Ale78

I can't help but get on the scale...lol I am SOO impatient. But This AM 288!!! Wahoo! Of course I am starving but whatever...lol The last time I was under 295 was just before I got pregnant with my daughter in 2004! I am still having pains when I take a deep breath? Are you guys having that? Also I got the hiccups last night...I thought I was going to die! I had to take pain meds to get through it. I hadn't taken any since the night before. I also got out for a walk last night...that felt good! I felt like a real person...lol How are you ladies doing? ~A

The only thing I can think of is when I don't get enough protien my sleep is messed up. I have been a vegetarian for 18 years so it's always something I have had to work on. I am sure you are up on your protien too but maybe see if you can get an extra 20 or so grams in. Like a protien shake in the afternoon. I know we aren't supposed to snack but give that a try and see if it helps. Good luck to you! ~A

Well I went through the Park Nicollet/Methodist Hosp. I did all of the things they required. It took a little over two months to get all the appointments done. I am not sure what of all of that is required by most insurance companies but I had a feeling a lot of it is done for that reason. I have BCBS of MA. Once my packet of info was sent to them it took only a couple of days to get approved. then a few short weeks after that i had my surgery :wink:)

Hi Heather, I am from MN as well...Just had the surgery. There are a lot of appointments that you go to but they try to make everything as painless as possible. What hospital are you going through? If you have any questions throughout the process please feel free to send me a message! Good Luck! ~A

Hi Holly! As with most of us, I have been overweight most of my life as well. Your life will change in ways that are good. I lost a bunch of weight on my own before and the quaility of life is so much better I can't even begin to tell you. Esp. since you live in the sunny bikini-clad SoCal. It's hard not to look around and wish you could look like that. You didn't say how big you are but if you are already having problems I am guessing that you can't shop where ever you want? That is a big goal of mine. I want to be able to go into any store and not have to worry if they will have my size. I wish at 21 I could have used this tool to lose and keep it off. Now is good too though :thumbup:) Good Luck Holly...it is a big choice to make. You can send me a personal message anytime and ask any questions you may have. ~A

Hey Derbin! How are you feeling? I am doing pretty well...little sore...tons of gas! It actually hurts when I take a deep breath but other than that not too bad. The morning of surgery I weighed 293. The day after I weighed 303. It has been steadily going down though. I don't think we need to be worrried...It will come ) Take it easy :thumbup:) ~A

I haven't told anyone except my boss(who is also a friend) and my husband. All other members of my close family think I had a hernia operation. It makes me kind of sad that I didn't tell my Mom and My Sister but I have learned from expierience that they are not always my biggest cheer leaders. I do not regret it one bit that I haven't told anyone. You just need to do what you feel is right. Good Luck to us all! ~A

I am a post-bander now! So does that mean I get to be snobby now? lol I generally think we are all here to help each other out....no matter where any of us are in the process. ~A

Elle, I pretty much had a huge freak out the day before surgery. What am I doing, how will this affect the rest of my life, What if, what if, what IF? I had my surgery yesterday and I am fine and I look forward to the scale going down and staying down! You'll do great and obviously I think you are making the right choice. ~A

Hey Clyde! I was just banded yesterday too! So far so good. A little sore...how about you? I have been on this site since my first seminar. There are so many helpful and kind people here for support. Good luck on your journey! ~A

It will come back off AZ just don't get discouraged :thumbup:) Your body just needs to adjust to taking in a lot few calories. Keep track of your calories for a while and just make sure you aren't taking in too much or too little. To little it seems can hinder you almost as much as too much. I was banded yesterday...ouch! I can't wait for a week fom now! Good luck! ~A

Everything went well. I was able to get up pretty quickly after sugery. It felt so good to stand up and walk around. I have some tightness in my chest and I think the port area. And of course my shoulders...ouch I hope everyone else who got banded recently does well! Thank you all again for the encouraging words! ~A

Thank you! I do feel better today but I got my freaking TOM:cursing: I can do this! Wish me luck! ~A

I thought I wasn't going to freak out but I kind of am. It doesn't really help that I have a lot of other stress going on too...boo! I am hungry and pissed(sorry but no other word fits). I just need you to tell me that this will all go away :smile: Any other 25ths freaking like I am? Thank you! ~A

I was told to avoid it because it's hard on your stomach. I would certainly wait until you hear back from the Dr.'s Office though. If you don't hear soon, I would call again. I have back issues too so I can relate. I hope it gets better for him soon! ~A

One of the protien powders out there has a chicken noodle soup flavor...seems wrong lol but might be good. I think it might be Unjury...anyone try it?I too have had a little trouble sticking to all liquid. I have a couple of bites of low-fat cottage cheese and a few carrots and some strawberries. I find it harder when I don't keep on top of my protien shakes.Broth has helped too. At dinner time when the house smells of savory food, I make a cup of broth to sip.Also extracts have been key for me. I freeze my slimfast and then melt it a little and stick it in the blender. So right now I am having strawberry with Rum extract...oh yummy. It's thick and rich and feels naughty! Chocolate and Rasberry are really good too.I am dreading tomorrow because I am on all clear liquids the day before surgery. I am going to be crabby for sure! I wonder if those protien bullets count as clear? Anyone know? Maybe I will call and ask because protien really helps for that not-hungry feeling.Good Luck!~A

Derbin...I am in MN. I am actually headed your way at the end of April though. We have a place just off the beach in San Clemente for a week....I can't wait. I used to visit my cousins out there every summer but it has been almost 10 years now since I have been out there....can't wait to go home!(2nd home lol) Do you think I can lose 50lbs by then? Ha!

I could have had my surgery 11 days after meeting with the surgeon but couldn't because of work and husband's work related issues. But from the very first meeting with someone about it until my surgery date it will be 18 weeks exactly. So a little over 4 months. I would say dealing with insurance and all the appointments you have to do...this is about average for good insurance. If you are self pay it can go super fast. If you have insurance that doesn't want to cover it or has hoops they want you to jump through, it could be a year or more. If you haven't done so already I would call your insurance company and just see what there policy is on it. Just so you know and aren't shocked down the road. Good luck! ~A

Hey, I am on day 4. I do well unless I wait too long inbetween shakes. Then if I see or smell food I want it so much more badly than I would if I kept up better on my protien shakes. Also if you mix it up a little that helps. I just mixed some frozen blueberries in with vanilla protien...yum. I wonder if that is allowed? :mad2: Otherwise mix in extracts like mint,rum, and almond. I am sure there are tons more to try but those are the ones I have tried. Good luck! ~A

YES! I am the first one to hate dan2001xj! Um..Who's Dan anyway?

Hey! So I just started my 10 day pre op diet. So far so good. I prepared myself by cutting out Snacks already and having a few trial days of all liquid. My question is this...are there any other vegetarians out there that went through the full liquid, pureed and mushy stages? I am the first at my clinic and they really didn't have much in the way for ideas for me. I also don't drink milk and my clinic is big on pushing Milk at the begining(in between "meals")...nasty! I tried to do a search on here for previous posts of this nature but I feel like it's looking for a needle in a haystack sometimes. Thank you! ~A

100 gram...jeez! I was told a minimum of 55 grams. So any over that is good but at least 55 grams. It is funny how much every surgeon differs isn't it?

Hey Everyone I just wanted to let you know I created a Feruary 2009 Group in the groups section. It will be a good place for us to all come together and support each other! Thank you for all the responses on my family. I think I have just decided not to say anything and hope for the best :ohmy:) Good job to all the losers! lol ~Amy

I got my surgery date!! How are you doing? I go in on the 25th...Never thought I would say this about surgery but I can't wait!! lol

Thank you all so much for your input! I would just not say anything at all but I have a 4 year old daughter...so she may spill the Beans on me even though I don't really plan on telling her much. Who knew this would be the hardest part of getting prepared...lol