Band_Groupie

LOL, the words, not the pics (didn't peek-I'm pre-op). Words to live by in 'Bandster Hell'! We all need to remember this is a time to heal and not worry about the weight so much before fills (remember, many gain during this part, so you're doing great to maintain).

Hey guys! I had my pre-op physical/testing this morning...short blog HERE on LBT if you're interested (or below as always). Chelle- everyone's doc requires/doesn't (my case) different pre-op diets and yours is pretty normal. I'm doing a self-imposed one; 2 shakes and a small dinner like yours. I stopped at the stores and loaded up today. Got my Gas X strips and lots of new food. I found a big jug of Isopure powder; they're on sale at GNC (usually $60 for about $40)...I bought the fruit punch (hope it's good like everyone says). Bought some more chewable vitamins/C&D, Special K Protein Water, and a whole bunch of sugar free or low sugar items as well as fat free stuff to try out (I was amazed how many things now come this way). I feel like I'm 'nesting'...LOL!

I was at my pre-op physical downtown at the hospital by 8am this morning (I’m so glad I don’t have to drive in rush hour traffic daily anymore…poor DD will be doing that route soon). The physical was basically a huge list of questions and a short bit of the usual listening to your heart, say ahhh stuff. Oh, and I did find out that the overnight hospital stay is because of a law here...interesting. I asked how the office was holding up under the stress of their head Dr. leaving. Well, of course that opened the floodgates…they’re all really hurt that he left without a word and many of them had been working closely with him for a decade (they really loved him and are both mourning his loss and are upset at how it was handled). Apparently, they did have to reschedule some surgeries last week, but my doc is now handling the load just fine. We chatted about all this for awhile and I’d made another new friend in the office by the time I left. I went on to give my gallon of blood (had to point out my best vein as usual...I have 'bad veins')... ...and then on to another department for a chest x-ray (didn’t have to do the EKG since the cardiologist had already done one). So, as long as ‘no news is good news’ from my pre-op physical, this long and winding road has finally come to an end and I'm all set for next Wednesday!!! (Tell Shel Silverstein I finally found it!)

Thanks! Ahhh...if only determination were enough...hopefully with the band!

I’ve been working on getting down another 10 lbs. before banding. I actually went down 1 ½ lbs. below the 10 lbs. last Thursday, but I knew I’d have to face a weekend of big meals and Easter candy with my family back home so I didn’t want to celebrate my goal too early. As I told you yesterday, I ate pretty healthy and had NO candy (very hard for a chocoholic), but I still gained a pound with all those family (high calorie) meals. There were many temptations ‘Drink Me!’ ‘Eat Me!’ and I only faltered once. I ate a sliver of the ‘Tart’ and I paid for it with a one pound gain. I’ve been back on my pre-op plan and after three mornings back home I feel confident that I can report I’ve officially lost my second ten pounds. So, I’m screaming ‘Off with her head!’ and knocking another Ten Pound Head off my Ticker. Go to the Head of the Class-Trivia Question: What movie is coming out March 2010 that relates to my post? Tim Burton is making Alice in Wonderland with live action and animation mixed. Stars: Johnny Depp plays the Mad Hatter, Anne Hathaway plays the White Queen, Helena Bonham Carter plays the Red Queen, Alan Rickman plays the Caterpillar, Crispin Glover plays the The Knave of Hearts, Stephen Fry plays the Cheshire Cat, and even Christopher Lee is in it, too. Let’s hope it’s better than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (not my favorite version).

Hi Early! We're Band Buddies/Twins! Have you done your pre-op physical yet? I know what you mean...I've been thinking about this going to sleep too. I checked in here last night before I went to bed and poor Hannahj914 was up and couldn't sleep...I sent her a PM...I know that will be me next week! So what did you pick for your last food (for awhile)? I have to be at my physical early tomorrow...hope all goes well...you keep thinking something is going to go wrong huh (at least I do)?

Hey Doodle, glad you're doing well! ThinWithin started a Friday weigh in thread for us and LingLing has started a spreadsheet (she needs your Friday weight and your starting weight-highest while on the LB journey, pre-op) post HERE. Also I started a thread for those of us yet to be banded so we can help each other through the initial period (since we've got people at so many stages now here). If you're being banded next week, or really I should have said, anytime the end of this month and want to support each other through our banding, post HERE.

My banding is a week from today, April 22nd. As far as what you're supposed to lose, well that is a loaded question, because it depends on your insurance, your current BMI, and your Dr. Here's a parts of 2 responses I gave to other posts and this should answer this (sorry that the information overlaps some). Oh, and I lost 9 pounds in the 6 mo. before approval, I've lost 11 more since then, and I can go below the minimum BMI now that I'm approved. PM me if you have more questions as these pieces of posts might be confusing. Good luck! *In response to someone who wanted to know if they could go below the min. BMI (either 35 or 40), and how much to lose: You can try, but you probably won't get a straight answer from your insurance co. on this (and you're going to have to figure out a way to ask 'what happens if I fall below my minimum BMI before approval?' either 35 or 40). I've found that the insurance person at the surgeon's office is the best source for an answer to this, as they deal with your insurance co. all the time (hopefully, if you're local). Be aware that even they are not legally allowed to tell you directly not to lose weight, so just ask the question so it's worded correctly, or pay careful attention to their answer. My theory is better safe than sorry. I attended 3 seminars and 2 of them actually put in their handouts that the expectation for the diet is not to gain any (people get denied for gaining even one pound) but no big expectation to lose much either. My surgeon's sample PCP letter includes the phrase "was unable to lose any significant amount of weight". My PCP 'gets' this as she's had other WLS patients...she actually scolded me last visit for losing 4 pounds. I think after you've had the discussion with your surgeon's insurance/billing person, if the expectation is not to lose much, then I'd have a frank discussion with my PCP. I'd ask my PCP to focus the time on helping to educate me on the changes that will be needed after the surgery (we discuss exercise, diet/protein, no liquids with meals, things like that). If your PCP doesn't know much, see it as an opportunity to spend a few min. each month educating them. *Another post answer: - Personally, I've found the insurance person at my surgeon's office to be the best source of information since she deals with my ins. co. all the time. Call that person with a list of your questions...ie. your ins. co. will never tell you or spell out in their policy that they expect you not to lose below the minimum BMI, and the ins. expert at your surgeon's office can't legally tell you that either. - Make sure you're well over the min. BMI you need (35 or 40) at your first weigh in. - Make sure you know if you are allowed to fall below the minimum (35 or 40) BMI during your 6 mo. (see second bullet point above). None of the three hospitals I intitially looked at expected you to lose more than a few 5-10 pounds and not go below your min. BMI. I should say that I've seen some ins. co.'s that want to see a certain % of weight loss (5-10%, or sometimes it's a specific # of pounds the surgeon gives you to lose) and they do want you to succeed. Those stories are less common, they seem to be mainly people who are well above the 40 BMI and I'm not sure even then if you can go below your min. BMI.

Exactly how I feel Thin...too excited! I've been planning this since last Spring about this time!

Thanks guys! Good luck to my friends still waiting and to those just banded...no matter what the docs procedures, we'll all get to the same place in the end...HEALTHY!

I’m home from our long weekend. I took DD back to college this morning and I’ve got an hour here before I start running the boys places. I typed this up on our way to Ohio, but couldn’t use my computer there, so here’s my blog from the pre-op class last Thursday. 4/9/09 Class was interesting, to say the least (read the end paragraph for the interesting part). It was evenly split with LB and RNY patients. We (bandsters) picked up literature depending on which type of band we had chosen (LB or Realize, I’ve chosen LB). I’ll only list the key things I learned that are different between my procedures and what I’ve seen from most others. Pre-op Diet: There is no specific pre-op diet although they do ask you to cut back on fat and sugar for one-two weeks prior. Others here were interested so I did ask why there is no ‘shrink the liver diet’ and if it only pertained to those of us with a low BMI. Apparently no one (regardless of BMI) is required to do a specific pre-op diet and they have never cancelled anyone’s surgery (or closed them up) because their liver was too large. They’ve had no problems with large livers, but she did mention that if you do eliminate most of the fat and sugar for liver shrinkage before that it can help with reducing the post pain/trauma to your body later...smaller liver is easier to move. She couldn’t believe that some docs refuse to do surgery if your liver is too large (I asked this). They are getting ready to implement offering Bariatric Advantage products including the shakes and vitamins, but this is geared more for right after surgery and will still probably be optional before. Day Before: There is no enema. Only procedures are using antibacterial body soap for two days prior in the shower and the clear liquid diet/nothing after midnight that everyone else seems to do [*]Surgery/Hospital Stay Catheter: There is no catheter for the LB procedure (it seems like many others do have this). Fill: My doc does not put any fill in the LB at surgery (I was bummed about this, but apparently they do this because some never need any more restriction than the LB itself being placed; no fills ever). Incisions: Mine will be closed with only steri strips & glue (no stitches, staples like some have). The strips can come off at one week at home. Gas X: It’s fine to bring this and use it at the hospital, but again they say that it does no good for the air that’s pumped into your abdomen, it will only help the gas in your digestive tract (I’m bringing it anyway even if it’s a placebo, it can’t hurt). Overnight: My docs require a one night stay for the LB procedure and insurance covers this. The only bad part about this is that you don’t get to do the barium swallow/x-ray test until the next morning…so only the ‘wet swabs’ (blech) in your mouth until the next morning. I will get a Doppler test on my legs the next day to check for blood clots. I’m not sure if I’ve heard anyone mention having this done. [*]Post-Op Meds.: They’ll send me home with Rx for a pain med (liquid Roxacet (sp?)/like Percocet) and Nexium for the stomach, no anti-nausea meds. unless you have a problem in the hospital (I’m going to insist on getting something (I know my stomach, if anyone will puke it will be me). Schedule/Fills: Mine’s a little different than some. I see the doc post-op at 2-3 weeks and then the first fill isn’t until 6 weeks. Then every 4-6 weeks as needed for fills. Diet: Liquids only for 2 weeks (this sounds like the longest I’ve heard, but I guess I’m paying for the no pre-op diet LOL). I’ve stated this before, but I will again since it’s different than most docs plans; my diet past the first two weeks is never to include protein drinks (protein should come from solids and that’s the purpose of the band to keep you full with food, not sliders. She did mention adding whey/protein powders to your food if you need extra protein.). The 2nd phase goat a little confusing as she said that we are not to make/use pureed foods. The doc would rather we chewed soft foods to an almost liquid stage ourselves. I had to ask several questions to get to the bottom of this, but apparently they feel pureed stuff will slip through too fast and leave you hungry…hmm (I get this in the final stage, but mushies?). Pulverize with your mouth or a blender, I don’t see the difference. I told her I’d already made some pureed/froze them and she said to go ahead and use them (hey it’s 2 weeks, no biggie). After that, the diet is the same as others except you can drink black coffee as long as you compensate by drinking extra water, and you can drink diet pop as long as it has gone flat. Exercise: No lifting, pulling, pushing or treadmill (hadn’t seen anyone mention no treadmill before) until you’ve seen the doc post-op. Other than that, everything was pretty much the same as everyone else. Now here’s the interesting part. She finished with the presentation and took a few questions and then said “I’m sure that you’ve all heard that Dr. XXX has left the practice.” WHAT? HUH? There was a unanimous “NO!” She meekly comes back with “Yes, we were all surprised too, apparently he just turned in a letter on Monday and has gone to OTHER HOSPITAL” (She was obviously not happy and somewhat stressed by this).Dr. XXX was the senior partner of the 2 man practice and is very well known in the area. They scheduled surgeries side by side and did them together for more difficult cases. Like I’ve mentioned before, my docs get a lot of the cases that the other hospitals (OTHER HOSPITAL sent them patients all the time) in the area won’t take (i.e. Hard revisions, super M. Obese, etc.). Pittsburgh is well known as a strong medical city and I had 3 Bariatric Centers of Excellence within a few miles of each other to choose from (and there are several others in the surrounding area). OTHER HOSPITAL is the big conglomerate in the area though that has been buying up the smaller hospitals…apparently they offered him a bundle. Well, all hell broke loose at that point (quietly, but it was so tense you could feel it), it was a mixed period of stunned silence and occasional questions blurted out. I’m perfectly comfortable with my Dr. (the 2nd doc, and I met him at the seminar), he’s been doing laparoscopic procedures for many years and has done hundreds of bandings, and he’s well know as pioneering some of the cutting edge laparoscopic procedures (like the DaVinci robot that is run from a different room…actually more precise laparoscopically than by hand, so they use this in difficult cases). But I’ll have to tell you, that even I was thinking through…What if he needs help? There’s no one there! Then I’m thinking, what if they postpone my surgery…how can one guy handle the surgical load of 2? The worst part was that we didn’t know this before the class…poorly handled. Some people were asking tons of questions (had never even met the other Dr. and especially with an RNY, I’d be worried too!). She offered to set up meetings with the other doc for people who hadn’t met him. Here’s hoping my surgery doesn’t get postponed! The class left on a pretty uncomfortable note…not the way you want to feel a few weeks before surgery when you’re already nervous.

Wow...bootcamp! That's great! Good luck next week, I'll be following you! Join us at the April Bandsters forum HERE. Post your date and join us!

So, you're going to the reunion in your bunny outfit?

I would do your own research and listen to the doctors. JMO- the biggest difference to me is to ask yourself 'Do you need to lose the weight fast because of health reasons?' If you have a bad obesity related comorbidity, you may need to lose it fast- RNY. Then 'Do you need the extra help of malabsorption and the negative reinforcement of dumping for bad foods?' If you have a hard time sticking to an eating plan (not just portion sizes)- RNY. I can stick to a diet plan, I just need the help of feeling full and limiting my portion sizes and I don't mind losing slowly, so I decided on the band for me...for 2 of my M. Obese sisters, I would recommend RNY to them for the above reasons. It's a very personal choice and once you research it you'll figure out what's right for you. Good luck! -BG

I’ve been working on getting down another 10 lbs. before banding. I actually went down 1 ½ lbs. below the 10 lbs. last Thursday, but I knew I’d have to face a weekend of big meals and Easter candy with my family back home so I didn’t want to celebrate my goal too early. As I told you yesterday, I ate pretty healthy and had NO candy (very hard for a chocoholic), but I still gained a pound with all those family (high calorie) meals. There were many temptations ‘Drink Me!’ ‘Eat Me!’ and I only faltered once. I ate a sliver of the ‘Tart’ and I paid for it with a one pound gain. I’ve been back on my pre-op plan and after three mornings back home I feel confident that I can report I’ve officially lost my second ten pounds. So, I’m screaming ‘Off with her head!’ and knocking another Ten Pound Head off my Ticker. Go to the Head of the Class-Trivia Question: What movie is coming out March 2010 that relates to my post? Tim Burton is making Alice in Wonderland with live action and animation mixed. Stars: Johnny Depp plays the Mad Hatter, Anne Hathaway plays the White Queen, Helena Bonham Carter plays the Red Queen, Alan Rickman plays the Caterpillar, Crispin Glover plays the The Knave of Hearts, Stephen Fry plays the Cheshire Cat, and even Christopher Lee is in it, too. Let’s hope it’s better than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (not my favorite version).

Yeah that's it; fuzzy navel is one of the flavors. They come premade or powdered. Is the chocolate truffle low carb?

Holy Cow! That's like a blood donation! Good to know...I go in Thursday for pre-op.

Sounds like a sweet spot to me! Great news!

Thanks for the support guys! Yeah, I'm glad I don't live close to home starting into this...my willpower wouldn't hold...LOL!

I had an interesting Easter weekend. In case you’re not caught up, we went to Ohio to see my family. We had a really nice time, but it was a smaller crowd…just my folks and two of my sisters/families (I have 4 siblings)…and one of those sisters/family I only saw on Sunday evening as they were returning from Spring Break in Florida. The interesting part was the ‘food’ aspects. I wasn’t expecting what I got, partly because I knew that Mom and the one sister who was around all weekend have been enrolled in Weight Watchers for several months now. Sure, I was expecting Easter candy, but I became acutely aware of how much of our family time revolves around food (reminder here that I’m the ‘thinner’/'same as some' sibling of the 5 of us and Mom and Dad are only little overweight). My Mom shows her love for us through food, and let me just say here she’s recovering from foot surgery (still wearing the ‘boot’), so there was way less home cooking than usual. We even ordered out dinner one night…blasphemy for Mom. As bad a cook as I am, Mom is that good. Sure, I’ve been on a myriad of diets around my family before, but I must have cheated around them way more than I realized, because this time was SO different. I arrived to find a box of dark chocolate covered raspberry sticks on my bedside…my two favorite flavors together (Mom’s a sweetie)…I felt bad doing it, but I left them there…I had to…no way would they have been safe at my house. Yes, I could have thrown them away, but I figured maybe I needed to send the message…don’t tempt me. I took my protein shakes for breakfast…Mom was up every morning before me…gourmet coffee made, bacon sizzling, homemade preserves and apple butter laid out, croissants and pain-au-chocolat (which had risen overnight…also my favorite French food) baking in the oven, Krispy Kremes in my favorite flavor-raspberry filling, DH’s favorite glazed, and eggs made to order…my kids were in heaven! DS2 made up a song for my Mom years ago entitled “Bacon and Eggs” and came down singing it (his grandmother ‘makes the best eyeball eggs ever!’…fried in bacon grease). I told her that I’m dieting and took out my protein shake to drink…I know she was disappointed and I felt bad that she had prepared all my favorite things. I stuck to the protein shakes for breakfast, but we had pizza and Chinese for dinners and lunch at Olive Garden (soup, salad, - the breadsticks, but still probably a ton of calories)…I tried to eat the healthy stuff. Sunday morning I had my shake and then Mom had everyone over for brunch after church. I ate a little of the egg casserole (with bread stuffing, sausage, cream and cheese…hmmm) and some fruit (until I remembered it was sugared). The Kringle did me in though…if you don’t know what one is they’re an enormous flat oval Danish treat covered in soft yummy icing and filled with anything you can imagine from fruit to nuts. My sister was sitting next to me in the family room and commented on my small plate of food. When I told her I was dieting she even said ‘But it’s Easter!!!’ I looked at her and said ‘Stop the Satan talk…please don’t tempt me!’…she protested a little more and then gave up (I get it…I never liked to see someone dieting as I was stuffing my face either…misery loves company). As everyone was later munching on their Easter basket candy I stole back in and took just a sliver of the Kringle before it was gone…I immediately felt awful. I suddenly realized then that in the past I’d usually made ‘excuses’ for holidays too…it’s a holiday, a vacation, we’re out to eat, a trip to the family, there’s nothing healthy so I have to eat it. I heard both my sister and mom make those excuses on why they weren’t following their Weight Watchers diets…I don’t say that to blame them, it’s just that it made me realize that’s what I’d usually done in the past also. My one sister, who has diabetes, high blood pressure, and has had two mini-strokes, joined us for our last dinner. There were margaritas, honey baked ham, beans slathered in butter, potato casserole (with cornflakes, cream and tons of butter and cheese), rolls and a carrot sheet cake that could have fed 4x as many people. It was hard to just choose the ham and beans and insist we didn’t need to take home any carrot cake. I got home and found ½ my Mom’s enormous homemade lemon butter pound cake in a bag. I reflected on the food frenzy of the weekend coming home. In the past I wouldn’t have thought much about it at all (even on a diet) because I’m so used to it, but this weekend was like a smack in the face…a wake-up-call. I’m glad my family saw me eating less and drinking protein shakes. It will make it easier to explain things post-op since I’m not telling anyone. I even announced that I’d lost 20+ pounds since they last saw me so they wouldn’t be shocked when they see me next. No one had noticed the weight loss…my youngest sister said ‘That’s nothing, I’ve lost 40# before and no one’s noticed…the fatter you are the less you can tell!’ My family is used to seeing me lose major weight though…what they’re not used to is me KEEPING IT OFF!

Hang in there Sandy! Congrats on the banding...you'll feel better soon!