December Bandsters 2009

[KarynA 0]

hi i am larry live in mass, getting banded dec 7, nervous and happy at same time

Welcome Larry! One of my favorite people in the world is from Mass. She has a cool (I mean, wicked) accent. I'm pretty sure I have you down for the 7th, but I'll double-check. Best of luck to you!

[TinaM 0]

HI Everyone - should we still post here or should we move to the link that was created for us?

[KarynA 0]

Hi Tina - good question! I definitely think we should post on the other board, but right now, about 60 people know to come here... and only about 10 are members on the other board (Community/Social Groups/December Bandsters 2009).

So congrats to everyone who has a date! I'll post my motivation for doing this on the other thread... see you there.

[nurseab24 0]

Ok thought I would jump in and introduce myself. I am Amy from MO and I am having my surgery Dec 2nd!! I have been waiting so long for this, but now truthfully I am really FREAKIN out!!!!!! I think part of it is because I am a nurse, and I know tooooo much about the medical world. I am not nervous about the band, diet, exercise or any of that, it's the surgery that scares the bejesus out of me!!! Anyway hello everyone and good luck to all:eek:

[no one 1]

So sorry about this. I feel you are doing the right thing. I live near Mexico and would not go there for surgery. I want my doctor where I can reach him at a moments notice. You can do this!!! Save! Save! Save! and before you know it you'll be banded. Sorry to lose you to the group though. Best wishes to you...I'll say a prayer for you!

I'll still be on the threads. Just trying different things. The worst part is that I had to gain 15 pounds to qualify for the surgery in mexico even. So I gained the weight and now im not having the surgery, just stuck with the weight. Sucks!

[ididit35 0]

I wish you all the best and hope your tests come back normal!

[Electrawoman 5]

I would like to join this group! My surgery is scheduled for November 30, but if I join November's group, I will be behind. Is everyone okay with that?

And for all of you trying to quit smoking, please check out the e-cig! You can use it with or without nicotine and all of the liquids come in flavors. It smokes like a regular cigarette but you are really smoking steam and it will not cause cancer or stink breath or any of that stuff we hate about smoking. You can use it everywhere. I have even smoked mine in a doctor's office and all the nurses and doc went crazy for it.

I got mine in March and it was 2 weeks before I even realized that I hadn't had a real cigarette in that long. These things are amazing. My doctors think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread because remember, nicotine doesn't cause cancer...it's everything else. Nicotine is still a stimulant but so is coffee. You should use caution with anything but I think it is better than smoking. I have tried to smoke a real cig since and it makes me sick. I smoked for nearly 25 years, too.

You can get them anywhere online and even in some malls, but here is a link to my favorite shop. This is the cheapest price for the best version and they ship super fast. Customer service is great too.

e-Smokey Treats

Oh, and I haven't finished reading everyones' posts but your diets sound quite different than mine. My surgery was scheduled on the day I should have started the preop diet. Since I didn't have a copy of the diet, the bariatric coordinator told me to wait until I got it. My surgery is in 10 days and I just started my preop diet today. I was not told to lose a specific amount of weight and my diet is low-fat, low-carb AND vegetarian. Basically, I get fruits and veggies plus Protein Shakes, sugar free pudding/jello and crackers for carbs. It is the end of the day and I have plenty of calories to spare. But I do wonder how important the preop diet really is, if each surgeon is so flexible about it. I'm not going to let it worry me. I know the purpose is to remove some of the fat from your liver, making your stomach more accessible. It helps the doctor get done faster and more efficiently.

Some folks were talking about before pics. TAKE THEM. Take lots of them from different angles and get your entire body. You might feel uncomfortable now but you will be glad to have them later. I took mine a couple of months ago because I TRIED (and failed miserably) to do the P90X program. They give good guidelines for how to take those pics. I took mine in a somewhat modest swimsuit. I figured that if people saw me like that already in public at the pool, it wouldn't hurt to put the pics out there too.

Edited November 21, 2009 by Electrawoman

[Electrawoman 5]

Here are some ideas for December group names:

Santa Babies

Skinny Santas

Frosty Foxes

Blessed Bandsters

Stone-Cold Hotties

December Dudes and Dames

Holiday Hotties

December Snowflakes (each one different and beautiful...)

Jingle Belles and Beaus

Twinkle Twits

The Stars of Bandlehem

Merry Bandsters

slogan: Trading Stocking Stuffers for Trimmed Trees

[TracyW2 137]

Ok thought I would jump in and introduce myself. I am Amy from MO and I am having my surgery Dec 2nd!! I have been waiting so long for this, but now truthfully I am really FREAKIN out!!!!!! I think part of it is because I am a nurse, and I know tooooo much about the medical world. I am not nervous about the band, diet, exercise or any of that, it's the surgery that scares the bejesus out of me!!! Anyway hello everyone and good luck to all:eek:

Welcome...I started freaking out about the surgery last night. I guess I have just be so excited to finally do this, that I forgot about hey I have to have surgery first.

[cent 0]

This is cool we have the same Dr.Hollis !!!!!!!!! I almost took the 2nd but I am on the 4th. Keep in touch. And can we have all the v8 we wont ?

Edited November 21, 2009 by cent

[TracyW2 137]

How much weight is everyone wanting to lose?

I am hoping for 150lbs

How many self payers are there?

Luckily my insurance approved and will pay the majority of it.

[KarynA 0]

Wow... I have so much to say and virtually no time to say it. I'm heading out of town today to San Diego. My college-aged kids need mom and money... probably the latter more than the former. Anyway...

Welcome to all our new bandsters!... November 30th is close enough, electrawoman. We're happy to have you. E-cigarettes? (what in the world?) I love your creativity... Santa Babies... Skinny Santas and Merry Bandsters are my three favorite. We may have already setttled on a name (December Delights) but a poll may be in order.

At any rate, have a great weekend everyone!

[illuminationlady 7]

Welcome nurseab24 and electrawoman. I have no problem with electrawoman being on the 30th. Like KarenA said, "close enough". This is a very positive group and we are happy to have you. As for the smoking...I think I'm over it. It's been 13 days with no smoke and the doctor said if you smoke ANYTHING he'll be able to tell. They don't just check for nicotine. They look at how your blood platelets attach themselves to the walls. Smoking anything changes this process and can cause a pulmonary embolus.

You can post where ever you like. I'll be posting here and also in group. So, pick your pleasure. But I'd like everyone to join to group so we can have a list of everyone.

I like all your ideas, electrawoman, for our names. I agree with KarynA that we should have a poll. Before I figure out how to do that, does anyone have any further suggestions on a name for our group? I'll post this question on our Group's postings too.

Have a great day!

[LindaO 0]

SO glad I found some December Bansters! My date is December 11. I started this process back in April. Kind of anxious and scared as well as excited. Start the pre-op the day after Thanksgiving. "that is one of the things I am grateful for!!)

[blondie219 0]

Hello fellow December bandsters. I just finished my pre-surgery workup appt this past Thursday and I am scheduled for December 18. Starting to freak out just a bit, but more about the being put to sleep part than the surgery. I am sooo excited by just the thought of being able to do things with my kids without getting winded or even just to have the energy to do somethign with them to begin with.

I feel so blessed to have what I am considering a 2nd lease on life. Let's do this.... Merry Christmas to us all!