CMTurner

Welcome kygirl31. I like wvgal will be in my recliner between walks around the house thinking good thoughts for you and your surgery. I didn't have to have anything done to my gallbladder because I don't have it any more. I am getting so excited. Thank god vegetables are unlimited (the good kind anyways) on my pre-op diet or otherwise I would have to maim my DH. LOL It is getting better. I am just one of those people that eat for any dang reason so I am trying to keep busy and doing things to keep my mind off food. I am getting soooo excited for all of us. :laugh::w00t::laugh::wink2:

Congratulations and it sounds like you are well on your way. Amazing pre-surgery weight loss. I will keep you in my prayers for surgery tomorrow. Can't wait to join you in band land.

Hi Gracie. You have the same surgery date as wvgal and I. It's going to be a wonderful and safe day for us all. I have the liver shrink diet too and I am using adkins advatage protein shakes. I like the vanilla and the chocolate fudge flavors the best but can tolerate them all. Also the Boost glucose control ones were one of the ones the nutritionist offered us trials of and they weren't too bad. I am having my DH take some pics tonight for pre-surgery diary etc since I am feeling better after skin cancer removal on Monday but I can't wait to compare to family pics taken around the upcoming holidays. Good luck to all with upcoming surgery dates! & Congrats to all who have already had surgery.

Congrats on your surgery. You will be all healed up and buzzing around everywhere when I get home from surgery in exactly two weeks from today! Keep us posted on your journey. Can't wait to join you in bandster land.

OK so they didn't hurt me (too bad) . Just teasing. Just did the normal gallon (8 vials) of blood, a chest x-ray, and EKG. I must admit, the first nurse who took my history and my blood was psycho/OCD. She had to go through my papers several times and get them laid out just so before she would even start asking me any questions. Then she triple checked and cross checked those about 50 times (REALLY). Then when she went to get out all the different types of vials for all the different tests she actually picked each vial up about 4 times and rearranged them bout 10 times before she started to draw my blood. Then she re-checked each vial at least 3 times after she put the stickers with my name and info on it and read my name each time when she picked it up. Realize we are in a seperate room and nobody else has even peeked in so there is NO WAY she is gonna get mine mixed up with someone elses blood. LOL. She even tripled bagged the two vials that needed to be on ice. Of course that took forever for all of that to happen. Then off for a quick walk all the way on the other side of the hospital for my chest x-ray then back up front for my EKG. Just to make me feel better the young man doing that apologized for it taking so long and said there was no way I was 40. Yeah that worked.....all was forgiven. LOL Oh yeah forgot to tell you OCD nurse also had told me about 5 times where I would need to go when I come in for surgery (to elevators and up to 3rd floor and to Outpatients sign) and she still had to show me (same elevators I passed to come in for all this testing) and she had also written it on one of the "outpatient surgery and you" pamphlets she handed me too. I mean I totally understand about making sure things are accurate and the right patient but geesh! Glad she isn't doing my surgery, I'd be in there 2 days probably. LOL. Well back is feeling a little tender now from Monday so I am going to bed early. Oh yeah.....great news is I had already lost 8 lbs since kinda sticking to liver shrink diet the last couple of weeks. Can't wait to see how I will do sticking to it really good til the day before surgery. Whoohooo!! Hope you all are having a good time leading up to the beginning of the rest of our lives.

Wow. Our little subgroup multiplied. The more the merrier getting healthy and all. Getting ready to go do pre-op testing this am so I will let ya all know what they did to me when I get back.

Yea Bridgette! Glad to have you join our little group. Everyone - Here is what I have from my nutritionist. Hopefully these are readable on here. If not email me and I will resend them.

Sounds like the 29th will be a great day for several of us followed closely by a few others. Before you know it we will all be SMASHING (and Smashing Pumpkins too). You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

wvgal - as far as taking your vitamins, you can start taking them now or some say within a week or so of surgery. You can also ask or search for answers to any question(s) on here. I don't know what to tell you about the money thing. If they haven't told you by now, I am guessing they will balance bill you once your insurance pays. That way they will know the exact amount owed since they probably won't know how much of your out of pocket maximum you will have met prior to those charges being billed to insurance. I have had a couple of other basal cell carcinomas removed previously. I am having the most recent (in my middle lower back) removed this coming Monday, Oct. 13th. I am betting she will also burn/freeze a couple more spots on that day too. YUK Right now both of my hands look like someone tortured me with a cigarette. I keep telling DH I am gonna tell everyone he did it. LOL Being light skinned and redheaded is not a bonus when it comes to sun damaged skin. I spent my whole life (last 39 years) out in the sun either on the farm or doing sports and of course we didn't even know what sunscreen was for forever. Worst part is these multiple issues with basal cell carcinoma increase my risk for melanoma. I haven't really spent any time out in the sun in the last year and a half or so. So much so that I have to take a prescription dose of vitamin D to make up for what I am not producing by being out in the sun. But I have a really good dermatologist who isn't too brutal and I now try and keep a close eye on anything that looks suspicious. I am sure they will get it all again. I hope your lesion turns out to be nothing. Email me any time you wanna talk.

Support is good. I am ready for our surgery dates to get here though. Plus that would mean I have already went to dermatologist for skin cancer (basal cell so not THE worst kind) removal. I think they need to come up with a less painful way to numb you up. But back to weight loss. We are all gonna do a great job! And watermum, I love your avatar. LMAO You go girl. wv gal how did your appointment go?

Congrats to all that have already had surgery and Good Luck to all those who are going to be having surgery. I am so excited for us all. Let the weight loss begin! Pumkins Rule! LOL

I am so sorry to hear you are going through this right now. Remember you did this surgery for you and your health. If your boyfriend is willing to go off with someone he just met and text you regarding breaking up and refusing to answer your calls, he is not the kind of person you need around you in the first place. Believe me when I say most of us have to go through some worthless men to find a good one. It trains us what to watch out for in future relationships. Just focus on yourself and healing and working your band to get the best result. And for added incentive just thing about the look on his face when he eventually sees how wonderful you look and and sees you having a wonderful time with the right guy. I know you will do wonderfully in your weight loss journey.

Yea! All I have left to do is pre-op testing on the 14th and of course start the liver shrink diet on that date too. I am so excited to have a lap band friend who is sharing the same surgery date. TTYL Cindy

Keloids are raised scars. They are usually a much darker color (for me anyways) and are not exactly attractive. I believe they are usually a lighter color on people of color. Either way they stand out in more ways that one. And for me they almost always itch. I have had people that have accidentally seen then and think I have something crawling on me. LOL

I am white and I DO keloid. Horribly so. In fact I go back to the dermatologist in a couple of weeks to re-inject my scars with cortisone. Which sucks. I also have keloids from my gall bladder surgery but she isn't gonna work on them until after my surgery because hopefully my bariatric surgeon is gonna "re-use" a couple of them and make them neater. I used to just keloid on my upper shoulder area (I know weird but true) but now that I am older (and not as healthy as I used to be) I have trouble with scarring any where.

Hey gal. I just posted on another of your posts and also sent you a message. BUt here is the liver shrink diet my doctor and nutritionist gave me to follow 2 weeks prior to surgery: Liver Shrink Diet Remember: Vegetables ar unlimited on this diet. (except potatoes, corn, Beans, and peas. Breakfast Protein shake or Protein Bar (You may use any shake as long as it has 220 or less calories and 10g or less fat/serving) Mid Morning Snack 1 small piece of fruit (if you have Diabetes add 4 oz low-fat yogurt) lunch Protein Bar (220 calories of less and 10g or less of fat) or Shake Mid Afternoon Snack 1 small piece of fruit (add 4 oz low-fat yogurt if you have Diabetes) dinner 3 oz meat (lean) - The size of a deck of cards steamed vegetables or salad with Fat-free salad dressing 6 unsalted crackers or 2 slices low calorie bread or 1 small baked potato 1/2 c fruit or 1 small piece of fruit Evening Snack 1 small piece of fruit (add 4 oz low-fat yogurt if you are Diabetic) (You may have non-caloric beverages on this diet) NO ALCOHOL!!!!!!!! Examples: Decaf. Tea, Crystal Light, sugar-free Kool-Aid, Water Follow This 1 Day Prior To Surgery: Clear liquids only including Jello, broth, juice, and any beverages listed above. Jello can be congealed, but do not put fruit in it it. (NO RED JELLO) & NOTHING TO EAT PAST MIDNIGHT (of course). This is just what my surgeon and nutritionist gave me. Of course everyone's seems different but I just thought I would give you something to go on. October 29th will be here before we know it!! We will both rock this band. :tt1:

ME! I just found out today I am scheduled for surgery at 10 AM on the 29th. I would love to provide and recieve support with someone having surgery on the same date. I am so excited. I have to start my two week liver shrink diet in one week.

ME ME ME too! Just schedule my surgery for October 29th! OMG Whoohooo! I start my 2wk liver shrink diet one week from today. I can not wait! I met with my new surgeon (partner of Dr. Weaver's) today and I really like him. Super nice and wants to do whatever it takes for me to succeed. Can hardly believe I finally have a date. Now gonna have to take current measurements and pre-weight loss photos. Not sure if I am brave enough to post any of that info yet. LOL Can't wait to get on the "band wagon". Good luck to everyone having surgery before me (and everyone after too of course). We are gonna make it! Love you all and thanks for all the wonderful support and info on this web site. Helped keep from going further insane. Now gonna have to figure out that ticker thing.

My DH and I were just talking about this (my appt is tomorrow to set my surgery date) and I am gonna give myself small rewards along the way like massages and facials (spa days) and of course new clothes to supplement the range of smaller sizes I kept in the closet for when I lose weight (LOL). But as far as a reward for reaching my goal weight, we talked about a cruise or a long weekend in Vegas or go to San Diego for several days to visit our friend who is transferring there. I can hardly wait to start the rest of this journey! Good luck to everyone!

I was charged $350 which covered 2 nutrition education classes (which were required before you could meet with the surgeon), one on one nutritional counseling and dietary evaluation, and for gathering and sending in paperwork to the insurance. This fee also covers 5 yrs of follow up nutritional counseling and group meetings.

I agree with Jacqui. Go have some fun. You don't have to keep up drink for drink.

I would call about once a week at least. The sooner you know, the sooner you can schedule surgery or start the appeals process.

Congratulations and Good Luck! I will be thinking of you today. Save me a seat on "the Band wagon". You will do wonderful!

Sherry are you a patient of Dr. Weaver? It sounds like the diet I will have to go on when I get a surgery date. Also wondering if you are the person I met at the nutrition classes?