sistasassy

I had my appointment with the nutritionist today and that was an idea that she mentioned. She said marinating meat well was good way to get the meat in.

Did you find out what was going on? Your symptoms sounded heart related to me as well.

Thik of it this way: Your liver will be that much smaller and your surgery will be that much safer. :confused:

I did NOT tell my shrink this story today and I passed my psych evaluation with flying colors! Woo hoo!

My surgeon did not require a seminar. He sort of gave me his own seminar at the consultation appointment. He talked and explained and answered questions for about 30 minutes or so.

I am only seeing my shrink (and I say that nicely) every six weeks at this point. My regular doc sent me there because he was having trouble finding a balance for my meds. I don't really seem to struggle with depression although I was mentioning to him that I have not felt this good in a long time. I have been having freak panic attacks since February that very much resemble heart attacks. They happen when I am most at rest or sleeping. Very odd. He figures they will go away or at the very least start to become less frequent within a year or so. Right now I am on round the clock meds to keep they at bay.

My concern about cheating on the pre-op diet is this: If you are already cheating, how will you be after you are banded? I am not SAYING you will cheat then. I am just asking you to take a long look inside yourself. We will all have our struggles, me included. I have been asking myself the same thing just to make sure. I have been confronting "favorite" foods and really looking at how I will face them later. For me, it has become a choice to live or die. My BMI is "only" 40. I carry my weight well and most would never guess my weight to be as high as it is. I can wear "thinner girl" clothes even today. BUT, I have trouble breathing when I sleep, my joints hurt, my blood pressure is slowly rising. All these things are because of eating the wrong way. I have chosen to learn to live a different way. To me it is truly a different journey on a different path. I will follow the rules because I want to be healthy. I want to live a long long life. Just stop and take a good look inside and ask yourself why you are being banded and that will help you to not cheat. Trust what is moving you toward this surgery and it will become easier as you go.

LOL. I asked if I could use my own and they said yes. I was soooo glad. I am comfortable with mine. He is a good guy and he really listens.

Mine was simple because I already see him for panic attack meds. He asked me what was new and I told him about wanting the band and that I needed him to write a letter. I told him what the doc needed it to say: that we talked about my weight, that I was stable, and that I would be a good candidate for the surgery (which we did then cover all those). He had me sign a release and he was dictating the letter today. He said they would fax it over tomorrow at the latest. He went on to ask about my panic attacks and we covered that, he wrote me a new prescription for my meds, and out the door I went! Woohoo!

My gosh! I laughed so hard at these. You know you wanna be a bandster when: You are actually excited about going for a psych evaluation, upper GI, gallbladder ultrasound, EKG, and blood tests. Your doctor starts you on your liquid diet for two long weeks.

Truly, Lunabeane, you are a sweetheart. It is people like you that put the "support" in a support group. I think that sometimes we begin to think that our band (mine is yet to come so I am speculating) is going to be the food police. I think the mental thing we have to learn is that the band helps us learn to be our own food police and it is sort of the reinforcement police. We are going to fail at times. That is part of being human. We just have to learn to get back up, dust ourselves off and get back on that wagon. I know my struggles are yet to come and that they WILL come. I hope everyone is there to help dust me off when it is my turn.

I was afraid he would say it was too soon since I had started having those panic attacks but he said he thinks it will actually be beneficial. He said not to be afraid to call if I start to have trouble around the time of surgery and that he will bump my Xanax up for a couple of weeks. I told him I expect to be fine because I do work so hard at relaxation techniques but that I will not hesitate to call if I get into some I can't handle. The less time in the ER the better.

Sooooo excited! I figured it would be fine but am sooooo glad to know I am done with that part. Another hoop bites the dust!

Has anyone used the Pampered Chef Shave Ice maker for the liquid stage? I bet Crystal Lite would be awesome frozen and shaved. I wonder if you could freeze the Protein Shakes and then shave them. Has anyone done that? I detest popsicles but love shaved ice. Weird, I know.

So I am getting ready for my psych evaluation today and just enjoying the peace of being alone in my room (I have five kids and am sitting this summer for my niece and nephew). I put my hair up, got it all nice and curled and pretty for the day.....and ran out of hair spray. Luckily, I had bought another can so I grabbed it, ripped the lid off, shut my eyes and sprayed. Almost immediately, I noticed that it sprayed different (kind of like when the hairspray nozzle is full of hair spray) but I sprayed anyway. I finished, opened my eyes, and ..... MY HEAD WAS WHITE! :ohmy: I had inadvertantly bought mousse. It is in the same shaped can as my hairspray, same color and everything. There was a big ole 60% off label over the area that says mousse. Needless to say, I was shocked. I have now cleaned myself up and everything that was behind me. I am once again ready to go to my appointment. Perhaps I will tell my shrink this story......then again, today, perhaps I won't. :cursing:

Congrats and welcome home! I hope my surgery goes as well as yours. I can't wait until I am a bandster. Thank you for the good information. I have panic attacks and would swear they are heart attacks when they happen. Will be good to know that it is not my heart right after surgery if I have that type of pain. Get some rest and keep us updated! :cursing:

That is one I was considering. Marking that one off my list now. Thanks!

Which weight loss surgery book would you recommend buying, if any? I am getting a lot of info from this site and other sites. I was wondering if the books offered anything new that I am not learning or will not receive from my surgeon or nutritionist.

I am soooo excited! What a great room! :thumbup::thumbup::frown:

The Powder Room Gone Wild! Whoo hoo!

Powder Room! Since I haven't been banded yet and I am still heavy can I vote twice????

How will chewing gum stretch your pouch? I love gum.

BrandyII, I am still on my Xanax (although I forgot to take a dose today so I may pay for that later) but I am feeling less.....stressed. I go out of my way to keep my life simpler now and that is helping alot. I also tend to be one of those people who has a hard time saying no. I tend to take on more than I really need to at times and I have begun to learn how to a) say "no" and keep my mouth shut and not volunteer. I take a bit more time for me now. It is making a difference. I hope that after a while that these panic attacks will just sort of fade away. Of course, perhaps I need them as a reminder to keep it simple.

I like The Powder Room. Keeps us classy instead of sassy.

Sometimes you can breathe away the anxiety and panic. I have panic attacks in a big way and the first thing I do is begin to take long deep breathes in through my nose and take just as long as you exhale through your mouth. Try to visualize someplace that is tranquil to you. Let yourself "go there". I also use a bit of lavender oil behind my ears and on my wrists. Anxiety and panic can be very very scary. I agree with those who said to call your doc also. He may be able to prescribe something to calm you for a while so your body and mind can adjust to the new way of life.