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Ok I am online now researching vegetarian protien options that are also low fat. I figure I better know my stuff and maybe it will give me e few new ideas on what to eat to get all my protien. LOL. Thanks for all the updates. Oh yea I remember about the doc saying that Christina did not have to have CM appointment. The only reason I remember that is Liz made such a big about how that would never happen even if the doc suggested it at the orientation!! So I guess this was no the first time it has happened. I was hoping too but Dr. Baggs did not even suggest it!! Actually I am ok with the nutrion class and pre op class. I have alot of questions I want answered so it will be ok. I don't get another physical and another nurse appointment but ok.........I had one with Dr. Baggs and than two with my PCP in the last six months. But ok they want to be sure I guess. I also have had every blood test in the book in the last four months with my PCP and I guess I am gonna get another round. Anyone get checked for a hiatal hernia or sleep apnea? I sorta think I have a hiatal hernia it runs in my family. I have symptoms. I hear they can fix them but I would be curious if I have one. Lot of heartburn and chest pain which I guess could indicate a hernia. Also I can't eat and drink at the same time or I get sick........which will help with the band........since I am used to this rule but I just wonder why it happens. Hernia was suggested to me. Might also explain the chest pain I get sometimes. I also hear they check the gallbladder and remove it the same time as the band if they find something wrong. Anyone else here this? Lets all meet sometime in February? Anyone game?

Reggie I get the idea that there are alot of cancellations so you might get lucky!! Good luck!!

Where has swishb been?

Thanks for the update. That helps. Ok no sandwiches I will stop that now before I go in. She is going to really be on me about protien because I am vegetarian and struggle with the Protein. I am eating the same stuff over and over. But I plan to have my ducks in row and let her know I will be able to figure out how to get the protien in without eating meat. I know which soy meats count and what doesn't........thanks Robin for helping me with that. I have the EKG wish I knew how to get it to you. So you knew yours was not normal before hand? My mom is a nurse and said it looked like a good rhythem but she is not sure about counting spaces up and down and said that makes a difference. I stressed about it for two days but figured if something is wrong and the surgery is not safe I need to know now. WOw 37 pounds ................I really need to get on the ball I wanted to at least hit 20 by the time I went to see her. So impressed with your progress. I may end up with the same surgery date as you that is what I planned to ask for. Or the next Monday after that. I am getting very excited but really nervous too. So what don't the doctors know? Diet tips or the rules of the program? I assume that is what she is talking about. So your with Dr. Baggs too. AH lots of us have him.

Aud- you got me thinking. I didn't know not to combine things. Really? What is you just want a sandwich? I have doing that with eggs and one piece of bread. I hope that she is ok with my progess. I am right at goal weight + .3 over and I am stressing. I can't gain even water weight and my next appointment is Monday. I thought for sure I would be down another 5 this week but nothing is changing. Seems like all the water is sticking to me and I am bloating not losing. So no babies. What else did she stress? How long were you there? Did you see the Docter? Who is your doc by the way? I think I am ready for the surgery and I hop Liz as well. I am worried about my EKG. The tech had to go talk to her supervisor before she gave the test to me to give to Liz I feel weird about that. I have looked at it but it looks normal to me..........non medical me!! I have heart pain off and on though. My PCP says stress and don't worry but I do..............I think heart pain is no good regardless of why. I hope this doesn't prevent sugery.

Reggie what is your BMI if you don't mind? YOu are really close to the 200 mark now!! You must have really lowered your BMI. I was 40.96 BMI and now I am 39.9 BMI I think. They only had me lose 12 pounds to get to goal and maybe that is due to the lower BMI to start out? Or maybe just that I am so bottom heavy and don't have much fat on my stomach. I bet you are at goal weight now. I am stuck at 240. I am being so anal and careful even went down in calories (which could be my mistake I guess) I can't get the scale to budget. The first 15 came off so quick.............. Update us when you get down.

Oh Reggie that is so GREAT!! The psych appointment was a breeze. Just about 30 minutes and lots of questions. They want to make sure you don't have a eating disorder or something psychatrically wrong. It was just lots of questions. They will be so excited that you lost 15 pounds!! They are great down there and very encouraging. So happy for you. Let us know how it goes!! Wow 20 pounds in a month!!! Ah I am still only at 15 in a little more than a month. Please do tell what you are doing??

Maybe we will be in the pre op class together Aud? Do you also get your pre op physical that day as well?

Hello Aud So what has you second guessing your decision? Is the CM appointment that bad? I have one on Monday. I am hoping for March 31 as well or a week after but not sure yet. What is going on with the EKG? I had one but can't read it. Is the second one just a double check on the first one or was something wrong. So......any last words before I head into my appointment?

I hear ya!! I am three weeks out and am nervous as well. I really, really want this so now that I have a date why am I so scared and debating if this is the right thing? This whole surgery thing scares me the actual process and anthesia. Once I get past that I think I can handle the rest. I think the back and forth is normal at this point in the game. IT is getting close.

I will be banded the end of March!! Yea!!

Wow more lab test?? I thought I had alot already. Of course I have alot of blood test through my PCP in November before I get referred to Richmond. I think since November I have had 30+ lab tests done now. I am not gonna have any blood left in me!! At least the EKG is good for 90 days. I always stress about the results until I see I am in the "normal" ranges. I will lose in Africa. I better lose in Africa or at least not gain. I am right at goal weight and can't seem to get any lower. It has been a week at the same weight. Ahh........I want to be under at least by 5-10 pounds. Let me know how your appointment goes? So you have a physical after all the pre opt classes? That is gonna be a really long day. I need to plan ahead I guess for that. I am guessing I will go to that class in the next two weeks, before I leave for AFrica. Best of luck. By the time I get banded you will be a month out and I will have so many questions!!

I am going through Kaiser Richmond and had my surgeon and psych appointment in two weeks ago. I am at goal weight so I will see the CM next week. So far everyone at Kaiser has been great. I think once you get in to see the staff you will find they are alot more understanding and easy to work with. I was probably at the same orientation as you (Dec 16, 2008?) and I think they try to weed out the people who are not serious at that first appointment. I have not followed everything strictly I have had to modify the Protein part a bit as I don't eat meat. I have probably had more carbs than they would like but I am losing. They didn't get picky about the details with me. They just wanted me to be losing and doing my best to try and follow the program. For me caffiene is an issue and I let them know I have cut way back but not totally. They just give me some ideas and tips to slowly taper it all off. But it was very understanding and not condescending. For me I am 38 years old and am willing to change whatever within reason. I know that my ideas and ways have gotten me where I am. And even with my messing up and not following all the rules I have still lost 15 pounds so they do have a good solid program. But I hear you about debating a major lifestyle and surgery. I am debating everyday but I am about 80% ready to move forward as I am 38 and tried everything.........I am embracing the changes especially since they are working for me. I think there is no shame if your really not ready in deciding not to do it. Better that than to be sorry afterwards and feel to restricted.

Hey Riley hope it goes well and things work out. I got my labs done this week but I dont plan to have surgery until I get back from AFrica the end of March. I think that will be past my 30 days. I thought it was more like a 60 day window. So I may end up having to redo them all. So Dr. Baggs doesn't do the physical? It Tom Greenwood your doctor or through the Bariatrics? Will you see him the same day that you get the pre op classes? So the classes are 8-12 and you stay on in the afternoon for the physical? I see Liz next week. I will have alot of questions for her I am sure!! I just wonder since I can't have surgery until late March if I am to soon in getting my CM appointment and getting my labs? I haven't lost anymore weight either :-( For me knowing I have to wait until after vacation makes it hard to believe I am really that close to surgery. I didn't gain but I also didn't lose and the head hunger was crazy this weekend with the superbowl parties. I think I need to really be strict with pre op diet as any carbs even if I am under the 1200 cal per day, seems to prevent me from losing. Gonna try to get to the gym 7 days instead of the usualy 3 this week and see if that helps. Good luck. PUlling for ya!! 36 is still a great weight loss so far though. I am impressed. I wish I was there with ya but I will be soon.

I have not been officially screened but I did take the epworth test with my PCP before. I just wonder since I snore ya know......... Also worried about the EKG since I have heart pain occasionally. MY PCP said it was stress related and nothing to worry about. But I do. I think the EKG looks normal but I am no doctor. Now I am a bit worried about the apnea thing as well. I probably won't have surgery until March or early April so I have time to do the test. I will talk to Liz next Monday about it and maybe I will see Dr. Baggs again that day? I trust Dr. Baggs more than my PCP actually and tend to go with what he says. My PCP is new out of med school and still learning the ropes. I am getting pretty nervous about the whole surgery thing. I want to do it but I am scared of all the complications and the possible pain. I think for me the biggest hurtle will be crossed when I wake up in the recovery room and finally know for myself how bad or not it is/was!! Good luck I hope it all works out but I agree if you need to wait a bit to address the sleep apnea than it is better to be safe!! You still going to pre op on Thursday??

HEy Riley. Let me know how it goes. I hope they still go with the original surgery date if that is safe. My guess is that they can still get it done but that someone messed up somewhere. I had the same with my paperwork getting lost at the beginning of the referral process and I had to call in to make sure I got an appointments. With Kaiser it seems like you have to advocate for yourself sometimes or else you get lost in the numbers. You know Dr. Baggs asked me about sleep apnea stuff and I snore but nothing else. BUt it sounds like with you that was enough to diagnose you. He didn't say anything about needing a test but I will go to the CM appointment next week and maybe it will come up there. I have already been thinking that something is going to happened to stop the process. All the lab tests. The EKG. I just keep thinking that something will show up I don' know about to prevent my progress. LE me know how it goes. Maybe you should call bariatrics tomorrow and see what they have to say.

Riley what is going on? Why didn't you have this lab ordered way before surgery? Who called you Bariatrics or your PCP? Wow I just had my lab test (blood and EKG) and kinda wonderd why I didn't get the chest x ray and sleep apnea either? Maybe I will be getting a call as well. So what is this sleep test anyway? Wow that is kinda shocking. Something new to deal with huh and another reason to get banded!! Just alot to deal with here at the very end. I don't have symptoms but I do snore so..............good luck, let me knot how it all turns out. Would love to hear about her pre surg appointment as well.

Hello all!! I will be banded in late Feb or Early March. GOing in for my final appointment next monday and will get a surgery date than. I am nervous and excited like everyone else. I am so worried about the pain and discomfort. I want to be back to normal as soon as possible. I have lost 14 pounds so far. I am guessing I will be at 20 before the surgery. I am am a strict 1200 calorie diet now and lots and lots of Water. Gotta get the exercise going next. I want to be in a routine before I have the surgery.

Hey Bunny I am with RICHMOND KAISER as well and about a month ahead of you. What do you want to know??

Well I am almost 100% band now. The 1200 I have been on for 6 weeks now and seem to be doing ok. My guess is that I could go another 6 weeks after when I get the first fill. My doc uses the AP band and I guess they leave some of the fill in. HE says it is usually a 30% fill to start out and that helps with the initial weight lose. My facilitiy has only been banding for 18 months now. And of course they favor RNY. I think. I asked the doctor what he would pick for me and he said I am healthy and can go either way I have to decide. One thing about quick weight lose that I don't like is having people keep asking what happened. If you go slower not so many intrusive questions. So any problems with the lap band? Anything you don't like? Was the surgery painful. I am about a month away and started to really worry about the pain factor since I am such a wimp!!

I think I will be two weeks behind you. My pre op diet started two months ago when I decided to get the lap band. I just have to make sure I STAY on it!! You getting nervous at all? I am. I am not someone who tolerates pain well. But I heard this is not a high pain surgery.

I think I am going to be have it in 3-4 weeks. You getting nervous. I am a little now that it is so close!!

I have my pre op appointment 2/9/09. Date will be scheduled that day for late Feb or early March.

I got my lab work and EKG done today!! After two hour of waiting at the lab out in Roseville!! And I got weighed while I was there so I could have it on my medical record. I was 240.4!!!! Below goal weight and that is with clothes on. I was in utter shock I thought I was back u to 244 again last night. I think maybe my scale is the problem So I called Kaiser and I have my CM appointment on February 9, 2009. They will set up surgery than I guess. I was told to try and be 3-4 pounds under 240 in case there is water weight or a difference in the scales. I actually hope to be more like 10 pounds under that since I have a little more than two weeks to work on it. Seems like going over the 64 ounces of water is really speeding things up with weight loss. So how is everyone doing today??