Hi there, I am getting banded the second week of May. I am so glad to have this opportunity to get off the excess weight I have been lugging around for the last 18 years! I am going through the Southern Oregon Bariatrics Center, located in Medford Oregon. My surgeon is Dr. Castillo and they just started doing the lap band surgeries in Feb. 2007. My insurance doesnt cover the cost so its a real sacrifice to come up with the money, but I know it will be worth every penny.....Any pre-op advice, encouragement, questions, etc., are welcome!

The best advice I can give is get a heating pad. It really helps the post op pain, which really isn't that bad. I thought the heat was better than pain meds. Good Luck

Welcome to LBT mommalee! Congrats on your upcoming surgery! You will do great. The band has given me my life back and I can't praise it enough! I love to see others who are tired of it and are doing something about it! I was lucky that my insurance covered my surgery but I would have had it even if it didn't. You are so right that the sacrifice will be well worth it. Getting the weight off and living a long, healthy life is worth it all! Best of luck to you and keep us updated on how things are going!

Hi MommaLee!

Welcome to LBT.

Do anything that requires bending at the waist prior to surgery.

Don't buy too much of any one post-op food. Seriously - you won't be eating that much until you get to eat full liquids or mushies, anyway - and you will just end up with 47 cans of chicken broth in your pantry. :] Besides, you end up totally SICK of liquids after about day 4. You will never want to see chicken broth again. By the time you run out of anything, you will probably feel up to a trip to the store.

Be sure to have GasX and chewable meds/vitamins/aspirin lined up and ready prior to surgery. Give a couple of days extra for any prescriptions...they might not have the liquid meds on hand.

We will all be thinking good thoughts for an easy surgery and a speedy recovery!

Hugs!

Welcome to bandland. Congrats on your impending surgery. Julie

I appreciate the advice and I am making a list. GAs-X, liquid tylenol, NOT TOO much post op food, (I am glad for that because I was prepared to buy tons of it!). I have been going to a water aerobics class and concentrating on my waist muscles when we do water sit ups, scissors etc. I will see the nurtritionist on Tues so will get to start the pre-op diet. I am truly on the path to a fit trim new me!