MissBS

I have been moody too. I think before I used food to comfort me when I got stressed, lonely, bored, etc. Now I am having to deal with these feelings without my buddy food. I am on day 12 of my 3 week pre-op diet and I have screamed and cried at things that seem so silly when it is all over. I'm sure I will be better once I'm banded and down the road a little way. I've noticed my family all have their fingers crossed... hehehehe.

Hi Hickman. Welcome to LBT. I am kinda new here and have my surgery scheduled for Sept. 12th. This site is the perfect place to have your questions answered, get pre and post op suggestions, and make friends. It is so nice to talk to people who know exactly what you are feeling. Don't ever feel that a question is silly - ask them all!!!! People are so friendly and willing to help!! Good luck with the insurance part of your journey.

Thank you. I LOVE this site. I did a lot of research before making my decision, but this site has answered SOOOOOO many of my questions. A lot of the fear of the unknown has been taken away and I am more prepared for my upcoming surgery, my recovery, and life with a band. Again... thank you all for your support and replies!!!!!! Becky

Thank you for your replies. I think I am going to get someone to watch her on Tuesday too. My mom can go with me on Wednesday and as long as I need her. She is 80 (although no one ever believes it - she drives, lives alone, and has a better social life than I do.. hehehehehe). I think with a tag team, we can make it. Restless... yes I am getting excited. It is still a ways away but I can't wait. I'm not nervous or scared... just ready!!!! Thanks for your info on the gas.

Hi. First of all I want to thank all of you who have answered my previous questions. As my surgery gets closer (Sept. 12th) I feel much better having had many of my questions and concerns addressed. I keep reading about gas. Could someone please explain to me how and why gas is put in. Is it always used? Walking and Gas X seem to be the solutions - any other suggestions. My other question - I take care of my 4 year old granddaughter every day while my daughter and son-in-law work. I am taking a week off to go to Houston for my surgery. I am having my surgery done on Friday and I am supposed to be back to work on Tuesday. Is this totally unrealistic?? I don't have to lift or carry much - but at the same time, she doesn't sit still much. Do you think I should get a sidekick to be there with me, try to find someone to watch her for another day or two, or do you think we will be fine? I'm pretty tough but I don't want to do anything that will slow my recovery down. Thank you in advance for your help!!! Becky

Not long to wait now!!! Good luck to you. I am on day 12 of my pre-op diet.... lucky you... 3 day I will keep you in my thoughts - let me know how everything goes. How exciting!!!!

Hi. I understand where you are coming from. All surgeries have risks. While reading posts here at LBT I have read some where people have had complications.... but in almost every one, they say if they had it to do over again, they would. The risks of carrying all this weight around scares the s--- out of me. I want to be healthier and live longer. So in my case, the risks involved in NOT getting the band far outweighed (no pun intended) the risks of getting it. It is a big decesion and if you do not feel it is the right thing for you, then you should not do it. Maybe a list of pros and cons would help. Good luck to you.

Hi Kesha. My name is Becky. My surgery is scheduled for September 12th and I feel like you do. I flew down to Houston (750 miles) on August 13th for my initial consultation, but haven't met the doctor doing my procedure yet. I will go back to Houston on Tuesday Sept. 9, have my pre-op meeting with the doctor on Wed. and then my surgery will be on Friday. I just keep reading information on this site and I have an ongoing list of questions to ask him when I get there. (many have been answered here, but some are questions that he needs to answer for me). Today was day 11 of my 3 week pre-op diet. I have 2 Atkins Advantage shakes a day and then 6 to 8 oz. of protein, unlimited green vegetables and 1 cup of fruit for dinner. It hasn't been bad. All doctors are different and the pre-op diets are all different too. Some people have no pre-op diet, some have ALL liquids..... just depends on what your doctor tells you. I don't have my band yet so I don't feel like I should answer your question about fills. Since I am so far from my doctor and I already have 5 post op check ups that I think I have to fly down to Houston for, I'm hoping that I can get my fills somewhere closer to home... we'll see. I'm getting a lot of frequent flyer miles and when this is all over I am going to treat myself to a vacation!! Good luck to you!!! I'll be looking for progress reports and hope all goes well for you!! p.s. - I may be old... ok I am old, but that turquoise writing is very hard to read

Pete. Congratulations!! My family is helping me too and boy do I feel lucky. You will find that without insurance, you can get the surgery done soon. I had my initial consultation on Aug. 13th and my Sept. 12th surgery was set up that same day. I wish you all the luck in the world.

Just wondering - what is on the menu.. hehehehe... for the day before and morning of surgery?? Just finished day 10 of 3 week pre-op diet, so go ahead and tell me... I can take it :biggrin: Good luck to you all!!!!

Atkins Advantage shakes - about 150 calories for 11 oz., 2g carbs, 1g sugars, and 15g protein. I really like them. I like the chocolate, vanilla, strawberry,..... didn't LOVE the chocolate mocha (but not BAD). I ordered some chocolate caramel mocha but they haven't come yet. No trouble getting them down. A little harder to find and do not go on sale often. Good luck to all of you shake drinkers. Just finished day 10 of 23 day pre-op

I love the kosher dills -they have always helped me with sweet cravings at night. I eat a spear and no longer want sweets. I have heard that the skin on fruits and vegetables give lots of people problems - not everyone of course. I am ADDICTED to red seedless grapes and I keep reading "no grapes". Maybe I will be able to eat them down the road - if not.... that's ok too. Nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels... right? Thank you all for answering my strange question!!!!

I LOVE pickles... no.... I'm a grandma... I'm not pregnant. Can you eat them after surgery when you get to solids??

Hi. I just completed day 9 of my 3 week pre-op diet. My surgery is scheduled for Sept. 12th. My pre-op diet is a shake for breakfast and lunch and 6 to 8 oz. of protein, unlimited green vegetables, and a cup of fruit for dinner. They said I could add sf Jello or pudding to my shakes but I really like the Atkins Advantage shakes. They don't taste bad to me and they keep me from getting really hungry. I was told no potatoes, carrots, and bananas. (of course no fatty foods, high sugar foods, pasta, etc.) Be careful when you buy shakes - my doctor said I could have Slim Fast Low Carb and I bough Slim Fast Optima - I had to take them back. Read the labels - some are better than others. Good luck!!!

Just finished day 9 of my 3 week pre-op diet... not bad for me. But.... if all I got was liquids for 3 weeks + after my surgery, I woudn't be able to refer to the paperwork because I would eat it. I would check with your doctor just to make sure. That is a long time to be on liquids only!!! Good luck to you!!

Hi. You've gotten lots of replies... which I might add, helped me too. I think you are very brave for being so honest in your post. Not many of us can read your letter and find things that didn't, or don't, describe us as well. It sounds like you are making your way to a decision. It is a big decision - take your time. I wish you all the luck in the world and this site sure is a good place to learn all there is to know about the lapband!!

Hi Dene. Welcome!! How lucky your husband is to have a wife/family who are so supportive. Seeing someone you love in pain is just as bad as being in pain yourself. I am scheduled for surgery on September 12th. I live in Albuquerque New Mexico and I am having the procedure done in Houston Texas. I am not using the insurance route so I don't know a lot about that, but if there are any questions I might be able to help you with, please feel free to ask. I pretty new, and certainly not an expert, but I'd love to be here for you if you need me. Good luck to you and your husband.

I think you should be giving us the tips!!!! Way to go!!!

Congratulations!!!! I am scheduled for my surgery on September 12th and today was day 8 of my 3 week pre-op diet. Thank you for the post - I am so excited and staying positive and you helped. I hope things continue to go well for you and you have a speedy uneventful recovery. Keep us posted. (ps - thin within - I love the Atkins Advantage shakes.)

Hi Neives. My surgery is scheduled for Sept. 12th too (we are in this together scalingdown08). Today was my seventh day of a three week pre-op diet. Not so bad for me. My surgury is out patient. I will be there for about 4 hours total. I am from Albuqerque New Mexico and having my procedure done in Houston Texas. The surgery is on Friday and I am staying in Texas until Sunday. Heck.... I have to be back at work on Tuesday - keep your fingers crossed for me

Hi Kara. My name is Becky. I have been battling my weight for many years now (39) and not doing very well in the war. I began researching the band online and learned a lot. I live in Albuquerque New Mexico and no one does the procedure here. I am flying to Houston Texas to have it done. I am paying for the surgery myself and feel very blessed that I can do that - with the help of my loving family. I knew I needed to do something about my weight and I knew that I did not want to go the gastric bypass route. Just didn't seem right for me. After all of my research, I knew that I wanted to have lapband surgery. I flew down to Houston on August 13th for my initial consultation and my surgery is scheduled for Spetember 12th. I am so excited. You are certainly at the right place to learn all about the lapband. This site has answered soooo many of my questions, addressed the concerns that I have, and the people here are SOOOOOOOO nice and supportive!! It is nice to talk to people who know EXACTLY what I mean. The procedure lasts about an hour, if even that. People who have gastric bypass lose weight very quickly... and usually lots of it. From what I have read, the lapband is different. Most people lose it slower - which I think is better. I'm sure there are many factors involved in whether people have to have cosmetic surgery after they are at goal - age, amount lost, your body... etc., but I know I've read a lot of posts from people who have lots large amounts that have not needed it. I have also read that MOST people do not experience much pain afterwards. Side effects or complications for this surgery are the same as any other surgery - of course things can happen. But when I weighed the risks I am taking getting banded with the risks of continuing carrying this weight around - and probably more, I did not have to think about it for very long. The people on here who have had complications say that if they had it to do over again, they would still have the surgery. I'm sorry this is so long and I certainly don't want to seem like I think I'm an expert - I am FAR from it. Keep visiting Lap Band Talk and I'm sure you will see the same questions and concerns you have on here. Good luck to you and your husband. If you have any easy :w00t: questions that I can answer, feel free to ask.

Just wanted to say good luck to you. It is so exciting to think about and hard not to get your hopes up. It sounds like you are on the right track and I will keep my fingers crossed for you!! Keep us posted on your progress in getting that date!!!

I would love to keep in touch.

Wow!!! I am excited for you and I don't even know you. When I read that your surgery is tomorrow, I got goose bumps. Good luck to you. Mine is coming up so I'd love to hear from you when you feel up to corresponding!! Again... good luck!!!!!

oops... i see you are 48... Monday night.. kinda tired. I am 53 and my surgery is scheduled for the 12th of September.