth a short, they are far superior, but that's my opinion, I have tried all the ones available over the past 5 years.

I do believe that the liver shrinking diet should be done by everyone (except those that only qualify for the surgery by a few pounds, then you would probably lose weight and might get bumped out of qualifying. The LSD will not hurt you and also jumps starts your weight loss by 5-20 pounds. You only want to do it 2-3 weeks and not over 4 weeks. You must also do it for the full two weeks without cheating as it puts your body into ketosis and by cheating or doing it shorter than 2 weeks, it won't work. I disagree that it doesn't have anything to do with your BMI.... the higher your BMI, the more fat you have on your liver and the softer and larger your liver is. IF it is knicked during surgery, if they can work around it due to it being enlarged, it could cause major complications and also have know several people that couldn't go through with surgery because of the risks. Ang1982... you were one of the lucky ones... it is not the case for a lot of people... I am glad your surgery went well... in general, most surgeons do require a pre-op diet for most people, but especially for the ones with higher BMI's. Each surgeon may have a different set of instructions for the diet, but it is common practice.

I first think you should follow your doctors recommendations.... you can't eat unsweetened applesauce and sugar-free oatmeal as they are high high high in carbs, which convert to sugar in your body and that will definately not be the way to go... if you want to see what my pre-op, liver shrinking diet consists of I can email it to you, but please email me privately. I am not recommending it, just sharing what I will be doing. Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 kamicola@yahoo.com

If I were you, I would go see your doctor. The chest pain isn't reallly something you mess around with... unless it was gas pain. I come from a family of heart attacks, in fact my mom age 54 has had two and my dad age 56 had a 7 bi-pass open heart surgery two years ago.... so take chest pain seriously. That is just my recommendation... Kammi in Everett, WA

By the way... the BEST TASTING Protein shakes are the SAFEWAY brand.... they come in chocolate and vanilla and are BY FAR better tasting than the Atkins ones... YUCK.... I actually prefer drinking the SAFEWAY ones over even other drinks in general, they are very good. Just thought I would let you know.... if you have SAFEWAY stores in your area. Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 Dr. Kuri - Mexico

Dr. Kuri is phenominal as well... everyone is partial. Just wanted to through that in... he is in Tijuana at Hospital Angeles Kammi in Everett, WA

I haven't had the lap band yet, but I have had a c-section and even though I sailed through my c-section and felt fantastic in a pretty short time, my understanding is the Lap band is WAY less invasive and WAY less healing time and WAY less painful.... that's all I can offer. Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 Dr. Kuri - Mexico

So, it doesn't seem that you are banded yet..... it's really hard to tell if you had low blood sugar or not as I don't know all of the circumstances... but you may have. What are the "normals" that you talk about...? and when did you take those? Remember blood sugar changes constantly. Unfortunately some of the symptoms of being high, are the same as being low... so you could have also had high blood sugar and had the same effect... it's so hard to tell, but if you care concerned, you really should go to your doctor and discuss this.... you may want to ask for a machine from your doctor if you are a borderline candidate for diabetes as well, then check your blood sugars regularly. I would say normal is below 100 for fasting, 120-140 two hours after eating.... if they were in that range, then I am not sure how long ago you checked them, I am assuming with your aunt's machine. I know a lot about diabetes as my husband and I have lived with it for many years (hoping that LAP band will decrease or take it away!). Email me separately if you want more information. Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 Dr. Kuri - Mexico kamicola@yahoo.com

I haven't been banded yet, but know that eating things like Doritos and chicken (at least non-pureed) is a big NO NO. When you eat solid foods like this, even if you chew them, your body is digesting them and muscles in your stomach are moving lots and this could jeopardize the healing of your stiches and things like slippage and other issues could come about. I send hopes of the band being successful for you, if you are pushing it now, it seems as if you may try to cheat the band and that definately won't make you successful... I hope you make a comittment to eating healthy and working with the band so you can achieve the effects that you want to witht the band. Good luck to you my friend. Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 Dr. Kuri - Mexico

Yeah for The Secret... thanks for this link ... I have been there many times, but can't seem to stress to people how life changing the whole thing is.... it has helped transform me (I have a long way to go) into a much better person and much happier, regardless of the weight... now getting the weight off is purely a health issue, not a physical thing. I hope more begin to learn and live The Secret. Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 Dr. Kuri - Mexico

Yeah.... all of our lives are about to change! With all of this excitement, May will be a truly spectacular month in the Universe! I can't wait! ASK, BELIEVE, RECEIVE Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 Dr. Kuri - Mexico

Good philosophy... the universe is always working with our thoughts and requests... if we feed ourselves negative vibes, the universe gives us that... if we always turn negative situations positive, the universe gives us that! ASK, BELIEVE, RECEIVE. Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 Dr. Kuri - Mexico

My understanding of a pre-op diet for the band is to shrink your liver so it is firm instead of squishy, smaller instead of large and in the way and also, remove the fat around the outside of it.... the liver is an organ that can get in the way of placing of the band and can even mean, a band can not be placed in some circumstances if it is not in the appropriate condition. Also, when it is fatty and squishy, it can be knicked during the surgery and tends to bleed a lot and can lead to serious complications. So, I am not sure what the purpose is of a liquid diet for 2 weeks, unless it is high Protein and low carb, as this type of diet achieves the above condition prior to surgery. But, I am not a doctor, so I only know what I have researched. My surgeon's pre-op, liver shrinking diet consists of protein (low carb) shakes and bars for breakfast and lunch (up to a certain number of carbs allowed for each of these meals), then all the lean protein at dinner time with about 1 cup of steamed veggies and then about a half cup of cottage cheese or salad with low carb dressing. That's it for 1-3 weeks, depending on your BMI... lower BMI's may not need to do this pre-op plan. Anyway, it's best to follow your surgeon's pre-op instructions. Part of why I chose my surgeon in Mexico is that I agreed with his philosophy on many things including pre-op issues. Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 Dr. Kuri - Mexico

Oh ps... it is only $7,500 there with a fill center near our home. Up here in WA state we were getting prices from $12,000 to $24,000 for this surgery. Kammi in Everett, WA

Why won't you go to Mexico? My mom, dad, husband and myself are going to Mexico... we have heard nothing but absolutely fantastic stories about our surgeon and the experience in Mexico... the medical facility is by far outstanding and superior to most facilities in the US... less infection rate..... state of the art facility..... the surgeon there has done a very large number of surgeries and his slippage percentage is far lower than most US doctors..... just curious why you won't consider Mexico? Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08

I am a teacher in WA State and two weight loss surgery centers told me that teacher's insurance (all of the options) either exlude it or you have a nearly impossible time getting it approved through denial and appeal process. So... since my husband and I are teachers and need to get the surgery done and my parents are also getting it done (and their insurance - Pacific Care) doesn't cover it either.... we decided to check our Mexico... the surgery up here is on average $18,000 and it is only $7,500 down there... so we found an excellent and highly recommended surgeon in Tijuana and are so happy to all be getting banded at the end of May.... just a thought for any of you who can't affort it up here and need to get it done and your insurance doesn't cover it. Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 Dr. Kuri - Mexico

Cosmos, I am sorry this all happened to you. Kammi in Everett, WA

We have a support group in Everett for Dr. Kuri patients twice a month, but let me know when you are coming down sometime and maybe we can meet. No matter where you get the support, it's so nice to have!

I was going to be banded at the WLSC in Everett as that is where I live, went to a seminar there, but too expensive so we are going to Dr. Kuri for a third of the price and more experience with banding.... do you live in the area if you are going to the WLSC Marine? Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 Dr. Kuri - Mexico

Sydney, I am scheduled for the 27th as well with my husband... it's the day before my birthday, I am totally with ya on the birthday cake thing! Where are you getting banded? Where are you from? Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded by Dr. Kuri - Mexico

Erica... where are you from, I am in Everett. Kammi in Everett, WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 Dr. Kuri - Mexico

Welcome to all of the May Bandsters.... !!!! It is truly great to hear about all of the people who will embark on this journey along with me! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I don't even know what it will be like to be able to buy clothing in a regular store... I haven't done that in YEARS! I am at 335 now and hope to get to at least 225 in a year or so. I want to have another child and being almost 37, I better hurry, so you better believe I am going to work as hard as I can to get my weight down so I can get going on that baby! Kammi in Everett,WA soon to be banded 5/27/08 Dr. Kuri - Mexico 335 Current 52 Current BMI