amybaby33

It's nice to see some more chitter chatter in here! I was getting bummed that we wouldn't even have a July group! It's so important to have support! Two weeks tomorrow and I will be a sleeved mama! Start my 2 week pre op diet tomorrow which is 3 protein shakes a day and one small healthy meal. My biggest anxiety is being away from my 10 month old son and not being able to pick him up after surgery. My Doc said no lifting for 4 days, which will be tough, but I know worth it! I'm just sooo ready to get back my healthy way of life I had with the band. Let's keep the support going, gang

Hey Jax.. Were you JaxBandster on LBT?

I highly recommend reading the book "Women, Food and God". It change my whole perspective of my relationship with food. It provided so many "ah ha" moments and was perfect timing as I head into my surgery. It's funny, lighthearted and inspirational! Congratulations on your surgery!

Thank God your Mom has her band out! I'm so sorry to hear everything she has gone through, but it sounds like she is on the mend. When my band slipped it caused a total stomach obstruction and put into septic shock..I was also 38 weeks pregnant. VERY SCARY STUFF! I'm just so happy to hear she is better

Congrats on your appeal! I also won an appeal with Anthem Blue Cross here in California. I'm doing a band to sleeve revision, and they originally denied me becausse my BMI was too low without co-morbidities, but seeing as I lost my band when I delivered my son (totally out of my control) they overturned the decision and approved me. My BMI is 37, so I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to go back to my "bariatric" way of life

I used to LOVE Bikram Yoga and am hoping I can get back into after my surgery. I would think you would need clearance from your Doc...espcially making sure you are completely healed and then some. Bikram puts alot of stress on the abdominal muscles. As far as hydration, I would always drink TONS of water the day of class, so I would be well hydrated before class, then you could sip during class. Hope you get back to class when you're healed and ready, it truly is the best workout for the mind, body and spirit! Good luck and NAMASTE

My Doc told me barring anything unforseen, I will be in a day and half. I requested to be released the next morning because I have a 10 month old and can't stand the thought of being away from him! But, I also know it's important to get my pain management situated and ensure I'm leaving with a "thumbs up" from my Doc. But whether Im released the next morning or afternoon really isn't a big deal, I'm just being a neurotic Mommy

Hi Nancy..you know what's weird, is I kept going back to the poll and didn't see any vote results. I just realized I hadn't voted, therefore couldn't see anything..duh! Thanks for pointing out you voted. Looks like July Firecrackers has a slight lead over Red, White & Blue Crew. Anyway, I'm one day ahead of you for surgery. Glad to have a buddy along the way. Good luck with your pre-op stuff on Tues

Hi Wheetsin...I remember you from LBT. I was "marathinner". You always were the queen of info and I remember your ticker that said "shut your gob and get moving"..lol...I loved that! Seems there are quite a few of us bandsters that have found our way here. I had two slips..the most recent one resulted in removal during the birth of my son. I did great with the band for a year, and unfortunately it all went down hill from there. Not having my band for 10 months has been hard. I miss that way of life and am excited to get sleeved in a few weeks. Sorry to hear about your slip..I hope you figure out what your plan is soon. Cheers! -Amy

C'mon July sleevers, we need to rally some support for each other! I posted a poll for a group name but only one person replied Group name aside, we should be posting more in here especially since July will be here in no time! I'm starting my 2 week pre-op liquid diet on Monday. How is everyone else doing?

I feel ya...it's so hard! But you are doing awesome and have the right attitude...definitely keep your eye on the prize.

LOL! And you SHOULD eat all those things...they're totally healthy! Oooo...they also have peanut butter cream cheese which only has 5 g of sugar and 5 carbs....YUM!

You're so welcome! I was giddy with excitment yesteday as I walked through and discovered so many tasty treats. I'm a band to sleeve revision patient, so I know all too well how boring and grueling the pre/post op phase is. At least some of these things will make it more tolerable. I'm lucky to have a store about 5 mins from me. I'll keep you posted and any new discoveries

TOTALLY worth the 30 min trip! And they have great prices! I spend way less there than I do at the regular supermarket. I would say the only downfall is sometimes I find something that I love, but its not always there the next time I go. But..I always discover something appealing and now that my mind set is on pre/post op, I've discovered a whole new selection of foods! Good luck

I'm on my "unofficial" pre-op diet and right now am doing 3 low carb meals and 2 protein shakes. Next week I will do 2 meals/3 shakes until I head into my "official" two week pre-op diet of 1 meal/4 shakes. Anyway, I was at Trader Joes yesterday and discovered they have such great options for all phases of the pre..but especially post op diet. For example, the have tasty broths..not only chicken and beef...but turkey broth and mushroom broth.They have tons of cream soups that don't even need to be strained for the full liquid phase (coconut thai, creamy portabello..any many more!) They also have GREAT S/F popsicles with unique flavors like pineapple, mango, pommegranite and mint! For the mushy phase, I discovered guacamole hummus.....two words: DEE-LISH (ok, maybe that's one word--but I digress) I also came across an Egg White Salad with Chive that would be perfect for the soft food phase. I know everyone might not have access to Trader Joes...but for those of you who do and are preparing for or recovering from surgery...go stock up!

Omgosh! That is a TOTAL difference! Way to go, girl! You look fab

Here are some group names. Feel free to throw out other suggestions

I can do a poll in another thread. We should come up with a few ideas: Maybe: -Sizzling Sleevers - Sparkling Sleevers -July Firecrackers - Red, White & Blue Crew - Lucky Number Sevens (July being the 7th month of the year) I'll post a poll with these and a "other" option

I had the Lapband while I was pregnant. I had a great pregnancy as I still had "some" restriction but was able to eat healthy and maintain the appropriate calorie intake. HOWEVER, when I was 37.5 weeks, my band slipped causing MAJOR complications and I had to deliver my son under general anesthesia because they had to get him out and my band out at the same time. It was awful My son is now 10 months and I am grateful and lucky enough to be getting sleeved July 11th. If I had the choice to do it all over again, I would have DEFINITELY gone with the sleeve! Good luck with your decision and I hope you get your little bundel of joy

Aww...thank you for your kind words and compliments! Ya--my son is a heartbreaker. Those eyes...OY those eyes!

Thank you! I'm sorry you got denied but good for you for being self pay. I hope we are in July together and can support each other!

Hello All, It has been awhile since I've been on a WLS forum, but after a long and enduring 3 years..I'm back. Here's my story: I was banded in February 2008 and had great success my first 1.5 years. I lost over 70 pounds and was a happy, compliant bandster Unforunately, in August 2009 my band slipped and I had to go into emergency surgery. I thought I was going to lose the band, but I was fortunate enough to have it replaced. After trying to conceive a baby for more than 8 years, God (and weight loss) finally answered our prayers and I got pregnant in December 2009. I had a FABULOUS pregancy. The band was such a wonderful tool to help me stay on track, keep healthy and I only gained 10 lbs up until 37 weeks. That's when the problems started. At 37.5 weeks, I got insanely sick. Couldn't hold anything down..not even water. Turns out, my band slippe AGAIN and this time it caused a total stomach obstruction! Fast forward to 5 days later when I was told I would have to have a c-section under general anesthesia because they needed to take out my band and fix the obstuction. Words cannot desribe how devestated I was not being able to be awake for the birth of my son Fortunately, he was born beautiful and healthy. I had to stay in the hospital for 6 days because I was still very sick from the obstuction and subsequent "toxicities" that came with it. It wasn't until about 3 months after I gave birth that I started feeling the effects of not having my band. The ravenous hunger slowly started to creep in and now here I am almost 10 months later and have gained back much of the weight I had lost with the band. Fortunately, I have a phenomal Doctor who went to bat for me and got my insurance to approve a revision to a sleeve. I am scheduled for July 11th. I have to admit, I have mixed emotions. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to get my healthy lifestyle back with the help of the sleeve, but the stakes are higher now that I'm a Mom. I'm scared to go through another surgery and terrified of any complications. I know I will be fine, but I sometimes lay awake at night wondering "what if". I also think of how wonderful it will be to lose that weight again and be able to run, play and swim with my son. He's 10 months old and I want to be a fun, active Mommy and I know this is my ticket to getting there. Anyway, I know this is long..so thank you for reading. I just wanted to share my story and rally some support for myself as I head into surgery. Thanks! P.S Attached is the reason I am doing this!

Hi everyone! I'm Amy and I am a former Lapbander that will be sleeved on July 11th by Dr. Mueller in San Diego. I have kind of a unique story, but I hope my experience being a bariatric patient for the 3.5 years will help all of us with our journey to becoming sleeved. I was banded in Feb 2008 and lost 70 pounds. I did very well that first and half until my band slipped in August 2009. I got a band replacement and through the grace of God got pregnant in November 2009. (DH and tried for over 8 years and never thought it would happen) I had a fabulous pregnancy up until 37 weeks when I suddenly got VERY sick. My band had slipped again and this time it was completely obstructing my stomach. I ended up having a c-section at 38 weeks and unfortunately had to be under general anesthesia because they removed my lapband at the same time. It was very traumatic and upsetting to not be awake for the birth of my son, but there were not any other options. Fortunately, he was born beautiful and healthy. I remained in the hospital for 6 days because I was still super sick from the stomach obstruction. Since losing my band in August, I have gained back 40 pounds. I knew there was no way in hell I was going to get another band, but I have definitely missed the restrictive componenet and healthy lifestyle I had with the band. I was sooo fortunate that my surgeon went to bat for me and petitioned my insurance to do a revision to a sleeve. I'm very excited. So, I've done it all! This will be my 3rd time dealing with the strict post op diet, so I hope i can lend support to all of you and perhaps answer questions as we get closer to our surgery dates! Look forward to getting to know all of you!

That was a great post! I think we can all relate to the self sabotage issue. I just started reading Women, Food and God. It is a fantastic and eye opening book. I can't wait to finish it! Easy read too. By the first chapter I had already had several "ah ha" moments.

Great pics and description! Totally shows life as a sleever..thanks for sharing