My origanal surgery date was 8/24 but as an unemployed teacher I was offered a job 5 days before and accepted although bitter sweet. My new surgery date is 12/21 and I wish it was sooner but atleast I will have 14 days over Christmas Break to rest and heal. I am still nervous and having so much time to wait yet again I read some of the horror stories people post and get second thoughts. However I know I will be a happier and healthier me in the long run. Anyone else in the same boat? Having the support system of others has really helped me through.

Hi everyone! My date is tentatively scheduled for December 20^th and I’m so excited about it; though, I must admit, I’m a bit nervous too. I just hope my insurance approves! My doctor’s office sent in the paper work, either day before or the day after Thanksgiving, so I’m hoping to hear back later this week or early next week (fingers crossed!). I start my pre op diet next Tuesday, but have slowly started substituting a shake for a meal just to start preparing myself and so far so good! I was glad I could find some shakes that I liked because I can be really picky sometimes.

Does anyone know if they’ll be able to have Christmas dinner yet? I’ll still be healing, so it’s turkey broth for me! But that’s okay, it’s totally worth skipping it for a healthier, happier me.

I'm so sad My surgery date was initially supposed to be on 12/15, and today I was told it will be 12/19. It's 4 days, which doesn't seem like a big deal, but it totally messes things up. The 15th would have allowed me to be able to miss fewer days off of work because it's my e/o weekend off. The 19th not only means I'll have to miss a stretch of work days, but puts me too close to Christmas, which means my boss may not allow me the time off. Apparently being the week before Christmas, and being an elective procedure, gives her the ability to say no I've emailed her, and am waiting on a response. Regardless, I'm not putting it off any longer. I don't want to wait until January. It will just mean that I will have to trade shifts with coworkers, and the week before surgery I will have to work all the hours I am scheduled in a 2 week payperiod. That would stink, since I have a sick pay bank that would pay for me to have a week off to recover if she approves it. ::sigh:: I should have known that the 15th was too good to be true!!!

Seeing the new surgeon today keep your fingers crossed for me that I get to keep my surgery date 12/20/2011 the nurse asked me if I was sure I wanted to do this just 5 days before Christmas and I said Yes I do we are not doing anything special for Christmas this year and the lap-band is my combo Birthday/Christmas gift to myself but then the surgeon I was scheduled with decided to leave his practice and move to another city so I have been referred to another surgeon who will be taking over his patient load lucky for me my insurance says this is no problem I just need to let them know who will be doing the surgery and when and where it will be done I feel lucky to have good insurance after reading so many horror stories of others insurance Iam curious and excited to meet this new Doctor I have read up on him and he seems to be very knowledgeable about this surgery and Iam beginning to feel like this was a stroke of luck for me so keep a happy thought and I will let you know when I get home if I get to join you all in Dec or not

This has been a crazy few weeks for me I finished the last of my "tests" on 11/11 everything was sent to inurance last Tuesday then Monday of this week I was approvedby BCBS yesterday the surgeon had a cancellation for the 13th and they asked me if I wanted it...didn't have to ask me twice!!! I found out today I am the last surgery for 2011,,,thank heavens for small miracles. Started the pre-op diet today and it isn't too bad.

Hi everyone,

I was a November Bandster and joined their Facebook group, but when I had the surgery on November 9th there was a complication and they had to stop in the middle of the procedure. I had the pain from incisions, had to heal, quit my temp job, but NO BAND and it's really messed up my plans. I am going through with it though- my new surgery date is December 12- I WILL PERSEVERE!

I have been getting so bummed, though, staying on the Nov, Bandsters board, feeling like I'm getting left behind. I am in a squeeze financially; I was supposed to be back working a new temp job by now and at least could have made some money for the holidays. Now I've been sitting around waiting for my new surgery date to come and getting very depressed. I don't like not working. I feel useless. I feel like I'm a burden on my spouse. I feel like I'm being selfish now. I was so ready mentally for the surgery, and now I'm not feeling it. Not getting into exercising, the preop diet, any of it. Sorry to be a downer but I think it will help to join the December group and start anew with you guys!

Well what a difference a day makes I had my appointment with the new surgeon yesterday and WOW ! night and day difference,He is awesome he went over everything with me personally in spite of him needing to get to the hospital to do surgery he spent a half hour with me going over all my options and showing me everything about the two different bands (Realize and Allergan) and the reasons they generally use one band over the other and just talking to me and explaining how he plans to be there with me every step of the way and how my success is just as important to him as it is to me and that he will be available 24/7 if I have a problem or a question I should not hesitate to call him and he feels pretty certain he will be able to keep my same surgery date of 12/20 he will be more sure after they contact my insurance company today and see if they have to resubmit or if they can just give them the info over the phone and move on from there. Such a difference from my former doctor I saw him only once and that was for a hot minute from then on it was his nurses who did everything. I have such a good feeling about this Iam sure this was a stroke of luck for me and Iam going take full advantage of the luck I have been dealt.Iam looking forward to this even more than ever he really gave me a lot of confidence that I had made the right decision and I was going to be just fine,So bring it on Iam so ready for this and the rest of my life !

My surgery is also 12/21 im getting really nervous ,im not a teacher but i take care of special needs children so christmas vacay was perfect for me,good luck on your journey!

I just joined the forums today. I began my pre-op diet today also....this is going to be 'interesting'. sigh.

My surgery is scheduled for December 15. I'm very nervous and scared, but also optimistic, relieved and excited. Can't wait to be ME again. I've been my alternate self for far too long.

Hello December Bandsters, I'm tenatively scheduled for Dec 15, as long as my approval comes in. My last dr visit is 11/16 and paper work with be submitted then

We can be band sisters!! or band twins...or whatever they call it. I'm having my surgery on 12/15 too!! Just started my pre-op diet today.

Good luck to all you bandsters having surgery this week! I am scheduled for 12/21 and sooooo nervous but very excited too! I start my pre-op diet in a week but I am luckly because my Dr. only requires a low carb Atkins diet for two weeks. I am having trouble getting protein shakes down and he said I can get my protein using protein powder in the beginning and other sources of protein once I can go off liqueds. I am a teacher so I will be taking 2 sick days and than have off for almost two weeks to recuperate. 3 weeks I can't believe it's so close.

I got a call from my surgeon's office today and I am to start the liquid diet right away. So, here I am day one of the liquid diet and I am so excited I don't care that I am a little hungry. I get to do 2 meals of liquid and 1 regular meal a day as long as the food is real, whole food and not processed food. Once I get to 12-7-11, I have to switch to only full liquids until surgery. Wish me luck.

Jen

Hi my name is celeste and my date was nov 17th but i had to get my galldladder taken out first then had some complications, but im all better now and ready to get banded on dec 12th. im starting my pre-op diet and m so excited but idk if m dieting right cuz i havent lost weight??? but i have started healthy eating...idk lol maybe its too soon.... anyway GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF U

Hi Celeste,

I'm in a similar situation! Had surgery for the band on Nov 9th but had a complication so they could not complete the procedure. Now I'm scheduled for December 12 too!!!! Good luck!

i was on nov bandster too but removed myself since my complications, but i am excited to get everything going and started. Good luck to u too i cant wait!

Had my pre op appointment today. It went well. I didn't realize that they were going to be doing all they did. I thought maybe some lab work, ultra sound and xray. Ended up being that and more. Ultra sound, X-ray, Upper GI, EKG, Respiratory test, blood gas test, and Blood work. It went pretty well. I am getting excited and can't wait get started with my new journey. Not looking forward to this liquid diet but, I will do whatever it takes to get healthy.