~Bridgette~

What is Nioxin? Should I start using it before surgery to try to prevent hair loss??

Ok, I read through all those pages and now I'm kinda freaked out! How in the world am I going to go on a family vacation with my folks, aunt, uncle, grandma, and DH for Thanksgiving?!?! What am I going to do? Sip shakes while they eat food at restaurants? I guess I'm going to have to tell them or they'll think I'm sick or something.... I'm a detail person and that is one of my concerns... I need to get over it I know. I didn't read anything about blood thinning shots. I actually have to get tested for a rare blood disorder that my mom has (it's hereditary) where the blood doesn't clot. I have an appt with a hematologist. He's got a month to get me tested and figure it out!

Sorry, Vickie, it's not a real book. It's just a bunch of handouts bound together by my surgeon's office.

Hmmm... now I know. Guess I'll have to find another way other than gum to battle my anxiety! Take up smoking again??? ROFL, just kidding!

Great thread! I understand completely where the OP is coming from. I wondered the same. No more chewing gum?? I hadn't read that part yet. How about drinking straws? Can we use them?

Cheryl, the "book" I'm referring to is a handbook of usefull information that my surgeon and his colleagues put together for us to use in our 3 hour class prior to surgery. I went to pick it up and get a start on reading it, that way if I have questions about what I've read, I can ask them then.

Hey Meshultz, I got 2 boxes of them just now. Woohoo! I know I'll need more, but that beats buying them EVERY time I go to Wal-Mart! Yay!! And I figured it out, it's about 25 cents cheaper per shake to get them at Sam's than W-M. Thanks for the tip! You rock! :thumbup:

Thanks, Meshultz! Believe it or not, I've been drinking Slimfast LC chocolate shakes every morning for about a year now. I found that they help with my IBS (I have no idea why!) so when I take my meds in the morning, I drink one. That's usually around 6:30 and I'm good til about 10:30 or 11. They are definitely more cost effective! I, too, like them much better than the Atkins (which are cheaper than SF for some reason at my Wal-Mart). I've never seen the SF Low carb at Sam's before, I've seen Optima, but they're different. I went and paid my fee, got my big book to read (I'm so excited!) and then went to the store for the nutrition center that my surgeon owns. I got a box of chocolate and a box of vanilla shakes. They're called "Weight and Inches" and that's what they recommend. They had everything there, even the chewable vitamins. But I didn't get them this time. I also got Mint hot chocolate, chocolate peanut butter protein bars, and a variety pack that has a shake, a pudding mix, a fruit juice mix, and 2 soups. I figure I am not going to want a shake the WHOLE freakin' time for the next 2 months, LOL. But oddly, I love my SF LC shake every morning! DH thinks I'm crazy, but I love it. Did any of you get a magic bullet or anything like that to puree your foods? I'm wondering if one of those wouldn't be easier to use than a blender and also hold a smaller amount of food, ya know? I'm thinking for the mushie stage.

I just got back from the little store that sells a ton of high protein shakes/soups/jellos/drinks, etc... I came home with a bunch of stuff to try. It's a shame they don't sell "sample" packs or something. I did get a variety box that has a pudding, shake, juice drink, and 2 soups in it. So, that's good. I'm very excited. I also went by my surgeon's office and paid my program fee and got my book for class before my surgery. I'm going to read it this weekend!

I'm thrilled! I'm going to the surgeon's office today and pay my fee and pick up my pre-op packet/book so I can start reading before my class. I'll probably go by the diet store nearby as well to see what kind of protein shakes they have so I can get some and start trying them. I figure if I stop eating breakfast and do the shake thing in the mornings, that'll help jumpstart me on my liquid phase and will get me used to liquids for nurishment and not refreshment. LOL

Thanks, Gr8! That's what I was thinking. I'll ask Dr. Clark but I was thinking about it tonight and wondering (if he says it's ok) if I should do the shakes for breakfast/lunch/snacks, and eat a normal dinner with the girls. We'll be scrapbooking, so I shouldn't get overly hungry. I don't eat as much when I'm busy working on my scrapbooking, LOL. I am so excited I can't stand it! I think I'm actually going to go by and pay my program fee and get my book tomorrow morning so I can get a jump start on reading it. Plus I might go by CMH and get some of their shakes so I can see if I like them. I even picked out my medical bracelet tonight. I haven't ordered it yet, but found one I like.

Great question! I have been hoping to get tips back on for DH's HS reunion in about 2 weeks but if I'm going to have to take them off for surgery, I might as well not put them on. Maybe they could check my toes... LOL. I could easily not have polish on them... heck they only have half the polish on them half the time anyways...

This is a big topic for me right now. About a year and a half ago, when I first started researching the lapband, I told my folks about it (they're both overweight as well). They started firing questions to me, causing me to doubt if this was the right decision for me. They said "it's the easy way out" and "why go through surgery if it might fail" (I took that as I might fail at it)... so I put it off. Now I have a date scheduled for the end of October and I still haven't told them. Ironically, I've told a ton of my friends! I've asked them to pray for this situation, pray for my parents to receive the news in a positive way and to be supportive when the time comes. I even told my scrapbooking group (mainly because I'll be on a long weekend retreat the weekend prior to my surgery and I may very well be on a liquid diet at that time). But yet... still haven't told my parents. Hubby is 100% supportive and will back me no matter what. I want to tell them, but in person rather than over the phone. The next time I'll see them is about a week and a half prior to my surgery.... is that too much pressure on them to soak up the change and be supportive before my big day? Am I worrying too much about it? What do y'all think???

That's kinda what I figured... I was just curious! Thanks for your response, RestlessMonkey! :biggrin:

Thanks Gr8!!! :biggrin: Did y'all do the pre-op liquid diet when going through WLSC? I called the office, but they said it's not "required". I'm curious b/c I'm going on a girls-weekend the weekend before my surgery (been planned for almost a year) and I'm wondering if I'm going to be on a shake diet or if I can eat real food. Do ya think I can "diet" early and then eat that weekend? Surgery is on Weds am, so I'd be able to get in 2 full days of liquids if I did that... what do ya think? I'm prepared to go on my retreat with a case of shakes if I need to, LOL, but just wondering. Also, did you all get the shakes from the CMH or did you use other shakes but follow the same type of recommended diet?

I have a quick question: what is the group name for October bandsters? Is it Smashing Pumpkins??? Just wanna play along now that I have a surgery date/month! Wooohoooo!!!!!

This is a great thread! I'm not looking forward to the sliming/pbing, but if it's part of what gets me healthy and off of bloodpressure/diabetes meds, it's worth it!!!

They took one at the doctors office when I went in for my seminar, but I haven't thought about taking official before/after pics. Thanks! I guess I should have hubby do my measurements too so when I need a boost, I can look at the inches lost too!

I got my date yesterday and now I'm torn between really excited and really nervous. Like OMG it's finally happening. I've been hoping for this for almost 2 years and in less than 6 weeks, it'll be done! My journey will have begun!

Davinci has sugar free syrups for coffee flavoring, they're good, I'd guess you can put them in anything.... :crying:

It was recommended to me to use chewable Vitamins..... are they talking about Flinstones or something like that or can you get grown-up vitamins in chewable form? Right now I drink Slimfast Low Carb chocolate shakes but will be looking around for other choices...

My birthday is in November, but I'm considering 10/29 my "rebirth"... I'm going to get a new start! I will have the opportunity to make new choices that lead to a brand new me. :crying:

I never would have thought of egg drop soup! That's like my cure-all when I get sick anyway! cool Did any of you have acrylic nails prior to getting banded? Did you have to take them off before surgery?

Great tips!!! I need to write them down so I don't forget!

I am very excited!!! I drink a Slim Fast Low Carb Chocolate shake every morning anyway. It helps with my IBS (I don't know how, but it does!). So luckily I like them and actually look forward to drinking it in the mornings. I guess I'll have to figure out what I'll be eating/drinking after surgery so I can be prepared for what to get. I can't believe it's only next month! I set my date yesterday and am so excited!!! :crying: