Kristi Twisti

Congrats to both of you! :welldoneclap: I was just banded on the 24th so I'm only a week ahead. I was amazed how quickly everything went and how quickly I've healed. It's really an awesome process.

Thank you all so much!! I feel much better now, I was starting to worry! :iloveuall:

Hi there! I was banded yesterday morning and have had a sore throat since. I realize they have to intubate you so this can happen but how long will this last? I now have a very high pitched squeeky voice and sometimes the words don't come out at all. I also seem to have a lot of mucus in my throat that just won't seem to come out, though I keep trying to cough it up (gently as possible). Anyone else have these issues? Thanks very much!!

I was banded today by Dr. Lee Grossbard at North Tampa Outpatient center. Dr. Grossbard is wonderful, and his practice Florida Obesity Surgical Associates is just as wonderful! the nurses there are mostly banded themselves and have their before and after pictures around the office. You can call anytime and they are so great with answering questions. Also, they do a support group monthly which was such a great time. They passed out recipe's and gave me lots of tips and were so supportive of my getting banded. I hope others can benefit from them!! http://www.floridaobesitysurgical.com :success1:

Hey there! I am currently on my 2 week liquid diet, but I began at just under 400 lbs. I went to 4 different seminars, 2 of which discussed gastric bypass, gastric banding and the sleeve, and none of the surgeons ever discussed one option being better for larger people than others. Actually one of the seminars, the surgeon discussed how they had banded a patient with a BMI of 99. My reason for choosing banding was first and foremost the complication statistics. Nationwide, the death rate for gastric is 1 in 300, where banding is 1 in 8500. That's a HUGE difference!! Also, complications for the band occur in only 5% of patients. So of course you can have complications but you have a 95% chance of not having any issues. I like those odds myself! If your surgeon seemed concerned over banding someone our size, I would try out a different surgical group. Maybe a seminar from a different surgeon will give you a different perspective. Good Luck either way! and Best Wishes to you on your journey!! :Dancing_wub:

Hey there! Sorry I won't be much help, I'm yet to be banded. However, my hubby is your exact body type, he carries all his weight in his belly. I am hoping you get some responses so I can pass them along to hubby as well. I am hoping once we get my surgery done, he will begin his journey towards getting banded. From personal experience, I've found that the cost of the self pay option varies greatly from practice to practice. We were looking at having to come up with 16k (ya right) until we found a terrific practice with a 9k special. It seems like the hospitals do all the advertising but if you can find the individual surgeons bariatric practices, you'll save a lot. I know this doesn't answer any questions you posted but I hope it helps. Good Luck to you on your journey!!

Hey everyone! I'm getting my band this week as well! My nerves have not set in yet, thank goodness! I am so excited to get my band, and to be a few weeks away from eating again! This 2 week liquids diet has been nuts! Definitely one of the hardest things I've done. Thanks also for the stories from our banded friends! I love reading how positive the band has been for everyone! Good Luck to all the other bandsters this week!!! :success1: :welldoneclap:

Sounds wonderful! God is so great! Keep up the prayers and he'll be right there with you! :pray2: :Angel_anim:

Congrats and Good Luck!! Enjoy your Anniversary dinner! You'll miss the food during your liquid diet but seeing the weight start to dissappear is so worth it!! :Dancing_wub:

:waytogo: Congrats!! That is so wonderful! You'll find the forums even more helpful now that you are really underway in your journey! Welcome!!

My surgeon put me on Chike drinks for my 2 week pre op diet. I'm not a big fan of all of them, but I can tell you the chocolate is spot on for a melted Wendy's frosty. If you go to their website www.chikenutrition.com you can order a little sample. I hope this helps! Personally I also like the banana flavor but it definitely is banana-y! :Banane34:

Hey Eck, have you tried sugar free gum? It's been a huge help to me. I am on my pre-op diet and am finding sometimes I just want to chew! Good Luck to all with their bands and diets!!

Welcome to the forums! I'm getting my band on the 24th as well. Good Luck to you and Congrats to your wife! Great job on your pre-op weight loss! :scales:

I'm getting banded the day after you, so I don't have any post op info. However, I can tell you I was getting really nervous up until I began my 2 week pre op diet. My diet is all liquids and is so brutal that I am now looking forward to surgery just to be done with this portion of the diet. Do you have this to look forward to as well? Surgery is always scary but honestly, if we don't lose this extra weight, the time spent in hospitals and possible surgeries will be much worse for us. I wish you the best with your banding! You can do it and you'll do great! :welldoneclap:

Prayers sent for both of you getting banded on Monday! Congrats! You'll do wonderfully! :Dancing_wub:

After so much "slow" things are finally happening very quickly. I am excited but the pre-op diet is so crazy. I've never experienced anything like it before. I really wish you the best though! I hope things can move quickly for you also. I am so ready for surgery, I really need this done. Well, I know we all do! haha Good Luck girly!!!

Welcome Frog You'll :wub: it here, everyone is so positive and so helpful! Good Luck with getting your "date"!

Congratulations! What an awesome birthday gift!! :present: I am scheduled to get my band the day before my birthday, so I am considering it my birthday gift as well. Very exciting! Best wishes and Happy (early) Birthday!! :party:

Welcome Aboard! Congrats on the weight loss!!!

Congrats to both of you!!! Super exciting!!! :thumbup:

Thanks Chipsnsalsa!!! Such a cute profile name!

Good Luck Newbandit95!! You'll do great! Just focus on getting some sleep tonight! The great thing is we know we are in excellent hands with our surgeons. Have faith that your in good hands and enjoy the results!!! Yay! You're on your way!!! :welldoneclap:

Okay I just realized you posted your diet!

I begin my pre-op diet tomorrow. I am on a 2 week liquid only diet. They have me on 4 Protein shakes a day. The shakes are called "Chike" and they are 190 calories each. So my shakes, lots of Water, and some sugar free Jello. I'm allowed chicken and beef broth as well as sugar free ice popsbut I am going to try my hardest to stay away from that. What about you?

Hi Momnear40! Good Luck with your pre-op diet! Mine is a 2 week diet that begins Wednesday! I am on 4 Chike shakes daily. www.chikenutrition.com I haven't seen anyone yet on it but I have the bottles here ready to go for Wednesday morning. Other then my 4 shakes daily, I am supposed to drink tons of Water, but am allowed tea or coffee as well (without creamer). I'm allowed sugar substitutes which will be helpful. I can drink chicken or beef broth, I can eat no sugar Jello, and no sugar ice pops.