ShelleyB

Hi Gretchen,

How are you doing on your preop diet? I am doing okay on my liquid diet, but I have to admit there have been moments that I just wish I could eat anything other than a protein shake! I am sipping some vegetable broth right now. Today is rough being that it's valentine's day and we usually celebrate with a nice dinner....urgh! But, hey we can do it and it won't be long until surgery and before you know it we will be eating regular food again, albeit smaller amounts!! Good luck to you and I hope you are doing well!

Take care,

Shelley

Hi Laura,

I am so happy that your surgery went well and you are back home! Yeah!!! I know they say that the for the next few weeks, its really about healing and not so much about what you eat. Do you know if your surgeon filled your band? Some don't fill them until later and some fill them in surgery. Mine says he does it in surgery, so there is immediate restriction. I am excited and can't wait. This liquid diet is hard though, especially today on Valentine's Day, when we usually celebrate with a nice dinner. I just have to remember that soon enough, I will be eating regular food again and so will you! Take it easy and rest. Take good care of yourself. I have been on here alot the past few days for support, it really does help! Talk to you soon!

Shelley

Hi Laura,

I am so excited for you!!! Finally, surgery!!! I bet you are nervous, but try not to be! Had you already been on your preop diet before they canceled your first surgery and made you go through more tests? I guess what I am saying is, did you have to do the preop diet twice now? My preop diet is completely liquid diet! I am on day 2 and I am so hungry!! I sure hope it gets better, because I have to be on this for 2 weeks preop and 1-2 weeks postop! Best of wishes to you tomorrow! I will keep you in my thoughts!

Shelley

Hi. I wish they would let me do a diet like that with real food! Mine is putting me on a liquid diet called Optifast. It's 5 shakes a day...period. I hear the first few days are hell, but afterward it gets better. 2 weeks of that! Yikes! But I also hear that you can lose up to 20 lbs. on the liquid diet! It would be a good head start to the weight loss. Then I have to be on the liquid diet for 1 more week after the surgery. Good luck with your diet and keep in touch...we will need support during this week! Take care!

Hi Gretchen! We are getting banded on the same day...how cool is that?! Are you excited? I am excited, nervous and ready to get this going! I start my liquid diet on Wednesday. What type of preop diet are you having to do? Good luck and let's keep in touch! : )

Hi Laura,

Well, I know it was disappointing that you have to reschedule your surgery because of the EKG, but at least they are being careful and making sure you are a good surgical candidate. I have had both of those tests before and it was not a big deal. The stress test was kind of weird, but I made it! I will have my preop testing in the next week or two, so no telling what I will have to either. I start my liquid preop diet on 2/11/09. I have to say - not looking forward to that phase. Maybe we will have similar surgery dates! We may be Februrary Bandsters! I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers! Don't worry...it's going to happen!! : ))))

That is so exciting you got an appointment! This has been a crazy busy week, hopefully I will get to chat with you soon! Take care! : )

Oh and congratulations on your 25 lbs.! Way to go!!!

Hi Donna! I saw you are from Texas too! I am in Lewisville, near Dallas. I also saw that we are around the same starting weight and goal! Want to be buddies? Thanks for the reply on the Optifast diet!

Any word on a new surgery date? Is everything okay with your tests? I have been keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. I got a surgery date of 2/25/09 and I am totally excited! Can't wait! Take care and message me if you want to talk! Shelley

Hi Amber...just wanted to share my excitement...got a surgery date of 2/25/09!! 3 weeks away! Woot woot! Hope you are doing great!! : )

Got a surgery date!!!! February 25, 2009 - that's 3 weeks from tomorrow! Woot woot! *** Excitement!!****

Hi! Thanks for the encouragement! Your story makes me know that I can do this too!! Yeah!!! I got a surgery date of 2/25/09! Woot woot! Now...for the dreaded liquid diet!

Hi Rachel! Thanks for the reply to my post "do you miss fast food"! I can't beleive the replies that I got and they are all very encouraging. I am not really a fast food junkie, but it is a part of life, especially when traveling, so it's good to know that there are options! I read your story above and can totally relate to your "rebellious eating" mentality! I believe that's what got me to the place I am! So, I know this is something that needs to be addressed, but isn't figuring out the problem half the battle?!! I will let you know when I get a surgery date! Congratulations on your 60+ lb. weight loss! You go girl!

That's awesome news!!! I am going to schedule my surgery today, so excited! Have a fantastic Monday!!

Hi, I saw you were in the DFW area. Looks like we are neighbors! You are an inspiration and I hope to have a story like yours soon. I am scheduling my surgery on Monday and hope to have it done later in February. I am 5'2" and 203, size 16/18 and can't wait to be in the single digit clothes! Stop by and say HI anytime.

Hi Shonia!

How's it going for you? Have you been snowed in? I saw on the news that Kentucky got alot of snow. Here in Texas, we just get ice! ha ha! Now it's back to 60+ degrees! Anyway, I wanted to tell that I had my psych test and my surgery consult and it all went great! Now I just have to decide a surgery date! Can you believe it? It's all happening so fast. So, I think I will take a few days to think on it all before making my surgery date. I just had to share my progress. Talk to you soon! Shelley/Tracey

Hi! I just wanted to tell you that I had the psych eval and it went great. Yesterday I had my consult with Dr. Veninga and it went very well too. He definitely has a dry sense of humor about him, but otherwise I found him to be pretty nice and his staff was very nice, especially Barbara, his nurse. I haven't scheduled my surgery yet, but it looks like it will be late February when I do. I have to admit that I am not looking forward to the liquid diet part, but I know it's part of the deal. My mind is swimming from so much information right now, so I am going to take a few days to let things settle down and then make my surgery date! **excited**

Take care!

Hi Shannon!

I just read your thread about your long journey and I wanted to wish you luck and say that I would love to be here as encouragement to keep you going. I have not been banded yet, I am also in the process, but I have been approved by my insurance, so I know it will be in the next month. We all need each other to lean on and reassure us that we are on the right track. I believe it's a journey worth taking and sometimes you have to do something good for yourself! Take care and message me anytime!

Shelley

Hi Laura,

I am so sorry! I know you must be so disappointed! But hang in there, it will all get worked out and your surgery will be sooner than you think. Did you have to do the liquid diet? Keep your chin up!! Message me anytime if you want to talk! : )

Thank you for that sage advice, I have been hearing this alot, so I know there is something to it and I appreciate that people are honest with others in letting them know that. I have heard that with the fills, sometimes it takes a while before you get the restriction that is best for you. Not a one size fits all thing from what I understand! That is awesome that you have free fills for life! I also understand that the maintenance is key, such as continuing visits to have adjustments, etc. I wish you so much luck and can't wait to see how well you do! : )

Hi, I live in Lewisville and thought I would say HI. Maybe we can be lapband buddies and help support each other! How have you done since your banding? I am not yet scheduled for the band yet, but hope to have it done end of February/early March. Can't wait! : )

I saw that you were located in Lewisville and are 41...same as me! Thought we could be buddies! I haven't had my surgery done yet, but hope to have it end of February/first of March. Can't wait! : )~

Just wanted to say HI and congratulations! I can't wait to hear about your progress and how the first fill went!

Hi, I was just reading some of your previous posts concerning hernia's and your perforated colon! Wow, you have quite a story. I was just wondering how you were doing now nearly 2 years after your surgery? I have not been banded yet, but hope to have a surgery date by late February or early March. I suspect that I may have a hiatal hernia as well, but several people have told me this is normal. I have not had a scope yet to determine whether I do or not and am contemplating if I should do this or just inform my surgeon of my suspicions of a hernia. Bless you and hope you are doing well! : )