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

My surgery is July 15! I am on day 4 of my liquid diet

Tomorrow, arrive at hospital at 6:00am. Surgery time 8:00. I am excited and nervous! I'm cleaning the house, doing laundry, staying busy. I just finished Bandwagon 2 nights ago. Great book.

Hey July banders,

I have been following this blog for a while, getting great tips during my pre-op phase. I'm a bit shy to post, but I am so anxious about my surgery TOMORROW I figured I had nothing to lose!! July 5th. It all happened so fast. I had been going through the pre-referral process for months and I thought it was in my distant future. Then, I got my insurance approval, my dr called, and the surgery was scheduled 2.5 weeks out which meant pre- op in a few days. Now I'm on my last day, clear liquids only and am not looking forward to it. As much as I despise my protein shakes, they take the hunger pains. I weighed 261 2 weeks ago and when I weighed myself this morning, I am 245. Not bad!!! I'll be in surgery tomorrow at 9:45. I am so scared! I don't do well with pain. My hubby will be there waitingfor me! Good luck to all other future banders, ESP July 5th twins!

Good luck to all tomorrow bandsters! Keep a good thought!

Hello Everyone!

I am also being banded July 13th! I am very excited and a little nervous all but I look forward to the new experience. I am 50 years old with a supportive husband and 4 wonderful kids. Their ages range from 25 to 12. I I live in the wonderful state of Arkansas..

My surgeon is John W Baker and it will take place at Baptist Medical. I have been researching this for a long time and feel that I ready for the new change.

I wanted to say first that this is a wonderful site and the people who post here deserve a medal for all the good work you do. It really helps to read a post about something i have in common with so many of you. I know I don't know you (but I feel like I do) but i wanted to say I love you all for the good work you are doing here and keep it up!!!

Thanks again for the advice you all give.

PS The pre op diet is a little harder when you have to continue to cook for the family...lol. I doing great....but cont. to pray for me.

Jesus Saved Me

Hey July banders,

I have been following this blog for a while, getting great tips during my pre-op phase. I'm a bit shy to post, but I am so anxious about my surgery TOMORROW I figured I had nothing to lose!! July 5th. It all happened so fast. I had been going through the pre-referral process for months and I thought it was in my distant future. Then, I got my insurance approval, my dr called, and the surgery was scheduled 2.5 weeks out which meant pre- op in a few days. Now I'm on my last day, clear liquids only and am not looking forward to it. As much as I despise my protein shakes, they take the hunger pains. I weighed 261 2 weeks ago and when I weighed myself this morning, I am 245. Not bad!!! I'll be in surgery tomorrow at 9:45. I am so scared! I don't do well with pain. My hubby will be there waitingfor me! Good luck to all other future banders, ESP July 5th twins!

Congrats and good luck! I'm excited for you! Let us know how your doing no need to be shy I felt the same way n now before I knew it I'm 4 days out.

Good Morning Everyone!

With less than 24 hours to, I feel surprisingly ready. Not looking forward to waking up in pain, but that's nothing compared to the emotional pain I've suffered for the past 29 years! I lost 5lbs this week!!! I was able to button a pair of pants yesterday that I haven't been able to wear comfortably since I bought them. That felt amazing! It was the perfect reminder of why I have chosen to do this. Avoiding the sweets and all the other delicious cook-out foods this weekend wasn't easy, but my perseverence paid off!

Its been so nice to hear from everyone that has just been banded. You all have inspired me so much! I plan on updating you guys as soon as possible tomorrow.

Good luck

So my plan for today is to STAY BUSY! I'm on a clear liquid diet and I'm soo hungry lol. My 13 year old has been out of the country since last monday, so planning her homecoming will keep me busy! I hope the anticipation doesn't get the better of me

How are all of the other "5th bandits" doing today?

Good afternoon July bandsters !! Let's hope that we all receive independence from food issues by the next independence day !!

Hey guys quick question, I had my surgery on the 1st and now 4 days in I'm waking up from naps or sleeping with swollen hands and feet...normal or something I should be concerned enough to call the dr about?

Karebear:

My guess is that it's probably just some swelling from all the fluids they pump into you during surgery, but I think it would be a good idea to call the doctor's office in case it's something more than that!

Also, try drinking more water--if you're not taking in enough water, your body will try to hold on to what it's already got, which can also cause swelling like that.

Hey guys, sorry for my absence the last couple of days...I love this site but the administrators have got some serious login problems, seeing as how 3 of us in this thread alone couldn't log in. I finally got in using my username (not my display name or email address), if anyone else has the problem. I thought I was going to have to recreate my whole profile, which really p!ssed me off!

Welcome to our new members, Moe-Moe, Meerkat135, Erica Pizzi, Wanttobeskinny22, Banded Karebear, GinaJmm4...sorry if I forgot anyone. Here is our updated list:

No date yet: kychick1294, 30Something (JeVona), nickieredd79

June 27:pkjjm31049

June 30: Nechama L

July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, Banded Karebear, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy)

July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527 (Steph), Allison0927, Harvest Farmer, wannabe21bmi (Kate), Kim from CT, blackmajyk, Xtinabrown13, Ecinaj, Wanttobeskinny22

July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905, Lorelei, Kimiky, Diana1980

July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769, Short and Chunky, LisaB68, pinktink, dare2bthin

July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985, Breezybbyy

July 12: BandedApril (April), merlina, mfrancis

July 13: CurlyDiva, Tammy A, Lisa_MC, Ginasjmm4

July 14: crystalddm, BandItOrLoseIt, MassMommyRebecca, schmidty42, CruiseGirl2011, Denise'sjourney, Meerkat135

July 15: Shauna Deanne, Corize, JohnnyBoy, Labella624, Moe-Moe

July 18: Colee85, Bandmebaby!

July 19: Mrs. Schultz

July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum, Rock4Light401

July 22: razzcat

July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary)

July 26: Serifa

July 27: Healthy4Ever

July 28: Erica Pizzi

July 29: ButterflyM, PungosMama

Shauna

Probably nothing to worry about, but might want to call the doctor's office tomorrow to make sure.

Hey guys quick question, I had my surgery on the 1st and now 4 days in I'm waking up from naps or sleeping with swollen hands and feet...normal or something I should be concerned enough to call the dr about?

OMG, July 13 is 9 days away!!!!!! That is so surreal! Lol, Happy 4th everyone!

Well, they found a hiatal hernia when they did my EGD, but that could be good news! That might mean that my insurance would cover part of the procedure! (I'm self-pay). I will hopefully find out tomorrow at my pre-op appointment.

Don't forget that we have a post-op thread Here everyone! Although I hope the post-ops will keep coming back here too to give us some inspiration!

OK, I am so bad...I keep missing my blood work appointment. When I first went in last week, the woman told me I had broken my fast because I had A PIECE OF GUM. She said my insurance might not pay for the bloodwork because of it. I said it was sugar free but she INSISTED on putting it down. I was so mad! Then I went in at 7 am Saturday, thinking I would beat the crowds (you can go in without an appointment but have to wait). There was a line a mile long, and I said screw that. So now I'm not getting my blood taken until tomorrow, the same day as my pre-op. I'm nervous something might come back on my blood test (later in the week) that will postpone the surgery. Last time I tried to give blood but they wouldn't let me because I was slightly anemic. I'm eating lots of red meat to try to overcome that, because I have a feeling they won't do the surgery if I am. Not sure what else they test for.

Start pre-op diet tomorrow and found some good egg-protein powder (I'm lactose intolerant so can't do any of the yummy and ubiquitous whey proteins), but it's so expensive....like $2.50 a shake. I bought this big container but it was half empty when I opened it, then the scoop was huge and I read the nutrition info and it said there was only 10 servings...in this big container! This is the Jay Robb egg protein shake. But I also found a less expensive soy one that I bought ages ago that was pretty good, hope I can find it to buy again. Another soy one that I bought tasted like chalk...definitely going into the trash!

Shauna

Well, they found a hiatal hernia when they did my EGD, but that could be good news! That might mean that my insurance would cover part of the procedure! (I'm self-pay). I will hopefully find out tomorrow at my pre-op appointment.

Don't forget that we have a post-op thread Here everyone! Although I hope the post-ops will keep coming back here too to give us some inspiration!

OK, I am so bad...I keep missing my blood work appointment. When I first went in last week, the woman told me I had broken my fast because I had A PIECE OF GUM. She said my insurance might not pay for the bloodwork because of it. I said it was sugar free but she INSISTED on putting it down. I was so mad! Then I went in at 7 am Saturday, thinking I would beat the crowds (you can go in without an appointment but have to wait). There was a line a mile long, and I said screw that. So now I'm not getting my blood taken until tomorrow, the same day as my pre-op. I'm nervous something might come back on my blood test (later in the week) that will postpone the surgery. Last time I tried to give blood but they wouldn't let me because I was slightly anemic. I'm eating lots of red meat to try to overcome that, because I have a feeling they won't do the surgery if I am. Not sure what else they test for.

Start pre-op diet tomorrow and found some good egg-protein powder (I'm lactose intolerant so can't do any of the yummy and ubiquitous whey proteins), but it's so expensive....like $2.50 a shake. I bought this big container but it was half empty when I opened it, then the scoop was huge and I read the nutrition info and it said there was only 10 servings...in this big container! This is the Jay Robb egg Protein shake. But I also found a less expensive soy one that I bought ages ago that was pretty good, hope I can find it to buy again. Another soy one that I bought tasted like chalk...definitely going into the trash!

Shauna

Shauna, they test for quite a few things when they do the blood work, worrying about what they test for wont help! When I was tested I worried but never in my wildest dreams would I think they would discover I have a clotting factor deficiency. As to the powders, I would suggest you look online, sometimes you can be surprised to find cheaper prices even with the shipping when you go the online route.