Electrawoman

I am both excited and nervous about surgery tomorrow. Mainly, I just want to get it over with and move ahead to the part where I can eat food again sometime near the end of January. I am looking forward to staying the night in the hospital, funny enough. I was pleasantly surprised to see that my boobs now project further from my body than my belly. I am losing pre-op, but I don't know how much because I don't keep a scale at home. This is a rule that I hope to continue post band. I don't want to focus on the number. Clothing sizes---well, that's another story. I love fashion. I don't love it in the way that most women do--following trends and watching hip designers, though. I like to be creative with my wardrobe and I am big fan of accessories. Before making the decision to get banded, I was in the process of picking a new "look" for myself. It is even more fun considering the possibility of dressing a smaller body. So many choices! My look of choice has always been pretty eclectic and bohemian but I am excited to look at other possibilities now that I am an older Mom. I still want to look creative, but not trendy or like I am trying too hard. Any suggestions? How would you describe your look?

[raises hand] food ADDICT yes. Meeee, too. I have known it for a long time. I use the term obsessed more than addicted because my counselor corrects me about the terminology all the time. BUt it is what it is. I haven't gotten my band, yet---Monday is the day. Since I have restricted my food preoperatively, I already notice how much of my day is spent thinking about or acquiring food. The money I spend on food is way more than I thought. I am like a junkie. I need my fix. I am hungry all the time. Eating actually makes me hungrier. I told my surgeon how I think of food while I am eating food. He nodded his head slowly. I am sure he has heard it all before. After the past 12 days, I am less hungry with much less food but still obsessed. Today, it was a pancake obsession. I can't stop thinking about them and seeing references to pancakes everywhere I look.

I know that if you show up to the ER, they have to treat you. Payment can be worked out later. If your insurance doesn't pay, you can pay it out or make other arrangements.

My family and I had sooooo much fun today! My son is 2 and we took him to see his favorite toddler celebrities at Yo Gabba Gabba Live. We had a ball. There were balloons falling from the ceiling and confetti cannons blasting the arena. Erykah Badu and Biz Markie even showed up to sing and beat box. My son got to see the characters up close, touched DJ Lance and Muno, and stood by Biz when he came out into the crowd. I have never had so much fun even at an adult concert. Well, there was that one time when I got kicked out of a Rolling Stones concert but that's a story for another blog, right M? Anyway, with all the excitement, I didn't think too much about food except that I noticed pancakes everywhere. We drove by iHop and I whimpered a little thinking about a nice fluffy short stack with lots of butter and syrup. Then I started noticing pancakes everywhere. My husband and I counted 8 references. How much is one person supposed to take in one day without eating a pancake?! (I didn't but I still want to) After the show, my husband decided he wanted turkey. He thought it would be a good idea to pull ours out of the freezer and cook it up so he and our son would have something to easy to eat while I was in the hospital having my surgery. We have an entire pre-cooked Thanksgiving meal in the freezer because we didn't end up eating it on Thursday. Never one to cook a small mean, I decided to cook him the entire lot of TG food. I heated everything up while he took our son to visit his "Ain't Beff". The food was done before he came back. Wait. Actually, he came back several times after dinner was done and I begged him to hurry up and eat so I wouldn't be tempted. But he had to go get cat food. Then he forgot the money and had to come back and go out again for cat food. And I was alone...with a turkey and all the fixins. The temptation was too heavy. I tried to stop myself. I really did. I paced around the kitchen. I talked to myself. I left the room. I watched TV...but all I could smell was that damned turkey. I am supposed to be only drinking clear liquids for the next day and a half. But I couldn't take it anymore. The turkey was calling me. 3 bites of turkey and 2 bites of stuffing plus half a carrot went down the chute before I knew what hit me. Clearly I have an obsessive problem with food. Duh. That's what got me here. I am trying not to beat myself up too much over it but I feel like a failure. (even though the carrot--of all things---was the best thing I have ever put in my mouth. Really) I tried to get myself back on track by having hubs help me pack the food up so I wouldn't be tempted to eat while I packed. Then, I made broth out of the bones. It's not exactly clear...but its close. I finished off the night with a cup of broth, a protein water, and two strawberry hard candies (I read someplace that we could have those). But now I am wondering if I screwed everything up. Am I doomed? Do I have to reschedule my surgery? :cursing:

I started clear liquids today. I looked it up and found that the reason for this torture is to clear my intestines. Frankly, I would rather have the doctor give me 14 jalapeno enemas instead of putting me on clear liquids. No, really. Isn't there an easier way? I have threatened to quit several times today and considered rescheduling the surgery. Luckily, I have been able to talk myself down each time. I also burst into tears twice. Thank goodness my husband is being sensitive and caring about it. There is no particular food I am thinking about. There is just this general restlessness that says EAT NOW. To be honest, when I look at food I don't really want it. But I have the overwhelming urge to eat. It's this gnawing...gnashing...grinding-of-the-teeth feeling. I might be taking an extra Wellie tonight to lessen this anxiety. (Wellie=Wellbutrin...and yes, it has been approved that I can take an extra one if I need it. :cool2: Meanwhile, I am trying to keep busy with the Jon Gabriel Visualizations, and looking at Before-and-After photos of other Bandsters. The Gabriel Method suggests finding a picture of your ideal body and visualizing yourself in that body while listening to a meditation CD at night and in the morning. I took it a step further and did mine in Photoshop: http://www.bettysoutherland.com/NewB.html If you want one too, email me the picture of your ideal body and a headshot of you that is in the same position as the body shot. (i.e., if the ideal body is facing forward, your head should be facing forward, too). If you have any skinny facial pics (like maybe from when you were younger), send those too, along with a Paypal for $12.50 to: electrawoman@gmail.com Depending on how many orders I get, I can probably get your finished pic back to you within a few days. It would be fun to compare these to our final "after" pics :laugh:

adevong, we are very close!!!!! I work out at the LE 24hr fitness if I go to the gym. I want to find a team or a sport to do instead. I have a bunch of metal in my leg, though so I can't do anything too rough. I love swimming but hate driving to Frisco to go to the pool at 24hr. What do you do for workouts?

sooo sweet! I am getting misty! My son notices every time I dress up. He is 2 and he says "Mamma's a lady". ha ha I can't wait to see how he reacts to the skinny :Yawn:

GREAT! COme join us in the December Bandsters thread!

AMEX or Visa gift cards. spend them on what you want, where you want. Or, start a new collection of something that interests you. Or maybe supplies for a hobby you have been wanting to try? Fancy cosmetics? Something for your house---new sheets, quilt, etc.? Donate your gift to a special charity? Pampering, spa, fancy bath products hair styling tools (I have my eye on the InStlyer...that's why I mentioned it) Body care products: Clairsonic, electric toothbrush, foot massager, nono shaver

Oh dear. You ARE crazy! Poor thing! NOw, I feel bad about complaining. :cursing: I just have to cook for 2 and they are not picky. My surgery is MOnday so I have two more days preop, then 3 after. I can have full liquids by next Thursday, I guess.

Herbalife shakes rock for anyone who is having trouble getting down protein shakes. They are really good and I hate shakes. I am hating clear liquids, though. As for weird rapid weight loss, I can confirm that. This morning, my ring was snug. When I left to get Pop-sicles tonight, it was so loose that it almost fell off my finger. No lie. Very WEIRD. I don't keep a scale in the house. I meant to weigh myself on a store scale but I was so distracted by all the food, it was all I could do just to get out of there.

I dont think I even get the protein shakes...but I got to eat real food longer than most so it's an ok tradeoff :thumbup: Been eating jello and popsicles. I made chicken soup for the family and ate the broth from that. I also have some of the broth cubes in beef and chicken. I read somewhere that consumme is okay but I have no idea what that is. I am sure it is in the broth family. I'm gonna go google it. :biggrin: Thanks for the support. I need it!

Good luck and thank you for posting! I read on one of the forum posts that lap-band surgery IS cheating---cheating death. There is not a person here who hasn't tried with all their might to lose yet we will always be viewed as lazy and somehow inferior because of our weight. So what if you are being "selfish"? I would also bet that most of us give so much to others that there is no energy left for ourselves. It is time to be selfish, if that's what they want to call it. The Negative Nellies can all just kiss our healthy, cheating, selfish butts later. :cursing:

I think I saw that video you mentioned on Youtube today. Dr R? I think he has a weird chip on his shoulder. I'm not even convinced he is really a doctor. DOnt let him scare you :cursing:

I watched a video of a lap-band surgery on youtube today and the surgeon stitched a piece of the stomach up and over the band to keep it in place. I wondered how that might feel when the stitches dissolved and the stomach tissue flopped down. Maybe that's what you were feeling? Sometimes hernias feel like a rip or a tear. I haven't gotten my band yet but I had a c-section and there were many times that I would move and feel like my guts were stretching, tearing, ripping, floating...There's no telling. Doctor call is probably your best bet. :cursing: It can't hurt.

AWESOME! Good for you :cursing:

I hope things change after your fill. From what I have been hearing, it will help. :cursing:

You can start eating healthy now :cursing: It won't hurt anything. It sounds like your BMI would be high enough for a band. You can find out by using the calculator here: Body Mass Index Calculator I think most insurances and surgeons require a BMI of 40 or twice your ideal weight.

I started clear liquids today. I looked it up and found that the reason for this torture is to clear my intestines. Frankly, I would rather have the doctor give me 14 jalapeno enemas instead of putting me on clear liquids. No, really. Isn't there an easier way? I have threatened to quit several times today and considered rescheduling the surgery. Luckily, I have been able to talk myself down each time. I also burst into tears twice. Thank goodness my husband is being sensitive and caring about it. There is no particular food I am thinking about. There is just this general restlessness that says EAT NOW. To be honest, when I look at food I don't really want it. But I have the overwhelming urge to eat. It's this gnawing...gnashing...grinding-of-the-teeth feeling. I might be taking an extra Wellie tonight to lessen this anxiety. (Wellie=Wellbutrin...and yes, it has been approved that I can take an extra one if I need it. :cursing: Meanwhile, I am trying to keep busy with the Jon Gabriel Visualizations, and looking at Before-and-After photos of other Bandsters. The Gabriel Method suggests finding a picture of your ideal body and visualizing yourself in that body while listening to a meditation CD at night and in the morning. I took it a step further and did mine in Photoshop: http://www.bettysoutherland.com/NewB.html If you want one too, email me the picture of your ideal body and a headshot of you that is in the same position as the body shot. (i.e., if the ideal body is facing forward, your head should be facing forward, too). If you have any skinny facial pics (like maybe from when you were younger), send those too, along with a Paypal for $12.50 to: electrawoman@gmail.com Depending on how many orders I get, I can probably get your finished pic back to you within a few days. It would be fun to compare these to our final "after" pics :ohmy:

I just started the clear like you suggested...better safe than sorry. But I am NOT happy about it! This sucks, ya'll! I have tried to talk myself into quitting so many times today. Please tell me the first day is the worst.

Im so confused. My doctors office is closed. He has had me on lowfat hipro veg diet for 10 days. I thought I was supposed to start liquids today for surgery on Monday but I wasn't sure if it was clear liquids or not. Now I can't find ANY instrux except for the page that tells me about the lowfat hipro veg diet. I'm confused and hungry and not sure what to eat or drink at this point :thumbup:

I had my preop exam scheduled today and made plans with hubs to come home early and take care of our kiddo. He was late very late and I nearly had to reschedule my entire Monday surgery because the doctor won't be in the office for the rest of the week. Luckily, they worked me in. But on the way there, I began to panic. By the time I got to the office, I was freaking out. When they told me about some payment issues, I became even more anxious. Once that was worked out, I started obsessing about my fear that the LAP-BAND® won't work for me and had a full-on panic attack. I was ready to Throw in the towel and cancel the whole thing. Luckily, the office ladies, the nurse, and the PA listened to my fears and reassured me that everthing would be fine. They reminded me that failure or sucess depends on me. I felt better knowing I had control. It also helped that their scale showed that I lost 6 lbs on the preop diet this week! So surgery is still on and doc even said I could eat a little Thanksgiving tomorrow. All is well in the house of Betty.

Thanks ya'll and sorry for the triple post. I was sending that from my phone and now I cant delete the extras. Anyhow, Michelle, don't worry about what you saw on youtube. Someone will always have something negative to say. My poor sister hears all kinds of crap every time she starts Atkins. I am sure you have heard the phrase: Opinions are like a-holes. Everybody's got one. LOL

I had my preop exam scheduled today and made plans with hubs to come home early and take care of our kiddo. He was late very late and I nearly had to reschedule my entire Monday surgery because the doctor won't be in the office for the rest of the week. Luckily, they worked me in. On the way there, I began to panic. By the time I got to the office, I was freaking out. When they told me about some payment issues, I became even more anxious. Once that was worked out, I started obsessing about my fear that the lapband won't work for me and had a full-on panic attack. I was ready to Throw in the towel and cancel the whole thing. Luckily, the office ladies, the nurse, and the PA listened to my fears and reassured me that everthing would be fine. They reminded me that failure or sucess depends on me. I felt better knowing I had control. It also helped that their scale showed that I lost 6 lbs on the preop diet this week! So surgery is still on and doc even said I could eat a little Thanksgiving tomorrow. All is well in the house of Betty.