Angela1234

Not sure where you are located but Dr. Elli is my doctor. He is in Chicago, UIC but he also works from the 900 Michigan Ave Surgical Center. No clue on pricing.

Congrats! I'm only 8 days out from surgery so I am just starting the journey. I'm excited to get to your stage. Good luck with the rest!

Congrats! I was banded a week ago today so I know what you are going thru. I had only had my tonsils out so that was the extent of my hospital experience. Once you get there everything goes so fast you won't even have a chance to be nervous. You did the prepwork - tomorrow starts the payoff! Advice - Walk walk walk - be careful getting in and out of bed because you're gonna feel like you just did 1000 situps - drink Water - don't skip the meds - and enjoy! I'm excited for you - good luck!

I am six days post op and I am down 24 from the start of the liquid diet. I thought it was going to be horrible but really, after day two I wasn't even really that hungry. I do miss chewing food though. i am now on full liquids for another day or so and then I go to pureed foods. After reading some posts here I am sure you are well aware that every doctor requires different things. Some are only liquids while others allow a lean cuisene meal per day. Check with YOUR doctor to see what they recommend. We are here for advice but with important things like diet you will want to check with your specific doctor to see what he recommends. Good luck to you! BTW - i cheated a bit on the preop liquids. I had a bit of food occassionally but nothing significant. Try not to cheat though, it will help set you up for success.

Pre-Op was today - Tuesday is the big day! Seems weird to think that by Wednesday I'm gonna have this thing inside of me. Still curious about the scars and the port. Not sure what that's gonna look like afterwards

Good luck to you - and welcome! My surgery is 7/10 - I can totally relate to it being time for a change. I have been overweight my whole life. I know there is a wide range of weights on here getting the surgery (I am 221) but I am looking forward to my new thinner life. I know its drastic to have the surgery but I know I haven't been able to keep it off on my own in the past. I need the tool to help. I look forward to hearing about your story - you got this!

My Dr. has said ONLY liquids - What I wouldn't do for a lean cuisine meal! I will say that I have cheated a bit and had a small bite or two of real food each day. I miss chewing! Surgery is 7/10 and I can't wait. Nervous but I'm ready... I think

I have a 7/10 date and I can't wait. I started the liquids today - bleh! I woke up and was like hey, I'm gonna go make breakfast and then realized i don't get to chew anything for about a month - yikes! But yes, this will be worth it and this is my decision. No one is forcing me to do this - I sought it out - I went thru the 6 months of nutrition counseling - I signed up - I'm not turning back now. Taking the easy way got me fat - the band isn't going to be easy - it will always be easier to shove epic amounts of food in my mouth - but my choice is the band, and I can do it!

I too am a patient of Dr. Elli. My surgery date is 7/10 at UIC. The last two weeks I've really been trying to stay strict with the exercise. I guess it has become somewhat of a routine now... now if only I can stop the empty calories. I wish the junk didn't taste so darn good!

I feel your pain - I completed the 6 month nutrition counseling and I got so frustrated. I think once we make the decision to change by the way of the band we want it instantly! It will go by quickly. My story is a little more frustrating... after the six month diet, I had to wait the 2 weeks for insurance approval. Then I had to wait 3 weeks for an appt. to see the Dr. again to schedule surgery. I HAD to go in to schedule it... well, once I got there they told me I couldn't have it done until June!! With my schedule, June is the only month that I can't do it - so... I'm now scheduled for July 10th. I'm so discouraged. I feel like this is all just a waste of time. Sorry, words of encouragement turned into me ranting... The six months did go fast though - maybe we'll be banded about the same time!

I finally get my surgery date tomorrow! Yay! It feels like I have been waiting forever (stupid 6 month waiting period!)... I wear acrylic nails and I need a fill. (Soon I'll be getting a whole different kind of fill - yay again!) I was going to go in today but I'm wondering if I should just have them removed. Was anyone told to remove them prior to the procedure? I've checked online and of course it's been a mixed bag of responses... just curious what they've told previous banders? Thanks!

I've been antsy for months! If you like a little more creaminess to your Protein drinks you might want to look at Slimgenics. They have different flavors and are about 15 gram of protein. I don't like the drinks usually either but theirs are good. I like to add a frozen banana or frozen berries to might for more flavor. March 21st will be here before you know it!

Mine was super casual. It's just to make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and will be able to handle the process. They just want you to be stable to handle the before and aftermath. She told me it wasn't a test or anything. Just be honest and you'll be fine! My insurance required it but didn't pay for it... so I was out $200. So be prepared that you might have to pay out of pocket.

Call your insurance company directly to get your answers. If you aren't confident in who you speak with - call back! They will know the specifics on whether they use the initial BMI or the pre-procedure BMI. Since you are so close to the cutoff you owe it to yourself to get the information yourself. I haven't had the best of luck dealing with the insurance rep at the clinic so I have been working with my insurance company directly. EVERY POLICY IS DIFFERENT! Make sure you know what yours requires.

I forgot to mention, I am right at the BMI borderline for insurance. I maintained during the six months so that I didn't go under the cut off. I was frustrated because if I couldn't have the procedure right away I at lest wanted to try to lose weight. So instead, I watched what I ate so that I didn't gain. You are approved or denied at the end of those 6 months so be careful of that pesky BMI. Good luck to you!

There is a liquid diet 2 week prior to the procedure. I was told by my nutritionist that the purpose is to allow your liver to shrink. This helps during the procedure because the liver sits so close to your stomach. Your insurance should already have approved you prior to your scheduling the procedure and liquid diet. Once they approve you it is Game On!

Congrats on your loss so far! I'm still waiting to be banded and hope to have success like you! The forums are helpful - welcome!

I am waiting for my insurance to clear so I can schedule my appt... should be banded in March/April! I am nervous about the diet too and know it will be hard - but - you made the decision to be banded because you want to change. The soft food stage isn't permanent - just think of it as a mini goal. It's just another step in your weight loss journey. You will get through it!

I am about 3 weeks away from my final nutritional consultation (required for my insurance) and I am getting nervous and excited for the procedure. I've lost nothing in the last few months. I expect to lose some? during the pre-op diet. I'm curious how much I can expect to lose during the first month, including pre-op? I know the liquid diet is going to be really difficult but nothing on the list of acceptable foods looks "satisfying" in any way. Anyone have any tips for getting thru the pre-op liquids? I'm planning on an early April banding... how much can I expect to be down by say, July? I am confident I can and will follow the diet and will be including exercise. Thanks... I feel like I have read so many posts but I can't seem to find these answers. (is it April yet??)

Thanks Debbie - and congrats! I'm not too concerned about the pain because I apparently have a high tolerance for that. Good luck to you

Good luck to you brokenwings - I am 236 now and have a goal of 140 - I'm still trying to figure out how these people get the "tickers" at the bottom of their posts In my head I am thinking anywhere from 2-4 lbs per week though. Of course I would like more than that but I think that is achievable.

I am still in the waiting process for my insurance and hope to have the surgery late April 2012. I wanted to ask what your typical diet is after surgery. I know we have to go through the liquid diet but I meant after that... do they give you suggested meal plans or tell you what to avoid? I know everyone reacts differently but are there things that you know you will never be able to eat again? I am fully aware I will be giving up a lot of foods not just because I can't eat them but rather because I shouldn't eat them... I shouldn't have eaten them to begin with or I wouldn't be in this situation. Do you eat often but just tiny portions? I've read that some people are STARVED after surgery and others have no appetite at all. I'm really hoping I lose the appetite. I guess if I could ask another question, what is the one thing you weren't prepared for... like what is the one thing you wish someone had told you about prior to the surgery? thanks for your help