debbieperez55

Welcome September Samurai! Good Luck

I spoke to the Nutritionist - I don't have to eat yogurt YEAH:thumbup: I get to drink Milk instead, but I promised her I would try, I am mean really try with an open mind. I am much better today. Just preparing, going Friday to get a Magic Bullet, since I will be on mushy forever. I figure I can take it to work with me to blend my shakes. Also picking up Protien shake and small containers for milk and "cream soup" So do you all get 3 - 3/4 cup total meals plus 3 Snacks a day. I was amazed. At first the snacks are Protien Shakes 1/2 cup, but I had thought it was only three meals a day period. Okay, the only cream Soup I know, and I have to make it with milk, is Cream of Mushroom and Cream of chicken. So I just buy Campbells? Thanks for all your help, you are all the BEST!!! Huggs Debbie

Okay, now I feel better, a little laughter goes a long way!!! Thank you so much. I am now going to have this cheer in my head all night :thumbup: You are all the best HUGGS :smile: Debbie

Thanks Amber. They are still waiting for the Stress EKG, it is still being dictated. Should be any day, but I know I will still have my surgery! You are on Tuesday and I follow on Friday. Tell me EVERYTHING. I am getting a little (LOT) nervous just about now. Debbie

Hey Terri, thank for doing this. Everyone wants to be remembered. Best wishes to all of you and my prayers will be with you. Take care, HUGGS Debbie

Okay, I am ready to jump out of my skin and I have another week and a half to go. I was reading over my post op diet stages and the types of foods you eat at each one. The amounts are staggering. 1/2 cup of salad, what about the whole head???? 1/2 cup Cereal, I eat half a box!!! And what is the thing about YOGURT, I HATE YOGURT!!!!! The Dietician must love YOGURT! I am so afraid. I am doing great on my drinks, now I have to do it officially, 2 drinks a day plus dinner. I want this so bad and I guess it is the fear of the unknown. Now for funny things, a small jar of baby food, pureed chicken, the offered baby meat, maybe not baby meat. After 3 days I am on full liquid, but I am not allowed all foods for 5 months, something about getting a impression from the band on your stomach. I want this so bad I am going to taste test Yogurt, YOGURT!!! My Mom suggested Splenda and vanilla flavoring to plain yogurt, I guess the chocolate whip is out of the question. Please let me know I am not the only one. I know GG is doing fantastic and so are the others, but I am so nervous at this exact second. I know, listen to my own advice, but there are times I let my emotions run all over me. :cursing: This too shall pass, but at this moment in time :thumbdown: eeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

I just had my Hospital Pre-Op today. Found out some great news. The second EKG looks much better than the first, they didn't have the leads in the correct position. I have something wrong, but was told not to stress, and it will not stop my lap band! I am so SO happy :frown: Seems loosing weight and getting the band is key to my heart. And I guess I don't have to fear dropping dead at any second. I am just glad that whatever it is that I have is not as bad as the STUPID Dr made me think last week. :smile: Who does she think she is messing with lives and wasting money. Anyway my Dr will finally have the info tomorrow, but they said passing the Stress EKG trumps the other EKG when it comes to the surgery. :huh2: Looks like next week is for sure Thank you all so much for all your prayers, they worked! :redface: Huggs Debbie

I know we have to crush pills. BUT - when you are on the liquid diet, how do you take bitter crushed pills? Are capsules okay? I take Metaform or whatever that stupid name is and it is HUGE. Also, my blood pressure pill is huge. And how do you crush them? My Pharmacy compounds and will make things for me, but will insurance cover? I guess I am just freaking out again.

Okay - good news - after two weeks of crushing I will be re-evaluated for some of my meds, especially the Diabetis Meds. And I get to use Flinstone Chewables! After a few months I will be able to take my pills, just one at a time. So at least the yuck crushing is only for a very short time.

Ankpta My EKG was abnormal too, turns out I have a problem, but the BIGGEST problem is that the Tech must have done drugs that day and she put my leads on wrong. Hope your EKG is okay, I know how scarey it can be to think that you have a time bomb in your chest. For me, loosing weight is imperative which of course means - I NEED MY LAP BAND. Let me know how it goes, my heart goes out to you. Debbie :redface:

I went to the Hospital today for my PreOp. I weight more than the scale at work but still they said I had done fantastic. I told the Nurse about our "Liverphobia" and guess what - she told me EVERYONE who is serious about their lap band has "Liverphobia" We have all gone through so much to get this close and the fear of this one thing - is overwhelming. We are almost there, liver or not, we will make it! (okay that didn't exactly make sense, but you know what I mean! :redface: Debbie

MY BIRTHDAY!!! What a perfect day:thumbup: It may seem a long way off, but it gives you enough time to get all your pre op work done. Good luck Debbie:wink_smile:

Glad you thought of that too, I was afraid I was the only one. I did come up with a band name - Antonio BANDerous, sexy, foriegn, takes your breath away. Seems appropriate. :thumbup:

Michelle, thank god you just said that! I got something for my anxiety, just took one and feeling much much better :thumbup::wink: Yeah I better go to bed soon. Anyway with the EKG and all the crap and worry that the surgery would be cancelled so when they offered I took it. I don't like drugs, but you know jumping out of your skin is not good either. Let me know if she can feel to see if your liver has shrunk. I would start poking myself but I am afraid I will cause something else to go wrong.:thumbup: But truely I totally understand. During our seminar they told us how important it was to shrink the liver, obviously other Doctors are saying the exact same thing. If I could slip one of those tiny little pills through the screen for you I would, but just know I care. Huggs Debbie Maybe we can we can start a sub group for all the "crazy liverophobia ladies" How much you want to bet we have a million members???

I had my stress test today, passed. Did my Chest XRAy, can you really fail a chest XRay? My EKG - shows a probable inferior infarction. A heart attack! :thumbup: I guess not now, but I have had one. sometime. Anyone else with this problem? Any support would be appreciated.:party: I can't see my Dr until tomorrow. At least my panic attack is gone. Feeling very blue and scared.:sad: Debbie

Thank You Michelle. Actually I took some meds and I think they are kicking in - you know happy drugs. So if I get mushy.... But really thank you for your support, you are so kind. I appreciate it very much. Everyone has been so understanding. Actually this is the place I need to be. After I am banded they can watch my heart and improved health will follow. See, I have it all figured out Take care Debbie

Jennifer, everyone is different, and please tell your story. As my Band Buddy said, we need to know the good, the bad and the ugly. And telling your story might help you feel better, maybe someone has gone through the same thing. My husband told me, that's what you have your support group for and he was right. Everyone has been there for me and I have gotten lots of hugs. Look, maybe you are just more sensitive or maybe your surgery was more complicated. Don't dismiss yourself. Jennifer, just do the best you can do, but follow your Doctor's instructions to the letter. And take your pain meds as directed. Don't be a hero. Maybe with controlled pain you will be able to move more. But remember - WE ARE THERE FOR YOU! SEPTEMBER SAMURAI STICK TOGETHER. Okay, so rest and soon you will feel better :thumbup: Huggs Debbie

Sherri, I don't know what I would have done if not for this support group. It's such a same that we are on the internet. There are so many times when I feel that someone needs a hug or I have needed one. I am a very emotional and giving person so this I miss, to cry on someone's shoulder and them there for you. But where else would we meet such diverse people who share so much with us. I guess we have to give up the personal so that we can find so many with this in common. Anyway, Thank you so much I WILL have my surgery, this is just a little bump in the road. :-) Debbie

You are not paranoid, and you can NEVER post too much. I just figured out, we joined this group for support and that is why we are here for you! We are all going down the same road together, it is a long and scary journey. I think most of us are afraid of that "damn" liver. We have heard so much about the stupid thing. I heard even 10 pounds can shink your liver significiently! You are going to be okay, I promise. We can make it together. I am afraid too, but I decided that I am going to take control of my health and my heart. I spoke to the Nutritionist because of my heart problem. I told her about my self imposed preop diet. I drink 2 to 3 glucerna or boost diabetic drinks a day and a high protien low carb meal a day. She told me this is fine, keep doing it. Weekends are hard, but I feel if I drink another glucerna or have some protien I am still doing great. See - we all want little livers. I think the reason is because they need to lift it to get to your stomach. Smaller liver, easier for the Dr. Easier for the Dr, easier for you after. And if you have read from some of the others, they did fine in surgery. YOU will too. After all, you are a September Samurai, and September Samurai's kick butt!

Oh, thank you so much. I am blessed to have so many really care. I get very emotional sometimes and you all help me so much. I have decided that I need to take charge and I am going to call my Insurance Surgery CoOrdinater and tattle (okay that I know is childish - but if it works). I am going to tell her how they would not give me the retest like my Dr wanted and how they will not forward the new EKG. How can I be treated if my Dr does not know the exact results! Anyway I am going to see if she can move some mountains for me. See - I am acting like a Samurai already - they better watch for my sword! HI YAH :shades_smile: I think I will kick some Urgent Care butt!!!!!! But really, this is too important to me. I am going to stop lying down and letting them walk all over me. I am taking control now! :thumbs_up: But your prayers might help too! :thumbs_up: Thanks so much for all your support :teeth_smile: Debbie

So glad to hear that everyone is doing so well. And in case you were wondering, we love your detailed stories. I am getting so much from all of you. Some of you are so descriptive it is like I am there. I am very visual and this is really helping me. Knowing what lies ahead is half the battle. Keep letting us know how you are doing, we all care so much about you! Debbie

Thanks Teri. I think the prayers have helped. You are just a few days before me. As far as I can tell, we are embarking on a fantastic journey. I can't wait, obviously I really need this. And I guess I was right all along. Wait an epithamy - I have been doing this for my health all along, it was never for beauty or to be thin, thin wasn't even in my vocabulary. Health, but now I guess I am doing it for my heart. :shades_smile: Health is where the Heart is or something like that. My Father had three bypass surgeries, my younger brother had a heart attack at 32 and now at 50 he had a stent place in his artery. We have a family history of cornery artery disease. I need to get healthy. So now it is going to be me and little "Antonio Banderous" Thanks again:redface: Debbie

You guys are too much! But I am so glad we have you to guide us through this. Glad to hear you are doing so FANTASTIC!!!!! I am SOOO glad to hear that you are missing the "hunger". But GG - be careful, stay hydrated. We need you! And, most important, walk. For some reason it moves the gas. And I guess it is going to come out - one way or another. I looked over the list. My how we have grown. Take care. Debbie

Hey, thanks everyone. I guess this is why I need support. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to be hugged by so many. I went for my second EKG and they kept me for 8 hours doing tests. After all the hoopla it was discovered that it is not current. They let me look at the other one, but not this one. Went to my Dr and he is having trouble getting a copy. I am going to complain to my insurance. How can they not have a copy of a STRIP of EKG paper! I also gave my Dr the referral for the Cardiologist. My surgery is not cancelled or even on hold. I go Monday to have my PreOp from the Surgeon. They gave me Ativan for anxiety to help me not freak out until we know what is happening. WHAT - ME, jump to conclusions and freak out???? I would never do that!?!?!?!? lol So I guess this is really a blessing. I had a heart attack and didn't know it and I would never have known if I had not decided to take this path. Now I can get the band, get healthy, and they can now watch my heart. Wait - I think I can say this without haveing a huge anxiety attack now, I had a heart attack. Okay, maybe a little anxiety, funny how that feeling of panic just ran through me. But knowing is much better than not knowing. I don't know what I would do without all of you. And - I can't wait to join the happy club of the BANDED. September 19 is right aroung the corner!