Who's out there? We don't have too long to wait!!!:clap2:

Hi soulfulGrandma!

I am so happy for you that you have your date! I still don't have mine, but I'm anticipating a May date. All of my pre-op requirements will be completed April 24 and they said about two weeks after that. Good luck to you!!!!!

Hey, NV GIRL,

I am having my surgery done by Dr. Watson at Western Bariatric on May 2. They have been great, haven't they?

Hey Maysters!! As a fellow Mayster (2006) just wanted to pop over and say hi and congrats to you all!!

Hey, NV GIRL,

I am having my surgery done by Dr. Watson at Western Bariatric on May 2. They have been great, haven't they?

They have been wonderful! Drop me a line and let me know how you're doing!

Ive just been reading all the great posts that you May Banders have been leaving! Good luck to all of you. I just got my 'date' and its May 3rd. My birthday is also in May as many of yours are. There are so many things to do and appts to keep beforehand that the time is flying by.....there was a really good program on PBS the other night about obesity. Anyone see it? It was very encouraging and I am even more convinced now that the band is the way to go (for me.)

Hello All!

You know I worried every day about approval and the procedure itself and what would come afterward. But since I was approved and received my date, I haven't thought about any of it! It's as if I was waiting for something that was meant to be, and now I don't need to worry because life will only change for the better (for all of us!). That said, I did see something disturbing this past weekend.

My BIL (over 400 lbs.) was banded in the fall. I visited them last weekend and watched him eat more food - at one sitting - than I ever thought a person could manage on the band. At dinner: bread; 2 appetizers (one was an entree portion) + muffin; enormous cheesy burrito; 1/2 a giant chicken pot pie; and huge brownie with 4 scoops of ice cream. The way he could manage it?... drinking pitcher after pitcher of Water while eating.

Why someone would commit to the surgery and then not commit to the band is difficult for me to comprehend. But, he's an a** anyway! (Not that I have strong feelings or anything! LOL)

In any case, I did the 6 month medically-supervised diet and lost 33 lbs. Have continued it (paid for the sessions with the nutritionist in advance) and lost another 11 lbs. I feel I have learned really healthy eating habits, and particularly portion control, which will be helpful with the band.

I don't have to do a liquid diet prior to surgery. Is that the case with anyone else. Seems like most folks here have to do it.

:clap2: Cheers to us all!

Hi NimbleBean,

Wow, this is astonishing that someone would work that hard to find away to work around the band instead of with it. It scares me tremendously to think my addiction to food would be so strong I could lower myself to that. Thanks for sharing the story.

I had appointments with two different surgeons at two different places (and checked out others) before I decided where to go for my band. One of the surgeons said he does not require the liquid diet before surgery. The other one said that he requires it for all patients because no matter how good of shape you are in for surgery, this will still make you stronger. He said going on a Protein liquid only diet will shrink the liver and cause less complications during and after surgery. Anyway, that's the theory he explained to me. It appears there is a lot of variance. I was also told by one surgeon to not eat more than three small meals a day; the other said I should be eating six very small meals a day.

Congratulations on your weight loss thus far. Keep up the good work and good luck with your banding!

SElaine,

Thanks for the encouraging words. The variation in pre-op procedures is amazing, isn't it? The only thing the surgical nurse at my last pre-op seminar said was that I should really not have a 'last supper!' She pointed out that it throws off blood sugar, and makes one feel uncomfortably full prior to surgery particularly if, as in my case, one's overall food intake has diminished in anticipation of surgery or due to 6 month diet. Made sense to me, but frankly, I hadn't even thought about a huge last meal until she mentioned it!

I hope you get your date soon. Keep us posted!

SO....Whats every may bander's goal here. What is something that you want to do that you arent able to yet!! Then if you ever reach that goal you can always check this site out and see how long ago you posted and such.

1) I want to be able to buy clothes in a normal store

2) Run either a 5K or 10K in a ok time, something decent

3) I want to have a waist measurement in the 30's

Goal 1 & 3 kind of go hand in hand...but whatever.

Some of my goals?

1. To take a nap on a Sunday afternoon as a treat, not a necessity.

2. Shop somewhere other than Lane Bryant.

3. Sit comfortably in an airplane seat.

4. Run around with my kids more.

1. Have more energy and flexibility when with my grandkids

2. Live longer (the co-morbidities pile up so fast after menopause!)

3. Less Pain - More energy

4. And yes - how can we not wish for it - Shopping in a "normal" store

would be wonderful too.

Oohhh!! Good question!

1. Shoppin' at the same stores as my sister...the "normal" stores

2. Have more energy...and WANT to go to the gym!

3. Wear regular bras that won't "roll" down! Grrr...my biggest pet peeve!!

4. Incorporate a new lifestyle change, that will let me live longer and be healthier.

I love working in my garden. I

I love working in my garden. I want be able to bend, kneel, dig, pull weeds etc. for longer that 10 min. without getting tired. I want to go for long walks with my DH and not get winded. I want to feel sexy. I want to live to see my grandbabie.(that is when ever my kidos decide to have any)

Hi everyone. My date is May 10th, and the excitement is almost unbearable. The time, I'm told, will pass, but it seems to move so slowly! The surgery doesn't scare me so much, like you all are mentioning, it's AFTER the surgery that's a little daunting. Everyone seems to adjust really well, however, so I'm really positive about the whole thing. I'm just so used to eating so fast (I guess I'm always in a hurry), that it's just gonna have to be focus time to really pay attention. This band should really be great for portion control, which is another big one with me. So it will be re-learning HOW to eat as well as WHAT to eat. IT'S ALMOST MAY!!!

I can totally relate....my date is May 3 and I find myself really worried about sticking to this life change. I have failed sooooo many times in the past and I don't want to repeat my failures again. This is costing us over $17,000 and I also worry about failing and wasting all that money. It certainly wasn't easy to come by and I know for a fact that I won't be able to get it again, so this is it.....I HAVE TO succeed! I soooo look forward to being and feeling like a new person. My goal is 135 pounds, which I haven't seen since I was 11. I have no idea what it is like to be a normal-sized adult (or child for that matter), but I can't wait to find out. I'm so glad that I found this forum where I can ask all the questions I want and get much needed support. Thanks so much everyone!:clap2: