Hello all!
I just wanted to check in. I am not on the pre op yet and surgery is not until Jan. 5. I am just eating normal foods. I find myself eating less than I usually do, but my portions are still large.
I plan on starting exercising again on Monday.
Is everyone exercising?
Audree

I wish! I find myself doing that last-meal thing quite a bit. I feel like since i don't know for sure what i'll be able to eat later and what not, i need to eat all my favorite things one last time before surgery. Probably not the best way to go about it. I bought an exercise DVD the other day, just haven't started it yet... hopefully i'll get around to it next week. We should probably try to keep each other accountable or something...

Don't forget about me!!!! January 30!!!!

Wow it looks like I'm leading the pack as first in Jan. Ya'll, please pray for me when the time comes. I'm so excited....but I know there is a loooong road ahead of me with some bumps and hills to climb. My surgery is out-patient so I'll post when I get home. I have all my liquid meds (script/OTC) on hand but I'm really concerned about giving myself those hepran shots every 8hrs. I had a discussion with my doctor about New Years....I told him not to over do it, I didn't want him to nurse a hang over when he could use the day for rest...to get a GOOD nights sleep on the 1st, so he'll be ready for me on the 2nd....I would be neat to monitor the weight loss for everyone in Jan....starting with the pre surgery weight...Here I'll start~Kristi


TxPeaches-202

Hi everyone!

My pre-op diet officially starts 12/26. I was thinking about how that is a mere 10 more days of eating like the average person. I don't feel like I'm having any extreme "last supper" moments, but just eating out alot. I LOVE to eat out! I know I will have to cut that out for awhile (just in the name of eating healthier foods), so I'm enjoying some old favorites while I can!

As for exercise, I'm doing a variety of tapes at home 3 times per week. I can't wait till I drop some poundage and exercise gets easier!

Maria

No, not at all!!!! Matter of fact, anyone who jumps in here with a banding date, just copy and paste the latest list and add your name to it. I thought we could keep the names listed by surgery date.

We are getting a large group of January bandsters, and its so cool!

Well, today starts my 30 day countdown until Bandsterland. I'm so excited. I just need to get thru this month at work and start preparing for my surgery.

Yesterday at the grocery store, I bought a few things that I know I will be needing. Here is a list for some of you if you want. I copied it from another thread, it is very helpful in case some of you bansters haven't seen it yet.

For fluid stage:

• Bottled water – plain or flavored, some like Propel or Fruit 2-0
• Popsicles (sugar-free as needed)
• Crystal Light
• Crystal Light “On the GO” in different flavors - add to bottled water
• Jello (sugar-free)
• Gatorade
• Bouillon or chicken/beef/veggie broths (low sodium as needed)*
• Ensure, Boost, Glucerna - or whatever protein drink the Dietitian asked you to drink based on your history*
• Protein powder for shakes*
• Frozen fruits for protein shakes
• Clear soups
• Decaf tea
• Hot cocoa mix (sugar-free)


For creamy stage:
• Cream of Wheat
• Creamy soups
• Applesauce
• Yogurt - Dannon Lite N' Fit
• "Imagine" Soups - in cartons (Potato Leek, Butternut, Squash, Corn, Creamy Tomato....and more. They are considerably lower in sodium than ’Cambells soups.)</B>
• Soup-at-Hand soups
• Small pudding cups (sugar- and fat-free) - Take a spoonful to get meds to slide down easier
•Sugar-free gum (ask your doctor)
•Sugar-free breath mints (Ask your doctor)

*Make sure to taste each item before you buy them in bulk

DRUGSTORE

• Liquid medications
Tylenol (adult strength)
Pain medications
Gas-X or Phazyme

You will want these meds right away when you come home. It can be very difficult to find them in a liquid form. Check with the pharmacy beforehand to see if they stock them or how far in advance you will need to order them. At your preop visit (or earlier if needed), ask the doctor for prescriptions so that you will have them ready when you return home.
• Chewable vitamins
• Stool softener
• Antihistamine cream, if you tend to get irritated by tape or bandages
Do not put directly on incision.


• Heating pad
• Flexible ice pack
• Pill cutter
• Gauze pads 4x4
• Non-irritating tape, such as paper tape
• Kitchen timer – for 15 minute sip intervals for the first few days
• Blender
• Wet Wipes or “adult baby wipes” like Cottonelle
• Toilet tongs (long barbeque tongs) – Use if you are just too sore after the surgery to reach around and wipe your “behind”. Just wrap the wipes around the end to get an additional few inches so you don’t have to contort yourself.


OTHER THINGS TO MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE

• A few books or movies
• Comfy clothes, such as loose-waisted shorts
• Slip-on shoes
• Squishy pillow for car ride -to cushion seatbuilt
• For women, a sports bra – “doc said no underwire for a few days”



THINGS TO DO BEFORE SURGERY

• Prepare your advance health care directive form, so key people can carry out healthcare decisions important to you if you are unable to so. Discuss your decisions with these key people, including family and doctors. One excellent way is to fill out your “Five Wishes” booklet. Obtain several weeks in advance from “Aging With Dignity”, 1-888-5-WISHES (1-888-594-7437). You can obtain other formats from your hospital or online.

• Cook some chicken before surgery. Save the broth and freeze it in very small containers (ice cube trays work well). This broth has less sodium than store brands, if you have a salt problem.
• Check if your medications are “crushable” (able to be crushed without causing problem with effectiveness).
• Get rid of all the foods in the house you are not to eat, before you go to the hospital.
• Buy all the groceries you will need for at least 2 weeks after surgery.
• Catch up on your laundry and housecleaning.
• Make arrangements for someone else to prepare family meals – You may not feel like cooking for some time.
• Get a manicure or pedicure.

hello and welcome ....I am getting banded my Dr Kuri in Tijuana .....he has a wonderful background with lap band surgery ....he is also more affordable than doctors in the US ....you might want to check into that before paying that $15,000.00 My band date is Jan 11, 2007....Rose:)

Hey everyone, starting pre-op diet tomorrow! Hope I can survive, I think if I can get through the first day.....! So glad to see a big group of Jan. Bandsters!! I'll need all the support I can get. Having surgery Jan.3rd with Dr. Kuri in Tj,Mexico.

In preparation for my 'liquid stage'...I started to sample different powdered protein drinks. I went to www.bariatriceating.com and bought some of their samples. They've been very good so far. Some, not as good. But that's the whole idea of doing the sampling!!!

I'm still 1 month, 12 days out!!!!

Hello, This is my first post I have just joined and am going to my first visit tomorrow.I will be going to Dr.Deol in Troy Michigan. I have heard great things about her. June601 any info would be great. I was wondering how long it was before you received your surgery date. I am looking at late January or Early Feb. Thanks.

Vicki

Hi Vicki, here is how mine went:

11/11 - went to my seminar
11/22 - had my doctor appointment - first visit - they said they would file with the insurance to get approved, but told me it would be a week before their letter went out due to the holidays.
12/11 - Got the news that I was approved and then they scheduled my surgery date. I chose January 18 for financial reasons or I could have had it sooner.

Hope this helps. Welcome to our January Band Crew.

Hi Vicki! It's great to have another Dr. Deol patient on this thread! My first consultation with her was Nov 8. I was told I would not be scheduled until I had every last one of my appointments completed and all test results reported to the office. My appointments included 2 nutritionist appts, 2 psychologist appts, med clearance with PCP, Upper GI, and bloodwork. I finished all this on December 12, and they were able to schedule me that day. So, it took about a month to get my date.

Everyone's appointment schedule is different. I was lucky enough to get out of the sleep study and a few other things based on my history. The other really important thing is how many weeks you have to be on Optifast. I probably could've had it sooner, but I have to do 4 weeks of Optifast. I also decided to start that after Christmas, so I wouldn't be an irritable mess for the holidays!

Please feel free to private message me anytime! Can't wait to hear how things are progressing for you! Dr. Deol is wonderful and so is her whole team. I am very happy with my experience so far.

Maria

Angyl,

I'm in your boat! I got approved last week and have my date set for January 10th. I will start the liquid diet on January 1st - kind of symbolic eh? When do you start the pre-op regimen?

Jen,

My date is Jan. 10th- I'll be right on your heels. I've been told that every doc is different - some require a 10% weight loss before surgery (mine does not) and some require a pre-op diet while others do not. Have you already gone to your pre-op appointment? I know what you mean about being nervous....I think that I get a bit more nervous each day. It is good that we have the holidays- it will help keep our minds occupied. Do you have snow up there yet? (I live in Hartford)