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...

Reading these threads are what got me through my surgery and even now after being banded. You really seem to know what you want and you are on the right track to achieve it. Once you are in bandland you will be able to loose those 60+ pounds. You'll have more energy and you will feel better, for YOU!! Good Luck and we will send good vibes your way. Post when you are able to.

HI Folks,

I have been reading your posts for the past 4 weeks and have found such a "WEALTH" of information. I am 52 years old and committed to lap band as a last resort to lose these painful pounds. My legs and feet can't take these extra 60 plus pounds I have gained in the past 5 years. At 5'7, if I can get below 200, I will be physically more able to handle standing on my feet. Additional weight loss will contribute to a healthier heart, healthier state of mind, and a healthier "Woman". I am anxious to get off the blood pressure meds, too.

I am traveling to San Diego tomorrow monring. Pre-op testing will be on Monday- Dr. Kuri and his team is my surgeons of choice. A friend is flying with me and we are looking forward to site-seeing in Tijuana.

I may or may not get to post before Tuesday am, and if not, PLEASE SEND PRAYERS MY WAY.

AGAIN, THANKS FOR THIS AWESOME SUPPORT!!!!

I see the train has came by and picked you up - glad you had a safe trip to bandland. Now there's a lot to get to know on this side so take it easy and soak it all in. We are so glad you are here. We've been waiting on you.

Did you get any pictures of your surgery (barium swallow or placement of band)?

Hello Again!!!

The day of my surgery went very smoothly. I got to the hospital right at 8:30am. Within 5 minutes of sitting down in the waiting room they called me back to get started. At least 10 different people came in and out my room to ask questions or just to introduce themselves and let me know they will be in the operating room. Everyone was so nice and attentive and made me feel at ease. By 10:30, I was in the operating room. By 11:45, I was in recovery and was taken up to my room around 1:00pm. I wasn't allowed anything to eat or drink the first day, not even water so I was quite parched. The only thing I could do was wipe the inside of my mouth with a wet swab. Every couple hours I got up to walk for 10-15 minutes around my room for the rest of the evening. The next morning around 8:30 I was taken to X-ray to drink the barium to make sure that everything was flowing okay. Finally around noon, after receiving the x-ray results I was brought a food tray with broth, jello, tea, apple juice, cranberry juice, a popsicle, and a pitcher of ice water. I ate/drank all the broth...which was delicious, had a spoonful of jello, drank the cranberry juice and drank 2 cups of water. I had no problems drinking at all. The nutritionist came to my room to visit and told me that she watched my entire surgery from a window. I said, "You're kidding!" I thought that was really cool!

This is day 2 post-op and I am feeling REALLY, REALLY good! I am really surprised. I slept very well last night. I slept propped up on my bed/tv pillow and used several other pillows to support my back and my legs and I was very comfortable. No real pains to speak of. Still very gassy, but no trapped gas...it's coming out both ends quite often.

I hope everyone else is doing well! I am sure we had some new people join us while I was gone so I am going to read back a few pages and update our list. Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Good morning all: I am feeling so much better today, I still wake up between 2-3 a.m. for about 15 minutes, Last night I felt a throbbing in my leg so I started walking around. I ended upstairs in our guest bedroom changing the bed that my brother stayed in when he visited last week. I was very careful not to stretch too much, ( He left monday and I had to work all day, then had to drive 61/2 hours the next morning at 5:00 a.m. to my pre-op with the anethesthesis- thats why the bed still wasn't changed) I went right back to bed and woke up feeling great. I still have some upper chest pain, but have lost 5 pounds since the surgery on wenesday. I now need to try to figure how to update my ticker for my weight loss. I truly want to thank everyone for all the information I get from you. This is so helpful. I really enjoy talking to you all, since I have 4 sons and a husband and really enjoy the female perspective on everything. God Bless you all - Gretchen

Hi Everyone!

I've been lurking in Uk lapband support... but it's pretty lonely down there on your own!

I'm from the UK and am due to be banded in Paris France on 21st March... flying out tomorrow.

do you mind if I join the March bandsters wagon!?

Hi Everyone!

I've been lurking in Uk lapband support... but it's pretty lonely down there on your own!

I'm from the UK and am due to be banded in Paris France on 21st March... flying out tomorrow.

do you mind if I join the March bandsters wagon!?

Anon, you are more then welcome and good luck on the 21st. Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing!

WOW - Surgeons will be busy on Monday. Congrats to all of you on Monday and We will be waiting for you on the otherside.

WendyJ - 03/19

vcarozzolo - 03/19

ebony868 - 03/19

SueA - 03/19

demmemoon - 03/19

momlambert - 03/19

ladybug390 - 03/19

Theresa Ann - 03/19

Berry - 03/19

deshar - 03/19

purplemonkey - 03/19

lindsay - 03/19

charsweb - 03/19

Gret1964 just click on the ticker

Hiya Anon

Yes I felt like that too. It is very lonely down there in UK bandland.

I was banded 11th March. I also found that Anne Diamonds site

www.fathappens.com there is a whole topic on there for UK bandsters

Go to tickerfactory.com and click on weight, your ticker information should come up - put in your passcode and update your ticker. It will then give you a new url to copy - just do the same as before when you added it -delete the old one and put in the new one.

Wow - didn't know all I had to do was click on it. Better than 1 way to update a ticker!!!

Good morning all: I am feeling so much better today, I still wake up between 2-3 a.m. for about 15 minutes, Last night I felt a throbbing in my leg so I started walking around. I ended upstairs in our guest bedroom changing the bed that my brother stayed in when he visited last week. I was very careful not to stretch too much, ( He left monday and I had to work all day, then had to drive 61/2 hours the next morning at 5:00 a.m. to my pre-op with the anethesthesis- thats why the bed still wasn't changed) I went right back to bed and woke up feeling great. I still have some upper chest pain, but have lost 5 pounds since the surgery on wenesday. I now need to try to figure how to update my ticker for my weight loss. I truly want to thank everyone for all the information I get from you. This is so helpful. I really enjoy talking to you all, since I have 4 sons and a husband and really enjoy the female perspective on everything. God Bless you all - Gretchen

I am so restricted in the morning that I don't start eating until around 11 am - what time do you have breakfast or start eating?

I'm not complaining because before the band I would have had breakfast and a snack by then.

trying to figure out how to get the ticker from there to here? not up on that kind of stuff I guess. I can create the ticker just don't know how to get it here?

Hey BIKER...glad I could give you a yummy recipe. i am drinking tons of soup today, mainly because it makes me feel better to have something warm inside. I had my hubby by sour cream and cottage cheese, and i am blending this into every kind of soup I eat. It just gives me a bit of a reprieve from plain 'ol soup. Hubby went shopping today and brought me a toaster home!!! Awwww. I tol dhim I couldn't wait to have toast with a little jam or a tiny bit of butter. So, he has the toaster all ready and waiting. I had my lortab at 8:30 am and nothing since...is now 5pm. I am still not sore, just a little uncomfortable, so I think I will take another painkiller. I am still VERY bloated. We are sup[osed to go on a beach walk with our Boxer club tomorrow. But, I think I am opting out...even the thought of seeing 30-40 Boxers tromping up and down the sea coast and playing in the water isn't enough to make me go out yet. I did vacuum one floor of my house and mop, but I think I overdid it because I was feeling good. Three days post-op is probably too soon to be acting "normal'!!

TAMMY- Welcome to Bandland. I hope you recover as quickly as I seem to be!!

Char

I am so restricted in the morning that I don't start eating until around 11 am - what time do you have breakfast or start eating?

I'm not complaining because before the band I would have had breakfast and a snack by then.

I was thinking the same thing this morning!! I am tight tight tight in the morning so I sip, sip, sip my protein shake until about 11:00. After that things loosen up and I am able to have my mushies and more water.

I didn't truly realize how much I ate before I got banded. I mean, I knew I had to eat alot because I was fat but it really opened my eyes - by 11:00 I would have already eaten a full breakfast, a big snack, and already be thinking about lunch!

My doctoe says first thing in the morning to drink something hot to relax you band. Might work for you if you want to try it.

Hi Everyone!

I've been lurking in Uk lapband support... but it's pretty lonely down there on your own!

I'm from the UK and am due to be banded in Paris France on 21st March... flying out tomorrow.

do you mind if I join the March bandsters wagon!?

Hi Anon,

Welcome and I hope you don't ever feel alone again. The people are terrific here on LBT. You and I will be banded on the same day along with quite a few others. Good Luck and I hope we all sail through smoothly together.

Linda