Lapbandster

I CAN'T WAIT to get there! And I hope that's what my green zone feels like !!

wowow!! Incredible!

whoa congrats!! I'll never forget the feelings of elation I had when reading that insurance approval letter!!

what's NPO?

Yep. My doc only requires atkins diet 1-2 weeks pre-op. No liquid pre-op. I thought i was the only one

I hope you don't think i was laughing at you!? [G-D forbid!]

Glad it motivated you, but something about it seems "off" As elcee has pointed out, they do NOT OPEN your stomach. Also how could the surgeon see the cheeseburger? 2 days later (even if he gulped it down without chewing) it would have looked like mush mixed with digestive juices (did the surgeon tell you he saw the lettuce and tomato too? ) LOL!! Maybe with the sleeve/RNY surgery this was seen, but even then it makes little sense because if he ate the cheeseburger and it was in his stomach he would've been in big trouble with anesthesia/aspiration pneumonia. But i'm glad it motivated you

anyone know how to delete a post?

Glad to hear my doc isn't the only one Was beginning to feel a little lonely

Love your enthusiasm! Good luck to you and let us know how it goes!

Surgery on Friday!! Whoohoo!

I have been debating telling anyone about this decision. Truthfully, most people I know do not understand WLS surgery. They do not understand that it's JUST A TOOL. They think it's magic, and i'm scared that when I don't lose weight fast they will look at me as a complete failure. I understand the work that comes with losing weight with the band. I understand that the weight comes off (sometimes painfully) slowly. I understand that it's not a miracle cure for obesity. My friends/family unfortunately do not understand. Case in point: My mom went with me to my final doc appointment before surgery and he explained that in the beginning i probably won't lose much weight until i heal and am properly adjusted. As we left the office my mom whispered "he's just trying to downplay the weight loss. I know you're gonna lose 50 lbs before october" WTF!!! My dad is the same way. He keeps saying I will loose 100 lbs in 8 months. These people are dreaming. For this reason I know that no matter what I accomplish I will look like a failure in their eyes because i'm (fairly) certain that I will never live up to their expectations. That's why the less people that know the better. I can't be a failure to my friends too yes it's very sad that I won't be getting proper support from my parents but I guess i'll just have to be strong and never feel like a complete failure. So yeah, i TOTALLY understand why you don't want to tell

My doc has no problem with it (although he warns of bad belching reactions), but he seems to be in the minority. I have practically completely cut soda's out of my diet now anyhow so it's irrelevant to me

I met with two surgeons. The first one ONLY does lap bands, and he truly believes in them. He seemed very knowledgable but wasn't "warm and fuzzy". Then I met with a second surgeon who seemed like a real teddy bear. Very sweet (overweight himself, which made me feel comfortable). He did Sleeves, lap bands, and gastric bypass. I thought "this is it. i'm gonna use him" But then his Nurse Practitioner walked in and when I told her why I would do LB over GP, she started yelling and rebuking me. she said things like "only 40% of LB's are successful" (I knew this was not true) and "you never have restriction, because even with fills you can eat donuts" (true? maybe, but who said I would be eating donuts?!?) I told her that I would like LB because it's adjustable, removable (if need be) and does not cause any malabsorbtive problems. Even when I LOGICALLY made my points clear, she said "it's your choice, but I really think you will be making a mistake" I never forgot that look of disgust on her face and never walked back in there. I am using the surgeon I first met with and am satisfied with my decision. BTW, my mom had Gastric Bypass 10 years ago. She never regretted it and lost about 100 pounds, but Even now, years out, she struggles with her malabsorbtive issues (Iron deficency, not being able to take anti inflammatory for her torn tendon,constant exhaustion etc.) Also she had no control of her weight loss and now sags with extra skin. This is not what I wanted, and if I can avoid it with alternatives, then why shouldn't I?

Agreed And BTW, my surgeon told me straight up that many other surgeons try to dissuade the lap band because it's not a big moneymaker. The big bucks are made in the operating room NOT with fills/follow up appointments. Not sure I can believe such a heinous thing but it does make sense to me (about lap band not being a money maker)

main motivation: grandmother (and possibly other people) to stop looking at me with disgust. Also, I would love to get married this year but at my weight I have no self confidence

I was thinking of taking a magazine to the table to read while everyone gulps their food down, but that seems sooo RUDE!! My family (mom) would absolutely kill me So thanks everyone for the advice, I will always look back at this post. Playing with the kids is a good idea! Thanks

wow love this quote. It's so hopeful

Eating bad foods is not a routine I plan on continuing. Not sure why you thought that? BUT, what i'm asking is if i'll feel miserable not being able to eat what i'm used to eating while i'm around people who pig out. This is not a routine, but ~once a week I find myself in this situation and i was looking for insights.

Hey everyone! Getting banded this Friday whooohooo!!! My concern is this: I usually eat big meals with lots of people who pig out. Pre-band I am able to enjoy the food with them and dig in along with them, but I'm so scared that after the band I will be watching them eat yum foods and i'll be sitting next to them miserably wishing that i could be eating too. Of course I have read on here that people simply don't have the appetites post-band that they had pre-band and that they don't desire as much food as before but this is something I can't seem to wrap my head around. **BTW, I'm thinking of dinners/family get togethers where we eat lots of fatty delicious foods like pepper steak, lasagna etc. What if I just simply can't stand to watch everyone wolf down food knowing that I can't?** Does anyone have insights/tips to share?

My suggestions: 1) Eat lots of protein 2) Take biotin (I take 2500 mg) 3) Take a once a day vitamin (in case u have a deficency)

I'm so sorry for your loss, I hope you feel better soon Just curious, did you lose this weight post surgery?

Ah those annoying extenders. I am this close to needing one (whenever i fly i have to extend my seatbelt to the max) but thank g-d i'm having surgery this week and hopefully this will be the last thing on my mind the next time I fly

Y'know, I am also wondering this. I'm especially curious as to why my doc put me on a two week pre-op atkins diet when EVERYONE else here seems to only be allowed liquids for 2 weeks?? Also, he has NO problem with carbonation. He warns of hideous belching, and to only drink diet, but says its OK. Everyone else on here is told to run from soda like the plague. It made me very wary of my doc, but i just keep reminding myself to trust him... It sure is strange though!

Woohooo!!! SO glad to hear!!! Just curious, what weight did you start out? Do you work out a lot? (I really wanna replicate your success!!)