I got my date, too :)

It's the same date as MtlChick! May 25th. Gastric banding (found out today it's the Realize band) with Dr. Atlas at the Rockland Medical Center.

I had my pre-op appointment with Lula (surgical nurse) this morning, and came out with a BOX of Optifast :) I start that on May 1st. Did the blood tests, the ECG and went through everything with her. Then, I opened another vein and paid the 25% deposit on the surgery, as well as for the Optifast.

Yikes, I can't believe it's here!! I'm very excited. My mind is reeling quite a bit ...

Hmm guess I should get one of those trackers for my signature now that I have a date!

Liane

Congrats Liane! You must be thrilled and anxious all at the same time. It will be great having a bandster on board. We'll have someone with every type of option on the bench! How great. You'll see how time flies by now that you have your date. Keep us posted.

Thanks Brenda!! I'm sooo anxious to get going!  

YAY Liane, it's so exciting. We will be able to follow each other. Even if it's a different surgery.

Dr. Atlas is going to be busy that day !!! In 2 different places.

I'll be starting Optifast a few days before you so we can encourage each other :)

It won't be long before we are on that bench.

Cindy
 

Hi Liane!

I'm very happy for you! The next 6 weeks will fly away pretty fast. Keep that positive spirit and let us know what happens!

Wow, another loser's coming on the bench! Great for you to have a date... Just in time for summer... You'll see how time will fly now!

Thanks everyone!!

Cindy, I love that we're going to have our surgeries the same day with the same doctor. Let's hope he has a good night's sleep on the 24th!

I was a little shocked today at how expensive the Optifast is ... don't know why I never thought of the expense, in denial perhaps. Oh well - it's all for a good cause! I'm also trying to think about how my grocery bill will decrease during those 3 weeks :)
I hear that there is a shaker to mix the water and powder in - does anyone know where I might be able to find something like that?

Liane

Hi Liane,
congrats on getting ur date, i'm soo  happy for you.  We have the same dr. but different surgery, i'm getting the sleeve.  I have been on the waiting list since dec. 08 and still no news.  How long did you have to wait?
Good luck
Anne

Hi Anne!

Thanks for the congrats. I hope you too get your date soon!
I didn't have to wait long, but I'm going the self-pay route ... when I met with Dr. Atlas in November, he told me it could be 3-5 years on the RAMQ waiting list. It really made me realize that I should have seen a doctor about this surgery years ago instead of doing the dieting yo-yo. Oh well, nothing I can do about that now, I can only look forward.

Have you called his office lately for an update?

Liane

For the optifast, the best is to use a blender or something like the magic bullet, because it is essential to have some crushed ice in the optifast... It is so better with ice!  Or you can use a bottle with a spring ball in it ( you can get that at GNC) but with no crushed ice, the optifast is not so good.
I also ordered some Da Vinci  sugarfree syrup to add some flavor to the optifast... You get get them at  thelowcarbgrocery.com. They are quite expensive but it's a big bottle like a wine bottle, and you can use them in yogourt, drinks, etc...The company is in Toronto and the delivery charges are quite reasonnable. I loved white chocolate syrup with vanilla optifast and almond  syrupwith chocolate optifast. Toffee and Kaluha are also good... If you don't get the syrups, you can get some  almond extract, nescafe or any essence to add  in the shakes... I put pineapple extract and coconut extract in vanilla optifast, tasted like pina colada! I found  plain chocolate and vanilla rapidly boring!
Good luck!