I found this site a few days ago. Please let me introduce myself. My friends call me Ray, but I chose the name elkhunter for this board. I have never been elk hunting, because there is no way I could climb around in the mountains with a pack and a rifle at my present size. My goal is to be physically able to do so, and to carry out elk quarters if successful. I realize not all of you may like hunting, but I love it, and that can be a different discussion sometime.

I am male, 6 foot 1 inch, 336 pounds, (all-time high was 340), 52 years old, and have struggled with weight since junior high.

My surgery is tomorrow at 8:30am at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Meriam Kansas. My surgeon is Dr. C. Thomas Hitchcock. He has performed over 100 lap band procedures, and no has died, so that's good.

I have been on sugar-free liquids only since I got up Monday, so I am blaming any misspellings and grammatical errors on my headache (don't know what I'll blame next time).

Any last-minute words of encouragement or advice would be most welcome. Hopefully we can all help and encourage one another as we take this journey.

Thank you in advance,

Ray

elkhunter

<p>Hello Ray! Welcome and I'm excited for you and your sugery date. Happy hunting when you start losing that weight and can add your OWN pack of choice with that rifle. I myself am a Bambi lover but my future son-in-law is THE hunter with his gun collection and trunk of SKEET near his gun rack in his 4WD 4x4. Look forward to reading about your surgery. I can't offer you much advice but I am ahead of you by three weeks. I can tell you to take it easy after the operation, give yourself time to heal, follow the doctor's orders, try all kinds of soup broths, now is the time to do so.</p> <p>Best of luck to you tomorrow. It's an exciting phase in your life to think of all of the things you will be able to do!!! My favorite is to actually feel FULL after eating.</p>

Good luck, Ray! I wish you the best in your surgery, and remember, walk, walk, walk after surgery to get rid of the gas pains.

I was just approved today, so I'm waiting for a date, I'm hoping to be a May bandster as well. You'll have to look for the May bandster thread and for the just for guys thread.

I love to hunt, we have girl's deer camp each year and last year I felt too bad and too fat to be able to carry my gear in and be comfortable (I was about 360# and 5'7"). I did it the year before at about 330#, but those last 40 lbs did it for me. I hunt with a 30-.06 and love nothing more than the crisp mornings watching the sun come up over the frosty and snow covered brush in my blind just waiting.

I agree I'd love to elk hunt, but in my state, you get one chance. And to get a permit is a near impossibility. But maybe one day I'll go on a big game hunt for one.

Take care!

Good luck!!

Make sure that you have shopped for your liquid protein before surgery so that you are all set afterwards.

Congratulations on taking this step toward a healthier life!

Fill me in when you feel up to logging back in!!:gluck:

Hi Ray,

Good luck with your surgery, I had mine last Wednesday, the 25th and am doing great. I'm sure you'll do well also.

Vickie

Thanks for the kind words. I guess I should have dated my entry. My surgery is May 2, 2007.

I will let you know how it went.

Ray

Welcome aboard and congrats on your surgery, I'm sure all will go well. Please keep us updated.

CONGRATULATIONS...Ray...I pray that all will go well for you....sounds like you are ready for the journey...good luck..and let us know how you are doing....

Di/Texas

My surgery went well. I got home about 2pm. My largest incision hurts, and my throat is very sore from being intubated. The doctor said only clear, sugar-free liquids for a week. I got the large (10CC) band.

I think the volleyball tounament is was planning for this evening is not going to happen.

Now I need to learn how to put on one of those graphs to show my loss.

Thank you for you support,

Ray

Hi Ray!

Congrats and hope for a speedy recovery. The graphs are easy; just click on mine or any one elses and follow instructions.

Good luck and come on over to the Guys Only thread in the General Discussion area.

Bruce

Glad to see that you are up to even typing.

I couldn't do that for about a weel.. LOL

Keep us posted!!