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Hi there. I just wanted to introduce myself here before I start posting in other forums.

I am being banded in March (unless something horrendous comes from my tests) by Dr. Van Vallina out of Central DuPage Hospital (suburbs of Chicago).

Psych is finished, I do a group meeting requirement tonight, Barium swallow and blood tests Wednesday, PFT and exercise physiologist March 2nd and then I'm done. It's through BCBS HMO so I did a 6 month diet through the end of December. Looking forward to getting my date in mid-March.

I have three children ages 6, 3 and 1. Unfortunately, having all of those babies in a short span of time gave me an umbilical hernia, but that is going to be repaired at the same time. So, I do have a little bit of a different situation in that I will probably have more lifting restrictions than most after surgery. Tough when you have little ones, but with planning, it should work out fine.

I've been trying different RTD shakes and powder and finally found some I like, so that's a bonus. In fact, I really prefer to use these as Meal Replacements sometimes now. Taking 30 minutes to sit down for a meal is just not always possible around here. If I can drink lunch instead, hey, that works for me.

I lost nothing on the 6 month plan, but my nutritionist was a bit of a moron. I've already dropped about 5 pounds just from using these shakes for a week instead of grazing Snacks. Can't wait to see what I lose on the pre-op diet!

Can't wait to read everyone's stories and see how the band is working for them. I'm so excited. (While I was busy having babies, my best friend was banded by Dr. Sarker at Loyola and lost over 100 lb - she's now below her goal weight!)

Erika (I'll figure out the siggy thing later)

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Hi there. I just wanted to introduce myself here before I start posting in other forums.

I am being banded in March (unless something horrendous comes from my tests) by Dr. Van Vallina out of Central DuPage Hospital (suburbs of Chicago).

Psych is finished, I do a group meeting requirement tonight, Barium swallow and blood tests Wednesday, PFT and exercise physiologist March 2nd and then I'm done. It's through BCBS HMO so I did a 6 month diet through the end of December. Looking forward to getting my date in mid-March.

I have three children ages 6, 3 and 1. Unfortunately, having all of those babies in a short span of time gave me an umbilical hernia, but that is going to be repaired at the same time. So, I do have a little bit of a different situation in that I will probably have more lifting restrictions than most after surgery. Tough when you have little ones, but with planning, it should work out fine.

I've been trying different RTD shakes and powder and finally found some I like, so that's a bonus. In fact, I really prefer to use these as meal replacements sometimes now. Taking 30 minutes to sit down for a meal is just not always possible around here. If I can drink lunch instead, hey, that works for me.

I lost nothing on the 6 month plan, but my nutritionist was a bit of a moron. I've already dropped about 5 pounds just from using these shakes for a week instead of grazing Snacks. Can't wait to see what I lose on the pre-op diet!

Can't wait to read everyone's stories and see how the band is working for them. I'm so excited. (While I was busy having babies, my best friend was banded by Dr. Sarker at Loyola and lost over 100 lb - she's now below her goal weight!)

Erika (I'll figure out the siggy thing later)

First let me say BLESS YOU. You certainly have your hands full. But kids are such a blessing. Next let me say CONGRATULATIONS. I am glad that you have a friend to help you through this as well. I wish you all the best and do keep us posted with your progress. Good luck with your pre-op diet. BTW I had a umbilical hernia too but had that repaired way before my lapband surgery. I did have a hiatal hernia repaired during surgery though.

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Wow, three little ones! I wish you a swift recovery so that you can keep up with them :tongue_smilie: Congratulations!

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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