casargirl

Hi - I have just started my process and am wondering about other North Carolinians. What is your story? I am going to Hickory for my education class on June 10th. Very excited about having help to lose weight and love the success stories. Please share yours....

Hello Stephanie... Yes I had lapband surgery in August at Hickory. I had Dr. Hata of Hickory Surgical Associates.... Please pm me and I will be glad to tell you more... Shelia

I was banded on August 14, too... But I have had no trouble and feel great! I am having trouble getting in my Protein and enough Water right now... But I am on soft foods and feel as if once I get to the time when I can distinguish a meal from the liquids that I will be okay. I just want to turn a bottle of water up and drink! Not sip... All in all I feel that this band will be great and I am so blessed to have been able to get it, have my insurance, and start on a healthier life. Shelia

Hi - I just got banded last Thursday, so let me tell you how I handled the pre-op diet. I decided on July 12 that I would mainly do liquids - crystal light, Protein shakes, but have one meal a day of salad with grilled chicken or eggs and cheese. After doing that about 2 weeks, I started on liquids only - my doc preferred low carb slim fast and I could mix with flavorings or frozen fruit for a smoothie. I also could have Atkins Advantage. There was broth - I preferred the veggie. I could have V8 and I liked it heated, sugar free Jello and sugar free popsicles. By the day of surgery, I had lost 30 pounds. Sure some days I was hungry and wanted food. But the reason behind the low carb diet is to shrink the liver. It makes surgery easier. So I slowly went into the diet. And I could've eaten *my last supper* and gained more weight, but I am glad I went this route. I am feeling good and have lost the IV Fluid weight and 3 pounds! But with any plan - you have to follow your doctor's advice, so talk to them now and see how you need to plan. Shelia

Thanks Cass for your info... Sounds like you are well on your way to being banded... Congratulations ! Shelia

I have been wondering about some of this myself... I have been on a modified liquid diet with V8, low carb slim fast, crystal light and Water, with once a day meal of grilled chicken salad or cheese and eggs. I have lost 14 pounds with this plan and as of tomorrow I plan to go full liquids. My question is the concern of how many carbs per day is okay to continue to shrink my liver? Does anyone know?? Shelia

what is PB??

Hi - sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I went yesterday to the educational class and had all my other stuff done before I went. I had the psych evals, my doctor's letter and chart information copied. Now I am waiting for a phone call for my appt. with one of the Docs. Met Dr. Cook and he seems like a good guy. Would like to hear more about where you are in this process. Please feel free to email me - casargirl@yahoo.com

I am so glad to see a site for the Hickory area - I live in Cleveland County - have everything done but my education class and it is scheduled for June 10. Tell me everything ! I want to know your stories and I will share mine, too. I am 54 years old - have worked as a paramedic for the county full time for 21 years + and am retiring at the end of this month - only 3 shifts to go ! I am a LPN for a Kings Mtn Hospital ER and plan to continue working that job. I will have a small pension from the county, but will need more $$. I have 2 daughters, the oldest is divorced and gave me a wonderful 6 year old grandson, and she has just finished nursing school. The youngest is married, and is a paramedic and she has a beautiful 14 month old daughter. The grandbabies are my joy ! I have Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. I am looking forward to taming the hunger and losing weight to become healthier and be around for my grandbabies. It is time for ME and that is the other reason I am taking this step. I think it has been 20-25 years since I was a *normal* weight. I can lose, but then gain it and then some. This is the heaviest I have been. And I am miserable. Now it is your turn. Please tell me about yourselves and your journey.

Just reading everyone's post gets me excited about when I will get to the point of having a date for surgery. I have finished my psych evals, my doctor's appt is May 27th, and then my education date is June 10th. I had no idea about the pre-op diet, and find it interesting to hear everyone's story. One question that I have, that I have not seen any information on : Will the cravings for food diminish? I feel that I need something turned off in my brain - and I get that when I take phentermine, but eventually, I get off track and start eating again. So what do ya'll have to say? Do you feel the cravings diminish?

for your replies - I look forward to getting to know you and posting often with my questions and successes. Having this support will definitely give me the advantage of an extended family....

Help ! I am scheduled for my education class on June 10th, have already had my psych evals, family doc labs, etc. But I did not know about the pre-op dieting. Tell me more.