If you're planning on being banded in January your either half way thru your 6 month wait or you've just recently met with your surgeon and you're beginning your 3 month wait filled with dr appts and nutrition classes.

I have aetna and I only have to wait three months but it'll be filled jam packed w/ dr appts and classes, etc...

I went to see a pulmonologist last week and he wants me to get a breathing test, chest x-ray and sleep study. Saw the GI yesterday and my endoscopy is set for 11/5 and my cardiologist is Friday - can't wait to see what HE has in store for me - haha --- I'm actually excited to get this "work up of the stars" --- how many others are thankful for all these tests (cause when else would we get them done??)

My BMI is under 40 and my last two years worth of weights was around a 35 but I have diabetes and high triglicerides...hoping that this is acceptable for aetna approval cause I'm gaining and not losing no matter what I do - I presently need to lose 80-90 pounds and there is no way I could do it on my own with the diabetes and hypo-thyroidism. :laugh:

I'm curious to know who is getting banded in January (My surgery date is 1/18/11 if approved). I'd love to hear your stories and concerns - anything at all --- just want to put together a group for those that are planning a new life style come January - I can't think of a better new years resolution!!!! :thumbup: ~Renee

I am 8 hours post-op! Woot!! I feel great. Scratchy throat/voice from the tube and pain when I sit or stand in my abdomen, other then that enjoying my vicodin and taking many naps. Good luck all. It really wasn't bad ( so far)

Thanks for the updates! Glad you guys are doing well.

Thanks for the updates! I am going in tomorrow for my surgery. I think today is going to be the hardest but at the same time, I am so freaking glad I don't have to drink those protein shakes!

today is my day on the way to the hospital now yayayayay.

Today,6 days post op I am getting hungry !!!!! Starved actually and for some crazy reason the strawberry shakes which I loved pre op they don't go down well I like the chocolate better, weird how that changed I am also tied of chicken broth :-/ I can't wat to start eating!!!! I am counting the days I can start Jan 21!!! I can do this, I can do this, I can do this LOL

today is my day on the way to the hospital now yayayayay.

Good luck :-)

good luck to everyone having their surgery today!!

i went in for my pre-op testing today and it went swimmingly. my ekg was perfect, they took some blood and i talked to the anesthesiologist! it made everything so real...next tuesday is the big day. im scared and excited and sick to death of this liquid diet! lol

plus, ive lost about 10 pounds since last month.

my surgeon tried again to push the gastric bypass...he does it nicely, just saying, "are you sure you want the band? band, not bypass?" and smiling while he says it. yes, sir. i am sure! the dietician was asking me as well, and i told her, look...i have a high bmi, BUT i am perfectly healthy! she said, "you knwo you'll only lose 1-2 pounds a week right" like thats the most horrific fate one could face! im like, i am totally okay with that! there is no emergency here, i dont need to drop hundreds of pounds in a few weeks....slow and steady is fine by me.

My surgery is outpatient and is on the 14th. I'm to be there at 9 AM and they expect me to be heading home around 2 PM.

I've been on a liquid protein diet for the past week (Muscle Milk, Isopure Zero Carb, Broth, Sugar Free Jello, etc.) and it's been fine. I supplemented with one protein bar when I was out, hungry, and had no access to anything else and I didn't want to overeat later.

I started the year at 253.4 and am currently at 246.2 and have been monitoring my body fat percentage, skeletal muscle percentage, visceral fat percentage, weight, BMI, and more using a new scale. It's helping me to stay on track and it's neat to see a graph actually go down on a regular basis rather than fluctuating.

I ordered 13 cases (156 bottles) of IsoPure Zero Carb (tastes like Crystal Light and is pure protein, no lactose, no carbs - 40 g and 160 calories, 1 a day will help me get 2/3 of the way to my protein goal) from VitaminShoppe online, they have the best deal and free shipping (but be careful ordering as that item causes multiple temporary authorizations on credit cards). I ordered a year worth of multivitamins from Harmon Discount ($102 for a year's worth of appropriate gummi multi vitamins), vitamin D (sublingual) and CoQ10 (sublingual) from AmericanRx, and B12 (sublingual) and mini Calcium with D from VitaminShoppe. I tried the recommended bariatric vitamins but found that they are just normal size vitamins that you have to empty the contents of. Totally pointless to spend more for the same thing.

I also signed up for automatic 6 week Sugar Free Jello delivery from Amazon, removed all junk from my house, stocked my freezer with Diet-to-Go vegetarian meals for when I can eat (they are small portions - 1,200 calorie plan), and I imagine I'm missing several things.

Either way, I'm very well stocked, prepared, and ready for Friday morning.

It's taken me since 2004 to actually get to this point, and six months total from start to finish. At this point I have 121.2 lbs to permanently lose.

My surgery is also the 14th. I'm required to be on a clear liquid diet for 7 days post op. I supposed to drink 2 bottles of the following: isopure, cytomax protein, or proteinblitz daily. So, I got the isopure. It comes in many flavors and at the suggestion at the dietician, I'd tried a few about a month ago. I don't find much of a difference in taste but they are readily available in my area. My doc has a very specific post op timeline of what I can and cannot have and when. Not too much guesswork in the first month. Week one: clear liquids, week two: full liquids, week three & four: soft foods. My doc is convinced that I will be able to drive and go shopping the next day. We'll see.

I am leaving in less than 8 hours for the hospital and still having the thoughts of "should I really do this", "What if I mess up", "Is it going to be worth it in the end", questions. Then I remind myself that I didn't go through the last 6 months for nothing. Lots of money would be down the drain. I feel as though I have not been doing something right because I am not as hungry as I have read that others are. Maybe my body as just adjusted a little faster(?). My surgery is scheduled for 7am which is nice. I asked them to put it as early as possible - the bad thing - I have to get up a 4am. Please keep me in your thoughts! Thanks!!

As of this morning I have lost 15.2 lbs since I started the pre op on Jan. 2nd!

Leaving in 20. See you on "the other side".

Good luck Shells!

great loss and good luck, shells!

Back from the hospital, and word to the wise: hydrate, hydrate, HYDRATE the day before surgery! Took 4 tries and a mini panic attack on my part (I hate needles) to get the IV started because I was so dehydrated and have small veins to boot. Very glad they had me spend the night in the hospital; the staff was wonderful and with my husband having to work a night shift I got everything I needed and more. Relatively sore and tired today; the gas pain is horrid. Hurts worse than the incisions. Never wanted flatulence so badly before in my life lol. I haven't been hungry and drinking is a slow process. Definately walk if you can as it helps a lot. Good luck to everyone!

I am 8 hours post-op! Woot!! I feel great. Scratchy throat/voice from the tube and pain when I sit or stand in my abdomen, other then that enjoying my vicodin and taking many naps. Good luck all. It really wasn't bad ( so far)

Today,6 days post op I am getting hungry !!!!! Starved actually and for some crazy reason the strawberry shakes which I loved pre op they don't go down well I like the chocolate better, weird how that changed I am also tied of chicken broth :-/ I can't wat to start eating!!!! I am counting the days I can start Jan 21!!! I can do this, I can do this, I can do this LOL

super congrats to you!! thanks for the updates and letting us know what we can expect! wishing you all a speedy recovery!

Great job to those that have gotten through surgery! Good luck to those that have surgery soon! Mine is the 25th, so I start my 10 day liquid diet on Saturday. Mmm! I've found I'm obsessed with this darn website the closer I come to the date! Can't wait to get this started!

Nicole