I've made a decision that when the surgeon's office calls to set up my surgery date in the next few days or weeks, I am going to push for February. Preferrably the 11th, because where I work that would give me two Holidays off, plus one of my Friday's off. I have the 9/8/80 schedule if anyone out there knows what that is, or has it. I plan to take full two weeks off. Why not? I have plenty of time on my books, and I want to be sure I stick to my liquid diet 100%! That can be hard to do if you're stuck at work and end up not bringing enough to keep you satisfied during the day.

So, anyone else out there with a date that month or trying to push for it? I'd love to hear from you and see how it's going.

Here is my journey, I hope your up to a long read...

I began looking into the lap-band surgery about three years ago when I first heard about the surgery. Not very intently at first of course, and I always said I'd never even consider bypass.

Not long after hearing about it my PCP told me I had chronic hypertension. Well, I was only 30 years old at that time! I was blown away. I was a chubby child (not bad), but at about 12/13 I lost the weight and was able to keep it off until about 19. It was about 2 years later I met my husband and we married shortly afterward, and it was at that time I made the most of my weight gain. It was like I was sleeping all though it and I never realized it happened. My eyes were really opened that day my doctor informed me of my disease. Well, needless to say I hadn't even stepped on the scale in many, many years. I was wearing a size 28 at the time of my diagnosis. I made a conscious effort to lose some weight on my own, still not fully supporting the idea of surgery. I did pretty good. I did it through good old better eating and exercise. I lost about a pant size before making that ultimate step onto the scale. It said 315!!!

OMG! :faint:

You know, I knew I was pretty bad off, but still - even then - I didn't imagine it to be that bad. Keep in mind I'd already lost some weight. I've come to terms with it now, and can easily say I was probably at my max upwards into the 330's.

Well, I continued to lose a little more weight in the same way - but somewhere betwee 270 and 280 I'd stopped. I've been yo-yo'ing the last ten pounds ever since. I've been this weight for probably the better of two years now. It was at the beginning of this year I realized I needed more help. I figured I needed a little something to keep my portions in control, as I noticed by journaling my intake I tend to "overeat" especially during dinner hour. Breakfast and lunch are perfect, as always. I do great when my mind is busy at work.

It took a lot of courage to ask my PCP about bariatrics. It was almost as if I was admitting to myself especially that yes, I'm fat, and yes - I can't lose it alone. My travels from there have been long and arduous. But one moment of it, I do not regret. I am so thankful for the six month dietician appointments, as it prepared me a great deal and in so many ways. I don't think I will be as successful had I not done them.

I am so close now, I can see the Bandland gates from here!

So, anyone still going through the toughest part, HANG IN THERE!! It is, and it will be SO worth it.

I simply can hardly wait!

Hi Glynda,

My surgery is on 2/14 with Dr. Kirshenbaum in Colorado. I previously had surgery scheduled on 2/15 with Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. But I was worried the entire time about aftercare, as I could not find a local doctor (not a fill center, an actual doctor) willing to handle it since I was getting banded out of the country. I just didn't feel comfortable with that, although I do still believe that Dr. Ortiz is a quality surgeon and that there are other great ones in Mexico.

Then I was reading here about self-paying for U.S. surgeons and someone mentioned Dr. Kirshenbaum. After researching him I decided that I would go with him; I am very comfortable with this decision. It is a little more expensive than it would've been in Mexico, but that's fine with me.

The financing is an issue for me moreso than my husband -- luckily he is very supportive. I don't like that I'll have another bill every month and more debt, but I know that I have to take this step for me and for my health.

Viri,

When is your date and what dr are you going to? I am talking to my husband about financing. I continue to tell him we can not put a price on my health. So he said he will think about it. I still have a date, February 8th.....with Dr. Aceves in Mexico.

Hi Betrthnever -- another Valentine's Day Bandster!

That is so exciting that your insurance co dropped the requirements. Congrats!

My band date is Feb 14, Valentine's Day! And I feel very lucky because I was only 2 months into a 6 month Dr supervised weight loss program when I got a call from the bariatric center telling me that my insurance co dropped all previous requirements (including weekly "nutrition" counseling signatures, and proof of a workout regime with proof that I was going to the gym 3x a week). Also, I have a BMI of 40 and was told that I couldn't really lose or gain any weight. I was able to pull off 2 months of keeping my weight the same but I was worried about the nex 4 months. SO, 2 weeks after my insurance dropped the requirements I had my date!!!! Yeah!! Instead of April, May, or June, I'm in Feb. Yeah!!!!

Tina, we are about the same age and so are our kids. Our surgeries are just 3 days apart. Are you doing any pre-op diets? I have to do two weeks of a really restricted diet. I am not looking forward to that part. Also, I am not telling anyone outside my immediate family. I am curious to see how long it will take people that I work with to notice. The last time I was this anxious about something was when I was waiting for my babies to be born!!! February 8th can't get here soon enough.

Hi Michelle-Ditto with the "can't wait" I am too frantic for 2/11/08 to get here. Finally thinking about myself for a change. I have all of my pre-op testing scheduled for 1/23/08 and so far no mention of a pre-op diet. He'll probably tell me on that day-oh well, might as well get used to it for a while! My husband is really supportive + 1 brother but as far as my Mom is concerned I'm making a terrible mistake. I'm guessing she'll eventually warm up to the idea. I did tell a couple of people at work especially one because she has had the lapband for about 5 months now and is doing great. Please stay in touch so that we can continue to support each other.

...I might need to rent one of those Iron fisted Catholic Nun's to slap my had everytime I stray!

Hey, Steve, Maybe instead of asking for a slap, you could just ask for a blessing--those are pretty powerful, too. :confused:

Hello All.... I think this is where I belong. My surgery is on 1-6-08. Woohoooo.

Nice to see everyone is as excited as i am too be a LOSER soon. in a good way this time.lol

Hello All.... I think this is where I belong. My surgery is on 1-6-08. Woohoooo.

Nice to see everyone is as excited as i am too be a LOSER soon. in a good way this time.lol

Hello KTBUGG! Welcome to the club... by the way, did you mean February 6th is your surgery date? I guess so since if you really did mean January 6th, you'd be banded already.

Hey everyone, I have been away for a few weeks, but I am back in full force. I wasn't required to do any pre-operative diet, but I think that was because I dropped a good 40 or so already. I might do a one week pre-op on my own accord - except for the night before the big dance... teehee!

Keep the communication coming, and if you see anyone outside our little circle here that also has a february date, let them know about our club.

Take care!

Anyone for "Feb Zepplin's" as our group name...I mean.."band name"!! I just thought it was kinda clever and funny. But then again, I have been called a dork on more than one occasion!!

HI! I have always had a problem with my weight. When I was little up to age 5 no problems but then the wieght found its way to me over the years and I have battled with it most of my life. I did loose 115 in my own about 10 yrs ago but slowly it found its way back to me again!! My doctor has wanted me to have bariatic surg for quite some time but I have had my feet dug in the ground saying absolutley not. My husband and I are trying to get preg. We have an 18 yr old and a 5 yr old. I am having fertility issues due to my weight so the fertlity specialist said go have a lapband. I have given it great thought and decided maybe I was getting a hint from above that regardless if I conceive or not I need to be around for my children I do have. I am 5'6" and I weigh 363. I know I desperatley need to get this weight off to feel better and add som pep back into my life. So this is where I am at this point. I have my psych eval on Mon and then see my cardiologist feb 4th so middle feb is what I am going for, for the surgery date. I look forward to talking with you all about our upcoming surgeries.

Hi all. I'm Irish and have booked in for my op on feb 26th. Can't wait to get it over and done with. I'm really apprehensive and not sure what to expect. Telling work I have to get a cyst removed! Trying to keep the people who know to a minimum. I'm 25 with a 41 BMI and a 4 year old daughter.I was offered Valentines day as my op date but it is my daughters 5th birthday so I had to wait another week!

Hoping to have more kids in the future and want to be in the best of health for it.

Had post partum depression after having my daughter I piled on 6 stone (about 85 pounds) in 5 months. Have been trying ot lose it for 5 years and finally am financially able to afford the band (insurance in ireland won't cover the band full stop - you can't even get the procedure done here. I have to travel to Belgium)

I'm sure it will be worth it and am being as optimistic as possible!!!!!!:wink:

I'm not sure when I am getting mine, but if I had to guess I'd say in February. SO, here I am. :smile:

Hi everyone!

I'm Karen and I am soon to be a Bandster. My date is Feb 7th and I am going through Jacksonville Weight Loss Center. Dr. Robert Cywes is my surgeon. He has probably done more Lap-band surgeries than anyone in the area so I am feeling pretty comfortable with him and his staff.

Tomorrow I begin the Atkins diet until two days before my surgery, then I will go on Clear liquids. I have actually already started eating better, just cleaned out my pantry (which is now practically empty, I never realized just how much carbs I ate!) The fridge and pantry are now filled with high Protein lean meats and vegetables along with some fruits and dairy. I was told the reason they want you to do the Atkins diet is because they don't want you going through carb withdrawal at the same time you are trying to recover from surgery. Sounds logical to me.

I have told most everyone, and while not everyone is entirely comfortable with me having surgery, they are still supportive. My husband and daughter are going to be dieting with me so that will help.

I am hoping to lose at least 100 lbs, if I lose a little more that will be icing on the cake but 170 is my goal. I am currently unemployed so I figured that I would take the opportunity to be able to have the surgery, heal, and get used to my new lifestyle without having to worry about when I have to go back to work. Getting employed will be first on the agenda AFTER I get my band!

At this point in time, everything is sort of surreal. I keep having to remind myself that this is really happening, that I am really going through the process and this is reality. When I remind myself, I sort of mildly panic just because I know it is going to be such a life changing event and those are always a little scary no matter what they are. So don't be surprised if I come on here at the last minute saying OMG what the heck am I doing????????? LOL

Seriously though, I have been contemplating this for over a year now. I've been to a seminar, an orientation, I am a member on two boards, I have read everything I can get my hands on so I know that I have made a well informed decision. All I can do is follow my doctor's instructions and then the rest is in the doctor's and God's hands.

I'm looking forward to meeting all my fellow Feb Bandsters and becoming new and improved with you!!!!

Whoo-hoo! Got my date today - Feb 26! I'm thrilled. I start the pre-op diet (medifast) on Monday 01/21 (ugh - a whole MONTH...ah well, better to get started as soon as possible, eh?). Stopped smoking today in prep as well.

I can't wait!!!!!!!

Hi Karen, I am being banded on the 6th. I am really excited, but also a little nervous. I have been looking into this for about 4 years. I have to do the liquid diet for two weeks. Today I started drinking slimfast to see how it went. So far, so good. Some days it seems so far away and then I glimpse at the calendar and have a little anxiety because it is getting closer.

I would like to lose about 75 pounds. Of course, more would be better!!! I will be thankful for any help I can get!!

Cool! You go the day before me! But two weeks of liquids? Ouch! That is the one thing I have found to be really interesting is how varied the pre-op diets are. I started Atkins full force today and as long as I am doing it right I think I will be okay. I know I have already lost a few pounds as I started transitioning over the weekend and was down today when I stepped on the scale.

I definitely know that nervous and excited feeling. I too sometimes think it's really far away but then I think about how quickly the time has flown just since the holidays and I know it will be here before I know it.

Nice meeting another Feb-bandster!!!!!

Hi Karen, I am being banded on the 6th. I am really excited, but also a little nervous. I have been looking into this for about 4 years. I have to do the liquid diet for two weeks. Today I started drinking slimfast to see how it went. So far, so good. Some days it seems so far away and then I glimpse at the calendar and have a little anxiety because it is getting closer.

I would like to lose about 75 pounds. Of course, more would be better!!! I will be thankful for any help I can get!!