sarwenc

Hi Lisa, Joany, Zen, Bandcamp, Tiffany... How's everybody?? I haven't posted here since last year, just after my surgery probably. I'm a such a slacker! lol I'm so excited to see all of your progress! You gals ROCK. I've had a slow start, partly b/c my doc only fills 2ccs at first and then .5 ccs at a time after that (a month apart), so I've only really had restriction this past month or so. But I'm there now! Really feeling the restriction! YAY! Congrats Joany on working with a trainer! You are a bad mamba jamba, hehe! I've been working out 4-5 times per week at home, using videos or playing Xbox 360 Kinect games (don't laugh, they make me sweat!) Do you have any mini-goals for Spring? I'm trying to get to Onederland by the end of March (10 lbs to go- should be doable, right?) Ok ladies- talk more later!

Hey everybody! Brian, Joany, SourMissG, scarred4life,etc. great to see you here. So I'm almost at my 2 week mark and I'm still feeling tired and sore alot. I just started back to work yesterday and feel just worn completely out by the time I get done. Even at a desk job, 8 hours is sooo much for me right now! I just want a nap,lol! :tongue2: Glad everybody is progressing through their meal plans well. I can't wait until I'm onto the mushie stage starting Thursday! If I have to have one more protein drink I think I'll hurl. :crying: What are some of your favorite mushy foods? I know cottage cheese, applesauce, ricotta, but need more ideas. I have to do that for two solid weeks but hey at least its better than the liquids I've done for the last two weeks:thumbup:. Anyway, really just wanted to say hey and tell you all I'm doing good. I so enjoy reading all your stories and hearing all your wisdom. Thanks a bunch!!

Hi everyone!! I just got banded yesterday and thought I'd report in. :smile2: I'm pretty darn sore in the belly, especially the port site, and the gas pain has been bad too. But I'm getting by! Today is better than yesterday, and tomorrow will be better I'm sure. Gas X is helping alot as is taking deep breaths and walking a bit whenever I can. I can't get down very much liquids at this point, but I'm just working at it a bit at a time. I'm itching like crazy under my bandages, and I hope that gets better after I can take my shower tomorrow! Can't wait for that. hilojack, glad to hear you're doing well. Also looking forward to hearing from everybody else as the month winds down! I wonder if we should transfer this thread to the Sept 2010 group page? Best wishes to everyone in their healing!!

Me too etexlady!! We can be band buddies :thumbup:

Hi bandster friends! Wow, Thursday is my big day and I'm super excited/nervous!! I had my pre-op this morning and it was totally no biggie. The hardest thing was blowing in this tube that made noises like super mario- I didn't think I could get a high enough score to please that stupid thing but I guess I did cause they let me proceed :smile:. I saw my surgeon again today and he was great. Also I had my "before" pics taken but I didn't even want to see them- ugh who wants to see a before pic!? :thumbup: lol Neenee- I can definitely relate on the weird attitude other overweight women have towards those of us who choose surgery. My mother-in-law, when I told her about my upcoming surgery, didn't even respond hardly at all. No concern, no questions, nothing. Just "oh.":cursing: I know it's because she's overweight too and it probably makes her uncomfortable. I hope that in time our families can be happy for us for improving our health and doing something that may well save our lives!!:wub: Take care everybody-I'll post again after surgery and let you know how it went!!!

Hi Brian! Thanks for your shopping list suggestions. I'm going to the store tonight, woot! I'm getting really excited now- just 6 days till the magic happens :thumbup: I've been watching some excellent youtube videos from bandsters like bandedwendy, thebandinme, and skymoon1982. All awesome ladies who tell it like it is! I highly recommend checking them out. Awesome, well I'm thinking of all of you. We can do this!!! Sept. 23rd here I come!!!!

AnnaOz, best of luck!!! You're gonna do fantastic!

Hi everybody! Wow it sounds like we are all just chugging along... I'm thinking of all our September Sweeties and Studs every day this month and how great of a community we are here. I'm looking forward to my day next Thursday (one week! :alien:) but am feeling nervous etc.! Oh, you all might be interested to read some recommended items my friend suggested I get before surgery (he had his band put in in August I think and he's doing great!). He suggested I get: -Chewable vitamins -Gas-X -Have the doc prescribe Fenergen (sp?) for nausea -Low sodium broth -Sugar free jell-o -Ensure (or similar) He also recommended that, since my surgery is being done as an outpatient, I have my husband run fill my Rx's while I'm in surgery or recovery so I don't have to deal with that on the way home. I'm adding to that list stretchy pants that are nice enough for work (I'm a secretary) but comfy on the tum-tum area. Hope that helps all of you like it helped me. Anybody have any other pre-op preparation tips? I'm going to be cleaning my house thoroughly so I don't feel stressed at not being able to do as much housework after surgery. Take care everyone and good luck!:wub:

Hi everybody! I've been thinking of all you lucky ducks and those who have already crossed the threshold!! Congrats! As for me, I just got my surgery scheduled for 9/23!!:w00t::thumbup: I'm nervous and psyched at the same time. For a while I was thinking of bailing on the idea and then reality set in and I remembered why I decided on this in the first place. I know me, and I need this tool to get me where I want to go!! As for the whole HUSBANDS line of convo, I can totally relate to you gals- My husband is Mr. Fitness himself. I don't mind cuz I get a hot hubby! BUT he can be very judgmental and doesn't really GET what it's like to be overweight etc. He has never been more than 20 lbs overweight in his life, and right now he's rockin' six pack abs!!!:wub::tt1::tt1::tt1: Again, NOT complaining about that! But I do feel rather inferior or not pretty enough, etc, etc. and it's just hard to relate sometimes. I know just what you mean about getting "the look" Scarred4Life!! Ok, talk to you more soon! Love to all! Sarah

Hi all- I got my insurance approval today! I will hear from the scheduler on Monday. One problem- now I'm not so sure any more! I've started worrying about the wisdom of having a lap-band®. Can I do this on my own? Will it hurt my body long-term? etc.etc. So, I'm looking for some thoughts from you others who are pre and post surgery! Any concerns, regrets? Thanks so much!!

Thanks CSinTX and Lucrecia (aka crecia1975)- I guess I got a little discouraged there for a while because the insurance thing is taking so long. I know many people have to wait longer than me, but I am so impatient! I'll try to check in more often. Lucrecia, how do these insurance companies get away with lying to us?? I'm sure it must be illegal, because the only point of lying like that about not needing pre-approval is so they can deny our claim later on, don't you think so? That's what the insurance processor at my docs office said anyway and I start to believe her! So are you hoping to be banded this month also? (it feels weird to think this could be happening THIS MONTH! :thumbup:) LisaA, I'm wishing you the best with your restrictive diet...I know you can do it (and me too when it's my turn)! What kind of shakes do you like?

Hi September Sweeties!! Congrats to everyone who's taking the plunge today :scared2: BandedNellie, karmaandkismet and cece1967!!! I'm thinking of you and wishing you a speedy recovery. danide- Don't beat yourself up, girl! This is a process, right? We didn't get to this point overnight, and band or no band, we can't get healthier in a day. Focus on your next choice, and "keep moving forward!" :drool:(Great advice, but I have a hard time following it myself, hence why I'm here too!:biggrin:) As for me, I'm in insurance limbo presently. I spoke to my company yesterday (ChampVA- for spouses of veterans) and they told me they did not give pre-approvals, and to just have the procedure and then have my doc submit his statement that I meet their requirements (BMI, co-morbidites, etc.). So I called the docs office and asked, and the insurance lady there just kinda rolled her eyes and said that they DO pre-approve, and without it they would deny my claim! I just never trust insurance companies, you know, and for them to outright lie to me is pretty shocking. Having dealt with the VA for ages, I know that you have to pull teeth to get them to help you out, but once you get through their paperwork nightmare, they're excellent. But I've never had someone just lie...:thumbup: Anyway, the insurance lady at the doc's office says she is supposed to hear from my insurance by Friday and that they can then schedule me pretty quickly- possibly for next week!! So I'm pretty excited about that and glad I've been shopping for shakes and soups etc. already. :wink2: I'm eager to hear from those of you who are newly banded- BandedNellie, karmaandkismet and cece1967- to let us all know how it's going, how you're feeling, etc. :huh2::smile2: Best wishes to everyone!!!

You got it, rk! Couldn't agree more It's tough but we're all in it to win it. My kids told me (I don't know where they got this- internet somewhere I guess) that the journey to Castle Sexy-Abs is heavily guarded, and that to get there you must swim through a piranha infested moat for years, during which time the piranhas nibble your fat away lol. Personally, I can live without sexy abs, that's not necessarily my goal, but I'd love to have them if possible! :thumbup: Castle Sexy-Abs here we come!

Hey Cathy and all- I too want to track my measurements. Haven't done it yet- I admit I'm a little scared, lol Don't know if want to see all those numbers! But I have to face up, that's what this is all about. I just found out yesterday that I should hear from my insurance by tomorrow and then I can get scheduled!! :thumbup::w00t: I thought I'd be looking at late September at the soonest, but now I think I can do early September! I work at a university so there's no way I can do august since that's when all the students come back in :thumbup:. I wonder which of you I'll share a date with?? Thanks for reading and being in this group!! Sarah

Congrats to stateofzen, THEMAXWELLFAMILY and rkwilliams!! I hope to be in your shoes soon! I've done my nutritionist visit and psych and should hear about my insurance approval soon . Now I have three classes to go to, and won't be done with those until 9/22. BUT they said that I can schedule for right away after that last class. So I'm definitely hoping for the last week in September. Specifically I need to be off bed rest by October 1st, because my family runs a haunted house and I need to go scare some people starting that weekend!! :thumbup: So I'm hoping for a surgery date of maybe the 24th or 27th. Wish me luck!! -Sarah

Hey everyone! Just saying hi and wishing everybody the best. It's so exciting to see all those surgery dates posted, that's awesome!! I have appointments with the doc through mid-september (last one is on the 22nd) and they said it's possible I might have mine before the end of the month, but also possibly early October. I really have no idea if my surgery has been sent in for approval yet or not but I'm told my insurance (ChampVA) isn't a problem. Here's hoping! Sarah

Hi all! I'm hoping for a September date, so maybe I can be a September bandster like you guys :wub: If I do, it'll be late September, as I still have sessions to attend through the 22nd. I don't know about my insurance approval yet either, but what the heck, I'm being optimistic!! Wishing all of us luck in getting our dates scheduled, insurance approved, etc.! -Sarah