Good luck!  Why the Pred?  Auto-immune?  I did Pred for 6 months for an auto-immune and yeah, you don't even have to eat to gain weight on that. 

http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat/topic,4028905.0

check out that thread for a girl here who did gastric bypass; she had diabetes also so really needed to lose weight.  She DID take pictures; you should too.  She was glad she did!

I've seen that thread, she did an amazing job with her weight loss.  And yes, I have an autoimmume disease.  Systemic Lupus, along with a whole plethora of other things including a clotting disorder, diabetes, too much pressure in my spinal and brain fluid, kidney disease which I was on chemo for 5 years for...really the list is huge and there isn't an organ in my body that hasn't been effected by the lupus.   

The reason I need to lose weight is my health.  The lupus has calmed down, but all the issues that are weight related are worse.  Terrible sleep apnea, I sleep with a mask and machine, high blood pressure, diabetes, pseudotumor cerebri (high pressure in spinal fluid), and a whole lot of pain in my feet due to osteoporosis in my leg and foot bones.  Thanks prednisone.  I could really care less about my visual appearance, I'm covered in scars from surgeries, I just want to FEEL better.  I want to breathe easier, walk easier, and not have to monitor my blood and sleep with a mask on.  It just stinks. 

I have a web page if anyone's interested, that has some of my ordeal over the last 11 years with lupus.

http://www.heatherslupus.com/index.html

Oh my kidneys have already played the "nah, we don't wanna work" game with me.  From 2000 to 2005 I was on Cytoxan chemotherapy.  Didn't work alone, so they upped the prednisone to 120 mg a day, didn't work, so they added Imuran, didn't work, so they added Cyclosporin....what they finally came up with that kept the lupus at least in check was cytoxan every 3 weeks, along with a bolus of 500mg solumedrol every 3 weeks.  Eventually in  2004, I did 6 months of Rituxan along with the other chemo and steroids.  I had my last scary flare in jan. 06 when I was admitted to Hershey and told I would start dialysis in the morning.  My Nepnrologist told them to wait because I was only 31 at the time and he didn't want it to be a permanent thing.  Heavy heavy doses of meds and after a week, my kidney numbers were normal, and they have been ever since.  Even after stopping prednisone about a year ago.  It took a looooong time to taper from the dose I was on. 

I've had a few minor flares, my lupus is always active.  My medical chart is like a rollercoaster and I've come awfully close to biting the big one about 7 times in the last 11 years.  But, the Gods want me alive, so here I am!     My rheumy, nephroligist, gp, neurosurgeon, and even my therapist think this surgery is a good idea.  They have seen how hard I have worked to lose the weight I already have lost, and they know the health benefits will be great.  Most of my issues now are weight related. 

It certainly won't be easy though.  I have to monitor my sugar and blood pressure twice a day, go in every week for blood work to check my blood thinner level among other things.  Have to drive 5 hours out and 5 hours back every 2 weeks to Pittsburgh so the docs there can monitor everything including lupus numbers, kidney numbers and stomach issues...it's going to be about 10 times more work and more difficult than a healthy person getting the surgery, but for me, it's still worth it.  I just want to feel human again.  I used to be in the US Air Force traveling the workd 3 weeks or every month and loading the largest airplane the military has...now, now I fight to get out of bed.   

I go to the VA hospital, so I can't tell you how insurance would cover this...but I know that if you can show the health effects, they might pay for it for you.

Good luck!!    You can do it, I have the utmost faith in you    Many people that need/want the surgery aren't nearly as brave to actually go through with it, so you should be extremely proud of yourself for even just getting this far.  It'll be hard with the wonky dieting before/after the surgery, but you know it'll be well worth it in the end when the pounds are just melting off of you!

Definitely keep us updated, and before pics are fun!  Sure, they suck when you take them, but they're awful nice to look back on when you're thinner (and healthier)   

Why do you have to go on a liquid diet BEFORE surgery?

I did a liquid diet for two weeks once when I was in the hospital for my gall bladder, it is not easy. I wish you the best of luck

Sweetie, I did the same thing when my parents ate in front of me when I was forced on a liquid diet. I cried and glared at them    Eventually I couldn't even stand the smell of food. But at that point food wouldn't stay down for me, so it may be a bit different 

I was curious about that too.  To be on a liquid diet for  6 weeks sounds a little extreme to me, but then again I'm no doctor. 

Good luck.  I can't even imagine being on all liquids.  Soon your body will get used to the liquid diet though.  I'm guessing it's just screaming right now thinking "You haven't fed us in two days, we're STARVING TO DEATH!" when really you're not.

   Yay!!

I'm glad everything is going good and that your body is adjusting. Congrats on the 13 lb lost! 

Keep us updated on your progress!

Congratulations on your weightloss so far. I can't imagine how much of a pain it is being on a liquid diet so long, but if ever there was a reason to use such a diet it is to lose the weight before weightloss surgery. The lap band is a great system and it will definitely help you, but you must stay vigilant. Ultimately it will just be a tool to help you with the weight. The fact that your managing with this liquid diet shows you just how much fortitude you really have. It will serve you well after the Lap Band.

Food is an addiction just like any drug. Kicking the addiction is hard, but you are doing it! I for one this it's wonderful that you're taking charge of your health like this and wish you a safe surgery and lots of success! We're all here for you! *hugs*

BTW I can't fathom how you stayed on Pred for 9 years! I can hardly stand it for 10 days. It must feel great to be off it!