NanaLaura

I am not so upset that this is going to take time. What upsets me is that I was going to have this done in Mesa and opted to wait and see a closer doctor once we knew we were moving. Three seminars later, three doctors later and a year and a half total and life circumstances not working in my favor. It is not a big deal, I will do what they want but it won't be easy and I was so ready. I was supposed to have surgery on Tuesday. You get phyced sp? up for that... It is all a paper chase, that is what is frustrating.. Laura

I thought I had given all information that my doctor could possibly need for surgery. I saw him yesterday and we discussed the realize band. I left his office excited and optimistic. Today we are having to give more diet history and more support meeting history. I have moved, have a new doctor of two months and my old doctor lost her nurse practitioner to a move to another state. To get diet history from my old doctor seems bleak at best. To expect the new doctor of two months to be willing to send a letter of diet history may be a little unethical. At this point I just don't know what else to do. I asked my current primary doctor if she is willing but I am in a waiting pattern. Why is it so freaking hard to try to get healthy? Two days of jumping through hoops... what a bummer. Ok I vented, didn't help! Any ideas? Laura

Chi and Kiz, I have been looking at the site too. I am really excited about it. I will do more reading and I like the idea of the doctor being able to keep track. I just wish I had a date for surgery. Laura

I just met with Dr. Burpee and Sonia. We discussed the realize band and the support group that is associated with it which your doctors monitor. I found it interesting. The doctors can keep track of your progress and make suggestions online and if they feel that you need to come in sooner for an appointment then they can suggest it or help in other ways online. It sounds like the realize band is a little different than the lapband. Do any of you have information? I am on new turf. Just know that this is the route that Dr. Burpee would like to see me go and so I agreed with him. I would like to be a little more informed from those that are using it. Got lots of answers today so I am happy but I won't make the September 16th goal for surgery. They didn't get all the paperwork back soon enough. Bummer! Really bummed about that. Thanks for all your help in the past. Laura / NanaLaura

Ernie, I am glad that you are doing well. Hi All, I am kind of bummed, I may not get the surgery on the 16th, there are some insurance requirements for paperwork that have to be met that we did not anticipate. That is all complicated with the fact that we moved from Mesa to Vail in February. So what I started in Mesa had to be re-started here in Vail with the Tucson choices. That meant yet one more required lecture for which I am grateful but none the less had to repeat before I could see Dr. Burpee. Dr. Burpee's lecture really tied up loose ends for me emotionally and mentally so I don't regret that at all. But dang! I am ready to get this done and with the move to Vail I have to kind of back track, it is a bummer! If a person has been fat all their life how come this program can't be easier? It is a life saver compared to the fat issues. Sorry, just had to vent! It will all work out, I know that but it is a bump in the road and I want it to be smooth sailing to the surgery and the road to recovery :-) Laura Porter

Lowbmier, If all goes as scheduled I am due for surgery on tuesday! It is constantly on my mind but not much for nerves probably until Monday. I was not required to do a pre-op diet and I am a little concerned about that. I think I will just cut way back starting today. I was just looking at this great site and think I may order the vitamins from her. It is bariatriceating.com What I really liked is the suggestions for foods. Since I have little information in that regard I really appreciated this site. GL with the nerves and the surgery..... I am right there with you! Laura

Joy, Thank you so much for that website. It is the answer to a prayer. I had no clue what to do post op. My Dr. does not require a pre-op diet and I was struggling with what to do after the surgery. This looks like a great site. Thanks, Laura (Waiting for insurance approval for the 16th)

Hi, I am being banded on the 16th.... Maybe you guys can find the good stuff and share :-) Just teasing, my doctor does not require a liquid diet prior and I am thinking that maybe I should just take it careful anyway. Good luck to you guys... Scarey huh? Laura

Hi Terilynn and all, Well since we just moved in to a mobile, I will continue organzing it so that I don't feel the need to do something I don't have any business doing once I have the surgery. I will shop for things that I will need after surgery to make this change as easy as possible by not wishing for Jello, liquids etc. Hubby will be working so that won't help but will probably go on a ride on Sunday since the desert is so gorgeous right now... Since I do photography, I may stop work and edit photos, that always consumes me.... Nothing too exciting huh? Anticipating the day... September 16! Laura

Hi there, Since I am being banded on Tuesday, I am thinking that maybe I should do some shopping. Can you tell me what you had on hand for when you came home from the hospital? So far I don't have any of that information and thought I should be prepared. Eating less is one thing but having nothing in the house that I can eat is something else indeed. I know that you are first restricted to liquids but what then? Thanks, Laura

Teri, The 16th? That is when I go with Dr. Burpee. I am glad it is just after the weekend, we will be busy and I won't get too nervous until Monday. I am kind of scared. But also excited. Laura

Sorry but 1oz of oatmeal is not a breakfast thats whats left in the bowl when your done. I looked at WW but I dont need someone to weigh be and give me a good boy yoiu lost 2lbs this week and since I dont make the meals at home a lot of the cooking info goes to waste. The comments you made above seem like you are not ready to make the commitment that will have to come with the lapband. You can cheat and it sounds to me like you will fall in to that mode. When you come to the point that some of us are at and you will do anything you can to just feel better and will not make excuses for your shortcomings you will be ready. That sounds harsh but I have been there,,, and now I am here... sick to death of feeling lousy and sick to death of being unable to play with the grandkids like I would like to. Sick to death!!! and so sick you feel like you will die if you don't do something different. That would be me. Today I got some answers about my surgery and it is scheduled for the 16th. Thank God! My doctor does not require a diet before surgery. I really have mixed feelings about that. But I am finally scheduled! Thank you for all your support and patiently answered questions. Laura

Looks like it is September 16th for me. I did get some questions answered today, thankfully! My doctor does not require a pre-op diet. I still feel like I should do something? What do you think? Now I am wondering what to expect. What do I expect in the hospital and then again when I get home? We are in close quarters and I have to go up two steps to the bathroom. Is this going to be a problem? Good Luck to all the September Bandsters! Laura

I have browsed the posts but don't see anyone posting about a pre-surgery diet required by Dr. Burpee. The communication with that office seems minimal and I have a problem getting through and getting answers which is frustrating but I am told that Dr. Burpee is excellent so I hang with it. I wish someone kept closer touch. I have had all my consultations accept for photos I think and I hope a last visit with Dr. Burpee prior to surgery. My concern is that Sonja called and said they are scheduling for September 16 and I have not been told anything about a pre-op diet. I don't know if Dr. Burpee requires that or not? Even if he does not, I would like to go liquid for a while before surgery, I just think it is best to shrink the liver, etc. Does anyone out there know if Dr. Burpee has a pre-surgery diet that he requires? Has anyone else had problems getting through to a person in that office? My concern is after surgery complications and not being able to get through to ask a question if I need to. Thanks, Laura

Hi Big Jim, I am happy that you found yourself able to make that dicision. I worried this a long time. And I probably willl right up to the day for the surgery. I am in the waiting period now, just waiting for the phone call. Good luck and maybe you will be in surgery by the time I am :-) Laura

Could I ask what helped any of you choose the lapband over the other surgeries? I have been doing a lot of reading and it seems like some of the issues with the lapband are a bit more annoying than the other surgeries? What about slippage? I understand it is quite painful. I know that Dr. Burpee does some double stitching, etc. That gives me some peace but sometimes I wonder if the other isn't a better choice. Once healed you should be good forever? As long as you work the program as we all should? I think that the decision making process is probably the worst. Once the surgery is done you don't have to worry about making the right decision anymore. Thank you to all of you who addressed the pigging out / panic eating questions. Even though I don't eat anything all that exciting as a general rule, the thought of perhaps never eating some foods, kind of set me off. If seems like us newbies are kind of high maintenance, thank you all for your patience. We need the voices of experience. Laura

Big Jim, I went to three seminars before deciding to get the surgery, one in Scottsdale and one in Mesa and now in Tucson. I didn't get a warm fuzzy feeling until I went to the one in Tucson. I was impressed with the information offered at the seminar held by Dr. Burpee. However, I wish there was more contact as you go through the process of getting to the surgery. I still don't know when I see Dr. Burpee again and I still don't know is all my documentation is in. I wish someone would kind of just keep in touch. I went through the seasawing of choices. I wanted the sleeve but it is not approved through my insurance. My choices are the bypass or the lapband. After finally talking to lapbanders, I am comfortable with the lapband choice but for a time there I felt very indecisive. I wish you luck and maybe to keep in touch,,, I am hoping for surgery in September. Laura

Since I know more people that have had the gastric bypass or the sleeve I am getting confused. It seems like the lapband is a little more flexible for food intake. My friend with the sleeve is not able to eat certain foods at all and he is a year out. Thank you for your kind responses. I only hope now that I am accepted because my PCP just told me that she can write the referral letter but not a weight loss history since I am a new patient. We just moved to this area. Now I will have to contact my old doc and see if she will write a letter. How motivated will she be? A bump in the road I guess. Maybe BCBS will be flexible... I hope. Laura

Hi, I am finally finished with all of my appointments and waiting for a surgery date. I find myself wanting to pig out on everything, thinking that these are things that I will never eat again. I also feel guilty and feel like I should be making a big effort to lose some weight for the sake of the surgery being easier for the surgeon. I am sure others have felt this way. I am just looking for suggestions and would love to pair up with some of you who have already passed where I am at and someone that is at the same place that I am so that we could support each other through the process. I am looking forward to the surgery but also a bit aprehensive. Laura