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Janiee, I am so sorry I couldn't get back to you until now. I was banded on the 8th, and didn't get home until last night. Oh, and I am doing just GREAT, so whatever you have to go through to get this done, it will be worth it! Yes, Healthy Roads is the thing they make you do.... what a joke. An online diet that you only have to sign into once a month, and give your weight. Oh, and pay $25 (if I remember correctly), and they send you a diet book!! Stupid, stupid... I don't know too much about it, because 2 months after I started the thing, I suddenly got my authorization and was on my way! So, maybe they are just wanting you to appear to be motivated, or maybe it was something else in my case, I don't know. I agree---it is hard to wait once you make the decision and being told to wait another 6 months is rediculous!! My advice would be to start the process, sign up with Healhty Roads, do all the tests and classes, and make sure your doctor lets them know how many diets you have been on and any current health issues you have that are being impacted by your weight, and maybe they will "see the light" and get on with the authorization. I will say that if you can wait, it is worth it to not have to self-pay. I had to spend an extra day in ICU due to some breathing issues and if I was doing a self-pay, I would probably be needing to sell my house to pay the bill! PacifiCare was very good once things started rolling. I do believe they tried to cover every base to make sure I was going to be successful, and I have to give them credit for that. Good luck, and please keep in touch with me about your progress! It is worth it! Karen

Oh, I forgot.... I have 2 more things to report! #1. Even though I only had to go on a 1-day pre-op fast, I had lost 10 pounds buy surgery day!! (I guess the nerves must have helped me eat less those last couple weeks...) I haven't weighed since then, but I will be moving my ticker when I figure out how to do that, and.... #2. I talked to Angela T. for the very first time yesterday and she sounds so cute and is doing super well!! Hurray for all us Bandsters!! :clap2:

Hi Everybody!! OK, I know it took me a little longer to report back to you all than I had hoped---I can't believe even GRACE reported back sooner than I did, since her surgery was yesterday!! YEAH for her and all the others who had surgery this past week. I couldn't wait to get back here and read all the updates! It is good to see how well you are all doing. Amazing all the different experiences, too! For me, I was as nervous as I could be, and I laughed when I heard how many of you almost walked out just before surgery. I was sitting on the hospital bed thinking, "well, why can't I just follow the same diet as I will be on after the surgery, then I wouldn't have to do this..." Yeah, right, like THAT would last!! :phanvan So I did it, and it went fine. I did have one problem, but that was unique to me, I think. I had thyroid cancer 14 years ago and have some scar tissue in my throat, so they had some trouble with my breathing tube, and I had to stay in ICU an extra day. THAT WON'T HAPPEN TO YOU, SO DON'T GET SCARED, Y'HEAR? Anyway, that was the worse part of it all...I can't believe how pain-free I am, no pain meds after the first day. Some gas pains but really the only thing I am dealing with now is diarrhea... gets rid of the gas, but makes you afraid to wander too far away from a toilet! Oh, and I walked out of the hospital... no wheelchair! I have some hunger but it leaves the minute I swallow a couple of sips of yogurt drink. This is a wonderful thing, this surgery!! Thank you everybody who asked about my surgery, and a big "YOU"LL DO GREAT!!" to those of you coming up this week!!! Yeah for our November Bandsters!! I couldn't have done this without you!! Karen

Cassandra, thank you so much for the nice compliment.... you made me blush!!:thankyou: I appreciate your prayers and thoughts and will take them with me happily! And I will return the favor on the 20th ---you are doing so great and I know it will go well for you on your Band Day, also. Keep in touch!! Karen

Please let us know as soon as you can!! I am hopeful that all will be well enough for you to have the surgery. We will be waiting to hear---Good luck!! Karen

Chris, I can't say enough how much you have contributed to making our Nov. Bandsters group special. Thank you so much for updating the list so often, and for remembering and encouraging the members. I'm sure you have plenty to do, but you have made this list a priority and I appreciate all you do!! I'm sure everyone else here feels the same.... You are so AWESOME!!:thankyou: Karen

Thank you SO MUCH to all the Newly Banded who have come back so soon after surgery to inspire and encourage the rest of us---you just don't know how much it helps and strengthens us!! What a great contribution you have made to our little group. I really can't thank you enough! I leave tomorrow for my surgery on Wednesday, and you have taken away so much of my anxiety. Thanks for your ideas and hints.... I will definitely take some Gas X with me, and keep on walking to ward off the pain..... All you guys ROCK!!!!:clap2: Karen

That is great news, Joy!! You give the rest of us hope and encouragement. Thanks for posting.... please keep letting us know how you are doing!! Karen

Joy, how are you doing?? How has your recovery been?? Karen

prbrooksie: Thanks for the great update on your surgery and your health! I 'm glad it all worked out and you are doing so great... keep posting!! niecyrenee: Don't forget that you and I have the same surgery date, so let's both try to post as soon as possible after surgery and compare, OK? Good luck to all the Bandsters this week!! Our journey begins.....:clap2: Karen

This is great news!! I am so glad to hear that the pain is minor....thank you for sharing that!! Now, about that dry mouth...is it because you still can't drink much? You are doing so well---you are an inspiration!! I leave on Tues. for my surgery on Wednesday..... so any advice you give is so helpful. Thanks!

Thanks for all the good wishes.... I will take them with me, as I am sure the others will also!! Angela....have a safe flight to Mexico, I will be thinking of you going ALL that way, while I complain about having to drive 4 hours!! My hat's off to you!! (well, if I actually WORE one, it would be!!) Good luck!! Karen

OHMYGOSH, I forgot about Kim's surgery on Tues, and I probably didn't mention a few others... I need to update my list!! Sorry about that--- good luck to ALL the bandsters having their surgeries this week!! Karen

dpingl, hang in there!! I think alot of us had to have a cardiac clearance before surgery, at least I did. Unless they find something really bad, I don't think it will keep you from having surgery. And look at it this way, if there is some problem, at least you are getting it checked out early and thoroughly. I have atrial fib as well as 2 bad heart valves that will need to be replaced soon....but they are allowing me to have the surgery!! So I am hopeful for you! Besides, you are one of our "Gang of 3", Nov. 8 Bandsters, so you have to be there with us, y'hear?? Let us know on Monday how it goes, please!! And we will keep you in our prayers this weekend!! Karen

You need to change the title under your screen name to "Current" Bandster, instead of "Future"!!!! YEAH for you!! Thanks for reporting back to us so soon!! How did it go?? Do you have much pain or ?? And you are losing already---how great is that?!! Congratulations!! Keep posting and encouraging, we need you! Karen

Just calling it "pudding" makes it sound yummy to me! :hungry: I can't wait to get some, but will probably have to wait until after I get back home from surgery. WOW, the date is here!!! Happy Band Day to this week's group!! That means Lois, Angela, Jackye, dpingl, neicyrenee, ME, Kee, Grace and alix (in that order)!! Yeah to us!!! Hope everyone has been makin' a list (pre-op and post-op) and checkin' it twice!! Don't forget to report back as soon as possible.... AZA--- don't worry, just like JDru, you will still be an Honorary Nov. Bandster...so keep posting here and let us know how things are going, OK? Good luck to all!! :clap2: Karen

Hi Angela, You have SO lost weight!! You have been doing so good!! Which scale did you decide to use?? Karen

HOLY MACKEREL!!!! Are you ever MOTIVATED!! I am exhausted just thinking about all you have done to your body in the last 12 days!! And your body STANDS for this???:biggrin1: WOW, congratulations for having the stamina!! You will do EXCELLENT with your surgery/recovery/healing--- I have no doubt!!! Karen

:welcome: to you, Kim!! Congratulations on your terrific weight loss---how long have you been on the diet?? You have a huge head-start to your goal.... GOOD FOR YOU!! Keep posting and let us know how you are progressing! Karen p.s. GOOD LUCK TO THE NEXT GROUP OF THE ALMOST-BANDED...THERE ARE A BUNCH OF US!!:clap2:

You are brave----- and I know you will do just fine!! I will stop complaining about my 4-hour drive!! Good luck with getting all your stuff done!! We are almost there!

I tried that, everything is as it should be, but still no notification emails. :cry This is upsetting!! But at least we have our site back! Are you getting really excited?? You have a lot to do as well as prepare for! You have a trip, a hospital stay, and then a week at your Mom's. Can you pack that much clothing?? Only a few more days until we are banded!! Are your bags packed? Karen

Has anyone noticed anything different now that we are up and running? I always got emails telling me if there was a new post on a thread I was on. Now I get nothing. I was getting the feeling that all threads stop after I post on them!! I have checked my settings and everything appears to be OK. Is that happening to anyone else?? Help!

Angela, have you tried the Profect protein tubes? You can get them online. I can't have whey, so these are great for me. 25 grams in fruity base. And YES, I got your phone number now---that was ANOTHER thing freakin' me out with the shutdown. I had left it in my PMs and was afraid it was gone for good. Wow, are we hooked on this board or what??!! :paranoid Welcome back everyone!! Karen

Because I am not "computer literate", I figured I was doing something wrong!! I even began reconfiguring my settings!! Thank goodness I was able to re-set everything back... but REALLY--I was going crazy without this group! Only a few days away from my Band Date, and I was afraid to lose you guys!! Thank you for coming back!!!:clap2:

No, we haven't.... I wonder if the glitch in the site deterred anyone. Hopefully they will be posting soon! Grace, how are you doing since the tragic loss of your priest? I hope you are being comforted.... That was a terrible accident. I am so sorry... Karen