TicTac

Hi Everyone, Had the CT scan today and endoscopy on Tues. Good news is that my doc rescheduled the surgery on Wed as long as everything checks out. She will remove the tumor and place the lapband (I hope!) It isn't pleasant to wake up and hear, "You didn't get a lapband". Fingers crossed for me!

Nervous to the point of nausea..just finished watching 2 hours of utube lap band surgeries and feel a bit better. I know I will survive but still, such a big step. I only decided to do this a month ago and now look! Seeing such positive results from so many people on the board has helped too. TTYS....

golden - my doc uses a combo 800-900 cal per day: liquid/light 300 cal meal which may work better for you. Ask your doc about that? I haven't felt light headed/shakey at all, used Optifast shakes and then a light healthy meal for dinner, a piece of fruit for a night snack. Lost 9lbs in two weeks.

Yes, your body is searching for a protein source and will try to "save" itself by shutting down your metabolism to conserve. You have plenty of stored carbs (in the form of excess weight) to draw from once you get enough protein. Your body can't produce its own protein, you need to eat.

topspinner...pre-op for me was weight and waist measurement, blood draw, meeting with nurse (lasted over an hour) to go over pre-op diet and everything leading up to surgery day as well as the diet post-op and what to expect on surgery day. The whole thing from beginning to end was about 2 plus hours. Lots of info, bring some sort of folder/large envelope to keep all your material together. Tons of paperwork and booklets!

We're rooting for you Amanda! Good luck tomorrow. Post when you can

Atten all of us being banded this week. PLEASE post after surgery if you feel up to it! I am starting to stress (trying not to) but we can give info to those coming up right after us and also support each other!! Maybe start a thread on the post op page of Sept bandings? (Including end of Aug bandings) Good luck to anyone getting banded tomorrow.

Hey Casey, Sorry to hear about the psych eval. I guess I would think back to my answers on the test to see where the psychologist may have come to the conclusion? If everything is related to weight (as it is in my case) then you would be an excellent candidate for clearance right away. If you have a lot of past experiences that need working through, then getting counseling would be a great benefit to you. I just went through family counseling last year with my parents because of an issue with my sister and it was the best experience of my life (and all of our family). I know how disappointed you must be, but seeing a private practice counselor (a good one!) will speed you through to approval. You will get there!

I am pretty sure the docs have heard it all. I dont think they go into this business unless they have some sort of understanding of our mental processes as well. I know every time I imagine going through surgery, I get embarrassed about someone seeing my body, but then I remind myself that my doctor only sees people like me.

Actually, I think this is a good question for the nurse or doc. I know with cholesterol tests it definitely plays havoc. Why not have the "last supper" a week before surgery?

I asked about the Gas X. Dr told me it was only good for inside your stomach yet I see many people on the board using it? Does it really help for this shoulder pain issue?

6 days to go for me. Doc put me on Optifast/1 light meal for a week. Been doing it for the past week (down 7lbs) to get a head start. Supposed to lose 10lbs total by surgery (9/3). I have done the full Optifast program in the past so this isn't very hard but now the weight is coming off more slowly. Hope I get these last few lbs off by Thurs! Also, having a last supper with my carbonated drinks (diet coke, perrier, green tea cascade ice). Saying goodbye very slowly :frown: I will really miss my diet coke! I am trying not to think about the actual surgery (never had any!) but it is definitely time to say goodbye to the excess fat and the 85 different diets I have tried in the past!

Its all happening so fast. From knee injury, to my husband bringing home a hospital newsletter about a woman who had to lose weight due to knee problems (which she did through the lap band!). I decided to go to an info session (3 actually), and 10 days later here we are. Had my doc consult, nurse consult, psych consult two days ago. Surgery date approved (self pay) for Sept 3rd. Pre-op yesterday. I am following a 800 cal diet to lose 10lbs (I'm hungry!!!!) - so far lost 4lbs so should work. I haven't really thought about the actual surgery. I am very excited about the possibilities but a little nervous. As I do more research, I become convinced the band is the right thing but so many people are talking about the sleeve that I sometimes second guess myself. I may call my dr next week to talk. I really dont want to have more than 1/2 my stomach removed and it is so new and so untested but I am a bit worried about all the problems I have read about with the band - I must admit though, it seems many more people have few problems than those that do have issues. I guess there are no guarantees with either and I really like the fact that the band allows you to recover so quickly. My Dr is part of a "band only" practice and they are a center of excellence having done over 4000 surgeries so I know they know what they are doing at least! My history is overweight from age 14. BMI of 30 at age 18. Been on over 85 diets and failed eventually at every one. So here I am. Ready, willing and able to go for it on Sept 3rd!

andielmt- I would definitely go in for a fill. My nurse yesterday (banded 5 years down 96lbs) told me that you have to call when you stop losing...so call!

Yeah, my nurse (banded... 5 years lost 96lbs) told me one of her horror stories of messing with food. She said never again (on vacation and barfed for 3 days).

September 3rd for me! Feel like whirlwind. Did info session 10 days ago, had consults 2 days ago (pre-op diet 800 cal to lose 10lbs), pre-op yesterday and surgery scheduled for Sept 3! Coming up fast!

I just had mine 2 days ago. My psychologist has had a band for 9 years and lost 160lbs!!! She was great. Mainly looking to make sure I didn't have underlying depression, addictions and had some sort of support network. I did fill out an 8 pg questionnaire first which was a bit weird...pretty over the top questions. Good luck!

Its all happening so fast. From knee injury, to my husband bringing home a hospital newsletter about a woman who had to lose weight due to knee problems (which she did through the lap band!). I decided to go to an info session (3 actually), and 10 days later here we are. Had my doc consult, nurse consult, psych consult two days ago. Surgery date approved (self pay) for Sept 3rd. Pre-op yesterday. I am following a 800 cal diet to lose 10lbs (I'm hungry!!!!) - so far lost 4lbs so should work. I haven't really thought about the actual surgery. I am very excited about the possibilities but a little nervous. As I do more research, I become convinced the band is the right thing but so many people are talking about the sleeve that I sometimes second guess myself. I may call my dr next week to talk. I really dont want to have more than 1/2 my stomach removed and it is so new and so untested but I am a bit worried about all the problems I have read about with the band - I must admit though, it seems many more people have few problems than those that do have issues. I guess there are no guarantees with either and I really like the fact that the band allows you to recover so quickly. My Dr is part of a "band only" practice and they are a center of excellence having done over 4000 surgeries so I know they know what they are doing at least! My history is overweight from age 14. BMI of 30 at age 18. Been on over 85 diets and failed eventually at every one. So here I am. Ready, willing and able to go for it on Sept 3rd!

I am attending info sessions in my area and one in particular states that the doctor requires an overnight hospital stay due to safety (pain monitoring/sleep apnea after surgery, et). This made me nervous about all the other programs. Also this doctor uses more sutures to keep the band from slipping. All this sounds good. I am wondering if it is common or really necessary for an overnight hospital stay? This is not a make or break it deal for me, I guess I am just wondering how common it is overall. Doc sounds great but clinic doesnt offer some of the wonderful follow up care (yes program, but not as personable as the private clinics/programs). Doc has a great reputation though, as do the others in my area. Costs will all be about the same when all is said and done.