SpecialK

Hippie girl - you are so close! Hang in there! God Bless You and keep you safe through surgery and traveling back from Cincy.

Yes Hunter- congratulations and take it easy for a few days! You've earned it and now you can start moving ahead with your new life! We will all want to hear how things went. Two of us have March 17th St. Patrick's Day surgery appointments in the same hospital! We can be up walking the halls together once family goes home!

Suecasb - I haven't heard from Charlene yet on pre-op diet and testing appts, etc. but I figure I will. If it gets to be 10 days out, like about March 7th I will call and be sure I find out if I have to at a minimum do a week of pre-op Optifast type diet. I know we definitely have nothing by mouth after midnight on the night before surgery. Do you know your surgery time yet? I don't. I suppose we will learn that at the pre-op visit too. I would just as soon get it over in the morning but whatever is fine too.

My orthopedic guy was very positive actually about me saying I was just about 2 weeks out from having my weight loss surgery. I just proactively said I know that losing a major amount of weight will help all the joint pains and issues and he agreed but wasn't judgemental at all. Praise God! The downside, the Xrays did show my right knee has more arthritis in it than my left but he wasn't sure what was making the crackling and popping sounds so I'm off to have an MRI on my knee tomorrow. Here's a good one...I had one closed MRI for a shoulder about 3+ years ago and it was really claustrophobic so I said I want an Open MRI and he said No Problem... yea! I don't know if it costs more but I'm happy. Last, I asked my orthopedic doc about having to give up taking Aleve (I believe its what is called an NSAID) and whether I can get a prescription for something to offset knee pain in the future after my lap band surgery. He said he'd like to see what I will need after he knows the MRI results but he thought I could work my my primary care doc and find a good arthritis medicine that will be okay.

Thanks for making this thread for us to combine forces. I'm really not looking forward to the Optifast/Slimfast portion of this prep but I'll do whatever I have to do to get to my goal. I'm in the BMI over 50 group too. Best Wishes to All

For those who like the Care Bears version of our Shrinking Shamrocks logo, I found cute Good Luck (green bear) Care Bears stuff on eBay! Just Googled to see what I could find. I also did some eBay searching on Shamrocks or Four Leaf Clovers and found cute jewelry stuff too. Splurging on myself...

Very nice on your own graphic there! You're 10 days closer to our goal than me...

I haven't got my pre-op testing day lined up yet but if they try to do it one week out, I've still got time. That would be a blessing for me if its only the 1 week of Optifast type diet instead of 2. Good luck to all!

I think its interesting to see our ages of who are going to be March 2008 Bandsters -- so far I'm seeing our youngest at 18 years old, then ranging to 34, 44, 47,52 and 62. I can tell you that if this technology had been an option when I was in my 20s, 30s and even 40s I would have had to seriously consider it because in each of those decades I would work really really hard to lose a major amount of weight (like 100 lbs) and then eventually it would slowly creep back on. Unfortunately during those previous attempts for me, it was often a 'guy' I was trying to lose for instead of losing just for me to be healthy. That is the big, big difference now in my mindset so if I had to take the journey I did to get here, I'm still looking forward to the next 40 or 50 years in a thinner healthier body! Best wishes to all my fellow Shrinking Shamrocks.. just love that nickname. I'm actually going out to an Irish restaurant in downtown Columbus area in the next week to keep the spirit up before I hit the 2 weeks of liquids. So far my surgeon's office hasn't called to say I have to do it, but almost everyone else I hear has to, so I'm mentally getting prepared.

I had seen a thread a while ago and it was a lady saying "I think I'll stay away from the forum for a couple weeks before surgery" because she didn't want to see anything negative, complications, failures of lapbanders, etc. in this last 2 week period before surgery. Well that's kind of where I am, with about 2 weeks to go now, and I really want to stay focused on the Positive. I feel like I know the negatives and I'm fully informed so I want to think Positive Now! I had been capturing ideas from at least one other thread on ONE THING I CAN DO NOW...positive things other successful bandsters have said we can look forward to as we lose weight. Please add any you want and SMILE! :biggrin::glare::biggrin: ONE THING I CAN DO NOW...OR WHEN I LOSE THIS WEIGHT I can tie my shoes without losing my breath. My eyes don't shut when I smile. My big hips have less bruises. I can see my feet I can wear an underwire bra! I can run! I can feel my muscles! I can see my cheek bones. I can walk much further without getting tired. I can cross my legs. I look younger ( I got carded twice in one week!) I can shave my legs in the shower! I can get out of the bathtub without 911 on speed dial. I can bend over and..... GET BACK UP! I can shop......anywhere! I have so much energy especially after I excercise! I can bend down without getting out of breath. I'm more flexible during sex. My big bow hips have went down more than 20 inches. Men are turning their heads constantly. My face is so much thinner and prettier! I have collar bones. The fat from my back is disapearing. I feel so good! I'm starting to like what I see more and more. I have a Fricking Rib cage and can feel it I fit comfortably in an airline seat My back doesn't hurt any more My double chin doesn't choke me while I sleep. I'm excited about life again. I can wear REAL jeans(no more elastic waisted, pull ons). When I sit down or sleep on my side, my underwear doesn't "roll" down the front of my abdomen My sex life is sooooo much better No more weird cramping in my feet I don't take arthritis pills anymore I am already less embarrassed about my appearance I'm not snoring like a bear anymore. I can get out of bed in the morning,stand up and walk without having to first sit on the edge of the bed and get balanced, reach for the headboard and pull myself up. I fit comfortably in theatre and airline seats! I can do work in tight spaces that I could not before. My pants fall off with no belt on. I can run up stairs and not have breathing problems I can look in a mirror I can look on a shelf in the clothing store and say "this is too big" A weird one... i can pull my knee up to my chin My cholesterol is WAY down I am no longer on anti-depressants My underwear doesn't cut into me I can wear a belt I can buy something without an X in the size My knees don't hurt I get compliments instead of being ignored I can ride all of the rollercoasters I want! Whee! I Have Dimples In My Cheeks.....they Are Coming Thru! I Can See Them! Now, As For The Dimples In My Butt!!! I Hope I Will One Day Never See Them!!! I can curl up in a chair with my knees up like a little kid. I can give myself a nice pedicure. I am amazingly small boned, who would'a known? I can wear belts again and I can tuck in my shirts and sweaters I don't have to wonder if I’m going to break a chair I sit in – will it hold me? I can wear those cute holiday socks that are nylon and really cut into your legs! I won't have to pay an 'overweight' surcharge for vacation excursions (like a helicopter ride) where there are weight limits and overweight passengers pay double. Don't need to lie about my weight on my Drivers License any more! Don't need to hide by real weight from my husband/wife/significant others and family. Get off Diabetes medications. Get off High Blood Pressure medications. Give up CPAP machine for sleep apnea. Go to the Beach or public pool (and hold my head high!) Wear a cute costume for Halloween! No more size discrimination in work or career opportunities! Spend the money I save on groceries on Jewelry or New Clothes! Don't need the handicapped (larger) stall in restrooms. No fear of using airplane restrooms on long flights. Enjoy!

Yes. Lauren's Hope was where I ordered mine too. Here's what I put on mine. I liked the idea I could get a different band over time if I got tired of the same one all the time. Adj Gastric Lap Band w/ Abdominal Port No NG w/o Scope

I first checked my healthy insurance plan to see who was In-Network. Once I found out which facility/which groups of doctors were, I actually went out on the internet and bought the background documents about the different doctors I was considering to know where they graduated, where they interned, any issues reported to the board etc. Then I checked who was a member of the American Bariatric Surgeons Then I checked with others on this website who had surgery by the same doctors. All combined, I felt I had alot of information to make my decision.

As if one surgery and emotion filled two weeks isn't going to be enough, last Friday I twisted my knee while I was still in bed and its really painful and I have a doctor appointment tomorrow a.m. to hopefully get it xrayed and get an order for some physical therapy appointments. My orthopedic guy is very anti-overweight ---warned me years ago to get that weight off or those knees will get worse and worse and of course they have. Then I had a rotator cuff tear in my right shoulder and he said my overweight was a contributing factor on that and would make healing from that only harder. True and painful to admit but I did get better with physical therapy. I am hoping when I see him tomorrow about the knee he won't suggest any surgery. I really don't want to do anything until after I've had the lap band surgery on March 17. I'm able to walk on it but I just have pain if I move it a certain way so I'm not sure what he might say. Wish me luck and say a prayer this knee will get better with just physical therapy until I can get some weight lost that will of course solve the long term problem.

Okay I thought I was prepared to tell my male boss (I've only worked for him less than 6 months) about my lap band surgery. I took some pictures in with me and he was really understanding and said to do whatever I had to take care of in the two weeks leading up to surgery and take as much time as I needed after 1-2 weeks would be fine. We'd work it out. I got a little emotional (teary but not blubbering thank goodness) when I tried to explain a little about how hard its been to get through the whole insurance approval process and how there is some worry and fear that coworkers would be judgemental about it once they figure out I've done something like this. On the other hand, I said there are coworkers who are judgemental about severely overweight coworkers too. Anyway, it wasn't too bad and I'm glad he was so supportive. Really didn't want to show any tears though but I'm riding a wave of emotion about this. I told him I plan to tell a limited number of close coworkers and not tell others and he said that is fine, do what you feel is right. I said at some point I may be more open about it but for now, I'd like to just limit who I have who knows what I have done. Okay, that is one emotional hurdle down for me in my walk through the last few steps to surgery and a new life.

Sarah - thanks for the great detail on what to expect the day of surgery. I'm so excited one minute and kind of scared the next just thinking about it.

NDWife - yes I was able to do co-pays when I went to the Psych and Cardiology and even initial surgeon appt. I had to cover the extra cost of the cardiology tests that insurance did not cover. I went to Dr. Diana Brenner, Phd in Westerville for the psych consult just because she was on my insurance plan and close to Westerville to continue to be a person I could see for depression or other needs.

Thanks Juli! Check out the March 2008 Bandsters logo... Cute

Welcome NDWife-- I have the same exact health plan and I can tell you that Aetna denied my initial submission from Charlene and the doctors due to not having my 5 year weight history --as soon as she sent that in, plus my sleep clearance report, cardio clearance, psych clearance and proof of diet - I had two appointments with dieticians plus about 9 months of WW program log book, then I got approved on Feb 18th. I got my surgery date on Feb 22 and it will be March 17th. Hope you can join us at Polaris Mall for the lapband group fun get together. See the thread for it under Ohio. Kathy

Got my approval letter from Aetna in the mail today!! Its in writing..what a good feeling. My sister in Arizona was going to come for my surgery and keep an eye on me but when we started searching for flight, the cost was over $500 a ticket because that is Spring Break/Easter time for the end of that week. So we just couldn't see spending that money right now given I think I'll be fine. I'd rather for her to come and visit when I'm back on solid foods and feeling good ...and thinner :-)

Congratulations. It has been a very long time since I have been below 300 lbs and I can't wait. I got my banding date of March 17th - St. Patty's today!!

Wow! I've waited so long and now I have a date that is less than 3 weeks away now. There is another girl in the same doctors office in Columbus, OH who will be having her lapband done the same day as me! We're banding twins!!

Okay, I know I've posted it in three threads on the board but I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. Started this process in first week of October 2007 attending the information session at Mt. Carmel and had my clearances done by mid-January and sent for insurance approval with Aetna Jan 29, got insurance approval on Feb 18th and now have a surgery date of March 17th. I feel so blessed and yet excited and scared at the same time.

Got my banding date -- St. Patrick's Day March 17th!! at Mt. Carmel so I will be so wired up on this get together I won't know how to act.

SUE-- Incredible and so lucky --- St. Patrick's Day...

Got my surgery date -- St. Patrick's Day - March 17th with Dr. Price at Mt. Carmel. More details to follow. I'm jumping for joy like a little leprechaun.