Let's get to know each other before our surgery...I'll go first.

My name is Amy (37 years old). I live in central FL with my husband and two kids, 3 yo DS and 4.5 yo DD. I work in IT doing technical writing and operational readiness. I love photography and have a small side business, and when I'm thinner, I really enjoy running and spinning.

I was banded in Nov 2009 at 374 lbs. From my banding until Dec 2011 (2 years), I lost 198 lbs. I was thrilled! Despite the occasional vomit and inability to eat certain foods, I was still 99.9% happy with my band. Right after Christmas this year, however, I got a terrible upper respiratory infection. I coughed and coughed and coughed. I coughed until I puked, which caused a slip.

I got a complete unfill in early January. Once the slip was fixed, I started getting fills. But then my band developed a leak and slipped once again. Since the surgeon I was seeing was less than helpful, I found a new surgeon, Dr. Domkowski, who finally treated me without acting like I was crazy, as my last surgeon did. Based on his recommendations and test results, we decided to do the removal and sleeve in two separate surgeries.

Dr. D removed my band on August 3, 2012. Because of the extent of damage done by the band, including scarring and pulling the fundus through the diaphragm, I am waiting around four months to be sleeved. I'd love to be banded on November 25, which would have been the three year anniversary of my band.

I've gained about 70 lbs since December. Sigh. The good news is my surgeon is not at all concerned about my weight gain. He is 100% convinced that I'll lose it all once I'm sleeved, since I was so successful with the band. I'm a bit of a goody two-shoes, and I followed the rules to a "T", and I intend to do the same with the sleeve.

I hope the next four months fly by!

Surgery this Saturday! I can't believe it is here already..super emotional about it but I think its cause i'm hungry from preop full liquid diet. Only have to do it for ten days and this is day seven. It actually was easier today then the first few days. Good luck to everyone! I will check in when I get back. :-)

Tara...we'll be thinking of you...prayers going out for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery...please keep us posted...

Had my sleeve yesterday!

All the staff are beaming about how well it went.

Will stay until Friday.

Just sitting here in bed half asleep with my little morphine button!

Congrats! Here's wishing you a speedy recovery!

Just waking up, well, getting up after not sleeping much. Will be leaving for hospital in an hour. Surgery scheduled at 8am!! Excited and nervous. Good luck and prayers to all the other Nov. sleevers!!

Just waking up' date=' well, getting up after not sleeping much. Will be leaving for hospital in an hour. Surgery scheduled at 8am!! Excited and nervous. Good luck and prayers to all the other Nov. sleevers!![/quote']

Prayers going out to you Ronda! Please keep us posted!

Good luck and prayers to everybody getting sleeved today. The waiting is the hardest part. It will be over before you know it.

I'm having it in Florida. Should be interesting.

*surgery, dam I phone! You already know you are going to do great :-) You have done s much research. The waiting is honestly the hardest part.

The Bear checking in: six days until surgery. My personal physician cleared me for surgery' date=' the check for the doctor has been surrendered, I am pre registered at the hospital, and I am still not to thrilled about the catheter being shoved into mr happy..... But, excited to get this done. I was the Fat kid and suffered (until l learned to beat the shmit out the first instigator and the rest would leave you alone) my weight has made me strong, determined and one of life's fighters, bit I am so eager to say goodbye to it!![/quote']

Don't even worry about the catheter man. It's not in that long. And, your asleep when it's inserted. You'll be so happy it's coming out you won't even realize it. Focus on all that weight your going to lose!

Thank you George..... Very much. It's comforting to hear from someone that not only went through the same thing so recently but also who lives so close by! (I think given your name) I live in Watertown but I'm still in a hotel in Boston with my mom until tomorrow. How are you getting protein in? Anything other than shakes?

How did you know I was from Boston :-) I actually live in Arlington, very close to Watertown. My NUT allows yogurt in stage 3. So that has been a big help. They actually brought me yogurt the 2nd morning in the hospital. It really helps to change things up. If your allowed yogurt I would try it.

Hi all! New to this thread - my date is nov 28! Nervous - started pre op diet today. I did have a minor panic attack in the middle of the night - I woke up so thirsty and dry and gulped water down really fast - then it occurred to me that in two weeks I will not be able to do that. It's the littlest things! First day on 900 calorie diet - wish me luck!!

Thank you Chris! I really appreciate your honesty and response!!! Are you doing protein primarily by shakes? I just ordered geletein 20 to help me with mine.....

Yup protein shakes, 60 grams of protein a day, with 12-14 oz milk or water. I have isoflex protein. It has 26 grams of protein per scoop and almost no fat and 0 carbs. Kind of expensive though. It's pretty good, but everything tastes super sweet to me these days and it is a chore to get it down everyday.

Hi everyone, I had an idea I thought I would run past the group. I track what I eat on MyFitnessPal and thought it might be nice to share food dairies with people in roughly the same food stages to get ideas as give support. Anyone interested? My user name is boeberitz.

Hi all! New to this thread - my date is nov 28! Nervous - started pre op diet today. I did have a minor panic attack in the middle of the night - I woke up so thirsty and dry and gulped water down really fast - then it occurred to me that in two weeks I will not be able to do that. It's the littlest things! First day on 900 calorie diet - wish me luck!!

Welcome, you can do it!

Hi everyone' date=' I had an idea I thought I would run past the group. I track what I eat on MyFitnessPal and thought it might be nice to share food dairies with people in roughly the same food stages to get ideas as give support. Anyone interested? My user name is boeberitz.[/quote']

I'll have to set up an account but I think that is a great idea!

How did you know I was from Boston :-) I actually live in Arlington' date=' very close to Watertown. My NUT allows yogurt in stage 3. So that has been a big help. They actually brought me yogurt the 2nd morning in the hospital. It really helps to change things up. If your allowed yogurt I would try it.[/quote']

I am allowed yogurt as soon as I can convince myself to try it! What kind do you use? I bought plain Fage (plan to flavor it with torani) for when I get home.

I'm SleevedWonder on MFP if anyone wants to be friends!