July Butterflies Master Thread

[joiful 0]

I am finally back at work. I am open only for 5 hours today and I am still wanting to go home. Still not doing all that well and today is 8 for me. How is every one esle doing? I have lost 13 lbs. though! I see a doctor on Monday can't wait to see what he says.

Good luck every one! I can't wait to start a new healthy life!

[kimaly 57]

Goober, glad your doing pretty good. I'm still struggling with this pre-op liquid diet, 6 days down 9 more to go. all respect to those of you that already did this part. Then 14 more days post-op, man! that's a long time with no food. oh i'm sorry i'm consentrating on the negitive again. anyway best wishes to all and hope your healing process goes by without a hitch.

[kimaly 57]

I am finally back at work. I am open only for 5 hours today and I am still wanting to go home. Still not doing all that well and today is 8 for me. How is every one esle doing? I have lost 13 lbs. though! I see a doctor on Monday can't wait to see what he says.

Good luck every one! I can't wait to start a new healthy life!

Joiful, sorry you've been having such a hard time, hope it gets better for you soon. 13 lbs yea you! that's pretty good. hope to join you on that side of this journey soon, still 9 more days to go. just seems like it's taking forever to get here.

[orea15 0]

Joiful, I am glad you are seeing a doctor soon.

I had my preop testing and nurse interview yesterday. Hopefully all went well.

I have a question: I'm starting to prepare for my trip to the hospital. I know somebody posted a really good list of things we might need, complete with approximate costs. I've lost it. Can someone direct me to where it is, or post it here or something? I'd really appreciate it.

Orea

[BeverlyDiane 0]

Hi July, I am being banded 28 July. I started having trouble with my weight after the birth of my second child. I was always thin as a child and was even called beanpole, although I am only 5'5". I had reached my full height in my early teen years. I have been married for 35 years to a wonderful supportative spouse and am the mother of two boys and one girl. My eldest son is a Special Agent for the FBI in another state, my middle son works for Boeing after being with IBM for several years as an information specialist, and my daughter lives near me and works for a spa. I worked as a children's social worker for many years, but my mother became very ill a few years ago and I quit to take care of her and my first grandchild. I am now the Nana of four wonderful little boys. I am a cancer survivor of ten years and have several comorbities, the biggest being diabetes which runs on my mother's side of the family. I view this lapband as a tool that is available to me to save my life. I was brought up in the Quad Cities, but I now live in the Ozark Mountains. I am self-pay to the tune of around $18,000, so I am really invested in my band. The dr. is removing my gallbladder at the time of my surgery due to gall stones. They are billing my insurance for that part, so if my insurance denies that part it will cost even more. Yikes!

I feel I know all of you personally from reading this thread. I have never posted before until I started this lapband journey so I do not know yet if I am a poster or a lurker, but I love this thread. I just happened to come across ittoday from a post left by our PennyLane. Thank you for starting this master thread for all the July Butterflies.

All who have had your surgeries, I hope you are doing well today. Those of us still waiting, hang in there. Our time is soon approaching. Dianne

Edited July 14, 2008 by BeverlyDiane

[joiful 0]

Orea, did you find the list? I didn't use a list and didn't really need anything.

I was on liquids a week after surgery I called the doctor that I am seeing. I am using a blender for the mushy stage. The food will taste yummy when you get to this stage. Aslo you get used to not having food just make use you get enough PROTEIN! I can't stress that enough if you don't it can may make you chose not good choices when it comes to food.

I went home early couldn't work. Jezz I am loosing soooo much money any more time off and I may loose my businesses. Just have so many bills to pay.

[orea15 0]

I'm all set with the Protein supplements and the like. What I'm looking for is a list of what I might want to take to the hospital. Things like lip balm. Sorry I wasn't clear.

Joiful, I'm praying for you that you heal quickly and all goes smoothly from here on in.

Orea

[joiful 0]

Orea, you are such a sweet and attentive person. I wish you well and I will think and pray for you.

[cindersb4 0]

Hi! I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Cindy. I am 42 years old. I have a 7 year old daughter and during the school year I have 20 little 4 year olds that become my kids. I am very excited that I will be banded on July 29 at Mt. Carmel in Columbus Ohio. I have enjoyed reading your posts and wish each and everyone of you the best of luck.:biggrin:

[thatDEgirl 1]

I'm all set with the Protein supplements and the like. What I'm looking for is a list of what I might want to take to the hospital. Things like lip balm. Sorry I wasn't clear.

Joiful, I'm praying for you that you heal quickly and all goes smoothly from here on in.

Orea

These are the main two I have seen, I hope one is it!

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/post-operation-lap-band-surgery-questions-answers-new/66923-shopping-list-surgery.html

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/july-2008-bandsters/67903-pre-surgery-shopping-list.html

[melaniematters 0]

Hi all,

I live in the Hunter Valley about two hours north west of Sydney Australia. I'm having surgery in sydney Dr Michael Crawford on July 31. I'm married with two kids, my son aged 12 and my daughter aged 15. At 46 I've struggled all my life with weight issues and now I have paroxsmal atrial fibrillation which my cardiologist says will improve if I lose 30 kg, hyperinsulinaemia which makes my body think it's in a starvation state even thought it's overweight, PCOS, patella arthritis which is from constant exercising while carrying too much body weight and now makes it painful to walk up or down stairs. With a strong family history of Type 2 diabetes and ischaemic heart disease and stroke I know I'm a disaster waiting to happen. As a wife and mother this is concerning - hence I've been mulling on taking this step for nearly a year.

My insurance covers about half og mu costs which will leave me having to pay about $8000 I think. My husband, Steve, says I should proceed in any case - we'll have to extend the house mortgage - he says it's a small price to pay for my health. He has never complained once about my size, calls me a "sex goddess" and has been married to me for 21 years.

Optifast starts 17th July - I understand now why it's necessary - defat and shrink the liver. I love this site as I read of the successes and challenges everyone is facing. Can this whole thing work for me? Can I become healthy and slim? It's scary and exciting but I'm off to see a counsellor to discuss my feelings about this - I scared about how I'll react to "no food" and just Optifast for 2 weeks, I think I'll grieve for large servings of food - I scared about this post surgery; I'm also scared about becoming a thin person - it's been a long time. What will I do if a man makes a pass at me? Ha HA. But seriously, I wonder whether my weight has become a shield I hide behind - what happens to me when it's just me? Scary, fat person thinking maybe????

I was thinking of setting a goal weight of about 75kg but I know it should be 65 kg - any hints on setting goal weight - do you do it yourself or are go given it by someone. Most guides say 58-70 is a health weight range for me. Does anyone work in kg or should I be talking pounds? I think we're talking around 130lbs.

Thanks for being there everyone.

[Mommy.ArmyWife 6]

Hi! *waves* I'm Ashley. I'm 27, an Army Wife, and mother to a beautiful 2 year old girl. She's mainly the reason I did this. I can't keep up with her at this weight. As young as I am, and as hard as I try, the weight holds me back, and I don't want it to be that way ANY MORE! I also wanted to do this so during future pregnancy(ies) I can be as healthy as possible! Not to mention, I would like to refrain from gaining the 80lbs I did with my first pregnancy!

I am an elementary school teacher, and so excited to get to this year, teaching, being the best mommy and wife I can be, and LOOSING THIS WEIGHT!!

I'm glad to have found a place to share in this experience with others! I believe that having each other, and being able to Celebrate our triumphs, and help us through our struggles is SO important in this process!

[lalaredd 0]

Hello I am 28 year old single mom with a 3 year old son. I'm located in Alexandria, VA about 20 mins from Washington, DC. I work for the Federal Government. My weight has been up and down for the last 10 years.

Eight years ago I was able to take phentermine and lose 95 pounds and keep it off for 3 years. Then I got pregnant with my son and then gained 85 pounds back. Last year I had tried to go back on the phentermine and dropped about 20 pounds and then gained about 50 pounds back which brought me to 235lbs on a 5 foot frame.

Back in October 2007 I started looking into the WLS and search for a surgeon. I asked my primary care dr if he knew any good WLS dr and he had pointed in the right direction to Dr. Halmi in Woodridge.

It took me about three months to get an approval with Cigna PPO. 1st they denied me and then 30 days later I recieved an approval letter. After I got the approval I had to go through 2 months of testing and then I was able to get a surgery date.

Today makes me 4 days post op and I feel very uncomfortable with my body and praying this was a good decsion after all.

Good Luck to all the July Buttfliers!

[T8ergirl 0]

Hello my fellow Butterflies! Tomorrow is my big day. I am 41 and live in Northern Virginia. My surgery is being done at Fair Oaks Hospital by Dr. Moazzez. No fancy pre-op diet needed--just eat light/liquids today so I had a homemade smoothie this morning and a Tropical smoothie for lunch, and some Tomato Soup. I have one 5 year old son and along with me, I'm doing this for him. I want to be around to see him get married and have his own kids. With my family history--unless I do something soon--that won't happen.

I'll post my surgery day story when I can!

Happy Bastille Day and Vive La France!!

[orea15 0]

That makes 3 of us in Northern VA getting our bands! Just think, if we follow the guidelines, we'll be 50 -100 pounds lighter this time next year. Hold that thought!

(I'm feeling like the grandmother here! LOL Though I haven't been blessed with any yet. Just think, those possible grandchildren may never know me as heavy!!!! My kids never knew me thin...but they will.)