Calling all upcoming bandsters...

I just wanted to start a thread where everyone can post their surgery dates and we can start to compare notes.

I am scheduled for 9/12. I have ALL my pre-op stuff next Wed & Thurs, including psych eval, sleep consult, lab work, 4 hr nutrition class, and pre-op appt with surgeon. It is going to be a couple of very full days.

My parents are coming for a visit the following week, and I don't plan on telling them about the surgery, so I am rushing to get through all of that before they get here.

How is everyone else doing getting their pre-op stuff scheduled?

Here is the list of September Bandsters: I'll try to keep it updated for everyone.

9/1 okiegirl

9/1 TexasBr@t

9/1 TruBlueSue

9/1 finallyonmyway

9/1 ashley

9/4 JamesA

9/4 SLHarrison

9/5 Em1125

9/5 kittylover54

9/5 mcw12985

9/5 chabutter

9/5 BigBZ

9/5 TamifromAL

9/6 Ashlee

9/6 Cole

9/6 Kathy S

9/6 r2ht4u

9/6 Gjdf52

9/6 babyjessica

9/6 P McDonald

9/6 harlito

9/6 kareyquilts

9/6 LindaN

9/7 bibytz

9/7 kristyinusa

9/7 sunnshyne411

9/7 MICHELLE43

9/7 cassandra

9/7 green

9/7 happykat

9/8 dovie6523

9/8 valgal1968

9/8 PattyMartin

9/9 mary9

9/9 msgoat4949

9/11 cindyn

9/11 BJean

9/11 SheryBery

9/11 SherryA

9/11 RHCPgirl

9/11 lamamama

9/11 PHAT TX

9/11 drcollier

9/11 fraleyk

9/11 Dana Kwt

9/12 want2lose

9/12 ItsGottaGo!

9/12 TxAngel

9/12 HopeWorks

9/12 kattiegirl

9/12 brendab

9/13 katt

9/13 jewel

9/13 avasa

9/13 whlatimer

9/13 twiceblessed

9/13 suleehci@yahoo.

9/14 gonnabethin

9/14 mom of many

9/14 spike6

9/15 swanny

9/15 fugnick

9/15 coryW

9/15 ericergoman

9/15 melissa0915

9/18 Linstadt

9/18 tayvia99

9/18 April

9/18 Turmoil

9/18 LovinColorado

9/19 vv0710

9/19 susoue

9/19 Elaine53

9/19 reredc

9/19 missSD

9/19 sweet31eve

9/19 lisalee

9/20 mariecarmen

9/20 wantlapband

9/20 samos

9/20 labradoodle

9/20 ErinS

9/20 beechpad

9/20 lifelongband

9/20 mejomojogolow

9/21 jgandg

9/21 WandaKay

9/21 Dallasmist

9/21 JewelsInLove

9/21 YellowRoseKnows

9/22 diane5467

9/22 kellieatkins30

9/22 Lila

9/22 shell04937

9/22 venetiaann

9/22 butterfly1973

9/22 teachmath

9/23 tgjones

9/25 buzz321

9/25 sandranoelle

9/26 marie noone

9/26 christy

9/26 Lin

9/26 The Woman

9/27 Bettina

9/27 tommygirl

9/27 GettinThinMan

9/27 MimIN

9/28 Tracicat

9/28 jumbojet

9/28 "D"-n-OK

9/28 rbabcock61

9/28 Lisa99

9/29 Lapoli7

9/29 ratgirl

9/29 sweetsue

9/29 chattanoogabrat

9/29 phw72

9/29 JessyInSD

9/29 Chrissy "O"

Congratulations Erin! You might want to check with your doctor about taking Ibuprofen. I am not positive, but I think that is a no no right now. GonnabeThin - You are soooo lucky!! I am glad you enjoyed your meal. I don't eat red meat, but at this point, I would put anything in the blender and enjoy it myself! I can't wait until Wednesday! How much of it were you able to eat? Did it satisfy you?

Since it was consistency of soupy applesauce, it went down easily. I had 3-4 ounces so between 1/4-1/2 cup. I can feel it go thru. I have not had anything thick enough to stay in the pouch. I guess that will be next week when I get to start mushies. It was so cool that I had confirmation with the gastrogaffin swallow study of what it felt like for the upper pouch to empty into the lower stomach. The rad tech was amazed I could feel when it was going thru the band and could tell when it emptied.

I eat EVERYTHING with toddler silverware so it slows me down . Speed is going to be a huge problem for me. I TRY to put the utensil down between drinks. It works best if I take a bite, go get laundry, take another bite and load the washer, take another bite and load the dishwasher, take another bite etc...... Although that will make meal time hectic appearing to others.

BJean- blend up the chicken with chicken stock- For my list anything that goes thru a straw is ok. For me, Its not the content its the consistency so my pouch doesnt hold anything right now- my lower stomach is doing all of the NON-work since its liquid.

Im ready for mushies!! 7 more days..

Gonnabethin: What's a gastrogaffin? I mean how is it done? Why did they do that? Just to find out if everything was aligned?

I can't feel much of anything in that area on the inside.

Anybody have bumps on their incisions? Two of my incisions have real sensitive bumps on them. Not at the port site, at two of the smaller wounds. I don't know if they're scar tissue already or something else. I still have almost all of the steri-strips. Doc said to let them "shred" to pieces and fall off. That's hot. lol

ErinS: sure sounds like the Medifast approach worked well for you! Congrats for doing so well with your pre-op loss! I'll bet you continue to do well for at least the next couple of weeks. Welcome to bandland!

Thank you for the support. I am so happy to be in "Bandland". I am also on the medifast for 2 weeks after surgery. We will see what happens.

What's a gastrogaffin? I mean how is it done? Why did they do that? Just to find out if everything was aligned?

It is a thin radiopaque liquid to verify there were no accidental holes or leaks in any of the surgeons handy work. Done via fluro, they watched the liquid go down and empty from upper to lower prior to letting me go home. You could see the band under the fluro- kinda cool.

Tastes like liquid styrofoam with skunk essence!! NASTY, VIAL, Gag you Horrid stuff. :) Took rinsing my mouth in radiology 6-8 times and brushing my teeth 2 times to get rid of the taste!!

Eeeeuuuu! Now I understand what all those August bandsters were complaining about who had the floroscope thingy. I guess I'm glad I've missed that bit of thrill-seeking. But cool you got to see your band-aide.

What a description - styrofoam with essence of skunk!

Still can't figure this ticker thing out. Is it showing up on your side or just showing up as a URL?

Still can't figure this ticker thing out. Is it showing up on your side or just showing up as a URL?

Well I am just seven days from my surgery date, I am so excited!!!

I'm doing pretty well on my pre-surgery weightloss. I don't think that

I need to lose more before my surgery date.

I hope I am able to sleep well for these 7 days, and not lay awake at night thinking of everything...the good things, the bad things and almost

anything else my mind will let me think up.

I am going to TJ, my DH and Mom are going with me. All the support I need!

Wish me luck everyone!

Ahh, another day of liquid cups, walks and naps. Took some liquid Lortab and had two horrible dreams. That was really weird because I rarely remember any of my dreams.

Looking forward to tomorrow--I can take my first shower. The heating pad is helping a lot with the shoulder gas. I still have control of the remote and it's been a non-stop CSI marathon here much to DH's dismay--he's strictly a news guy.

MC (dreaming of waistbands made of something other than elastic)

Lapoli: You really have managed a very good weight loss beforehand. That's going to help you a lot during the surgery and afterwards!

The few days before my surgery, all you-know-what broke loose at my house - everything that could go wrong, did - and although it was annoying at the time, it sure kept me preoccupied so that I didn't worry about the Band date. The night before the surgery, I was so pooped I slept like a log.

If you really do have trouble sleeping, put on some headphones (yours or borrowed) with some sweet music and you'll be surprised at how much it relaxes you.

Best wishes for a good trip and great outcome! Keep watching LBT and you'll know just about everything you need to know for being a brand new bandster!

mariecarmen: Don't make the mistake I did the first trip to the doc afterwards. I had lost enough weight that I knew I could wear a pair of pants I hadn't worn in some time. Sure enough I got them on. all zipped and buttoned. I was running just barely on time and rushed out the door for the 20 min. drive.

Once I sat in the car and used the gas and brake pedals, those darned pants cut into my tummy and port wound so bad I thought I was gonna die!! I had to stop and undo every button and zipper I had on. Drove to the doctor's that way. Had to park behind a tree so I could maneuver my pants back in place, all zippered, etc., and waddle into the building. I was so miserable I couldn't even sit for long in the waiting room. I paced and acted like I was looking at different magazines.

I was painfully sitting (trying to not show the strain in my face) when the doc came in and after a short chat, he asked to see the 5 little steripad covered spots. I explained how I'd made a bad mistake and proceeded to let it all hang loose. After he looked, I dropped my blouse and left everything undone. When he finished talking he said, "follow me to the scales" and I had to tell him to wait up - 'cause I gotta get these things zipped again!

It was embarrassing, especially since my weight loss wasn't as much as I thought it would be from my pre-op weigh in.

Ahh, the humiliation of it all. DON'T let this happen to you. Since then, I've been enjoying all the freedom and comfort that elastic brings!

I am so much better today with hunger. I was hungry for savory non sweet protein sources. I stopped on the way home and got two servings of ( one for me and one for DH) pot roast with carrots and potatoes- put it in the blender and thinned it with beef stock!! That hit the spot!! Plus I have 4 more servings of it!! All the sugar free popscicles, pudding, applesauce, soft allowable foods are sweet!! I was sooooo ready for salty with more than thin consistency!! There is hope for making another week , then mushies!!

KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN, but I refuse to liquify real food. My reference binder from the doctor has all sorts of recipes in it and for the Pureed week(s) it's just recipes for real food and then ends with....and blend until thin! There is no way I could eat that - sounds like something from Fear Factor.

I'm trying to make it through liquids by eating well seasoned soups - like bean/bacon (that one can be blended because some bean soups are smooth and some have the beans whole), cream of potato, french onion, split pea.

Also, I made instant pudding yesterday and added protein powder. Thought that it would be gritty from the powder -- but it wasn't! It was great!

But, I did attempt to add protein powder to my one, 3/4 cup of coffie that I have each morning - and yuck - it just all clumped up and lay on top of the coffee? Oh well.

as long as you add the powder to cold things works well- mix in small amount of cold water then pour into hot has worked!!

The puree is not that bad- or I really got hungry!!! Im not hungry enough for puree tuna yet so Ill wait a week or so for mushies.

BJean,

LOL. I did almost the same thing. Last weekend I had to go to a baby shower, and it was the first time I put on more then sweat pants. I was thrilled that some "snug" pants fit really well (even a little loose). All was good till I went to sit down. OMG, that really hurt my abdomen. I spent the next 2 hours at the shower standing or leaning, sipping water and ignoring the food table & champagne. Amazingly it was still a fun party. I immediately changed back to sweats as soon as I got home.