g00dbyefat

I went in for the consultation yesterday and due to the fact I pre paid I have a surgery date of August 18th. I am so nervous. Does any one have any advise about what to expect and what I might need?:tt2:

Hi ya....congrats!! I'm getting banded on the same date. I understand about nerves, I am as well and anxious, and excited. So many emotions!!! Apparently its not all that bad, is over quick and not much to worry about. Here are some stuff I got today that other ppl have suggested I will need.

Shopping list for post-surgery:

· Gas X strips

· Gauze to cover incisions/tape

· Protein in form I can stand

· Full Liquids-On Approved List

· liquid Tylenol

· Chewable Vitamins

· Wet wipes

· CHAPSTICK!!!!!

I am!! I am officially done with all of my appointments. I met with the surgeon, dietician, psychologist, and exercise physiologist. I feel much better and really, really positive about the whole time. I've NEVER had surgery though! I'm kinda nervous about that..but the outcome..should be amazing! yay!

Let me know if anyone has surgery this day! Or a day close by. We can be anxious/nervous/scared/excited together :eek:

I am scheduled for the 18th too. My pre-op apt w/ dr. is 8/15 but I have completed everything else, and am approved w/ insurance. It's right around the corner, I can't believe it! WOOHOO!! :w00t:

I'm a bit nervous about procedure too, but not much....more anxious to get it over with and start losing.

I had a cardiac catheter procedure done in april for insurance approval. My ekg was crazy and then stress test was false positive, both for NO reason really. But since my grandpa died of heart attack, doc insisted we do cardiac cath. It's where they run a cath(tube) up your femoral artery up to your heart and dye it directly then take xray pics to see if there's any heart probs.

Well anyway, it's a surgery, and I haven't had one since I had my tonsils out at 7yrs old. I felt like sucha BABY as I was litterally crying while they were prepping me. The nurse was very sweet, I'm sure she thought I was NUTS but kept assuring me that it would be alright. I just don't like all the prep work they have to do. They did vitals, IV w/ a million viles to test, urinary cath (no biggie, I was scared of it), shaved area of my leg. I think that's it. Well dr came in, asked why I was teary eyed, I just told him I was nervous cuz first surgery since I was 7. He asked if I wanted something to calm me down, and gave me some valium in IV. I felt much better until they wheeled me in OR and told me to scoot to OR table. I started tearing up again, the staff started talking to me and I said "I just want to be asleep, I just want to be asleep" and she said ok, I'm gonna give you something now. Next thing I know I'm waking up in my room, I feel a dull ache, but not really pain and it was over. I felt like sucha dork...that was it?? It's over already??? I think I was in there like 20min...lmao! wow....

Well honestly since that, I'm more at ease for this surgery. I mean I was sooooo worried and for what? Just tell them you're nervous, explain to them it's your first surgery and they will give you something to relax. There's really nothing to worry about thou, it's over and done w/ before you know it. My friends dad was in OR for 40min, that's all when banded. We'll make it thru it ok! No worries! :w00t:

Hi, I am a mom to 4 beautiful and smart kiddos. My boys are 13, 8, and 5. My princess is 3. I was banded Aug.1st and am so excited to start a new life with a thinner me!

I do have to ask to anyone who has been banded if you had a wave of mixed emotions after the surgery? My husband is wonderful and has been cooking for the kids so that I didnt have to be around food. I am honestly not hungry a bit and have no desire to eat (first time ever). But I am trying to distance myself from food I can't have yet because it still looks good and smells good.

Ok, so here's the honest part: I feel very depressed and left out when they are all eating and chatting and I am in another room. I know its my choice to join them but find it torture to watch them eat things other than liquid.

My poor husband doesnt know what to do. Hes been trying to make things they eat and I am not fond of.

Is this selfish or smart for me to just want to be in another room?

Did anyone else have depression after the band and miss eating although you're not hungry?

Thanks

No I can understand fully. I feel similar and I'm only on the Atkins pre-op diet. The other night my family was eating Cookies, I stayed out of the room as I know it would be hard for me. But everyday it's getting easier...and it will w/ the band too. There's sure to bee a time of adjustment needed. You're retraining your brain, body and everything. It will take some time, like w/ everything.

I know my best friends dad was banded about 3-4 yrs ago now. When he first got it he was freakin out, wondering if he should have done it. Now he's 140, down from 400lbs and VERY happy in the decision he made. He can eat ANYTHING, no probs w/ any food, he just eats about 1/8th what he used to! :w00t:

Hi there...just introducing myself. I will be having my surgery on 8/18. I'm VERY excited, anxious, nervous and everything else. Seems like it took forever for the 6mnt insurance approval steps to be completed. Now movin' full speed. I can't wait to see the changes that are made. I have learned sooo much from this site. I'm glad to have found it as it's helpful to know other ppl are going thru the same things I am!!

g00dbyefat --- My surgery is on August 18th tooo!!!!!!!! Aren't you sooooo anxious!!

YES>>>Nervous, anxious, excited, and a whole whirlwind of other emotions. It's been a LOOOOONG time coming as I've been thinking about this surgery for years, but only recently had the insurance to do it. Got approval and and sooooooooooooo thrilled to death! WOOHOO! We'll have to keep in touch and support eachother!

:w00t:

Hi everyone - am being banded on the 15th (big gulp!!) Can I be an August All Star too? How do I do It? This site is great and you are all so encouraging!! I admit I am getting a bit scared now. It's coming up quickly!

I'm getting banded on the 18th and a bit nervous too! Don't worry...we won't remember it in a year, but we will be SKINNY!!! Well at least a lot more healthy! :wink_smile:

WOOHOO I got a date!!!! Pre-op apt on 8/15, surgery on 8/18!

AWSOME...I have been jumping insurance hoops for over 6 months, got approved on 7/30 and now have a date! Seems like waiting forever, and now running full speed! I'm not complaining thou! New me....here I come!

:wink_smile: :tongue: :thumbup:

WOOO HOO I got a date!!!! Pre-op apt on 8/15, surgery on 8/18! AWSOME...I have been jumping insurance hoops for over 6 months, got approved on 7/30 and now have a date! Seems like waiting forever, and now running full speed! I'm not complaining thou! New me....here I come!

:wink_smile: :tongue: :thumbup:

i am so frustrated:angry: i was banded 23rd of june and have lost 5lbs!!! not great. yesterday went for pre fill appointment and had to really convince them to let me have it done, so they arranged it for next monday i was pleased as i felt that horrible dark cloud of confusion has been lingering over me. anyway got a call from the clinic today to ask when my period is due? as they can only do a fill within the first 10 days:confused:, i have pcos and explained i have no idea when my next period is as sometimes it can be 8/9 weeks inbetween which would be 10-12 weeks post op until my first fill!! the guy who does the fills only does them on a monday pm and if he is fully booked when i'm next "on" i have to wait for the next period???? i feal really let down they didnt tell me any of this before i just want to get on with my life with the band and am in limbo as 'm not losing. sorry guy's just had to vent it out:sad:, hope you guys are all getting on well xxx

No I TOTALLY feel for you!!! I too have PCOS and my periods are VERY irregular and I woul dhave no way to tell them when they should fill me either. I don't believe my place does that, but I sure will ask now! I fully understand and would be very upset and PO'd too! :wink_smile:

gOOdbyefat: congratulations on your date!!!!

I was told to eat no more than 20g of fat. What about you?

I was told no more than 30grams of carbs a day. It hasn't been as hard as I thought it would. I found sf fudgesicles today that are only 8gms carbs...YAY! Pretty much been eating just meat, cheese, eggs, salad(and lots of it)...got 1carb salad dressing, and ketchup, and veggies. I felt a bit tired first 2 days or so, but better now!

What different steps do we need to take having PCOS to help us lose the weight...seeing that we process foods different from others?

My endo actually recommended this surgery to me. That was the day I made up my mind. She said that insulin resistant makes you store more fat, which makes your body create more insulin, which creates more fat and so on and so on. She said the best thing for me to do was get banded, follow a lower carb diet, and make sure to exercise. She said MANY of her PCOS patients have been banded and followed this and had great success! I'm hoping I'm the next one, as I'm getting banded this month! :cool2:

Never more than the 23rd did the saying 'today is the first day of the rest of your life' mean more to me. I was banded in San Antonio by Dr. Carcamo. Everyone was great at the Nix and the day went smoothly. I've had very little pain at all. Now that i'm a full three days out the pressure has subsided and just the incisions are bugging me some. I'm on Clear liquids for a week and then the slider stuff starts. It's fascinating reading the different posts and seeing how others have different instructions for the phases. I am looking forward to the change in my life! I thought last year was a big one when I got my Harley. This year's addition (my band) will only help to make that lifestyle more fun. :clap2: Thanks to everyone who shares on these sites. The more I read the better informed I become and it helps to keep me focused on my own success.

Hi there....I'm being banded by DR. Carcamo this month. Could you tell me more about your surgery day in detail? I'm very interested. I've read some posts where they said that were in 7am out by noon. Was this the case for you? All the info you could give me would be GREATLY appreciated. I'm excited, but nervous as I haven't had surgery since I was a kid.

Thanks a lot!!!

Christy :cool2:

I just started my two-week Atkins diet on Wednesday. I have absolutely no energy right now, hopefully it gets better soon. As of right now I will be having my surgery on June 25th with Dr. Carcamo. They said it was a tentative date so I hope nothing changes. Best of luck Drew05 and GinaJ.:cool2:

Jeanette

Hi there, I am going to be banded by Dr. Carcamo this month. I was wondering if you could tell me how you liked him? Also about your surgery day in detail? I'm excited, but a bit nervous as I've only had tonsils out as a kid.

Thanks

Hi...I just joined the forum today. I was banded on 10/02/07 by Dr. Carcamo. I posted some info on me in the introductions. Tomorrow I start my full liquid diet. I'm in San Antonio, as well of course. :thumbup:

I know this post was awhile back, but I am going to be banded by Dr. Carcamo this month. Can you tell me more about your experience? I'd love to know how he was, and what you surgery day was like in detail. I'm excited, but a bit nervous about surgery as I have only had my tonsils out as a kid, and cardiac cath in April for insurance approval of the band.

Thanks a bunch! :cool2:

Well I better get to diet coke ahaulics before I have this done, because I will probably strangle my husband if I am going thru food and diet coke withdrawal at the same time. Maybe I should just send him away for the first month. LOL

My weight loss center told me about the carbonated beverages causing the pouch to swell. They told me I could have soda (preferably diet) on OCASSION if I let it sit a bit so it doens't have so much carbonation! I too drank a LOT of soda, but have cut it out over my 6 month pre-op ins. requirements. Honestly it wasn't that hard, I was suprised. It's just empty calories, and one thing I have to learn to deal with. If that's the hardest thing I do for weight loss...that would be great! haha :cool2:

Hi everyone, I have a concern about the pre op diet. I have been on it for 1 week with 1 week to go and I have only lost 6 lbs. I am very worried that it is not going to be enough and I am either not going to have my surgery or wake up with a big open incision mark on me!!

I have been pretty good on the diet, only cheating a little bit yesterday. So I don't know what to do!! I am scared that I am not going to have my surgery.:wub::confused2:

Has anyone else had this thought/problem? Thanks

I was told by my weight loss center that it wasn't how much I lose that mattered. It was to shrink the fatty liver so it was easier to retract. She told me most ppl lose about 10lbs. I've only lost 8 and been a week, I've been working out a lot. Keep it up and you will make it, no worries! :thumbup:

GinaJ: I don't have my date yet...True Results said it would be this month thou. I did my pre-op bloodwork on Friday, they should have results by tomorrow. They said when they have it in, we will set a date. They told me to start the pre-op diet last week, so I'm assuming I'll get in quick.

Good luck w/ Atkins...so far it's worked well for me!!! What specifics did they tell you about carbs?

WOOHOO>>>Dr. Carcamo's office just called. They want me to come in for my pre-op apt. I told her I'm visiting my mom out of town and could I make the pre-op apt the same week as surgery. She said it shouldn't be a problem. She'll check w/ him tomorrow, and we'll go from there. I asked her how far out we're looking....she said she could get me in as early as 8/14 next Thurs! OMG>>>:thumbup:

My surgery is only about 14,000.00 I live near Savannah Georgia. I love the doctors in this group and their staff. I am sorry I didnt respond before now but did not know how to use the site. Good luck with your surgery.

Did you get your surgery done in Savannah? I'm looking for a good DR for aftercare in the Savannah, GA area!

I'm having my surgery in San Antonio this month. I was approved last month, done pre-op bloodwork and currently on pre-op diet. I just moved back to Savannah and will have to have my aftercare here. Any good DR's you can reccomend?

Hi there...I'm going to DR. Carcamo in San Antonio too. I'm from Austin, but the True Results center there is sending me to SA because of my insurance. They said it's their main center, so I figure they must be good. Anyone had surgery w/ him??

I just did my pre-op bloodwork, and have lost 10lbs on pre-op (Atkins diet) so far. I should have a date in the next day or two. But it will most likely be the 2nd/3rd week of Aug. WOOHOO

:thumbup:

Sorry to hear...that sucks! I agree that I think it's jealousy.

Luckily most of my friends/family is VERY excited. Like you I have been heavy all my life, tried EVERYTHING under the sun to lose it and can't. I remember when I was 21 I lost and got down to a size 22, that lasted for about 4-6 months until my thyroid went autoimmune and really screwed me up. Then I found out several years later I had PCOS too. My endocrinologist now told me about lap-band and how it was my "best option". She said w/ my 2 illnesses that I will just keep getting bigger and bigger, pretty much no matter what I do. I made up my mind then and there!!

I do have one friend who doesn't agree w/ my decision. She said that said I should just "strictly diet" eating low carb options and work out (like she has). I have been doing that for years, and no change...just holding off massive gains I suppose. Well I was of course VERY UPSET at the lack of support, and haven't talked to her much since then. I heard thru a friend that she was complaining of gaining weight no matter what she tried (she has PCOS too). Well she can do what she wants, I KNOW I'm doing the right decision for me!!! You are too...STAY STRONG no matter what anyone says. You know your body best!!!

:biggrin:

Yes...I started the Atkins diet last on Wednesday(7/30). It's getting a bit boring, but better than shakes all day I suppose. I have lost about 10lbs from it already so that's great. I would love to be below 300lbs before my surgery. At this rate, I should make it!

Hi there...I'm a newbie here. I finally jumped thru all the hoops for insurance pre-approval. I finished last month and my paperwork was submitted. I Humana called about 3-4 days later to see if they had gotten all of my paperwork. They had, and said I was APPROVED....YAY!!! I was in shock...for some reason I was sooo worried about them not approving me. So I did my "pre-op" bloodwork last thurs and should have a surgery date by tuesday. WOOHOO!!! I can't wait...I know it sounds crazy to be in a hurry for surgery, but I know it's a whole new start! :biggrin: