Karon

Hi Peaches: I'm from the Blackwood/Clementon area. Know Voorhess very well. I relocated to Winston Salem, NC. When I left NJ almost 4 years ago, there was only one doc doing the surgery. Who are you going with now and what hospital is he/she located at? I'm being banded on Wednesday and very excited about it.. I was supposed to have gastric bypass in 2004, but a health issue prevented me from having that surgery and the lapband wasn't covered by insurance at that time. So to finally have this thing come true is a real dream for me. I wish you the best of luck and please stay in touch and let me know how you are making out. I will request you as a friend. K

Hi, I'm born and raised in Philly. Relocated to NC 3 years ago. Love it here, but miss the city. I grew up in Germantown. Where do you live? I am to be banded on next Wednesday. I am nervous and excited at the same time. I am much older than you, but I have diabetes now and I weigh what you weigh now. I have lost 47 pounds since last October on a six month dr. supervised diet. I think it is good that you have the opportunity to turn your bad health around while you are young. I'm sure everything that is ailing you now will become a thing of the past once you lose weight. You will essentially be saving your life. Don't be scared, look at it as a journey. It's a good thing and a smart doctor to recommend it for you. Keep us posted and add me as a friend. K

Myfitnesspal.com is a great site. Loaded with so many foods even fast foods, a diet and exercise counter and plenty of friendly people waiting to offer their experience and hope. check it out.

All men are not the same. Some may be shallow, but there is a man out there who will love you for yourself , stretch marks and all. Don't despair. Give yourself some time. Get to know a guy and see what he's about. As you talk to him, eventually, if you feel comfortable tell him about your weight loss and see how he responds. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Please don't even play around with suicide talk. Life is precious and you have only just begun to live your life. There is so much for you out there. Just take each day as it comes. You can only live one day at a time. Find some joy, find the gratitude. Keep the faith and know that it will work out. I'm here to talk if you would like to talk in private. K

Yes welcome to the club. The club of new beginnings. I hope all goes well and quickly for you. Keep us posted.

Protein shakes and a small protein meal once a day. Lasts from 2-3 weeks depending upon the doctor.

It all depends on your insurance. some require that you complete a 6 month dr supervised diet. So it could be 6 months from your visit with the doctor today. Or it could be about 2 months away if you work diligently at getting your testing done and the psych eval. It is possible to do all of that within 2-3 months if you can get the appointments scheduled quickly enough. Find out what your insurance requires as far as their requirements and that will give you a better idea. Hope this was somewhat helpful to you.

I'm afraid to cheat. I have been told that if my liver has not shrunk, the surgeon will open you up only to close you back up and not do the surgery. I have too much invested for that to happen to me. I think you all need to really think about the seriousness of this. I'm going into day 3 and so far, so good. But I am allowed to have yogurt, jello, applesauce, fish, chicken, some vegetables and salad along with 2 protein shakes daily, oh an oatmeal. It's kind of a weird diet, but it's definitely doable.

Well i just typed of a page full of text to hit the wrong button and lose everything. I'm quite upset about that. However, I will just say that last week a friend asked me to go with her to the YWCA to swim. I have never learned to swim but have wanted to more and more as I have gotten older. Actually, I have always deprived myself of the beach and pools because of being overweight. I would wear bathing suits with the little skirts attached, always had a bathing top of something to hide my body once I got out of the water. So the thought of being able to swim and wear a fashionable swim suit really began to intrigue me. So I said sure I'll come with you and off we went. My friend is a certified lifeguard and she taught me how to float. Mind you, I have never been able to float. So much for the myth that all fat people can float. It was scary at first having to lean back in the water and get water in my ears a bit, but then I just told myself to relax and then I was floating. I put my arms over my head as instructed and just laid on the water. It was awesome. Such an exhilarating experience. I learned how to float on my stomach as well. That was a little bit more scary for me. I was afraid I would sink, but not so. Then my friend had me blow bubbles into the water as I floated on my stomach. She said this would help me get used to having water in my face. Then she told me that in order to swim, you learn to hold your breath and then you blow out through your nose. So I tried it and it was amazing, no water got up my nose. Awesome. I had a wonderful time in the water. I floated from one end of the pool to the other. I used a boogie board (i think that's what they are called). It was so much fun. Doing something that you have always wanted to do but have denied oneself is just so liberating. I felt like I was a thin person. I felt like I could do anything. I feel like I'm learning how to live again and truly enjoy my life. And guess what, all this and I haven't even had the band yet. They say that so many things begin in the mind first and I believe that. It's all about what we perceive. I've heard it said that if you can believe it, you can see it. And that is how that Saturday was for me. I'm determined to go again and the next time I want to learn to take some strokes in the water. I'm going to try and eventually I will learn and hopefully with God's help, this time next year, my body will be looking great and I'll have a modern pretty bathing suit and be a slimmer, sexier me. I can't wait. There's no stopping me now. I'm going for the gusto. Whatever it takes I can do this and I will do this. Wish me luck!!

My psych eval was very thorough, consisted of 2 appointments. First one, I took a computer generated multi-choice questionnaire and then I met with him where he got some basic information and ask me some questions. Then I went back 2 days later to discuss the questionnaire/test I took and we talked about the surgery and what my expectations were, what to expect from the team as he is part of my surgeon's team, you can only use him as your psych. He said that I was mentally healthy to make this decision and that I seemed to understand that this would be a new way of life, etc. That was about it. It wasn't too stressful. They are just checking to make sure you are a stable person and that you have put considerable time into making this life-changing decision. hope this is helpful to you. Best luck to you on your journey.

I had the same thing happen to me. However, we never even bothered to submit my records to the insurance as the program coordinator at my surgeon's office looked over the notes and they said I really hadn't complied or lost any weight and she knew that insurance wouldn't approve me. The only option available to me was to do another 6 month diet. This time, I said the right things and did the right things and lost 41 pounds. I was approved. I know this is not what you want to hear as you have a time requirement. But if your wife's insurance ends in 100 days, how will you be able to get your "fills", which you will need every 4-6 weeks? You will be seeing your doctor for the next 2 years, if not longer, so how will you handle those expenses?

Hello: I begin a 3 week liquid diet tomorrow. My surgery is the 12th of July. I have 2 Protein shakes a day and 1 high protein small meal. Can also have oatmeal, sf popsicles, applesauce, strawberries, salad, yogurt and Jello. I'm not looking forward to it, but I know that it is a means to an end and it will be worth it in the long haul. Wishing you the best with your diet and upcoming surgery.

Hi Jen: Welcome. I am a little farther along than you, begin my 3 week pre-op diet on Tuesday. Am scheduled to be banded on 7/12. Looking forward to it. Have gotten a lot of advice from this group. Very informed people here. I'm sure you will make friends and have someone to go down this road with you,. Where in NC are you? I'm in Winston Salem.

Thanks for sharing your day of surgery experience. I am going july 12, can't wait. At least I have an idea of what to expect now. wishing you much success in this new life and journey.

You just can't assume that you can open a capsule and take the contents. Some meds are time released and my doctor told me that they cannot be opened up and put into applesauce or taken some other way. There would have to be an alternate med prescribed. Please don't take it upon yourself to decide what to do with your meds, speak with your doctors and pharmacist about this problem. I know because it is going to be somewhat of a problem for me with some of the meds that I take.

Well at least they didn't require a 5 year weight history as my insurance did, United Health Care. They consider other things though--other co-morbidities and the diabetes will help. Don't despair. Things will work out for you, just have a little faith.

Hi: I was told that I should eat my food on a "saucer", the one that your cup sits on, you know cup and saucer. Not even a salad plate. That is how I am to gauge my food. Haven't gotten to that point yet, but that is what I am going to do. Gonna to try and be obedient as I know that is the only way this thing is going to work.

OK, so maybe you should try 6 and work up to 6.5 maybe. I don't know how they increase in increments, but it would seem that you do need a little more restriction. just my 2cents worth.

Yes you are so right. I enjoy the stories but hate the doom and gloom. I wish people would keep their negativity to themselves.

Hello: Glad you have thought about doing it the right way now. I have always been an eater of Lean Cuisine and Healthy Choice meals for lunch when I was working. They are quite good, both of them. The sweet and sour chicken is especially good, the glazed chicken, actually any of their meals I have found to be quite edible and filling. On those rare occasions when I was extra hungry, I have eaten two of them. However, with our smaller stomachs, I don't think that will be a problem for you. Also I was wondering if you had had a fill since you were banded/ Maybe that's the problem, you are too loose and you should be tighter. Just a thought. k

Hey Thee-0 I will definitely keep in touch, you don't have to worry about that.

Hello: Welcome! You have to lose 10% of your weight before they will do the surgery? Is that what you are saying? Wow I haven't heard of that before, but I am relatively new to these forums myself. Well at least you sound encouraged to do so. I wish you the best. What are your plans for losing the weight? Is it a number that you can see yourself achieving seeing as most of us have a hard time losing weight which is why we want the band. I'm here everyday, so if you want to add me as a friend, I will help to cheer you on. K

Hi Jacob: Thanks for responding. That sounds great. I hear the same thing time and again. Good luck to you and I only hope that I have similar results. I'm sure they will take you off some of those meds and probably all once you reach goal. Stay in touch. I go in on 7/12. Wish me well. K

Hello Tia: Wishing you a safe surgery and all the joys associated with your new life change. My surgery is 7/12. I'm very excited as I know you are too. please keep us posted on how you made out, the experience, etc. Best wishes, K

Hello Carolyn: Welcome. You've come to the right place. I won't bother to reiterate how I felt, you can read it in my blog, but I do know how you feel. I was where you are and I am being banded in 29 days. I can't wait. Like you we share some of the same ailments. I have had both knees replaced, and a hip. I still suffer pain in my knees as the surgeries weren't totally successful. I have grandchildren that I can't do things with like I want to. We're taking them to Carowinds this summer and I'm going to rent a motorized scooter so that I will be able to keep up with them. so trust me I know how you feel. But you have made the right decision and you are doing your research. all good things. In no time at all, you will be counting down the days to your new life. I wish you much success on your journey and please keep in touch, add me as a friend. I'll be here for you anytime. K