jmegirl

We actually DVR SNL every week. I didn't know McCain was going to be on it this week! After I read your post, we sat down and watched it. LOVED IT! I'm impressed - McCain did a pretty good job. The QVC segment was the best!

I love it :biggrin:

Beautiful! Simply marvelous! You're so pretty Munchie!!!! :cool2:

I completely understand not wanting to travel back and forth for aftercare. I'm happy that, with Dr. K, fills are free for the first 3 mos (and $15/fills thereafter) but the cost of a roundtrip flight is in the neighborhood of $200-250 for me. Not to mention it's an entire day's trip to fly out there and back, which means one full day out of work (but I can take sick time for doctor's appts so I'm good there). The cost at Fill Centers USA was a $375 start-up fee (which just gets you in the door) and then $250/fill, not to mention a 3hr one-way car ride. I think they even charge if you need an unfill! So ultimately, I don't think I'm spending much more by flying back to Denver for my fills, although I'm using a little more of my time then I'd like. It's important to me to have my surgeon doing my fills, as opposed to a doctor I don't know who knows nothing about me or my band. I'd love it if my surgeon were local...but when you're self-pay and don't have a lot of expendable cash, I guess you take what you get! At least I'm not going to Mexico.... :rolleyes2: Good luck to you! Let us know what your insurance company says. I hope for your wallet's sake that they pay for the tests!

I definitely think you're not eating enough. Food is fuel for your body. That doesn't mean you should eat 2000 calories a day, but you should definitely try to stay between 1000-1300 calories a day. Dropping below 1000cals a day can send your body into starvation mode and seriously mess up your metabolism, not to mention make you tired and leave you with no energy. Try to start eating more! :rolleyes2:

Yikes! My insurance required an 18-month supervised diet (among other things) so I decided to go the self-pay route. At first I was going to head to MX for surgery, but my husband convinced me to spend a few extra grand and stay in the US. I'm being banded by Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver, CO and he doesn't require anything before surgery except a short pre-op diet to shrink the liver. I was under the impression that all those pre-op tests were required only if you were going through insurance. I thought it was the insurance companies that required the tests! I think it's crazy that the surgeon is requiring the tests. If you ask me, I think you're spending enough money paying for the surgery yourself, and that you shouldn't be required to pay out-of-pocket for all those other tests you mention. Don't take my word for it, but I'm pretty certain that if you aren't heavy enough to qualify insurance-wise for the surgery, then chances are they won't cover the pre-op tests that are required either. And if that's the case, I strongly suggest you find another surgeon. I don't think many surgeons out there require those kinds of pre-op tests. Besides, you said yourself that you're not heavy enough to qualify for insurance, so chances are you don't need all those extra tests for health reasons. Good luck! Also, if you're interested at all in traveling for surgery (I'm traveling from NC to CO for mine) you can contact Dr. Kirshenbaum. www.lapbandrockies.com He charges a flat rate $9950 for surgery. My total, including flights for 2, hotel and rental car, comes to just under $12000. And Dr. K doesn't require any pre-op testing.

About 3lbs. But I'm sure it's just water weight, because usually the first week or two of Atkins that's all you lose. I'm hoping for at least another 2lbs before Wednesday's surgery. But the pre-op diet is not about losing weight for me, it's just about avoiding complex carbs and shrinking my liver. My doctor doesn't have a set amount of weight that I have to lose in order to get the surgery - thank God - or else I'd never make it! :rolleyes2:

Hey everyone!!! I'm getting banded this Wednesday Nov 5th. Only 4 days left....wooohooo!!!!! :rolleyes2: On Day 4 of my low carb pre-op diet. It sucks, but I'm doing it! Almost in BandLand!!!! GOOD LUCK everyone!!!! :hurray:

Deb, according to your signature, you've lost 28.2lbs since surgery right? So, that's essentially almost 30lbs in about 10 weeks! That's great! Isn't that great?!?! I'm paranoid I won't start losing more than a pound or two until I've had a few fills. How many fills have you had???

Do you really have to use the special soap before surgery for 3 days??? I won't get any of that soap until Dee brings it to me about 12hrs before my surgery, LOL. I have to think it's an option though, because Dr. K didn't mention it to me at all. Though he might mention it at my pre-op appointment the day before surgery. I bought some French Onion soup today! Also bought some broccoli cheese, cream of chicken and herb, and cream of mushroom and garlic. Low sugar oatmeal, cheddar grits, and several types of juices. SF hot chocolate! Gosh, I hope I got enough variety. What a great pep talk. I really needed that! :wink5: I bought a strainer today! I hope I got the right kind. I figured the normal strainers that we have at the house are way too big. I got this hand-held one that's got very very small holes. By the way, Dee - don't forget to bring the soap to RR on Tuesday. Consider this your reminder! :w00t: And again, another pep talk that was definitely needed. You guys are awesome! :wink: What great advice! Chapstick - got it! I also bought sugar free cough drops, cuz I figured my throat would be really sore after surgery. Am I allowed to have them that soon after surgery?? I'm not sure I'll need a pillow to brace the tummy. Our hotel is less than two miles from Parker. The Hampton Inn? Dee, any ideas where that is?

Did I read something about there being a special type of soap they want you to use after surgery, for the incision sites? I can't for the life of me remember where I read it. Also, we just finished grocery shopping for my Full Liquids phase post-op. Also bought vitamins, protein shakes, liquid tylenol, a pill crusher, etc...pretty much everything I need. $200 later.... Sure am lucky that my husband loves me, LOL!!!

OK, then definitely count me in for the challenge. My first fill is scheduled exactly one month after surgery (Dec 5th) so hopefully I'll have lost a good amount of poundage by Christmas. Is it unrealistic to hope for 20lbs in 7 weeks - well, in the first 7 weeks after surgery? Oh, and nervous just doesn't cut it! Last night we went to the Halloween Party that our friends were throwing. I know, I was supposed to be resting so I don't get sick, but I'm feeling better so I don't think a cold is coming on anymore. Anyways, I'm sitting there munching on celery and spinach dip, a few meatballs...meanwhile, everyone else is drinking beer and cherry vodka punch, eating cookies and halloween candy, and basically just enjoying themselves. I was the only sober person in the house, and it gave me a lot of time to think. I can't believe I'm actually doing this. It's become a reality almost overnight, and suddenly I just can't believe I'm actually resorting to surgery to lose weight. It has always seemed like such a good idea the last few months, but now I don't understand why I'm about to put myself through this. Just go on a diet! Just exercise! Sure, I've said these things before, but now I'm on the brink of stomach surgery and it just seems like a better option. I've never had any kind of surgery before, and I've failed more diet plans than I care to imagine, so the prospect of failing this "diet plan" is just enough to send me over the edge. Wow, sorry I kinda just vented right there. I'm definitely in this for the long haul, but that doesn't mean I'm not losing sleep over the last few days worrying about whether or not this is the right thing for me to do. Does that make sense?

Great idea, count me in! I'm being banded on Nov 5th so this challenge will coincide with my first 7 weeks with the band! Do you think I'll be up and down with my weightloss in the first 2 months?

Any word from Froggi yet?? :teeth_smile:

:teeth_smile: Hope you get some rest today. It's gonna be a long 48hrs for you!!! But you're going to look fabulous in your dress!!! Here's hoping the girls stay tucked away, haha.

Hey Dee!!! Been wondering where they heck you were! Cold is feeling better today. Throat is sore and I've sneezed a few times, but overall body aches are dwindling. Hopefully all these fluids I'm drinking and all the sleep I'm getting is helping me. I don't have a fever, and I don't have any chest congestion, so I'm good to go for surgery on Wednesday!!! :teeth_smile: So, are we still on for RR on Tuesday Nov 4th? Just tell me when and I'll be there. Of course, I'd love to have someone's phone number in case I get lost! Also, if anyone can tell me the street address - I plan to Google Maps all my locations so I can get driving directions everywhere. I hate getting lost! OMG 5 days!!!! This is my last weekend without the band!!!

Today, my office allowed us to dress up for Halloween. Here is the picture of my coworker Kiersten and I. (Sorry for bad quality, it's a cellphone picture). She is Cinderella. I'm ready for bed, haha. Flannel PJs, kitty cat slippers, pig tails, and a big stuffed elephant named Murphy. Thought you all would enjoy this. (I hope this works!) HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

My doctor has me on a modified Atkins diet for 7 days pre-op. Surgery is coming up on Wednesday - YAY!! Anyways, he allows me to have fruit and milk (must be full-fat and as low carb as possible). I'm also allowed beans/hummus, which I'm pleased with. Basically, cut out all the complex carbs, which are bread, rice, Pasta and potatoes, pretzels, potato chips...you get the idea. It's not about losing x number of pounds before your surgery, it's just about shrinking your liver. I might only lose 2lbs in the next 5 days, but I'll have abstained from carbs for a week, thus depleting my body of glycogen and shrinking my liver. So don't focus on losing those 18lbs or else you'll drive yourself bonkers!!! :biggrin: Good luck!!!

You might be right. Dangit. :crying: But I can't have noodles - stupid pre op diet. I guess I can make some boullion and throw in some chicken. That'll be yummy. I did call Natalie, and she said that everything over the counter will help the symptoms but not cure the funk. And if I've got a fever and/or chest congestion, they will not do the surgery. I think I'll go sit in the sauna for a few hours off and on this weekend. Try to sweat it out!

Sore, scratchy throat. Coughing. Sneezing. General body aches. I am definitely getting a cold. What do I do??? Is it true that if you've got a bug they won't do your surgery??? Is it possible the doctor would call in a prescription of some kind in order to wipe out this cold before it starts, or does that kind of medication actually exist??? I'm freaking out - HELP!!!

I'll go check out that Airborne stuff at CVS. I've heard of it but never used it. Unfortunately the only doctor I'm seeing is the surgeon, and he's in Denver CO. I'm a self-pay so I'm flying to Denver on Tuesday, and having surgery on Wednesday. So they're 2hrs behind me here in NC, and won't be in the office for another 1 1/2 hours. Hey neighbor!!! YES!!! If you don't like the weather in NC, wait a minute and it'll change. It's been really random the last few days, and that's no doubt where it came from. That and my stress level has been really high the last week since I'm getting closer to my surgery. That probably didn't help any. Like I said, I'm a self-pay (and not going through insurance at all) so I'm headed to Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver, CO. I leave Tuesday and come back Friday. So I don't have a PCP to call - I just don't have one. I never go to a doctor. I'll just have to wait another hour and a half before Dr. K's office opens and maybe they'll have something to prescribe me.

Yup, you guessed it. Scratchy throat, sneezing, coughing, general body aches. I'm getting sick. And my surgery is in 6 days. What do I do?!?!?! If I call Dr. K will he call in a prescription for me to wipe out this cold I'm coming down with? Sheesh, is there even a medication I can take to wipe out a cold before it really starts??? Because I don't think they can do my surgery if I've got a cold, can they?!?!? :):crying::crying::scared2::crying::crying:

You should do a fill on Dec 5th, it's a Friday. I'll be there getting a fill as well! I fly in at 8:30a and fly out at 2p, and my appointment is at 10:30a. We could split the cost of a rental car, LOL.

Yea she hasn't posted in over a week, I was worried about her so I sent her a message last night. She used to be here every day. Hope she's doing OK! And thanks for taking the lead on this one!

Me too!! It's one week away!!!