First Appointment Re: WLS July 3rd
 

Good Morning!:coffee:

I usually post in the 300+ thread, but I think I need to be here right now. I
have decided that I have struggled long enough (I am 46) and really feel that the only way I can acomplish my goals are by having the Lap Band. I have gained back 1/2 of the weight I had originally lost this time (I have to update my ticker, but I am still in denial and can't bring myself to do it right now), and am starting to have leg pain just getting my butt off the couch. I haven't been getting any exercise because I have Plantar Facitis, after 2 weeks of starting any exercise it flairs up again.
I had 2 "AH-HA" moments...when I took my daughter for her dance pictures and sat looking at myself in the dance room mirrors~wondering what the **** happened, and then when I got a WiiFit for my Mother's Day present, and I can't use it because I am over the limit...the damn thing just dismissed me just like the rest of society does.
I work with a woman who had the LB in October and she is doing great. She is so happy I made this decision (originally she tried to talk me into it, but I wasn't ready) and is my biggest supporter besides my DH. I'm honestly a little scared because I lost a friend when she was on the table having Gastric Bypass about 18 years ago, but I really think I am ready.
Thanks for listening and any help and encouragement will be welcome...
Have a great Day!

Welcome!
 

MamaB, we are so happy to have you here and that you are doing something that will give you a good tool for health and happiness. I don't know much about the lapband, but there are really a lot of good people here who can help you. We will reserve a spot for you over at the loser's bench.

Definately go to youtube.com and look up lab band. You'll see so many there doing video diarys and it's so motivating! I'm going to be banded in July at my work (I work at a hospital that has a bariatric clinic inside).

I'm so ready to do this myself! I haven't gotten all the support, and lost a friend a long the way (I can't be her buffet buddy anymore) but this is my life and I've informed myself and I can't be held back if others don't support my decision.

Please do some research, you'll feel better about lap band. You'll discover it doesn't have 1/2 the risks gastric does. You'll also learn no more carbonated beverages, no more using straws, and how you have to get in 60 grams of protein a day. Ah, what a journey you have ahead of you. And it starts today you'll learn, not when you get the actual surgery.

Keep us updated! :hug:

Welcome to the group. Things have really come a long way in the last 18 years. I am not saying there are no risks, but things are a lot better. Read all you can and inform yourself and you will be much better for it. There are a lot of great people here and all the support you could hope for!

Welcome

MamaB, I'm sure we can all identify with your struggle. I remember well the feeling of hopelessness. There's not a doubt in my mind that I would have died obese if not for my surgery. I've never regretted it. I wish you the best in your journey.

Thanks for the Warm Welcome everyone!!

Melody2006: Wow...youtube doesn't leave anything to the imagination, does it!!! Thanks for the tip~it has been interesting viewing!

So tomorrow is my 1st consultation and I am freaking out...I don't know if it is from excitement or nervousness! DH is supposed to come with me, as long as he only works 7pm until 3am instead of 7am. If not, I am on my own. I wasn't sure if I originally wanted him to come, but now I think I really need him there!!
Wish me luck and I will let you all know how it goes!!

warm thoughts - hopeful vibes - all coming your way!!!

I don't know why I was freaking out...the appointment went well and I LOVE the surgeon. He was so nice as was his staff. I really am ready to do all of this. I came home and I have made appointments for my PCP, Upper GI, and Pulmonary all in the next 3 weeks. All I have left to schedule is Psych,Nutritionist and Cardiologist...I really want to do this before School starts (I am the Greeter at our Middle School) and they said if I got all the appts done, it could happen.
We shall see...

PS-I lost a lb...probably anxiety!! LOL!

Woohoo! You're on your way to a better, more healthy life! Congrats and I hope it all works out for you.
Pamela (I gotta get to 25 posts soon so I can get a ticker! LOL)

Hi All
I also am seriously thinking of having the lapband and my first consultation in July 22nd. MamaBplus3 If you manage to complete all the tests, get insurance approval and have surgery before school starts I will be very impressed. I have waited over 6 weeks just to see the Dr for the first time. I filled out an on line application Memorial Weekend, they called me within 2 days, sent me 5 videos to watch and now I'm waiting, and waiting and waiting. In the mean time I joined WW again for the umpteenth time and also started a modified exercise program at Curves. I know from past experience I can lose weight on diets but I can't maintain the weight loss. With this WLS I should be able to do it. I don't know if this site lets you list other sites so email me if you like. I am on 2 other lapband sites that have message boards and they are also willing to answer all kinds of questions.

I am so happy to have found this site! I am having RNY on Aug 15th, and I'm so nervous. My husband in back in Iraq, but my Mom will be here to help. The approval process was simple compared to the horror stories I have read online. I guess it's just the fear of the unknown. I am worried about being in the hospital and away from my kids (3 daughters), but I'm excited, too. I am prepared for the life change, but part of me (the crazy part) thinks of oreos and fried chicken as friends that will be missed-especially while my husband is deployed! I would love to hear the real deal from some of you who have had the surgery. You know, what to really expect. Even if it is gross or awful-I'd really rather know and be prepared. I've been fat for about 14 yrs, and I am ready to jump back into life. I miss sports and all the outdoor activities I have not been able to participate in for yrs. I hope to meet some people on here who can support me through this, and some I can help after I have my surgery. I am excited/scared/nervous all at once, and I can't get enough information. So, if you have any advise or tips or anything....please let me know!
Thanks,
M~

I almost forgot~Congrats, MamaB, on a great 1st appointment and a surgeon that you love!
Best of luck!,
M~

5LemonDrops: Yes, I too am feeling conflicted reguarding all the foods that I will "miss"!!! But I realize it's all for the greater good and I am tired of being 46 and feeling like I am 76!!! I think that is why one of the appointments is for a Psych consult!!! LOL!

ssfbelle: I waited over a month for my 1st appt. I think the only thing that will probably hold me up will be the insurance company...but this Dr. has been doing this for so long and know all the ins and outs...I just hope all the other Dr. offices are as reliable! (but I doubt it!) Worst case scenario is I have to wait longer and then I will wait until Oct, when all I will have to take off is 1 day from work. I too had joined WW for the bazillionth time and got to within 6lbs of 10% loss and started gaining again. It happens every time. Plus I have plantar facitis which made me stop exercising. I am doing the lapband so this all can stop.

wow!!!! A person misses a lot if she doesn't have internet access for a few days. congrats, mamab!!!!! all those ducks are sure lining up nicely for you -

and lemondrops - welcome welcome welcome! and big hugs to you, your family, and your husband. we will absolutely be here for you throughout this. my two cents: the first three months after gastric bypass ARE NOT EASY. but it's only 3 months, and it gets better [keep reminding yourself of that as food after food after food disagrees with your system, and you're battling head hunger because you only THINK that you should eat - but you really don't need to, and you try to eat carbs!!]

welcome aboard BELLE!!! many of us have had experiences like the one you described - and MORE. but then again, there have been others [not many, but SOME] who have sailed through the process from initial consultation to surgery in less than 6 weeks. it's hard to predict who will have trouble and who won't.

Ok, I had my appt. w/the nutritionist...why are they all FREAKS??? :yikes:
Of course she didn't tell me anything I already didn't know, :blah: and was trying out her standup "comedy" with me. :dizzy: Also she wanted me to buy her book :rolleyes:
At least it's over...had my Thyroid and bloods and EKG done today. Pressure was up a little, and she gave me a duiretic for my tootsies swelling. Made 2 more appts...July is gonna be a long month!! ;)

Thats how I felt in the beginning. I'm on the 7th day of my pre-opt liquid diet. I'm being banded July 15th. I find a lot of help at lapbandtalk (dot) com

Melody: GOOD LUCK!! I am anxious to hear how it all goes. I am sure you will do great!! How long was all the approval process for you?

Your right Donna they are all NUTS !!! makes you wonder how/where they get their degrees from. I'm sure they are good an "regular" nutrition but when it comes to wls they know squat!

Good luck !!!

Leenie

I was banded on 7/15/08 and I am now 3 days post opt. I'm doing great. I work at a hospital that has a bariactric center inside and other employees told me our insurance automatically approves if your BMI is 40 or over. You pay $250, the insurance pays the rest. 2 days later I was at an info meeting. 2 months later I was banded. The 10 day pre surgical liquid diet was ****, but worth it. You learn a lot about your eating habits and triggers those 10 days. Now I'm on 2 weeks of full liquids. I feel full all the time. I have not experienced hunger since the surgery.

Congratulations!! I am glad you are doing well. :hug: Sounds like the whole procedure was a breeze! How was the pain part of the experience?? I think that is the only thing that I am worried about as I am a big baby :bb: when it comes to pain.
I only have 1 more dr. visit (cardio on Tues) and a support group to go to and all my appointments are done. :dizzy: I am shocked at how well it has all been going. And the one thing that has me totally sure that this is for me is that when my labs came back it said I was Pre-Diabetic...which has me totally freaked out...I take this as a sign that I have made the right choice. :yes:

Thank you for the friendly welcome! My surgery date is getting closer, and I'm getting more nervous. My mother is already buying me new clothes-no pressure there! LOL Thanks for the info, too. I'm glad you said 3 months-my husband should be home about 3-4 months after the surgery. So, I'm hoping I'll be feeling good by then. I had a work thing last night. I was in heels for hours, and my screaming legs and feet are in total agreement that the surgery is a great idea! Truth is... they still hurt today-my back, too. I'm looking forward to saying goodbye to all these aches and pains in my joints and back!! I hope all is well with you and yours! Have a great day! ~M~

Donna, I feel as if I am in denial too. I just dont have the heart to take off my 55 pounds lost. I went to the info session in June. I had my surgeon consul last week and will be banded in August. That is the timeline my surgeon gave me. I am hoping it is correct. Good luck to you.
Sandra

Wow I missed this thread...don't know how but I did!! Welcome to everyone!!

I so remember the ups and downs before surgery. It was one of the most exciting and most dramatic times of my life. I know for a fact I was not that nervous before I got married but the wait before surgery and the wait for approval and all the "what if's" drove me NUTS!! It's such an awsome time in your life..and one that you won't ever forget.

Glad you all found us...Welcome to our little corner....

Chrissy

Wow Chrissy, that rose is gorgeous!!
My son is going for cullinary arts in BOCES :chef:~he will be starting his 2nd year in Sept. He really doesn't like the cooking aspect and is hoping there will be more baking this year. We are going to scout some local Cullinary Schools that specialize in baking for when he graduates. I just wonder which corner I am going to have to stand on to pay for it!! :yikes:
This afternoon is my cardiologist appt. I just have the support group on 8/5 and I am done with all my appts. Now it is just the waiting game. ( Which I really don't play very well. :tantrum: My patience went out the window with most of my brain cells a long time ago!! :lol:)

Jill~That just sucks!! :sorry: All mine needed was a diet history...I did mine and they called me to send another one because they only wanted a few years and I sent them my whole life story! LOL! I just wanted them to see my struggle, I guess. At least with the 6 months you will be very educated on your procedure.;)

I was kinda dissapointed at the cardiologist, because I had to make 2 more appts...1 for a echocardiogram and the other for a nuclear stress test(4 hrs long!!:yikes:)...apparently the treadmills they have only hold 320 lbs, so once again, I am too big and have to go elsewhere. The idiot didn't even get a proper blood pressure reading because they didn't have a large cuff. I could barely understand him and all he could focus on was the weight. :mad: I am so glad he is not one of my primary docs...I would definately change it. So I have the 2 appts scheduled for next week. At least it will be all done by the end of July. I hope it doesn't screw me up.

And I had a really terrible day yesterday:stress:...my debit card number somehow got stollen ( I still had the card) and spent the day with the police and at the bank. I can't imagine how someone can shop at CVS and 7Eleven with just the # and not the card. So frustrating!!! Luckily they only got $314.00, and also it wasn't a pay week for my husband(direct deposit)...but it is still my money and I just feel so violated!!:o

Thanks for listening me ramble on...I hope today is a better day!!!:dizzy:

Had my Echocardiogram today. This chick nearly cracked one of my ribs!! It was weird to have a sono without seeing a baby (I have 3) and actually getting to hear my own heartbeat this time. I have the stress test on Thursday and I am kinda thinking I am not going to get all my appts in and the surgery done before school starts, because I was unable to make one for the follow-up at the cardiologist until 8/21 :tantrum: I am not a patient girl and this is pissing me off.:mad: Oh well, everything for a reason, right?? I guess I have to play nice :p

I went for my upper gi and psy. I throught I was going to blow the psy because I was I couldn't eat or drink all day. That was easy. I went to the upper gi and that stuff you have to drink is terrible. I only have the group nutritionist and I will be done. I can't wait. I don't know how people do this for 6 months, it has been two months and I am ready to be done. Good luck everyone.

heh, lots and LOTS of patience! And I am NOT one to be patient, as my fiance will quickly tell anyone who asks :p

I am less than 1 week into my 6 months required diet. It sucks. But at least I started it before seeing my surgeon (can't make an appointment with him till I go to their information session, which is next week). I also know my surgeon is pretty popular, so it can take well over a month just to get in with him for a consultation.

I guess the waiting to get all my appointments in isn't such a bid frustration now since I have that 6 months of dieting holding me up, anyway. I think the biggest frustration will come when it's time to submit my paperwork to insurance--waiting for a response and, assuming I get approved, waiting for a surgery date. At that point, I WILL have to have a surgery date pushed out a bit so I can give my job plenty of notice that I will need 2 weeks off.

Jill~Is the supervised diet a liquid diet like Annie was on? I tried Optifast years ago and would have eaten my left foot if I had the opportunity!! I only have to do 7 days of liquids and I am wondering if it is the shakes or just broth, juice, ice pops, etc. I am dissapointed :( that I probably wont be having this done until after school starts because of the stupid cardiologist...I did not like him and he is proving to be the thorne in my side. I had a 9am appt for my echocardiogram and we had to stand outside until 9:10 waiting for the office to open without so much as a "we are running late". I am gonna kill my girlfriend for sending me to this jerk.:club: Lets see what tomorrow brings at the stress test.

channning102~They didn't tell me that for the Upper GI my co-pay would include a amusement park ride(tilting table), an exercise class (multiple rotations of my body) and an interesting 2 days of white poop!!!! :yikes: (sorry for TMI!!!) I don't know which was worse...the "lemon fizz" that was first or the 2 cups of chalk!! I hope I never have to do that again!!:dizzy:

Tonight is the support group/info session. I don't know why I am nervous, being that everyone will be there for the same reason!! :dizzy:
I guess I still hate the meeting new people~being judged thing. I have never been good with that no matter what I weighed.
After this I just have the follow-up with the cardiologist(not until the 21st :mad:) and I am done. Then comes the hurry up and wait part.:p At this point I am not expecting to have my surgery done before school begins. :( I am not happy, but I believe there is a reason for everything. Patience is a vertue(sp?) that I surely don't have!!! :lol:

Boy, last night was a waste of time. I have been to these type of things before, so it was nothing new. If it wasn't on my list of required appts. to have, I would have skipped it. Another lesson learned. Now I just wait. {{sigh}}

Ok...since starting this journey with what I thought was good health :yikes:...I have found out the following things:

1. My bloodwork says I am Pre-Diabetic

2. I have a small Hiatal Hernia (only symptoms are occaisional heartburn)

3. I have a strong heart for someone who doesn't exercise regularly, but I may have High Blood Pressure.

Just more affermation(sp?) that I need to have this surgery and am making the right choice. :yes: I would have never found these things out if I didn't have to make these appts, because with the exception of "normal" aches and pains, I feel FINE!!!!
So I think in more ways than one, this surgery will save my life! :)

Ok, so my last test (nuclear stress test) came back perfectly normal according to my PCP. So now do I wait or call my surgeon to find out what to do next? :shrug: I am supposed to have a full physical Thursday, but that was made when I thought I would be having my surgery before the end of August. Should I cancel it? I thought you are supposed to have one 2 weeks before surgery. This waiting and not knowing is driving me nuts!! :crazy: