I wanted to start a thread for those of us who are waiting "with bated breath" for our surgeries in March.

I am supposed to start Optifast on February 26th. I am currently waiting for the shipment, including my surgical package to be delivered. Once I get my package I am supposed to call the clinic.

Ever since committing to this surgery (which I am paying for myself via a personal loan) I have been obsessed with reading everything I can about it and about people who have had it. I am still kind of hoping for some kind of "divine word" about whether or not it is the right thing for me to do.

I am "only" 75 lbs over my ideal weight but am type II diabetic. I am trying to figure out if my reason for doing this is my health or my vanity or a combination of both. The diabetes needs to be gone (when I am 20 lbs lighter it is gone) but I am sure looking forward to losing the weight and actually keeping it off for more than 20 minutes...

Well, everyone, it looks like I will probably not be a March bandster, after all.:cry

I am having to switch surgeons and get all my information resubmitted to insurance. Apparently, the surgeon I was going to use isn't covered by my insurance. I think the new one will take all of the stuff I had done already, but I think she is a lot busier than the first. If I can get everything transferred to her office and get an appointment with her immediately, I might get banded in March, but it's not likely.

Well, everyone, it looks like I will probably not be a March bandster, after all.:cry

I am having to switch surgeons and get all my information resubmitted to insurance. Apparently, the surgeon I was going to use isn't covered by my insurance. I think the new one will take all of the stuff I had done already, but I think she is a lot busier than the first. If I can get everything transferred to her office and get an appointment with her immediately, I might get banded in March, but it's not likely.

That truly sucks!! :confused: Maybe if you are flexible in your schedule you could call the office and let them know you would like to be on her cancelation list. That way if someone doesn't show you could go in their place. There other thing I would recommend is getting a copy of ALL your tests, etc. to take with you rather than waiting to one office to send it to the other. You are always more of a priority to YOU than to the girl running the fax machine.

Saying a little prayer for both of us!

Jen

I also think size 12 would be a nice size to be. I have no idea what weight that would correspond to for me though. Size 16 I remember. That was back in highschool. Since I'm not really sure of the difference in pounds between a size 16 and a size 14 I don't know how many pounds it takes to go from a 14 to a twelve. So I know its possible I might not get that small (I do have a large frame. Honest! Man sized hands and feet!). My goal weight? I don't know! Something healthier, but also something that I can live with. I remember a doc once told me I should lose weight and I asked how much I needed to lose to make a difference- because I thought if it was twenty pounds I could do that. He said I should try to get down to my ideal weight, probably about 130. I don't know how long my mouth was open. According to charts 130 would be on the low side of normal range for me. But I would be way too thin at that in real life, I think. In reality I think my goal weight is somewhere between 150 and 180. Is it ok to not really have a magic number (other than size 12)?

Kyethra: I can wear my size 12 levis mid rise boot 550 cut when I weigh under 200... Very comfortably when I hit the 180's, I am pretty well proportioned and 5'5"

HI! I am hoping to be scheduled for the banding in March. I have federal BCBS and that shouldn't be a problem. I just have to have an upper GI and get a letter from my primary physician. I have already had the psych eval, nutritionist eval, surgeon eval, sleep study, and endoscopy. I am not a patient person and really want to get the show on the road.

I too believe that God will answer our prayers and that He wants what is best for us....even more than we do. I am still praying that if this is what He wants for me then it will all work out, but there is no doubt that I want it. I think it is the only way that I will be able to lose the weight and keep it off. I don't think any of us should feel guilty for wanting to lose weight and be healthly. I am tired of feeling like a slug. No energy, no desire to be seen by people...I am really embarrassed by the way I look and I just want to be at home....that isn't healthy at all!

Wow Gina you are ON IT!

I just added you to the pending list... (on page two)

Hello all you March Bandsters!!!

My surgery date is March 15th. I have been researching the Lapband since this summer. I changed my mind quite a few times. I finally went to my first seminar in November, saw the surgeon in December, and now my date is almost here!!! I'm almost done with all my testing...I still have the Pulmonary Function Test and sleep Apnea Test.

I have been really worrying myself about how I'm going to handle the pre-op liquid diet. I decided to work my way up to it. Starting Feb. 15th I will replace one meal with liquids and starting Feb. 22nd I will replace 2 meals with liquids and then March 1st I will start full liquids. Maybe if I ease my way into it, it won't be so bad...or will this just prolong the process and make it worse???

At present, I am 5'9", 275lbs, BMI 40, size 26. My Goal is to lose 100lbs and weigh around 175. Not sure what size I'll be at that weight maybe 14/16, but size 10/12 sounds better!

March is just around the corner, but now I won't feel so alone during the wait.

Welcome TammyJ! At 5'9" I'm sure you'll be in a 10/12 at 175!

I'll go add you to the list!

I am a self-pay patient because BCBS of Alabama considers the procedure investigational. My doctor said he would not have gastric bypass if he had to make the choice for himself. He highly recommended lap band. I will return to Dr. Adams on 2/28/07 for my pre-op visit and my surgery will be scheduled for 2 weeks later. Dr. Adams is in Decatur Alabama. I have not heard anything about liquids before the surgery. Is this something everyone has to do?

I'm not handling the pre-pre-op diet very well. I go on liquids 2/26. Foods keep coming to mind that I feel I need to consume before that deadline (ie. carbonated beverages (including beer and soda-which I usually never drink), white bread, deserts - most of the things I've learned to stay away from). I'm TRYING to change my mind set in that I still can have a lot of these things - only a couple of bites or sips instead.

I'm an all or nothing kind of girl though, so gradually starting the liquid diet would not be something I would consider. The liquid diet should be good after you get through day 3. I recall with any diet that after day three - you feel really good and your body has kind of acclimated to the new food intake.

Gina, Federal BCBS just started covering Lap Band this year. My approval was easy. The verse on your post is very inspiring-thanks for that.

I'm a (tight) size 16 now - I'm hoping that getting back to 200 I'll be comfy in my clothes again. Then I'll probably be a 12 at the 160 weight. I'm 5' 6 3/4".

I have not heard anything about liquids before the surgery. Is this something everyone has to do?

Not everyone! Check with your surgeon to find out. You may get lucky and get away with a low fat/carb diet or Clear Liquids the day before surgery.

I'm an all or nothing kind of girl though, so gradually starting the liquid diet would not be something I would consider. The liquid diet should be good after you get through day 3. I recall with any diet that after day three - you feel really good and your body has kind of acclimated to the new food intake.

I sure hope so. I think easing into it may discourage me even more so I may just do a couple trial runs instead.

Hello everyone. I just got notification that my surgery is March 1st. I am soooo nervous. I just hope I am doing the right thing. I am just so tired of trying and failing. I've always been an eater. I eat to celebrate, eat when I am bored or stressed. I am worried that I won't be able to get past my head in order to make this work. I am hoping all the support on this forum will help with my success. I will be looking forward to all the encouragement.

Welcome CarolynB! You ARE doing the right thing.

I have to admit that I too have been thinking about some things I *must* just eat before I get the band. As much as I want to avoid the last supper syndrome I also do love the eating whatever I want aspect of being morbidly obese. Its the its going to destroy my health and kill me slowly part that I don't relish-- so I need to change my ways for good and I need help doing it. But I really want an ice cream cake! And other forms of sugary foods have popped into my head along with big meals. Lobster dipped in butter or something-- I don't know. I'm actually not a huge butter fan (unless its in certain things). but a little bit is nice. And I know I can have seafood after the band because its nice and healthy. Its just unhealthy sauces and stuff like that I need to look out for and portions. So... I don't know. I know I can still have it all in terms of main course and side dish type stuff that I really like. Less of it, and maybe a healthier version, but I can have it. So I think that does help.

Mostly I just have this compulsion to start eating all the junkfood I can while I still can.... But I know thats not a good idea.

I'm also very curious about what will happen to my size as I get smaller. And body shape too! Back when I was a size 18 I used to be a perfect hourglass. That wasn't too long ago- maybe two years ago? So I would like to think my body shape won't have changed much.

Right now I am 5'8" (and that won't change!) and I weight is typically between 280 and 285. And I generally wear a 22W in jeans and trousers and a 24W in blouses (or a 3x). I think I was about 220 when I was an 18W... So maybe based on that I can try to find an equation for pounds and size.

But I don't know the difference between womens sizes (the W) and normal sizes. Also, sometimes I will wear a tall size and sometimes a normal size because that depends on what each brand has as inseam and torso length and arm length and so forth. But assuming I wanted to stick with one or two brands of jeans I could figure that out and account for variations. I'm going to have to try and lookup the W to normal difference now... Oh and there is also how frame size and so forth affects stuff. I used to be sort of lucky in that I could carry weight well, but it also means I have to lose more to have a noticeable difference. I'm probably overanalyzing this. I like to analyze things...

I'm also thinking of different questions to ask before the procedure, like exactly what is defined as vomitting and so forth ( I have GERD)...