Well.. Ill make the first post:)

[christine313112 0]

:shades_smile:Hello future bandsters! I am looking at late March to be banded if all goes well from here on out. I have had all my appts except for the psych evaulation which is happening in February; that is what is holding me back.

Looking forward to meeting everyone...

[kamala 0]

I'm scheduled for March 10 unless I get moved up. Just got my insurance approval in the mail on Friday.

[smilan 1]

I finish my appointments next week. My surgeon said it will take about 2 weeks to get approved and he's always booked one month out. I figure I should be in there early March! Whoo-Hooo!:tongue2:

[kamala 0]

My next phase starts in earnest today! We're having a Biggest Loser challenge at my gym and first elimination date is March 7, right before my surgery. No day like today to get going.

[Sunbunny064 0]

I thought I was going to be an April 09 banster, now it looks like I might be a March banster. No complaints here.

[sharona 2]

I thought I was going to be an April 09 banster, now it looks like I might be a March banster. No complaints here.:thumbdown:

Hello everyone and welcome to lapbandtalk.com We are a great bunch of bandsters. I was banded in March of last year and it has been an interesting relationship with my band. I have a 10 cc band with 7cc of saline and finally have reached my sweet spot.

• Some advice:
  
• 
  
• don't expect to lose a ton of weight quickly, this is a slow process 1-2 lbs or less a week. I have lost consistently and have never gained throughout the process...started at 244 and have lost 50 lbs so far.
  
• 
  
• remember when you get banded you are not restricted and it takes several weeks to get that feeling of restriction, don't get frustrated
  
• 
  
• this is all about eating differently, control of quantity is great but I do NOT diet. I eat what I want just a whole lot less of it.
  
• 
  
• I can't go without drinking when I eat so for me I do drink but it still works
  
• 
  
• I can't eat breads they get stuck
  
• 
  
• I eat small meals throughout the day...a 1/4 cup of food at a time
  

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. This has been the best decision I have ever made. Take a peek at the March 08 blog as it is full of great information and one of the most active.

I live in Connecticut---I am a clinical instructor at a college in a nursing program....I have two children 30 and 33 and a retired husband.....4 dogs (yes 4)...and one wonderful grandchild who is 4 months old....

Take care and good luck...

Sharon:)

[SillyGoose 0]

Hi there!

Well, I don't have a date yet, but it does look like my surgery is going to be in March. This has been a really long process for me. It will be about 9 months by the time surgery happens. For the most part, it has gone by rather quickly - It's just these last couple months that are dragging big time!

Well, I look forward to getting to know all of you March Bandsters. Good luck to all of you!

Sharon: Thanks for all the great information. I'm going to take your advice and read some of the March 08 threads to see how your first year was!

Take care!

Chealyn

[gabi311b 0]

I thought I was going to be an April 09 banster, now it looks like I might be a March banster. No complaints here.:tt2:

I'm with you! I was going to be April but it all worked out and I'm now going to be a March Bandster! What is our name going to be? The Lap-Band Leprechauns?

[LoriHall 0]

Hello! It looks like I will be an early March bandster. I have met with the surgeon's office and got the go-ahead. I have my pre-op evaluations (psych, nutrition, ekg, etc) done a week from Monday-Tues-Wed (they are grouping them all together to save me as much time off work as possible). They tell me that surgeries aren't out far, so I am looking at just a couple of weeks after my evals are done.

Glad to have found a place where others are facing the same life changes as I am. I have been researching this for a year or more and finally decided to do it. My big decision was cost...I am a cash patient and wasn't comfortable going to Mexico. I am paying about $20k out of pocket.

Look forward to keeping in touch here with others going through it with me!

[gabi311b 0]

I got my surgery date...March 8th!!! I am so excited, it's actually real now! I can't believe it.

[LoriHall 0]

Congrats Gabi!! I am sure you are excited and nervous. Hopefully I will be right behind you! Let me know how everything goes.

When did you have your evaluations done? (trying to get an idea of my own time line.)

[gabi311b 0]

Congrats Gabi!! I am sure you are excited and nervous. Hopefully I will be right behind you! Let me know how everything goes.

When did you have your evaluations done? (trying to get an idea of my own time line.)

Since I am self-pay I didn't have to go through all of the hoops with insurance but I do have to get some blood work done as well as an upper GI and a meeting with a psychologist and nutritionist. I have been already seeing a psychologist and I have my appointment with the gastroenterologist Wednesday. The blood work has to be done within 30 days of the surgery so I will at lease wait until 2/8 and I meet the nutritionist on Sunday. Things are way faster for me since I'm not going through insurance but I am so happy I finally made the decision and have my date! I just ordered my Protein bullets for when I have my surgery and they look amazing. 3ozs of 'juice' with 42 grams of Protein. Where are you in the timeline? I hope that helps...

[LoriHall 0]

I too am self-pay, thus the reason it isn't taking as long as some people. I have been doing research for about a year, but only decided to actually move forward the 1st of the year. I will have my psych, ekg and med evaluations and meet with the dietician next mon-tues-wed. Then an appointment with the surgeon within a couple of weeks. They are not booked too far out, so am hoping for early March. Is your surgery going to be local?

[gabi311b 0]

I too am self-pay, thus the reason it isn't taking as long as some people. I have been doing research for about a year, but only decided to actually move forward the 1st of the year. I will have my psych, ekg and med evaluations and meet with the dietician next mon-tues-wed. Then an appointment with the surgeon within a couple of weeks. They are not booked too far out, so am hoping for early March. Is your surgery going to be local?

I am having surgery like 20 miles away from where I live. What other kind of medical evaluations do you have to have?

[HotMama24 0]

Hey guys! I have my surgery scheduled for March 20th I was suppose to be in Feb, but I pushed it back due to some family things happening around that time. I am really excited and nervous :eek: It will be nice to have a support group of people going through the same exact thing!!

Heres to the begining of great friendships and a fantastic journey!!