Kellster

My surgeon wants me on a two-week, 1000 calorie/day liquid diet. In prior appointments, the staff told us that Dr. Quilici prefers two weeks because most obese patients have a lot of belly fat, and a lot of fat in their liver - which is right on top of the stomach. The liver is a big organ, and is full of blood vessels so shrinking it as much as possible will help avoid any complications or lacerations during surgery. Dr. Quilici has been doing bariatric surgery for a while, and has found that when he makes his patients do the two week diet, the amount of issues with fatty livers are greatly decreased. Whatever I have to do to be healthy, have a clean and quick operation, and heal faster - I'll do it!! Now to get on a normal exercise routine... I feel like now that there's a light at the end of the tunnel, I want to actually get there faster. Amazing, isn't it?

May 12th for me! 8:30am bright and early!

Hip, hip, hooray!!! After 8 long months, I've FINALLY gotten approval to get the lap band!!!! I got the call today and called back like 5 times so I could schedule my surgery. May 12th is officially my "B-day" (band-day). Woohoo! I've been in hurry-up-and-wait mode for so long, now it finally feels real and it's GAME ON! I've gotten most of the pre-op appointments scheduled, now I want to go home and clean out any food that isn't band-friendly. Holy crap, in a little more than a week I'll be starting a liquid diet! My surgeon wants me to do two weeks of liquid before surgery, and the funny thing is that I'm excited to start it so I can start the weight-loss journey for real! I can't wait to get to know all of you and go through this journey together!

So I just found out my surgeon's office submitted for ins approval this past Tuesday... I'm hoping that since I've been obese for so long and did the 6 mo diet and all that jazz, that I'll get approved no problem. Please keep your fingers crossed for me! And I'm still hoping for a date in April, all I have left are a few pre-op tests and the pre-op liquid diet and I can do those no prob, right??? Weird part is that I totally dreamed about recovering from surgery last night. In my dream I was sleeping and then woke up and had to walk around the nurse's station (what my surgeon requires while I'm in the hospital). Holy crap it's almost real now! :confused:

Yay congrats! Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

Hey all! I'm still hoping for an April date (the sooner the better), but since I'm just applying for approval in the next couple weeks, I might end up in May. So I had to pop in and say hello! I just can't wait!

Hey everyone, it's great to meet you all! I'm excited to take this journey with you. I'm still nervous that I might not get a surgery date in April, but I'm optimistic! I have my last dietician appt tomorrow, then my surgeon sends in for approval and I should know hopefully sooner rather than later! In any case... I'm Kelly, 28 years old in So Cal (Pasadena to be exact). I'm single with no kids, but I did recently start dating a wonderful man who is supportive of my weight-loss endeavors and thinks I'm beautiful at any size. :thumbup: I'm 5'10'' and currently about 354 lbs, size 22/24ish. I've been obese for at least the last 10 years, it all started after I stopped playing year-round sports in high school and decided to focus on my studies (and keep eating the same junk!). I've tried tons of diets and weight-loss attempts, but started thinking about the band in 8/08. I'm way excited to take off this weight for once and for all, get back to playing sports, riding rollercoasters, shopping at more than 2 stores and best of all - skydiving!!!!! I've been too chicken to skydive at my current weight, afraid the parachute won't hold me (silly, but true). I love the beach, I want to learn to snowboard, and I can't wait to travel around the world now that my booty will fit in an airplane seat comfortably. The possibilities are ENDLESS! Woohoo! :thumbup:

My roomie was banded in March and her scars don't look bad at all! Of course, keeping them clean and dry in the beginning helps, and then you can always apply Mederma after they heal. I'm a clutz and Mederma always works for my other scars. Plus I'm taking Biotin (a supplement) which is supposed to be good for your hair and skin. Anything that can help, I'm tryin!

Yeah I'm sad about no gum, how can I conquer ye ole oral fixation? I've also heard that gum increases air intake which isn't good. Keep up the great work Bandster Bunnies! I'm getting close to finallyyyyy submitting for approval. Keep your fingers crossed!

Hello Bandster Bunnies!!! My roommate just got banded and she and I constantly talk about Non scale Victories (NSV), and I thought I'd start a thread for us to share what we're looking forward to beyond seeing the numbers drop on the scale. I have a bunch, but the ones that pop into my mind most often are: *Buying jeans that don't have stretch in them *Not having to pull my pants UP and pull my shirt DOWN when I stand up *Fitting nice and easy into airplane chairs, Starbucks chairs, bistro chairs, etc. *Playing sports again *Going swimming and enjoying it *NOT shopping at Lane Bryant anymore And just now I came face to face with one... **Actually weighing what I state on my driver's license!!!! I bumped it up to 200 a while ago, and to even be down to 200 will be a HUGE milestone. WOOHOO, I can't wait! :thumbup: What are some NSVs you all are looking forward to?

I'd like to get on that support group action too! I'm going to the 3/18 group at Providence St Joseph's to meet the requirement that Dr. Quilici has for pre-op, but I'd like a long term support group just for the band. My roommate just got banded, we live in Pasadena and are committed to making a change in our lives - a support group would really help with that. I have a high BMI (51ish) so Dr. Quilici seems to think bypass is better for me. However, I'm only 28 and don't have any other health problems besides obesity, and I prefer lapband over bypass (for MANY reasons), so I'm stickin to my guns and going with the band! Slower weight loss is ok by me, that means less saggy skin, less hair loss, and hey - it's adjustable for life! Come on now, bypass is just scary compared to the band in my opinion. :thumbup: Ok I got off track, but in any case I'd love to attend a bandster support group!

Hey people! It's getting close to April and I don't have approval or a date yet, but I'm still holding onto hope that I can get banded in April!!! I have one more visit to complete my 6 month diet, and then it's pre-op stuff from there on out. I just want it done NOW!

So my fellow Bandster Bunnies, it seems like April is so far away but really, it's right around the corner! Holy crap! Is it possible that in about two months or so I'm going to have had surgery and start moving toward my healthy body. :confused: Spring is a time of new beginnings and rebirth, and I can't wait to get there. I can't wait for rollercoasters and no more Lane Bryant and hiking in the mountains and going to the beach for FUN!

Attention all Bandster Bunnies! We're a little more than a month away from our new birthday month (at least that's how I'm thinking of it)!!! How are you all doing? What are you doing to prepare for the big day? Does anyone have their surgery date yet? I have a couple more appointments in March and I should be applying for ins. approval the first week in April - and darnit I better get a fast approval! My roommate is getting banded on 3/8, and I am so excited for her! It feels like we've been traveling down this road for so long, I can't believe we're finally here!

YAYYY! That's awesome! You're just a few days more than a month away!!

I've learned that every doctor is different, and it's really best to follow what your surgeon requires. Mine wants me to do a two-week liquid diet, 1000 calories/day. I don't get the specifics until my next appointment, but the general idea is that it's pretty similar to the first two weeks after the surgery. That way my body gets used to all liquid AND it vastly decreases the fat in the liver. The only prob is - if I'm keeping it quiet at work, how am I supposed to explain a liquid diet for two weeks?? Maybe I'll tell them it's some kind of master cleanse or something... My lunch buddy will be so bummed (haven't told him about the surgery and I'm not sure when/if I will). But then again, he'll have to get used to eating lots of food without me!

I've heard gallbladder surger is a great excuse if you don't want to say you're goin in for the band. I think it's done laproscopically as well... And they'll never really know!

I'm torn when it comes to this question. The logical side of me agrees with the NHI that sets the bar at a BMI of 35. The human side of me disagrees. I have a BMI of 51 or 52 depending on how tall the Dr thinks I am, and I'm blessed because being overweight is my only health problem. So I sympathize with people who have lower BMIs with no comorbidity that want surgery. But then I go with my roomie to her Dr appt and see a ton of what I consider moderately/manageable overweight people signing up for surgery and I question their motives. If I was 230 lbs I probably would not have the surgery, that's too much risk for me personally. Yet I don't know their stories, so how am I to judge? I think that the limits are there for insurance approval for a reason - the medical necessity of surgery and the risk of surgery are taken into account. However, I do think it's great that people can elect to have the surgery and pay for it on their own if they so wish. We do live in a world that judges based on appearance, I can't deny that. So rock on with your bad self, just be sure to take all the precautions you can - whatever your BMI is.

Ahhhh the endless debate. It's weird because I've told a wide variety of people... and I had sworn it was going to stay in a close circle. Of course my parents and sister know, but I haven't told any of my extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins) even though I'm pretty close with them. I guess it's because I've always been the one really fat person in the family, and want to sneak up on them. Teehee! I'm sure I'll eventually tell them the whole story, and I feel like they would be supportive if I told them now but again, I want to just surprise them. I've told very few people at work, only because I prefer to keep that stuff to myself. I told my boss so he'd know why I was out all the time (for the various appts) and he was VERY supportive... although he has a big mouth so I'm taking his confidentiality with a grain of salt. And I've told one other person at work that I know will keep my trust and is supportive. However, I work with a lot of ladies that are my Mom's age, and I know they would be supportive so I may reveal more once it's all done as well. If they don't know already... My best friends of course know, and it's funny - I tell other friends/acquaintances as I see fit. I don't tell everyone but if I feel "it" with them, I let them know and everyone has been encouraging. The one person that hasn't been as encouraging is a friend I made in the past year or so. I think it's because she hasn't seen my struggle for the past 10+ years of being overweight, up and down with different diets, trying everything and being frustrated. She gave me the same response your colleague did - "Why surgery? Can't you take it off 'naturally'? Just eat less!" Uh huh, if that worked for me I'd be in good shape now. I think you just tell the people that you know will support you, or that you feel it necessary to tell. It's all about you and your personal preference. And as far as I'm concerned - congrats and big thumbs up! :confused:

Rock on! This will be a great way to stay in touch with people who are on the same track. :thumbup:

Well it looks like I'll be an April "Bandster Bunny" too! I just finished month 4 of the 6 month diet and am finally having the tests done and a consultation with my new surgeon. My work has an exclusion for out-of-network surgeons so no go on Dr. Martin :thumbup:. But my new surgeon, Dr. Quilici, looks promising. I can't wait until April!!!!!!!

Sometimes it's good to be really overweight... I'm super morbidly obese so I don't have to worry about dropping below the BMI limit. That's one good thing for the insurance battle. At my consultation the other day, the insurance coordinator for my surgeon told me that my insurance (Aetna PPO) wants to see that I did the 6 mo diet but that it wasn't successful, and she indicated that they might be the kind of insurance that would balk at losing too much weight. However, I'm hoping my diet history which shows 5+ programs where I lost weight and then gained it back would be encouraging for the insurance folks to approve this surgery. Good luck to all! Jump through those fiery hoops and get it paid by insurance!