SpecialK

I'm scheduled for Pre-Admission Testing March 11th -- not this week with the other 2 of you guys. Surgeon appt on March 14th and surgery time is 1:00pm March 17th. Feels better knowing what time I need to block off work for the other 2 pre-surgery things.

I'm staying on the plan today (for pre-op diet ) so my surgery can be as successful as possible. Day #2 at 1000 calories which is a big change for me.

Here's a funny one for y'all. I went to last night's Mt. Carmel Bariatric Support Group meeting and didn't realize the topic when I got there -- it featured a Sex Therapist taking questions from the attendees for the whole hour and a half. It started off pretty slow but then people got braver and braver submitting questions for her to answer. Not at all what I thought I was getting when I went last night. LOL At the very end, one lady asked who in the audience had Lapband surgery and how were they doing. Only 2 people out of maybe 40+ in the room raised their hands and they shared their experiences so I guess that means the vast majority of who else was in the room are RNY or still waiting for insurance approval for surgery. Several brought their spouse with them which was nice to see. One lady sitting in front of me had my surgeon Dr. Price and lapband in December and she said she's doing great. She didn't raise her hand though when they asked for how many had lapband in the group so maybe there are more lapbanders out there that didn't want to speak up. I personally think it would be good if we did speak up and share our experience in case there are still people considering LB vs. RNY that they can have what information they need. I told the lady in front of me about the lapbandtalk web site and she hadn't heard of it before. Off to work so I can pay all those deductibles and things....

I think she's referring to me posting the Queen song..We Are The Champions as our theme song. LOL P.S. Still no letter in Monday's mail and I called and left a message at the doctor's office and didn't get a call back. Maybe today. I successfully made it through yesterday with just about 1000 total calories. Wow

Hippiegirl - looks like you've done great pre-op diet. Hope all works out for you to have your surgery tomorrow if your doctor agrees if not, let us know. Take care.

I have the Shrinking Shamrocks logo added onto my Signature File just below my TickerFactory logo. If you know how to update your Signature, you just upload a file or copy/paste a graphic into your signature.

Started my voluntary Slimfast Optima shakes this a.m. - I'm going to do 1 for breakfast, 1 for mid morning, eat a lean lunch (my boss is taking me out to an Irish restaurant downtown), and then 1 shake for dinner and 1 for an evening snack. They say they are 180 calories each and 10 gr protein so 4 of those will be 720 calories and I'm going to try to stay as close to 500 calories for lunch as I can. I know this didn't work out to have my starting day being a day with a business lunch. Tomorrow, it will be a Lean Cuisine lunch so I know it should be easier to make 300-500 for lunch plus the shakes. Sue & Greg - let me know how pre-op diet is going for you.

Yes, congratulations Thinner Me! Sounds very likely you'll be a Shrinking Shamrock too!

Sue - no packet in the mail yet. I plan to call first thing tomorrow. Maybe its because I have a different surgeon. NDWife - yes, when I had my lap gallbladder surgery at Mt. Carmel East in October 2007 when I went for pre-admission testing the prior week, they warned me that the day I got there for surgery, I'd be asked to pay my co-insurance portion which is 15%. I'm glad you reminded me to get mentally ready for being asked for that here soon.

Calendar is in the FAR Top Right Corner above where they have an advertisement box --before you get to your browser's own area/toolbars. Also Advanced Search to search this site is there and I've found that helpful at times.

Anybody getting brave enough to take Before pictures or even body measurements with a tape measure ...scary

ROFL!!! I don't have any tattoos - said I'd never want one but I'm been thinking the same thoughts as you! My sister would die to read this!

I Totally Understand The Excitement!! March 1st Is Here Already.

My prayers for quick healing and pain relief are going up to heaven right now! Take care. You've been such an inspiration to so many.

Yep, here is the link: March 08 Bandsters - Lap Band Talk Forum - The largest forum for Lap Band Surgery Discussion and Lap Band Surgery Support

Look under Monthly Support Groups section - 2008 - March 2008 and you'll find a Big group of March bandsters-- we have a nickname called Shrinking Shamrocks. Here is the link: March 08 Bandsters - Lap Band Talk Forum - The largest forum for Lap Band Surgery Discussion and Lap Band Surgery Support

Never heard of this before. Is it FDA approved in the US? Have many surgeries have been done? Complications rates, etc compared to Lap band, RNY, etc. Those would all be things I'd investigate and of course talk with your own doctor on what's best for you as always. Good luck!

Had to look up the words to We Are the Champions.... couldn't resist. We Are The Champions Written & sung by Freddie Mercury. I've paid my dues Time after time I've done my sentence But committed no crime And bad mistakes I've made a few I've had my share of sand Kicked in my face But I've come through And we mean to go on and on and on and on We are the champions - my friends And we'll keep on fighting Till the end We are the champions We are the champions No time for losers 'Cause we are the champions of the World I've taken my bows And my curtain calls You brought me fame and fortune And everything that goes with it I thank you all But it's been no bed of roses No pleasure cruise I consider it a challenge before The whole human race And I ain't gonna lose And we mean to go on and on and on and on We are the champions - my friends And we'll keep on fighting Till the end We are the champions We are the champions No time for losers 'Cause we are the champions of the World We are the champions - my friends And we'll keep on fighting Till the end We are the champions We are the champions No time for losers 'Cause we are the champions

Greg -- if you like this one better, you're welcome to use it if "Care Bears" is too fluffy or girlly for you ...LOL :w00t: We're all still the Shrinking Shamrocks and WE ROCK. P.S. Reminds me of the song from Queen,,,We Are The Champions!

I finally get it on why the various Monthly Bandster Date support group threads are so important, the logos I'd seen for other groups like Shrinking Violets, Victorious Valentines, etc. It does feel really good to have a group of people from all over, regardless of surgeon who will be going through the stages you are at the exact same time and sharing so openly about how it feels to see TV commercials when you're on pre-op diet, etc. Ihave a great local group under the Ohio thread that has been super supportive so I'd also encourage you to connect with your local area folks. We ended up meeting in a public place - a mall -- and we have a great time chatting and sharing together. Some even brought clothes to swap that last February get together. Keep up the posting Shrinking Shamrocks. It really helps me. We Rock! P.S. Its March 1st!! We're officially in our month now.

Greg -- Welcome aboard and yes, feel free to use the Shrinking Shamrocks logo! Sue and I will see you in the hospital on March 17th!!

I'm hoping I don't have a catheter. When I had laproscopic gallbladder surgery in October 2007, the anesthesiologist asked if I could go to the bathroom one more time before they headed me back to surgery and if I thought I was all clear, no catheter. If I thought I had anything left in my bladder then maybe they'd do a catheter. Didn't need to tell me anything else to get me to go sit on the "porcelain throne" one more time to avoid having a catheter. Unfortunately I did have sore abdominal muscles from that same laproscopic gallbladder surgery (and I'm told the muscle soreness is very similar to lap band surgery - nearly identical incisions too) and it made it a pain in the butt (literally and figuratively) to clean up down under for a couple days but nothing bad. I found a shower with a portable or moveable hand sprayer helps. I also seem to remember I had to keep my bandages clean and dry the first 24 or 48 hours and stay out of a full shower - just being careful to keep the Water spray below my belly button in front.

Have you used the Advanced Search option to see if there are any threads with a match on this insurance company name? I had Aetna and I found lots of support under the Insurance forum thread. Good luck. P.S. Advanced Search button is kind of hidden on this web site --upper right hand corner above the New Hope Bariatrics advertisement box. Pretty hard to find but its a good search engine. The other Search (Google) button goes out and searches outside this web site which didn't help me at all.

Here is a link over to the thread for our monthly get together for this March but I saw you post over there already too. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f56/central-ohio-get-together-march-8-2008-a-51861/

I'll be there with bells and Shamrocks on counting down the days to my surgery date!