rguay

I am down 14lbs since May 27th. I saw my Doc. last Thu. and he said we will do my 1st fill when I am eating too much, hungry between meals or not losing 1.5 to 2 lbs per week. This is the standard criteria for the Realize Band. I am eating a lot of different things, just small amounts and really chopped up. It takes me as long to eat my small amount as it does my husband his whole meal. We eat out a lot so I am finding things I can eat. So far, so good. Rebecca

Hi everyone, I hope everyone is progressing well. I think I am finally back on track. Just a little tired. Had to move 88 yr old Dad to his new place this weekend. I am getting stronger everyday. I started feeling better as soon as I was able to eat real food (mushies of course). All of the side effects are subsiding and I feel almost human. haha. Hang in there everyone. I do so appreciate talking to everyone.

Once again, I just have to take the hard road. Had to go back in hosp. for 2 days. I dehydrated from either Cdif or IBS. They don't know which because they started treating me with antibiotics right away. Since I am allergic to everything they tried an antibiotic family they thought would be ok. Guess what now I'm one big rash. However, the good news is I got to start soft food early. The better news is that I am down 11 lbs as of today. I do so appreciate everyones input. Keep the end result in sight.

Mine is a realize band and the port is located just above the waistline on the left side.

Hi everyone, Glad to hear the May 27th folks are recovering. I haven't posted because I don't want to discourage anyone. I guess I am going to take the hard road through this. I have a rash everywhere there is a bandage, I have the trots so bad they thought I may have picked up an infection so they gave me antibiotics. Then I took one of the antibiotic pills and it got stuck part way down. I thought I was going to die for awhile. I was only thinking of food and I knew I hadn't eaten anything wrong . It finally occured to me what had happened. So I'm having a rough time, but still think it is worth it. I was going to try to return to work tomorrow, but I don't think so. Maybe a little more rest first. Take care everyone. Keep the end goal in sight.

We do have a great group! I hope everyone keeps shareing their experiences after the end of the month when we are all banded. I just got my call from the hospital to give me my surgery time tomorrow. Arrive 8:30 am surgery, 10:30 am. It's on now. I'm very excited. I'm glad to be part of this group.

Hi guys, I am also May 27th. I was really bad over the weekend eating the last stuff. I am on liquids today, and I feel hungry already. I'm sure it's in my head and not the stomach. Same as everyone, I am stressed and excited at the same time. Good luck to everyone tomorrow.

Hi guys, Mine is a week from today, the 27th. You guys are sooo good with your pre-op stuff. I didn't hava a pre-op diet, so I just want to eat everything in sight because I know I can't eat it again. Ditto on all of the above. I'm excited, but at the same time I keep thinking OMG am I really doing this? And the answer is yes. After seven months of jumping through hoops, I'm not changing my mind now. Everything lines up here, and now, it may not again. I like what someone posted on another thread; if we meet the criteria the medical folks set, then we should be doing this. Good luck to everyone. Keep posting it really helps. My husband is really supportive, but he isn't a Mayo BANDido.

John was the first of us May folks to post so he got to choose the name. The technical way to say it was considered but it was decided that Mayo Bandidos was a short and fun name. If I have a vote I would rather not see the name change now. Got approval last week but I have been really busy moving my 88 yr old dad from CA to PA. I haven't had time to think about myself and have not posted in awhile. I didn't have to stress on approval because they sent everything in to Highmark BCBS a week before I thought they would. When I got home from CA a letter was in the mail. I am on schedule for 5/27 and really have the jitters now. I have been reading everything everyone has been posting and I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experience. Hope everyone is doing well and good wishes to those still waiting.

Hi fellow Mayo BANDitos, I love the Sombrero and the whole color scheme. Very popular Hispanic colors. Very clever. I got put off a week too. I signed up on the Realize Band site, so I had to change my surgery day on the counter. That was hard. I think I'm at 47 days now. I'm still worried about the 40 BMI thing. I'm not sure what to do. I's still at 40.1 with no weight loss. I'm scared to fall under, even with the hypertension, but worried the insurance Co. won't be happy if I don't lose weight. I will be so glad when I am finally approved. I'm so happy for you guys who are approved. It must be a great relief. It sure is nice to have others to talk to who are in the same place. Good Luck to everyone!

I also have Highmark BCBS. I am scheduled for May 27 at West Penn. Just named one of the top 100 hospitals in the US. Thank God since I am older and don't like the idea of any surgery. I am just about finished jumping through the hoops, but I do have one worry. I haven't lost any weight since I started 5 month ago. My BMI is 40.1 with medication for hypertension. I would say I am A-OK except for the lack of weight loss. I didn't want to go under 40. What do you think?

I also eat tooooo fast. I've tried to practice eating slowly, but it's so much work, and I am impatient. I guess it's a good thing that soon there won't be much to eat anyway. ha ha I guess we all will have to learn a new way of doing things. We'll get the hang of it

John you started the thread, I think you should get to decide.

Clever, How bout just Mayo Banditos? (probably not proper Spanish) I should know for sure having lived in So Cal for 53 years, anyway it's shorter. But I do think Minni Mays is hilarious.

LOL, Mini Mays. Too funny. I like that one.

Sorry John. I haven't figured that ticker thing out yet.

That's great news John. Hope it's all easy for you. GOOD LUCK

Hi all, Dr. Urbandt's office called last night to change my surgery date. Now it is May 27th. Another week to wait. I also lost the the extra day I would have had for the Monday holiday. Oh well, I guess things happen for a reason. At least it's still May. I just want to get the surgery part over. Take Care

Hi john, No one has said anything about a liquid diet yet. I hope not. If I do then I just will. Like I said before, I went that route for over 100 days once, and I do not care to do it again. From what I read on the West Penn Bariatric site, I will only be on a liquid diet one week after surgery. I can live with all the rest. Let us know if you get you date tomorrow. Take Care

I had my psych eval on Tuedsay and got my date. May 20th for me. Getting the date makes it very real. I have a couple of appts with my PCP, one more with Dr. Urbandt and pre op on April 30th, then everything goes to the insurance co. for approval. West Penn has done over 3000 of these and is rated #1 in Pennsylvania. They say everything is in order for approval. They seem to know what they are doing. Oh my, time is moving right along. I'll be a bandster before I know it. WOW

Good luck to you Marie in PA. I do not have as many health issues, only hypertension, but I am 57. I think it's harder when you are older. I should have surgery in May at West Penn (Dr urbandt). I just want to get that part over with. I have to walk that line too. My BMI is 40.1. 40 is required for Highmark BC/BS or 35 with a co-condition. I hope the controlled (with meds) hypertension is enough. I lost one lb then gained it back. Hope I get approved after all the days off work. I could have gone on vacation. ha ha

Hi guys, I live in Murrysville, but work in the city every day (Greentree). If the rest of this 6 mo process goes well, I should be banded in May, at the West Penn Bariatric Surgery Center, by Dr Urbandt. I really like him and his staff. I started going there because I was going to have the surgery at Forbes Regional, but their office on the campus closed. Since I'm in the city everyday, it doesn't make much difference. Forbes was closer to home. Anyone else out there from the burgh going to be banded in May, or seeing Dr. Urbandt?

I'm with you John. I really want to get past the surgery. I should have a May date as well. I have had post Ileus every time I've had surgery so I am really hoping that doesn't happen. I am 57, having surgery at West Penn Bariatric Center in Pittsburgh, and have Highmark BC/BC. I will see the doc again, have the psych eval, and see the nutritionist on Tue. At that point I think I will have jumped through most of the insurance hoops. Another monthly visit to my PCP and I should be ready. My BMI is 40.1 and I have hypertension. The insurance requirements are BMI 40, or 35 with other health conditions. My blood pressure is mostly controlled with medication, so I am worried about falling below the 40 mark. As a result I have lost no weight since I started. My doc says that is ok because I am so borderline. Yet I am still worried about approval. I will be so glad when this part of the process is over. I'm not too worried about the liquid diet part. A few years ago I did a 5 shake a day, medically controlled, program for just over 100 days. It's a pain in the ___ but doable. I lost 55 lbs in that time, but you know, as soon as you start eating you start gaining. I hope this is the ticket for both of us. Thanks for posting. We are the first May folks to post.