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

Well, I found out today it's only going to save me $1500 but hey, that's no chump change!

Shauna

I had a hiatal hernia and insurance is covering most of it for me because of that. I am also self pay because my mom's insurance can't cover it because her employer has an exception for bariatric.

Having the hiatal brought my cost from $12,500 to $5,500.

Hope this helps Shauna

Well, I found out today it's only going to save me $1500 but hey, that's no chump change!

Shauna

I had a hiatal hernia and insurance is covering most of it for me because of that. I am also self pay because my mom's insurance can't cover it because her employer has an exception for bariatric.

Having the hiatal brought my cost from $12,500 to $5,500.

Hope this helps Shauna

Sorry folks, not sure why that posted twice.

Hi Crash,

Don't be too hard on yourself...I think most people cheat a little bit on the pre-op. I'm fortunate that I get to do chicken, tuna, and turkey in addition to the shakes, otherwise I would probably eat something too!

Nevermind your aunt...no offense, but she's a (not a nice word). Let me guess, she's never had problems with her weight? Actually, now that I think about it, the family most critical of my weight are pretty fat themselves!

It's your choice whether you fail the lapband or not. Just because you didn't stick with the pre-op doesn't mean you will fail. After all, the pre-op is a much stricter diet than what we will be able and allowed to eat a few weeks after we get the band! I am personally getting counseling in addition to the lap band because I know I am an emotional eater, and the band won't fix that. As my friend with (successful) gastric bypass told me, "You have to fix what is wrong with your head."

Shauna

My July Band Buddies...

Tomorrow is my surgery date, finally! I completed my 2 week preop liquid only diet. Some days I had some lettuce and peppers though just to chew. I was doing great, down 11.2 lbs. I am assuming I haven't lost more because I have my monthly "visitor" and am very bloated.

Summer is my favorite season. If any of you are from the Northeast, I'm sure you'll agree. BBQs are also my favorite. And, the weekend before my surgery, I had THREE OF THEM.

The first BBQ I had my protein shakes and I was fine. The second BBQ was at my house. I had only 1 protein shake (as opposed to 4) and had a piece of cake and a cookie. The third BBQ, which was yesterday, was a nightmare. I had 2 protein shakes (out of 4), about a 1/3c of baked beans, a 1/4c potato salad and a piece of cake. I feel absolutely terrible to the point that I could cry. I was doing so well. Does this mean I can't do the Lapband and stick with the rules? Am I going to fail?

Just about all of my confidence has dropped. I came into the preop diet feeling so good and not messing up, and 12 days later I cheated. And to top it all off, I told my aunt yesterday that I was having surgery Wednesday. She gave me a look (not a nice one) and said really? You're having surgery???? And said "well, you can't eat what you ate today." I wanted to crawl into a HOLE. Granted, I did not eat as much as I normally would have, but still, I ate when I shouldn't have. I didn't want to tell her about the surgery but my mom told me I should because she thought my aunt would be upset if she found out afterwards. I should've never said anything. The only thing worse than cheating on my preop diet is hearing people say, in lesser words, that they don't think I can do it or it's not a good idea.

I guess you could consider this a confession or me just venting. I hate that I'm gonna go into surgery feeling so badly. I want this, and I don't want to mess it up. I have eaten nothing today because it is my clear liquid day before surgery... and I won't mess that up because of anesthesia, etc. I really hope my spirits lift a little before surgery tomorrow.

Sorry to bring you guys down! Please don't read this as a "poor me" type thing!

YAY!!! That's awesome news!!

Well, I found out today it's only going to save me $1500 but hey, that's no chump change!

Shauna

Hey everyone. Updating frOm bed. My surgery went well. It was late but I went it at 11:45 and was home in my bed by 4. Pretty awesome. I gas pains are the worst and the pain meds don't help it. Hurts to take deep breaths. I am a sissy for pain though, so dOnt mind me! Other than the ling wait, everything went well. Remember them moving me to the or bed and then nothing until waking up in recovery. Hopful the pains will subside soon. Good luck to anyOne going in tomorrow. If I cab do it, anyone can!

Anyone else have insane burning post op?

Hey everyone. Updating frOm bed. My surgery went well. It was late but I went it at 11:45 and was home in my bed by 4. Pretty awesome. I gas pains are the worst and the pain meds don't help it. Hurts to take deep breaths. I am a sissy for pain though, so dOnt mind me! Other than the ling wait, everything went well. Remember them moving me to the or bed and then nothing until waking up in recovery. Hopful the pains will subside soon. Good luck to anyOne going in tomorrow. If I cab do it, anyone can!

Anyone else have insane burning post op?

Sounds like my experience. I only got about 3 hours sleep because of gas. Heat packs work a treat!

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

HI there, I am getting banded on the 14th, I was on the fast track as well the whole process has taken me a bit over a 5 weeks. I started the liquid diet today. My BMI is a bit on the lower side as well, 38, I bulked up to get insurance to cover the cost of the surgery.

I keep waiting to get super nervous and it hasn't happened yet. I am reading a bit about some people not having to do the liquid diet before surgery. I am a bit confused, but I am just going to do my best.

Have you heard anything about the liquid diet?

What day are you getting your band?

Best of Luck

Dawn Marie

dmhanaphy,

A lot of us have to do liquid, protein diets. Some of us 1 week, some 2 or more. With the banding being done laproscopically, the liver has to be reduced to help getting around in there. that is why the liquid! Your process is incredible at only 5 weeks with the insurance company involved. There is an awful lot of information on this posting, so read on and enjoy. I am being banded on THURSDAY!!!! and daggone if I didn't go to Wegmans this evening and want to get a big steak.......but I didn't, just came home and drank my protein drink.

Lisa B

HI there, I am getting banded on the 14th, I was on the fast track as well the whole process has taken me a bit over a 5 weeks. I started the liquid diet today. My BMI is a bit on the lower side as well, 38, I bulked up to get insurance to cover the cost of the surgery.

I keep waiting to get super nervous and it hasn't happened yet. I am reading a bit about some people not having to do the liquid diet before surgery. I am a bit confused, but I am just going to do my best.

Have you heard anything about the liquid diet?

What day are you getting your band?

Best of Luck

Dawn Marie

I just found this site today, and it seems to have so much information. I am scheduled for banding on July 22. My insurance company (also my employer) required a 6-month supervised diet program. My surgeon's group is doing a huge research study called PREP, and I agreed to participate. I was randomized into the highly supervised group, and I am sooo glad! I met with a coach every week, and eased into diet and exercise. My coach Mallory was such a positive force for me, and gave me so many suggestions that really helped me. I work out at least 6 days/week (walking video with dumbbells - I'm up to 4 pounders), and I document everything I eat, trying to stay at 1500 calories or less. I have already gone from 292 to 247.

Best of all, I feel that I am capable of following the post-op diet and exercise programs and not "eat over" my band. Today I had my last appt with my surgeon and she mentioned that I can also have plication done at the same time as banding. I have been feverishly researching it ever since and think I am going to do both. I was so confident before, but now I'm kinda freaking out. But I think its the right decision. I'm 50 and have been fighting weight issues since about age 35, when my thyroid died at the same time we started infertility treatment. Both really packed on the weight. I got down to 190 9 years ago, but gained it all back. I hope this is the tool to keep the weight off for good. Incidentally, I had to have my gallbladder out last year on July 13, and prior to that I saw a liver specialist because the GB attack made my liver functions out of whack. By the time I saw the liver specialists, my bloodwork was back to normal, but he diagnosed me with fatty liver. He prescribed vitamin E 800 iu/day, and I've taken it ever since. You can't start it now, because it thins the blood, but if anyone has fatty liver, that is one of the only things that helps, besides weight loss.

Good luck to all the other July banders !

Kristy

Welcome new members Kgirl1960, BANDme_LUV and dmhanaphy!

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, BANDme_LUV

July 12: BandedApril (April), merlina, mfrancis, Kay Adams

July 13: CurlyDiva, Tammy A, Lisa_MC, Ginasjmm4

July 14: crystalddm, BandItOrLoseIt, MassMommyRebecca, schmidty42, NewCruiseGirl2011, Denise'sjourney, Meerkat135, dmhanaphy

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, Kgirl1960 (Kristy)

July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary)

July 26: Serifa

July 27: Healthy4Ever

July 28: Erica Pizzi

July 29: ButterflyM, PungosMama

First day of pre-op diet and it kinda sucks. Every time I got hungry I started heading for foods I can't have. I did a pretty good job of eating up what I can't have over the last few weeks, but not completely. Maybe I should just give it away or throw it out. Went to the grocery store and man there was a lot of stuff there I wanted to buy! But, I'm determined to stick with it best I can. I may cheat a little and have a little barbeque sauce with my plain white chicken that I'm allowed. Official diet says I can have mustard and hot sauce, but please, who eats those on chicken???

How is everyone else doing on their pre-ops? I heard days 3-4 are the hardest, it's when your body goes into ketosis and some people feel downright ILL, like a mild flu.

Shauna

dmhanaphy,

A lot of us have to do liquid, protein diets. Some of us 1 week, some 2 or more. With the banding being done laproscopically, the liver has to be reduced to help getting around in there. that is why the liquid! Your process is incredible at only 5 weeks with the insurance company involved. There is an awful lot of information on this posting, so read on and enjoy. I am being banded on THURSDAY!!!! and daggone if I didn't go to Wegmans this evening and want to get a big steak.......but I didn't, just came home and drank my protein drink.

Lisa B

Congrats on not eating the steak. I am praying for will power to make it through to my surgery without cheating. I have 8 days. I feel like the little train the could... I keep telling myself, "I think I can, I think I can."