Well, after a couple months of getting all my ducks in a row, it is now moving along very quickly! I got a call today stating my surgery would be on December 1st!!! I'm starting to get nervous now, but I'm also very excited. I've only had surgery once before, and that was to have my gallbladder removed a couple of years ago. I was pretty freaked out by the whole going under anesthesia and having someone cut into me then, and I'm starting to get nervous about that now. I"m also kind of scared that I will be unhappy after it's done. I guess it's kind of like pre-wedding jitters, although I've never been married, so maybe not! My mom is coming up for the surgery and I have almost a month off work to adjust to this, so I'm hoping for the best. It's actually been going pretty smoothly since I decided to go for this and I really do believe this was meant to be. I'm 29 years old, single female and I feel like I've been putting my life on hold until I lose weight. I'm looking forward to having more energy, being more comfortable in social situations, and not being a slave to food. I will share with you how it goes!!!:Dancing_sorry:

My insurance company called me today to tell me I was approved. I'm sure they were sick of me calling everyday to find out!! I am scheduled for December 1st too - can't wait!! Good luck to you.

Yay!!! Welcome to the early bird's club!

Hi Trina and congratulation on your decision ..you beat me by one day, I'm December 2nd. I feel the same way you do but from what I gleamed here we are very lucky to first know about this sophisticated miracle devise and be courageous enough to do something about this problem. I posted on "mourning food already"in this dec. thread and received some amazing advice and encouragement if you can to see.

Hi Trina and congratulation on your decision ..you beat me by one day, I'm December 2nd. I feel the same way you do but from what I gleamed here we are very lucky to first know about this sophisticated miracle devise and be courageous enough to do something about this problem. I posted on "mourning food already"in this dec. thread and received some amazing advice and encouragement if you can to see.

Congrats!!! I'll definitely check it out! You have to keep me posted on how you're doing and I'll do the same.

HI Trina: How are you doing? Tomorrow I start the Optifast week long (thanksgiving:rolleyes) diet. 5 shakes a day and I can eat on thanksgiving just not too much fat. I am lucky my doctor and fill people are pretty relaxed about the pre op diet. I can still have my coffee....I don't think I would have made it without my cup or two o Starbucks. Have you practiced with the mushy stage yet? I am going to take out my little food processor this week and see what ground up turkey tastes like! Also have to go food shopping this week for the 1 week post op liquid. Are you getting nervous? I think I'm more excited today than nervous.

I'm doing well. As of this morning, I'm down 12 pounds since I started the pre-op diet 7 days ago. I am really getting excited and not really too nervous, just thinking about all the details now that it's so close. As for the mushies, I haven't tried anything yet. Stuff ground up does not appeal to me, so I thought I'd just drink protein shakes, but I'm sure I'll get sick of them. How long do you have to be on mushies? Also, what kind of stuff did you buy for your liquid stage? I've heard all the general rules, but my doctor hasn't given me the specific rules for me yet. I'm sure he will do that at my last appt on Tuesday. I plan to eat a small small piece of turkey and a veggie on Thanksgiving as my pre-op diet allows a meal for dinner as long as I don't go over my 1100 -1200 calories a day. I have been reading threads about the surgery day, and it sounds pretty simple--similar to when I had my gallbladder removed, which has been my only other surgery. I am going to end up with a month off work due to the sick leave running into my Christmas vacation and my boss being very awesome, so I will have time to adjust to eating before I go back to work. I'm really excited!! One week from tomorrow! Keep me updated on how things are going for you!

Edited November 24, 200817 yr by trina4ufl

Wow...you are a fast loser! Way to go. I don't use the scale because it just get's me discouraged. I felt like I was losing weight though as my stomach was shrinking. I've quit smoking and I am smoke free 4 days now but that is torture if you can't eat either. So while I was make the pumpkin pie I got stressed and ate the batter....yikes I think it was a preview of what may happen if you do it while you have the band. No vomiting as I'm not a vomiter but pain...after my stomach shrank so much. I've seen every doctors under the sun in the past few weeks. I'm on a low BMI study so maybe that's why? Anyway I'm learning that the medical community likes to err of the side of caution for sure. I'm not going to sweat over eating too much right now....I think it's more important I have smoke free lungs. I do enjoy the shakes and not too tired of them so I'll go back for the next couple of days....5 more days! Have a happy thanksgiving

Wow...you are a fast loser! Way to go. I don't use the scale because it just get's me discouraged. I felt like I was losing weight though as my stomach was shrinking. I've quit smoking and I am smoke free 4 days now but that is torture if you can't eat either. So while I was make the pumpkin pie I got stressed and ate the batter....yikes I think it was a preview of what may happen if you do it while you have the band. No vomiting as I'm not a vomiter but pain...after my stomach shrank so much. I've seen every doctors under the sun in the past few weeks. I'm on a low BMI study so maybe that's why? Anyway I'm learning that the medical community likes to err of the side of caution for sure. I'm not going to sweat over eating too much right now....I think it's more important I have smoke free lungs. I do enjoy the shakes and not too tired of them so I'll go back for the next couple of days....5 more days! Have a happy thanksgiving

Good for you! I quit smoking a little over 2 months ago, but fell off the wagon today due to family stress. I think most of my weight loss was Water weight. Also I gained some weight right before I went on the pre-op diet, so I really have only lost about 6 pounds since my initial consult. I am planning on not smoking anymore, especially before surgery. It is very difficult to not eat or smoke. I feel like I could do one or the other fine, but both is very tough. I hope your Thanksgiving was great!

Me too!! Me too!! December 1st!! I'll be at University of California at Irvine with Dr. Ninh Nguyen. I've had a total abdominal hysterectomy and arthroscopic knee surgery for a torn meniscus within the last few years so I'm not *too* worried about this one.

Best advice is to trust your surgeon and the nursing staff and ask lots of questions (I wrote mine down so I wouldn't forget!)

The problem I'm having is maintaining proper hydration. I just can't seem to stomach as much Clear liquids as prescribed. I've tried adding Crystal Light to Water but I'm just feeling resistant for some reason.

Other than that I'm really excited. I even went today and bought cute new jammies to wear in the hospital (even though my fiance says I'll just want to stay in the hospital gown...ummm...not likely!!)

Good luck...let's keep checking in with each other to make sure we stay on target!

Me too!! Me too!! December 1st!! I'll be at University of California at Irvine with Dr. Ninh Nguyen. I've had a total abdominal hysterectomy and arthroscopic knee surgery for a torn meniscus within the last few years so I'm not *too* worried about this one.

Best advice is to trust your surgeon and the nursing staff and ask lots of questions (I wrote mine down so I wouldn't forget!)

The problem I'm having is maintaining proper hydration. I just can't seem to stomach as much Clear liquids as prescribed. I've tried adding Crystal Light to Water but I'm just feeling resistant for some reason.

Other than that I'm really excited. I even went today and bought cute new jammies to wear in the hospital (even though my fiance says I'll just want to stay in the hospital gown...ummm...not likely!!)

Good luck...let's keep checking in with each other to make sure we stay on target!

Yay! Welcome! We're almost there. I can't wait until I'm no longer pre-op!

Good Luck!!! Here we go!:thumbup:

I'm having so much anxiety. I'm shaking from fear (literally). I had a crisis at my work come up late this afternoon and I'm trying to talk myself out of the surgery and request a delay. My guy tells me no way, but I'm just so scared.

:thumbup:

Had surgery yesterday and it went well. Some pain, but controlled by the pain meds. They gave me a catheter while I was out, which was a surprise, but other than that, it was what I expected. Nurses were very nice. Surgeon said I had the smallest liver he'd ever seen. (Pats myself on the back for sticking with the pre-op diet). They usually keep people overnight, but let me go home. I've been walking and following the clear liquid diet and feeling pretty good today, though I am taking the liquid loratab. I've had no issues swallowing anything. Liquids go down fine, but I'm on liquids until my doctor's appointment on December 9th. Weight is up about a pound. I'm not sure it that's due to the gas or what. So far, so good.:cursing:

YEahhhh Trina! Our first Dec bandster, the forerunner! Thanks for posting so quickly, am hoping others will too. Good job on the walking, you go girl! Glad to see you starting us all off well!

My surgeon released me from the hospital late yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately I had complications in that my blood pressure jumped up to the high-170s and my heart rate dropped below 45. According to the doctors it was related to the morphine. Although I'm home, I'm in an incredible amount of pain, both my port site as well as my back from laying on it (I'm a side-sleeper). They sent me home with LorTab elixir, but it doesn't seem to really help with the pain. Last night I became extremely nauseous and had the dry heaves. Today I started sipping the high Protein drink, but right now I can feel it swirling around in my tummy just begging to come back up.

:whatchutalkingabout