Hello!

I am new here but I have been reading some of the threads.

I am a 37 year old mother of three-twin daughters that are 14 and a 6 year old little boy..two of my kids have autism.

I am on my way to getting approval from my insurance for the lap band.

I have been told to start the pre-op diet to loose the "liver fat".

I am excited and nervous at the same time to begin this life change!

Dr.Avery in Mississippi will be doing my band--anyone use him?

Hey Renita, my name is Cindy and I was just banded on 8/29/08. I had mine done in Mexico because my insurance would not approve. I am from Southaven, MS. What part of MS are you from? I look forward to talking to you and congrats on your journey to a new life.

Hey Cindy thanks for responding so quick.. I actually looked into Mexico when I thought my insurance would not cover it. We changed insurance because of my husbands job and they cover all but 3,000 to the hospital.

I am in Gautier (on the coast). How are you doing since your surgery and where do/will you go for fills, will a local doctor do them for you?

Hey Renita, yes I know where you live, I had a friend who lived in Ocean Springs quite a few years ago and I visited. I believe there was a fish place there that was quite famous for the area. I remember eating there and the plates and cups were metal I believe. I am doing really well, everyday just gets better and easier. I found someone in Tupelo that will be doing my fills for me. I am so glad I chose to get banded. I wish I had done it a year ago. If you have any questions just let me know. I am taking it day by day.

Cindy

Cindy,

I like Ocean Springs and that is where my Doctor is.

I bet the place that you ate is Aunt Jenny's--

How are you dealing with the band so far? Is it hard to try and get all of the Protein and all that your body needs?

I was just banded last friday and I am still on the clear liquid part of the diet, I did go and get some Protein today and added some to my chicken broth. I will start the full liquid phase on Saturday so I will be adding the Protein drinks to my diet. I haven't officially weighed my self yet. I am going to weigh once a week. I haven't been hungry so far. I am trying really hard to get enough liquids to keep from getting dehydrated. I have never been one to just drink Water or anything really until I get really thirsty. I am looking forward to the next phase though, I am getting tired of broth.:thumbup:

Cindy

Hey,

I think that broth part will be my hardest and giving up diet cokes!

I have been reading different threads trying to wrap my brain around everything.

I am proud of you for taking that step..I will be right behind you hopefully...so we can share as Mississippi folks.

Did you have to do a pre op diet?

I don't drink alot just to drink either-like you mentioned unless I am really really thirsty.

I weigh 297 so I can't wait to start loosing!!

Renita you are probably like me you feel like you have been dieting most of your life. I know I have since I was in junior high and I am 42 now. I have lost it to only put it right back on faster than I ever took it off. I have lived in Mississippi all my life and I was raised in the country and we love to eat. I love food and the south is just a great place to get all that good fried food. I can understand why MS is the most obese state in the USA. I did start a pre-op diet 2 weeks before my surgery. My doctor called it the liver shrinking diet, basically it was just a low carb diet. I have done Atkins before so it wasn't that hard for me, I know what you mean about the diet coke though. I went ahead and gave that up when I started the pre-op diet, because we can't have carbonated drinks of any kind after being banded. I weighed in at 255 on the day of my surgery, that is not the most I have ever weighed but it is very close to it. I have been down to 145 which was my goal when I was in college. I hope to get back to that weight now that I have the band. I know it will happen I just have to be patient and follow the rules and guidelines.

When are you scheduled for surgery?

Cindy:smile2:

Cindy,

yes, I have done lots of different diets and all only to gain it all back and more.

When I met my husband in High School I was 16 and weighed 115 lbs-the smallest I had ever been in my life--but I was basically just not eating..I would have a pepsi and pack of snack crackers for lunch because we were too busy running the roads (we could leave school for lunch-lol) I really didn't look healthy that small for my build. When I married at 19 I was about 130 and that was pretty good for me. Then of course three years later we got pregnant with the twins...I do like to eat and am not blaming anything on any one situation...fried foods and casino buffetts, like you said it is the South, we enjoy food at every event/function that we do!

I will know a date in a week or so the nurse said. They are going to put me on a diet pill to help loose the weight then I think she said I would have to be off of that pill for about a week prior to surgery so I am still a few weeks away...I do have diabetes now and was just diagnosed with that a few months ago.

Renita

Renita,

It is so nice talking with you. I am here for you at any point thru this journey that you need me. I am happy for you and I know you are making the right decision. I don't have diabetes, but heart disease runs in my family and my dad's grandmother, mother and her sister all had to have pace makers. I am so afraid to end up like them. I come from a line of big women and my mother is a tiny woman. My grandmother passed away 3 yrs ago from congestive heart failure and all my life everyone has said I looked just like her, well I don't want to die like her.

I do know about diabetes, my husband is a type II and also overweight, I am hoping that my being banded will help him also. I see people with diabetes everyday in my work and see all the other conditions that seem to result from their diabetes. I applaud you for taking this step to control your condition before it starts to control you. I love talking to you. I will be praying for you. God Bless.

Cindy

Thanks so much Cindy!

I appreciate your emails and we will have to stay in touch.

I had my blood pressure taken today and it was great. So I will be starting some diet pills tomorrow to help with the pre-op weight loss.

Good luck on your journey!

I hope to be behind you in a few weeks:thumbup:

Hey Cindy,

Just an update...got a call from my WL clinic and they want me to loose 36 lbs post op!

Dang..that seems like alot to me from what I have read on others having to loose before surgery...If I could just loose that much I wouldn't need the surgery.lol

I am trying to stay positive but thinking about that number is a little frustrating.

I was never told I had to loose any weight before surgery. I just had to do the low carb diet for 2 weeks before surgery. I ended up losing 5.5 lbs, not much. I guess it is all about who you use for your doctor.

You can do it though. I know you can. Check out the pre-op diet sections here on the website and you will get lots of advice/suggestions/recipes etc. I really enjoy this website it has helped me so much.

Tomorrow is weigh day for me. I am a little scared.

Cindy

I think that if I lolose some weight then they will go ahead and do it..I have to go and weigh weekly.

How was your weigh in day? I am excited for you!

I have always stayed away from scales--never read right for me in the past! lol

It will be new for me to start weighing more often.

I love this website also, it has helped ease the worry of what's to come by reading what others have and are going through.

Take Care..I am rooting for ya!

Renita

Hey Renita,

I must say I am a little disappointed today, I weighed in and I lost 5.4 lbs. I guess I psyched myself up for a larger amount. I know that any loss is better than nothing. I have had a couple of people to tell me not to worry about it because this is a time of healing for me not for great loss. I am just going to take one day at a time and keep doing the right things. I know I made the right decision and I will succeed. Have a great day and keep me posted on your progress.

Cindy:smile2:

Hey..5.4 lbs is GREAT I think!! Yes, you will do good, your hearts in it.

Just give yourself time, once you heal (from what I have read) you will be off and running with it...your body is probably going..what's going on here?!? lol

proud of you!! You go girl :shades_smile: