caldwell33

I am so happy you are all doing so well. Myself on the other side is very unhappy. I am having trouble with the pre-op diet. It seems like the only thing I can have hot is my oatmeal, everything else is cold, i.e. shakes, protein shots, s/f jello, s/f pudding, yogurt which I detest and have a very hard time swallowing, and 1/2 c. applesauce. I really don't know if I can do this for another 10 days, (I'm not counting today or the day of surgery, March 24th. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Eileen:frown::sad::wink2::crying::mad2:

Congradulations on your surgery I am so pleased to hear you are feeling so well. Keep up the good work and let us know how you are doing. I hope my band goes as well, I will be banded 3/24 and just started my 2 week pre-op diet today. So far so good. God Bless

Wow! I didn't realize that there were so many of us going on March 24th. I too am the 24th. I have an appointment with my nutritionist this afternoon and I guess she will start me off tomorrow. Not looking forward to this. I have not been afraid of anything but this part. I just can't imagine surviving on liquids only for 2 weeks. But I keep telling myself "I will be thin if I do this". Congradulations to all who have gotten this far, our journey to a new life is almost there. WE WILL SURVIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eileen

Thanks so much for the additional information on the masks. Just as I thought, I spoke to soon earlier today. Guess what came in the mail this afternoon, yup! the BILL for the cpap machine. They must have been monitoring this site. Only kidding about the monitoring, but I did get the bill!!! Luckily the insurance company paid part of it and the balance is doable for me. Thanks again for the info. I hope everyone looses at least 1 lb today, it's one less to being happier and healthier for all of us. God Bless. Eileen

All I know is that I had to have them come to my house on 3 occassions to find a mask that I could live with. The first I had had the pillows that went in/by your nostrils, no way, I fought with them constantly. They came back to adjust it, didn't work. I now have a miniture version of the one they used in the hospital, it's a small triangular fits nice, NO chin strap to keep your mouth shut. Haven't had any problems with it, other than once the side strap came undone. If you are having touble with the mask, insist on another type. They will exchange it without any problems, they want them to fit so they can get the money from the insurance company. I guess at some point they are going to want me to pay for this, or maybe as I loose my weight, I won't need it any more and the insurance company will no longer have to pay for it. I saw the receipt they sent to the ins. co. and it was for over $1600.00 for the unit, tubing, & mask. If yours doesn't fit call your doctor. They have to change it!

I went for my first sleep study on 1/12 and it was a nightmare in the makes, first they couldn't get the equipment working and were still trying at 12:30 am, the equipment broke down twice during the night and then they told me to leave at 5:30 am, the test was over. I was furious, there was no way they could get a accurate test from the is experience. Then the bad news came, they told me I had to do the study over again because I had severe apnea and stopped breathing 110 times during the night. They were in a panic. I told them it was their equipment failure. Well I did the study the second time and was told I needed a cpap machine immediately. I almost flipped out. Well, they came 2 weeks later (so much for stopping breathing more than 110 times a night) and they installed the cpap machine. I fought with this thing every night the first week and a half, and now I am getting used to it and can sleep thru the night and have to say I feel alot better & can't imagine not wearing it. Please don't give up, they do work. I wake up totally refreshed, not as tired and I am breathing better during the day. My husband says he doesn't hear me snoring anymore, (I was really bad). Oh yeah, that goo they put in your hair is horrible to get out. Have a great day and keep smiling, we're all going to be as beautiful as we are on the inside now on the outside too!

Hi: I too am being banded March 24th. Good luck and God Bless. Eileen

Savanna: Good luck and God bless. Everything is going to be fine. Please let us all know how it went. As future bandsters were all excited to hear the good, bad and there won't be any more ugly for any of us any more, we will be strong, slim and beautiful for life. Eileen:thumbup:

You're going to do fine. You have been my inspiration these past weeks. You cheer all of us on and keep us positive and now it's our turn to help you. You are fighter and a positive thinker, that's what has kept me going. I'm having my surgery on 3/24 and I read your messages every day to keep me going. Please keep us updated, as I'm sure you will. We want every little detail don't leave anything out. thanks and good luck Eileen:thumbup:

Oh My GOD!!!!! Finally a fellow March 24th bandster. I am also the 24th. WOW! I'm so excited. I've been thru much the same as you but I have to be on the pre-op clear liquids only diet for 2 weeks before surgery, not looking forward to that. I hope I make it, it's one of the things that has scared me the most about all of this. I have been cleared thru all my other tests, had to have a cpap machine assigned to me for sleep apena, what a pain in the butt it is dealing with this each night, I even have to take it with me the day of surgery. Congradulations for doing so well. Please keep in touch after surgery. I will say a prayer for both of us that everything goes perfect and in no time we will be thinner. I am 62 years old, 313 lbs., hope to loose at least 125+ lbs with Gods help. Sorry to get so long. Eileen:thumbup:

Thanks, it was very nice of you to think of all of us and to take the time to do this. I wish you good luck on Tues. I'm sure you will do great. Can't wait to hear how it went. Thanks again and God bless. Eileen:thumbup:

Do you mind me asking what you are taking for your pre-op diet. I have to start mine in 2 weeks for 2 weeks and I'm intersted in knowing what you liked and what you didn't. Good luck and God bless. Eileen

I'm March 24th. Looking forward to it but also scared of what's going to happen. I know it's for the good of my health but I'm so afraid of failing. I want to be thin or at least not fat anymore. I have wonderful support with my husband, he's my cheering section, I don't know what I would do without him. I just don't want to fail him or myself. Good luck to all of you, just think, in April we will all be done being March bandsters and someone else will be in our place and we will be able to look back and see what we've accomplished. God Bless all of you. Eileen

Thanks so much, I'm going to try them. Good luck and keep in touch. Eileen

Hi: Can you tell us what you are eating/drinking on your pre op diet? I'm curious since I will be having my surgery on March 24th and interested to know what others are eating and drinking, what's their favorites, what tastes better than others etc. Good Luck and thanks for any help you can give me. Eileen

Thanks so much for the information. I just ordered it. Any where we can save a few dollars is greatly appreciated. God Bless and thanks again. Eileen

Hi Everyone: Well my surgery is set for March 24th. I am 62 years old, 316 lbs, want my life back so I can enjoy retirement, lost my job last April, so now I'm one of the statistics you read about every night. Made up my mind to have the surgery while I was still on Cobra so I wouldn't get turned down with new health ins. Also wanted to do this while I am still receiving unemployment so there is some money coming in. My social security will go to pay my new health insurance premiums when Cobra runs out, so time is of the essense. I've been thru all my tests and so far so good, no problems. I just want to get it over with. I seem to be stressing about the two weeks before the surgery and the 2-3 weeks after. I hope I make it thru the stress of these two, they scare the hell out of me. Good luck and God Bless all of you. Eileen

Yes, I had to go for the ekg and the stress test also. I did well on both and was ok'd for surgery March 24th. I also had to go for 2 sleep apnea tests. What a pain. The first one they didn't do it with the mask and then they called and said I had to have it done over again with the mask, I'm going tomorrow night and I hate every minute of it. I also had to go for an endoscopy to make sure there was no blockage from my throat to my stomach. Good luck. Eileen:cool2:

Congradulations!!!!!! You are an inspiration for all of us waiting to have surgery. My surgery is March 24th. I have to go for my second Sleep Apnea sleep over tomorrow night, I'm not looking forward to it. They tell me, I will have to wear the famous mask tomorrow night, everyone else, i.e., heart, gastro, phycologist, have all ok'd surgery. Wish it were over, the only fear I have right now is the pre-surgery diet of protein shakes only for 2 weeks. How did you make out with it, any suggestions on how to get thru it? Keep up the good work and congradulations again. Eileen:thumbup:

Thanks to all who replied. You're right! it's going to be worth it after it's over. I feel better knowing that I'm not alone and that you all have been thru it and survived or are about to do it like myself. Thanks again. Eileen:thumbup:

It's all up to your insurance company. Some will allow the surgery after 3 months from your initial visit others 6 months. Call your insurance company and make sure they cover the procedure ask them how long they require before surgery. Aetna is 3 months most of the others are 6 months. I was required to see a cardiologist, have and endoscopy done, see a phycologist, 3 visits with a nutritionist and have a apnea sleep study done and a chest xray. My surgery is scheduled for March 24th. My ins. co. ok'd for 3 months from initial consultation. Good Luck!

My surgery is set for March 24th. I understand as of right now I can only have liquid protien shakes for 2 weeks before the surgery. Does anyone have any protien shakes they would recommend that they like? I can't imagine 2 weeks before only on liquids and then 2 weeks after. I'm starting to panic. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks