Kaiser Richmond Pre-op

[AudsMom 2]

Stephanie!

Welcome to the group:) We are all very encouraging and supportive. We even meet up:)

My biggest word of advice, when you call ask them how they are doing before rushing into your question, makes them laugh:) "Good Morning, (name) how are you today" is what I always say:)

Biggest, after Orientation, go home and get to goal before psych if poss. I was goal at psych and they said a very tiny % actually achieve that.. It helped get my surgeon appt sooner, but I tended to have bad luck, my cm appt was 3 weeks out, and then surgery 2 months out, they did offer me a month out but im going to vegas in 2 weeks, so march 3 wouldn't have worked:D

Even if you are questioning your decision, keep doing it. You have till surgery day to change your mind. You will probably question it 3 or 4 times especially if you are loosing easily.

Good Luck!! We are all here for you:)

Orientation Nov 4.

[riley4183 0]

Hey Reggie, I gained 8 lbs. during surgery and the day after! Liz tells us at the pre-op class to NOT get on the scale until a week after surgery, but of course I had to do it as soon as I got home - I gained 4 lbs, during and 4 lbs. the next day! Of course I admitted it to her when she called, she laughed and said everyone does it, I'm just admitting it (!) The average "gain" (which is just your healing body trying to hold on to fluids so you don't dehydrate!) is 7-15 lbs. I did NOT lose it by a week after surgery; I didn't lose it until the last 2 days, but now I am 11 days out and have lost 7 lbs. since my weigh-in on surgery day. Happy dance!

Nicole, I love your suggested script! They are really SO nice down there once you are in the system and proving yourself. I like to try and make them laugh; when they answer I say something like, "and how are you today? Are you thriving?" They have great humor genes.

[swrktp 1]

OMG Riley you have lost alot already 49 down!!! Ah I can't wait for that.

Stephanie welcome to the group. Yep I agree with everyone you will like Kaiser Richmond. I got off to a slow start but once they know your serious things speed up. And yep I agree with the pushing #7 it works wonders.

I have been to Richmond 3 times now. Than once more on 4/2/09 for pre op and appointments and than on 4/13/09 for surgery.

I am so ready and I am so stuck at 236 right now. I can't eat a carb period if I want to lose!! Ahhh..........I will be so glad for the help of the band because I get hungry when I follow their diet strictly. I am trying to use Water at the end of the day when the calories are all gone and I am still hungry............

Riley congratulations I can't wait for my day to come!!

[riley4183 0]

Thanks Tina! Yeah I'm almost at 50 lbs - actually if I waited and posted this tomorrow morning, I would be - but 42 of that was pre-surgery! I couldn't eat carbs either, not so much because I'd gain but because I'd get so hungry! Carbs were a trap for me. Still not eating them! And yeah, the band is GREAT for feeling full! I can home after work today, starving, and had my 1/4 cup of Soup (chicken tomato) and walked down to the store, but it felt like I was waddling, I was SO STUFFED!!! The sensations are all very different - I feel hungry right now, but I don't feel like I could actually eat anything. It's so weird! That's when I rely on chicken boullion and diet jello! It is hard to not eat a little bit more often, and it's really hard to not drink for at least an hour after eating - but you really do stay full longer if you wait before you drink (or eat Jello or popsicles)!

We had a clothing exchange at my support group meeting Tuesday night, it sure did feel GREAT to hear myself keep saying "oh darn, it's too big"!!!

LOVING THIS BAND!! And so far I am losing at the same pace as a groupmember who had RNY - happy dance!!! I know it will slow down when I start on mushies/soft foods, but that's not for weeks yet so I'm just goin' with this thing! What a ride!! :cursing:

Riley

[riley4183 0]

Just had to come on this morning & change my ticker!!!! 50 pounds lost in 4 months 6 days!!!! Lovin it . . . . .

[riley4183 0]

Argh! Robin just called to move me from State 2 to Stage 3, and I don't get to start until TUESDAY the 10th! Arghhh!

[Di 1234 0]

Hi Kaiser Richmond Crew,

This is my first post but I have been following your thread and getting great encouragement....Thank you for shairing the good, and bad. I am with Dr. Fisher and he wants me to get to 225 before I call for my CM appt. I have been through orientation and surgeons appt. So I got down to 228 and then started gaining again. Old habits, sad days etc.... Now I am back up to 235 and so bummed and disappointed in myself. Agh!!! I am so close and feel like I am stuck. You all are so inspirational so I keep checking in to get motivated.

Diana

Orientation/Surgery Goal/Current

250/225/235

[swrktp 1]

Welcome Diane

I hear you about the up and down stuff. I keep going between 235 and 238 and can't seem to get under that. Discouraging. I am at goal weight but still stuck........

I guess I need to go under 1200 but I get hungry and lose my commitment by nighttime. I am hoping the band will give me that extra boast!!

[AudsMom 2]

Welcome Diane, when was your Orientation?

I know the feeling, once you hit a certain loss you just sit there. I have uped my exersize and the scale or white evil plastic machine doesn't move, if anything it changes all over the place.

I am working on running a mile straight.. I am right now at 2 min run to 1 min walk.. for 1 mile then i do a speed walk for a half a mile.. I feel great after doing the walk/run..

I too look forward to the full feeling! I cant believe soon we will all be banded!

[Di 1234 0]

Thank you for the warm welcome. My orientation was Nov. 2008 around Thanksgiving can't remember the date. I love to run and am motivated to start adding minutes thanks for the reminder. Maybe I can unstick this scale.< /p>

Diana

[swishbc 0]

Diana,

My orientation was Tues Nov 25th, just a couple days before Thanksgiving...I wonder if we were in the same class!?

I also have Dr. Fisher and really like him a lot. I'm scheduled for surgery 4/14.

It's good to meet you! Where abouts do you live?

[Di 1234 0]

Hi Christine,

Yes, I must have been at the same orientation. I realy like Dr. Fisher as well, he was pretty hard on me at the surgeon consult but it was all profound things I needed to hear.

I live in the Roseville area.

I am so excited for you I hope to get that scale moving again and be right behind you.

Diana

[reggie71 0]

Welcome Diane! Don't feel bummed, this goup os great we work hard at keeping each other motivated. I keep yo-yo ing too but have done well for the past few days. Keep it up and it willpay off. imagine Riley is banded , Nicole and Christine are soon to be banded, that alone is motivation enough for me. Hang in there!

[AudsMom 2]

Reggie you are doing great!!!

Diane, you will get there:) Just keep working out.

I am so trying not to get down right now, the stupid scale wont move but i work out daily! Today i burned 800 cals between my 30 min workout and then my night walk.

Ladies we will all be banded in 09! and skinnie minnies in 2010!! woooo hooooo!:confused:

[riley4183 0]

Folks, I have to tell you - things get so much easier with a band! I must have the most perfectly-placed band in the WORLD because I have NO issues with swallowing or anything getting stuck, I am FULL eating 1/4 cup, and I stay full for 5 hours at a time!!! NOT HUNGRY!!! I actually put off eating so that I can have fluids. I am OFF ALL MEDICATION as of 5 days ago - my blood pressure fixed itself. I have eaten too much at a time - twice - and it is a stuffed-full feeling that it unpleasant enough that I'm not doing it again. I'm 15 days out now and just started on Stage 3. No issues! NONE!! I'm just melting!!!

:-) Riley