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.

I'm so happy that everyone is doing so well pre and post surgery. I am having mine on 3/24 and we are actually leaving for Mexico on 3/22 so its one week from Monday! Yay.

I've started a blog of my journey and would like to invite you all to visit. It is in my signature line. I have found a whole bunch of mostly women and a few men who have gone through this, are going through it and who are thinking about going through it! Such great info.

Please check it out!

so i definately over did it yesterday loading and unloading the dishwasher. im taking it easy today. i woke up this morning at 4:30 and took some medicine for the pain. its gotten more tolerable though. im not really hungry which is probably from the swelling. my arm where they had the iv in is black and blue though. i guess thats what i get for having small veins. so today i am going to be working on some homework that i need to get caught up on. i cant wait to take a shower tonight since i havent had one in a couple days. i also have to go through my important papers and find the packet that the nutritionist gave me. i cant wait till i can have liquids and soups. i am really really craving brocolli and cheese soup. the one thing that i am not touching is sugarfree jello. that stuff is disgusting. jello is disgusting by itself let alone with no sugar. i love the sugar free popsicles though. i have one of those and some apple juice im still nursing for breakfest. but let me tell you i am bored just sitting around and i get up every now and then and walk to the mailbox and back. in fact i am going to get up and do that in a little bit. i finally starting passing some gas instead of just burping. which is good. im hoping to get all the gas pains out before i head back to work and school on tuesday. im still really sore where the incisions are though especially where they put the port. that area of my stomach is bruised. the dressings are also icthing and driving me insane. i have to go back to the doctor on friday for a post opt check up and we will see how much i have lost in this week. my 5 year old doesnt understand why he cant give me a hug which breaks my heart. but soon hopefully it wont hurt to do that. well i am going to get back to doing my homework...

Hi All,

First off Congratulations to everyone who has been banded so far this month!! Second sorry I've not posted or responded in a few days. My darn internet was out until last night!! I can't believe how much i depend on the internet......its crazy sometimes!!! This pre-op diet is the hardest things i've ever done. I do not like the Muscle Milk, but i am drinking it because I got the industrial size from costco!! Also I have to take liquid Iron and that is so nasty I put it in the shakes which makes them taste even worse!!! Anyone have a suggestion for a more flavorful Protein shake?

Yes. All the unjury flavors are sweet you can order on line on Unjury.com. They ship immediately and I got mine delivery in 2 days, I also found thru this board another product called Protein Shots (26g protein) I love them. Convenient to travel with, already mixed just drink the 3 oz. You can purchase them at Walmart. They come in two flavors, fruit punch and Orange. I highly recommend both. Hope this helps. Eileen

Well my doctors said you can take any meds that are smaller then the size of an M & M. They cannot be extended release you need to see if they made them not extended release for atleast the first month. He also had us check for liquid forms of meds too. Birthcontrol we had to stop for 2 to 3 weeks because of the high rise for blood clots too..:wink2:

Thanks Stevie! I will see what my doc has to say friday when I have my surgery... I cant believe today is already the 13th.. this month is Flying!

Thanks Stevie! I will see what my doc has to say friday when I have my surgery... I cant believe today is already the 13th.. this month is Flying!

No problem, They had given me liquid tylenol with codeine for pain management after surgery, but about the pills I learned a lot at my pre op bootcamp(pre op education class).

Country, I tell my son that I have a boo boo, and he kind of understands, I actually show him my incisions so he kind of understands what I am talking about. He is pretty smart for being almost only 2.

So I got my first experience with getting stuck. It felt HORRIBLE!!!! I just got lost of pain in my chest, and it felt like I couldnt breath but I gave it a minute and it finally passed. :wink2:

So I got my first experience with getting stuck. It felt HORRIBLE!!!! I just got lost of pain in my chest, and it felt like I couldnt breath but I gave it a minute and it finally passed. :wink2:

What were you eating? At least it passed in a minute or so...

I am really having second thoughts today... I really hope the lapband works for me.. I read so much that its works for some and doesnt work for others. I want to lose weight and I personally like the idea that the band I have to work a little more at it then the Bypass where the weight just kinda falls off you..

Good evening. Well I am on day 3 of my pre-op and so far so good. As long as I keep myself busy I really don't think about it. I need to find something other than shopping though or my bank account is going to suffer. lol. I think I will go start the scrapbook I am going to make for my cousins baby. Glad everyone is still doing well.

I am really having second thoughts today... I really hope the LAP-BAND® works for me.. I read so much that its works for some and doesnt work for others. I want to lose weight and I personally like the idea that the band I have to work a little more at it then the Bypass where the weight just kinda falls off you..

I am the same way I want to be one of the lucky ones that the weight comes off quickly but at this point I will take any weight lossI can get. I had another support group meeting today with the doctors office I am having surgery at. The question was asked to the group that had been banded "If you had it to do over again would you?" Every single one of the but one person raised their hands. Even the ones that had only lost 40 pounds in over 2 years. The one person that was not happy with it was banded 3 years ago and has only lost 30 lbs. After listening to him I hate to say it but I can see why. I think that he forgot that it is a "tool" to help you. He was telling us that he is so busy that he could not get in to get fills for over a year. That he ate an entire pizza last night. He also then said and I eat off of salad plate and it does not help. Well if you eat off a salad plate but go back for seconds and thirds then it does not matter how big you plate is does it. He really made me realize that this is something you have to work with. You still have to make good food choices, make sure your portions are right , and workout. I can do this and you can too!!

I am the same way I want to be one of the lucky ones that the weight comes off quickly but at this point I will take any weight lossI can get. I had another support group meeting today with the doctors office I am having surgery at. The question was asked to the group that had been banded "If you had it to do over again would you?" Every single one of the but one person raised their hands. Even the ones that had only lost 40 pounds in over 2 years. The one person that was not happy with it was banded 3 years ago and has only lost 30 lbs. After listening to him I hate to say it but I can see why. I think that he forgot that it is a "tool" to help you. He was telling us that he is so busy that he could not get in to get fills for over a year. That he ate an entire pizza last night. He also then said and I eat off of salad plate and it does not help. Well if you eat off a salad plate but go back for seconds and thirds then it does not matter how big you plate is does it. He really made me realize that this is something you have to work with. You still have to make good food choices, make sure your portions are right , and workout. I can do this and you can too!!

You are absolutely right! It is JUST a tool to help lose the weight. I look at it like I was born without a shut-off valve to tell me when I am satisfied and to stop eating. My band, to me is like a Taser that will zap me when I'm eating too much! I am being banded on 3/24 and cannot wait. Good luck to you!

I am the same way I want to be one of the lucky ones that the weight comes off quickly but at this point I will take any weight lossI can get. I had another support group meeting today with the doctors office I am having surgery at. The question was asked to the group that had been banded "If you had it to do over again would you?" Every single one of the but one person raised their hands. Even the ones that had only lost 40 pounds in over 2 years. The one person that was not happy with it was banded 3 years ago and has only lost 30 lbs. After listening to him I hate to say it but I can see why. I think that he forgot that it is a "tool" to help you. He was telling us that he is so busy that he could not get in to get fills for over a year. That he ate an entire pizza last night. He also then said and I eat off of salad plate and it does not help. Well if you eat off a salad plate but go back for seconds and thirds then it does not matter how big you plate is does it. He really made me realize that this is something you have to work with. You still have to make good food choices, make sure your portions are right , and workout. I can do this and you can too!!

Yeah I agree its a tool.. But what if the tool doesnt work at making you feel Full? Some people say they never feel full :wink2:

Well I am not sure about that. I guess that is maybe possible but then you have to ask yourself are these people doing what they should be? Are they going in for regular fills? Are they eating "slider" foods? Are they getting in their protein so they get full and stay full? I guess what I am saying is this....I am sure that there are the small few that struggle with the band while doing everything they are suppose to. But you have to ask yourself are the people you are reading about really doing everything they should be and need to be? Are they journaling everything that they eat to see if they are eating the right foods all the time? The nurse that was at our meeting today was telling us about a patient that had been banded for over a year and only lost about 30 or 40 pounds and then stopped losing. They had her journal everything including what she was drinking. They also had her keep track of the time she ate and how long she was eating. What they found out is that she was drinking several cups of strawberry milk a day. They had her cut that out of her diet and she losst 100 lbs that next year.

What were you eating? At least it passed in a minute or so...

I was eating a stick of string cheese. I am on my soft foods stage, which is just about anything that I can chew really really good. I guess I didnt chew well enough and it blocked my stoma, but I gave it a minute and it went down. Now I continue to chew chew chew chew! I go in for my fits fill 4/14 but I havent really been eating too much as long as I get my Protein in. I basically have carnation instant Breakfast for breakfast, then lunch would be 2 oz of veggies and 20z of protein and the same for dinner. I am full at about 4 oz which is good since I have no restriction whatso ever.:tongue_smilie:cant wait to actually start working out next wednesday. I am looking into the gym where my Dr.'s office is. tomorrow night is support group for me, I urge anyone who is to get or has already gotten the band to continue to support group it truely helps.:thumbup:

Hi Bandsters,

So - it is 9 days post surgery and am really feeling great! I went to the doecot on Thursday and all seems to be going well. We (all those who had surgery the same day) spent about an hour and a half in a nutrition class. It was very informative.

I had no pre-op diet and was on a liqiuid diet until yesterday. Yesterday was my first day on the mushy diet. It consists of 1/2 cup of food 3 times a day with 2 optional 1/4 cup Snacks (same food as eaten during meals. I love the part skim ricotta with a bit of tomato sauce. Luckily - they also alow eggs and watermelon in this stage. I will be on this phase until next Saturday when I can add alot more.

So - I am going to have to learn to read my body. They say to eat the 1/2 cup or until you feel full. I don't feel full, but a half an hour, or an hour later feel VERY full. They say to make the meal last for 1/2 an hour, but considering that you are eating only 1/2 cup - this is almost impossible.

So - the weight loss is going really well - down 19 pounds in 9 days. I cannot believe it. I joined a gym and have begun walking - up to half an hour.

Hope all is going well for the early March surgeries. :thumbup:

Starting Weight - 350

Current Weight - 331

Goal Weight - 200

I was eating a stick of string cheese. I am on my soft foods stage, which is just about anything that I can chew really really good. I guess I didnt chew well enough and it blocked my stoma, but I gave it a minute and it went down. Now I continue to chew chew chew chew! I go in for my fits fill 4/14 but I havent really been eating too much as long as I get my protein in. I basically have carnation instant breakfast for breakfast, then lunch would be 2 oz of veggies and 20z of protein and the same for dinner. I am full at about 4 oz which is good since I have no restriction whatso ever.:tongue_smilie:cant wait to actually start working out next wednesday. I am looking into the gym where my Dr.'s office is. tomorrow night is support group for me, I urge anyone who is to get or has already gotten the band to continue to support group it truely helps.:thumbup:

Them dang string cheeses hehhe!

I dont think my doc has a support group, but i will check into it...