scoobydoo

Hi everyone, I am due to start my pre-op diet on Tuesday the 31st. Not on it yet...and sort of eating a few things that I know I won't be able to later. You guys are SO inspiring and I am so proud of you all for sticking to your liquids!! I have also heard that there is not a lot of hunger the first couple weeks after the surgery. I am hoping that is correct. April is just around the corner. We are all gonna do fantastic! I am getting more an more excited as the days go by.

Hi Hannah, First of all here is a ((hug!)) Secondly, I can understand some of what you are going through because my husband is not 100% convinced that this surgery is good for me. He is basically going along with it because he knows I am determined to get it done and make it work for me. In your fathers case, I am sure that a lot of what he is feeling is probably being scared for you. People who don;t understand what the band is or howit works just don't understand. They tend to think all is required is diet and exercise. That does work for some people but not very many who have a lot of weight to lose. I just read a book by one of Muhammed Ali's daughters called "Fighting Weight". Her name is Khalia Ali. She had the lap band done and was over 300 pounds when she had it done. She looks fantastic now. She went through a lot of people not understanding either. Maybe reading it would help. Or give it to your dad to read. It got my husbands attention because she is related to Muhammed Ali and he knows who that is. LOL Wish I could help more, but I think just be sure that it is what YOU want to have done. If so, then having the courage to follow through no matter what anyone thinks helps keep you strong and focus on the reason you are doing this. I know that in the end, my hubby will come around, once he can see that it is working and I am okay. Hang in there, be strong and know that you are doing something for YOU. Your dad will probably come around.

Thanks for the nice welcome. I started the ball rolling in January by going to a seminar by Dr. Machado. Then started jumping through all of the insurance hoops and was approved on March 10th by my insurance co. (BS of CA) I had actually been thinking of the band for about a year before I decided it was right for me. I am excited about the upcoming surgery. So tired of being fat and want to start living again. Thanks for the support group invite, I may take you up on it. I know Dr. Machado has one also at Mercy San Juan off of Greenback, but not sure of the schedule yet.

Hey Jen and Abbie, SO cool that we all have the same date. I am a little worried that you two are already on your pre-op diets and I am not even scheduled to have my preop visit until the 31st!! I think I will copy Jen's diet since it woulds pretty good--at least until I get my preop instructions from my doctor. I think any amount of dieting beforehand can only help. Jen, can you tell me more about what you are eating so I can be a copycat??lol I got some protien shakes (30 g ) at Costco and will start them tomorrow. I will get some Lean Quisines today. Anything else you can add? Thanks. I am not looking forward to staying overnight at the hospital, only because my son will wonder where I am, but I know he will survive. Probably will be best since I will actually get rest in the hospital that I wouldn't get otherwise. Abby, I bet after your surgery you are going to be able to find another job really easily. No one should have to work with a demanding and overbearing boss. I have had one of those in the past at the medical center I worked at and he was terrible. I dreaded going to work just because I never knew what mood he was going to be in that day. No one needs that kind of stress!! Jen, I think it was so smart of you to take that extra week off since you were able to. Who needs all that temptation when you will be on liquids. The great thing is, I have heard you are not very hungry the first two weeks after the surgery. That should help too. Talk to you guys soon!

Welcome, kaner, carrie and Lou! April Bunnies are the greatest!:crying:

Shelly, It will be SO worth it!! I can understand though. I used to work with several doctors and the thought of being naked on the table in front of them isn't a pleasant thought, but like you said, it will be well worth while. And even though they know you, they are professionals and probably won't even give it a second thought. I am nervous, excited and scared all at the same time. I am so happy and thankful to have this great group to go to for support and understanding. It is so cool to have others going through the exact same thing. No one else understands it like you guys! Thanks for being there:smile:

Hi, Sherri, My dad lives in Kansas City, KS. Sort of in your neck of the woods. Most of our family can be traced back to a small town called Rolla, MO. Don't worry that it took you a while to come to the band decision. Better late than never...and at least you are taking charge and doing it now. I have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and take a pill for it every day. Also have a bad knee and hoping that the weight loss will help with that. I will keep my finders crossed for you to get an April date. I know that getting the actual date was a BIG thing for me. Finally made it seem real. :crying:

I SO understand this!! My oldest daughter just finished a college internship program with Disneyland and we have been there 4 times in the past year. I was so tired most of the time walking around, worried about fitting on the rides, but I did manage to squeeze in most of them. Luckily my son is only 2 and we were able to fit into the Dumbo ride, but I am so tired of feeling self conscious and being fat! I just want to blend in and be "normal" weight. Not feel like the fattest person wherever I go. Especially places like Disneyland. Good for you for planning the trip to DisneyWorld in December. I sort of look at December as a progress point too. I love Christmas time and can't want to experience a holiday and all the fun without being so overweight. I want to buy a pair of jeans and feel good in them. I never wear jeans now. Just don't look good. But in a few months time, look out!:crying: Oh, and yes, my daughters are supportive about the surgery. They were at first concerned about the dangers of the operation, but now they know it is relatively safe and are behind me 100%. My hubby, OTOH, is being "supportive but has doubts" and I know he is trying, but worries that it is just another thing I am trying that may not work. Hey, I am gonna MAKE it work!

Hi, I am scheduled to be banded by Dr. Machado on April 16th. A bit nervous, but mostly excited. Glad to see there are so many others from the Sacramento area. I am in Auburn.

Hey Abbie-pie, Glad you found us over here on this board! I am also scheduled for April 16th. I am a little worried about the pre-op diet too, but at this point I am ready to get on with it. There is a great group here and I know you'll find lots of support. Good for you, sticking with your plans on going ahead with the surgery...I hope you don't push yourself too much, even with such a demanding boss. Hopefully you will be one of those with a super fast recovery! Actually, I am wishing that for all of us bunnies!

Hi, sorry I can't answer the amount of what you should be eating, but I noticed we are in the same area. I am in Auburn. I am due to be banded on April 16th and looking forward to it. Who was your surgeon? How are you doing since being banded?

Wow. Thanks for sharing! Gives me lots of hope.:smile:

We have the dame date for surgery! Good luck to you. I started this process in January and I am so happy to finally be scheduled, but I am a little nervous too. I go for my preop appt. on Mar. 31st. It's moving along pretty fast now that there is an actual date!:smile:

I have decided not to tell anyone except my daughters and husband. I just don't want to feel like they are constantly watching me and seeing if it "works". I think I would tell someone who may be a candidate for the surgery, but not my thin friends or even my mother (who would say that diet and exercise is what I need to do, not surgery). Luckily my mom doesn't live nearby, and though I love her dearly, she just doesn't get it when it comes to being obese.

Hi everyone, My name is Peggy and I have been looking into getting the lap band for over a year. Then in December of last year, I found this site and it really helped me to make the decision to go forward. I started my journey in January when I attended the WLS seminar by my surgeon. I then started jumping through the insurance hoops and finally got approval on March 10th. I amscheduled for the 16th of April. I lost over 100 pounds about 8 years ago taking Phentermine. I have gained it back again and then some. I got pregnant at the age of 43! and gained 70 pounds with the pregnancy. Was able to lose some of it after, but it is harder than ever it seems. So I am hoping that the band is the answer for me. I will make it work! I know it is just a tool but that is exactly what I need. I am married to a great guy and we own a wedding and event business, an Irish Pub that is due to open in a week and a bed and breakfast. We have two daughters who are 17 and 19 and a 2 year old son who si the light of our life! My hubby has never had a weight problem and has a fast metabolism...at first he was not very supportive and thought I should just exercise and diet, why choose surgery. Since then, he has started to come around, though I don't think that people who have never had a weight problem can ever truly understand what we go through. Surgery is not an EASY choice by any means. I am so happy to have this support online and it's great to "meet" all of you who are going through the same thing. Ok, I have rambled enough for now...

That sounds like a great plan ro make it fun for the kids...and provide a distraction while you have it done. I am really fortunate that I have two older daughters who are 17 and 19 and they will definitely take care of their brother while my hubby is with me. I know that he will be just fine. Guess I am just surprised at hearing I will be overnight after all. Adam has been sleeping with us since he came home from the hospital! lol I can't imagine it any other way and I am sure he can't either. We are planning to get him into his "big boy" bed when he turns 3, but until then, I love having him close by. We were told we could never have children, adopted our girls at birth and then at the ripe ol age of 43 I thought I had the flu and it was him!! :ohmy: I feel so blessed to have him, especially since I spent so long going through infertility stuff when I was younger. Then, poof, in my forties with no help, I concieve. Needless to say, we all (including his big sisters) spoil him a bit. Just goes to show that you never know what life has in store for you!

Thanks for the reminder on the pictures! I need to have some taken...with me in front of the camera and not strategically half behind someone else...lol. I know that will be a major sourceof inspiration for me once I start losing. Talked to the hospital to pre-register today. Found out that I am listed as an "inpatient" and will probably spend one night at the hospital. I thought it would be outpatient since a lot of the posts on surgery say they went home the same day. Oh well, I will know more particulars when I see my surgeon on the 31st for the pre-op visit. I am not looking forward to a night away in the hospital for the stupidest reason! Our 2 year old son sleeps with us and I am more worried about him missing me in the bed than I am about being at the hospital for my safety...:ohmy: Guess I am so used to being the one to take care of everyone. I need to focus on me I suppose. Are you guys staying overnight or going home same day?

Thanks for the explanation! LOL that's funny. How is everyone doing? I am going to start really watching my diet from now until my preop visit. Then I know the doctor will put me on Protein shakes and whatever else. I figure I will keep it at 1200 calories from now til the 31st when I have my preop appt. I am sort of nervous after reading other posts about the "fatty liver" thing. I sure want mine to be as small as possible so it won't be in the way. How long is everyone else's pre op diet? I have heard anywhere from 1 week to 3 months. I guess it depnds on the doctor and everything, but just wondering what the rest of you are required to do. Also, has anyone else heard of the Single incision lapband? I think it is new, but I am still curious. Apparently they can go in through the bellybutton with only one incision?? I think it is so new that my doctor won't be doing it, but wondering if anyone else heard of it.

Hi everyone, Thanks, Bandgroupie for the easy way to do the peep banner...I tried on my own and couldn't figure it out! Thanks for the help! Great idea to have us all come to one spot!

Iam scheduled for April 16th. Good luck with everything. April 10th will be here before you know it. Are you on your preop diet already?

HI everybody! Bandgroupie, thansk for all the info on the difference in the bands. I asked my doctor and she told me she has had so much success with the lapband brand that she is more comfotable with it, but that the realize band is good too. I just told her that I will go with what she is most comfy with. Jen, thanks for telling me about your preop visit. Mine is on the 31st so I am hoping for a similar diet as yours and not complete liquids, but I'm not sure what to expect. I am just really excited about getting this underway. I still cannot believe it is happening!:thumbup: How is your preop diet going? Have you been hungry yet? Mommad, I was surprised to hear that you haven't met your doctor yet...but as you say, it is a bit different in Canada. It sounds like things have moved pretty fast for you. If you are uncomfortable, maybe you can call the office and tell them it would make you feel better to meet the doc first. Elayne, I had to laugh when I read your post about baking bread and sort of saying goodbye to favorite foods...I have been doing the same thing. I know the preop diet is coming and I need to be good...but I find myself saying goodbye to certain things, knowing I will not be eating them again with the band, especially bread. Sissy, Thanks for listing the dates of everyone's surgery. That is so cool to see in print! I haven't told anybody I am getting the band, except my husband and my daughters who are 17 and 19. They are all pretty supportive, though my hubby (who has never had a weight problem) still wonders why I can't just do it with diet and exercise. He is coming around more and more, thank goodness. Either way, I am so happy to get this done and start living my life without weight being such a focal point in my life. Sorry for the novel. I am just so glad to "meet" all of you and have people to share all this with who are going through the same thing!

Hey Jen, it sounds like we will have the same date: April 16th! I just got word from insurance on March 10 that I was approved and I am so happy to now have a date. I go for pre-op visit on 3-31-09. Does anyone know what is involved at that visit? Do they just tell you what you can eat the weeks before surgery? Anyway, I'm now an April Bandster! Soo happy!

Hang in there...Like Craig said, I am sure you will be fine. It is just that you have been anticipating this for so long and going through all the prep for it sort of makes it more and more real as time goes on. My surgery is sched for Apriol 16th and it has started sinking in bit by bit and I alternate between feeling excited, scared to death, happy, nervous...etc. Like you, when I think of all the positives, I get really excited, and then I can't help but worry because in the back of my mind i worry "what if..." I think that is normal. Hang in there and know that we are all here to support you. :thumbup:

Mustang, I think that anyone who is contemplating lapband surgery is aware that there could be complications. Personally, I am willing to take that risk and join the thousands of success stories on this forum. There are many HAPPY successful lapband patients too. :thumbup: Since you didn't elaborate as to your own experience, I can only assume you fall into the "complications" category. Sorry for that but you shouldn't sicourage those of us who have been jumping through hoops and are so happy and excited to finally be approved. For many, like myself, the band is a light at the end of the tunnel and is way worth the risk in my opinion.

Congratulations on being approved. I completely understand your excitment since I heard from my insurance company yesterday! I am having my surgery on April 16th. Nervous, excited, but mostly happy to get on with things. It seemed like such a relief to hear that it was approved...now the wait for surgery begins:thumbup: