redbone0528

Wow Roz, Michelle talked about you today in my pre-op class! Of course, she shared no details, but she had me add rice to my list of foods to avoid post surgery. She said that there was a pretty serious incident involving rice recently, so she said that before she goes, she will be adding it to the hand outs. I am glad to hear that you are okay! I will definitely take that as a lesson, no rice for me!

Hi all! Pre-op officially completed! Today was a breeze, as I was the only one in the pre-op session. Way cool, everyone kept joking that I was getting the VIP treatment, since each session was one on one. I was out by noon, which was awesome. I was told the same thing as you guys, that I will have to take the April 2nd class, which is only three days after surgery. Michelle was kind enough to offer to bring me the handouts while I was in the hospital and go over them with me, since making the class in three days might not work for me. Maybe you guys that will hit mushies before the class might ask her to do the same? She seems pretty flexible with stuff like that. Man, I wish I was getting banded with you guys next Monday! This is going to be the longest two weeks ever!!!!

Good morning all! Is anyone here scheduled for testing on Thursday morning? Would love to have someone to pass the day with!

Awww, I wish that I could have made it! I will totally be there in April, will be banded almost two weeks by then. OMG I can't wait!!! When I see you guys I will officially be a 'Bandster'. Yay meeeeeee! lol

I have been looking forward to this all week long! I think the meetings are such a cool idea, and I have been really excited. I am a complete weather geek, and it isn't looking good for tomorrow. We are under our first blizzard warning in over a decade, and they are anticipating over a foot of snow. I live on the far east side, and I don't think that I will be able to make it. Please let me know if you reschedule for this month!

OMG, you are so right! I am slightly dissappointed, cause I was expecting to go earlier. But a date is a date, I am just so ready! I have been at this since October, I am just ready for it to be done! If they called me right now and said that they could band me in 10 mins, I would be there in 5!!!!

Me too!!!! Praying that someone cancels or reschedules so that I can get in early, but so happy to be in at all. Congrats u2!

I am new to the group, but I am going to try to come as well, as long as the weather isn't to bad! I look forward to meeting everyone!

Hi all! Finally got my surgery date yesterday afternoon, March 31st. I am really excited, but a little disappointed actually. I have had a hard time touching base with Charlene. Of course I know what kind of job she has. According to the dietician, she said that when Charlene first started, they were doing only 3-5 surgeries a month. The program has exploded, but yet it is still just Charlene. I have tons of empathy for that, but my file was complete and according to her being submitted, but according to insurance wasn't submitted until a week after that. I tried to keep in touch with her regarding a surgery date, but got no response. When UHC said that my procedure was submitted for March 10th, I stupidly assumed that was going to be my date. I prepared, scheduled my time off at work, and was mentally ready to go! Fast forward to her informing me that my date was 3/31. Oh well, it is what it is right? I am scheduled for pre-op on 3/13, is anyone else? Glad I found you guys! Extra props to SpecialK for leading me here!!!:shades_smile:

Honestly, that is what I am hoping. Most of the fun of cooking a fabulous dish is watching others enjoy it. Maybe it is just cause I am so hungry right now, that I am jealous of my pooch when he eats, rofl! I am sure that I will get over this, it is just the beginning. I am dedicated to my path, and I will do whatever I have to in order to walk it. I just needed to hear that I could still throw down in the kitchen, and thanks for telling me that. If I weren't able to do that, I honestly wouldn't know who I was anymore. Thanks ya'll!!!

I am pretty sure that I am dying right now! lol As of tomorrow I am on day 7 of my pre-op liquid diet. Caved once on Wednesday, ate like my life depended on it, and I paid dearly for that. Felt disgusting and bloated, and woke up at 3am and threw it all up. Good times. I just do not know how I am going to make it honestly. I do good most days, filling up on EAS Lite drinks (I work for Abbott Nutrition, which produces the EAS line, so I get them way cheap at the company store) and sugar free Jello. But I am a cook. Not quite a chef, but a serious cook. I watch the Food Network most days, and as I type, I am watching Tyler Florence recepies on AOL. Brick Chicken with Apricot cous-cous, yummyyyyyyyy. Please tell me how you guys do it!??!?!?!!! I have been on this road since October of last year, and my final approval came thru last week for the procedure. I should find out my final surgery date tomorrow, I am soooo freakin close. But dayum it, I like to eat! And I LOVE to cook. It is my hobby, my passion. I appreciate food, and as a cook, food is an integral part of my life. How do I survive? I know that once I am banded things will get better, that I can eat things, if only in small portions. But right now, on this liquid diet, I feel like my spirit is dying. I know that sounds way dramatic, but dayum it, I mean it!!!! I am not sure quite what I am asking, maybe I am looking for encouragement. I know that you guys are great for that. I wanna know how the amature chefs among us move on? How do you continue to cook fabulous dishes and barely eat them? Crisis here, help!!!!!:thumbup:

Hey ladies and gents! I need ya'lls help, so so bad! After a long long long long long journey, I finally have a surgery date, yay for March 10th! But I go on my liquid diet as of Monday, and I am wondering if anyone has some ideas on a shopping list. I want to make sure that I have alot of options, cause I am petrified that I will absolutely lose my mind when I can't eat. I have already apologized in advance to everyone that I know since I pretty much know that I will be an unchained animal for two weeks, lol. I know that I need protein shakes, but are there any other suggestions as to what you guys found helpful and satisfying during your Hell Weeks?? Thanks for any insight you can provide!!!!

HATING YOU RIGHT NOW!!!! Lol, not really. Okay, maybe just a lil. Good luck!!!!!

I have to schedule my nutrisionist visits next week, and I attend my support group on Monday. I think that is actually it except for the pre-op testing. I am just afraid that as soon as I complete this stuff, there will be something else! It seems like there always is......

Hi all. I really need some support right now. I swear it feels like I have been doing this for years, when it has really only been months. But still, months! It seems like every time I finish one requirement, I have 5 more. Initial seminar, sleep study, psych eval, will it ever end??? Even though my insurance covers the surgery, I feel like it is all still bleeding my wallet, and my spirit, dry. $300 for the administrative fee for the surgeons office, $110 for the psych eval, $200 for the nutritionist.... I know this is not a huge amount of money for most people, but it is huge for me. I just want the surgery, NEED the surgery! I have Type II Diabetes, sleep apnea, PCOS, GERD, major joint pain, you name it I have it. And I am 325 lbs. I don't want to die at 33, I just dont. How many hurdles do I have to jump through? I feel like a puppet, going from doctor to doctor. Co-pays every time. Sorry, I really don't even think that there is a point to this post, just venting. Someone tell me, is there an end? Will I ever be able to just have the surgery and get healthy, get myself back? I know that it isn't a cure-all, but it is a tool that I need to save my life. ARRRRRGGGGGGG! Thanks for listening to my rant, I feel a little better now. Just a little........