CaliGirl626

Glad you guys like my update! I was worried about it being too long and too detailed. Canhardlywait: Try walking a lot, walking seems to help me. On the discharge paper, they said to keep walking until you pass gas (don't remember the exact word, flatuous?) I'm not great with spelling, sorry... I reaelly hope you get better soon. I think nausea is the side effects of the anathesia. My only side effect from the drug is that I'm super thirsty. I've been drinking like a Camel! Other thing is that bad-taste Protein shake can make you want to throw up. I've tried many brands and I absolutely love the EAS AdvantEdge. The Dark choc and the Choc fudge are very good. It tastes like when you make cocoa with nonfat milk. Not too thick, easy to drink and keep it down. You might want to try that. You can also PM me if you want to talk. We need all the support we can get! To tell you the truth, the worst part of yesterday was the human-pincushion! I think that hurt more than the surgery... I'm having a crazy sore throat also, and yeap, compare to the pain from the surgery, the sore throat is worst!

Hi elvisfan! I got the mint cocoa mix from Dietdirect.com. I bought a bunch of stuff from them, I really like all the mixes from the brand WonderSlim. It tastes great! I love everything minty, but if you don't they also have the regular cocoa, cappucino, pudding mixes, Soups, all high protein stuff! Here's the Nutrition facts on the mint cocoa: Calories 70 Fat 1 g Cholesterol less than 5 mg Sodium 220 mg Potassium 200mg Total Carb 6 g Dietary Fiber 1 g Sugars 3 g Protein 12 g Hope this helps!

Hi All, I did it.. I am now a fully bandster.... Woo hoo~! Here are the Recap of yesterday: - Got to the Hospital at 8AM, the surgery is schedule for 10 AM. - Nurse was having a heck of a time trying to find my vain. She said i'm probably one of the hardest people that she ever worked on. For a good 1/2 hour, I turned into a human pin-cushions...She gave up and said she will have the anethesiologist deal with my vain problem. - 10:15 AM, the wheeled me into the surgery room. After about 10 breaths of the sweet-anethesia, I was out... - 12:30 woke up in recovery room. My throat was so dry...After a bit of head shaking and drumming my finger on the rail. I got my Water. Had no problem swallowing at all. Felt like someone punched my in my stomach, my throat was itchy and irritated, like how it would feel after a rock concert. But other than that, I was good. - 12:35 Pain Meds!!! Woo hoo, the nurse ended up giving me like 3 shots, it didn't really get rid of the pain, but sure makes me comfortable. - The nurse called my hubby to get into the recover room. Hubby helped me getting dressed, I told the nurse I need to go potty. She walked me over to the restroom, then told me that I'm good to go home. Yay! - 1:20 left the hospital. - 2:00 Arrived home, walked around in the house for 15 mins. received my first dose of liquid vicodin around 2:15. Drank more water, took a sip of Protein shake. Fell at sleep in front of the TV around 2:45. Woke up at 3:10, walked some more. - 3:30 - 5:00 consists of walking around in the house, sip of water, sip of Protein Shake, walked some more. 10-15 mins of cat nap, also did the breathing exercise, legs exercise every hour. - 5:15 My hubby took our two doggies out for a walk, I took bottle of water with me and went with them. It was about 25 mins walk. Felt okay afterwards. - 7:00 went over my in-laws (10 mins away). Made the broth using "Better than Boullion", had to add water, a bit too salty for me. Than at 8PM, we walked for another half hour. - Took a nap on my In-laws couch for a good 30 mins. Then My hubby and I decided to go home. - A bit difficult trying to figure out the best position to sleep. I decided to sleep normally, just elevate my feel a little. Had a protein Mint Cocoa mix (Hot). Took some more of the Liq vicodin. Then do one more feel exercise before I went to sleep. - Woke up around 2AMm needed to go potty. It was difficult getting up, My stomach hurt a bit, probably because the pain killer wore off. Heck, I'm sleepy, I'm not going to take another dose! Went back to sleep. =============== That was about it for my first day. No shoulders pain, nothing. I'm so happy I got this done. I know my doctor said I can have Jello if I want to. But I think I'll stick with pure liquids for atleast a week. I'm hoping I'll hear from other May 12th Bandster. Let me know how are all my May 12th Lapband siblings are doing okay? Take Care!!! -Aya- " Shrinko De aYa~!"

Hi Kami, I heard of that before, where someone would consider doing an adoption or some people that actually adopted a kid then later got pregnant. my husband's job is stressful. So that could probably be a reason why. He works with computer and he keeps on putting th Laptop on his lap. I had to remind him not to do so since I've heard that heat is not very good for "lil swimmers". Hopefully next year I will really get to Celebrate Mother's Day. I'm really looking forward to living a happier, healthier life! Happy mother's Day! Recap on my sugar: Day 1: 167 Day 2: 152 Day 3: 128 Day 4: 115 Day 5: 135 Day 6: 121 Day 7: 104 Day 8: 100 Day 9: 96 Day 10: 90 Day 11: 94

Welcome! Jeistre and swtbtrcup!! It's nice to meet my bandster twins/siblings!! Hope you guys are ready for Monday. I just can't wait!!

Hi Disneyfreak, Does this make us Band-twins? hahaha, I'm super excited! I got a call from the OR to actually set up my surgery time. Boy, never though being diabetic would ever come in handy, I was wrong. Once the nurse realized that I'm diabetic, she told me " I will put you as the first patient of the day" Which means I will have to be at the hospital at 8 AM, and my surgery will be done at 10. I'm so excited I could hardly sit still now.. hehehe (No, I'm not high, just excited)

i will sure do that, thanks Froggi & Coco ^___^

Ahhh, I'm so excited. I've been living in LBT for about 2-3 months now. Monday is my surgery date. I'm excited and nervous, just a bit nervous though. I'm trying to get everything ready at home so my hubby (who is taking 2 days off work to take care of me) wouldn't have to do much. Can't wait! Any May 12th Bandster? I would love to keep in touch with people who is getting the band around the same time with me. We can be each other support!! Funny storry though. My general doctor called me today after I faxed over the Weight and Blood Sugar Log to her. First thing she said to me was " I need to see you, your sugar is horrible!" Then she paused and goes, "oh wait, nevermind. I was looking at your weight...your sugar is great!!!" Now she wants info on my doctor, so she could have more information for other patients who are thinking about doing the LapBand! Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all~!!

wow, Your story is very inspirational Kammi! My husband and I have been wanting to have kids for a while. It gets very stressful when everyone around us are having babies and we are not. I would get so stressed out and I would just cry. I don't even want to go see friends or family anymore because someone would ask us about when we are going to have kids... It doesn't help that my husband is older than me and is an only child. His parents are getting older and they just want grandkids! not being able to conceive is one of the reasons why I'm doing the surgery. My husband and I also want me to have better quality of life. He said he couldn't picture life without me so he is willing to do whatever it takes for me to be healthy and happy. thank you everyone so much for your stories and wisdom. that's why I love my bandster family!! Update of on my morning sugar the last 2 days... Day 8: 100 Day 9: 96

Today is my 8th day of being on liquid diet. It's going to be hard the first 3 days. But after that you will adjust and your body won't complain as much. If you are not restricted to drinking the shakes from the doctor office. Here are some alternatives that you might enjoy. Glucerna has a strawberry flavor, I drink this for dinner, it tastes like strawberry milk. It has 200 calories, and about 10 grams of Protein. EAS Advant-Edge has 17 grams of Protein, and the chocolate one tastes like when you mix cocoa powder with Water. Not creamy, but drinakble. Special K Protein Powder (to be added into water). So far I've tried 3 flavors, Lemonade, Kiwi-Strawberry, and Iced Tea. If you like Sweet Tea, get the Iced Tea flavor. Kiwi is second choice for me. I usually just put a plastic bottle in the freezer, put water in it about half of the bottle, freeze that and just add the Protein powder with water after. Drinking it iced-cold is not bad at all. I also make Protein Jello. Add about 1/2 to 1 scoop of vanilla flavor powder in 1 cup cold water, mix it well. Then add about 2/3 boiling water to a package of sugar free/fat free Jello, after all the Jello dissolves, add the protein mix. You will get a jello that not too hard, the bottom is kindda icky a bit, but just eat the bottom first then eat the top portion.... As for all the spare time you have at lunch now, start going out and window shopping, look at all the pretty clothes you will be wearing very soon!

I'm getting banded on Monday May 12th. I have about 70 lbs to lose, but I'm doing it because I also have Co-morbidites (Diabetes and hypertension) I love life too much to spend my retirement in a wheelchair, and maybe with only 1 leg since I probably would lose one from complication from diabetes... I guess i'm trying to prevent that from happening... I would rather spend my retirement traveling the world. If Lapband can get me to be 70 lbs lighter, it will be a lot easier for sightseeing ^____^ Also, you can lose a lot from doing liquid diet. You just have to ask youself will you be doing as well once you start eating normally. I can't speak for anyone else... but I know how I got "here", being overweight and not so healthy and all... Whatever you decided to do, I wish you all the best!

My band date is this upcoming Monday (5/12). My doctor charged $ 16,000 that includes consultation, psych eval, hospital fees, BLIS insurance was cash pay, 1 year of fills.

Hi Susan, I said that about the Gastric because the doctors that I consulted with regarding the band did mentioned that when you do Gastric, it will effects the way your body reacts to sugar. I think it's called "Dumping" syndrome. From a conversation with a person who had Gastric, she said that when she had something sweet, she would feel really sick. After a couple times of that, she stays away from sweet stuff. So that's what I mean when I said if your have a serious diabetic problems, if it's coming from making wrong choice of food (like eat bad food as a cheat) then look into Gastric instead. Thank you for the information on Metformin, I am currently on that and my husband and I have been trying to open a baby factory for the past 1.5 years. My doctor never said anything about Metformin and getting Pregnant!! Hopefully after this I can get off Metformin and we can finally have kids.... ^_______^

if you are going to cheat, you will do whatever to cheat. I do agree though that if you have a serious diabetic problems, then you might want to look at Gastric Bypass instead. I have heard of some case where people who had gastric bypass ended up getting a lapband after though... so i don't know... I guess you have to ask youself if you are willing to commit to changing your lifestyle before you even consider doing any surgery at all...

Another update, In case if anyone wants to know... here are my Blood Sugar level in the morning pre-Breakfast since I started the Protein shake Pre-Op... Day 1: 167 Day 2: 152 Day 3: 128 Day 4: 115 Day 5: 135 Day 6: 121 Day 7: 104

Hi, This is my 7th day on Protein shakes Pre-Op diet. The first two days are the hardest. My stomach complained so loud. But now things are quiet again. I got enough protein in per day that I'm not hungry at all. Can you have anything else in addition to opti-fast? My doctor just told me to get 60+g or protein, 20 or les of Fat, and 10 g or less of Sugar per day. After 2 days of EAS Protein Shakes, I got so sick of sweet shakes, so I called up my doctor and asked if I can eat clear broth. The nurse said yes. So I got some chicken broth, add Protein powder (while it still cool). heat it up, a dash of salt and pepper. And It was yummy! My nurse also lets me have Jello (Fat free sugar free kind). So I add protein powder to that and eat about a cup of jello a day. 1 Cup of FF/SF jello came out to be 20 calories and 2g of protein. With Protein powder it's adding 55 calories, 1g Fat, 13g protein, 1g sugar. Also, check out the Special K protein Water. Get the powder kind and add them to your water. I take about 2 pack of those a day, 60 calories, total of 10g protein. So far I lost 7 lbs. And my Blood sugar went from 167 to 104 this morning.... good luck to ya!!! *I'm also self-pay. I'm getting banded next week~!! Woo hoo!!

Hi everyone... Here is an update on my sugar.... 3rd day 128 4th day 115 5th day 134 <-- my fault... I went the whole day without taking any meds... Just wanted to see how my sugar will be.... My surgeon said once I have the surgery, i will not need to take meds anymore... That's fantastic since everyone know how HUGE Metformin pills are nowadays!!! i'm so excited! I bit scared... but mainly excited!!

Wow, this is the first time of me hearing about the liquid Protein and Protein bullets...Could anyone tell me more about it? Where can I get them, how's the taste? Almost lost track of why I enter this thread. I checked out the Jamba juice and other smoothie store before and looked up the nutrition on them. Those smoothies are loaded with Sugars and Carbs. But if it works for you, then go for it... I use the Body Fortress (adding only a teaspoon = 8 grams of protein) to make pudding (fat free, sugar free kind). Instead of Milk, I use Soy milk. I spoke to my nurse later and she told me that I shouldn't have pudding (I'm on pre-op) so I gave the pudding for my friend to tried. They said it tasted great! I also use the Trader's Joe whey protein to make chicken Soup, it tastes a bit chalky, but it's okay. Have you tried Special K Protein powder (to be added into water). It tastes delicious!

Hey, my surgery is on the same day too...!!

My last good-meal was Sushi. It was so yummy! I'm on my 3rd day of Pre-Op diet...couple more days to go... yay! I'm hoping i would still be able to eat japanese food somehow...they are super-delish.... time to get back to the real world... gotta go drink my Special K Protein Water (It's pretty good...)

Hi Nicole, I didn't really have a chance to do the Last Supper thing. I saw my doctor on Monday afternoon and he wanted me to start Protein shake Pre-Op on Wednesday! It had been two days since I started the diet, and so far so good. Just wanted to tell you what one of my Bandster friend told me... "If you have a pre-op diet to follow, stick to it... if you cheat on a diet, you only cheatin' yourself.... " Take care~!

Hi everyone, I'm starting my 3rd day Diet... I already lost 5 lbs this week (3.5 lbs before the diet). I spoke to my nurse, she said that I can do broth, just no meat, no veggies. Jello is okay. But no pudding.... Thanks for all your comments/advice~!

Hi Calif_princess, I live in the 626 area and I found two doctors in Rancho Cucamonga. I didn't particularly have a bad experience with the doctor, just the staff. That is the reason why I decided to go with the other doctor instead. If you search for my name you should be able to find the thread that I wrote about the doctors last month. ^____^

Hello Bandster family~! Right now I'm taking Glipizide twice a day and Glucophage 850mg 3 times a day. I am on the second day of Pre-Op diet. Yesterday my sugar was 167 and this morning it had step down to 152. I have 10 more days to go before I became a fully adopted bandster kid! My doctor is thinking about putting me on insulin after surgery. I'm hoping that I wouldn't have to do that. Hopefully with my sugar # going down and down, it would stop her insulin idea. Sorry I'm blabbing, so long story short, if you could share your morning sugar # Pre and Post band with me, I would really appreciate it! thanks!

Dear Sshaw9126, I am also a cash-pay patient. My surgery is in 10 days. I would suggest you to ask your doctor (surgeon) whether or not they offer the BLIS for cash patient. BLIS is pretty much a surgery insurance for cash patient. If you want more info about it, check out this link. Coastal Center for Obesity : Patient Support : Finance I understand your anger. Instead of the insurance wanting to solve the problem, they just keep on wanting to fixing it from the wrong end. Take care!