Evilah

I once long ago posted in the off topic area at another website about a hotly debated topic in the news, and in the presidential elections. I was new to the board, and didn't realize how young (teens) everyone was, and how politically aligned. There were only two people who agreed with me, and everyone else resorted to directly insulting anyone who didn't agree with them. It was really ridiculous, and reading through other off topic posts gave me a clear idea about the general nature of the site, average age of the users, level of education, etc. I left, didn't post again, and chose to find another community that would "fit" me better. And I did, and it was great! Just saying, that as someone new to a board, I read through the off topic areas to see how the site is managed, how people interact. It helps you to know whether or not that community is one you would like to be a part of.

bwahahahahahahahahahaha Just in case anyone thought they'd run the OLD litterbox through the old dishwasher. bwahahahahahha.

when I was skinny I could lick my elbow. and so can my sister. evilah

Did wearing supportive underwear/shorts/tanks/bras/leggings help your skin shrink back?

Merr, You're on Dr. Oh's diet? What's the pre-op diet exactly? 3 protein shakes a day with 30g protein in each? Or 3 thirty gram shakes a day? (plus clear liquids) Evilah

i pray my marriage will be okay. I have a tendency towards mania when I lose weight, and I love my husband and I think he'd have to beat me to get rid of me LOL! I don't want to hurt him and he's the best thing that ever happened to me. Plus I was ~70 lbs thinner when we met/got married, so I hope it will be sort of like turning back the clock when I lose weight (no skinny-shock for him) Evilah

good for you! I am worried about keeping tabs on my band after surgery, and plan to have it checked out periodcially to make sure it's okay. I haven't quite gotten to the diagnostic approach I'll need to look for yet, but I'm keeping ultrasound and upper GI in mind, as I don't want to do barium swallows or anything else involving radiation. Evilah

In contrast, another study O'Brien and colleagues presented at the obesity meeting found that pregnancy outcomes for women with stomach bands were comparable to normal-weight women, and better than for obese women without bands.

your doctor is going OUT of network? That's new, how does that happen?

I did alot of faxing to get the insurance process moving. I can't believe I'm still out in July. I was sure I was going to be done in June. The coordinator "broke the news" to me yesterday. I had my intake in April and at the seminar I was told the surgery for insurance is 6 weeks out from intake including insurance approvals, etc. I gathered and submitted my weight history myself and repeatedly called my insurance and still I am 3 months out from intake for surgery. That's TWICE the amount of time... I'm so glad everything is coming together for you! I'm nervous and excited and I don't know what to eat. My problem is that I go up and down with my weight. I know how to lose weight, I just don't know how not to gain it during stressful times. That's like the story of my life, gain during stressful times, lose during peaceful times. Summers are usually when I lose weight and I normally I would be on a huge diet/excercise adventure right now, but I'm confused and I don't know if I should have my last go with food, see how much I can lose before the surgery, load up on Vitamins and good stuff so I can heal... I don't know! I am excercising and taking vitamins to keep my body healthy so I can heal. Currently fighting some nasty allergies! How are you? Evilah

lauren! YAY! That's awesome. How long have you been waiting? Evilah (I started deciding I wanted to go this route in february after swearing to lose weight in June of last year, and I lost 27, gained back 15, so here I am.)

just because the band is overpriced, DOES NOT mean the band surgery isn't good. that's nuts. just go buy inamed stock and get some dividends.

trying out my signature

Dr. Oh, Hirai, or Srikanth patients, please come and post here!!!

Thanks tracy, I'm trying to keep myself together until the surgery date. If you bump it, they will come. lol! evilah

wow, I'm nervous about surgery and it helps to hear people saying that they would do it again even someone who had complications! evilah

Does anyone else know they are having surgery in July?

I've been really frustrated with my cpap, and I hope to just quit using it entirely after I've lost 75-100. I did not like having a sleep study, and I would only do it again if I suspected I still had sleep apnea after significant weight loss. evilah

mimin, do you plan to have anymore plastic surgery? evilah

a friend drank tons of soy milk while she was pregnant and her son was born with a malformed penis (the hole was on the side) and he had to have surgery to correct it. Her son's doctor asked her if she consumed alot of soy, and told her that soy estrogens cause that type of malformation in baby boys.

omg! MIMIN, you've lost almost 100 lbs. in about 8 months? that's wild. evilah

ho god! I went to the dentist today and my mouth is still sore. Bleck. It intensifies my fear of surgery. Best wishes to everyone having surgery this week! I didn't go to the seminar tonight because i was feeling cruddy-- I had a mercury filling removed/replaced and I feel weird. I'm wondering if I breathed or swallowed a little too much alloy. The support group next Monday at St. Joshep-- are you guys going? Even if you just had surgery? Evilah

Do some more research, I think most of the people who do the lap band and are successful with it do exhaustive research before hand about the risks, the expected outcome, the commitment on their part to diet and restriction. It's a huge step and depending on where you live, there should be several good doctors in 2 hours driving distance. Just postpone it and keep doing research in the meantime-- this site is a great resource for info. Take your time, be wary, learn as much as you can, Evilah

suzzie, I go for my pre-op endoscopy, and maybe labs too (if insurance paperwork is there by then) on friday the 18th!!! I hope to get my surgery date then too! evilah

Hi, I'm 160 pounds overweight and I'm getting banded as soon as insurance pre-approval is granted. (Pretty sure it won't be a problem since I qualify and have good insurance) I'm scared about surgery but I've just been getting fatter and fatter for 10 years!!! It takes all of my attention to lose weight. I can't think about anything else ever, I was taught bad eating habits as a child, and I'm predisposed to being overweight. The bottomline is I don't have time to obsess about food every minute of every day, telling myself not to eat. I just eat healthy food, when I'm hungry, until I'm full then continue about my business. I need something to stop me like 1/3 of the way through the meal, and keep me from eating until the next one. Every met a severaly obese salad eater? That's me. Evilah PS. Ultimate Meal rocks as a liquid complete Meal Replacement. I've been researching before surgery so I can have something decnet to drink for 2 months. (Doc is really strict about long term liquid diet before returning to mushed foods)