Band_Groupie

YAAAAAY...ONLY 7 more days until the beginning of a new you!!!

Welcome! Hey We're Band twins x 13 or so LOL! There's an initiation...put on this blindfold and bunny ears and we'll all meet you in that dark room over there. Dag...is no one going to fall for that! You're in! Welcome! You'll be added to the next list update...just watch for it here. Welcome! The doc's always told my kids to blow out the birthday candles (I'd hold up my fingers for candles) when they were getting a shot...but just breathing deep does help. Bring some soothing music to listen to that will get your mind off everything!

231 this morning. 3 more pounds until I lose my second 10# head! No pre-op diet for me, but I'm going to start something on my own next week...I can't get behind all you fast losers...and I've only started dieting last month!

There's a big thread on Kaiser if you do a search on the Forum-top (it's probably under hospitals). Welcome to LBT. -BG

Hey gang. I just dedicated today's blog right here on LBT to the Bunnies...especially all you banded Bunnies, if you need a pick-me-up. It's mostly photos, so it's a quick read...Click HERE if you need a laugh today. -BG

Hef finally called! I'm officially a Bunny! Me and about 150 other hardworking "Girls Next Door" just trying to get in shape. Yep, I'm a April '09 Bunny Bandster! Our April Group has about 150 members. Sorry, I said girls, because if they're any guys I haven't found them out yet, but I'm sure they're there (Hey, I think the Easter Bunny is a boy!)...not sure if the guys were part of the name vote or not LOL as I came in late. The Bunnies are multiplying daily...so if you're a Bunny, join us, Click HERE! The first of our hutch have gone off to surgery this week and I've been gobbling up their experiences so I can be prepared. Most are doing very well, but there's still some pain, as expected. Hang in their Bunnies, keep your ears up... ...you'll be doing the Bunny Hop soon enough...you put your backside in, you put your backside out...! Ooops that's the Hokey Pokey....line up Bunnies...da da da da da-da...hop hop hop... Pretty soon we'll all be eating healthy... ...and training for Bunny Jumping Shows (yes, this is a real sport). It's great to have a group at the same point you are for support!

Thanks for the ideas! I would have forgotten my reading glasses/case for sure!

WELCOME to LBT Meg! -BG

LOL...yeah, I advised here the Vick's Vapo Rub under the nose to prepare for the smell of Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies in the house, but I guess it would take over anything! Too funny! -BG

Beth I've lost major weight many times on diets at least as fast as the average Bander...I don't get why it would be obvious? Now, I do get if you're an RNY'er because it comes off SO fast. And DH's answer is classic.

Hi Jill! And WELCOME to LBT! Thanks for reading. Holy C*%P! This is almost 'eerie'...just look at the dates! We've certainly taken about the same path! I came home from a trip where I had my 'moment/turning' point and began looking into this...the week of 5/26/08, we both got our dates yesterday 4/1/09, and we're both getting banded on 4/22!!! I'm so happy for your son...waiting for college letters is worse than waiting for a LB date (especially for the Mom...we sooo feel for those kids!)! Our first son is going off to college next year too! I'm guessing you a have a graduation coming up then too, but we should be in good shape by June! You can SO do 10# by the 17th, just no more 'last suppers' (like I did) and I'll be joining you on mostly shakes as soon as I get to the store (even without any pre-op diet). Just keep reminding yourself that you don't want to have the surgeon delay this...I've seen people here turned away on the day of their surgery for 1 pound (and then there's those slackers like me who weren't allowed to lose...sigh). I hope you've found the April forum, if not, let me know....I'll look for you there too! Thanks! -BG

Thanks SO much gals! Yea, this was my detail that I wanted to remember, I did the fun & excitement blog yesterday...I'm still doing the happy-dance! Linda- I take Amitriptyline daily as a migraine preventative, but I've had a few in the last week for the first time since I started the preventative in Nov. (do you think it's the stress of this week LOL?). When I get them I just use an OTC like Excedrin Migraine. I can't take that anymore once I'm banded as no NSAIDS are allowed (I believe most/all docs follow that rule because they can cause stomach ulcers). NSAID = Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug, which includes things like Ibuprophen (Advil, Motrin), Aleve, Asprin, Motrin and there are others. Yours I'm guessing is a preventative, and I'm guessing is not a problem, but it's good to know what you can/can't take if you do get one.

Well, as you know, yesterday was one awesome day! I want to capture the details of what happened here (and there are some ‘points for learning’ for you newbies…if I didn’t scare you off yesterday). Let me unravel my story...(K)nitty gritty...unravel....moving right along.... First, my ‘many messages’ I left at the surgeon’s got through finally and I received a call Tuesday from Marlene (saying Patti was in clinicals all day). We went through my papers again and I asked again if the Pulmonary paper (from my visit in FEB.!) showed up and it had (take matters into your own hands…I’m glad I called them directly). Suddenly, the Sleep Lab results weren’t in my file (I faxed these myself in March and I had already confirmed they were in my file). So it pays to go through the whole file more than once, as this was the third time. We hung up and I got a call back from her saying Patti had just dropped in and she was to tell me if I got all my papers in tomorrow, then she’d call me with a date (so she got that phone message too…I’m probably on the ‘favorite patients’ list by this point). So on to yesterday. I was at the PCP office a little after 8am and was taken in. I had a new smiling nurse! She weighed me and I’d lost 3# since the last visit for a total loss of 9 pounds over the 6 months, which was perfect (aiming for 5-10#). Then something amazing happened! The nurse turned to me and said “Are you getting excited for your surgery…do you have a date yet?” I told her I’d get my date today and she said “You know I had the same thing done?” Holy Cow…not a big deal for most of you I’m sure, but it dawned on me that she was the very first person I’d met in person who has the LB! I was SO excited! She told me her experiences and must have said 10 times “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done!” Without asking, she lifted her shirt and showed me her tiny scars (the only one that you’d even notice is the port one). She was babbling on and I was lapping it up when another nurse knocked for some help from her and she left me with well wishes, an offer to call her if I had any questions or needed help, and a big hug! Those few minutes made my day! …and what a difference from my Nazi Nurse friend LOL. My usual CRNP I’ve been seeing for the weigh in’s was next and she was over-the-moon excited for me! She had one piece of bad news…the Letter of Medical Clearance and Necessity wasn’t ready. Yes, the letter that I’d given a sample of with my information already filled in to the other CRNP at my 5th visit…then called 2 weeks later to make sure this CRNP knew about it and would have it ready for me at this visit (and she said it was already in my file). Well, the letter had been done, but they used their own form letter for this and my name was at the top, but they’d left another ladies name in the body. She was so apologetic as she told me there weren’t any doctors in until 9am to sign it. No biggie, I’ll wait the 40min. (NO WAY was I not getting my date today!). Well, 9 came and went (I tried not to pace in my head) and about 9:30 she brought it out whispering apologies and that the doc was late…I didn’t care, I was so happy! Newbies…I should have had her fax me a copy when she told me it was in the file. Oh, and anyone who gets migraines, I got a non NSAID prescription just in case. I flew home and sent my fax to the surgeon with the three last attachments (monthly form, the PCP letter, and the sleep study-again). I called Marlene as she told me to just to make sure it came through, and she told me that Patti just came in to get my file so she must have it. A torturous hour later I finally got the call from the elusive Patti….my heart was beating SO FAST…and then it happened….. We were a few words into the call and….SCREEEEEECH! HUMMMMMM! I’m thinking ‘What’s that sound?!!....a fax machine?!...Why won’t it stop?!’ She tries to talk SCREEEEECH! HUMMMMMMM! Oh, Dear Lord! I LEFT THE FAX MACHINE PLUGGED IN!!!! As I’m running upstairs and down the long hall I’m trying to yell ‘HOLDON!’ between all the screeches. I hear little words from the other side that make me think she’s getting irritated when I yank the plug. I tried to make a small joke…something about not obviously not using the fax machine often…nothing, not even a peep (I’m thinking now I’ve made it to the ‘Patients Hall of Shame’ bulletin board in her office). After a pause she goes into her schpeel as I’m frantically running back down the hall and back downstairs (trying not to pant too loudly…didn’t know I could still run that fast) where I’d lain out my calendar with all the events and dates DH is traveling (I was wondering why the fax machine didn’t go off when Marlene called back that second time…probably because it was only a few seconds call…and why did I forget to unplug that stupid thing for an important phone call….then I slapped myself back to focus on her words). She asked “When do you want to get this done?” I wasn’t prepared for that (I thought she’d just give me a date and I’d say whether it worked or not). So I stammered something about “How long is the pre-op diet?”…pause, she must be so done with me…“or isn’t there one?” “No, there’s no pre-op diet.” “OK, why don’t I give you the dates that don’t work and we can start there.” I mentioned the bad dates the next two weeks (which left me with 4 dates) and she came back with a date in the third week ...well it worked, so I’m thrilled! She told me she’d send to the insurance today and told me the nurse would call me to set-up a physical. She was about to hang up when I asked about the pre-op class. “You haven’t taken that yet?” “Well, no.”…they told me I couldn’t until you set my date…no, I didn’t say it…didn’t want to press my luck. So she told me when/where to come next week and I didn’t let her get away without profusely thanking her…probably a little over the top, but…my approval is still in her hands. So the rest you can guess…there was dancing and merry-making involved on my part! I called the only person I’m telling, DH who was so thrilled, but also told me he’s not really celebrating until the insurance approval…party pooper (he just doesn't want me to get dissapointed)…God love him, he’s a worrier. So I called my LBT friends right here! Party at my house!!!!

Yes, it's frozen over. Have you seen my 6 mo. Diet Ticker lately? Well, I’m done! DONE I TELL YOU!!! The 6 months of dieting is so over!!!!!! Newbies, cover your ears just a sec….All you LBT’ers who posted that “The 6 months goes so fast!” I want you to know I have all your names and I learned how to Google Earth my way to your houses and yes, I’m letting this one slide, but if I find out this ‘restriction thing’ that you also posted about is yet another LBT Urban Legend I’m coming after you!!! This has been the l—o—n—g—e—s—t 6 months of my life!!! Well, it didn’t help that I started looking at this last May, and it took me most of the summer to decide, and until September to get in to my PCP, and then I couldn’t do anything constructive to make the time fly by, …and so I past the time by (whining about) blogging every gory detail of my (dys)FUN(ctional) life and bored all my new friends on LBT until they were so tired of my incessant (whining) blogging about my 6 months of (misery) dieting that they too, (wanted to throttle me) were counting down the days until my 6 months was over, (Just so they didn't have to listen to me anymore) but it was still a LONG 6 months! OK, my friends, here’s your reward…yes, I said reward…you’ve earned it…you were always there for me laughing, crying, ranting, (whining), and yes, peeing. You’ve come along on my magical ride and now here’s the pay off… …the 6 months are over. APRIL FOOLS!!! No, I wasn’t lying and now you have to suffer through more months with me, the 6 months ARE over, but that’s NOT your reward…bet you can’t guess?..........time’s up!!! I got my Band Date!!!!! (No, NOT April Fools!) Isn’t that great!!! What a reward!!! You were just calculating how many weeks of (whining) blogging about waiting to get my date you’d have to suffer through, and there will be NO (whining) blogs about that!! Good news for everyone! Here it is, served up on a silver platter just for you….drumroll please……my Band Birthday is April 22! April is going to be the best month ever…April 22, my new shiny band…April 24, our 27th Anniversary (guess that won’t be a wild night)…April 27, my big 5-0 Birthday (Broth for everyone!), April 28, DH’s 50th Birthday! Wow, all within 7 days! Then I have the 29th and 30th to get the house cleaned, party decorations up and meals made (maybe catered now) for all the company coming on May 1st for DD’s Graduation! Now here’s the ‘cherry on top’…wait for it…………..there’s NO pre-op diet! Yep, I won’t be (whining) blogging about that either! Just a pre-op class next week and a physical with the nurse there sometime before banding and I’m golden (oh, and that approval thing…I should know within 72 hours, submitted today…she said ‘no worries’, so I’m not). Let the ROASTING begin…. I can hear it now…. BG- Thank GAWD it’s over! BG- If I had to hear one more word about your suffering with having to gain weight and your ‘non diet’ while we're all out here sweating and counting every blessed calorie… BG- Whine, whine, whine... BG- I thought you were banded years ago! OK, maybe not that last one…I’m off to blog the (boring) nitty-gritty about my day.

LOL, thanks gals! I'm still on 'cloud 9' this morning! Thanks for the support! -BG

Great job Patti! It must feel great! Keep up the good work. -BG

Hey there! Congratulations!! I got my date today too! Come make a quick post in the Master Thread HERE, so you can meet everyone and get on the April list! -BG

Hey there! Congratulations!!! I just got my date today also, so I know how excited you are (and your band date is my birthday LOL)! If you haven't already, make a post on the April Master Thread here in this forum and get yourself on the April list! Welcome! -BG Click HERE.

Good luck tomorrow. And "really gets long" LOL...Amen (I was kicking a$$ and taking names on my blog today about the same thing)! Hey friend, I don't think you've shown up yet at the April '09 Forum yet have you? Come on over and join the gang (there's about 120 of us getting banded this month). Even if you don't have a date yet (I was a 'hopeful' until today LOL! See you there! -BG Click HERE to get to the Master thread (there are also other threads in our 4/09 forum)

Sorry to hear this happened! I'm sure the antibiotics will clear it up soon. Feel better! -BG

Keep at it Michelle! You're doing great and tomorrow will be better! -Bg