Bimbabe
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Everything posted by Bimbabe
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What is the pre surgery diet?
Bimbabe replied to Lopez1978's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I agree with everyone else. I guess it is up to your doctor. My MD wants me on Clear liquids X 2 days, the day before, I have to take antibotics and MOM. That is it!:thumbup: -
From the album: Bimbabe's Journey-All pre-op
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Now I am conviced this is some type of marathon. It is also a test of my patience! I will hear (hopefully by Wednesday) about a date. As I apparently get closer, I am becoming a little more anxious. I have been reading the forums daily. There is an emotional component to not being able to use food as an outlet. So, I need to develop more healthy habits. Sounds good, right? Well easier said than done. I decided I may take up knitting again, something to do to keep my hands busy. At this point, I really just want to get it done and move on to the next step. I turn 44 this year, which I cannot believe! Time certainly has gone by quickly. I feel as though I need to catch up with my age. My brain is still only about 25!
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Congratulations!! October is going to be a memorable month for you!:thumbup:
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:biggrin:gottaloseit- Thank you for your words of encouragement. I also have PCOS, so between my medical history and family history, I am going with the RNY. I try to blog a couple of times per week, sometimes more. I will definately keep you posted. I expected to get a date on Wednesday 09/10.
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WELCOME!!!:thumbup:
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Hello and welcome! You two sound just like me!! I live in Atlanta and in 2006 I went to an information session with Dr. Scott Steinberg. I told my husband and my parents and they were totally against it! So much so, that I said, okay I will try the conventional way. So in early 2007 I went on WW and lost 30lbs (still nowhere enough as I am currently 269, I went down to about 240), only to gain back 40!! So then I took a break and tried a physician assisted diet in November of 2007. She put me on that phenteramine, which made me super hyper. I managed to loose 10lbs, but that was it. I then began thinking....what is it that I want? I am willing to make the lifestyle changes, but I need a tool! I have been dieting on and off for the past 25+ years and in the end, I remain MORBIDLY OBESE!!! For me, I have decided to do things differently, to use a medically safe tool in order to loose this weight once and for all. Intially, I was 100% for the lapband. However, I went to my PCP last week only to find out I have impaired glucose tolerance....AKA prediabetes. The lap Roux en y is a CURE for diabetes, and since I have diabetes in my family (mother, grandmother all aunts and uncles, brother on my mom's side). I decided what would be best for me is the roux en y. So, just to let you know, whatever you decide to do, make sure you are doing it for yourself!!!! They do not have to carry all this uncomfortable weight around, we do!! I don't have a date yet, I hope to get one on Wednesday. One more thing about BCBS, they are very good about approving as long as you meet the criteria. I was approved within 2 days and others in this forum have had similar experiences! They really helped me while I was waiting to hear, this forum is just a lifesaver!! If you would like, feel free to check out my blog.:thumbup: I wish you the BEST!!
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Helloooo!
Yes, you are more than welcomed to come to see us in Atlanta, I do not know how to cook soul food, as I am from the north and I am American Indian. BUT my hubby makes wonderful ribs, greens and grits! I can make you the BEST meatballs! Please let us know, you have a home here!!
xo Sue and Frank
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My Success Story/Journey with Lap Band
Bimbabe replied to faithfullybanded06's topic in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
You look GREAT!! Congrats to u! -
Hello gg!
I wanted to give you an update on my status. I went to have the upper GI and GB ultrasound yesterday. While there my surgeon and I began discussing the actual procedural technique as well as the differences between lapband and roux en y (I am a nurse practitioner, I am not sure if you know what that is, it is a RN with specialized training, masters degree, we can see patient and write prescriptions).
So we started talking, I had some questions. At the end we decided that I would be better off with the lap roux en y. My mother is Native American and we carry a gene in which we are prone to type II diabetes. While I am only catagorized as "pre-diabetic', it is just a matter of time before I develop diabetes. The conventional wisdom is not clear but the roux en y is a cure for diabetes! I think if I am going to undergo surgery, I believe that the roux en y is the best choice for me.
Unlike to band there are other considerations, I will need to take several vitamin supplements for the rest of my life. I will also need to have a B12 injection monthly! Not too bad, I can have a collegue or an assistant give it to me. At the worst, I can teach my husband, who is deathly afraid of needles... LOL....
So, while I am not going to be a bandster, I am going to stay on this site, as I have met so many great people (such as yourself) and have read so many inspiring stories, I really feel connected.
Keep vlogging! You don't know how much it helps me. I really look forward to it. My husband, Frank knows you and told me to tell you hello and he wishes you the best, as I do. You are becoming a friend and a part of my family.
Much love and God bless,
Sue AKA Bimbabe.
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For my preop I will only have to be on liquids for 2 days!! WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!! If I am going to be a bypass, can I still be on lapbandtalk???
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For my preop I will only have to be on liquids for 2 days!! WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!! If I am going to be a bypass, can I still be on lapbandtalk???
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When I woke this morning, I had planned on doing a quick blog before I went for the procedures, but I got lazy. Anyway, the upper GI and the GB ultrasound are done. The GB ultrasound was pretty routine, I just laid there while she scanned my GB, Kidneys, liver and spleen. NO BIG DEAL. The Upper GI was fine as well, with the exception of drinking that chalky barium! So, you drink the barium, swallow it and the tech has you hold your breath. Well, then you are laid down on the xray table and you have to roll from side to side (they want to watch the barium as it goes down into the gi track). That was it. Now the warning you are given is that the barium will stick to the bowel, so you need to drink lots of water and eat a high fiber diet. I can handle that.:smile: So, then I go to see Dr. Steinberg, I am all ready to get a date, I have my calendar, my hubby is with me, we go over the consents and.....NO DATE UNTIL THURSDAY:tt2:. Okay so the joke is on me. I guess the surgical coordinator person has to schedule the surgery. While talking with Dr. Steinberg, we came to the conclusion, that I will be better off with a lap bypass! I have pre-diabetes and I am already on Metformin for it and PCOS, so whatever, I am just ready to make the lifestlye change. I am ready to make the commitment to a new life and a new body. So while the finish line is still in the distance, I can see it. The most anxiety for me was waiting for the insurance approval. OH! One more thing. We discussed my goal weight. For me I would be happy at 155-160. Well his goal weight for me is 136! We started to buck about it, but then I told him to let me go through the surgery first and then we can talk about it more. I never wanted to be a toothpick and I think for me 136 will be too small! That is 134lbs!!! Soooooo overwhelming. I will write again on Monday.
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When I woke this morning, I had planned on doing a quick blog before I went for the procedures, but I got lazy. Anyway, the upper GI and the GB ultrasound are done. The GB ultrasound was pretty routine, I just laid there while she scanned my GB, Kidneys, liver and spleen. NO BIG DEAL. The Upper GI was fine as well, with the exception of drinking that chalky barium! So, you drink the barium, swallow it and the tech has you hold your breath. Well, then you are laid down on the xray table and you have to roll from side to side (they want to watch the barium as it goes down into the gi track). That was it. Now the warning you are given is that the barium will stick to the bowel, so you need to drink lots of water and eat a high fiber diet. I can handle that.:thumbup: So, then I go to see Dr. Steinberg, I am all ready to get a date, I have my calendar, my hubby is with me, we go over the consents and.....NO DATE UNTIL THURSDAY:tt2:. Okay so the joke is on me. I guess the surgical coordinator person has to schedule the surgery. While talking with Dr. Steinberg, we came to the conclusion, that I will be better off with a lap bypass! I have pre-diabetes and I am already on Metformin for it and PCOS, so whatever, I am just ready to make the lifestlye change. I am ready to make the commitment to a new life and a new body. So while the finish line is still in the distance, I can see it. The most anxiety for me was waiting for the insurance approval. OH! One more thing. We discussed my goal weight. For me I would be happy at 155-160. Well his goal weight for me is 136! We started to buck about it, but then I told him to let me go through the surgery first and then we can talk about it more. I never wanted to be a toothpick and I think for me 136 will be too small! That is 134lbs!!! Soooooo overwhelming. I will write again on Monday.
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Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference Robert Frost
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Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference Robert Frost
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Sometimes I feel like I am in some sort of weird race. Really a marathon. There is so much prep work before having surgery, it gets to be a little overwhelming. Tomorrow I go for an upper GI and GB ultrasound. After that appointment, I will see Dr. Steinberg and get a date. I have been on the forum reading daily and it seems as though most physicians put you on a diet. A liquid diet. Okay! I obviously have food issues and so I am going to be challenged if I am placed on a diet. It seems as though the diet is to prep for surgery (attempt to make the liver less fatty). But I also see it as an oppertunity, albiet challenging, to start my new more healthy life style. There are so many unknowns. 2 weeks out of your life may not sound like much, but for me, a liquid diet for 2 weeks sounds impossible. I must focus on this as an oppertunity to change my eating habits. I need to become more aware of not only when I eat, but why. I have read some blogs in which people are greiving the loss of their previous relationship with food. It seems as though there is some emotional pain with it. I can understand. Food is always there for me. If I am happy, sad, angry, celebatory, bored, enthused, food has always been there. Things are going to be different. My relationship with food needs to change from an emotional buddy to a tool. A tool which gives me energy to live to breathe...energy to develop other realtionships. I am an introvert. This entire experience, blogging, posting my pictures online, is so different for me. I am not comfortable with people looking at me, knowing who I am and how I am feeling. If someone is actually reading this, , that scares me. However, I think it is therapeutic for me to do this. I need to become more open with myself and others. So, tomorrow, I will get closer to the finish line. I will have my testing done, get a date and possibly a 2-week diet. "sigh". I will write more tomorrow after the testing. I am feeling pretty good right about now.:smile:
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livingmydream,
Thanks for your input on my blog. I have decided to tell my husband, for obvious reasons. I will tell my parents, I think it will be therapeutic for me. I have some issues with them and for me, telling them will also be telling them that I am a grown woman capable of making decisions for myself. Does that make sense?
One of my issues is that I tend to be a people pleaser, at the detriment to myself at times. My parents want me to loose weight, but they want me to do it THEIR way.
I just really feel it is time for me to step out of the shadow of my silblings and be myself.
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Hi philly2dc,
I just checked my blog, thank you for reading and responding.
I have BCBS ppo, and had to do the following;
pulmonary clearence
see a psychiatrist for clearence
see a nutritionist
have a BMI of 40+ OR 35+ with one or more comorbidities, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea.. for the past 5 years.
have a sleep study done
get a letter of need from my PCP (in my case, I used my OB/GYN as she is the only one I have seen consistantly over the years)
Some insurances also want documentation of previous weight loss attempts-I called weight watchers and was able to get my history, I joined (and failed) 15 times!! Also, I have records of joining (and failing) Jenny Craig and NutriSystem.
Let me know if you have any other questions, I will be happy to answer them if I am able.
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Hello Anne!
I just posted another blog and to my shock and surprise, people have read it and responded!!! LOL, what was I thinking?? Isn't that why I am blogging??
Thanks for your words of encouragement. I really appreciate it. Have you been approved yet? If not yet, I hope really soon.
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Sometimes I feel like I am in some sort of weird race. Really a marathon. There is so much prep work before having surgery, it gets to be a little overwhelming. Tomorrow I go for an upper GI and GB ultrasound. After that appointment, I will see Dr. Steinberg and get a date. I have been on the forum reading daily and it seems as though most physicians put you on a diet. A liquid diet. Okay! I obviously have food issues and so I am going to be challenged if I am placed on a diet. It seems as though the diet is to prep for surgery (attempt to make the liver less fatty). But I also see it as an oppertunity, albiet challenging, to start my new more healthy life style. There are so many unknowns. 2 weeks out of your life may not sound like much, but for me, a liquid diet for 2 weeks sounds impossible. I must focus on this as an oppertunity to change my eating habits. I need to become more aware of not only when I eat, but why. I have read some blogs in which people are greiving the loss of their previous relationship with food. It seems as though there is some emotional pain with it. I can understand. Food is always there for me. If I am happy, sad, angry, celebatory, bored, enthused, food has always been there. Things are going to be different. My relationship with food needs to change from an emotional buddy to a tool. A tool which gives me energy to live to breathe...energy to develop other realtionships. I am an introvert. This entire experience, blogging, posting my pictures online, is so different for me. I am not comfortable with people looking at me, knowing who I am and how I am feeling. If someone is actually reading this, , that scares me. However, I think it is therapeutic for me to do this. I need to become more open with myself and others. So, tomorrow, I will get closer to the finish line. I will have my testing done, get a date and possibly a 2-week diet. "sigh". I will write more tomorrow after the testing. I am feeling pretty good right about now.:thumbup:
I hope to get a date this Wednesday.