Drasan

Thanks btreiger! And congratulations to you for your successful 3 week liquid diet! Wow! I'm a March Bandster with you! High five to us! Dontgoggilme, you're a March Bandster too, right? We're pulling for you.

Day 2 of my liquid diet and I'm jazzed!!! I have to stop and catch myself every time I reach for something I shouldn't eat. So far so good and I plan to keep it that way. I have been eating mindlessly for so long, it's a hard habit to break. The liquid diet is successfully interrupting my eating habits. I keep telling myself that I am in training for the band. Dontgoggilme, didn't you have to work really hard to get to this pre-op stage? I know that I did. I want this to happen in my life. Up to this point, I've lost the war with weight. I am ready to be a winner. You can do this. Look at all of us who are pulling for each other, for you! The next Protein shake I drink today, I'm holding it up to cheer everyone who is having one with me! CHEERS!

This is such a great thread. I bet I've read it at least 4 times now. My surgery date is coming up fast. I've quoted your posts to my husband and concerned family members. You're comments have not only encouraged me, but they've helped put my family more at ease. Thank you Ninababy for starting this thread and to all of you who have taken the time to help ease our minds.

Jasmine .. has the nutritionist or your surgeon given you a diet plan or instructions on what you should and should not eat? I would strictly follow those guidelines. They know what they're doing. You don't want to compromise your health to lose weight more quickly. Your body still needs nutrition. I know how anxious I am to lose the weight. I have to keep telling myself that I didn't gain the weight overnight so I can't expect to lose it overnight (or within a few months) either. I'm getting banded 3/10 and begin my pre-op diet in 3 days. I'm so excited! I'm happy to hear that your surgery went well! Take care of yourself!

Congratulations! *high fives* woot! I got my surgery date confirmed yesterday too! I've been in the process since September. It's been a long haul. Best wishes to all!

I'm having surgery March 10 and planning a trip out of the country the end of April. My family is having a fit that the trip is too close to my surgery. They're worried about something going wrong. Is it unreasonable to take a long distance trip 5 weeks after surgery?

Thanks for the link Cocoabean. It looks like most say "no way" and a few say "no problem." I think I'll offer my ticket to a friend. My concert is no Shania Twain, it's a heavy metal concert, Alice in Chains. Even though it is a seated concert, heavy metal concerts tend to be a bit more intense. Although I would be no where near a mosh pit, I'm thinking crowd surfing, etc. I'd rather be safe than sorry and protect my health for my trip to Europe. Thank you everyone for your thoughtful responses!

whoa whoa whoa When I stated that doctors are in the business of making money, it was not meant as a derogatory statement. Unless a doctor is a non-profit, he/she is in the business of making money in a for-profit business. Have no doubt about it, I see nothing wrong with this. I used mechanics as a metaphor, and as we all know, there are good, honest mechanics and then there are some who pad the bill a little. I can imagine, that in the medical industry, this scenario is also possible. I'm not saying the doctor in question in this thread is one or the other. I'm just trying to look at both sides of the coin and help the person who started this thread. I don't think it's wrong for a consumer to be wary or question issues that bring up that little tickle that says something isn't quite right here. Getting a second opinion can calm the fears or verify the suspicion. As human beings, nobody is perfect. I am entrusting my well-being to the doctors I chose to oversee my health. I darn well want to be sure that I have no doubts about this trust. I admire the medical field. I have had my life saved and changed for the better and yes, also for the worse by doctors. Seek a second opinion. Calm your fears.

Wendy Oh my gosh, I know what you mean about eating behavior getting out of control. Even though I know I can still eat post lap-band, I am eating everything like it is my last meal. It's not logical. I'm going to take advantage of my pre-op liquid diet to get my head straight. I've heard from several others in the forums that this was a good turning point for them. I know it will interrupt this crazy cycle. Good luck to you getting your date!

March 10th !!! I see the nutritionist again on Wednesday to start the pre-op diet. I've been afraid to post my surgery date on here for fear something else will happen to set it back again. I'm crossing my fingers and eyes for good luck.

Denise, I give up.. how does one do a search in here? I tried the box right below Search LapBandTalk.com. Is that it? If so, I'm not finding any threads.

I'd like to tact one more question onto this thread. Is this unreasonable? Have surgery on Wednesday attend a rock concert (sitting down in assigned seats) on Saturday?

I had an appointment with my bariatric surgeon thinkiing it was to set a date for surgery only to learn that the psych doc had flagged me for a closer look. I had eating disorders 20+ years ago, HAD being the key word, which I discussed openly and honestly with the psych doc. I used the wrong term for over-eating, pigging out, gobbling down too much food, which is, let's face it the reason most of us are over-weight and candidates for this surgery. I used the word binge. I KNOW the difference between bulimia binging and over-eating. But the psych focused in on the word binge. I can't blame him, he doesn't know me and he has to put his professional opinion on-the-line from a one hour discussion. As for the tests, they ARE transparent for most people who have a little savvy. If we want to cheat the test, we can. All in all, I can see how this process can be looked at as a way to help protect the surgeon. We do live in a litigious society and I can't say that I blame the surgeon for wanting that extra bit of protection either.

I have to admit, I've had moments thinking that my insurance is being milked. Weight loss is a HUGE money-making industry and doctors are in business to make money. I've been sent to so many doctor's who are housed within the same practice and diagnosed with ailments I never knew I had and always, additional appointments have been needed, and another appointment and another ... I feel like I've taken my car to the mechanic to have the oil changed and ended up with a grocery list of things that need to be repaired. If I take my car to another mechanic, will the same things be broken? We can and should get second opinions, when there is doubt. I got a second opinion on one of the health issues I was diagnosed with and treatment had a slightly different result. I need and want the lap-band surgery so badly, that I've been willing to jump through hoops, not make waves and pay the bills. It's been a very frustrating process, that's for sure. BUT ... To end on a good note, I feel like I've had the best physical I have ever had in my life. I am feeling better with some of the new treatments I'm receiving which is my best proof that I am being treated correctly. Good luck to you and please get a second opinion from another doctor if you have any doubts. The reassurance, if nothing else, is worth the price of an additional visit.

ShellieBell I had those same concerns before speaking with my doctor. I was sure that she was going to tell me to go on a diet. But she knows my roller coaster history of weight loss and weight gain. She talked with me about the risks, the life style changes and then she gave me the name and number of one of her patients who was having success with the procedure so that I could get first hand information. I was more than surprised by not only my primary care physician's response, but also by the responses of my other doctors; cardiac, rheumatologist, and my pulmonary specialist. Each of my doctors agreed that band surgery would be beneficial for me. Their support and positive reaction has been like a foundation for me to go forward with the surgery. Please talk with your doctor, you too may be pleasantly surprised. I wish you all the best.