blklab70

I understood the protein would help with the toning of the skin. Our classes tell us to have about 60 grams a day. I do that with unflavored whey protein added to my meals. Would like to know what others have been told. Thanks.

K-Jan, I got tired of the shakes and now I am happy with the protein powder (unflavored) mixed in with instant breakfast. They taste great and you don't even taste the protein powder. I was banded on the 10th so I have been on these since Thursday the 12th. I just was not getting all the protein in that they suggest so the unflavored can be added to just about anything, even water. I put it in cream soup this afternoon and you would never know it was there. I got it at GNC but I am sure other places sell it too. The banana and the chocolate were recommended to me by a man who has lost a ton of weight, but I have not tried those yet. By the way, it is normal to be nervous. You will be ok. Good luck!

Mine is going great. A little sore, but nothing bad. Surgery was about 40 mins, but then spent 5.5 hours in recovery since they could not find a room for me. Ended up kicking a man out of a private room so I could have it! LOL Came home yesterday and although tired, not very hard to go through at this point. Tried some tomato soup for lunch and so far so good. No gas pains as I worried about. Dr Wetter is the best and I would recommend him to anyone and everyone. He is a true professional and I am so blessed to have him for my surgeon. One bad thing about the whole thing is the junk you have to drink for the xray! ICK!!! Good thing it was only a few sips. Nothing to drink for 24 hours then to have that be the first thing to pass my lips, well, it was terrible!!! I can not wait to see how we all do. Good luck family of Feb 10!

4david, I like the Atkins shakes. They keep me full till lunch or dinner. I use them twice a day. I was talking with a man at my doctors office yesterday and he likes the protein shakes from GNC. Says they have 20g of protein and taste good. I am going to buy some this weekend. I had pre-opp yesteday and go for surgery on the 10th. No pre-opp diet although I decided to go on the protein drinks for breakfast and lunch a couple of weeks ago on my own. I have lost 16 pounds! Best of luck to you.

Tiffany, my doctor has not said anything either, but I started seeing what everyone else was saying here and so I went out and got me some protein shakes. I take them for breakfast and lunch, no snacking and have a regular very small dinner. I had lost 13 pounds in the month from the first time I saw him till my second visit. I go to my pre-op on the 4th and my surgery is the 10th. Unless he tells me different on the 4th, I will just keep doing the shakes two times a day.

Emmage, it would not be normal for someone not to be a bit nervous about this. We have never been here before, it is something totally new to us. So it is ok to be nervous. You will be ok. You need to do somemore studying and see that the mortality rate is so very very low. You will be OK! You will look better, feel better and your chance of dying from an illness associated with being over weight will go away. That is much more to worry about than the surgery you have decided on. You made the right choice, all of us have made the right choice. If you are a religous person, pray about it, pray for assurance that you are doing the right thing. Meanwhile, we are all here for each other.

Melissa, that is what is so great about this site, you have lots of friends you just haven't met us all yet. Everyone is super great here. Any questions are answered by those who have been there already. Welcome to our club! We are all here for you.

I am on the band wagon on 10 Feb and could not be more happy. I had my first appointment on 22 Dec 2008, did all my evaluations within a month and saw the doctor again on 21 Jan 09. From there they submitted to my insurance and I got the word of approval on 27 Jan. Pre-opp is set of 4 Feb and surgery 10 Feb. I too am a bit nervous, but so excited to get this done and on my way to a new life. I am not on a pre-opp diet although I have been drinking protien shakes twice a day for about a month, not at the request of the doctor. I lost 13 pounds from first visit to second visit. thanks for the thread for our group!

I am in the process of getting insurance approval too. My doctor office says once that comes in (expected in a week or two) then I have an appointment with doctor and surgery is two weeks later. I am looking at Feb for my surgery. I have had very fast response from my insurance company. Good luck!

I chose to not tell my co-worker because I did not want anyone saying anything negative (you know they love to do that). I had told my boss, then I said what the heck and I emailed the office telling them that it was a matter of me living and my grandson said he did not want me to die. So I am having the surgery and I also asked that they be supportive. I would love to see them have this done so I did not want to keep it from anyone here. We are a very small law office of four people. All over weight, I say we are a large firm! So, when I am successful perhaps they will do something also. As for anyone else, I will tell them when they ask. I have no reason to not share what I have found.

One thing I have learned from being on this site is that there is much support for and from everyone. As such, we become friends in a long distance way. Friends do talk about other things. I have been on forums where people talk about losing their dogs and I can send my support for them since I understand that our pets are like family to us. So please forgive those of us who do talk about other things. It is our way of keeping in touch with the people who do understand us and support us through our journey. There are lots of threads that answer our questions and believe me I have learned so very much from everyone. I hope you can feel at home here and make some friends of your own who will talk to you about their lives and problems. Best of luck. I am here for you!

I agree with everyone else. You are doing great as long as the baby is growing and is where he/she should be. My daughter never gains anything during her pregnancys, in fact she always loses. she is not banded, but is a little chubby. Her doctors say that she is doing fine and she has healthy babies. I liked the suggestion that you find a doctor that has band knowledge. Not to change doctors but so you can talk to them to get some peace of mind. If you worry it is not good for the baby either. So, from this mom of 6, grandma to 14, you are just fine! Best of luck, enjoy for it does go so fast you will wonder where the time went.

I just made my first, second and third appointments to see the shrink. I did not think I would need to go more than once. Is this normal? How many times did you have to go? I know the referral says I can see them up to three times, I did not think that meant I had to see them three times. She has not even seen me once and has me scheduled for all three times. I want to get this all done before my next doctor visit on the 21st, but hey, three times! Maybe I am crazy!

I have not had the band yet, waiting for durgery date, but have seen my doctor. I put it this way, you know when you are on a plane and they are explaining the mask to you? Well they tell you that if you have a child you need to put your mask on first so you can help the child. Well, it is time for me to take care of myself so I can be there to take care of my children and grandchildren. It is time to take care of me. I can not wait till I can be on the same road with all of my new friends here.

You take as long as you need to get over this huge loss. On the morning of Oct 17, 1989 my beloved Rottndobie was in the back yard dying. I called our vet who had just seen him the day before. She said he was ok then, but came over to see him. Before she could get there he died. My world was totally ended, but at 5:07 that evening we had a 7.1 earthquake here in Northern CA and with our house sitting on liquified ground, we lost everything. I did not have time to cry over my pup (only 5 years old). Several weeks later the vet spoke with me and said he probably could feel the gound moving long before the quake hit, and he had a heart attack. I still cry over him, he was just the best dog and friend ever and although I have had several dogs since, he fills my heart with pure joy today in memory as much as he did when he was here. His collar is still in my jewelry box. So, allow yourself time, do not feel that you should not be hurting because our pets are some of the best family we could ever ask for. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

That was very informative. I had no idea that is why they ask you to go on that diet. I have my first appointment on Monday 22 Dec. I am learning so much from all of you who have done this already. Thank you for sharing!

You must not have read my request. I want positive. I have read your thread before. I don't need to hear that. I am sure the man would not be practicing if he were not good, I want to hear from people who aren't going to give me that kind of reply. So don't reply if you can not give me positive. I am going into a surgery that I have elected to do and I need to have the best thoughts with me, not the bad. Thanks anyway.

Negative about my doctor. He has the best creds. but people don't seem to like his bedside mannor. I can live with that, but I really need positive. Thanks!

I need to hear positive about my soon to be doctor. I have read all the negative but I need some positive. Can anyone make me feel better about my choice? He is so well qualified I really felt great about him, then I let the negative writing come into my head. Please help!