Longhorn

Oh, no problem! I wish there was a site that compared the various bands, new and old versions, etc. My doctor went through it all with me and he had a couple of versions that he could show me but, except for posts on boards like this one, I haven't been able to find a site that directly compares them, with photos. Even the J&J Realize site says, "Coming Soon," or words to that effect.

The new AP band is not smooth on the inside. It looks like this:

The liver lays across the stomach and the bigger it is, the more it gets in the way of the surgery. So several surgeons require a pre-op diet to shrink it.

I think drinking it through a straw helps. Otherwise, I can taste the metal of the can! Also, I just got a cooler that plugs into my car's lighter socket to help keep it cold for days I'm on the road. I just got it yesterday so we'll see how well that works! :eek:

My doctor said he wasn't too worried about me shrinking my liver since my BMI is low so the nutritionist put me on a low-carb diet. Instead of what, I don't know. Anyway, it's been a little hard to stick to because it kind of feels like I don't *really* have to do this. But I'm trying. I do fine all day long but I must not be eating enough because then I'm starving in the evening. But I don't think I've exceeded the 30-gram carb limit by much and it's been good food like whole grain crackers and low-carb wraps. I got a snack suggestion doing a search for low-carb foods: slice cucumbers, spread with cream cheese, and top with salmon. Yummy! I drive 45 miles to teach a class on Tuesdays and Thursdays and it's my only opportunity to eat in the evening until late. I used to get a grilled chicken sandwich on whole wheat bun, bag of Sun chips, and a huge diet coke. Tuesday, I got just the sandwich, no chips, and a Propel. I was eating while driving but I managed to eat the sandwich without eating most of the bun! Today I'm going to bring my own low-carb bread and ask them to make my sandwich with it. I'm sure the couple that runs the snack bar on my campus will be glad to but if they can't for some reason, I'll ask for it without the bun and do it myself.

I lucked out and got to see the nutritionist right after my initial consultation with my doctor. All she did is discuss my pre-op and post-op diet with me and make sure I understood it. She also discussed the chewable vitamins I should take, all of which I already had bought because of information from this board! :eek:

I'm getting banded on the 1st. I saw Dr. Ganta last Friday, as well as the nutritionist. I saw the psychologist on Tuesday. I go to my GP tomorrow to see if he will order my labs so that my insurance will pay for it. I hope to get those labs the same day. I go to the hospital Monday for my pre-op check-in. I see Dr. Ganta again Tuesday for my pre-op examination. And FINALLY, the surgery at 7 a.m. Thursday. I teach at a community college and have a really tight schedule so working all of these appointments in has been hectic. I am cancelling classes on two days, Thursday and Monday, and going back on Tuesday, November 6. I've announced the cancellation to my classes and one student raised his hand and asked why I was having surgery! I told him I wasn't planning on discussing it. Then another student, who is older than I am, asked me privately if I was okay, that she was worried because she has a friend who just found out she had cancer. I went ahead and told her what I was doing and she was supportive. I haven't even told my mother and in-laws yet! :omg:

Well, if you look at my post, I had already put you on the 9th. I think you may have added yourself to the 10th so I'll repost, removing you from the 10th. I don't think you want to be in there two days! 1st PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy sanderro Holiwood Longhorn 2nd lizzie_07 lindata KristinaDawnB lindseyann2u sconie 5th DLW Hungryforchange Forestcat 6th Wishes4444(Ann) Diva Inside ndmom kandiceb jetti vanessav 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 Cota129 8th anw5102 dawndannae stranger138 needto ebrow39 9th Banded4Life neen7171 maccy mariaxoxo4u Kristin1031 10th Selisejohnson omlagirl jen6740 12th jrsyshoregrl684 suebob 13th CCFRA Princessannod1 14th lightenup! dream'n2bthin 15th RxTracy steph_cn 19th Mrs Smartypants27th 731Shawty Cherlita Julie-Ann 28th lukin puppy 29th Sassafras

Kristin: I had added you to the 9th. You're on there twice now, the 9th and the 10th. Did I put you in the wrong place?

I'm also using Slim Fast low-carb but I'm just on a low-carb diet, not just liquids. They're handy to bring to work. I can't have fruit juice until after mushies! My doctor believes the acid in fruit can be irritating. So I'll that will make the clear liquids even tougher but I can handle it. I should order some Strawberry Unjury as well, since I'll be able to have that on both the clear liquids and full liquid periods of the diet. Thanks for your input! I see from your other post that you've already been through several classes and support meetings and I appreciate you sharing what you've learned!

I had my psych consultation yesterday and the psychologist told me that 98 percent of the people who get banded are very successful with it. She believes that boards like these, as wonderful as they are for information and support, over-represent the problems. She pretty much advised me not to come to these boards but I told her that I understood that some of what we read here is not necessarily typical but I have learned SO MUCH and, in fact, would probably not have found my doctor if it wasn't for this board. And I don't mean to downplay the problems that some folks have had or imply that they shouldn't be sharing them. That's also what this board is for. I think it's good to be aware of the possible problems but not worry about them too much. And only other bandsters are going to understand and offer support and suggestions when someone is in pain, physical or emotional.

So Protein Shakes qualify as "clear liquid" or have you found a clear liquid Protein Shake? I've ordered some unflavored and chicken-flavored Unjury that I'm hoping I'll be able to add to my Propel or broth, etc. but I'm trying to figure out exactly what I'm living on with the clear liquid because I'm supposed to stay on it for up to two weeks after surgery! Or maybe I'm living on my own fat?

1st PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy sanderro Holiwood Longhorn 2nd lizzie_07 lindata KristinaDawnB lindseyann2u sconie 5th DLW Hungryforchange Forestcat 6th Wishes4444(Ann) Diva Inside ndmom kandiceb jetti vanessav 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 Cota129 8th anw5102 dawndannae stranger138 needto ebrow39 9th Banded4Life neen7171 maccy mariaxoxo4u Kristin1031 10th Selisejohnson omlagirl jen6740 12th jrsyshoregrl684 suebob 13th CCFRA Princessannod1 14th lightenup! dream'n2bthin 15th RxTracy steph_cn 19th Mrs Smartypants27th 731Shawty Cherlita Julie-Ann 28th lukin puppy 29th Sassafras 30th Sasquatch

My elliptical and recumbent bikes also allow me to input my age. I've checked the pulse shown on my machines with my pulse shown on a heart rate monitor and it was amazing how close they were. However, I do agree that the formula for determining how high your rate should be does not apply to me. My heart rate jumps up very quickly -- if I exercised at the suggested rate for burning fat, I'd barely be moving! My husband, on the other hand, has to really push to get his heart rate up.

I tried to get the list updated. I think some old lists were coped and moved forward so there were some names left off. If your info is missing or wrong, please copy this list to change it. Good luck, everyone! 1st PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy sanderro Holiwood Longhorn 2nd lizzie_07 lindata KristinaDawnB lindseyann2u sconie 5th DLW Hungryforchange Forestcat 6th ndmom kandiceb jetti vanessav 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 Cota129 8th anw5102 dawndannae stranger138 needto ebrow39 9th Banded4Life neen7171 maccy mariaxoxo4u 10th Selisejohnson omlagirl jen6740 12th jrsyshoregrl684 suebob 13th CCFRA Princessannod1 14th lightenup! dream'n2bthin 15th RxTracy steph_cn 19th Mrs Smartypants27th 731Shawty Cherlita Julie-Ann 28th lukin puppy 29th Sassafras 30th Sasquatch

Yes, that is service!!! I'm surprised that the hospital had that kind of flexibility!

I had my consult last Friday, too! I started my diet Saturday but didn't get to the grocery store until my husband went yesterday. So far today, my first day at work, I've had two Slimfast low-carb shakes, one of those yogurt smoothies in a bottle and a string cheese. I'm on a low-carb diet, not liquid, but those foods are convenient for bringing to work. I'll probably have some tuna when I get home. Congratulations on getting a surgery date. Be sure to add it to our calendar in this forum!

There's also Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver who does the surgery for just under $10,000. I considered him but found a doctor in my city who doesn't charge too much more after considering travel expenses. There's a long thread about him in the Doctors and Hospitals forum. Here's his site: Lap Band Surgery in Denver Colorado | Lap Band Surgeon in Denver | Gastric Band Surgery Denver | Bariatric Surgery

I got approval from my department chair to cancel two days of classes so that I have surgery on Thursday and not return to teaching until Tuesday. I'd like to announce the cancellation enough in advance that students won't make a trip to campus for no reason. But it occurred to me that my surgery could get postponed! How often does that happen and how much notice did you get? Thanks!

Welcome, dawndannae! What, if anything, are you doing for pre-op diet?

1st PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy Longhorn 2nd lindata lizzie_07 KristinaDawnB lindseyann2u sconie 5th DLW Forest Cat Hungryforchange 6th ndmom jetti vanessav 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 MyLady 8th anw5102 Cota129 needto 9th Banded4Life neen7171 maccy mariaxoxo4u 10th Selisejohnson omlagirl jen6740 12th jrsyshoregrl684 suebob 13th Princessannod1 CCFRA 14th dream'n2bthin 15th steph_cn 19th Mrs Smartypants 27th 731Shawty Julie-Ann 28th lukin puppy 29th Sassafras

Do you have to weigh yourself? I know you mentioned it's a requirement for surgery to lose the 15 pounds but since you've reached that goal, is it possible to put the scales away and just keep working hard on following your plan? Unfortunately, weight loss is not linear. There are so many systems at work in our bodies that you can't just cut out 3500 calories and lose a pound. If only it worked that way! In the past, I would lose every other WEEK with no explanation for why one week and not another. I finally got used to the pattern and didn't fret about it. This time, I'm not even going to weigh myself at home -- and I used to weigh myself twice daily! But even though I swore it didn't affect me if I showed a gain or no loss, it wasn't true. It did affect me. Have you ever watched The Biggest Loser and they get depressed because they lost ONLY four pounds that week? Five would have been fine but only four? Anyway, I know how hard it is to suffer and then feel like it was for nothing. This time, though, you're losing to get ready for surgery -- that's your ultimate goal. Fortunately, my doctor put me on the pre-op diet with no mention of losing weight -- just shrinking my liver. So I'm not looking at the scale, just following the plan. I know your situation is different but I hope there's a way you can change your outlook about these next few weeks. Good luck!

I once read that overweight people tend to have MORE self-control than those who are not. Most people who have never had a weight problem, in this country anyway, aren't that way because they actually did something proactive. Some have active jobs or hobbies and some are just blessed with fast metabolisms. (My husband has both -- and I've never seen him deny himself food or drink ONCE in his life, yet he remains perpetually thin.) In addition, the author made the argument that will power will only work for so long. For example, do we have a lack of will power if we try not to sleep? There are certain biological functions that are going to take over no matter what we try to control. I'll bet every one of us has gained weight eating next to nothing. Our bodies are programmed to hold onto weight, especially after a diet. This is not an excuse -- we all know that we have engaged in unhealthy eating and exercise habits at least some time in our lives, some more than others. But we've also all tried very hard to do something about it and the fact that our efforts failed are not entirely our fault. I went on my first diet when I was 22 and FIVE pounds overweight. I wish now that I had been educated enough to establish good exercise and eating habits instead of dieting. I don't know if I messed up my metabolism or it was never that great but I fought (almost) every pound I gained in the last four years, after losing 70 pounds on Medifast. I exercised, I kept drinking shakes, I cut out all kinds of bad foods and eating habits, and it still came back. I tried new programs and couldn't lose a pound. I'm even a little worried that the band won't work but if it keeps me from gaining any more, I won't think it was a mistake.

I was kind of relieved when I found out that my insurance doesn't cover WLS at all. Like you, I didn't want to have to prove my need to anyone. The only "approval" I needed was from my husband of 31 years and he didn't hesitate a bit as far as the money. He loves me no matter what but he knows how tired I am all the time and how I want to look and feel better. Although I've been considering this off and on for several months, the first I mentioned it to my family was on September 21. And here I am a month later with surgery scheduled in just 11 days! :clap2:

Isabella, you are quite beautiful and look great! Congratulations!