Mrs Husker

Tammy, You are such an inspiration. I was not told to do a pre-op diet, but will be starting one on March 1. I plan on doing what I did on LA Weight loss but will just have a protein shake for breakfast. <O:pScarlett, </O:pAs to the cost of the shakes, I know the GNC will take it back, even if it is used, for a full refund. The clerk helped me pick out two telling me to bring it back if I didn’t like one or either of them.

I am not banded yet, but I plan on following girlinnyc advice. Lots of pain meds. I had a lap surgery years ago and remember the "gas" setteling in my collar bones and whenever I turned my head "OUCH". I also plan on walking as much as possible. Congratulation and the best of success.

I see that some get a surgery date before they get insurance approval. My dr will not even see you until your insurance approves. Her nurse explained that they get so many denied and found that it wasted peoples time and money to go through all the pre-op stuff if they insurance wasn't approved. Did anyone else have to have approval before their dr would see them?

Great Mags!!!! I am so happy for you. How long did it take to get the insurance to approve or did you have to appeal?

I believe that this is the best option for me. When I decided to have wls, I was going to do the rny, but after I went to a meeting and the dr talked about the lapband, I did a little checking into it. I was scared to death of the rny but my health was getting worse and worse every year and knew that "dieting" wasn't the way to lose weight. What I read about the band and all the people here at lbt, I decided that it was just what I needed. I am an overeater. I don't snack alot and am not a big sweet fan, but put a 24oz steak in front of me and there will be nothing left. This is something that I am doing not only for myself, but like momlambert, for my kids, granted I only have two, but I want to be there for them and also for my grandkids. I look forward to retirement with my dh and with the help of the band, know that I will make it there in good health.

Thanks for the advice. I know that now I can eat and eat if I am doing anything else (I love to read while I eat). All the advice I read on LBT is going to help me be better prepared post-band. Thanks all

Jack, You always seem to know just what to say. I agree with you 100%.

Keep us posted on your progress after surgery. Will be thinking about ya.

Just got a call from my dr office. My surgery date has to be moved because the dr has trauma call. So my new date is March 20!!!!!! I thought that it might be moved later, but to find out that it is one day earlier, YES!!. I also have an appt on March 12 for all my pre-op stuff. It starts at 8:00 with an Upper GI, than at 9:00 lab, chest x-ray and EKG. At 10:30 I meet the the dietician, 1:15 I meet Dr McBride, the surgon and round it out at 3:00 with anesthesia preop evaluation. I know I can't eat anything after midnight the night before and have to wait until after x-rays are done. It also states that I need to purchase a stool softener, chewable Calcium w/Vit D such as Viactiv or chewabable Citracal and children's chewable vitamins to have after surgery. I need to add this to the list of stuff that I wanted to make sure I had on hand before surgery.

I wasn't going to get a "ticker", but I hope that this will help keep me accountable. I want to lose 10 lbs before surgery. I hope to lose more, but decided to keep it simple. Hope this works (ticker that is)

I was at GNC getting some different shake mixes and came across their "Multi liquid Ultra Mega Dietary Supplement" (something about the "Ultra Mega" makes me laugh) Has anyone tried this? Or would you reccomend something else? Thanks

:faint: I just counted the days I have left, 30 days and a wake up. I can't believe it. This is the first time I have gotten nervous about it. I think that for some reason, counting the day left made it real. Before it was like a dream, now that I know that I have one month left, I don't know, it's just real. Does anyone understand what I'm saying or do I just need to wake up and get the coffee going?

I was told no NSAID (Motrin, Advil etc). They can irritate the stomach lining.

Good luck and best wishes Audrey. I'm pulling for you to get the job.

Good & Ready You have found the right board. Everyone here is so very helpful. We have everyone from thinking about banding to being banded for a number of years. You couldn't ask for a greater group of people. I am in the waiting to be banded stage and I don't think I could have made it this far without LBT. I don't post much, but I read it almost everyday. Good luck on your journey and welcome to LBT. Side note: One of the best threads I have read that helped was http://www.lapbandtalk.com/abbreviations-and-they-t7959.html It explains what all the abbreviations are.

The last time I heard from my dr office was a phone message that said my surgery was for March 21 and that I would need to come in for testing before that. I had to switch weekends at work because I was to work March 24 & 25. Switching wasn't a problem and it even helped. Now I work the weekend before surgery (March 17 & 18) and will get a four day weekend (our work week starts on Saturdays so my 40 will be in by Wednesday). I also planed to take March 20 off to get everything lined up at home (cleaning, shopping, cooking etc, etc). Anyway, ever since I got that phone message I have been calling and calling and leaving message after message. Well, today I talked to the nurse who sets everything up. She informed me that I "might" be able to do my testing on March 12 and to plan on being there all day. She also informed me that the week of my surgery is the dr "trama week". There are only 3 surgeons who pull call for emergency tramas at the hospital and I might not get in on March 21. :faint: The nurse said she would let me know. THIS SUCK!!!!! I realize that a trama patients need should come before mine, but the nurse should have check the doctors rotation for that week before getting my hopes up.:think Now I am getting flippin' mad. I also realize that it might only be a minor set back if I have to switch to April, but I have tons of stuff that I need to get ready for my sons graduation in May. My X is coming to town for it and I have not seen him in about 12 years :clap2: (long, long story and the clappy smiley guy is because I have not seen him in 12 years, not because I am going to be seeing him again. Not any love lost on my part anymore.) We are also redoing my kitchen starting next week. On top of all this, my son (who is 17) has been home since Sunday with a 102 and up fever. I'm gratefull that he graduated high school in Januray or he would be missing school and work. I made my husband take him to the doctor today because I was at work and he took the day off. The doctor took a swab up his nose and told my husband that if its positive, he will be calling a scrip for everyone in the family. When I asked my husband (who is an esxtreamly intellegent man, I'm talking MENSA), positive for what? He said "I didn't ask". DUMB A**!! I love my husband, I love my husband, I love my husband. I know I am a little stressed right now and not sleeping well. Tomorrow will be a better day and I will not be so upset about the possible delay in my surgery. Thanks for being "here" when I needed to let it out (well, most of it out)

Welcome to LBT. The people here are always ready to help out with any questions & concerns. Even thou I don't post much, I know that I have relied on LBT since I first heard about banding. Good Luck on your journey.

Congrats! I am so happy for you. This is going to be one of the best things that you could do for yourself and your family.

Sara I am in the same boat at you in regards to thinking about food. It's not so much what I might not be able to eat, it is the amount. I love a big steak, 16-24 oz or better. I don't snack alot, but I am an overeater big time. I just have to remember that I will be enjoying each bite of my food longer because I will be chewing each bite like 100 times. LOL

I don't do much shopping in the middle of the store. I buy fresh or frozen veggie, fresh fruit, dairy, meat & bread. My kids think its a holiday if I bring home canned pasta. I do buy some cereals for my kids, but I also buy alot of oatmeal (not the instant stuff). I can not have any of the fake sugars. And sugar alchol keeps me sitting on the pot. I love water but want it ice cold, so I got a 2 gallon water cooler that sits on my desk and I have an extra jug that I fill up at home (we are on a well at work). When I was on LA weight loss, I quit putting sugar in my coffee and as stated above, it took about two weeks to get used to it. For those that don't like plain water, I would also suggest tea. I love green tea, but in the winter I'm all about the Earl Gray.

When I see myself in the mirror, I don't see how fat I am. When I see myself in a photo, I want to cry.

I HAVE A DATE!!!!! :D :clap2: :heh: :banana :bounce: :) I've only been waiting about a year to say that (started this process last April). March 21 it is. WOOT-WOOT!!! I have to go in about two week prior for pre-op testing. They said that could take all day. So what can I expect during testing?

I had BCBS of Nebraska. I was denied twice. The first one said it was not medically necessary, with the second one they wanted two years of medical managed weight loss. I had to switch to Mutual of Omaha in November and was approved in December even tho the insurance didn't go into effect until January.

I've told my DH, mom, dad, older sister and best friend. I also decided to tell my boss because of the time off I am going to need and also I will need someone to help me when I return as I do some heavy lifting at work. I will not tell my younger sister or another friend. They both think that they know everything. When I was doing the research on the band, I talked to both of them about it and they were both very negative. Now that I have decided to have the band, I will not let them know. There is a thread on here where someone said that when people who did not know they had the band ask them how they are losing weight they will them "with hard work and exercise". Since that will be the truth, thats what I plan on telling people that don't know.

I had to switch my insurance in November (something about our zip code). I went with Mutual of Omaha. I sent them my paperwork the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and I got a call last friday the 8. I can't believe how fast they were. I had been fighting BCBS since April. I don't even have my insurance card yet. I hope to be able to make an appointment for mid to late Janurary.