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...

Did any of you find yourself obsessively cleaning your houses before your bandday?? I get banded tomorrow and I am cooking and cleaning like I will be out of town for a week - even though I am coming home the same day.

I even seperated out enough outfits for each of my kids for a week despite the fact that all three of them are perfectly capable of dressing themselves without my intervention.

It seems like when I scheduled my surgery there was so much time and now it is tomorrow and I am freaking out a little bit. I am mostly excited but also nervous.

That would imply that I EVER cleaned my house. I live in a dog hair/dust invested pit, lol.

And laundry? I only washed what I KNEW I was going to need during the next week - I have a huge pile of dirty laundry on my bedroom floor right now

This thread moves quick on the weekends - I left to go to the store with a post pending - came back and you guys are already on another page.

This is really super important for people who are not banded yet!!!

I was banded on March 1st and even though very excited to get banded still there was a side of me that was skeptical that this was still not a "permanent weight loss" and I most likely would have the same results as I had experienced in the past with WW, JC, Atkins etc. etc. etc. But, still with that in mind I was still willing to try anything to be healthy!

I am 9 days post op and today I will tell you what I have eaten and my whole state of mind...

coffee w/cream 630am ~felt full or rather satiated~did not feel like I wanted to eat, because donuts and muffins were offered to me and protocol habit would have been to eat some, and it is not that I had the "will power" but truly did not want any.

930 not feeling "full" anymore; but not hungry either but knew I should eat something I drank 8 oz. of bariatric essentials = 20 grams of protein

11am family went out to breakfast~I was not hungry but I want to experience the feeling of eating out and the excitement of being waited on etc. I was curious on how I would feel and what I would order. So I ordered a cup of coffee with cream and 2 scrambled eggs SOFTLY scrambled. The waitress looked puzzled (because we are regulars~and she knows what I order usually) We all sat there and chit chatted until our breakfast arrived. DH ordered the Country BIG breakfast, daughter ordered pancakes with peanut butter (my weakness and favorite). I ate 1/2 of my 2 scrambled eggs and I was done! I felt full~satiated etc. (I know this is kinda hard to believe~but I am telling you I am in a learning curve and still in prove me wrong mode regarding the band. I did take 1/2 bite of pancake w/peanut butter with a swig of coffee (praying togod that itwould not get stuck) and with that one bite I was really really really full and SATIATED. My DH finished my egg and we left. I did not feel left out or deprived. I was so full and happy, and tickled that the band came through for me again.

We went shopping to an outside Mall because the weather is fantastic on the West Coast right now.

About 2 o'clock I knew I needed to drink my crystal light, but was not hungry yet, but knew that I should start thinking about I needed to eat something.

At 3 o'clock we were at Walmart and I felt~just kinda puny but didnot think I was hungry and went over to the cheese section and ate a whole "string cheese light" and I immediately felt better and was lively again.

It is 415pm and I just had another 8 oz. of bariatrix essentials 20 gram protein and am cooking turkey spaghetti with whole what penne pasta. I probably will not eat any of the penne pasta and eat the spag. sauce like a thick hearty soup.

I am having trouble with not cooking as much food and I hate to waste so I am cooking normally and taking food over to my elderly neighbor daily. She is elated and I really don't care if she throws it away, as long as I don't see it go to waste make my child or dogs eat it.

Wow I am so happy with this band! I know I am not eating as strict as some of you have to 9 days after surgery, but my theory is this band needs to be a give and take with me. I chew chew chew chew chew everything to a mush before I swallow, so basically I really am pureeing everything just as a blender would do it. I did PB once but totally out of unconsceintious behavior and thinking I would be okay.

My blood pressure is down, and now I don't regret having to get my blood pressure taken every time I go to Walmart. I was absolutely normal today. Woohoo!!!

When I was at the Mall I was offered "tastes" just like when you are in Costco, you probably know what I mean. And prior to banding I was the one that said I was getting a second one for my child or DH. I don't even have the desire to eat one! I still want to dab my finger for flavor but don't want to swallow. Wow I am so excited.....

It is amazing at how little food you eat that makes you feel full.

I just wanted to give you my experience, and if you follow my posts I am one of the ones who has a very tight relationship with food. My Dr. said when he looked at my stomach his guess was that it could have held 8 cups of food, I kept warning him I was a volume eater.

You guys are in for such a treat!!

I will be out of the loop for a little (3 days)- not sure if I will have internet access. I will be taking my laptop with me. Some of you know, but for those who don't...WE ARE GOING CAMPING. Some of you may know the Yogi Bear Park, there is one in Waller, TX and we are taking the kids for Spring Break.

The Weather is suppose to be bad though, 80% chance of rain Monday, 70% on Tuesday, and 50% on Wednesday. So we are bringing the board games.

For all the bandsters on Monday (12th), Tuesday (13th) and Wednesday (14th)...GOOD LUCK! I hope I can post. My family knows that I'm banded so that helps out - they made sure that I had what I can eat...But I already have it all.

I'm glad to see all are doing well.

"Haha, as long as I don't hear go gators ever again. :D"...

I might need a lap band for my mouth then..

March 2007 bandster just checking in!

Was originally scheduled for March 7, never did post my update... I switched surgeons and went to Dr. Aceves for a March 8 date...

So now am home. Been banded three days and let me tell you, broth is good stuff!!!!!

Hi,

My Surgery Date Is March 20th....flying Into San Diego On Sunday The 18th....dr Kuri Is My Surgeon.....praying And Asking For Others To Remember Me On March 20th....and Thanks For This Forum.

hi

well tomorrow is the big day for me. I am very nervous. It seems like people have such different post-op instructions. I have been on mostly liquid protein for 2 weeks pre0op then i will have clear liquids for 2 weeks and then mushies for two weeks. But some people seem to be on solids almost right after surgery. I am a bit confused by this.

and yes, I cleaned out closet and drawers it was wierd, sort of like the nesting instict before having babies:) And that is a very long time ago for me.

I will stay overnight at the hospital and hopefully I will post a pot-op update on Tuesday. Can't wait to be banded and home again.

Mags.

Hi everybody,

My surgery date is march 20th. :nervous How is everyone that has been banded this month doing. I have been doing optifast for the last 2 weeks. But the count down in on. :clap2: Hope to hear from somebody

Thanks for listening to my pitty-party re: DH and his lack of motovation in helping me run this household. He's really not THAT bad, well, maybe he is.

I'm PMSing and can get quite grumpy and sometimes can't keep my mouth shut!

Surgery is Wed. 3/14 I keep thinking I'm not prepared enough for this huge step. I think I have everything on my list, all the protein, clear liquids, comfort items, groceries in the fridge, laundry is all washed.

I keep thinking in 3 days things will be different, can I made the big transition?

I know what I have to do to make this tool work, Im relying on the LB surgery to help me do this.

Congratulations to all the banders in March that have had surgery......

Good luck to all of us ready to take that plunge yet this month!

hi

well tomorrow is the big day for me. I am very nervous. It seems like people have such different post-op instructions. I have been on mostly liquid protein for 2 weeks pre0op then i will have clear liquids for 2 weeks and then mushies for two weeks. But some people seem to be on solids almost right after surgery. I am a bit confused by this.

and yes, I cleaned out closet and drawers it was wierd, sort of like the nesting instict before having babies:) And that is a very long time ago for me.

I will stay overnight at the hospital and hopefully I will post a pot-op update on Tuesday. Can't wait to be banded and home again.

Mags.

Glad you are feeling better and ready fo surgery. I know you will do well tomorrow and we will hear from you soon. Take care:p

Mommy202 - 03/12

Sharon67 - 03/12

Hazelbunny - 03/12

nurseamy - 03/12

magnolia - 03/12

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Good Luck to All of You!!!!!!

HeatherPA, Congratulations on being banded!!! I hope everything is going smoothly!

Tranam1955, I think you're already on our list. Good Luck to You!!!!!

Magnolia, Good Luck! I can't wait to hear from you!

GOOD&READY, Congratulations on getting a surgery date! I had you on our pending list, now MARCH 20th it is!!!!!

demsvmejm, From what I've read about you, it sounds like you can handle just about anything! Don't worry, you are going to do GREAT!!!

hello march bandsters - I had my surgery last tuesday 6th march .. and honestly I was so nervous - never been under the knife in my life so was totally green about what to expect.. well let me tell you recovering from the anasthetic was probably about as bad as it got, I was very groggy. The surgery was fine though, and today 6 days after, I have inspected the wounds and although they are clearly visible, they are clean and already healing nicely. I suffer from claustraphobia and had this bizarre notion that having a band around my stomach may cause me some sort of panic attack (I hate wearing any constricting garments like girdles or roll necks) but that hasn't happenened. I know everyone says this to help calm the nerves before you are wheeled down or they're about to start the GA - but it's true ..DEEP BREATHING - do not panic - you will wake up, the operation will be over and then you can get on with your life! I'm such a sceptic about most things (one of my failings) and having done so many diets over the years and obssessed about food for so long that I feel like this is IT! I don't know if it'll work for me, but 6 days in I feel cautiously optimistic.. (for a change). Good luck.

annie