Band_Groupie

Hey Mima. Come join our April '09 group click HERE. There's over 120 of us there in the same place you are (well, our first group went off to bandland today). Come introduce yourself! Welcome to LBT! -BG

Hey, don't beat yourself up! If any of us here could always control our eating we wouldn't be here! Just like you keep hearing...it's not a diet any more it's a lifestyle change, so take it one day at a time. We're all going to continue to have good and bad days, but this band is FOREVER, so hang in there. Thanks so much for the update Sherry...I don't know about anyone else, but I've been on pins and needles all day thinking about our first bunnies! Feel better soon!

I don't have a pre-op diet either, I think I'll create my own...maybe high protein and a few shakes. How many shakes (slim fast or carnation) are you guys allowed each day? OK, there's a sinus thing running rampant through the Bunnies...hope you both feel better...it would be awful to reschedule, but you have time left to get well, so rest up!

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.

Can you feel the Earth shaking? I'm hopping up and down!!! I finally got my date!!!!!!!!! I can't even believe it!!!! APRIL IS GOING TO BE ONE TERRIFIC MONTH! - April 24, is our 27th Anniversary - April 27, is my big 5-0th Birthday (April 28th is DH's 50th too) and starting off my magical April week, drumroll please.......... - April 22 is my Band Birthday!!!! Wow, all within 7 days! Now, off to blog about all my fun today!

I believe Full Liquid is any liquid (ie. milk, slim fast, strained soups) and I know Clear Liquid is anything you can see through, even if it's colored (ie. Crystal Light, Koolaid, popsicles, chicken broth). You might want to check with your Dr.

It's called 'Bandster Hell'...the time between getting the band and getting to your Sweet Spot. It's all up to you at this point as the swelling is going down from surgery and you're getting less restriction. Many gain weight at this point. Just keep following the bander rules and be patient, you'll get there with some fills! Hang in there, I'm sure it's frustrating. If you haven't joined up with the other March bandsters look in the Groups section and then under 2009, then you'll see March. They're all in the same spot you are, so you'll see what they're going through. Good luck -BG

OK, I know this is a support site, so just know I really give out as much support as I have time for, and spend a lot of my time helping newbies...I want to 'pay it forward'...but I've got to say one thing about that post; the 'I'm mad as heck' one that was linked (and no, I'd never reply any of this to the poster). It didn't take me even a week of research here to realize that getting to your sweet spot takes time, sometimes a year or longer (just saw one with 14 fills/unfills), sometimes much faster, some never need a fill. I'm counting on the fact that I won't have much restriction until at least the holidays (and I gave myself 2 years to lose the bulk of my weight)...if it comes earlier I'll be that much happier...it's not that I'm a pessimist, quite the opposite (I set really high goals), but I think you have to have realistic expectations and know what you're getting can and can't do. Even if they hadn't spelled that out in my seminar; would you buy a new car just because the salesman says it's 'good'? If you're doing something this extreme how could you not take a few hours to do some research first? I just get amazed by how many posts there are where people think the restriction will be there right after surgery (and stay). What are fills for then? What is Bandster Hell that's mentioned in 1/2 the posts here? Sure, I'll get frustrated when things aren't moving fast, but I won't blame my doc, or the band. It's all about setting the right expectations. I think this woman realized her errors and is now willing to do the work. So after all that blithering, what I'm trying to say is posts like that don't bother or worry me, because I've done the research, and I know what to expect...and so do you. I get fleeting thoughts that restriction is just an Urban LBT Legend and I'll never feel it (kind like the Ouija Board where all your friends felt the 'ghost', but you). If we just polled the Bunnies I wonder how many of us would raise our hands that we've ever worried we'll be the one this won't work for (I know mines up), but we have to be optimistic and know that this is not just in the hands of our band...it's up to us.

OK, some updates for anyone who cares… TRACK: From my whinefest yesterday: Just as I was pulling on my long-johns yesterday for the 4 hour freezefest I got a call from DS2 saying it was cancelled as the other track team felt it was too cold (OK, someone agreed with me). Apparently it was NOT too cold for our team. Our coaches made the kids practice outside for 2 hours anyway and then they scheduled an impromptu away meet today. OK, I had already rescheduled Monday’s guitar lesson to Tuesday (and paid for it)…you know, from the day OF the meet to the day of NO meet. He’s not going to the meet (and he’s fine with it…half the kids won’t be there as they have a chorus event)…apparently I wasn’t done whining yet. PIPES: Cover your ears NOW if you don’t want to hear about my pipes/dia-pee issues. I’m living on the edge over here. I ‘borrowed’ some of DD’s thin little girlie almost-thong-sized mini-pads. I feel like a man who’s been surgically castrated…there’s something missing between my legs. I’m thinking my new trial pack of drugs might be working pretty well. If this keeps up I’m going back downtown to my dealer for a refill. These pads are so thin you can see through them, but I’m a risk taker (and I have nowhere to go today…oh yeah, the guitar lesson). I’ve just started measuring my water intake and pushing fluids for post-op (I’m the queen of good timing). We may have a repeat of the ‘big flood’ of ’05. That’s when I had to call (from the bathroom) for DS2 (he was the only one home) to run and bring me some towels and a pad…that’s when I scheduled my bladder surgery and took out stock in Poise…and when DS2 dubbed pads ‘dia-pees’. Yes, I continue to scar my kids for life…and what was I saying yesterday about parents embarrassing their teens? Actually we were both laughing hysterically at the time, and every once in awhile he still loves to tease me about it and laughingly whisper to me that he’s going to tell everyone (so don’t tell him I’ve already told the world…shh, it’s our little secret). That’s when I pull out my tube top threat or bribe him with treats…we have a wonderful relationship…it’s all based on secrets, threats and bribery…I’m a good mom that way. So far, so good, LAP-BAND: I still can’t get the ‘Insurance Specialist’ at my surgeon’s office to call me back. Love the woman when I talk to her, but if she's that busy (which I'm guessing is true) they need to get her an assistant. I started calling her last Monday (8 days ago) and every day since then. I left a fourth message on her voicemail today asking for a 5 min. meeting with her on Wednesday morning so I can bring my last papers in and GET A TENTATIVE DATE (and I told her I was going to call the surgeon’s Admin. Asst., Susan). I just called Susan and nicely asked if Patti’s been out…nope, so I told her my issues and asked if I could just come down tomorrow, nope, no welcome-mat, I have to talk to the ins. gal. OK, HOW can I do that? She apologized and took a message for me. I’ve now risked pissing off the ONLY person who can help me get approved or not, which I certainly didn’t want to do, but that shows you how much pressure I’m getting to set a date (I'm sure my ears will be burning/ringing soon). I think the world will probably implode if I don’t get this done on Wednesday…so if you hear the BIG BANG, run for cover. Here comes the ‘yadda-yadda-yadda’ *just keep saying this in your mind as you scan the rest of this as quickly as possible until you get to WHEW while I release a quick (well, that depends on how fast you can scan) bit of pressure off the cooker*…I’m not telling anyone but DH, so I don’t want to be on the pre-op diet and traveling to my family for Easter. I’ve been avoiding calling my Mom (who had foot surgery last week and I haven’t talked to since…it’s killing me) because she’s been bugging me to come there (Ohio) for Easter and she needs to get the house ready, Easter baskets ready (yes, I always tell her I’ll do them, she won’t have that) and did I mention she just had surgery? DD calls me daily to see if we’re going for Easter because she wants to bring the BF and he needs to plan and she needs to ask off work and talk to his Mom about leaving…I’m all out of excuses. DH is getting big pressure from work (in the throes of layoffs there) to schedule several more work trips in April (he just called me a min. ago to ask AGAIN "Do you think you'll get a date tomorrow?", and DS1 still hasn’t taken Easter weekend off work yet, so who knows if he’ll be able to at this point. We’ve also got several kid doctors’ appts. scheduled that Friday that will need to be rescheduled, but within a few days as they’re time sensitive visits…the closer we get the less likely I’ll be able to do this. I’m being pressured from EVERYONE! *WHEW* So, I’ll either be back here ranting or doing the happy dance tomorrow…coin toss now! I’m really not impatient to get surgery ASAP...I really don't care if it's in May at this point; I just need to know WHEN it might be!

Hey gone 4 ever! LOL...you mean not everyone's life is this hectic? Thanks for the support! I'm glad to hear it's getting better with weight loss...I've been reading so much about this, but both Urology Specialists says they don't see the link between weight loss and this getting better...hmmm, we'll see. Hi Ohio...I grew up in Worthington, just North of Columbus, and we were back living near there (Delaware County) 8 years ago (we've moved a lot)...family is mostly still in the Cols. suburbs. Take care! -BG

Hey there. Join us at the April '09 Forum HERE. Lots of great peeps in the same place you are! -BG

Thin, Those are great ideas...I love books. Wish I could splurge on a Mickey visit, but I saw him twice last year (WDW, DLRP)...I love Mickey. I need to think of something big to look forward to far off...

Good Timing! I didn't think so, but...I've suffered with horrible migraines for about 18 years and finally found a med. that wiped them out last Nov. I've only had a few bad headaches, but no migraines since. The last few nights I didn't sleep as long as usual and this morning I was awoken to...a full blown migraine. I'm 'supposed' to get my date tomorrow...stress! Only my DH knows also. I do worry about lying to my 3 teens about this. I hate lying, but I don't want them to worry about an 'elective' surgery. I've decided to tell them I have a hiatal hernia for now and that it's no big deal. I may decide to tell them later, but they're teens and I don't want them Googling 'Lap Band Surgery Complications' (we've all been on that ugly search) and getting scared. I really don't have any doubts I'm doing the right thing. And I've had surgery before so I'm not too worried (although I've never had any external incisions so I worry a little about those). I don't even worry much that I'll lose at least 75% of the weight, as I've done it so many times. My biggest worry...Keeping it off and failing at permanent WL...again. Here's hoping we can sleep tonight! We're all in this together! -BG

You're on the list...it's at the April '09 Forum Master Thread HERE.

I made a bunch of homemade broth, bagged and in the freezer (MUCH tastier than the canned or boullion). I also did the same with some homemade soups for the mushie phase.

I'm a really open person, just read my blog, but I've decided not to tell anyone but DH at this point. I can't predict people's reactions and I don't want to head into this with any negatives. I'm the 'skinny' sibling of the 5 of us, so I'm not sure how my sister's and brother would react. I'm happy with my decision at this point because besides all the WL docs/nurses and pre-op docs I've told 4 other (unrelated to WL) docs and 5 nurses in their offices. Every single one of them said the same thing "You don't look like you need weight loss surgery!" (I have up to 100# to lose and I don't carry it in my upper half). Then I have to go into a long conversation about my BMI (started at 37.7), diet yo-yo history, my comorbidities, family history...yadda yadda. I wasn't able to convince one of them that I needed this...and they were all in the MEDICAL PROFESSION!!! It's certainly a personal choice, I just can't imagine having to go through this justification with a lot of others.

We're ringing in our best month ever tonight! Good luck everyone who's banding soon!!! We'll be thinking of you! P.S. Don't forget taking some good chapstick to the hospital (you'll want it when you wake up).

Great idea...I'm going to have to give this rewards thing some thought. I've only (geez, it's all relative isn't it) got max. 100# so every 50 won't be enough rewards...guess I need to think of some mini-goals!

Once you post on a thread it will subscribe you and if you click 'user cp' you can see if there are new postings under it or not. You can also chose to get them in your email (settings I believe). You can subscribe to a thread you haven't posted on by going to the beginning post and looking for 'thread tools' at the top and click subscribe. To subscribe to the April 'O9 Bandsters Forum click HERE then go to the 'Forum Tools' near the top right of the listing and click subscribe. Now it will show up in your user CP, like above. I log into my user CP and use it often to check for new postings/messages. Let me know if you get stuck (I didn't know any of this when I started here either)! -BG

Go to page 9, post 128 on this thread and follow the more detailed instructions. If you're still having trouble, let me know! -BG

OK, some updates for anyone who cares… TRACK: From my whinefest yesterday: Just as I was pulling on my long-johns yesterday for the 4 hour freezefest I got a call from DS2 saying it was cancelled as the other track team felt it was too cold (OK, someone agreed with me). Apparently it was NOT too cold for our team. Our coaches made the kids practice outside for 2 hours anyway and then they scheduled an impromptu away meet today. OK, I had already rescheduled Monday’s guitar lesson to Tuesday (and paid for it)…you know, from the day OF the meet to the day of NO meet. He’s not going to the meet (and he’s fine with it…half the kids won’t be there as they have a chorus event)…apparently I wasn’t done whining yet. PIPES: Cover your ears NOW if you don’t want to hear about my pipes/dia-pee issues. I’m living on the edge over here. I ‘borrowed’ some of DD’s thin little girlie almost-thong-sized mini-pads. I feel like a man who’s been surgically castrated…there’s something missing between my legs. I’m thinking my new trial pack of drugs might be working pretty well. If this keeps up I’m going back downtown to my dealer for a refill. These pads are so thin you can see through them, but I’m a risk taker (and I have nowhere to go today…oh yeah, the guitar lesson). I’ve just started measuring my water intake and pushing fluids for post-op (I’m the queen of good timing). We may have a repeat of the ‘big flood’ of ’05. That’s when I had to call (from the bathroom) for DS2 (he was the only one home) to run and bring me some towels and a pad…that’s when I scheduled my bladder surgery and took out stock in Poise…and when DS2 dubbed pads ‘dia-pees’. Yes, I continue to scar my kids for life…and what was I saying yesterday about parents embarrassing their teens? Actually we were both laughing hysterically at the time, and every once in awhile he still loves to tease me about it and laughingly whisper to me that he’s going to tell everyone (so don’t tell him I’ve already told the world…shh, it’s our little secret). That’s when I pull out my tube top threat or bribe him with treats…we have a wonderful relationship…it’s all based on secrets, threats and bribery…I’m a good mom that way. So far, so good, LAP-BAND: I still can’t get the ‘Insurance Specialist’ at my surgeon’s office to call me back. Love the woman when I talk to her, but if she's that busy (which I'm guessing is true) they need to get her an assistant. I started calling her last Monday (8 days ago) and every day since then. I left a fourth message on her voicemail today asking for a 5 min. meeting with her on Wednesday morning so I can bring my last papers in and GET A TENTATIVE DATE (and I told her I was going to call the surgeon’s Admin. Asst., Susan). I just called Susan and nicely asked if Patti’s been out…nope, so I told her my issues and asked if I could just come down tomorrow, nope, no welcome-mat, I have to talk to the ins. gal. OK, HOW can I do that? She apologized and took a message for me. I’ve now risked pissing off the ONLY person who can help me get approved or not, which I certainly didn’t want to do, but that shows you how much pressure I’m getting to set a date (I'm sure my ears will be burning/ringing soon). I think the world will probably implode if I don’t get this done on Wednesday…so if you hear the BIG BANG, run for cover. Here comes the ‘yadda-yadda-yadda’ *just keep saying this in your mind as you scan the rest of this as quickly as possible until you get to WHEW while I release a quick (well, that depends on how fast you can scan) bit of pressure off the cooker*…I’m not telling anyone but DH, so I don’t want to be on the pre-op diet and traveling to my family for Easter. I’ve been avoiding calling my Mom (who had foot surgery last week and I haven’t talked to since…it’s killing me) because she’s been bugging me to come there (Ohio) for Easter and she needs to get the house ready, Easter baskets ready (yes, I always tell her I’ll do them, she won’t have that) and did I mention she just had surgery? DD calls me daily to see if we’re going for Easter because she wants to bring the BF and he needs to plan and she needs to ask off work and talk to his Mom about leaving…I’m all out of excuses. DH is getting big pressure from work (in the throes of layoffs there) to schedule several more work trips in April (he just called me a min. ago to ask AGAIN "Do you think you'll get a date tomorrow?", and DS1 still hasn’t taken Easter weekend off work yet, so who knows if he’ll be able to at this point. We’ve also got several kid doctors’ appts. scheduled that Friday that will need to be rescheduled, but within a few days as they’re time sensitive visits…the closer we get the less likely I’ll be able to do this. I’m being pressured from EVERYONE! *WHEW* So, I’ll either be back here ranting or doing the happy dance tomorrow…coin toss now! I’m really not impatient to get surgery ASAP...I really don't care if it's in May at this point; I just need to know WHEN it might be!

Hey there. I'm still pre-band, but I hear many on LBT say that getting up and down is one of the things that sticks around the longest. Good luck at the doc tomorrow! -BG

I'm pre-band (few weeks), but wanted to say thanks for the post. I eat reg. oatmeal every day, usually with a handful of frozen berries thrown in. I just bought Cream of Wheat because I was afraid the oatmeal would be too gummy to go down. Good to know I'll be able to have it...now with new recipes!

Did you just get a fill last week? If so, I'm confused because I thought people said it can take up to 4 weeks for fills to 'kick in'...not sure why that would be, but I keep reading that here (so that's why fills are supposed to be about 4 weeks apart)?

LOL, yeah me too (laxative). I still adore some of the SF chocolates with Sugar Alcohols...they're still lower in calories than real chocolate even when counting all the carbs, but if I eat more than one or two in a day......instant colon cleanse.