need2lose2

Got my date!!!! Surgery is scheduled for Sept 19th!! They are working me in so that nothing interferes with the holidays!! I'm in shock that it's so soon. On the 12th i go in for preop lab work and meet with the program coordinator for 2 hours to get all my instructions. On the 13th i go in to see the sugeon. Guys....i'm sooooo nervous!!!

I appreciate your advice. Thank you so much.

I definately agree..........just nervous about the 3 day yomim tovim (specifically succos) where all we do is eat and sleep......kwim?

Thank you so much for your input, rachael!

Thanks. We actually do have one and i never thought to use it for the protein shake!! I'm also looking into purchasing the magic bullet if it's not too pricey.

Oh Gosh, latkes...........YUM!!! Isn't that considered a mushy food??????????? LOL During succos, we usually get invited out or have guests for meals..........wondering if i'll be up to all that.....and this year there are 3 day yom tovs!!!!! If i cook and freezer ahead of time, will i be physically able to deal with guests or be invited out for meals.......and sukkah hopping, of course! As it is right now, i don't think the nutritionist will be happy with me becuase i've had a month to try and follow a diet in order to lose some weight and ive not really done well. My appt is on Wed when i'm supposed to get clearance and then i'll be able to get surgery date. I'm hoping she gives me the clearance.

Thanks. I guess i'll stick to the whey protein powders and try to get used to them

Thank you all for your replies! I really appreciate it. The problem is that all the jewish holidays are not just one meal like easter dinner, christmas dinner, or even chanukah. These holidays are days and days laden with food and traditional foods and all there is to do is sit at the table and eat. (they are like sabbaths where you can't watch tv, drive, listen to radio, no laptop, etc etc) If i get banded before the holidays, i'll be dealing with just liquids during the holidays. If i wait, i'd have to plan it so i'm not on the preop liquids during the holidays. Ugh, still not sure. Aside from the eating, is it better to recuperate during the holidays where there is a risk that pple will stop by for visits? My husband says that if i decide to do it in between rosh hashanah and yom kippur but do i want to be recuperating going into a fast? I dont think i'd be able to get away with not fasting since i have a choice to postpone till after the fast. But then again, i agree with those of you who say to get it done as soon as possible so that i can start the process of losing weight. I guess i'll have to wait and see when their earliest date is and decide from there. really nervous

The surgeon's office said they will be ready to give me a surgery day either this week or next week. My question is for all the Jewish bandsters....should i wait till after the holidays and do it in november, or should i try to get it in before rosh hashana and suffer through all the food laden meals of all the holidays?

I've heard from some people that they are drinking slim fast shakes as their protein shake. SF shakes have 10g of protein and at my last nutrition appt, the nutritionist said we'd need at least 24g of protein per scoop of powder. For those who are drinking the SF shakes, how do you make up the protein that's necessary per meal? (before surgery and liquid stage post surgery)

Hi. Is anyone still here? I am going through all the tests (cardio, pulmonary, nutrition, etc). Once everything is in, i guess they'll send all the results to the insurance company and then give me my date! I'm so nervous. What makes me most nervous is getting 'stuck' or vomitin. How are all of you doing?

Thank you all so much for you input. I'm feeling better and understand more. On another note, my surgeon is requiring an ABG (OUCH!!!!), a chest xray, and a pulmonary function test. I'm a bit nervous for these appts cuz i don't know what to expect. Any insights would be great. Tx so much

Do you think the pul is being overly cautious to order 3 other tests aside from the chest xray? I am a perfectly healthy person......maybe i should try another pulmonologist or have the surgeon speak to him? The referrel asks for an ABG......i'm assuming it's the chest xray? Are you nervous about not being able to get down some of the foods you're eating with the fill? Do you know many pple who have been banded?

Gosh, i don't know. Maybe they said that as a precaution. What did you have to do for pulmonary clearance? Do you eat lettuce salads? I read that with some people, lettuce tends to stick or even cover the opening so any other foods get stuck??? Maybe i should stop reading the forums....lol. Your daily food sounds real good to me! I've always loved dairy products and always needed tons of sides with fleishig meals. Why don't you eat fruits? I love fruit.......are there any that are absolutely avoidable after surgery? How much have you lost without fills? Do you think you'll want a fill? What do you do when you go out to eat? I think that is what i most fear.....

Thank you so much for letting me know. What i'll do is just take my regular Multivitamin and then print the info to show her at my second nutrition appt in 3 weeks. It's just real hard to find a chewable for after surgery. They also sent me a link for veggie caps Multivitamins that have the RDA as well but those need to be swallowed as well.......argh. Nechama, would u mind telling me what you eat on a regular day during meals and on shabbos? I can give you my email address if it makes it easier. Had my visit with the cardiologist and he cleared me for surgery!! The pulmonologist is sending me for chest xray, and other barage of tests. Have any of you done these? They say i'm going to be radiated to the point where i need to stay away from my kids for 24 hours??????????

koshervitamins.com just sent me an email with a link to a chewable prenatal vitamin http://www.koshervitamins.com/Mega-Health-Kosher-Prenatal-Chewable-Fruit-Flavor-120-Chewable it's got the 100% zinc and biotin requirements but of course has all the extra iron and stuff as well. What do you guys think?

Thank you for your responses. I had an appt with the pulmonologist today. He totally scared me to death about the change in lifestyle this will be and stuff. He told me he had a patient who had the band, lost all her weight and then decided she didn't want to deal with the lifestyle changes and wanted to eat, so somehow she ate through the band causing it to stretch somehow so she could eat more...........now i'm nervous cuz i could so see myself wanting things to change once i lose the weight.........am i panicking? I know i need to do something cuz i hate the way i look and i'm sick of the yo yo dieting. But when you get to a point where you are happy with the way you look, don't you just want to eat normally again?

I am struggling with what to tell my kids. The oldest 2 are 15 and 16 so there isn't much i can get away with saying. I am definately sure that i do not want them to know, so i've gotta come up with something. Whenever i get my approval and date, i will make it while they are in school so they won't know where i'll be during the day. I just have to figure out what to tell them to explain why i'm in pain, need to sleep more, and need more help while i recover. any ideas???? It can't be anything having to do with surgery cuz they'll tell their teachers and friends and i will get a barage of calls and visitors!! lol

I'm just so scared that i'll end up eating cottage cheese and Protein drinks for the rest of my life for fear of getting stuck or vomiting! lol

Yikes, shouldn't have read through this thread while i'm waiting for approval.... am very scared now. Help!

Thank you! I really appreciate your help and advice. Hope the rest of the fast went well for you yesterday. I went to Walmart this morning looking for the whey protein powder but had no success finding anything kosher. Geez, i thought getting the multis, the calcium citrates, and the protein powder would be the easiest part of this whole preparating process!

Did you have to do anything special yesterday to prepare and make sure you'll be able to fast all day? I like to stuff myself to the gills before a fast.....i know, terrible.....but i can't picture being able to eat enough before a fast with the lap band.....

Thank you for replying. I'll check those out. Do you mind me asking what protein powder you're using? Are you fasting today?

I'm jewish and keep kosher and am having a very hard time finding a multi that has the 100% RDA of zinc and biotin and that is in chewable, liquid, or powder form. Can anyone help?

Hi. I'd love to hear from anyone who eats strictly kosher foods in order to know what foods, liquids, protein powders, etc they are eating. thanks