Bandarina Mimi's Journey

Hey everyone! It's Mimi the 20 year old Jersey girl. Last time I was on here I was browsing and talking about getting approved. Now I'm 2 weeks and 6 days banded, time flies! I just wanted to share my story to anyone who is interested. I have a loonnnggg way to go so I am documenting my journey on youtube. Subscribe to Bandarina's YouTube I update every Tuesday. I hope to follow your journey as well

Anyone have any tips on what I should buy for post op? Anything you wish you would of known back then?

I have to disagree. Do a presurgery diet and get your head in the game before surgery. I did not have a problem losing at all. I will be banded a year on the 25th this month and went from 262 lbs to 147 lbs in 11 months. Shrinking your liver also helps with placement of your band. Good luck.

Hmm I agree with you too LOL I agree with both of you! I guess I should call my surgeon and ask him. I've already been doing a liquid diet for some time now but then I went back to normal eating. I'll do a 2 week liquid diet.

The more you lose with a liquid diet pre-surgery, the less you're likely to lose with your post-surgery liquid diet. I say eat while you still can

That is sooo true! LOL I guess I will stick to a whatever diet until I'm banded

Also have a question for those of you who have already been banded. My surgeon is not requiring me to do a pre op liquid diet. Should I take it upon myself to do one anyway? I would love to shave off a couple pounds before getting banded. I have a high liver enzyme which usually means the liver is fatty so I want to shrink my liver a little as well. Can't do any harm can it? I guess I'll call and ask my surgeon.

I would rather not dwell upon my reasons. I have nothing against the realize band nor do I want to deter anyone from getting it. This is my journey and I have to do what is best for me and what is in my heart or I will not be a success. My heart is telling me to get the allergan. I also have personal reasons not to get the bypass or plication or DS but I am not saying they don't work or that they are bad, just not right for me. So it's not just the realize band, know what I mean? But thank you for the support I am super excited. I can not wait to be on the losers bench!

I am going to keep a long story short. I was approved for the lap band surgery and was suppose to have surgery on May 24th. I recently found out that my surgeon only uses the realize band and I got real bummed. For personal reasons I just do not want the realize band. I'd rather have no band than the realize band. So I had two options. 1- switch to a surgeon who did use the allergan band, or 2- stay with my surgeon and get the sleeve. Well luckily the surgical coordinator at my surgeon's office spoke to him and we found a solution. My surgery has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for either the first or second week of June at a different hospital that DOES carry the allergan band. I AM SOOOO HAPPY! I was afraid this would stall me and cause complications but it only took a phone call to fix. Ahh I am super excited. I'll be banded in less than 3 weeks If anyone wants to follow my journey on youtube feel free to subscribe to me: Bandarina's Journey or add me on facebook: Bandarina's Facebook It is much easier to keep in touch on either of those. I love making new lap band friends

I will hopefully be banded on the 17th! I am so excited, nothing official yet. I'm still waiting for insurance to approve me. I should know by next week. If you want to keep updated on my process I have been documenting my journey on youtube in video blogs so you can subscribe to my channel: http://www.youtube.com/abandarina and if you make videos, or have a weight loss Facebook please let me know so I can follow your journey as well. I am so so so excited to be on the losers bench with everyone else!

How exciting for you. I remember waiting for my approval. The day I got the word is one of the best days of my life. The day of suregery was even better than that. Keep us posted. I am so happy for you. It is a wonderful tool and if you do as told, you will do well. Follow all the instructions and read all you on these boards and you will be great at it before the procedure even happens. Ask and we will respond. You learn so much here that you can't anywhere else. So nothing is stupid, or off limits. It is a learning experiance for everyone. Best of luck!

THANK YOU I AM SOOO EXCITED MYSELF. I SHOULD BE GETTING A DECISION BY NEXT WEEK. (fingers crossed for approval)!

Bandarina, congratulation it is great. I start my new life in September 2010. I have 80 pound already. Good luck

WOW! CONGRATS ON YOUR SUCCESS THUS FAR!

Hello everyone! I have been trying to get the band for over a year now and I am soooo closeee! I am suppose to get a decision from insurance in two weeks. I am so excited. I wanted to share my journey with everyone. I make videos on YouTube. Please subscribe and leave me your username if you make videos as well so I can follow your journey. I love giving and receiving support! My YouTube page: SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE!