Hi all....

To start us off....Ill begin with a little about myself.

I had joined the thread Feb Bandsters...however...Ive been booted to March...as I am being treated for sleep apnea....so I needed to push back surgery date from Feb 8th to March 15th..hoping it stays there!!

Im hoping to connect with others that are on a similar time frame for surgery, for support, advice, education, encouragement and just to shoot the breeze...to share experiences from the first consult if needed to way after being banded...lets get together and share this journey the good, bad and the ugly of it all!!

so.....lets get to know you....by answering some questions that was asked of me before....im passing them on through this group....it was a great beginning. Ill start.

Date of Surgery: March 16th

Where Surgery will be: NY

Doctor/Center: New York Bariatric Group

Dr. Holover/Manhasset

Seminar date: January 2009

1st consult date: Dec 30th, 2009

2nd consult: Feb 3rd, 2010

Consults and tests completed: Cardiologist. Pulmonologist, Endocronologist, Sleep Study, Nutritionist, Endoscopy

Tests still needed: Psych test

How is surgery funded? Insurance

Concerns? How will I ever be able to re-educate my brain to eat differently

Reason for banding? See thread in "Introductions"for NYSparklegirl.

Hey sparkle girl! I like your idea of having a support group or friends going through the surgery at the same time you are. I'm having my banding done May 25th? Can I still be active in this group.

Here's some stats on me;

my 1st consult was feb 9, 2010

my starting weight pre-surgery is 315 pounds

I hope to get down to 150!

I am paying for my own surgery at a whopping $17,000

My insurance only covers my dietician visit and psychologist

I start my diet on May 4th

I'm very excited about starting this new chapter in my life and look forward to seeing the new me!:thumbup:

cant wait to hear from all our peoples having surgery today.. I said a prayer for you guys this morning :thumbup:

Day 1 post op...The pain is not as bad as I thought it would be..although I have been through three c-sections...so comparing this to them is a piece of cake...I did feel alot of pain/discomfort right below my ribs last night but soon found out it was because I was drinking to much water at one time. The Dr. did the barium drink scan thingy this morning and it showed there was alot of swelling in their. My Dr. also took me off of my high blood pressure medicine...Did anybody else have these issues?

Good luck and well wishes for the rest of the group getting their bands this week. I am starting to think that I may not be able to get mine done. Since I am self pay and have only got $5000 of the $16,350 need and the finance company denied me for the rest today I am not sure what I am going to do. My parents were going to help and now that I need them to co-sing on the loan for me they said they have to think about it. I get it. It is a big decision for them. I guess that is what I get for getting married so very young and letting that person ruin my credit. I was so dumb back then. I have been divorced from him for over 11 years and I am still fighting to get my credit back in shape. I know it is not all his doing but for the most part it is. Ok I am done with the pity party. I am really happy for all of you and just keeping my fingers crossed for myself.

Just read your blog, I too will have my surgery March 16, I hope we can keep in touch. 54 yrs old, 5'5, 265. I'm anxious but cautious. I'm self pay, so I have to be sure this is right. I've read a lot of good, but also some bad.

Keep in touch. girl 55 in Texas

Good Wednesday all, Hope everyone is have a great day. The weather here in the Pacific Northwest. Tomorrow I have my pre-op class which will last all day!! I believe they will start me on the liquid diet tomorrow as well. I can't believe it is only nine days until the next chapter of my life begins. I'm so excited!! Last night my husband and I were talking, and he was being his normal supportive self, he said he was proud of me for taking this step, and he was also excited to go through this process with me. We purchased a couple of weeks worth of "smart choice" meals at the grocery store because he said that he did not want me to have to fix dinner just for him. What a guy, anyone who knows me knows that I am beyond spoiled!!! Not just in a material way, but he is the most supportive person I know. Anyway I digress, congratulations to all the March Bandsters who have had their surgery so far I look forward to reading your updates. To the ones who have yet to have their surgery, our day is comming!!!!!!!!!!

I was so afraid I wasn't going to be a March Bandster.

I finished my work-ups last week and I was so sure I would have to do the 6-month diet.

My surgeon's medical assistant told me yesterday that she was submitting my paperwork first thing this morning and that I should hear something by the end of this week/beginning of next week. She called me an hour ago to tell me I was approved and I'm having surgery March 24th!!!!!!!!!!

Holy moly I can't believe how quickly this happened!!! :scared2:

I'm so excited!

Congrats Amy!!!!!!

Congrats Amy!!!!!!

Thanks, Monica! Omg I'm so excited!!

And good luck to you!!

That's all I can write right now with the available brainpower I have at the moment. I can't THINK!!

Congrats Amy Mines March 19 so your is close to mine :scared2:

Gratz Amy on your March surgery Monica I am right there with you, my husband is so supportive also. I am the one that does ALL of the cooking. I told him for the next 4 to 6 weeks I will not be cooking something I can not eat. He got a lot of quick fix food with no complaints.

My surgery is TOMORROW at noon. I can not believe the last day is here and my new days are are yet to come. :scared2:

Was pretty excited but now really really nervious because it is surgery. Wish me luck . I will be in overnight. Take Care Dawn

My blog pretty much says it all, but here's my stats:

I'm going through the Ellis Hospital Bariatric Care Center.

*Orientation - 11/14/09

*Original Initial Appt - 12/14/09 (got the flu and was re-scheduled to 1/14/2010

*1/14/10 - Met with surgeon's PA; told I needed to lose 10%(27 pounds prior to surgery); blood drawn for lab work

*1/28/10 - Pulmonary Consult

*1/29/10 - Psych Evaluation(Scheduled by me)

*2/1/10 - First meeting with surgeon - Dr. Malene Ingram; Projected Surgery date 3/10/10. Had lost 10lbs on own, but required to begin MediFast Program(thru their office) - 4 shakes a day and one lean & green meal

*2/15/10 - Upper GI, Ultrasound & Chest Xray,EKG, Blood Gases

*2/16/10 - Cardiac Consult

*2/18/10 - Nuclear stress test and echocardiogram, sleep study

*2/19/10 - Nutritionist

*2/25/10 - CPAP sleep study(utter failure)

*2/26/10 - PAT's; pre-surgical meeting with Dr. Ingram.

lost 25 pounds. Cleared for surgery on 3/9.

*3/1/10 - Pre-surgical clearance with PCP

*3/4/10 - CPAP fitting; Follow Up with Pulmonologist

*3/9/10 - Surgery at 7:45am

- Insurance - BCBS of MA(PPO) - approved in 3 days. After deductible, plan pays 90%.

- Sort of numb at this point as it's all moved so fast. It's going to be a shock when all the pre-prep is done. Using these last couple of days to stock up on eats for my husband, ensure all the bills are paid, the house is clean,etc.

at home and doing well!

go to my youtube for my video update day 1 post-op...

www.youtube.com/lapbandchick2010

March 29th...found out today! It's a day after my birthday, what a gift to myself!

at home and doing well!

go to my youtube for my video update day 1 post-op...

www.youtube.com/lapbandchick2010

Glad you are doing well! I am going on Mar. 24!