YIPEEEEEE, I'LL BE IN BANDLAND ON NOVEMBER 20TH:party:

Anyone joining me? Anyone as nervous, excited, scared and shocked as I am? I'm doing tons of reading on this site and I'm really trying to grasp how much my life is going to change!!!

Very happy to report that I'm on track for my Monday, Nov 17th surgery date...had a scare with anemia, but am better now.

Can't wait to be banded...everyone in the surgeon's office is amazed at how calm and prepared I am. They even talk about the binder I bring to every appointment with all my info in it - I'm a bit anal-retentive about organization when it comes to medical and health matters. I don't depend on my memory - I write it all down and bring it with me!

I'm SO EXCITED...Monday can't come fast enough for me!

This liquid pre op diet is killing me! its so much harder than i expected. Surgery is on the 21st. I just cant wait!

I am on a pre-op diet too! Mine is not too bad! Not great! But bearable! My surgery is on Nov. 18th. Just a few days to go. Do you drink protein shakes? If so I have a great tip that was given to me by another wise bander!

I have to drink two protein shakes daily. Was not thrilled about that but it has not been too bad. I buy the atkins advantage shakes, vanilla, strawberry, chocolate. With the vanilla shakes blend about 5 ice cubes with one packet of orange flavored crystal light. This is SO YUMMY!!! Tastes just like a orange julias. very good and very feeling!

Hopefully this helps.

Good luck!

Yay for you, Jaime!

Hi and welcome to Supergirl and all the other new November bandsters...here's hoping you find all the info you need on this site - I think it's great!

Twyladawn - I'm sorry your experience has been so negative, but I have to agree with Supergirl - the positives I've seen on this site far outweigh the negatives. I find it really difficult to read and understand why someone would say that their bad experience means that NO ONE should get the band. Saying "Don't do it" may just be enough to dissuade someone else from investigating a procedure that could literally save their life.

I don't think anyone would dissuade you from expressing yourself, but as I've learned from my time on these boards, the lap band experience is one of the most individual experiences anyone can have. No two people seem to react the same - we don't all lose weight at the same pace, we don't all have problems with the same foods, etc.

I know that this will be a process - and I'm very willing to go through the process for me and for me alone. I'm willing to share my experiences - both positive and negative - to help someone else, but I'm NOT going to tell anyone else to avoid something that is so individualized based on my experience.

I hope that you are advocating for yourself and your health with your doctor - don't give up on talking to them and asking for help. From what I've read, it sounds as if you needed a slight unfill, maybe not a total unfill. Understand that it's a process and it may be a bit "fiddly" until you reach your sweet spot, but DON'T GIVE UP! Keep working with your doctor, keep getting small fills, keep asking questions and demanding answers until you get the result you started this process for.

Don't give up - a healthier life CAN be yours - I believe that wholeheartedly.

That was great was you said,because I get band on 12/16/08 and i get all the info I can get.and the web page give you so much and i go to support group every other week.to ask all the question I need.so I have to make my own choice>but twylandwn go back to your doctor>:thumbup:

You can also add orange extract and add raspberry extract to the chocolate shakes

I am scheduled to be banded on the 26th, by Dr. Ortiz at the OCC. It's hard to believe this is actually going to happen, two weeks from today. I haven't had any time to really let it sink in because I've had a lot of pre-op weight to lose (due to my BMI) and I've been working hard to lose that weight, for fear that my surgery date might get moved if I don't lose it. I have 5.5 pounds to go, but my scale hasn't budged since Monday I get discouraged really easily when I don't see progress, especially when on an 800 calorie diet that's really taxing every resource I have. Two shakes and a lean cuisine, and some green veggies (which help minimally). I'm hungry all the time!

I need some encouragement. I'm worried about whether I'll meet my pre-op weight goal in time, and because of that I haven't been able to mentally prepare myself for the huge life change that is about to occur. It all seems to be going so fast, but when I made my decision, I knew this was right for me, that with the amount of weight I have to lose, that this is the only option that I feel is going to achieve substantial results. I'm nervous though, and am a baby when it comes to pain, operations, needles, etc. (I've never had surgery). Ah, my head seems like it's going a mile a minute sometimes with this whole process!

-Vangirl

omggg i have mine on november 24 but im mostlyy scaredd then excitedd loll

Congratulations, Heather!!! Yikes! They cut it so close, how come you weren't going crazy? Or were you? LOL!

I was pulling out my hair !!!! I just gave up and called the insurance myself!!! The office still hasn;t called me to say they said yes!!! WHATEVER I'm just gald to get the big thumbs up:thumbup:

Hey Ebony - we're being banded the same day. MONDAY!!! I can't believe it is only 4 more sleeps. I had my pre-op today and going back to see the dietician tomorrow as the last time I saw him and my specialist was 2 years ago when I went on the public health waiting list. I am so scared about the actual surgery - i will be so glad when that parts over.

:smile2:Good morning to you all,

Just dropping by to let you know that I am about 15 hours post op with the band.. So for those of you who have the surgery coming up...this has been a very positive experience for me. I am up and walking quite a bit to get relief from the gas and I am able to burp. I know that some folks have experienced problems in that area, but let me encourage you to walk. wak. walk. I am just a little sore at the incision sites but nothing that I can not handle and believe me I am a big baby:redface: when it comes to pain.

So hang in there and keep getting excited about your upcoming surgery--a positive attitude will help you more than anything:thumbup:

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I am having my surgery today at 10:30. I am excited about the changes that will occur, but also a little anxious and edgy about potential side effects. I appreciate hearing your positive experience and also your encouraging words.

I am scheduled to be banded on the 26th, by Dr. Ortiz at the OCC. It's hard to believe this is actually going to happen, two weeks from today. I haven't had any time to really let it sink in because I've had a lot of pre-op weight to lose (due to my BMI) and I've been working hard to lose that weight, for fear that my surgery date might get moved if I don't lose it. I have 5.5 pounds to go, but my scale hasn't budged since Monday :thumbup: I get discouraged really easily when I don't see progress, especially when on an 800 calorie diet that's really taxing every resource I have. Two shakes and a lean cuisine, and some green veggies (which help minimally). I'm hungry all the time!

-Vangirl

Hang in there, Vangirl! Sometimes the scale won't move for a few days and then like magic it will go down a few pounds. Maybe you are retaining water for nature's own reasons. Can you call your nutritionist for advice? Will 5.5 pounds really make that big of a difference to your surgeon? Are you able to get some exercise, like walking or swimming? I'm sorry that you are so hungry all the time.:thumbup: Drinking a lot of water helps me, even better is some nice, hot, herbal tea. (Decaf.) I just ordered some hypnosis CD's in hopes that they will help me with the hunger and my attitude. I'll let everyone know if it works for me. LOL! I'll try anything!

Good luck! Even if your date does get pushed back (horrors) at least it will happen, right? Don't give up hope!!! We're here for you!!!

Just wanted to share that I told my ex-husband about the surgery last night. I had to, because I want him to take our daughter for the week. I could have told him it was none of his business when he asked what kind of surgery, but I knew he'd ask my DD and didn't want her to be stuck in the middle. I expected him to criticize me for taking a risk with surgery for my "weight problem". (We have a VERY strained relationship at the moment.) Instead, he was so happy. He's always been worried about me dying young due to obesity. He said that he is thrilled that I'm taking this step, because he wants our daughter to have her Mom around for as long as possible.

He wants me. JUST KIDDING! LOL!

Speaking of my DD, I better go make her lunch before she has to leave for school.

I was banded on the 10th. I'm sore still, but each day a little less. Today I'm supposed to be allowed mushy food for the first time. I was so excited, I didn't chew up my vitamins enough and now they're stuck. It's my own fault and there's nothing I can do now until they dissolve and pass through.

Live and learn.

Just wanted to share that I told my ex-husband about the surgery last night. I had to, because I want him to take our daughter for the week. I could have told him it was none of his business when he asked what kind of surgery, but I knew he'd ask my DD and didn't want her to be stuck in the middle. I expected him to criticize me for taking a risk with surgery for my "weight problem". (We have a VERY strained relationship at the moment.) Instead, he was so happy. He's always been worried about me dying young due to obesity. He said that he is thrilled that I'm taking this step, because he wants our daughter to have her Mom around for as long as possible.

He wants me. JUST KIDDING! LOL!

Speaking of my DD, I better go make her lunch before she has to leave for school.

Good for you ... You never know that Ex may want you in antoher two mon'ts when a whole new you starts to surface. I've tried talking two or three people and havehad such bad feedback I have decided to stick with I'm having a hernia fixed!!:thumbup: which isn't a lie because he has to fix that while he is in there..lol. 5 more days and counting.

Good for you ... You never know that Ex may want you in antoher two mon'ts when a whole new you starts to surface. I've tried talking two or three people and havehad such bad feedback I have decided to stick with I'm having a hernia fixed!!:thumbup: which isn't a lie because he has to fix that while he is in there..lol. 5 more days and counting.

Well, it turns out that my ex knows a lot about the subject. He watches a lot of the Discovery channel, LOL! Either that, or his wife has been researching it. Anyway, I'm sure that went a long way in his attitude toward it. I've kept the surgery thing just to my closest friends, too. My brother and his wife freaked out last year when I first started the journey, so I just shut up about it. This is funny, but my ex's mother has known all year. She's one of my best friends! :thumbup: I guess it's Jerry Springer time! She watches our daughter for me a lot and knew I was going to the hospital at least once a month. She has too much class to ask why, so I told her. I know she can keep a secret and I didn't want her to worry about me.