SpideyMom

My surgeon keeps telling me 60-70% over 2-3 years, explaining that some lose a lot more, some a lot less. It's all up to us! I plan on doing more than the average!

True, JS, so true -- everyone's doctor is different! Glad to have you as a Mayo Bandito ... even if I do crave a certain candy bar every time I see your name! LOL :thumbup:

Thanks for your reply, skinnybyrd. It is reassuring to me. Also, the nurse never emailed me back, and it's 4 pm here, so I guess no news is good news! I don't have a fever or a cough, just a darn nuisance of one nostril running (clear) and a bit of a sore throat from the post-nasal drip. So, I guess it is on for me tomorrow morning at 7! I have to be there at 6 a.m. I'm really nervous and just wish it would hurry up and get here!!!! I'll check in with everyone as soon as I can, but I don't have a laptop, so it may be a few days. In the meantime, good luck to those who are going in on the 7th, 8th, and 11th!!! :thumbup:

Good idea, Hallelujah! I know you'll be reading this after your surgery, but just wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you today!!! :cool2:

Welcome, hdmdavid, and thanks for sharing your story! It is a familiar story to me... and probably to many people here. I am also being banded on the 7th (tomorrow!!), so I will be thinking of you! :cool2:

Hi, Sarah. Sorry to hear that they changed the date on you! I would be so mad!!! :cool2: I hope everything else continues to go well. :laugh:

Shaun, I'm so sorry to hear that your surgery date got bumped at the last minute. Keep your chin up! WELCOME to all the newcomers! We have set up a Mayo Banditos forum that we encourage you to check out. There is a large group of us over there, and there are many threads going on about all sorts of subjects concerning our upcoming surgeries and, for some, their recent surgeries! Here is a handy link. Just click on this below: May 09 Bandsters - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum

Hey, Neil, thanks for checking in! Glad to hear it all went so well. :thumbup: The more stories I hear, the less nervous I am! Keep us updated on your progress!

Congratulations, Deb! Have you tried unjury chicken soup? It is 90 calories, 0 fat, 0 carbs, and 21 g. Protein. It is actually not made with chicken, btw, in case you are vegetarian, but it tastes good! It has helped me get protein in when I can't do another shake. You can get it on their website, Unjury.com. Good luck!

Oh, why are all these so awful? Seems like a lot of us thought we'd be good and start a little early and now we sorta regret it. (*belch*) I guess anything for too long gets gross. I went home last night and had some broth and some sugar-free Jello and felt like a new woman! I haven't had a SlimFast in 24 hours and I am much better -- the symptoms I had are all subsiding. There really must be something in the SF that doesn't agree with me! Melissa, sorry to hear about your "sunburn"! My work is about to have it's monthly birthday party with a huge cake, and I'm dying. So, I'm eating sf jello and a cup of broth. mmmm.... However, the upside of all this, as many of you have also found, is that I am losing some weight! I've lost 4 pounds since last week. That helps me hang on! That and the fact that I'm not puking. :thumbdown:

I've heard that Optifast is pretty bad, too. Foxxy, I did the same thing as you, started drinking the Slim Fast early to taste the flavors and get used to it. It wasn't bad when I had one a day. But six a day with no other food??? :tt2: Oh, and I bought a lot of it when it was on sale at WalMart. :thumbup:

OMG, Foxxy, I am on the all SlimFast diet and I'm dying also! I finally got in touch with the surgeon's nurse and asked her what else I could do. It was then that she said I could have broth and sugarfree Jello. I didn't know ahead of time like you did. I've been drinking the cans and I really want to barf. I looked up side effects of Slim Fast, and from their own website, SLIM-FAST For Healthcare Professionals, it says: Some individuals may experience transient side effects as a result of weight loss including headache, constipation, loose stools, abdominal discomfort, and intense hunger. Uh, yeah, I've had all of the above, thank you. Not. She also told me I can substitute Unjury for the Slim Fast, which is exactly what I am going to do for the next two days. I know it sounds silly that I can't make it another two days, but when you're experiencing all of those side effects above plus nausea to the point of near vomiting, you really have to do something different!!! I was sick on the couch all day on Saturday.

Laya, you're so right about the addiction part -- most people don't understand that. And, unlike alcohol and drugs, we can't live without food!

Thanks, Karianne! These lists are very helpful.

Hi, Leeann! Welcome to the Mayo Banditos! I'm also insulin resistant and have been taking glucophage (diabetes med) for 8 1/2 years even though I'm not diabetic. It's time for me to stop that game. Good for you for taking charge of it early!!! I agree, it's worth it to pay more if you know you're getting higher quality! Good luck!

Great list! Thanks!

There are a couple stories from people who had surgery on May 1st. Look here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f18163/may-1st-banders-how-did-go-93324/

Hi, Sarah! I'm also being banded on the 7th! Glad to have you here as a Mayo Bandito -- it's a great group of people who can totally relate! I've had weight problems since age 8, so I know -- boy do I know -- how you felt about being the fat kid in school. That was awful. There are lots of threads going on the Mayo Banditos forum. Here's a link to all of them: May 09 Bandsters - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum

Yes, two have checked in so far and they are doing well! Go to the Surgery Stories thread to see their stories.

Congratulations, KLP, you skinny thing! I'm jealous that you got to go home the same day. I have to stay overnight. Keep us updated on your progress!

Gemini, don't look at it as "d day" -- it's your B DAY!!! Good luck at the doctor tomorrow.

Karianne, I'm sorry you've had so much misery for the last 4 years. I understand completely about missing out on so many family events and memories -- I have fibromyalgia, which is a chronic pain condition for which there is no cure at this time. It is progressive, as I can attest to how much pain I am in now as compared to when I was diagnosed in 2005. My reactions from loved ones has been mixed. Most of my friends have really been supportive, but one couple who I thought would really be supportive are quite the opposite -- questioning why I can't just exercise more, eat less, etc. In fact, they've pulled away and haven't been talking to me as much since I told them, which is sad. I've only told one family member so far, and she was so amazingly supportive, I was overwhelmed! I still need to tell my sister, but we keep playing telephone tag! I am worried about her reaction. I also felt like my dh questioned my decision after he had told me he supported me. Then I took him with me to the surgeon's visit, and he snapped back to being the supportive, caring man that I know and love. The important thing is -- this is YOUR decision. No one else knows the pain you live with -- from your disease and from missing out on family life. I can sympathize with you. Know that you have friends here who can relate and totally support you!

Welcome, everyone, to the Mayo Banditos! Glad to have you here! We've formed a group, and there are a lot more threads going on right now about all sorts of subjects that may be of interest to you as your dates rapidly approach... like mine (May 7th) !!! Here is the link: May 09 Bandsters - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum

Thanks, Shelley! I'm thankful I've made it this far... only 2 1/2 days to go on this awful diet. Making the shakes in the blender helps, but now the smell of the shakes is making me gag. And it's doing awful things to my digestive tract. Ugh. But, together we can get through this!! Thanks for everyone's support -- it is really helping me tremendously!!!