Sazparella

Some women are just so vicious, especially in the office environment! There is absolutely no need for that kind of child like behaviour. We can only assume she's insecure about how she looks, and is jealous about your progress!! Keep your head held high until the finish line when you can wipe the floor with her catty remarks and gossiping! I'm not going to tell anyone else. I've requested holiday leave from work, although part of me thinks I'm being stupid and should take it as sick leave as I don't get much time off to myself on holiday as it is! I guess I have the option of providing our HR department with a sick note but it's tricky as I would like the reason to remain hidden from everyone to avoid gossip and bitching. Oh for a life where we can just click our fingers and everything is magically fixed. Talking of work, I'm off to bed! Ho hum Nah night everyone xxx

Woah there!!! Thank you How did you find that? I've been looking for hours... I obviously need to improve my researching skills!

Thanks DaybyDayBaby - that's some determination and strength you have there It makes sense to keep assessing where you're up to before rushing into something life changing. I'm going to call my co-ordinator tomorrow and I think I'm going to delay by a month just to sort my head space out, as well as get rid of this 7 week long cold and throat infection The stress is making me get really run down. GP told me to go on holiday - not a bad idea! I'll ask my brother to look through some lapband information once he's calmed down through the week. I agree with you all. I don't think men understand these issues as much as women because their bodies are built to make it a lot easier for them to lose weight naturally, whereas ladies are meant to bear children and layer fat!! It's so infuriating!!! Maybe the men (dads, brothers, friends etc) in our lives are just so closed minded to think that we're just doing this to attract other men? Never thinking that we can't bare to look at ourselves in the mirror without crying. Chris - How dare your neighbour tell her boyfriend!!! Where does it end? Who does he go on to tell after that? Why does she think you're doing this? This is exactly why I've only told my mum and brother, and only because I need my brother to take me to surgery and mum is next of kin. I'm trying to look for support networks in Liverpool but no luck so far

Thanks Cazzy I don't doubt that I can't lose weight without this band, and that I'll still be in this dark bubble in 30 years time saying the same old thing only with more regrets. I want to look forward to being healthy, having no headaches, lessening my depression and becoming more socially confident. This can only happen if I lose weight. The first thing he shouted at me was "you'll be on Soup all your life" so I guess it's just lack of education about the band. My co-ordinator isn't the best and hasn't gave me any info on post-op diets tbh so I've just had to do some self-research in a kind of blind panic! That is what I'm most scared about at the moment. I've heard about difficulties with rice which is scary because I live on it with being a vegetarian, but I'll have to deal with it! Thank you so much for your calming words Cazzy xx

Hi DaybyDayBaby All of my extended family have had or currently have weight issues, it seems to run through the family. My mum is very obese, more so than I am and also has multiple illnesses with it which scares me to death! She's in denial about her weight though and won't do anything to help herself. My brother has struggled to lose and maintain his weight since his teens. He's kept an average weight for a few years now. I've paid for the surgery after saving really hard for this. I know I'm determined enough. I'm sure our families care about us, but maybe they've spent so much time watching us all become fat that they associate food and chubbiness with love and health?! I don't understand it because at my size I feel unloved and far from healthy! Do you mind me asking how long you delayed for?

Hiya Niki and waitingpatiently Psych evals aren't compulsory in the UK. I think a person has got to shout about wanting to do themselves harm before they become concerned, and that's probably just to cover the surgeon's back in case they get sued! I wish it was compulsory like in the US. Just some sort of independent advice and counsel is all that is needed instead of marketing type phone calls There's just a lot going on in my head and my weight is only 1/4 of it! I so desperately want to start my weight loss journey off any way I can, but I again have doubts put in to my head again. I know my family love me and they're worried but at the same time, they should worry that I'm so overweight! This weight is lethal and in no way am I happy! It's no life to live. Sorry to be so depressing PCOS is a terror isn't it? Destroys so many lives whether it cause obesity, infertility, excess hair, depression etc. If someone doesn't have it, then they don't understand it. I haven't met a single compassionate doctor yet about PCOS! It's comforting to see so many ladies on the forums going through the same thing, so that we can share experiences and help each other through the tough times. I think I may reschedule initially for a few weeks to get a few more doctor's and my own counselor's opinions at least. Sarah xx

I'm on the verge of calling my co-ordinator to cancel, no matter if I lose my money or not. I've been up and down so many times since scheduling, nearly cancelling off my own back because of nerves a while back. Now my brother thinks I'm being too extreme and that I'm not mentally stable enough to be able to make such a big decision. I agree with him that we should all undergo some sort of psychological testing before the op even if depression isn't disclosed. I personally did a full disclosure of my depression, counseling and medication but nothing was brought up about me needing to be assessed... I feel slightly let down in that area. He doesn't understand certain other aspects of why I need this though, like the physical and emotional struggle that I've endured for 16 years and the PCOS is acting against me. He wants me to just give the diet and exercise one more go under his supervision I just don't know what is right for me anymore with getting dragged from one side to the other I feel so out of control with other stresses in my life as well and I'm just begging for some light right now

I've basically been given this milk and yoghurt diet sheet which doesn't seem healthy to be having over two weeks... I know, who am I to be questioning a doctor?!! I keep hearing people mentioning Protein shakes, but I have absolutely no idea what these are or where I can buy them! Well done both on the weight loss! Good luck for the op waitingpatiently!

Which pre-op diet have you all decided to go for? I'm finding it really difficult to choose a liver-shrinking diet and starting to worry I won't be ready for surgery on 29th March... I know I'm being irrational!! I've managed to lose 6lbs on a restrictive diet with loads of exercise but I need something more specific for pre-op now... please HELP!

Thank you all so much for your encouragement, it's definitely what I need right now. I've promised myself not to make any decisions about surgery until after the weekend. I'm going out with a friend tonight to have a meal and to go the cinema. Hopefully this will cheer me up a little and take my mind off things for a bit I was talking to my GP (local general doctor) today and she was saying that she witnesses more complications from patients having surgery, rather than actual benefits, and that I should try diet and exercise (AGAIN!!) It's that same old line every time, almost as if they're trained to say it. I've tried medication, diet and exercise with no success for half my life. This is my only option but I'm so scared of the future with the band. I'm trying to take in what you are all saying about the beneficial changes it will make to our lives, but I just can't get past the fact that this band will be with me for decades, and no one can honestly predict how it will affect me personally. I guess I'm scared of the unknown, like everyone. I need to find foods that I can live with eating in the future instead of rice and Pasta. I feel stupid talking about my reliance on food like this, but when you're a vegetarian, you have to be careful that you aren't cutting your food supply off completely. Maybe I'm so panicked that I can't see a way through this properly. I haven't told any family yet either, so I guess that is stressing me out too. I just know my mum in particular is going to talk me out of it. My mum was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes which is scaring me to death. She, like me, is very overweight and suffers with arthritis, severe asthma, depression etc etc. My biggest fear is ending up like her if I don't sort my weight out. I feel as though I'm on a merry-go-round of emotions at the moment. I'm really sorry for complaining. I'm sure you're all going through your own problems leading up to surgery! Sue - I would love nothing more than to travel to the US and catch up with you to see your band results thank you so much for your kind comment it really has cheered me up to know you're going through similar issues to me (including the breakdown of your relationship!!)

I've had a really bad few days. I just don't know if I can do this and I've been on the verge of calling up to cancel surgery. I have no doubt that this will benefit my life Healthwise, but will I be more miserable than I am now because my social life will be suffocated by not being able to go for drinks/meals with family and friends? I fear as well that I won't be able to cope on eating only certain foods. I'm a vegetarian, and I read it's difficult to eat rice and Pasta, basically my two staple foods right there! I just really don't know what to do

That must take a lot of will power, bornready!

Lovely idea Ginger! Wish you all the best of success x

It's a little reassuring to hear I'm not the only one who craves weighing herself every morning! It's a bad habit and we should learn to break it, in my opinion. It can't be good for morale when the pointer turns upwards

Hi All I weighed myself today, two days before my set weekly weigh day. It posed some questions though... How do you know when you're becoming obsessed with the scales? How often should we actually weigh up? What day and time do you find best to use the scales? I'm going to stick to weighing up every Wednesday first thing of a morning before work. I don't want to become an emotional roller coaster by weighing myself everyday, then getting disappointed by fluctuations. It'd be interesting to hear your comments. Saz x

Where do you get those Protein shakes? At a general supermarket or healthstore? What do you think your most scared of about the lap band?

I feel completely the same iriegirl! And I doubt we're the only ones... I unintentionally keep people watching and imagine myself as a healthy size just like all the beautiful ladies I see walk past. Your op is one day after mine. Feels so far away but it's not. Have you started your pre-op diet yet? Saz xx

It's strange isn't it. Until I joined this forum I hadn't heard of another lady with PCOS and I've lived with it for 12 years (I'm 28 now). Did you find that doctors were unhelpful? Everytime I queried my weight they just said exercise and diet (the usual) which is so frustrating as it's like catch 22. It's really difficult losing weight with PCOS, but then PCOS causes you to be overweight! Anyways hopefully this cycle will stop going round in circles for us shortly! xx

Hello band buddies! What are these shakes you're all talking about? Are they pre-made store bought? I'm just wondering whether I could get something similar in England... Hi Curtysgirl Thanks for your post-op advice I hope your wounds heal shortly and you can kick start your weight loss journey xx

Oh definitely... breathing space is much needed otherwise you'll become obsessed with the band. I took my family to the zoo yesterday so there's my exercise Hope you enjoyed your shopping! I guess stress is inevitable with the lead up to surgery. You didn't want anything or anyone getting in the way on Friday, and now you have the right decision from the surgeon so you can take a break and just wait for the pre-op diet Enjoy your meal tomorrow!

Well done to those ladies who've been banded and had weight loss To me any weight loss whether it's 3 or 30 lbs is major! Tamara - try not to beat yourself up! Remember it's only been 4 days and you may even be retaining Water. Give it two weeks then see what it is you can change about what you're doing. *hugs* I've also got PCOS so I guess we're PCOS buddies too haha I could diet relentlessly and go the gym 6 days a week yet still not lose anything. The band is pretty much my last hope - probably like you ladies! Good luck to everyone!

Why not! I'm getting banded on 29th March in the UK. How about you? Have u started your pre-op diet? I've got started on mine a little early just because I'm nervous that I won't have shrunk my liver enough or I won't have lost the required 8 lbs that my surgeon wants. Sarah xx

Hi Everyone I've started my pre-op diet today as well. I have surgery on 29th March but I want to make sure I'm as prepared as possible! My diet is food based rather than liquids... example: Breakfast = 2 weetabix with skimmed milk (using semi at the mo but will gradually work it down) snack = 2 plums lunch = 6 ryvitas, 2 laughing cow light cheese spread, salad snack = apple or orange dinner = Quorn "chicken" fillet, new potatoes and vegetables Does this sound right to any pre-op UK banders? I get concerned when I hear people saying they're on liquids already! Good luck shrinking our livers!

Thanks for this Chris It reassures me further that I've made the right decision to stay in the UK not only because all of our health concerns are investigated in advance of surgery, but it also takes the further stress out of surgery and travel for fills/checks ups etc. Needed this the past few days xx

Ooooooooh I see you've lost another 3lb!! You're on fire, even without the band! That is a lot of things to go through before surgery, but I guess it's for your own good to prepare you for the future! I wish I could live in USA, I just adore all of the different accents (and sun)! My aim is to lose enough weight so that I am proud to have my photo taken and then book a holiday to USA We'll all be supermodels in our amateur photos I'm now in the Springer Group xx