In 13 days--->-->-->-->-->-->

I will be BANDED!
I know I am nothing special and I know that every single one of my Bloggies have felt this way. 

but I WILL BE BANDED IN 13 DAYS!!!!!

So much to do and only 12 days to do it in!!!!


On the Pre-op Diet Front:
I do not want to say this very loudly but it has been a bit easier today. 
It seems that I am holding on a little longer between hungrys and my sense of smell is heightened.

Does this seem right to y'all?  Did y'all experience this?  Will this pre-op diet get easier?

I am NOT dead...........................yet!!!

THIS IS NOT EASY!!!!!!

So it's Day Two for the Pre-op diet. 

I must say I am NOT liking this but I figure that if I can go from bulk eating to a liquid diet and not die from starvation, I think I might be able to handle an I-Band. 

PS:  I am not cheating.  PLEASE HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE--PLEASE!!!!

Well, DRAT!!!!

I talked to my dietician today and I am doing it all wrong!!!!  Major BUMMER!!!!

I can only have -- 10 grams of fat; 30 gram of carbs; 70 grams of protein --  for the Pre-Op diet.

I HAVE TO DO THIS FOR 2 WEEKS?????????

I AM GOING TO STARVE TO DEATH!!!!

I won't need an I-Band then!  Just think of the money I will save!  No follow-up doctor visits!  No fills!  Shoot -- no groceries more to buy!  Won't need my medications either--money saved there!!!

Holy Cow!  I am shrining...........................................

Trip to the grocery store

This is what I got from the grocery store in prep for the Pre-op diet tomorrow:

Skim milk
Sugar free jello
Unsweetened applesauce
Cream of wheat
Oatmeal
Cottage cheese
EAS vanilla protien powder
Pure Protien shakes

Mom fixed Swiss Steak, green beans, mashed potatoes, Cesar salad, and almond crust cherry cream pie and invited Hubby and I for supper. It was delish! I am considering this as my "Last Supper".

I think I am ready.

Did I mention I am nervous?

I thought it was only liquid????????

Here's a sample of the Pre-op diet I found. 

Experienced Lap Banders:  Please let me know if this will work

Breakfast:  1 serving protein mixed with skim milk;
                   1/2 c cream of wheat
                    1 c V8 or tomatoe juice
Snack:  1/2 c sugar free pudding
Lunch:  1 serving protein mixed with 8 oz Crystal Light
                   6 ox Dannon Light n Fit
Snack:  1/2 c cottage cheese
Dinner:  1 serving of chicken broth
               1 c V8 or tomatoe juice
                1/2 c unsweetened applesauce
Snack:     1 serving protein mixed with skim milk;
                        6 ox Dannon Light n Fit
1015 calorie per day; 100 grams of protein; 119 grams carbs

Does this sound reasonable?  Does meet the obectives?

I think I can handle this--anything for 2 weeks!!!!

..it is becoming real and I am scared.........I need some TLC.............

I am really really nervous.

I start my Pre-op diet Monday and I have absolutely no idea what to do. The handout I got 3 months ago is very very vague. I tried calling my doctor earlier this week but it's Thanksgiving Week and no one was there.

So ANY help ANYONE can give me is GREATLY appreciated.

PLEASE! WHAT DO I DO?

Boy, I am glad it is after Thanksgiving!

***AHEM*** Let me start by saying announcing----

MY MOM IS THE BEST COOK IN THE WORLD!! She can make ice cubes and water into a FEAST!

So.....I am glad that I do not have to start my Pre-Op diet till next Monday. That way I can have The Thanksgiving Feast my Mom has been cooking on for the last week. I am considering it as a last hurrah!

I am nervous about the Pre-Op diet. I know this is the start of my new healthy, thin life and it s only two weeks but I am nervous. I get headachy and grumpy if I get hungry.

So I am enlisting the help of you Lap Band Veterans. How do I do this? I need direction and suggestions. PLEASE HELP!

Forgive me for asking but.........

.......what is "slime" in relationship to the Lap Band?

Makes me scared to think about this.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

I will be banded!!!  That's the day my healthy, thinner life begins. 

I find out tomorrow.

I will find out my surgery date tomorrow. It is really getting close. I am getting a tad bit nervous.

I am hoping for the first time in my life that I will do something that will work and I will not gain it back.

This is really my last attempt to lose weight. If this does not work then my family and friends will just have to love me fat 'cause I am not trying ever again. I just can't do it any more.

Postscript: I went to the www to find a picture to illustrate my frustration and found this--
courage doesn't always roar.
sometimes courage is the quiet voice
at the end of the day saying,
"i will try again tomorrow"

Hmmmmmmmm.

I need to give that some thought.

I am having an I-Band!!!!!

Yup!  Dr Bariatric thinks it is the best procedure for me and after I investigated it, I agree!!!  I will be the first person in my Metropolitian area who has had this procedure.  They want me to sign a release so my pictures and success can be use as advertizing and on the media.

I am thinking about that.   What do y'all think?   It weill be my 15 minutes of fame!!!  HAHAHAHAHA

Here is a link to the I-Band       http://austinbariatric.com/default/iband    Also information on my Bariatric Center too!

My surgery is December 6th or 13th--to be determined Monday.



Here's a joke I saw today while at my Bariatric appointment:

Why is the Doctor so cool?
.
.
.
.
.
Because he's a Smooth Operator!!!!!!!  

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya, Tomorrow--You're Only a Day Away!!!!!

Tomorrow is an IMPORTANT DAY!!!!!

I have my LAST APPOINTMENT on the 3-Month Doctor Supervised Diet Program.  After that appointment, I will have my official Surgery Date.  

They have tentively set surgery for December 8th.  That means I will start the 2 weeks liquid pre-surgery diet on Thanksgiving Day.

Do you think it would be okay to start the pre-surgery diet the day AFTER  Thanksgiving?

Then.........my Granddaughter's first birthday is December 1st.  Do you think pureed birthday cake counts as a liquid on the pre-surgery diet?

Oh my -- Christmas!!!!  Would I be on soft mushies by Christmas?  I wonder if my Mom would puree turkey and dressing and pumpkin pie for me!!!!

More to follow - my Lovlies!!!!

A Call from Dr. G, Cardiologist

Phone rings----"Hello?"

"Cheri? It's Dr. G."

"Dr. G, I am really pissed!"

"I don't blame you! What a mess! I am sorry!"

"Dr. G., I had a breast reduction 16 years ago. What you are seeing on my heart is scar tissue!"

"In my heart of hearts, I know your arteries are not blocked and everything is clear. You're a big girl and finding the vein in your groin would be difficult. Therefore I am not going to do a heart cath. Do you get out of breath walking or climbing stairs? Any chest pain?"

"No. In fact, I can chase a 2 year old and not get out of breath!"

"All right--what is your Bariatric doctor's name and fax number? I am sending your cardiac clearance right now. You make sure you come to see me after the surgery."

"Really? Thank you! I will! Thank you!"

*********************************************

I go to Dr Bariatric this Friday to conclude my 3 month doctor supervised diet and officially secure a surgery date. Everything is completed and being submitted to the insurance THIS Friday!

I AM SO EXCITED!

HELP! Can someone tell we how to upload pictures please?

When I click on the add a photo icon the following page wont allow me to browse my pictures to upload one. I can upload one from the www by copying and pasteing the link but I cannot upload my personal pictures.
Do a have a setting wrong?
HELP!

GOOD NEWS!.................(I think..)

So I have been telling you about the "hoops" I am jumping through concerning my Lap band.

I got fed up with it all and called Dr. Bariatric's office. I told my case manager that I would be coming in today with my paperwork and I wanted to go over the 'Readiness Check List' because according to my checklist, I have done everything except the pre-op and I was tired of the hoops.

So I get there today, without an appointment, and I was about to tell him that I would be finding a new surgeon. I was tired of the office manager telling me one thing, then the scheduler telling i still needed to do something, then my case manager saying dont worry, he will take care of it........AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

Well, He then gave me a copy of the 'Readiness Check List' he had for me. It correlated with my list.

Then he told me my surgery is tenatively scheduled for December 8th!

I immediately calmed down!

I think this is an example of too many cooks in the kitchen ruins dinner!

Yesterday------My No-Good, Very, Bad Day

So after sleeping on my no-good very bad day yesterday, I woke up positive.

Positive because it was a new day--positive because I did wake up--positive because I was excited. I was seeing my Bariatric surgeon today. I am closer to my life changing surgery.

I was telling Dr Bariatric about my cardiac clearance troubles and I was worried it would delay the surgery. My work is changing insurance in 2012 and everything changes and I start again. He just said that as long as we had the clearance before surgery, it will be okay.

So I have relaxed. Maybe. I think. Ya--relaxed.

I am really frustrated.........AARRGH!

I have been doing a three month Doctor supervised diet program as required by my insurance company in order to approve my Lap Band surgery. I have also been getting all the approvals required by my surgeon. I have done very well in both of those requirements until the Cardiac clearance.

Because of my weight, I was not able to have a normal stress test--the treadmill--so I had to have a Nuclear stress test. Okay, done, check!

So a week after my test, Hubby's cardiac things started which required a visit to the cardiologist, Dr G. While seeing Hubby about his problems, Dr G looks at me and says "Your stress test was abnormal and I cannot give you the cardiac clearance yet. There is a shadow on the X-rays. It's probably your boobie but we have to be sure so you need a CT scan. Don't want you having a heart attack while under anesthesia!"

Of course, it is my "boobie" Dr G----I had a breast reduction 16 years ago! What you describe as a 'shadow' is scar tissue!!!!!! I have had 8 surgeries which require deep anesthesia, I did fine. And I have never had cardiac issues!

Today was the day for the CT scan. No one calls with the 'pre procedure' screening so I get there this morning and mention I am allergic to iodine. They asked me why I didn't tell the pre-screener. I stated that I did not talk to anyone because no one called. The scan was cancelled.

Dr G is out do town till next week.

I had to take a day off, disturbed my Mother's routine as she went with me, paid my copay which the hospital will not refund until 48 hours and wasted a BIG amount of time that I could have spent relaxing with Hubby!

I am so pissed!

Meet Me on Monday

Well, my answers are short and sweet.

1. Are you excited for the holidays or are you dreading them?
I like the Holidays. I like to give. Don't really care if I get gifts--I just like the giving part!

2. Do you hit the snooze button or get right up?
No......no snooze button. I wait for about 15 mins till I get out of bed.

3. Do you still have your tonsils?
Nope---they made a quick exit at 16.

4. What was the last piece of candy that you ate?
Reese's minis.

5. Do you shop at thrift stores?
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!! Every chance I get!

Secret Santa---sign up now!

This is from "A Fat Wife's Journey. She is the one organizing the Secret Santa! Sign up today!

My email is snclarno866@yahoo.com. The cut off for entries for the Secret Santa is going to be 16 November.
If you are interested in participating I need from you:
Name
Blog URL!!!
Mailing Address
Any allergies
Shirt and Pants size

Rules:
$30 limit
You must be entered by 16 Nov.
Gifts must be mailed out by 17 Dec.
Please try to avoid food gifts.

That said spread the word!! I want this to be as big as we can get it!

I am fat..........

We had family portraits today.

My Mom demanded it. It had been five years since the last one--there had been some "personnel" changes and new arrivals, so it was necessary.

This new fangle technology is amazing! We saw our digital proofs with in five minutes of being taken.

The person standing in the spot where I was standing, wearing the same clothes I dressed in, was fat. Not overweight fat--neck rolls fat.

Is that really how fat I am? I am shocked! Surely that is not me!

sigh

BYOC!!!!!!!

Let’s get to what we came here for! BYOC – Bring Your Own Crazy. A couple questions we answer to get to know each other better and to give our blogging brains a break. Copy and paste to your own blog if you wish! Enjoy!  Thank you, Draz!!!

Let’s do another themed BYOC…..this one will be called “What’s In/On Your….?”

1. What’s on your desk between your monitor and keyboard?
A picture of my Granddaughter.

2. What’s on your mind right at this moment?
I am having an allergy attack. I can't breathe and my nose is runny. I feel miserable ........

3. What’s in or on your nightstand on your side of the Bed?
Lamp, my Bible, water bottle, tissues, 'first thing in the morning' medicine, cell phone, glasses

4. What’s on YOUR Christmas wish list (let’s assume you’d get what was on it)?
money for new clothes for when I lose weight

5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in real life and in blog land.
Real life: UGH! Allergies and laryngitis -no voice whatsoever
Blog life: WONDERFUL! New followers and I love to read the blogs!


 

Hey! It's November!

One more month! I have been sponging up all I can find on lapbands and reading y'all's blogs! Y'all are so helpful!

I've read a great book: Weight Loss Surgery with Adjustable Gastric Band by Robert W Sewell MD.
I have and am learning so much. I feel more relaxed and getting many questions answered. I HIGHLY recommend it.

I will be a resident of Lapbandville by the end of the year! YEEEEEE HAAAWWWWW!