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

Desdemona - yes my endocrinologist who was checking my metabolism stuff back in the first of the year, found it was low then and asked me to supplement taking a Vit D on top of my multi-vitamin and he retested about 4 weeks ago and said I was still very low and he wrote me a prescription to take Vit D now to boost my level up. The pills he gave me were 50,000 IU and the dose was 2 per week over 4 weeks. That is considered a very high dose because the over the counter Vit D I could find were something like 1,000 IU pills - clearly couldn't take enough of them to get up to the level he wanted me at. He said Vit D is being found to be at the underpinning of alot of medical issues and felt its important for me to get this level up and quickly. I see my PCP doctor tomorrow for a cholesterol recheck and I was going to ask her to repeat the Vit D bloodwork and see if this first set of treatment did its trick. So, yes, I would encourage others to have their PCP test for Vit D deficiency at their annual physicals, etc. I told the doctor I was pretty good at eating low fat string cheese, low fat yogurt, fat free cottage cheese, 1% milk, and getting outside for exposure to sun on the Vit D benefits, but he said I just can't get enough with my diet and activity at this point.

I bought some Vanilla Creme Whey Protein at Target and I found that it mixed into my coffee for a morning protein option instead of putting powdered creamer or 1% milk in my coffee like I usually do. I just stirred it in slowly to give a chance to cool the coffee a little and mixed it in and it didn't curdle or clump up. You have to be careful mixing some protein into hot things.

Penny, I am about 2 hours away from Mckeesport, so not too far.

I don't know if I ever had my Vitamin D checked or not but I do know the Fiber and Calcium chews I take has Vitamin D added to it, and probably in my Multivitamin too.

I'm sure you do look good but there is more to come so leave the bread, salami and cheese alone and reach your goal.

You are so correct.

I went to the fill appointment today. My regular Dr was out so I saw the PA. Wow what a difference. I always had a problem with my Dr telling me he was ok with my progress and not really giving me motivation to keep going. Well the PA didn't pull any punches. She quizzed me on my food choices and made suggestions on alternatives. She said she could give me a fill but didn't think it would help with the things or the way I am eating. It would probably just make me get stuck and have a unfill. I am just choosing foods too soft and not substantial enough to stick with me. And of course not making the best choice with high calorie stuff. She explained how having a glass of wine before a meal just relaxes the pouch enough that you don't feel the full signal and over eat. Duh? I always knew I eat more when I drink. Now I know why.

So it's back to the mental game. Remembering the why of doing this and figuring out the how.

Scrappy- did you get a full tummy tuck with the muscles tightened?

He didn't tighten the muscles he said that if he did it would move where the port was located and he didn't want to move that. I'm not sure how much of a difference it would make to tighten them.

just got my insurance denial for the TT. I am going to speak with the DR on Monday and see if it can be appealed, as well as find out the actual cost!!

Have a great 4th of July everyone

Lynn did you just ask about getting the pannectomy done? That is all my insurance would cover. I had to pay for the upper part of my belly.

Lynn did you just ask about getting the pannectomy done? That is all my insurance would cover. I had to pay for the upper part of my belly.

I am not exactly sure how the surgeon presented it, but will be in touch with them next week and go from there. I know the pannectomy is covered in most cases with my insurance, so will push forward. They told me that the first attempt usually gets denied and appeals are the norm..

Okay, today is Day 5 of the five day pouch test I've been trying and posting about. Well, it is working for me. Scale is down again this a.m. I fixed a beef roast in my crockpot with carrots and cooked it really slow until the meat flaked apart with a fork and was tender and very satisfying to eat but eating real protein and veggies that were soften from cooking together was a great meal and I was surprised by putting 1 cup of food in a bowl and sitting down to eat slowly, I got very full and couldn't finish the tail end of that 1 cup. Today I fixed pork short ribs and saurkraut in the crock pot and again cooked it until the pork could be separated into pieces with my fork easily and that made a good lunch today, less than a cup of food. Okay, so DUH!!!! go back to the bandster rules little girl is the lesson. Stay away from carbs even those packaged as "just 100 calorie snacks".

Good job special K I have a hard time keeping my food at less than a cup, especially at supper time. Keep up the good work!

I love reading this thread. I learn a lot. I am thinking of a pannectomy. I have to check with my insurance and see what is covered, I really have not looked into it much. I am interested in how it will work, what they will pay for. I still feel so fat with that hanging down. UUGH.

Dottie R.

Okay, its amazing what our bodies will do sometimes -- frustrate the heck out of us on a plateau and then turn around and delight us with scale or non-scale victories. Yesterday I had a dr. appt with my PCP on my calendar and its usually a fasting bloodwork thing so I drove over there at 8am on my day off and found the office closed. Instead of getting frustrated about something misconnecting there, I just went ahead and drove on over to my gym and got in a good solid hour workout and then went on home and did a boatload of yard work. Results-- the scale was down again this a.m.! Amazing.

I was craving ice cream yesterday really bad and I just kept telling myself no, and I ended up letting myself have a snack of honey roasted almonds instead to have something crunchy and sweet and salty combo and that helped.

Happy 4th of July to all. This story really inspired me and I wanted to pass it along. My father was career 24 yrs in US Air Force and our family made alot of sacrifices during those years and now I have a niece and nephew in the US Navy serving. I hope this inspires and lifts you up.

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?', I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan . After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.... As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks... I'll wait till we get to base. ' His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out hi s hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone on your buddy list....

I JUST DID!

Signed,

Proud to be an American

Edited July 4, 200917 yr by SpecialK

Happy 4th of July to all. This story really inspired me and I wanted to pass it along. My father was career 24 yrs in US Air Force and our family made alot of sacrifices during those years and now I have a niece and nephew in the US Navy serving. I hope this inspires and lifts you up.

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?', I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan . After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.... As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks... I'll wait till we get to base. ' His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out hi s hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone on your buddy list....

I JUST DID!

Signed,

Proud to be an American

I just read this on my e-mail and sent it off to all my e-mail friends. It is such a warming story

HAPPY JULY 4th to everyone, enjoy and be safe