Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

I am having surgery March 25th. Can't wait! I'm new to this site. How do you get the weight graphic under your name?

you will do fine, it is normal to be nervous and wonder what others think about you. just go in be positive.

Hi everyone!!!

Hopeinapril and Whimsy, will the pre-op test take 3 hours to complete?? I am scheduled for the test on Monday and was not aware it would take that long. DH is going with and he is going to love sitting in the waiting area!

Mom, I am glad you made it through the day. When I read your post I thought I won't be able to return to work after 2 days! I plan on taking 6-7 days off and hope I have an easy time.

Fenton, I have enjoyed reading your daily post on how you are progressing and your words of encouragement to co-banders. (Some of that stuff has been really good) Just to let you know, when I had a cat he would have read the sign saying no cats in the sleeping chamber and entered anyway!

I am going to attempt the shrinking shamrock logo 1 more time, keep fingers crossed!

I am joining the shamrocks....surgery date is March 28th

hey jencys welcome I am scheduled for the 26th

I am having surgery March 25th. Can't wait! I'm new to this site. How do you get the weight graphic under your name?

Hi there, Duke! (Love the name...it's my maiden name. :biggrin: ) You get the weight graphic by clicking on any of the ones shown. It will take you to the website that allows you to customize your own. Then you'll need to copy the code it gives you and paste it in your signature.

Hi everyone!!!

Hi hi!

Hopeinapril and Whimsy, will the pre-op test take 3 hours to complete?? I am scheduled for the test on Monday and was not aware it would take that long. DH is going with and he is going to love sitting in the waiting area!

Mine took about 4 hours BUT only because they wanted to confirm that I was not pregnant before I did the barium and upper gi. The EKG and chest X-ray were pretty fast. I think it just depends on where you go and how on the ball they are. If they are busy or slackers, it may take longer. My poor hubby had to wait on me, too.

Whimsy

I saved the shamrock logo to my pictures, went to the edit signature section, browsed and found the shamrock picture where I had saved it. When I attempted to download the notice I received said, "Your file of 31.3 KB bytes exceeds the forum's limit of 19.5 KB for this filetype". What do I do now because I am lost!!!:biggrin:

Mine took about 4 hours BUT only because they wanted to confirm that I was not pregnant before I did the barium and upper gi. The EKG and chest X-ray were pretty fast. I think it just depends on where you go and how on the ball they are. If they are busy or slackers, it may take longer. My poor hubby had to wait on me, too.

Where you told not to eat anything after midnight the night b4 your pre-op test??

The pre-admission testing for me didn't take long - maybe an hour for blood drawing, an EKG and a chest X-ray. There was no barium swallow/upper GI series, which streamlined things.

The supervisor who was running my testing wasn't sure if I needed stress testing; she said it was automatic for any bandster with a BMI over 60, and when I entered the tunnel, mine was 60.1. But dieting and liquids since I first enrolled in the National Band Academy had dropped my BMI to 58 by the time of my pre-admission testing.

Since there was hand-wringing going on about whether I should or shouldn't have a stress test, I decided to get a cardiology consult, which went smoothly.

Have we heard any further word on Christine? Do you know what they're going to do yet?

Busywoman, sorry to hear it took four hours - I know you are, like, busy...

Fenton, Whimsy's pre-op test took 4 hours. (when I tried to include her quote, something did not work right) I have my test Monday and wanted to know if they really took 3 hours. As far as being busy, between a full time + job, helping to raise 3 grandchildren, a husband with MS and Lupus, and a supervisor who BELIEVES in delegating jobs, yea, I'm Busy. (This surgery might end up being the vacation I need) (Smiles)

I too have a hiatel hrnia that will be repaired during surgery. Hoping it does not cause any excessive discomfort, but then how would I know, banding is a once in a lifetime venture.

Full speed ahead to 3/19

Hey, Hope, sharing all those great recipes we got in life skills class!!!

Hope to catch you later, right now playing with computer issues and I have limited access to stuff online.

Whimsy

I saved the shamrock logo to my pictures, went to the edit signature section, browsed and found the shamrock picture where I had saved it. When I attempted to download the notice I received said, "Your file of 31.3 KB bytes exceeds the forum's limit of 19.5 KB for this filetype". What do I do now because I am lost!!!:blushing:

Ack! I have no idea what is going on there. Which image are you trying to use? There are currently 3 different shamrock images that I know of. :thumbup:

Where you told not to eat anything after midnight the night b4 your pre-op test??

Yep - no eating or drinking after midnight for me. More than likely due to the barium swallow and upper GI.

Fenton, Whimsy's pre-op test took 4 hours. (when I tried to include her quote, something did not work right) I have my test Monday and wanted to know if they really took 3 hours. As far as being busy, between a full time + job, helping to raise 3 grandchildren, a husband with MS and Lupus, and a supervisor who BELIEVES in delegating jobs, yea, I'm Busy. (This surgery might end up being the vacation I need) (Smiles)

Wow, you really are a busy woman. Not just busy, it sounds like you are a superwoman. You've got to be incredibly strong to be able to juggle all of those responsibilities. You definitely deserve a vacation, hon.

FAR from superwoman, I adore my grandchildren (3 boys), I have a husband who treats me like a queen, and a job I do love. As in everyones life, sometimes things pile up. I am going to have to grab my son and make him make my pictures smaller so I can paste the logo. That may take years!! As far as not eating b/4 the test, I will be sick by 3:00 p.m.!!! Thanks anyway.

Hey all, I graduated to mushies yesterday after my visit to the doc -- only 8 days after surgery, and that was fine with me. Enjoyed some refried Beans with salsa like they were a gourmet meal. I'm not feeling much if any restriction though, which worries me diet-wise. I get full, but I can eat too much in a sitting. I'll get my first fill April 18, so until then my goal is to just stick to the new plan as much as possible. I have to tell the saboteur in my brain to shut the heck up. :thumbup:

One good thing, my doc told me I could taper off to 0 on the Prilosec I've depended on daily for years -- the acid can't travel up past the band! I was very happy to hear that. We'll see if it finds a way, but she was confident it wouldn't.

I think this is the busiest thread on the boards. Im gone one day and there are new people and 3 pages to read.

Im doing better thanks to all the great support from LBT. Thank all!!

My pre op visit was 2 hours because they used the chest xray,barium/upper gi, EKG & stress test from the testing my Dr had me do before scheduling surgery. It should have been shorter but an Anesthesiologist couldn't be found to have the interview. I just had blood drawn, pee taken to prove I wasn't pregnant and a talk with a RN letting me know of the risks.