Cynsayshun

I'm waiting for the answer to this from those already banded as "inquiring minds" want to know too!! This is day 9 for my pre-op it got easier after the first 3 days. I'm down 13 pounds since I started that keeps me encoouraged!! But I do wonder if the mind will stay that focused after I'm banded. Oct 4th. Countdown.....good luck with every thing

Thank you for replying so quickly, is there a time limit for you to take it? I see you were "banded" in July, so it didn't effect the surgery. That is a relief to know.. So I can buy the product on my own from what I gather from your statement? Is this correct or was it prescribed for you by the Dr? Again, I appreciate your input. Cynsayshun

My surgery is scheduled one week from today. Last week I went to my Primary Physican for the pre-op work ordered by my Lap Band Surgeon, well her nurse called me today and said my Vitamin D levels are low and my Dr had called in me a prescription for Vitamin D capsules, 1 a day for 8 weeks. I told her I will not be able to take any capsules due to my surgery and the DR would need to cancel that Rx. Has anyone else been diagnosed with low Vitamin D levels prior to being banded and how was it handled? I Googled the information and it can be associated with Obesity and getting to much prescribed can be toxic for your body? I hope this is nothing that can prevent me from having my Band installed next week Hopefully someone else has had this issue and can share some insight on how this can all work out and NOT be a set-back for my Surgery date. Thanks in advance...

I was just wondering about everyone's lives. Are you married, single, do you have kids? What do you do for work? What do you do for fun? " My response to these questions & More...... I'm widowed (since 2003) have 4 adult children and a "gaggle" LOL of grandchildren ranging (from 23 years old -1 year) . I work for a county government as an Executive Assistant in the Finance/Purchasing Division. My adult children all live in Southern states.. I relocated back to the Midwest (my home state is IL) in 2004 after my husband died to be closer to my Father (my only living parent). One day when I can retire, I will probably relocate back to the South. I love movies & reading ( I carry my Nook everywhere). I also enjoy traveling, (love the Caribbean Islands) the theater, museums, etc. I play "Bingo" a couple of nights a week, (even though some of those OLD folks need a real life outside of Bingo, they are so mean) LOL. I didn't start gaining weight until later in life, and it's been one diet or weight loss program after another. My highest weight was 270 which was during the months my husband was hospitalized after surgery, with a hospital acquired "staph infection" which ultimately caused his death. I lost 25 pounds after that and since I've fluctuated between 240 & 217..Haven't been able to get under 200, which led me to begin researching the Lap Band. Most of my older friends still live down south as I lived in Florida & GA for 23 years. My close friends here are all younger women that I work with. I'm the "old" lady in the group, (age wise) but I'm very youthful in my outlook on life, I'm very "techie" as my grandchildren will say. Some of their friends crack up because I've been texting my grands for years. My daughters & Sons tease me they tell me they believe I'll be a "Cougar" after I lose this weight. My son said to me, Ma, you better get ready, because you gonna get a whole lot of attention now, are you going to be ready for it? Now that isn't my goal,, but if it comes as a result, maybe I won't have to have the "widow" title for the rest of my "healthier" life.. (lol) Here's an update about my "2 week" liquid diet.. I started Monday, when I weighed in with the Nutritionist, her scale had me at 238, today on my scale, I' m down to 225.5!! As others state it gets a easier to do as each day passes, yesterday I have to admit I wanted to chew something and I ate 1 Potato Chip.. Hey Lay's (someone can eat just 1). It was enough to satisfy that urge, but not allow me to sabotage my weight loss to date. Oooh, I'm glad I can confess that to a non-judgemental group!!!! This has been a strange few days, it really makes you think, why was I eating so much food, when I can't really not be that "hungry" because I'm surving on broth, sugar free juice (diluted with water) & Protein Shakes. I admit a couple of days at work I had to go into the cafeteria for my skim milk for my "shake" and they had a couple of my favorites "Roasted Chicken" and Lasagana.. My co-worker went with me and had to wait for her sandwich to be prepared, but me standing around waiting for her (and the visuals & the smells) were getting to me, I had to leave her there and take the elevator back to our floor. When she came up I told her, why I had to leave, (she is one of the few persons I told) she totally understood. After I drank my shake, I was good.. So there are those moments that you have to use your "mental prowess" to fight the temptations of the food around you.. I keep my eye on the "prize" losing the pre-surgery weight per my DR & Nutrionist orders.. Oh i found a tip here in the Forum about soup, so I bought the Progressive Chicken Noodle Soup - drained it and put the chicken & noodles in a Freezer Bag, (don't know if I'll ever be able to eat it but couldn't just throw it out) I had a bowl of that broth only and added some Roasted Pepper it was so much more satisfying than the plain Chicken Broth.. So sharing tips on how to get satisfying liquids sure help!! This ends my Sunday morning diatribe.....I'm heading into 1 week of liquids with a feeling of accomplishment!!!! Kudos to all that are going through it too.. We will survive & learn so much from this!!! "Cynsayshun" PS, can someone (pleeeeeze) tell me why my "Ticker" remains a jumbled mess of HTML Codes?

Thanks Jake I have an appointment with my Primary Dr this morning for my pre-op work. I'll mention it to her. I've been able to get down about 6 glasses of water daily. I haven't been able to get 8 in. Is that going to be a problem after the band? I cannot understand how some say the drink a gallon a day when it has to be scheduled an hour after every meal. They must drink a quart each time! Plus I have the understanding can't gulp it so how will it work to get the water in with the Band??

I started my 2 week Pre-Op on Monday and the first couple of days were hard, it seems to get easier daily. The food smells in my office at lunch time has been rough!!! At first I didn't understand how I could meet the Protein requirement along with the requirement of at least 800 calories.. Then after meeting with the Nutritionist was told to drink 4 Protein shakes daily.. I can have sugar free Jell-O for Snacks or the sugar-free popsicles..I tried to do the "Slim Fast, but it didn''t do well for my stomache, so I'm using the unjury and really like the taste, so that makes it easier. I got a little encouragement this morning when I got on the scale and was down 3 lbs since Monday Now I have a question and I hope know one gets upsett but it seems I may be constipated.. I'm never constipated, does the Protein have that side effect, or is there just nothing to come out, since my only intake is liquids?? I sent a mass email to my Family & Close Friends today explaining the surgery and why I chose to do it.. I had heard a few were scared for me, I let them know as with all surgeries there are "risks" however since I don't have a lot of "co-morbities I should be alright.. I also sent them the statistics on the number of deaths from and it like 1 in 17,000, so I told them, unless I'm really "unlucky" I should not have any major problems,

Hey Lady. I'm in Kenosha WI I work in IL and my surgeon is in IL so we should keep in touch. I'm near the Univ od Parkside it's only 25 min from Milwaukee. I'm at work now but constantly checking the forum for information.

I started my Pre-Surgery liquid diet and I'm suppose to have 4 Protein Shakes, and consum 800-1000 calories I don't know how I can do that on liquids only. I could only get in 3 Shakes & a sugar free Jello and a bowl of chicken broth. I've been drinking Water, I somewhat hungry but more puzzled about how to get the required calories in?? Any suggestions.. I am not suppose to eat any foods, this is going to be the longest two weeks in my life. I have an awful taste in my mouth from the Slimfast shakes and it doesnt' seem to want to go away. I have also used

October 4th is my day too! I met with the nutritionist today who took my full body photo, and went over some things with me. My weight was down 10 lbs. since my first visit with her in May. Today I started the liquid diet which consists of Protein shakes 4 x daily for a calorie count between 800 - 1000 daily until my surgery date. She showed me the General Surgery floor that I will be on after the surgery (Lap Band) and assured me I will be there the minimum being 2 days.. I am excited and nervous as I suppose we all are.. I'm going to have to exercise a lot of will power to just do the shakes for 2 weeks, but I'm determined to do it.. I wish I could fall asleep and wake up 2 weeks from now, LOL. I've been drinking the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury vanilla for Breakfast several times a week since June. I have ordered the chocolate as well, but the Vanilla is really good!! I bought the Slim Fast strawberry, shakes to, just because they are bottled and ready to go, which is really convenient for me while working in my office.. So October Bandsters, lets forge on to lighter & healthier bodies.. Until..... "Cynsayshun"

Hello Newbie, welcome, I have found this forum to be very enlightening and informative. My surgery date is October 4 and we are almost in the same weight range.. I attended a seminar in April and started all the required appointments from May - Jul.. BCBS approved me in July, as I had documented proof of prior Weight Loss attempts before I went to the seminar.. It will be nice to have someone to compare changes of our bodies as we tread in to unforeseen territory..LOL.. Best wishes on your journey... I hope my ticker shows, I've been trying to get it to work. If it doesn't show up could someone PLEASE Help me with it

Amy, I 100% concur with the others, I'm scheduled for my surgery on October 4. I attended my 3 seminars over the last year and in April of this year I decided to go for it and started the required appointments i.e, nutritionist, surgeon,sleep study, pyschologist & exercise specialist, & an endoscopy. I had documentation of the previously completed weight loss programs that were needed for my insurance approval. . I've sat in the background here and other sights for over a year while considering the lap band. I have gained a lot of insight on this site and those that post their journey on You Tube.. HOWEVER, your post absolutely rates off the chart!! It was so forthright and honest, I loved it.. You captured practically every detail I have thought about! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. Congrats to you on your continued journey as a bandster!!.

Thank you Sweet Pea for taking the time to respond I'm trying to figure out how to post replies to each person, if it doesn't work hopefully everyone will get this reply as well. I got a lot out of every reply and it appears the journey is different with each person. I'm glad to know the band will help with some cravings.. As one person stated her doctor said the same as mine "carbonated drinks" will stretch the stoma so stay away from them. Someone mentioned to use a center for "Excellence" the hospital I'm getting my surgery is Vista, in Waukegan IL and they were just added to the Centers for Excellence for Bariatric Surgeries. I'm walking for exercise now and I will start trying to develop the habit of drinking 30 minutes after meals, that is going to be tough, but since I'm looking forward to being a sucessful Bandster, I have to make the changes. It also seems like it going to be learning what I will and will not be able to tolerate through trial & error. That's a little scary but the advice shared here is so helpful.. I'll keep listening to those that have proceeded before me. Looking forward to more exchanges.. To all that took the time to reply, I'm truly grateful.. Synsayshun"

Hello Everyone, I'm another that has been behind the scenes in the Internet forums, You Tube,etc., watching the progress of those that have been banded for a couple of years! I started my journey April of this year, after the 3rd seminar I attended I decided to go for it. Luckily I had documentation of previous Weight Loss Programs from Curves, Weight Watchers, my YMCA membership, etc. So I didn't have complete the insurance program requirements for Weight Loss programs (they accepted what I had done). I have to work with a Nutritionist, Exercise Therapist. I completed a sleep Study and had to have an Endoscopy. I had everything completed by July and got my approval from BCBSIL in early August..Yeah!!! My surgeon is backlogged with patients therefore my surgery isn't scheduled until October 4. I'm sooo looking forward to it and yes to be honest I'm a bit "anxious" about the changes in how I eat, socialize, etc. I'm employed, I'm a widow and since my husband died in 2003, I haven't had a lot of opportunities to date. I socialize with girlfriends, play Bingo, go out dining & movies alone, travel to see my children & grandchildren, etc. I was told by my one of my sons, Ma are you ready for this? You're all ready "pretty" now you are going to be getting a whole different type of attention from men after your body changes. That kind of bothered me and I stated, I'd be a bit offended if a (man) that has seen me on a regular basis, would want to "date" me because my body changed?? Is that a normal feeling? I would think if they looked at me overall, they could have looked past the "weight" issue. I'm doing this to be the "best" I can be health wise, feel better about me, but are others really going to look at me differently?? Being a more "seasoned" woman, I'd like to hear from others that have been "Banded" in their lives at a later age and how it affected you mentally, socially, etc. I also would like to hear from those that were "Pop/Soda" addicts and how they have been able to transition none in their lives after the Lap Band... I'm not a smoker or drinker and I always told people "Pepsi" was my drug of choice. I have significantly cut it down, over the last year, however at least once a week I will have about 20 ounces of one. I've read NO carbonated drinks after one is banded.. Does having the band take away "cravings" for that type of issue, what about my one cup of coffee a day with "cream & sugar" is that something that will be gone forever as well? I know this is a pretty lengthy "introduction" it's probably just a drop in the bucket of all the feelings & issues I'm going through as I proceed.. Just jump in with any advice you may have and I say in advance "Thank you" I'll be around for awhile, as I Journey into the life of a "Bandster" As Ever, Synsayshun