L8BloomR

OK, I only have time for 1 post right now, so I'll squeeze everything in here.... JDru: YEAH!! You get to be the "leader" of the Nov. Bandsters....by going in October!! Good luck tomorrow and remember to report back in ASAP!! Aza: What is all that iron doing to your poor stomach? Are you feeling OK? Congrats on getting a handle on the food and losing so much weight in one week---you are on your way! Chris: If it was me I'd probably eat on Thanksgiving and call it a gift from God! That as well as knowing I won't have to live with the residual calories for more than a few days!! Thanksgiving Dinner AND making it under the wire as a November Bandster..... How much better can life get? :biggrin1: Angela: I was "assuming" that you would want to do the honors, since you seem to be pretty knowledgeble in maneuvering around this forum....:nervous I wish I knew how to do a "poll" type setup with dates for each person to fill in.... Well, maybe later I can see what I can do. (And that will teach me to throw out an idea in hopes someone else will pick up!!! ):cool: Happy "last-5-days-of-the-month" to everyone....it won't be long now!!:clap2:

Good idea, Angela! Welcome to the new November Bandsters :clap2: !!!!

Hey---does anyone know how to make a list of all the Nov. Bandsters and their surgery dates? Wouldn't it be great if we could make one and were able to send each bandster off with a "Good Luck" on the day before their surgery? I think it would also be great if we could each try to post a quick note here as soon as possible after surgery to encourage the ones coming after. Does anyone else think that is a good idea, or do I just have too much time on my hands right now?? :biggrin1: Karen

Thanks Diana! Yes, I plan to post here as soon as I am able after surgery .... especially if all goes well and I am feeling good! Oh, and I'm glad you found some others here with the same surgury date; isn't this a great forum?

Good Luck tomorrow, Joy!! Keep us posted on your progress and write as soon as you can! Yeah--- you are on your way!!:clap2: Karen

Diana, you are among "similiars" on this thread: We all have similiar dates and our progress should fall into a similiar range. So even if there is no one having surgery on the same date as you, the rest of us here will be close by in progress and experience. You will not be alone! Keep posting and sharing... we are all in this together! Karen

Oh, and JDru...that is wonderful news that your problems were not more serious!! Hopefully you will heal fast and can be on your way to Band Land. Do you have a surgery date yet? Could you maybe make it into the November Bandsters by a "hair", like on the 30th or something?? Keep in touch with us! And Angela, thanks for the wonderful sounding recipe...sounds delicious and like something I would binge on...:faint:Is almond milk a "good for you" food? I don't believe I have ever seen it anywhere. Where do you get it? I can't wait to try this...can we have it soon after banding? Please???

WOW, lots going on here while I was away!! I spent 8 hours on a train yesterday going to and from the required Nutrition Class at the hospital where I will be having surgery --- a TOTAL waste of time since I knew more about the LapBand (thanks to this group!), then the nutritionist who only knew about gastric bypass. ANYWAY, only one more "hoop" to go (the psych eval, next week---not so sure I will pass THAT one...:girl_hug:) and then surgery on the 8th! I can tell by the tone of the recent postings that we are all going through the same set of emotions, don't you think? I am so glad we can share them here and keep each other going. I learned yesterday how valuable the knowledge and encouragement we get here truly is! Karen

Well then, I am stumped since it sounds as if you are doing everything right. Maybe someone else on this site who has their lap band can give you some suggestions? Has anyone else been hungry right after surgery? Did you find something that helped?

You are welcome, Eileen! How did you lose 9 pounds before surgery if you didn't do a pre-op diet? Did you do what I am doing and just start cutting back before surgery anyway? I am still betting that your hunger problem is due to the sudden drastic drop in calories, or else you aren't getting enough protein, which is supposed to help us feel full. What are you drinking for your protein and how much are you getting?

I don't have any unique ideas for the liquid diet, but I do know that since I found the Profect protein "tubes", I have been alot happier on the diet I put myself on before surgery. They are 25 grams of protein in just a couple of gulps, and since I have blood sugar problems, and also can not drink whey-based protein drinks, they have been a lifesaver! I plan to use them on the clear liquid fast I have to go on the day before surgery, but for now I use them as a supplement to the small meals I am having to give myself a protein boost. Sorry I don't have any other helpful ideas...:embarassed: but good luck, everyone, with your pre-op diets! Karen

Eileen, From what I read on this forum there are a lot of variations in lapband experiences. Everyone says to give yourself time to heal before you make any judgments regarding how the band is working. Did you do any pre-op diet? If not, then maybe your stomach is just having a natural reaction to the drastic reduction of food. :hungry: Please let us know how long it is taking you to not feel so hungry! Can you drink more to feel full, or maybe have more protein to satisfy the hunger? Good luck, and let us know what works for you! Karen

Good luck, Angela, and to all others just starting their pre-op diets!! It won't be long before we begin our new journey to health...might as well get started NOW!! But Angela, did you HAVE to say "chocolate"?? I forgot about chocolate..... waaaaaaaahhhhhhhh.... :cry

Welcome Eileen!! That is wonderful news about your surgery and weight loss---you are an inspiration for the rest of us "pre-banders"!! I'm surprised about the hunger, but I'm sure you will adjust fairly quickly. Where do you live? Do you have a support group or will you be getting your support from this forum?? Keep posting and let us know how you are progressing. And congratulations on your great start!! Karen

GOOD ONE, Carlene ----You made me REALLY laugh out loud with that!!!! Karen

I saw a link here on this site for Protica...ordered some immediately, and absolutely LOVE it! I can not use whey-based proteins, so this was a lifesafer. It is kind of like drinking concentrated KoolAid, but gives you a great protein "kick". I feel great afterward. They come in a light, unbreakable little cylinder, and they hold about 3 "gulps"; 25 g of protein. I just ordered a case of them in preparation for my band surgery in a couple weeks, they will really be helpful. You should try them!

What a great bunch of Bandsters! I am always amazed at the quick and helpful way so many of you respond to others in need on this site. Thank you for sharing your post-op stories in such a positive way --- you have helped me and I am sure many others while you were encouraging Kris. I will be banded on Nov. 8 and you all have helped me stay "up" and excited about this experience. I just wanted to say a big "Thank you!" Karen

What a bittersweet day you had, Angela! How terrible to be treated so badly when you are at this stage in the process....surely this woman has had some training!! I am so glad you won't be dealing with them, since I think a doctor's staff can reflect the things the doctor finds important. If courtesy and understanding are not their "thing", then good for you for finding someone else!! Will your schedule stay the same? The surgery date and all? Will the tests you have had done be able to be applied to the new surgeon? Congratulations on turning a frustrating day into a victory---yeah!! Karen

Hi Angela.... you are so brave to do the fast an additional day! I WAS doing pretty good trying to diet these last weeks, but I am fighting that "last supper" mentality: "hmmmmm, I better eat this now because I won't be able to later....." :hungry: How is everyone else doing with that? I hate it...I will be glad when I am banded and can change my focus. 3 weeks from today----YEAH !!!!! Karen

Aza, so sorry to hear your surgery got postponed, but glad that you will hopefully find out the reason for your anemia. You will probably feel alot better when it is resolved and more up for surgery. Good luck and keep us posted on your test results! Karen

WOW, lots of soon-to-be-banded people here..... we will be quite a support group!! Am I the only person who does not have to be on a pre-op fast? I only have to fast the day before surgery....clear liquids. I am feeling guilty when I read about the stuff everyone else has to do. Hang in there!

KariK, your message was very nice so I am going to break my own promise and will respond one more time on this thread. I appreciate all that you said and I agree that a dialog is good and helpful. But I just went back and re-read the previous posts on this thread and there are so many that ridicule the intelligence of Republicans, what tv shows they must watch, what their world views must be, etc....all negative. It made me uncomfortable, and I know for a fact that it made others uncomfortable as well. I was very careful to not criticize the posters, but I felt I also had the right to express my feelings that when a poll is being taken, care should also be taken to keep it as neutral as possible so that the results will not be skewed. I'm sorry that I gave the impression that I was trying to stifle people's comments. I was just giving my opinion as well. Please continue to enjoy this thread and I will keep my opinions to myself, at least on this thread. No promises for any other threads, though!! :-)

Dani, I get nauseous whenever I try to live on only protein. I am the only person I know who turns green whenever I have tried the Atkins Diet! I am sorry that I don't know the anwer to your problem, only that you are not the only one. I think maybe our bodies just aren't happy without carbs:faint: but I am not sure. Let us know what you find out. And remember that these days are limited---you will be banded soon! Good luck! Karen

TOM, my previous response was to the previous post, not to the last "star trek" one. I would be the last person to want someone to leave a thread so please don't do that. My only point was that if a thread starts by asking people to respond to a question then it would be nice if the ones that do try to remember that this was a poll question, and not make fun of other's answers or beliefs. It is intimidating to feel that if you respond to a question, you will be ridiculed. Many people don't feel up to the battle, and therefore they will not respond. I do enjoy the discussion threads, but this was was already asking a potentially fiery question, and I just thought a bit more care should be taken. I am sorry if I upset anyone by my comments. I will be done with this thread as of now....

Welcome Veggestyle... I think we all are nervous and excited at the same time, but soon we will be "old-hands" at this Band-stuff.... I can't wait for that day! Keep posting and remember we are all in this together! Karen