PSJ71

Restless Monkey, That is fabulous. Right now I'm dealing with the tummy grumbles and pangs due to the preop diet, but I can't even express how wonderful this will be to be able to go hours without feeling hungry. I just simply cannot wait to get there. :thumbdown:)

I love stories like this. This is exactly where I want to be. It would be so liberating to only need/want 3 meals a day. I so hope to be there one day soon! :thumbdown:)

How rude and from church too. I think I would have said,"Well, we were watching TAles from the Crypt last night and my gosh, YOU look just like the cryptkeeper, Amazing( and shaking head in amazement). And then, I would have said it again the next time I saw her )

Slpcat, How many days are you in? This is my second day. Feeling a little better. I took two Tylenol last night when I had my headache. It got rid of it. Oddly, I just cooked some dinner for my hubby and son and I did rather well. You are definitely right though, about having the band as motivation; otherwise,I would never make it through. It's helping me though to just go a day at a time and not think about the rest of the week and how much longer I have to go. I will say though, almost 2 down and 8 more to go lol :smile2: I also feel if I can make it through this and the following few weeks after the band, I can pretty much handle anything else that comes my way. We will be successful!! :thumbup:

Yesterday was the first day for me, and in the beginning I was fine, but by the end of the night I was STARVING LOL This is a breakdown of what I can have: Breakfast: SF carnation instant Breakfast 1 light yopliat yogurt any flavor. A.m. Snack: Atkins Advantage shake (any flavor) Lunch: Cambell's Soup at Hand-Classic Tomato SF jell-o chocolate swirl pudding SF Jell-o Gelatin (any flavor) PM snack: 8 oz V8 Dinner: 1/2 c low fat cottage cheese 1 C creamed (strained) soup Regular popsicle Bedtime snack No Sugar added fudgesicle This was the sample menu, but I have been following that. I can't go over more than 150 carbs per day and 50 to 60 grams of Protein a day. My hubby hid my scale this morning LOL I told him last night I wanted to weigh the morning of my surgery. I'd LOVE to have a salad by the end of the day :smile2:) We will make it though! It will be worth it. I keep thinking about possibly having only one or two incisions! That's my motivation!

I remember when I got my approval on the 17th!! I know how you are feeling!! Aetna has been wonderful to work with! I wish they covered fills. I started my preop diet today and will be banded on the 7th! Good going!!! :wink:) and Congrats!!

I started my preop diet today, which consists of no more than 130 to 150 carbs per day, 50 to 60 grams of Protein and this is done with mainly fluids. I can have unlimited SF Kool-Aid, Diet Snapple, Diet sodas, sf popsicles, SF Jello, broths and Soups (strained). I have a headache right now and I feel just a little shaky, but I will prevail. ) How is everyone else doing so far?

Hello beautiful bandsters! I will be banded in 10 days and my thoughts have just been so preoccupied with this surgery coming up. One of the things that I cannot imagine is actually ONLY eating 3 times a day at some point. When I went to my preop appointment for my nutritionist on Tuesday, she told me that after a certain point, I should only be eating three times a day. IF that is true then I absolutely cannot wait!! Nothing would please me more than to be comfortable on eating three times a day! So, for people who are near or at their restriction, do you only eat three meals a day and are comfy and happy with that?

You have a great point. I think I will start it when I get up in the a.m. :thumbdown:)

Okay, I work nights, 7 pm to 3 a.m. or later sometimes. My preop liquid diet starts the 27th. So, would you start it directly at midnight OR would you start it after you go to bed and then wake up? Might be a dumb question, but I was curious. :thumbdown:)

Hi Meghan, I think decaf would be fine, but I would be sure to speak to your physician about it. I can no longer drink caffeine and was actually glad I kicked that habit a few months back. I have ulcers I didn't know I had. Caffeine actually increases acids in your stomach, which is why I can't have it anymore. But, I would definitely talk to your doc about the decaf.

Yes, I had to go through it. It's no big deal. I didn't sleep well though. But, I am glad I did it; otherwise, I never would have known I had sleep apnea. If you want the surgery, then you will need to have the test. If it turns out you have it, then you will need to bring your CPAP to the hospital with you when you go. As I was told on my preop appointment on Tuesday, depending on how I do in surgery will determine if the anesthesiologist will have them put my CPAP on me in recovery. Honestly though, it's really not a big deal. Good luck, hon!

Well, let's see here. I guess I should just start at the beginning. I began my quest for lap band last July. I started the process by going to a seminar, actually two seminars by two different docs, in August and another in September. It has now taken about 8 months to finally get to my date!! It has been worth waiting for! I am so fortunate to have gotten approved so quickly and on the first time. I will be banded on July 7th. :rolleyes2:

Well, let's see here. I guess I should just start at the beginning. I began my quest for lap band last July. I started the process by going to a seminar, actually two seminars by two different docs, in August and another in September. It has now taken about 8 months to finally get to my date!! It has been worth waiting for! I am so fortunate to have gotten approved so quickly and on the first time. I will be banded on July 7th. :thumbup:

Congratulations on your band! I hope it's smooth sailing for you the rest of the way to your goal :tt1:) Can't wait until I'm banded. :thumbup:

Hello all, I am looking so forward to being banded and losing weight! I am fortunate enough not to have a lot of comorbidities except sleep apnea and my BMI. I just got my CPAP machine on the 22nd and this will be my third night wearing it and I am so sleep deprived from it. I know if I could just get comfortable, as I am a side/tummy sleeper, sort of on my tummy, but mainly on my side, I might get a good nights' sleep. But, I just cannot get comfy. I chose a face mask because I tend to be an open-mouth sleeper. So, last night, I tried to sleep on my side, but I woke up a couple of times because I was leaking air at the side of my cheek. So, I opted to sleep on my back and ended up with a crick in my neck, which was bad. I do have 30 days to return the mask for another one if this one doesn't turn out to be successful. Anyone have any suggestions that has sleep apnea and CPAP? Thank you for listening. :thumbup:

Mrsaxlrose All of us here have or do have a problem with food or stuffing ourselves to some point. I will be getting the band on July 7th. I feel that having surgery is my only chance at becoming a normal weight. I, for one, am thankful for your honesty, because I have many, many times ran through this very situation in my mind. I have always stuffed myself as well at one point or another, not for fear of being hungry later or anything, but just for the mere love of the taste of whatever I was eating. IN 2001, I lost a significant amount of weight by cutting out all carbs and doing high Protein that my trainer had me on. I lost weight fast, loved the way I was looking and then became pregnant. As soon as I started eating the carbs again, I felt like a drug addict. I could'nt stop eating mainly sweets. So, I am finding more and more in order for me to avoid this type of behavior, I am a person who HAS to stay away from those foods. For me, one little taste has proven to be a HUGE downfall. You have a long, long time to work through certain issues you may or may not have. Don't beat yourself up about it, get up and ride again. :confused:) Take care and good luck with your band.

Hi Rutiglius! That is wonderful you had a great experience!! I will have my band placed in a little less than 2 weeks. So, I really, really, hope that mine goes as smoothly. I wish you wonderful weight loss :confused:)

How do I get the sparkly freedom fighter banner down below?

Hi Thats, How is the diet going so far? I am not going to cheat either, as I have a chance to have the single incision operation!! I really, really want that. So it's important for me to follow this diet to a T. I start on Saturday so we will see how all goes!! :bored:

Hi Tracy!! Welcome and congrats on your band!! :bored:) I would say the majority of docs have the patient follow on a diet, but not all. I will have to start a 10-day preop diet on Saturday, no more than 130 to 150 carbs and 50 to 60 grams of Protein a day. Can't wait to see all of our progresses :thumbup:)

Mary, How is your diet going?

That's true, Lolagirlie. My husband is the one who actually talked me into having it done, just as a precaution. My doc "recommended" it, as he does to all of his patients. It would be great to have just for piece of mind.

Hi Headhunter! I attended two different seminars for two different doctors. The first one I almost went with, but as soon as he finished his 30-minute lecture he was out of there! He had about 10 minutes of questions and then he was out of there! He left the rest of the answering of questions up to some other staff. They were talking about all of these things that the insurance did not pay for such as the psych eval, which would have been 250 dollars. Nutritional consult with their nutritionist another 200 dollars, their "own" preop diet 200 dollars, postop diet 150 dollars. All of that the insurance didn't pay for. So, I called my insurance and asked about covering psych evals, nutrition consultations etc, and they told me yes they do. The NUT and the psychiatrist would have to be covered by my insurance, but they would cover it. I didn't like that about that doc. So, I attended another seminar with my doctor I have now. VERY meticulous during the seminar ( although he was a little late due to surgery) but very, very thorough! I asked them up front about the psychiatrist, nutritionist, etc. My insurance covered them all and I only had to pay 10 dollar copay each time. Except for the NUT class and that was 50, but still lots cheaper than the other doc. Also, my doctor has not lost a lap band patient. I don't know about bypass, as I didn't ask that. But, he is very careful and makes sure everything is safe for the patient before doing any surgery. I am on medication now for a peptic ulcer, but I can still have the band placed. He said once I am banded for a few months he wants to do another EGD to check things out down there. He stressed how important it is for me not to indulge in alcohol, NSAIDs, aspirin or even caffeine due to my ulcer situation. He sold me the first time at the seminar and I felt comfortable with my decision. I hope that answered your question If you want to ask me anything else, ask away.