kizzie

GOOD LUCK RONDA! I leave the house in 30 mins too!!.. best wishes

Today is the day.. !!.. I have two and a half hours before I leave the house. I have cleaned my room.. made my bed all lovely for coming back tomorrow. I have laid out my painkillers, fluids and liquid Vitamins.. I am about to call my parents in New Zealand and reassure them that I am 'fine'!!.. and then my sisters in Aus and England... .. I may sit and watch a bit of "most haunted' on youtube.. silly me I watched the 'Pendle Hill' episode last night and subsequently scared myself stupid..and didn't go to sleep until 4!!!.. well at least I was distracted!!. (hence watching another one.. great for distracting and scaring the bejezus!!)... so there you go.. will be popping back and forth to get some final words of encouragement from this wonderful 'Godsend' of a site.. and you wonderful people!.. (in between my urgent rushes to 'pee' again!!.. how many times can a girl go in a few hours!???).. ha See you all !!!. Good Luck 18's!!!.. don't get too nervous 19's!!!.. Kizzie

HURRAH THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE... however. I haven't SLEPT!.. maybe two hours that is it.. EVERY hour waking up and checking the clock!.. bathroom again.. Ronda you are SO lucky with your time! Darn shame my surgery isn't until 4pm!!.. leave the house at 1.30am (Spanish time)...it is 7.30am here now so going to try to sleep a bit more!.. that will help! wishing all my 18th bandsters a truly WONDERFUL DAY!!.. only a few more hours to go!!!.. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!.. see you on the OTHER SIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S Thank the lord my NERVOUS day was yesterday!> I am soo excited today. I spoke with my two sisters and both of my parents last night so am feeling confident and reassured!. All of them (none with a weight problem) were VERY excited for me and all said " you are doing the right thing".. so they are here with me in spirit!!.. see you later alligators! Kizzie.

I am so sorry!!!>. that is just awful that you had to go that far and then be told you can't have the band.. I feel just terrible.. and have no idea how you must be feeling right now.. I can't really say much more.I don't think there are many words that can comfort you right now... but please know that my heart goes out to you .. and I hope there is SOMETHING else that can work for you.. big hugs and best wishes to you Kizzie..

I know EXACTLY how you feel!.. I had a room mate live with me in my parents home. (My parents lived overseas).. so she split the bills with me 50/50.. for a few months anyway.. THEN she was having friends over all the time and eating my food.. going off for the weekend and leaving her dishes and crap everywhere for me to clean up.. ANYWAY. to cut a very long story short.. I went to visit my parents for two weeks.. she stayed. When I got back she said that she needed a plumber and an electrician to be called out and had receipts (these I later found out were friends of hers)... to do 'some work'.. on the boiler which apparently broke the day I left!..I had to pay her back... mmmmm She didn't pay the last three months of rent.. and when I did finally tell her to get out, she had left a lot of her belongings behind.. I thought. HECK I will keep these as payment.. oh no can't do that!.. I was at work one day.. and when I got home SOMEONE had broken into the house.. refitted the window..and left broken glass on the floor.. and removed EVERYTHING of hers out of the window.. (a large bookcase of hers was left..they couldn't get it through the window).. I called the police immediately and they said 'SORRY.. WE TOLD HER TO GET HER THINGS OUT.. YOU WERE HOLDING THEM WITHOUT CAUSE'.. can you BELIEVE that.. they said .. "She had every right to get her belongings back in any way she could and she left the house without damage"... MAD was not the word.. IN THE END about three weeks later I was sent a COURT ORDER Demanding I pay HER back for the cost of the van and removals company to get her things!!!... THANKFULLY I didn't have to pay as she didn't show up.. but let me just say. I had her move in with me as a favour to HER .she had nowhere else to go!.. and look what happened!.. So there you go... I would just hand it back!.. BUT make her feel jolly well uncomfortable doing so...not an experience I would like to relive. She is out there somewhere probably scrounging off of other people.. I was told her parents move house every SIX months.. to avoid paying council taxes, tv licence and the rent!!!....they will be caught someday. This was in the UK.. by the way. good luck.. just leave it out on the street!.

Ha Ronda!. I am trying to keep busy too!.. am doing all my awful paperwork .. just to stay busy. My surgery isn't until 4pm (spain time) tomorrow. I leave the house at 1.30pm. I am even contemplating teaching in the morning just so it flies by a bit quicker!!.. not sure I can hang around my room and repack my bags half a dozen times!.. taking the kids to school is probably my best bet! .. GOOD LUCK!!. and happy dusting!! lol (just off to re-organise and alphabetise my library!! )

Best wishes to you Apple!!.... thinking about you!!! (note to self.. shave pits and legs b4 departure tomorrow! ha thanks for that one!!!)

I am so glad I am not the only one freaking out!.. it is really hard to explain how I am SOO excited.. nervous.. apprehensive all in one!..I haven't felt even the tiniest bit nervous until today.. so I guess it is all coming out!. I will be fine tomorrow.. ... I guess it would be better if I had a family member or close friend with me to vent too.. but I don't have anyone other than you guys to talk to .. so I guess this is my way of getting it out of my system!!.. freak out online!! haha. I am planning on baby steps.. My wonderful family tell me on the phone sometimes "oooh.. think how much you will have lost by the time we see you at Christmas"... but I try not to think that far ahead.. I just want to make the changes and see day to day what will be will be!. going for a cup of hot chamomile tea.. CALM!! ha.. and a lavender bath this evening.. mm should do it !

Good luck Apples!.. thank you for your kind words. I will be thinking about all of you 17's today!.. ... just the start of good things!!!!have a great recovery!.. and I will 'see' you on the other side!!... so good to have this board for support!..

Gosh! lots of teachers!!... this surgery should be subsidised!! I am a private teacher. I am from the UK but now teach a VIP family in Miami, Caribbean and Europe... family live in UK, NZ and Aus.. Getting this done in Spain (TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and then head to the US end of August. ... hoping to find a great fill doctor there.. LOVE THIS WEBSITE!

Thanks!! I AM BREATHING DEEPLY!!.. I am actually deliriously nervous!! .. I am EXCITED and NERVOUS and APPREHENSIVE..all in one!.. A friend (not close ) offered to come and stay with my overnight.. but I had to politely decline.. I am not nervous in that sense.. I won't do anything silly.. or cry.. but I do wish to go through this VERY personal experience alone..and wake up with my new friend .. this needs transition time and I really don't need someone else there asking every five minutes how I am !... Going to get the overnight bag packed.. pj's, toothbrush/paste, change of undies, lipbalm and ipod... DONE.. not too much. Would be nice to have some family here right now though.. kind of sucks that part.. hey ho.. will be over sooner than I think.. THANK THE LORD FOR THIS SITE!!!!... Cathy you are amazing!.. I love reading your daily countdowns for everyone!.. now it is MY TURN!!!!..never thought it would be! CHEERS!

Two words describe how I am feeling this morning.. "OH CRAP" I have repeated said phrase over and over.. under my breath!... ... I have been as cool as a cucumber about my 'procedure'.. really not nervous at all.. and hardly thinking about it actually.. THEN I woke up this morning and started to feel really anxious... saying silly things in my head to myself.. "ok.. last day of eating what I want without thinking (well aside from sensible pre op choices)... last day of bathing in the tub for a while, last day of swimming in the pool for a while... last day to sleep without discomfort for god knows how long??'.... EEEEKKKKKK I know the pros outweigh the cons by a long shot!! and I hope that I can add 'last day at 109kg!!!"... so I am looking forward to it aswell.. BUT BUT BUT . ...I have woken up and feel so nervous now!!!!!!...it isn't really the pain I am worried about either.. just the whole change in lifestyle!... and hoping I can handle it without drawing too much attention to myself!.. It is like.. "go to sleep feeling perfectly ok.. wake up!.. and have this THING to concentrate on!".. What will it feel like??.. How is it going to affect my daily life (aside from eating).. am I going to have to think about it being there all day long OR worse. am I going to forget it is there and boom block up the stoma with a piece of something... ???.. anyway.. GOOD LUCK 17'S.. BRING IT ON 18 !!!... I MAY BE NERVOUS BUT I AM AS READY AS I WILL EVER BE!!! Thanks for letting me vent a bit!!! ha..will be ok... will be ok... QUIVERING WRECK.. am in school right now.. kids on a break.. and all I can think about is tomorrow afternoon!.. May decide not to work in the morning???.. or should I? to keep my mind off of it??.. oh heck.. haha Just ignore me!.. Just as well none of you can see me right now.. I am walking back and forth forgetting what I went into rooms to pick up.. forgetting what I called someone for!.. distracted somewhat!.. ok.. going now!.. Kizzie

Two words describe how I am feeling this morning.. "OH CRAP"... I have been as cool as a cucumber about my 'procedure'.. really not nervous at all.. and hardly thinking about it actually.. THEN I woke up this morning and started to feel really anxious... saying silly things in my head to myself.. "ok.. last day of this... last day of bathing in the tub for a while, last day of swimming in the pool for a while... last day to sleep without discomfort'.... EEEEKKKKKK I know the pros outweigh the cons by a long shot!! and I hope that I can add 'last day at 109kg!!!"... so I am looking forward . .... just so nervous now!!!!!!...it isn't really the pain I am worried about either.. just the whole change in lifestyle!... and hoping I can handle it without drawing too much attention to myself!.. anyway.. GOOD LUCK 17'S.. BRING IT ON 18 !!!... I MAY BE NERVOUS BUT I AM SO READY FOR IT!!! Thanks for letting me vent a bit!!! ha..

Welcome!!!.. I reside in Miami for about 4 months of the year.. so am looking for a fill doctor there.. (will let you know if I find a good one)... YOu will find all the information you could possibly need here. I am being 'banded' on Wednesday in Spain.. and have been ADDICTED to this site since discovering it a week ago!.. Good luck!!!.. and big virtual hug!!!

Thank you for sharing your story.. It wasn't too long at all.. not for us in PRE OP stage.. I am 'digesting' (no pun intended!!).. everything I can read about this surgery and post op.. so I am very grateful to you for sharing.. Congratualations! and keep up the good work!.. I will join you on the OTHER SIDE on Wednesday!!!!

I have been scouring the internet for liquid Protein drinks like Isopure.. I was quoted 245 Euros for some nasty Prosure milky vanilla drinks.. (18 servings)... and thought "THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE!!!"... So here it is.. Have NO idea what it tastes like. but need it, so have ordered it.. it is from Health Muscle & Fitness - Heroes Muscle I have found 'Reflex whey Refresh".. it comes in three flavours.. Rhubarb, Fruit Punch and Orange... 500ml gives 40g of protein!..It comes in sports bottles. 39.85 (GBP) for 20 bottles. so that will give me almost 3 weeks of protein... before I hit the Protein shakes stage have just ordered a case... they DO deliver to Spain (from the UK)... Bariatrics.com have a great Liquid Protein 'PROSTAT" 1ml = 15g of protein.. comes in Vanilla/honey, Wild Cherry and Butter Pecan..$31.99 for 30oz (Bariatric Diet | Bariatric Diet Foods, Bariatric Protein supplements & Vitamins | Bariatric Weight Loss Products) but don't deliver to Spain.. so will stock up on that when I get back to the US in September!!... Hope this helps!

OK I HAVE ANSWERED MY OWN QUESTION! I have found 'Reflex whey Refresh".. it comes in three flavours.. Rhubarb, Fruit Punch and Orange... 500ml gives 40g of protein!.. have just ordered a case... they DO deliver to Spain (from the UK)... Bariatrics.com have a great liquid Protein but don't deliver to Spain.. so will stock up on that when I get back to the US in September!!... Will post this on food and Nutrition.. aswell as Pre Op questions..

HURRAH!!!! well done you!!!... How exciting!!!>. I have my surgery on Wednesday..and currently getting all my liquids bits and bobs together.. I hope to be celebrating 11 days after that!! hurrah!... I have a feeling my beautiful big 38HH will drop... blub.. but HEY there is always reconstruction!!!.. YEAH FOR YOU!!!...

.. are any of the isopure powders for the clear stage??. I have seen one in 'punch' flavour in the UK but it is a powder to mix with Water??. Is the glass bottle variety only called 'ISOPURE".. or does it have a secondary title??? thank you!!!! you are a life saver!!!

Hello ! Thank you for that suggestion!. I shall have a look online and see where I can obtain ISOPURE from.. maybe there is somewhere closer than the US...

Hi.. I am in Spain and trying to prepare my 'clear fluids' stage of this surgery before my op on Wednesday. I have just tried to buy "liquid protein" and all they could show me was 'prosure'.. similar to Ensure in the US.. but I have a problem on two counts. 1) it is a creamy vanilla.. not clearn and 2) they are 8 Euros a serving!!!.. (a carton)... so I told the pharmacist to forget about it. They do have 21g of Protein. Can anyone suggest another good source of daily protein when in the clear liquid stage???.. I have bought ingredients for different broths etc.. but I would really like to find a good Liquid Protein to make sure I am getting enough, healing correctly and doing this properly. I am in southern Spain so I think I may have to ship something here. Either from the UK or the US.. I am not sure if I am allowed to ship but will try. Please advise.. I would like to be prepared when I go in. Otherwise I will wait until I am in the hospital (overnight stay) and see what they feed me.. I will just ask them if I can take some home!!.. I have my liquid Vitamins and liquid painkiller.. so 2/3 of the way there! cheers!! Kizzie

Thanks Tres Chic.. that was really lovely of you to post such an inspiring message.. I am trying to gain as much advice as I can.. there are so many different stories out there.. I just want to be prepared for how I will feel after my op.. I spend most days on this website..and count my blessings that this site is here!.. I have learned so much from this site alone.. I could really do with a three stages menu list though.. just to be sure.. I can't find one on here.. everything seems quite spread out.. and then I get confused to when I can introduce things like mashed avocado and soft chicken!...

wow! that is an incredible success story and quite inspiring!!.. corr I dream of being a size 16!!!.. lol.. My surgery is next Wednesday (18th). I was wondering about plastic surgery later on down the line.. hoping I am as successful as you. My stomach hangs down a bit even with all my fat.. so I am guessing it will pretty much stay there until I have it chopped away. But that is for later... right now i need to concentrate on my procedure next week. I have watched many surgeries online.. so know what will happen once I go in..

Hi Julie Thank you so much for offering your support. I do need help with this as I am so alone where I live/work. My parents have been wonderful and tell me to call them anytime day or not if I am concerned or just want to talk. But I really don't want to wake them up. I have had a few good days since my surgery date was given to me. Although I have been told to go on a diet. I know I should cut things out now.. I am slowly saying goodbye to some old 'friends' in other words .. juicy steaks! ha.. and fibrous veggies... but I do feel like I am really eating a lot and justifying it because I won't be able to in a week.. Bad I know.. and I will try from now to really concentrate on being as healthy as I can for my surgery. Two years!! wow..CONGRATULATIONS!! you are doing so well!!.. how has your journey been?.. I would love to hear your story! I am quite nervous now about the actual operation .. and of course waking up and feeling pain. I am hoping to be back in shape as quickly as possible as I only have a week off of work. My mind is set for the changes.. but I know I have habits that will take time to alter. For example.. gulping down drinks when I have finished eating.. (water usually.. I rarely drink soda... but will miss sparkling water!!)...oh and of course taking tiny bites and chewing properly. I am currently making my shopping list and organising it for the three stages. So, trying to figure out exactly what I should be eating when I get home from the hospital. (the clear liquid stage) and what I need to take to the hospital. I am having my surgery in Spain, but will be moving to the US in Miami(I move every 3 or 4 months with my job).. so also have the stress of finding a fill doctor!.. there don't seem to be many in the S FL.. region.. all further north.. so not quite sure what I will do yet.. anyway. I have waffled enough ( you can tell I don't talk to many people!!.. well about this anyway! I try not to concern my parents as they feel pretty bad that they can't be here for me..bless them)... I hope I am not all doom and gloom!. I really am so excited to find my old self again.. and find that I am new and improved!! Thank you again so much for offering your support. I am so grateful to you!. Louise

Congratulations on your op!.. I have 6 days left until I go in for my 'band'. I understand what you say about missing out on the social aspect of eating. I have always been a great entertainer and known for my great dinner parties and buffets etc.. I love to cook and feed people.. and I love to taste!.. Christmas will be really hard this year as I always cook for my whole family and enjoy preparing all the little things.. and of course eating them.. .. but.. for the sake of one day out of the year.. I would prefer to be in a smaller dress size!.. and not have such pain in my knees! and not feel my belly on my thighs!. I know I haven't had the surgery yet.. and in a week I will more than likely be screaming at myself.. "what have you done!?" but I will look back on these posts and remind myself of the bigger goal!.. and I will still enjoy cooking and tasting.. I just won't stuff my face to the point of explosion!!!.. and then go back for more.. . it will be very interesting this 'mindfull eating'.. Well done you..and keep up the good work.. surely a little watermelon juice isn't going to hurt you too much ??.. all the best!