Tamihott

Congratulations!! Here I sit wishing it was all over. I go in the morning! Tamara

This site is awesome, and gladly I found it at the beginning of my journey. I will be banded on Wednesday. Welcome Tamara

Good job on taking the steps to get things rolling. I started my journey (1st seminar) on my birthday November 23 2007. I was approved about a month ago. I think total, start to surgery is 10 months. It goes super fast!! Lots of appts and I had to do the 6 month supervised diet per BC/BS. Tamara

I hope all went well for those of you having surgery today!! Tamara

Thanks for all the well wishes everyone! Today I am feeling much better. Fingers crossed nothing happens between now and Wed. Tamara

Slim, I actually had this problem too. I found myself consumed with when and how I was going to be able to drink all the protein shakes. I called up my nutrionist and she said the goal was to shrink the liver, not weight loss. It is true that protein is supposed to help curb hunger, but as long as I was not hungry I could drink what I could. I hope that makes sense. It seemed to calm me right down. Good luck! I am still on the darn thing since my surgery date had to be moved. I was allowed to eat regualar food yesterday and today and let me tell you it was not great. My body is not used to all the crappy food and I am paying for it. Can't wait to get on the pre-op diet again tomorrow! Good luck all Tamara

Update. My surgery was moved from the 17th to the 24th. THanks Tamara

I had not been feeling well and have been taking antibiotics for a sinus infection since Sunday. Being optimistic I thought I would feel alot better by today. Not the case. I called the surgeon and left a message. They just called back and cancelled the surgery until Sept 24th. Good news is they said I could eat noramlly, but not in excess for 2 days!!! There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Tamara

You can do it! I have been working on this since 11/07 and will be banded tomorrow with BC/BS Illinois. They have been on a roll with approvals you just have to be a pain in their butts and call everyday. Good luck! Tamara

Wow I can hardly belive that this is all happening in a little over a day! I don't know about the rest of you but I am FREAKING out with nerves and excitement!!! It kinda seemed a little too real when I finished up my will today!! Good luck to all of us on Wednesday! I will be thinking about each and everyone of you. Everyone please post as soon as you are up to it, so we know how you are doing!!! Tamara 1. Fatmommyslim 2. Lilysmommy 3.Lenore1890 4.Sistergrl25 5.misskitty84 6. ME Tamihott PS- If you have been left off this list let us know and post it!!!

I can have broths, sf pudding, sf popsicles etc, but I can have oatmeal or grits and cottage cheese, but my diet is two weeks. It is super hard at first but gets alot easier. I am full but never really satisified. I drink alot and that seems to help the most. Good luck! Tamara We will definitely have to be each others support, since we will be banded just a day apart!!

Congratulations! Like I said before I think BC/BS is finally jumping on board with approvals. I was denied once and then approved, but for me it was pretty smoothe too. I am having surgery the 17th. Good luck to us! Tamara (starving on her pre-op liquid diet)!!!!

I went for all my pre-ops yesterday, and I got a chance to look at the orginal Lap-Band and the Realize band. My surgeon told me that I could choose between the two. Having done my own research I felt comfortable in choosing the Realize band. Then seeing them together I was sure. The Lap-Band is more rigid and the difference in the actual access area on the port is soo much larger. The actual port is significanlty lower as well. The claims for Realize are less erosion and fewer chances of slippage. The big advantage to me was that the port is placed by metal barbs verses sutures. It cuts down in port pain and can more easily be re located. It also cuts the operating room time in half. Less time for me under = less complications. I think for me it was a no brainer! Tamara

Congratulations everyone! It seems to me all the Samurai's are recovering soo quickly! I went for all the pre-op stuff today and it was kinda scary, and a big reality check. Heres hoping my surgery goes just as smoothly! Surgery date 9-17-08! Tamara

I am on day 3 of my 22 day pre-op liquid diet. I am allowed protein shakes, sf jello, pudding, etc., oatmeal or grits. I felt like crap the 1st day and yesterday I got such a bad headache in the evening, I almost had to leave work. Now on day 3 I feel some what better, but I am having trouble eating so frequently. I called my nutritionist and she said eat what you can just keep hydrated and get in as much protein as possible. This sucks and I am on edge. Good luck everyone! Tamara :thumbup:

I know, the date came sooner than I expected! I went to the grocery store yesterday and got most things I will need for the pre-op diet. I am starting that on Monday! I like most people have been eating like crazy thinking that I will not have real food for some time. I am hoping that I will make it through the liquid thing without becoming too violent ! I wish you luck with getting a sooner date than November. I know how it feels to want to be done already. I will definitely keep eveyone up to date on how it goes. Good luck Tamara!

Hi Elayne! I will be seeing Dr. Bono on September 4th as well. This will be my final appt before my surgery. What time is your appt. Maybe I will see you there. Good Luck Tamara

Hi! I am having surgery with Dr. Bono on Sept 17th (Lapband). He is in Hazleton, and was a good fit for me! If you have any questions just ask. Thanks Tamara

Congratulations!! You will have to let us know your date! I think BC/BS is on a roll!! Tamara

Good luck! I would start calling them by Friday. I honestly called every single day from July 14th unitl my actual approval date last Tuesday. I was not harrassing I just called every day to check the status of the info. It was easier for me to know if they had all paperwork and who had the info and what stage of the review process it was in. I was the first person to know about the approval. I had to call the surgeon to tell them. Unlike some people on this thread I always had a rep that was more than happy to speak with me. One day we talked over an hour as she went over every single paper they had received. Good luck !!! It was not as bad as i expected. Tamara

I have the same fear. It is mandatory that my support person meet with the surgeon on my pre op appt. My husband knows that I weigh more than him, but for him to see it. It is just hard for me to handle. Thank goodness he loves me for who I am and not how much I weigh. Good luck to us. Tamara

Congratulations!

Lets just say this surgery has prompted me to do something that we should all have done a long time ago. My will. It will be done before my surgery. I am not scared but I am in the medical field and I am realsitic.

I have not slept since I got my approval on last Tuesady! I have been working on this for 8 months and now that it is a reality, it does kind of scare me. I am not scared about the actual procedure, but making sure I do all of the other things right is making me crazy. I have a month still. UGGHGHGH!!To top that off, I have only now begun to tell anyone about it, and one of my very heavy "friends" gave me the riot act about having the surgery. I was disappointed in her, but understand too that she is not at the point I am in being ready to make a change. It does not help that she works at a hospital that does banding and she only remembers the people that come back with problems!! I think I am just going to keep my mouth shut and not tell anyone else for now. Tamara

I changed my surgery date to September 17. I am not sure how to update the list. Thanks Tamara