AFmom

DottieAnn< I am thrilled to hear that you are doing so well! It is a comfort to hear from you, now that you are on the other side. My surgery is in the morning at 8:30. I do have a question for you...what are the things that you have needed since coming home? I have a recliner set up in case I can't sleep in the bed, chicken broth, Jello, and a few popsicles. Anything else that you recommend? Thanks!

Praying for all of you Cinco De Mayo surgery friends! Can't want to hear how it all went! Your new life starts today, mine starts tomorrow. :thumbup:

I will get the OR ready for you! I am scheduled for 8:30...can you believe that it is almost time? I am so excited!!!

Just have to share this...with just two days to go until surgery I have seen the scale register a number under 300 pounds!!! I have set many goals for myself along this journey, and being under 300 pounds was the first one. I still have a long way to go, but it is great to get this first victory under my belt even before surgery :thumbup:

Thanks Hal...how funny! I can't believe that I put Friday on my post:) I will make sure that I am there on Thursday!!! Good luck everyone!

I can't believe that "surgery week" is finally here! I am scheduled for 8:30 on Thursday, May 6th at Lovelace Westside Hospital in Albuquerque, NM. Who else out there is getting banded this week? How exciting...we are almost there!

I know that every doctor is a little different, but my doctor allows any type of soup as long as it is not cream based. I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed chewing up the little bites of veggies and meat in my soup :scared2: The soup is once a day, for supper, other than that I have a Protein shake in the morning and at lunch. I can also have sugar free pop-sickles and sugar free Jello.

Thanks for the words of encouragement! Day 2 is almost done for, and I have stayed the course. I am wanting to snack on something really badly right now, but reading everyone's post is a big help! I am trying to keep extra busy too. My kitchen has never been so clean and organized! I had too much of the kids food sitting out where I could see it, and that was more temptation than I wanted to deal with. I even found attractive canisters for my protein powders, Stevia, and calcium chews :biggrin:

It looks like we may have a few more connections other than being military spouses! My husband is active-duty Air Force, we have 3 sons, and of course we have Tricare. One last biggie...my doctor is Dr. Adam Smith! I have a feeling that I know why they are running behind in Texas. Dr. Smith has started a new program in Albuquerque, NM. He is here at least one week a month. I imagine that is causing longer than normal waits in Ft Worth. I am glad that you were able to get everything transferred to Dr. Green and hope that things move quickly for you now! If you really want to get your surgery quickly, come to Albuquerque. Dr. Smith's program here is new, and so there is practically no wait once you are approved :biggrin:

I think that it is very surprising that you were approved in April and they can't get you in until the end of June. My opinion would be that if you are comfortable with the second doctor, and you are motivated to get the surgery ASAP, then I would go ahead and change. I would just make sure that the second surgeon is good! Hope it works out for you :wub:

Of your first 5 days, which day has been the hardest? I am finishing up day 1, and it has been hard, but not as awful as I thought it would be. Does is get harder or easier?

I am on day one of my pre-op diet...my shake for breakfast was good, but head is telling me that I need to eat, so I am trying some gum My pre-op diet is a two week liquid diet. Shake for breakfast and lunch, and a Soup for dinner. sugar free pop-sickles, Jello, and stuff like that is allowed. As far as Protein shakes go. I bought the EAS powder from Sam's club. It has the same nutritional breakdown as the Bariatric Advantage the doctor's office was selling, but at a much more reasonable cost ($29 for a 5 pound bag/ 76 servings) I bought a chocolate one and a vanilla one. I really like the taste, and so do my picky kids...they say it tastes just like chocolate milk. Michelle

Thanks Ghanian Queen! I appreciate your sharing, and I look forward to watching you progress. It is nice to be able to have someone who is a few steps ahead of me Do you know when you are going to get your first fill? Michelle

Thanks AllieBear! We will have to encourage each other through the next few weeks. I need to get to the grocery store and stock up on a few things, but I have been so busy. Guess I will go after my pre-op appointment tomorrow What is your pre-op diet like? Mine is 14 days of a liquid diet...2 shakes per day with a Soup for dinner.

I was sure that I was never going to be able to sleep with so many wires hooked up to me, plus knowing that someone was watching me kind of freaked me out, but in the end I did fall asleep, and I am sure that you will too. I did take something to help me sleep, and I do recommend that. Hope all goes well! Michelle

My surgery date is May 6th and I start the pre-op diet tomorrow...much more concerned about the next two weeks than I am about the surgery! I have been enjoying my favorite foods, and am ready to take this next step! Michelle

Thanks Melissa... It is great to hear from a patient of Dr. Smith's! I am planning on coming to the support group meeting in April. I have lots of questions now, and I am sure that I will have even more by then How are you doing since your banding? I will be praying for you as you heal and adjust. Looking forward to meeting you! Michelle

Thanks Holly Anne & Gloria, I appreciate your advice and concern. I can assure you that I have done my homework and research. For 5 years I have been researching surgery types, surgeons, reading other peoples' stories, and watching friends have surgery. I have not stepped into this lightly, and I do understand that the bad is a tool and not magic...but wouldn't it be great if it was I will happily check out Gloria's blog, I am reading almost non-stop to educate myself as much as possible. Thanks again, I appreciate the support, and look forward to meeting more people on the boards! Michelle

Hi, my name is Michelle, and this is my first post. I feel like I am caught up in a Lap-Band whirlwind. Ahhh, let me start at the beginning... I have been obese since my late teens, and I just turned 40. I have been considering WLS for at least 5 years, but due to military moves and other issues I have only recently decided that NOW is the time to move ahead. I only made this decision about 2 weeks ago. Since that time things have happened at a speed that I would not have believed possible! I had discussed WLS with my PCM before, and knew that I more than met the requirements, so I called and asked for a referral. Within days I was told about a Lap Band Seminar, that was the following night, and I went...this was just last Wednesday night. After the seminar I talked with Dr. Smith and felt comfortable that this was the right decision. I talked with his support staff and before I left that night I was told that I could see Dr. Smith for a consult on Monday. A wonderful nurse and my PCM are bending over backwards to get my referral and approval pushed through. Today, 5 days after going to the seminar, I met with the doc, he said I was a great candidate, answered all of my questions, and his staff asked when I would like to schedule the surgery. I said ASAP...I left with appointments next week for the phych consult, nutritionist appointment, pre-op appointment, and surgery date of April 20th. All I can say is WOW! I think this must be some kind of record...just 3 1/2 week from seminar to surgery. It is a blessing to have things happen so fast, when most people have to jump through hoops to get this done, but my head is also spinning at the thought of how quickly things are moving. I could wait a few months, but I feel like the sooner I get banded, the sooner I will start my new life, but I must admit that I am overwhelmed. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Michelle Albuquerque, NM