Jumped through all the hoops for my lapband-waiting:jump:

So on the 14th I attended the pre-op support class, we heard from a nutritionist who told us what to expect right after surgery and what we will be able to eat, seems sipping and chewing will have new meaning for me now. We heard from the excercise specialist who encouraged us to join the Bariatric Rehabilitaion Program at the hospital immediately after surgery for help in getting started with a consistent exercise program that include visits with the nutritionist as well, I think its great support and Im all for it, I will definately join as Im in this for the long haul. We also heard from a nurse who handlles the Bariatric patients at the hospital and she was my favorite speaker as she has had the lap-band in her for almost 5 yrs now and could not say enough good things about it, she lost over 100lbs in 1 year and has maintained that weight loss over the past 4 yrs, she told us what she eats daily and what changes we will go through, she said sure we wont be able to sit down to that big plate of pasta and meatballs with bread but instead she makes her famous crab sauce with angel hair pasta and an ever so slight piece of italian bread, and Im thinking, I can do that!!! she said we will get full fast and stay full longer, said she couldnt live without her lap-band, she is 66 yrs old and looked absolutely great! I learned alot from her and was at attention when she spoke because she is a bander too! She did stress that our success is totally up to US and the lap-band is not a magic fix, there is alot of work on our part in order for this to work and we must follow the guidelines. Now I wont deny that Im reading alot about complications on the www.lapbandtalk.com message board and alot of the complaints concern me, but Ive also read more positive stories than negative and have seen more before and after pictures that Im willing to do this and do it right. Im confident I picked a great hospital and a wonderful team of doctors with an incredible aftercare program that Im sure all will be ok and one year from now I will posting some awesome after pictures! At the support group there were about 50 people and I saw myself in everyone and I felt their frustration at wanting to lose weight. I wish us all the best! I went through all my pre-op testing and my PCP has sent my letter of medical clearance to the surgeons office, it takes 72hrs for approval so patiently I wait.

Hi there. I didn't have the Band, but I just had my RNY at Hackensack on Monday, the 12th. Is the name of the nurse you are talking about Sandy or Sandra? If so, she was my nurse the 2nd day I was there, and she was AWESOME! Totally supportive... I was sad that she wasn't working on the 3rd day, but then I went home that evening anyway. Good luck with your surgery, and I can tell you that Hackensack is an EXCELLENT hospital! Wendy