Hey There,

Just looking for any July 2011 banders. I just started my process, but as that I am "self-pay", I am on a fast track to surgery. Although, not terribly obese (bmi 34), I am using lap band surgery as a tool for continued success after loosing weight. I have always been able to join a program(diet or exercise or prescription) and loose weight.....I've done it several times with several different programs (not a good thing), but I always gain the weight back and more. Now that I am in my 40s, it is harder to loose and faster to come back. No more, I say! I want to be heathy in my future - family history/genetics dictates that I will/can be using a walker or wheel chair from degenerative bones and joints, heart disease, diabetes. I am trying to steer clear of that but still keep seeing myself heading in that direction, so now is the time for further action. Although apprehensive about going under, I am reading all the good things about the lap band procedure and am hoping that it is just a little more than the tubiligation and endemetrial ablasion that I had done last year. At least, I am thinking of it that way, so as to not scare myself too badly!

Lisa B - Northern Virginia

Good luck to all the July 1 bandsters--and congratulations! We're thinking of you!

Good luck to those of you being banded today! Looking forward to hearing more from you all!

Happy you got a date Shauna! We will be doing the preop diet at the same time. Happy to know that I won't be alone.

Nechama, it is great to hear from you and I'm so glad you are doing so well!

Tammy and Aly, so sorry you had such bad days! I'll be on pre-op starting July 5th and will be joining you guys in the struggles. I feel lucky my doc is only making me do 10 days instead of his usual 14!

How is everyone else doing on their pre-ops?

Shauna

I am on day 2 of a 14 day pre-op, so am doing well. I started a journal and want it to be positive. My 34th anniversary is tomorrow and we have dinner planned at our favorite restaurant and I will go to that, That was planned prior to the surgery but will be very mindful of what I need to do. Have two 4th of July cook-outs (one on Sun and one on Mon), but am going with confidence to handle any situation. I have a spreadsheet-type project plan that outlines the weeks pre and post op and what it boils down to is that I can have "diet as tolerated" on August 20. (I count everything). What that means is that in a mere 50 days I will be there. 50 days is not even a drop in the bucket as to thousands of days I have been overweight! So, no sweat!!

Ok, I need to vent...so if you don't want to read...please skip over my post.

Today has been awful...day four of my pre-op diet. That is enough to make the day crappy. Got to work, boss brings in bagels and cream cheese. Then had three CPA's come in for an audit of our retirement plan. OMG...I wanted to kill them. Then someone orders pizzas for everyone for lunch. I'm sitting in my office and all I smell is sausage and cheese pizza. I really wanted to kill someone. Auditors take up so much of my time I missed my shake time by two hours....starving. Finally get my 2:30 shake at 5:30 (after being and 1.5 hours late on my second shake). Auditors finally leaving. Now I have to stay late to do the work I was suppose to do today, but didn't have time. So, 11.5 hours later and no lunch break...I finally make it home. All I want now is a piece of roast beef and to go to bed. Instead, I will probably have my last shake and go to bed.

I don't know if I can take 12 more days of this. UGH!!!!

Nighty-night July banders. Best of luck and well wishes to all tomorrow's banders!!! You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Ahhh, I had the same type of day yesterday which was day 1 of pre-op diet. Had one on the way to work, people came in from out of town, didn't get the second one until after noon, tied up in meetings, forgot to take the third one home with me, so didn't get 3rd until around 5. My neighbor (who doesn't know) CALLED AND INVITED ME TO MY FAVORITE PIZZA RESTAURANT. I declined, said I was too busy, and now she thinks I am mad at her.

I am committed to this, I (WE) can do anything!!!

Hey guys, greetings from bandland!! I actually had surgery yesterday, they bumped me up a day Surgery went great the Dr said, although my liver & spleen were enlarged... so he said good thing I had the surgery. I am not doing quite as well as Nechama but not bad over all. I am VERY sore at my port incision, and right after surgery it was painful to take deep breaths. My surgeon does a swallow test as soon as you can get up and walk after surgery. So once I woke up enough I went down and did that, band placement looks great he said, no leaks etc. I was a bit nauseous when I woke up after surgery, so they gave me the anti-nausea meds which made me more sleepy lol Car ride home was fine, its 40 minutes and I brought a pillow to put between my tummy and the seat belt, worked great I slept most of the ride home. I haven't been able to stay awake for long periods of time however. I am up about 30 minutes and then fall back asleep. I have no problems drinking my Water or broth I did have some gas pains in my shoulder for several hours after surgery but I made sure I got up and walked as much as possible and they were gone by bedtime. Im a little loopy from being tired and the pain meds so this post probably could have been written better but oh well

It's nap time again so I will post more later, but please feel free to ask any questions Good luck everyone who has surgery today!! It's going to be an amazing journey

I'm also thinking about what to say when I get invited out to eat...might do a little white lie and say my stomach is a bit upset, that way they don't take it personally! Fortunately, most of the people who would be inviting me out know about the pre-op and the band so they will understand.

Ahhh, I had the same type of day yesterday which was day 1 of pre-op diet. Had one on the way to work, people came in from out of town, didn't get the second one until after noon, tied up in meetings, forgot to take the third one home with me, so didn't get 3rd until around 5. My neighbor (who doesn't know) CALLED AND INVITED ME TO MY FAVORITE pizza RESTAURANT. I declined, said I was too busy, and now she thinks I am mad at her.

I am committed to this, I (WE) can do anything!!!

Congrats Tracy, sounds like you are doing well.

In other news....I'm so mad. I went in for my blood tests this morning and I was supposed to fast. Well, apparently CHEWING A PIECE OF GUM breaks the fast and the lady said my insurance might not cover the blood tests because of the piece of gum! So now I have to reschedule. If this puts off my surgery date I'm going to be p!ssed.

Shauna

Hey Shauna,

Glad you got your date and it's still in July!!!

I am on day 2 of pure liquid Protein. I am doing ok, my Optifast chocolate is pretty good. My chicken Soup for lunch is ok, too! HOWEVER,......I go to Lake Anna for a long holiday weekend with family and friends and we all love to play in the Water and eat. I am going to see if my doctor will be so kind as to let me nibble a couple of things over the weekend. I don't want to make a big deal out of myself by being the only person in this very large crowd that hasn't eaten anything all weekend. Most of these folks don't know that I am being banded.

But I will do what I must to have this procedure go smoothly.

THis is so exciting to see how many people are now associated with our little conversation. Oh, remember when you and I first started....so long ago...oh wait, you mean it has only been a few weeks!!!!! Crazy!!Lisa B

Nechama, it is great to hear from you and I'm so glad you are doing so well!

Tammy and Aly, so sorry you had such bad days! I'll be on pre-op starting July 5th and will be joining you guys in the struggles. I feel lucky my doc is only making me do 10 days instead of his usual 14!

How is everyone else doing on their pre-ops?

Shauna

Well - surgery is Tuesday (July 5) and I'm excited and nervous. Day 11 of the 14 day pre-op and it's really gotten so much easier as each day passes. Three shakes, 2 lean cuisines, and up to 2 cups vegetables per day - quite a generous amount of food compared to a pure liquid pre-op. This holiday weekend will not be fun as I'm used to the grills and the beers but I will be fine. I haven't cheated once on the pre-op and I'm sure not ruining it at the end. Down 10 pounds in 10 days - mostly water I'm sure but I'll take it. I'm hoping each day that comes will be my heaviest ever and it only goes way WAY down from here!!! Best of luck to all July Bandsters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Ladies,

I am also having surgery on 7/7/11. I am scheduled for a poet revision. I was a self pay 3.5 years ago. This surgery will be paid for by my insurance. Last week I went to get a fill and we discovered I have a leak in my port no fault of mine it just happends sometime. I know what to expect with surgery but you still get a little anxious.

I know you girls will do wonderful. Just do as your doctor orders.

~Sandy~

Hi Ladies,

I am also having surgery on 7/7/11. I am scheduled for a poet revision. I was a self pay 3.5 years ago. This surgery will be paid for by my insurance. Last week I went to get a fill and we discovered I have a leak in my port no fault of mine it just happends sometime. I know what to expect with surgery but you still get a little anxious.

I know you girls will do wonderful. Just do as your doctor orders.

~Sandy~

Wow !! So much is happening Was excited to already hear from late Junesters ... weigh to go (away !!).

Shauna ~ excellent news on the July surgery date. I'll be starting pre-op with you on July 5. July 2011 - a new independence for all of us !

back from my surgery which was scheduled at 10:45...not loopy, able to walk around a bit, hate having to pee every few minutes, the incisions don't hurt except for the one by the port...it does hurt when i laugh or cough cause the port hurts, and my throat is really sore from the intubation...so far no shoulder pain or gas problems, but my neck hurts probably from how they placed me during surgery...so far, all i have had is Water and it is going down okay, i am gonna try some broth next...overall, i think i will make it

Still no shoulder or gas pain! Yay to Shauna for getting a date! Good luck to all the July 1st banders! Are we all staying on this thread or migrating over to the post-op? How's it going to work?

back from my surgery which was scheduled at 10:45...not loopy, able to walk around a bit, hate having to pee every few minutes, the incisions don't hurt except for the one by the port...it does hurt when i laugh or cough cause the port hurts, and my throat is really sore from the intubation...so far no shoulder pain or gas problems, but my neck hurts probably from how they placed me during surgery...so far, all i have had is Water and it is going down okay, i am gonna try some broth next...overall, i think i will make it

Great job, Ahassan .... I'm so impressed that people are checking in right away ...

back from my surgery which was scheduled at 10:45...not loopy, able to walk around a bit, hate having to pee every few minutes, the incisions don't hurt except for the one by the port...it does hurt when i laugh or cough cause the port hurts, and my throat is really sore from the intubation...so far no shoulder pain or gas problems, but my neck hurts probably from how they placed me during surgery...so far, all i have had is Water and it is going down okay, i am gonna try some broth next...overall, i think i will make it

Great job, Ahassan .... I'm so impressed that people are checking in right away ...