October surgery

[Goannabanda]

I am scheduled to get my band on October 5th. Hooray! Gulp!

What a ride it's been since mid August when I started "auditioning".

I have just the final surgeon visit and pre-op nurse to go. I have to start pre-op diet on 21st September.

The full diet is:
Optifast (VLCD) meal replacement - 3 per day
2 cups veggies
1 pc fruit (limited range)
2 litres water or no-joule drink

Trying not to put on any more weight over the next two weeks - I ight start a semi-pre-op diet next week (2 Optifasts and 1 meal) just to get a kick along.

Can't wait to start makin' music with this band!!!

[Idahobeauty]

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! I am really excited for you! I am just getting to the seminar part on monday. Keep us posted on how your progress goes!!!

[Goannabanda]

23 more sleeps and counting until I can join the band!

[Chickie]

Congrats on your date Anna! :woot:

[HeatherGurl]

Woohoo! Congratulations to you!

[Firefly]

Woohoo, congrats on having your date set! I'm sure you're anxious to get the ball rolling.

[Goannabanda]

Thanks for your well-wishes everyone - you guys are fantastic!

1 more sleep (tonight) before I start the pre-op diet (aka "full dress rehearsal").
15 more sleeps until I join the band!!!
woohoo!!!

I wasn't going to do this - but I had a "last lunch" and "last supper" today. I went out for lunch with some workmates (they don't know about the banding) and had a japanese bento box - I love the sticky steamed rice, just don't think this will be terribly band friendly in future. The "last supper" tonight was at my in-laws - my MIL made lovely roast lamb and veggies, a glass of wine; followed by apple pie and ice-cream and a great cup of coffee. No pigging out involved - just a lovely enjoyable dinner. mmmmmm, yummy! Also had my last bit of chocky for the next few months... ...might as well enjoy my "last day" a little. hehehee

[Idahobeauty]

YOu can do it! I am so excited for you. I will be here for you if you need support. Keep you eye on your goal and it will be easy. I know you are strong.

[NurseTeresa]

Congratulations on the surgery date. Keep me posted how the preop diet goes. Hope to one day be at the point where you are now!

[fee]

Congrats Anna

I hope it all goes well for you and i wish you a speedy recovery:happy:

Keep us posted

[A1ikou]

Very well done on the surgery date...countdown time now!

[Richard Froshiesar]

Hey from Idaho, we want to wish you all the luck you will do grt

[JILLMC]

My surgery is not yet scheduled but I hope to have it on 10/25. I am waiting for the approval from insurance which I have been dealing with for a while. I think I should get approved this time.

I can't wait to be banded!!!

[MoOrLess]

Congrats Jill on lapband surgery - approval should come soon - hang in there and again, congratulations!

[DonnaB]

Hey Anna - I just saw this - where have I been?!?!


Congrats on your date and best wishes on your pre-op diet. Yours is a lot more lenient than mine was - I had 2 protein drinks and a bowl of broth per day! It'll be over before you know it!

[Goannabanda]

Hey Anna - I just saw this - where have I been?!?!


Congrats on your date and best wishes on your pre-op diet. Yours is a lot more lenient than mine was - I had 2 protein drinks and a bowl of broth per day! It'll be over before you know it!

OMG!! I was complaining today about not having enough to eat! Mind you, we were doing heavy gardening, so got hungrier and grumpier than normal! I am also feeling colder than normal - I suppose that's my body burning fat for the first time in a LONG time! hehehe. Fixed it all up with a treat of Chinese take out of vegetarian soup and stir fried veggies with ginger. mmmmm! Enough for dinner tomorrow night too!

In the first 2 days I lost 2kgs (4 1/2 pounds), which I suppose is mostly water weight. It will be interesting to see how much I lose from here on in.

[Goannabanda]

Thanks for your well wishes everybody. By this time in two weeks, I'll be back onto full liquids... yikes!

I started a thread in the b2g for Group support section for all October bandits:
:gossip: :hug: :decision: :welcome: :grouphug: :tea: :caked: :Banane59: :Banane48: :Banane35:
http://www.band2gether.net/showthread.php?t=596

Hope to catch up with the Class of October 2006 there for lots of great chat and support!
Cheers
Anna

[Clovermeg]

You're almost there Anna! CONGRATULATIONS! My date is exactly one week after yours!

[kelliebelly]

Woooohooooo...nearly there. I remember the excitement I felt leading up to the day.
Hows the pre op menu going?

[Telly]

Yay you! I'm excited for you. I know you have butterflies in your belly about it. Anticipation is the biggest killer. I know you'll pull through just fine. We will be thinking of you.

[Goannabanda]

Hi everyone! Time for an update!

Firstly, thanks again for your well wishes - it means so much to me!:thumb:

The pre-op diet is going okay, I have lost around 3 kgs (6.5 lbs) in the first 4 days. However I am finding it hard to stay within the 2 cups of allowed non-starchy veggies per day. I find myself eating 3 to 4 cups of these (salad for lunch, and more veggies for dinner) as I have been so hungry. However, TOM arrived on Sunday, almost 2 weeks early (explains Saturday's grumpiness), and I normally get really hungry with that.:hungry: Good to get it out of the way pre-op, and also now won't need to do a preg test next week before surgery.:preggers: LOL!!! I'll try to cut the veggies back tomorrow, now I am a few days into the diet and feel TOM hormones going back to normal.

I am REALLY excited - literally jumping around!!! I am not worried about the surgery itself at this stage. After the ordeal that was delivering my son, and facing my very huge fear of epidurals during that process, the lapband surgery itself sounds like a walk in the park.:cool: But the recovery sounds like a bitch though with the shoulder pains and the post-op diet.:mad: LOL!!

I am looking forward to the drip / injections / needles associated with the whole process much less than I am to the surgery itself. I am a big wuss when it comes to needles,:fear: and is the reason why I doubt that I'll ever get my ears pierced again, or have a tattoo. hehehe I think I'll cope with the lapband needles, especially with the image of a skinny me to think about!LOL!!!

HOWEVER - that all said, I am sure to turn into a blubbering mess on the day (I cry easily - it's what keeps me (almost) sane! LOL!).:hurt: I cried all the way through our wedding ceremony,:hurt: I cried for days after having my son:hurt: (sometimes with joy... LOL!), I even cry at soppy kleenex ads on the TV.:hurt: Last time I had an anaesthetic when I woke up I cried all over the place, declared my undying love for the surgeon and grabbed him in a headlock of a hug!! hehehe!!!:hurt: Mr Hensman better stand behind my hubby in the recovery room, or he might cop one too!!!:hurt: hehehe!!!

[Firefly]

Awwww *hugs* Things are so on a roll for you and I'm so excited!

[Goannabanda]

Thanks Sara!

I spoke with the pre-op nurse, she said the extra veggies were okay (YAY!).

I was craving some meat tonight (after TOM's departure), so had a small lean lamb chop for dinner as well as the rabbit food. On balance, I can't see that it would hurt, considering how well behaved I've been with the allowed food list. I feel very satiated now, going to sleep well tonight!

Final surgeon consult tomorrow morning, and have to pay the pre-op fees as well - no turning back after that!

[shackdog]

yep its only a few days away,,,,,,,,,,,,,,congrats

[Diva]

I'm so excited for you! The next few days will fly by-zoom! Next thing you know-you'll be banded!
I'll be thinking about you on the 5th.

[Telly]

3 more days and counting. I'm praying for you and wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Goannabanda]

Woo! Hoo! By this time tomorrow, I'll be a brand new bandbaby!!!

I am really excited, but shaking in my shoes...


heheh! ...I didn't do myself any favours by staying up far too late last night and watching "Shock Docs", all about things that get left behind inside people during surgery.:eek::yuck: Freaky, completely freaky.:eek: :eek: I am thankful that the banding is laparoscopic!:nod: I just hope I don't dream about it while I am in surgery! :shocked:


Thanks again for all your good wishes - I'll hold them close tomorrow!

["Just" Paul]

here are good thoughts...
here are good thoughts...
here are good thoughts...
here are good thoughts...

I KNOW it will go well!

My best.

[Diva]

You'll do great! Congrats!!!!!!

[Kathy]

Go Anna! Getta Banda!
Go Anna! Getta Banda!

Thinking of you. Oh My, the time FLEW for me! How 'bout you?! I can't believe it's time. Yay you!

[Goannabanda]

YAY!! :cyan:YAY!!:yellow_green: YAY!! :purple: YAY!! :Dancing_nerd: YAY!! :lightgreen: YAY!! :Dancing_cool: YAY!! :Dancing_eek: YAY!! :Dancing_shock: YAY!! :Dancing_blush: YAY!! :Dancing_biggrin: YAY!! :Dancing_O_o: YAY!! :Dancing_baffled: YAY!!:cyan:YAY!!:yellow_green: YAY!! :purple: YAY!! :Dancing_nerd: YAY!! :lightgreen: YAY!!

I'm Goanna be off now and Goanna get banded!

Yep, my time is finally here folks! No more "auditions" (aka pre-ops) or "rehearsals" (aka pre-op diet).

This. Is. It.:peace:

In just over 8 hours I'll be at the hospital queing up for my surgery. YAY!! :cheer2:
In around 12 hours time, I'll be a brand new bandbaby. YAY!! YAY!! :cheer2:I might have to change my screen name to Goannagotbanded or Gotannabanded! hehehe jk! :rockon: :scared:


Thank goodness I had a crazy day at work trying to finish reports etc before I go on leave for the next 10 days. I only got home at 10pm, no time to think and worry today!:wacko:

Now it'd time to pack my bags, take some photos and try and get some sleep. Yeah. Right. That's really going to happen.:yell:

It's too late to back out now - I already paid the surgeon's bill!:eek:
I'll post pics and news once I've officially "joined the band". :drum:
Thanks for all your friendship:hug: , support:grouphug: :love: and prayers:pray2: in the lead up.
I'm looking forward to chatting with you all in a couple of days!:blah:

[Kathy]

:lol: it's good to see you excited. Yay!

[503-250]

Best wishes Goanna....please keep us up to date as you feel better.

[JoyceGA]

Here's to an easy recovery. You should breeze through the changes with all the knowledge you have already gathered.

You'll never see the scale this high again!!!

[Clovermeg]

I'm thinking about you Anna!!! :)

[Idahobeauty]

Anna, Where the heck are you? I hope you are recovering ok. We miss you here!!!!!

[Vegaswildflower]

Ana, ANA ... hey any one seen or Gonanna?
How are you doing, we miss you we cant wait to see you when your home, I pray every thing is going just as planned!!

[Goannabanda]

Hi guys,
I am back, and I am now IN THE BAND!!!

My recovery has been a little rough with pain, nausea and low blood pressure issues. More than I was expecting. However I am getting on top of it now, and yep, I am STILL EXCITED!!!!! I managed to get a few decent liquids into me today, so am feeling better.

Thanks for all your love and good wishes. I've put a couple of pics of me in the surgery gallery, so you can finally see what I look like (warning - fat lady pics ahead!! hehehe!).

Catch up with you all over the next few days as I feel more like sitting at he desk.
love,
Anna.

[purtynailz]

Hello everyone, I really enjoy everyone's posts! I have learned so much from everyone. Thank you for taking time to post here!!!
I am having my band on October 17th. I can't wait to start my new life!!! It is going to be great. I am on liquids and I feel already so good!!! My body has been yelling at me forever and now it is loving the liquid stage. I did the liquid stage before for 5 months so its not so bad knowing that it is only for a month or 2. Of course I have only been on liquids for 5 days LOL.
Everyone good luck this week on your surgerys!
Mary

[JDru]

Yay Anna!! I'm so glad you are feeling better and you're able to drink more. 22 more days till I'm right there with you.

Purtynailz: I'm glad we have another October Bandster! Good luck with your liquds.

[Goannabanda]

Hi purtynailz! Great you joined us here!!!

...and Jess - I can't wait unitl you get your band - don't forget we are STILL gonna be band sisters!!!

Our permanent October thread is down in the Group support section - see you there too!

BTW - I am feeling better today (Day 5) - the port pain is still there, but all other pain is gone. The other sites are itchy (healing) but not sore. I am still nauseous - but I finally figured out that I am dehydrated - funny there is no headache like I would normally have. I have been drinking more water (almost constantly) and am starting to feel better.