I got a call on Tuesday confirming that my Pre-op appointment was on Monday, August 2nd and that my surgery would be on Tuesday, August 10th (of course, with approval from Tufts...which they will send the paperwork on August 3rd...the last date of my I Can Change Program). They said that I have to be at the hospital at 11:30AM for a 1:30PM surgery time. I was hoping that I'd get an early surgery....so I'd get it over with right away. I am SO excited. My doctor says that we have to take 2 weeks off from work....and I was a little bummed b/c I didn't really want to use 2 weeks of vacation time to recover. I was hoping that it would just be 1 week and that I could go back early. However, I have just found out that I can use short -term disability, so if I end up really needing that 2nd week, I can stay home and focus on healing...and I won't need to use 2 weeks of vacation time....just the first week will be taken from my vacation time. :mad: :cursing: Yayyy !! That means I can save it for when I am skinny...and go to some exotic island in my [not yet purchased] teeny bikini! hahaha.....Pipe dreams right now....but hopefully in a year, reality!

Anyway, b/c I'm not just using vacation time and I will be out for the full two weeks, I ended up just telling my boss and my co-worker what I was doing. I made sure to let them know not to say anything to anyone; as I wasn't even going to tell them. I think my boss was a little hurt when I said that b/c she said, "Why??" and I told her that it was a really personal thing for me...and I didn't want to have that extra pressure of lots of people knowing and examinging me. My co-worker said, "You aren't THAT big?? Why do you want this?" After I explained to her that I was unhappy and showed her all about it, she seemed very happy for me and I think will end up being really supportive. My boss, who I knew once I told her, was going to do some extensive research on the LapBand did exactly that....and promptly informed me the next morning that it was FDA approved and that b/c of that, she approved. Hahah...she is so funny...and she really does care about me more than from just an employee standpoint, which is nice. Anyway, now 4 people are in my little circle...and I do not feel inclined to tell anyone else.

I think my boyfriend will be bringing me for surgery....and I think he will even stay the day with me. He works a ton and it is hard for him to get time off without his boss bitching and moaning...so I am happy that he cares enough about me to persue it.

I start my pre-op diet a week from today. YIKES! I'm so nervous!! I'm still trying to research some good protein drinks and unflavored protein to add in to things. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm nervous that I won't even be able to make it the 10 days! Anyone have tips to help sustain them through this time???

~Jen