Cortney75

Congrats I know how excited you must be and I love the date 999 :wink2: jmtmb - I go in on the 4th too :ohmy: I can't wait How excited are you?

I was the same way when it came to pigging out. As soon as I got the approval and scheduled my surgery all I did was tell my husband I won't be able to eat this much longer...can I have this and that. LOL I love food so much...can't wait till I can eat something!!! Also girls I did start a Yahoo Group where we can all stay in touch. If you are being banded in Aug/Sept/Oct please feel free to join. Here is a copy of my post in the Sept area. :wink2: Hope everyone had a great weekend!!! And a much better week to come :ohmy: ***************************************************************************************** I did start a yahoo group for all of us in September. I am including Aug & Oct, specially the ones at the end of Aug and beginning of Oct. My thought...those in August are a little more ahead of some of us and then we can help the ones in September. One big happy family and push and encourage each other. I choose Yahoo over, Windows Live and Google groups (I created a group on each one) because Yahoo has the biggest storage of photos!!! Also their storage for files is also pretty big and does not count against your photo storage space. I will still come to the board to post. But I thought this would be a really nice way to keep in touch, share recipes, encourage, do challenges with each other, photos, etc. Since we are all going through this together and at the same time. Plus you can get everything emailed to you and reply right through the email to the whole group. So if you would like to join and have a nice Bandster family come on over and sign up! You do have to have a Yahoo ID to be part of the group. To get one sign up here - https://edit.yahoo.com/registration?...oups.yahoo.com Also when you apply to be a member just let me know you are part of the lap band forum or when your surgery date is/was. I don't just want to let anyone join at this time. Okay hope everyone had a great weekend. If the link to join below does not work I will edit until I can get it to work. :wink2: Click to join banded909 - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/banded909/join

Pookie - I am so sorry to hear that about your Father, I hope he has a fast recover and you stay well. I will be saying a little pray for you and your family!!! Amchenai - ahhh Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday to your hubby. I am sure that was not a fun weekend but think of next year and a lot of pounds less and being able to go out and have a wonderful evening in something stunning. To everyone else... I am so glad I only have a few more days left. It has been a fast weekend and I hope this week goes just as fast. :wink2: I can't wait for Friday and to be BANDED!!! Okay hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and a great week to come :ohmy:

I read your food porn...damn that sounded way to good. I was drooling as I read it. I am glad your first day went easy that is awesome...hope things went just as easy today!!!

Just a quick post then I am going to read what I have missed for the day... I did start a yahoo group for all of us in September. I am including Aug & Oct, specially the ones at the end of Aug and beginning of Oct. My thought...those in August are a little more ahead of some of us and then we can help the ones in September. One big happy family and push and encourage each other. I choose Yahoo over, Windows Live and Google groups (I created a group on each one) because Yahoo has the biggest storage of photos!!! Also their storage for files is also pretty big and does not count against your photo storage space. I will still come to the board to post. But I thought this would be a really nice way to keep in touch, share recipes, encourage, do challenges with each other, photos, etc. Since we are all going through this together and at the same time. Plus you can get everything emailed to you and reply right through the email to the whole group. So if you would like to join and have a nice Bandster family come on over and sign up! :wink2: You do have to have a Yahoo ID to be part of the group. To get one sign up here - https://edit.yahoo.com/registration?.intl=us&new=1&.src=ygrp&.v=0&.done=http%3a//groups.yahoo.com Also when you apply to be a member just let me know you are part of the lap band forum or when your surgery date is/was. I don't just want to let anyone join at this time. Okay hope everyone had a great weekend. If the link to join below does not work I will edit until I can get it to work. :ohmy: Click to join banded909 - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/banded909/join

Slender Septembers September Slendsters I do really like September Slimsters or Shrinking September. :wub:

WOOOO HOOOO!!! I love that analogy of hitting your sweet spot. That has to be the best feeling in the world to know you are full on just a few bites of food. I can't wait for that to happen. I don't think you will stretch out your upper stomach as others said on one time over eating. My surgeons office told me that if I started to feel really hungry and it was before my first fill to call them and try to get in sooner for a fill. Since you have a few weeks to go you might want to call them and see about getting your fill a little sooner. :wub:

Wow those are some great ideas :wub: I have to think of a few overnight hopefully I can post some before we start the poll...

Catch up time.... Colorado - How is the pure liquid diet going? How was your last pre-band meal? I have your blog as one of my favorites! Hope everything is going good for you. Smilin - you are not to far North of me. It is nice to meet others in the same state going through the same thing. :wub: Some of my pre-op info said headaches will be common in the pre-op and 2 week post op phase. Where we are not getting very much. I bet you are really excited with only a few days to go. I know I am too. I go in on the 4th. Pookie - you are lucky, no pre op diet. I wish I did not have one. Well really now I don't mind I am pretty used to it. I know how excited you are for it as I am just as excited for mine. Nice to meet another floridian Amanda - wtg on your additional weight loss. :mad: I am sure you can get the two more pounds in the next few days. :thumbup: jmtmb - I go in on the fourth and I am so excited and can't wait. Best of luck to you!!! :thumbup: Megan - I have been trying to think of a nickname too. I really want to start a yahoo group for all of us so it will be easier to keep in contact going forward. So I will have to rack my brain and think think think!!! TicTac - I go in right behind you on the 4th :tt1: I am getting so excited about it coming up so soon!!! ....... I am ready for this week to start. Monday I have my cardiologist appointment and hopefully he will approve me for surgery. Or clear me from my abnormal ekg. Then the rest of the week will fly by. Right now my weight seems to be at a stand still. I have hoping to lose a little more before the surgery... I have started a Yahoo Group for all of us being banded in September. (I also am including those in Aug and Oct since we can all share how it is going) I just need to finish setting everything up and will share with the group. Hope everyone had a great Saturday and have an even more wonderful Sunday!

No question is stupid around here. For the Psych Evaluation you want to look for a Doctor that specializes in bariatric services. I have united health care and on their site for psych I can do a search for the doctors that are covered under my insurance and also that cover bariatric services. As far as the nutritionist is concerned I would as the Psych Doctor for any recommendations. Also check with your Primary Care Doctor. They should be able to recommend someone that they work with that can help you out on both ends. Otherwise do a google search on bariatric psychologists in your area and see who you can find. HTH and again no question around here is a dumb one. :wub:

Colorado - My blog is here - http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/cordel75/ It is the only place I feel safe to truly express what is going on with other people that are going through the same thing. I have a few other blogs here and there but this one I use very ofter and write about what I am going through. Post op I might open an blog somewhere else as well. Blogging is such a big help for me and I feel like it really keeps me in check with what I am doing. I have your blogged saved as one of my favorites :wub: I love reading too

Answer - Here is the link for a tutorial on how to add one - http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/ :w00t:

Pookiemp - I am also in FL, in the tampa area, where are you? The pre op diet is a great start to losing weight. In a week I have already lost 11 lbs. But my diet is Doctor ordered. It gets you ready for just liquids post op and helps change your eating habits. Good luck with your up coming surgery... I know I am getty really excited and can't wait!!! Colorado - I hope you don't get any caffine headaches from the withdrawl...those are the worst. Are you going to have a big feast tonight? I know I did my last day of real food. Since you only have to do a few days hopefully the hunger won't hit you too bad. It hit me about days 3 - 5. Where all I could do was drool, but by your day 3 you will be going in for surgery... WOOO HOOO let that take over your thoughts from food! :w00t: Audreysmommy - welcome to the september bandsters, I know how excited you are, I go in the next day after you and I can't wait!!! Are you doing a pre op diet? Here's praying all goes well for you and your family!!! Soexcited - yes feel free to join in. It is a great little support group we have going here for all of us being banded in September. There are a few people that have a 3 week diet. Do you have a fatty liver at all? That might be why. It really is up to the surgeon what they would like you to do. Mine just requires 2 weeks. There are some that were not required to do any pre op diet. Most surgeons ask it to help, shrink the liver, get you in the mindset to lose, help give you a jump start in losing, get you ready for just liquids post op for the 2 to 4 weeks. Be strong and I am sure you can do it. I did not think I would make it, but here I am on day 8 and still alive. I won't lie the first few days are killers. Well more like days 3-5. But it does get easier, but I still crave food and want to eat. I just keep myself motivated knowing this will be best in the long run for me. Think of things to keep you motivated during those 3 weeks. Some make a book of insperation, others start making lists of what they want to buy, or set goals. Blogging may also help. It has for me and also keeps me in check since I know other people are reading my blog to see what I am all doing and how it is going. Anything you can find to help you do what you need to do and when you feel yourself slipping what to do to pick yourself back up. I will say I have cheated a little on my pre op diet. Had a slice of cheese here or there, eaten just the egg whites of a hard boiled egg, and just once had a few bites of sausage...think that was on day 5 when it was the worst for me. I wish you the best of luck and success at your weight loss goals. To everyone else happy friday and the 1st is just around the corner and then we start getting banded. I would love to start a Yahoo group where we can post and write, email each other so we can all keep up to date on our weight loss journey. So us end of august through september bandsters can stick together and help support each other through this time. Does not have to be on Yahoo but a group somewhere that we get emails etc that we can help each other out. Might have to look into that today. :w00t: Happy Friday everyone....

Great Video Loubet! I really applaud you for sharing all that with us. I think you will do amazing and will get to your goal of 120 in no time. Like you I have been overweight most of my life. I have a goal of 145 and my husband thinks that is to drastic but I plan on reaching it and possible a little more. Again thank you for sharing with us. I tried vlogging but because of my size I just don't feel comfortable even though I did post one or two of them. Also on insurance, it is not the insurance carrier, blue cross blue shield, united health care, atena, or any of the others that decide if they will cover the wls or not, it is the company you work for. Or in this case whom your Mom works for. They decide what they want to offer for coverage. Most companies did not cover WLS because of the cost, it would make the premiums so high etc... but now more and more companies are covering it because the realize the benefit of doing so. Also the money savings from people coming off meds, less doctor visits, etc. Just an FYI, I used to work for an insurance carrier so that is why I know a bunch about it. Again great job on the pre weight loss and here is to a much healthier and skinner you!!

I am on the Optifast now. The Vanilla and Chocolate are not that bad. I really like the Vanilla. They both leave a little bit of an after taste. I started out slow with losing but now I am averaging about 2 lbs a day for the last few days. I have my surgery in a week and I can't wait. Happy Friday everyone :thumbup:

If the insurance denies it do you have any doctor records you can show where you have lost weight but it always comes back? Also if they deny it you have a strong argument that you were just doing what needed to be done for the program and that you were following the rules and really wanted to show that you were going to use the tool (being the lap band) to the best. I hope if all works out for you but I understand it would really suck to do all that hard work and lose and amazing amount of weight and not be able to get the tool to continue to help you on your journey.

Hi Cindy and CJ - we are pretty much all in the same boat... I just noticed both of you are in your 30's and married and we are all getting lapband around the same time. I go in on Sept 4th :blushing: Just think it is pretty neat and would love to keep in contact with both of you so we can help and push each other when we can't turn to the comfort of food, or are faith, or are husbands are not available or don't know what we are going through to help support us. My husband has been such a big supporter but you know there is going to be that time when it is going to be you just don't understand....I had that last night with my hunger pains. He did good and helped me remember why I am going through all of this. CJ - What kind of pre op diet are you on? I think as long as you have lost some weight that is the right start. I have lost 10 pounds. I am on the Optifast diet. All liquid based...but I have cheated here and there. Nothing to much. (Hard boiled egg, just the whites, slice of cheese, and a few bites of sausage) If you are really worried about the amount of loss I would call the doctors office and just make sure you are doing good. The main thing from what I understand with most suregons (including mine) is having the liver shrink so it is easier and less challenging/dangerous for them. From what I have read is the liver can get easily brusied up if it is too tight to get around. But that the surgeon won't do it if they feel there is too much a risk. Cindy - best of luck to you tomorrow. Please make sure to let us know how it goes. And I will say a little prayer for you too for a fast recovery. I heard the gas is the worst part. A lot of people have said get up and walk around a little bit as soon as you can and that will really help to relieve the pain. Just think it would be neat for us to keep in touch again like I mentioned all being in our 30's and banded with in days of each other. We will really understand what each other is going through and be there to support each other. :w00t:

Happy Birthday Amanda - on your birthday you should be allowed to do what ever you want :blushing: At least that is my rule!!! I am on day 7 of the pre op diet...so I am half way there since next week Thursday will be my last day since I am going in on Friday. I steped on the scale today to see I am at 290. OMG that made my day. So half way through and half way to my goal. Even with the little bit of food I ate to help me. I just hope it keeps going like this next week. The past few days I have been losing 2 lbs a day. I am getting excited and nervous at the same time. I am not to worried about my abnormal EKG. I have had that happen before. I just hope it all works out and I don't have to delay the surgery. It feels like finally my luck and my families luck is starting to turn around. I hope it keeps going that way. My big challenge again will be this weekend. My Step Son will be here and I am sure my BIL's either both or just one of them will want to come down for the weekend. Which means a lot of food will be ate. (My BIL's are 16 & 18) Okay Happy Thursday everyone...how is everyone else doing??? Some of you only have a few days to go...I know with about a week to go I am bouncing around thinking about it and day dreaming about a thinner healthier me!!!

I feel your pain. I am on day 7 and pretty much everyone says days 3 - 5 are the worst. And they were for me. I was so hungry I thought I was going to eat my TV when anything about food came on. Was ready to chain myself down to not go in the kitchen. What really helped me those days were broth. I drank a ton of broth. I made mine from Bouillon cubes so the beef has 0 calories and the chicken has 5 calories and I watered it down a little more. Instead of 1 cup and 1 cube I did 2 cups and 1 cube. Just sipping on it and the warmth of it really helped settle down my tummy and the hunger pains. If broth is not your thing maybe see about herbal tea? If I remember you are doing the carnation breakfasts, 6 of them a day. Were you told you could drink anything else? I am doing Optifast, which I have to drink 5 a day. I space mine out every 3 hours and drink about 1/2 to 3/4 gallon of Water a day with that. Then I am allowed sugar free candy, popsicles, Jello. But that stuff just gets overwhelming and way to sweet for me. I am also allowed the broth. I have cheated a little and boiled some eggs and just ate the whites of them so I did not get any of the chol just the Protein. Also had a slice of cheese or two when the hunger pains just would not go away. It is not uncommon to feel really hungry...I know I do mostly in the evenings. I would check with your doctors office and see if there is anything else that you can drink or if you were not told about the suggestions I listed see if they are ok with that. I felt I was drinking way to much broth and emailed my doctors office and the nurse emailed back right away that while the broth is loaded with sodium that will retain water as long as I am losing weight it is okay. Just every day try to cut back a little. The past few days I have been losing about 2 lbs a day. And have been able to cut back on the broth. So it does get a little easier as you go along...but on day 7 and the pains are still here I just keep reminding myself what I am doing this for and going through it for. I am pushing myself to be strong and that I can do this. :blushing:

My doctor uses both and have said neither one is better than the other and it is just like choosing coke or pepsi, or mcdonalds or burger king. There are small differences in the design but they both work the same way. My surgeon said they were hoping when the relize band came out that it would cause a price war between the two and they would start to lower prices so that self pay would cost less but that has not happened. See if you can find a surgeon that can show you both of them so you can see the difference. From what I remember the realize band is one continous pillow where the lap band has 5 to 7 pillows. The port on the realize band is flatter. The band on the lap band can be unlocked where the realize band locks in place and does not unlock. (but the surgeon did say there is a way to unlock it if really needed) That is pretty much all the differences I can remember between the two. I really like the pillows in the lapband that is why I ultimately went with that, but I like the flatter port in the realize band. I just had the idea if there is a leak if it is just one pillow it will leak a lot faster than the pillows. HTH!!!

I was given a hand out with my pre op diet and here is what they mention to be aware of in the pre op phase (also the post op 2 weeks I am sure too) 1 - Intolerance to cold 2 - Light-headedness on rising, due to Water loss 3 - Fatigue 4 - Dry skin, dry hair, and brittle nails 5 - Temporary loss of some hair 6 - Change in bowel habits 7 - Headache, especially in the first few weeks 8 - Improvement in fertility 9 - Bad Breath 10 - Gallstones & Gall Bladder On the form for the Bad Breath is where it says to massage the gums because you won't be eating anything. I know my lips have been really dry, same with my forehead and my hands feel really tight like they are drying up. I hope that helps a little but I believe the dryness will continue until we start to eat again.

Boo - I hope everything works out and you get that approval soon!!! I know it took my insurance a few weeks after everything was submitted to be approved. As far as everyone else eating everything before their pre op diet I was the same way. In fact I am dreaming of the food I did not eat and all day reading anything about food, seeing food, smelling food has been a real challenge. I have been strong, I ate 1 hard boiled egg yesterday, no yolk though and a lot of broth. So far today I have been really good and only drank my Optifast as well as water and 1 SF jello so far. No broth as I am worried I am retaining to much water and the broth is loaded with sodium. Today though is the only day I feel like a mack truck has run me over. I can barely keep my head up right now or my eyes open. I am hoping this feeling does not last for long. Hope everyone else is doing good and congrats to all of us that are in the pre op phase and have our surgeries coming up soon. Next week is going to be very busy for me and hopefully will fly by. :thumbdown:

I am scheduled for the 4th too and started my pre op the same time as you. I have lost about 8 lbs so far. I have been drinking a lot of broth and that is retaining some water. It has been pretty hard but I am hanging strong. Good luck to you

It might also be because you are not eating anything. I was told to massage my gums, brush my teeth, chew gum several times a day because the lack of not eating means the gums are not getting any stimulation. But I would check with a doctor for sure if they are really swelled out.

This might not sound good but my husband is also looking into getting lapband but does not meet the weight right now. Someone suggested weigh down your pockets to help your weight be higher. Also leave your shoes and on when you step on the scale that will help add a few pounds. My thought is get a few rolls of quarters and see if that helps. And if you are close then maybe gain a few pounds. I know that is not something fun to think about but in the long run if it helps you get approved specially after all the time you have invested into looking into it I would do it. Here is something I copied off of a BMI info for being approved - A BMI of 35 - 40 is generally high enough to qualify you for bariatric surgery if you have comorbid conditions such as diabetes (type II), hypertension, sleep apnea or other potentially life-threatening diseases. So if you have sleep apnea, you have one so far. Has your PCP mentioned anything about being pre diabetic, hypertension. Does it run in your family? Maybe the ins will accept it if there is a family history of it and getting the band will help you develop them all together. Best of luck to you!!!