aviva1979

Hi all, I just bought some glucosamine condroitin (sp?) joint supplements at whole foods to see if they would help with achy knees. I get banded on July 11 and I am hoping the weight loss does a lot to help this - but in the meantime this supplement was recommended. My nutritionist had me get chewable multi-vits for pre and post surgery but I realize I never asked her why chewable. Will taking the supplement (and it's a big pill) be an issue after banding? If yes, does anyone know where I might find a chewable version? Thanks!!!

Have you found taking it helpful?

Thanks for adding me! I am getting banded on July 11 and will be traveling for work when I start my liquid diet. Using MFP to help reign in the calories (and keep the protein where it needs to be) in the weeks leading up to pre op diet so it isn't such a tough transition.

I am not in the area but do visit Nashville occasionally to see a friend. If I get down there this summer I would love a walking partner!

I am in W-MA and getting banded on July 11...

Well this is silly... I can't figure out how to add/invite a friend using a handle. I only see options for email/my contacts/Facebook. Help?

I am avivasrobinson - would love buddies!

Congrats! I was also recently approved and my date is July 11. I'm not nervous so much but I have had a few moments of mourning over the relationship I've had with food that just has to end. Sounds weird, but I am a little sad at times. But on the whole I am really excited and relieved.

I like the unjury vanilla - but only if it is really cold. I have had it with Water and skim milk. Didn't like the chocolate splendor - nothing I did kept it from being grainy. I just ordered samples of the strawberry and chicken Soup to try so I am not straight vanilla all day every day. You are probably already onto this - but def check the sugar and sodium in the options - some of the tastiest bottled versions I've bought when I'm out and about have tons of both in them.

not having to automatically lengthen the seat belt all the way out (or sift immediately to the back of clothing racks in stores) is something i really look forward to!

good luck! I saw that we are pretty close in current weight/height - would love to stay in touch while we go thru the pre op diet, which will overlap a bit!

I only told my husband, mother and sister I was exploring the Band and then a few close friends once I was further in the process to getting approved. Once I got approved I told my father and my manager at work, and a few other close work friends. I spend almost half my day with my work colleagues and a number of them I'm pretty close with after so many years - so it was important that a few know so when we travel together they have some sense of why I'm making the choices I'm making - and to be supportive versus trying to tempt me with negative behaviors. I'm still deciding whether or not I'll make a broader announcement to the rest of my family, friends and acquaintances.

It took just shy of a week for me to hear from my surgical practice's scheduler. After my surgeon's nurse called to tell me I was approved I called the office twice trying to just jump right on it and got a call back saying I had to wait for this one particular staff member to call me.

Sweet - nice to "meet" you ladies - i'm excited to have a community to experience this with. My appointments with the nutritionist are over (for now) and I've realized (again) that I really need to log my food in order to keep track - particularly to hit my Protein goals. I just signed up on My Fitness Pal (avivasrobinson if anyone wants to be buds on there). Since I will be traveling for work when I start the liquid diet I am taking the weeks before then to start reducing my calorie intake and swapping in a Protein Drink or two for meals - yesterday was successful, and I started today with a work phone call that didn't require me to be in front of the computer so I took a walk. how are your days going so far? anyone else doing a pre-liquid diet stepdown?

good luck!

Hi All- Curious if anyone traveled (for work or otherwise) immediately before or after their surgery... I have been approved and this week expect to get my date scheduled. The challenge is I need to travel the last week in June for work. I'm starting to think it's unlikely I'll get a date before I travel - but I might need to be on the liquid diet while I'm traveling. has anyone done this? was it doable for you? i'll be busy with work, which I think will help - but i also will need to be "on" and high-energy during these days and I'm nervous i'll be tired and/or grumpy when living on Protein shakes alone. Would love any and all advice! I'm really torn between wanting the surgery as soon as possible and wondering if i need to pick a date that allows me to do my pre-surgery diet when I'm home. thanks!!

Thank you all so much for the responses! I was so excited to get this scheduled that I called the office even though I was told they'd contact me. Only to be told i needed to wait until the official scheduler calls me which might not be until next week. Given vacations happening in their office, I suspect I won't get a date until July which means (at least for this June trip) I won't be traveling immediately after being banded, but I might be in the early days of the liquid diet. It does sound like the distraction of work could be helpful in that dept! In general I find the days I'm busier I am less hungry anyhow.

can you say more about how it makes your band unhappy?

Congrats! I got my approval on Friday after being declined once a week earlier w/ my ins co looking for some add'l paperwork. i was hoping to get my date scheduled right away, but it looks like it'll be at least a week before the scheduler calls me (vacation) and then my surgeon will be on vaca - so probably looking at a July date.

I'd been thinking about the band for a couple of years and this December asked my PCP about it and she supported my looking into this/potentially having it done and referred me to a local bariatric surgery practice and my first appt was in Jan. Since then I've seen the nutritionist, psychiatrist, and attended the support groups all required by this practice/my insurance to move forward. My initial insurance application was submit early May and we heard back they wanted a letter from my PCP supporting the procedure and a physical showing I was healthy enough for surgery - both of those things happened this week and my request was resubmit today. now i'm a ball of nerves and should hear back by late next week. my question for anyone who happens upon this: if i'm approved (please please please let me be approved) the surgical group thinks they could have me scheduled within 3 weeks (with 2 weeks for the liquid diet) - so that could potentially happen in June. I will be traveling for work a bit in June - has anyone done the liquid diet while on business travel? did you find it harder/easier than being in your own home? I will be having to interact with lots of people on pretty long days and i'm nervous i might be so hungry during this stint that i'll end up moody and not be able to the extroverted part of my job very well. thanks for reading!

UPDATE: I JUST GOT APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!

I met with my PCP in Dec 2012 and she referred me to my surgeon who I first met for a consult on Jan 9th. I was just (today) approved for surgery. In between then and now I saw a nutritionist several times and a psychiatrist - both of whom had to clear me, and the surgical practice also required attending 3 monthly support group meetings. I also had to see my PCP for a letter supporting the surgery and to be cleared medically for surgery. My weight/BMI qualify me for surgery and I have no other co-morbity factors. Insurance is thru CIGNA. It was hard to come to the decision for surgery over 6 months ago and then still have the steps take a while, but all things considered I think I've had a fairly smooth process.

you can do it!