Bandista

Congratulations! And best wishes for a relaxing few days to recover. Very exciting to begin this new chapter -- I can't wait to be there myself.

Hi there and welcome. I have been doing the same, collecting all the information I can. This is a good place to do that. The hospital where I plan to be banded recommended a forum hosted by the manufacturers of the band. I went and had a peek but predictably enough it is very slick, appears to be written by professionals. I like this site, which is very real. People share their ups and downs, worries and successes.

Congratulations!

Hi Margie -- I am pre-band also and in same weight range, BMI, etc. This site has been SO helpful for me to really understand what it's all about. I've been on here for a couple of months as I await dates for the various pre-surgical steps. That has been a slow process but in a way I think it's good as I've been able to learn a lot here. Good luck with your decision. I am choosing band because it's least invasive and reversible. Best wishes and say hi to Ginger. Love that Farside comic strip with "What Dogs Here" and blah, blah, Ginger.....do you know that one?

Best wishes for speedy recovery; I am pre-band and learning so much here. Thanks for posting!

Thanks so much -- I am really trying to nail this BMI thing down. I want to lose weight in advance of the surgery but not in advance of the official weigh-in. Guess that will be answered on the 21st, not long from now really. Meanwhile, congratulations on your tremendous success! You are doing so well -- it is very, very encouraging. Best wishes!

Last night I attended a mandatory information session at the local hospital where I plan to have my surgery. These are held only every two months (rural area) and I missed June, so I've really been waiting for this first step. I turned in my forms and got a phone call today to meet with the Program Coordinator. That date is 8/21, so another little wait. I'm hoping things are going to go quickly as my insurance company has only one restriction: BMI must be 40 minimum. I just called once again to verify this. Co-morbidities such as high BP and sleep apnea, which I have, can sometimes qualify a lower BMI, but this can only be addressed through appeal. I don't want to take that chance, so I'm keeping chubby until that first weigh-in. The absurdity of this is not lost on me. I am plenty fat, believe me (5' 6" -- hovering in the 240's but must be right at 250 to qualify). So, 240 not fat enough for something -- can I hear a big guffaw, please? Next step is the Psych evaluation, then Dietician, then the Surgeon. Apparently there is a second meeting with the Dietician a few weeks prior to the surgery to address the pre-surgery diet. They use the HMR 800 liquid diet. I would prefer to do a juice fast as that's something I'm very familiar with (probably one of the ways I gave my body the message to store up for a famine). Anyway, I'm very excited to have some kind of course plotted at last. Can't wait to be on the other side, the banded one!

Hi Tracy, welcome! I am pre-band, still waiting for a date and getting so much information and support here. Thanks for chiming in. I suffer from insomnia and know how difficult that can be. I use the time to focus on breathing and sometimes that puts me out again. Good luck!

Hi there, congratulations on the under two hundred -- you have worked hard for that! The other night I went to an info session at the place where I hope to be banded soon and one of the topics addressed was how sometimes people have an assigned role (like as the overweight person) and others become nervous when that person steps out of their role by getting healthy and losing a lot of weight. It can be as simple as, "will she still love me?" Whatever it is, keep yourself safe. I am trying to think of what to say when the inevitable comments begin. I hate to be discussed even if it's well-meant and I don't want very many people to know. I know i am overcomplicating things in my head and way in advance, too -- sort of banking anxiety. Very grateful for this community of people who really do understand the array of feelings.

Congratulations! Health and happiness coming your way........ Good luck with the surgery and recovery. I can't wait to get there myself. Keep us posted!

Wishing you a speedy recovery and congratulations on this big step. Keep us posted -- I am (hopefully) right behind you, still awaiting a date. Best wishes!

You can do this!

Congratulations and thanks so much for posting -- so helpful to know what others are going through as I try to get prepared.

Here's to a wonderful new beginning! Congratulations!

Hi there, I am considered low BMI (pardon me while I go into minor hysterics as this just seems so ridiculous -- how can this fat not be fat enough?!). I have high BP and sleep apnea on record but also will be weighing in a little heavier than usual as I have been overdoing it. I may also put D-cell batteries in my pocket that day just to be sure (apparently they are heavy). Don't tell. Today is my first session -- the mandatory meeting which kicks e eery thing off. We live in the boonies so this only takes place every other month and I missed June. Very eager to get things started and one of my first questions is how the weight is reported to the insurance company and when. I want that approval then I want to drop weight in advance of the surgery is possible. I have Harvard United Healthcare, I'm 5'6" and now hovering around 250. Will get the formal number soon and start that on my profile. Good luck to you!

Yippee! So encouraging to hear this -- thanks so much for sharing. Enjoy those good choices and your healthier-every-day body and new clothes to top it all off! I can't wait to be there myself and love reading these posts.

Hi there, I'm not familiar with WLS in the UK but thought i would chime in anyway to say welcome. I am new as well, pre-band and gathering data as I wait for a date. I have gotten so much good info here and there are some very supportive people who will answer questions and offer encouragement. It's been very helpful for me to hear other people's stories and to better understand some of the band technicalities.

I am pre-band so don't have any real input except that I've been reading up all I can and making lists for when the time comes. Several people have mentioned a corset. My husband had back surgery through the front and that corset was his best friend for a while while he was healing up inside. Wonder if that might help.......

Congratulations -- you're on your way! I am right behind you (I think) -- attending mandatory info session this week and then I'll know more about the timefame. October will be here before you know it, and lots to do between now and then. Best wishes!

I'm pre-band 5'6" and in the 250 range -- my goal is a healthy body and I guess I will know when I get there. I wrote myself a letter to be opened when I'm at 150, which may be a good goal weight for me.

Best wishes for a smooth recovery -- and congratulations on this big step!

Congratulations!

Hi there, I'm going to my mandatory seminar on August 6th -- let the wheels start turning at last! Our local hospital has these sessions every two months and I missed the one for June, so I am feeling really ready to get started. The extra time has been good for me to learn so much from reading posts here -- many thanks to all who are able to share information and HOPE!

Thinking of you, and relating to S-T-R-E-S-S and hoping things are calming down for you -- the breathing, drinking water and feeling it on the throat sometimes really helps me. There's a trick of taking a moment to really notice everything -- what's going on inside and out, the sounds, the thoughts that may be all over the place, the temperature, noise, jangled nerves -- all of it. And then equalizing it. Pretty soon I find myself noticing other things, like the sound of the breeze I was missing, my own breath, sometimes a kind of between-the-lines sweetness that is running there along with all the other stuff. The act of just taking a moment to inventory really helps me a lot. Good luck to you!

Hi there, I'm a newbie, too -- not as far along in the process as you but geting there and think it's all going to start happening quickly beginning next week (mandatory info session). Thanks for posting -- it's nice to meet you!