anglov

I am married and a mother of 4. I have struggled with my weight since 1990. I am paying cash for this procedure because my insurance/company denied it even though it is medically necessary. I have to make this successful and need all the help and guidance I can get.

Special K Protein water packets has protein and Fiber. 5g of each. I like the pink lemonade. Still Vitamin water zero is my fav. 16 days until I have to start my pre-op diet of all liquids and Protein shakes each day for a week prior to surgery.

I am interested to know how you felt the day after surgery? Also interested in those who had a hernia repair at the same time. I wanted to have some idea of what to expect. I scheduled my surgery for May and then that night I come home and my daughter brings me her paper that she has her dance recital the next day. I have to be there because part of the recital involves the mothers. Any advice or tips?

Thanks so much for all the great responses both good and bad. I know everyone is different but I like to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. That way if it is bad I won't get down about because I anticipated it could happen. If it doesn't then happy days!!

I have 16 more days until my one week pre-op diet. I am getting so close and so nervous. I start pre-op diet on the 5th, I have pre-op testing on the 5th and band date is the 12th. I am officially down 10.5 pounds. I have slowed down quite a bit. At least I am not gaining. Of course all scales are different. I found in the grocery store (Kroger) in the health food section a wide selection of pureed soups in cartons with screw on caps. There were I think about 10 different varieties. They are a little pricey since they are organic but I may have to give it a whirl. I plan on making homemade chicken noodle soup and puree it and then strain it. Nothing is better than homemade. I also thought about doing the same for vegetable. I have designated a shelf in the fridge for just me. I have one whole cabinet that is just for my stuff so my mongrel family doesn't dip into it. I drank the Special K protein water, pink lemonade and it was pretty good. It has 5g of protein and 5g of fiber. Can't beat that. I am stocking up when they go on sale. They are a little pricey too. I think it was $4.29 for a box of 7 packets. That is 61 cents a bottle of water. Not bad if you think about it. Not any worse then a soft drink but certainly healthier. I am one step closer to my new life...:w00t:

OMG!! That is horrific! I can't imagine seeing that everyday. There is no way that is how it should be. I would be glad they are going to do something about it.

Way to go! I am self pay as well. My band date is May 12th. I have done labs, xrays, ekg, pet scan, stress test and now I have to go in for pre-op testing the week before surgery. Crazy!!

Take notes. They are going to give you a TON of information. Congratulations!!

The countdown commences. The skeptics come out. The rude comments continue. The supports are there but not in as large of numbers as before. The question that is on everyone's mind is "Will I succeed or will I fail?" Hmmm...dare I prove them wrong? YES I DARE!! There are a lot of things I have given up on in my life because the going got too tough. Well, this is an investment in my life. A very hefty investment. I am self pay and with that means I will bear the success and the failure heavily. More incentive to succeed. To use my tool to its fullest potential is a priority. Do I have fears? Yes. Do I have second thoughts? Yes. Do I think there will be times that I fail? Yes but I sure hope not. I am going into this with my eyes wide open to all possibilities. This is probably the hardest thing I will ever do next to child birth and raising 4 kids and raising teenagers. :thumbup: This is the best support site I have come across. There is more compassion and support than I could have hoped for. I have gotten tons of tips and advice here. I have received valuable insight into what to expect and what could happen. It is good to be in the know. I feel very prepared. No one is preaching to me or at me. It is like we are all lifelong friends. I think it is because we are all on the same lifelong journey together. We are each other's lifeline. I am looking forward to sharing each leg of my journey with you and hopefully my experience will help others as I have been helped. 30 more days!!!

Thanks to both of you! It's good to know there is light at the end of the tunnel. I hope I am just as successful. I felt I really didn't have a choice regarding telling people. If I was to lose a large amount of weight or well any weight for that matter and they see me eating mini meals they are going to think I have developed an eating disorder. We all eat together most days at work. My company is self insured and they specifically excluded it even if medically necessary, which it is. I will try that though. I know they have covered the testing but I have a 3k deductible so I have still paid about 2k out of pocket so far. I plan on claiming what I can on my taxes. My feeling is that since I am paying for this then I have more of a reason to succeed.

aahhh the dreaded 6 month diet! Keep us updated on your progress through the process. This is a great place to get information, support or just a place to vent. I am getting banded on May 12th with Dr. Oldham.

Trying to find others going through surgery with Dr. Oldham at Baptist East.

The countdown commences. The skeptics come out. The rude comments continue. The supports are there but not in as large of numbers as before. The question that is on everyone's mind is "Will I succeed or will I fail?" Hmmm...dare I prove them wrong? YES I DARE!! There are a lot of things I have given up on in my life because the going got too tough. Well, this is an investment in my life. A very hefty investment. I am self pay and with that means I will bear the success and the failure heavily. More incentive to succeed. To use my tool to its fullest potential is a priority. Do I have fears? Yes. Do I have second thoughts? Yes. Do I think there will be times that I fail? Yes but I sure hope not. I am going into this with my eyes wide open to all possibilities. This is probably the hardest thing I will ever do next to child birth and raising 4 kids and raising teenagers. :thumbup: This is the best support site I have come across. There is more compassion and support than I could have hoped for. I have gotten tons of tips and advice here. I have received valuable insight into what to expect and what could happen. It is good to be in the know. I feel very prepared. No one is preaching to me or at me. It is like we are all lifelong friends. I think it is because we are all on the same lifelong journey together. We are each other's lifeline. I am looking forward to sharing each leg of my journey with you and hopefully my experience will help others as I have been helped. 30 more days!!!

Taco Meat is my enemy!! I love to make tacos at home. I usually put my taco meat on baked scoops. Well I have been craving the heck out of them for weeks so I made it the other night and proceeded to PIG OUT on it. I was miserable but my craving was gone. Or so I thought. There were these leftovers in the fridge...Day 2 of the Taco Meat invasion. And then I was miserable AGAIN! I guess I need to start of a list of NO NOs for food in the house. I'm not sure I can make that again and not try to pig out on it. Of course after the band that would not be a good thing but I don't want to even take the chance. I don't know what it is about this meal but all my other favs that I decided to have in moderation before surgery have been, just that, in moderation. All except for taco meat. Frankly, if I had some I would eat it now and it is 9:30 in the morning. Is it just me? Does everyone have this meal or food that just drives them to inhale the food like it is the air that we breathe?

Thanks for the responses. I am the type of person that expects the worst and hopes for the best. This time I just want to see if I have a chance to go to my daughters 1st dance recital. Crazy I know. I also know everyone is different I just wanted to get a feel for a variety of possibilities. Again, crazy I know.

Why is it that people think when you are doing something life altering that they have an automatic right to speak their mind? I just can't imagine opening my big trap and blurting out things that I know would hurt and then be shocked when it does. This morning my Dad said very hurtful things to me. Even when it was pointed out that it was mean and hurtful he argued, to the point of yelling, that it was not hurtful but true. At first I thought people at work were supportative but now those fake supporters have been talking about me behind my back. They say I am just lazy and taking the easy road out. They say I am going to fail again. The surgery won't help. They know people that it didn't work. Well did they know whether or not the person actually followed the many guidelines? I only ask that you don't assume anything about me because you obviously don't know me. I wonder, are you talking about me because you are jealous that I have the guts to say YES I NEED HELP and I am taking this giant leap forward? Don't judge me. I do this for me not you so stop making this about you and your obsessive negativity. :thumbup:

I too am diabetic. High blood pressure, cholesterol, the whole nine yards. This is for me and if I am taking a drastic step to make things right for me then that is what I am doing. I recognize I can't do it alone. I love this site. There is so much good information, sharing and support. You don't find that on any other weight loss site to the degree that is on here.

I know this will sound, well, WEIRD but THANK YOU!! I have heard reference to sliming but no one has actually described it before. That is definitly something I don't want to happen. CHEW CHEW CHEW and then...CHEW CHEW some more is the new motto!!

I am so sorry to hear that. That being said, you probably aren't ready if you gained 20 lbs just to have the surgery. I wish you the best and we are here should you decide to come back.

Taco Meat is my enemy!! I love to make tacos at home. I usually put my taco meat on baked scoops. Well I have been craving the heck out of them for weeks so I made it the other night and proceeded to PIG OUT on it. I was miserable but my craving was gone. Or so I thought. There were these leftovers in the fridge...Day 2 of the Taco Meat invasion. And then I was miserable AGAIN! I guess I need to start of a list of NO NOs for food in the house. I'm not sure I can make that again and not try to pig out on it. Of course after the band that would not be a good thing but I don't want to even take the chance. I don't know what it is about this meal but all my other favs that I decided to have in moderation before surgery have been, just that, in moderation. All except for taco meat. Frankly, if I had some I would eat it now and it is 9:30 in the morning. Is it just me? Does everyone have this meal or food that just drives them to inhale the food like it is the air that we breathe?

I have told my co-workers. I have some support and some fake support but talking behind my back. I felt I should tell my unit because I am their team leader and there are going to times like during the pre-op diet that I am going to be less than my sweet self. We are close so they are going to notice if I eat differently and start losing weight then they would feel "hurt" real or not, that I didn't share. I really don't care. It is for me. It doesn't mean I am a failure or taking the easy way because there isn't anything easy about it. I have been sharing some of the things that I will have to do and they are all surprised. They had no idea. It's not like liposuction. You don't suck the fat out and heal and you are smaller. I will mention that there was one person I know who had it and didn't tell anyone, which is fine it's her choice, but as she lost weight quite rapidly, she didn't tell them it was due to surgery. People were gushing all over her success because she said it was all her new found exercise and diet. Which in part it was true. She just left out the big part that it was the surgery too. Someone who knew spilled the beans so to speak and word got around and people felt betrayed because she led them to believe that it was just plain old diet/exercise. They didn't feel the surgery was such a big deal to lie to them. They were offended by her leading them on. No way to win I think.

Ok, first I must say I have had nothing but bad experiences with WW. Well, with the people there. I didn't find support there just rudeness, every single time I joined. That being said, in slight defense or possible explanation, maybe they are so stinking mean because they feel like you had extra "help" and they don't. Jealousy or maybe they feel like you lied when your accomplishments are not totally due to WW. That still doesn't give anyone the right to dog you like that. You are better than they are because you are have the courage to get banded. Those that aren't banded or not going through the process have NO IDEA what the surgery entails or what banders have to go through with their diets. I won't be banded for another month but already I am overwhelmed by all the "rules" we will have. Much more so than WW. If you think about it though, I wonder how many WW people have had surgery and didn't tell anyone? To lose a large amount of weight in a relatively short period of time on WW is nearly impossible in my opinion. We are all human and make mistakes so fast weight loss is not the norm. My last thought...at least you were honest with them and didn't lie. Props to you.

I weighed myself today and I am down another 2 lbs. for a total of 10 lbs. I feel good about that. The biggest change has been no soft drinks. I drink flavored water only. I am making more healthy choices. Not always but mostly. I was really craving tacos. Well taco meat that I put on baked scoops. I finally made it tonight and it was ALOT. I am stuffed and miserable but my craving is gone. I had a protein shake for breakfast and smoked chicken for lunch. I still haven't gotten this whole eating without drinking. That I guess is my next task to master. It's hard to imagine not drinking while I eat. I get so thirsty. I try to have one protein shake per day instead of a meal. Breakfast is the easiest for me. I do trade off and occasionally have an egg for breakfast. Protein, protein, protein. Protein and low carb. Got to get into the habit now. I found a food journal on bariatriceating.com and a few good recipes but was confused. Some of the recipes had 12g of FAT per serving. I expected it to be less fattening. I started a binder for my food journals and recipes collections. Getting it together a little a time. BAND DATE 5-12-10:thumbup:

35?? That's great! I have been on here reading and "studying" what others have been going through. I am trying to work on habits now that I will need later on. I gave up soft drinks now I need to work on concentrating on eating and chewing very well. I tend to inhale my food. I just want to try and head off potential problems if I can. I was going to be banded next week but I needed to get more prepared plus time off and all. I am really glad I put it off another month. I am so proud of all you have accomplished so far. You are hope for the rest of us.