dhales

Glove - how was the Unjury? Have you tried the unjury chicken soup? I wonder if the unflavored really is unflavored. I want to do like momab and add it to stuff.

I would love to hear your recipe on the tortilla soup. I was told no bananas Thought to get some banana extract so I can make a peanut butter banana shake

I have to mention that my boss - who knows about the surgery - asked me to help him keep track of his calories...because he wants to get healthy to. He is a doctor and only has 10 pounds to lose. So I created an account for both of us on Loseit.com and added each other as friends. If anyone else is on lose it.com and would like to add me as a cheering buddy - please do so. My name on there is doris.hales Kind of nice to have support from my boss. Didn't expect it...

Momab - thank you...I just had that breakdown this morning. So worried about it. Today is my first day of my pre-op diet.

Mine is the same way...he will joke about me leaving him...but I can tell he is insecure about it. I just keep encouraging him and telling him that I love him and would never leave. I will keep stroking his ego along the way. He isn't much overweight...maybe 20 pounds....but he has asked that I pack his lunch with healthier options...which tells me that this journey has kick started him as well.

What if I get this surgery and nothing changes? I am using our savings to get this done and we are sacrificing financially for it. I just read a post on the main board about a lady that has had the lap band for about a year and has only lost 15 pounds. That is my true fear....what if that turns out to be me. I was originally interested in the Gastric Sleeve...but due to the cost I have decided on the Lap band...but now I am wondering if I have made the right decision. Anyone else with these issues?

Sazparella, Can your brother go to an appointment with you? Maybe through education he will understand that this isn't like Gastric Bypass...etc.

muelle - I actually am quite relieved to see your progress with a not so strict surgeon. I am going through true results and they have a very strict post-op diet...but the actual surgeon that I am using has a diet just like you described...i was worried that weight loss would be affected...but you have done amazing.

Good idea to treat in advance. I don't think they can find it during surgery...they have to swab it and put it under a microscope...but if they see that your tummy is inflamed that may prevent it. Have you had an EGD yet? Or will they require one? If so - that is where they will find it. Also if they say they want to test you for it mention that you have had it before. Your blood tests will always show positive if you have had it. They will have to do a stool test for a true result. Luckily I don't have to retest...my doctor says as long as I do the treatment he will do the surgery.

Yes that is what they called it. It is a 14 day treatment. It is usually a treatment of pepto type meds and penicillin...but I am allergic to penicillin so the CDC only has one cure regiment without penicillin and it take 4 different meds. Cost a little over $100 and one of the meds can't be found at any pharmacy a compound pharmacy has to make it for me. So bummed...but at least getting it taken care of.

Is Unjury the only non-flavored protein powder out there?

I have to go liquid 48 hours before surgery. The nurse said that if I don't that the doc may have to hand express my stomach if it is too full of solids and he really doesn't like to do that and it really sounds gross...so I will behave and drink just liquids...lol

45K is most likely the insurance cost. I always thought it was crazy how much the insurance is charged versus what cash pay really is. I know my ex-husband had his gall bladder removed and the cash price was 15K (day surgery) however they accidentaly sent us the bill as if they were billing insurance....42K!!! I panicked and called them and they adjusted it back to 15K. Crazy huh?!?!

Judy - I guess they take swabs of your stomach enzymes when you get your EGD and test you. I was all set to go and 7 days before my surgery they must have gotten the results back and told me that I have this stomach infection that has inflamed my stomach. I had absolutely no symptoms. It is called H. Pylori and apparently you can get it in child hood and have it your whole life and not even realize it. Some people it never affects while others it can cause ulcers and maybe stomach cancer if left untreated. So Crazy. I did spend sometime in a small town in Mexico when I was a toddler and again when I was 11 at my grandmothers house. Maybe that's when I got it. But I have read on here that apparently there are others that this infection was found in their EGD as well.

April 3rd!!!!

Amanda - wow...I am exhausted just reading your post. Poor thing....you are working so hard. Kudos to you for doing this for yourself in the grand scheme of things and good luck in your journey.

loseit.com is a good program and it has an app for androids and IPhone. it helps you log as you go. My pre-op diet isn't really counting calories...but more of two protein shakes a day and a decent dinner. I am actually counting protein and should get in 60-80 grams a day. Seems hard to do.

Ready - this is my second attempt at the 2 week pre-op diet. I was supposed to have surgery on 3/20 so I was on the two week diet and gorged before that diet. When I received the phone call that said I had stomach inflammation and would have to take 14 days of antibiotics...my surgery was bumped to 4/3...I have been eating bad for the last few days. I start my second pre-op diet on Monday. I'm making tamales this weekend. I have never made them before and thought I would give it a try and that will be my last bad meal before my pre-op diet again. However I wish that I would have just stayed on my original pre-op diet. A lady at work today said I looked like I was loosing weight and some guy hit on me when I was grocery shopping...that hasn't happened in years. It was a real boost to my self-esteem...and hear I am still eating crap...it should be an incentive to stay on track. But I just keep thinking about all the stuff I can't have after the fact and I want to have it one last time. Like....pancakes....lol

I was a diet coke addict and I kicked the habit during pre-op. I have a pretty lax doctor but one thing he was adamant about was no carbonated beverages as the carbonation overtime could stretch the pouch. I don't want to go through all of this and then have that happen...so I gave it up. I used to drink 10-12 cans a day. I don't even miss it just two weeks later. Of course you wouldn't have wanted to be around me on day 1...I was grumpy and scary.

Thanks ladies!!! It makes it that much more bearable thinking about what if they didn't find it. It also would have been awful to get banded and then have it removed because of this. I am self pay...so I know I couldn't afford it a second time around...it is taking all I have the first time. I agree things happen for a reason and maybe there is a reason we have been delayed Brokenwings.

Thank you for putting it that way. I would have been disappointed beyond imagination if that would have happened. Put it in perspective. I will just my medicine and keep going and be grateful they didn't decline me and only postponed me

Deb - I am in the same boat and feel your pain. I was supposed to have surgery on 3/20 and I have been on a two week post-op diet. I was called today and told that I have some kind of stomach inflammation from tests they took during my EGD and I have to be on antibiotics for 14 days and then have surgery on April 3rd instead. I restart my pre-op on March 20th....so dissapointing

Glove - I echo everyone else and I asked myself that same question. But I asked it of my husband who said...always calls it like he sees it...I've been there before. I am always starting good on diets...but follow thru is where i lack. I need a diet that I can't start on Monday and quit by Thursday....

My doc took a before pic...but I think I may take one at home to...just so I can have one. LIke a few others mentioned...I think I will wait until there is a little difference before I post my before...so I can put an after with it.

Dang Bayougirl! You have lost quite a bit of weight already. I think you are right in that they feel secure and us changing (even for the better) makes them uneasy. I know my husband is trying to joke about it...but I can tell he is hurting a little. I will support him in this struggle just as I hope he will support me in mine. I kind of see it like this...he loved me at my absolute worst. What better testament of love? If I were to leave him because now there are more "options"...."options" of men who wouldn't have looked twice at me before...how crappy would that be. I mentioned that to him and he seemed to feel better. I think life changes in the ones we love - forces us to look at things we need work on personally and sometimes it isn't a pretty picture. I love my life with him...why would that change? Silly man!