artzygirl

I was banded last wed. All went well. I wanted to post sooner, but I've been sooooo tired since the surgery. Today was my first day up and around for very long. I actually did some driving, I have been losing a pound a day since banding. I start the "looks like baby food stage" tomorrow. Anyone have any good ideas or recipies for that stage? I'm so glad everyone is doing well. I'm really glad I did this. Actually, what I'm really thinking is (I can't believe what I just did!)

Carol, Thanks for your supportive post on the other thread. You said something about relaxing tonight? I may need to take a double dose of my xanax tonight. lol.

Hi Michelle, My surgery is tomorrow, and I feel just like you. I really hoping for great success, but I've done so bad in the past. Positive thoughts. Good luck in Mexico.

I'm being banded tomorrow too. I am excited, but also so nervous. I'm a little nervous about the surgery, but mostly I'm thinking and worring about how I will feel after surgery. I hope I will be able to do well with all the diet stuff. I just having normal pre-surgery worries I'm sure. Good luck and Gods Blessings on everyone getting banded soon, and to those of you who already started their new life!:clap2:

My surgery is this week. I just have two last fears left to deal with. I think it's mostly because my surgery is so close. I just need some reassurance. My first one is about a normal diet after the lap band. What kind of food will I be giving up. And if I do have to give up certian foods, is it forever? My doctor told me I would be able to eat anything as long as I can chew it well enough. It that true? My other question is about P.Bing. I FEAR throwing up. What does a P.B. feel like? Is it more that just coughing up flem when you are sick? Is it scary? My doctor told me that since I am so worried about it I won't let myself B.P. I will go into surgery feeling a lot better if I just felt better about these two issues. Also, I've only lost 8 lbs on the liquid diet so far. It that normal? I was hoping to lose more.

Insubordination and Mmcbelle, Thank you for your responses. I have been reading them over and over again because they are so helpful. It really helps alot hearing what others have gone though and how they have handled it. I think that because the surgery is less than 2 weeks away, my fears are getting stronger. I'm starting to wish this was over already. I have been trying to lose weight for the past three months to try to get ready for surgery, and I'm in the liquid pre-op diet now. I feel a lot of pressure to make sure I have a loss every week. I'm sick of protien shakes, and I am wanting real food. Please tell me this gets easier! Also, Mmcbelle, thank you for telling me I'm not a big baby. I think that was the best thing I could hear right now. And Insubordination, thank you for reminding me that we have already been through the hard part by just living in our overweight bodies for so long. That reminded me that I need to keep looking at the positives and not the negatives. Just a little about me and my wieght - I started dieting at 433 lbs. I would like to weigh between 230 and 200. I hope that's possible

I haven't posted here for a while, but my surgery is coming up and I am starting to get a little scared. I know the surgery will go fine. I'm just a little scared about what's on the other side. What if this does not work for me? What if I don't know when to stop eating? What if I P.b. all the time? What if I can't keep anything down? Will I miss food? Will my urge to eat really go away after a few bits? Can I sleep in any position? I know I sound like a big baby. I don't usually sound like this. I know I'm ready for the surgery. I just don't like the unknown. Have any of you had the same fears? How has it turned out for you? I am excited about my up-coming surgery and the life change I am about to make, but a part of me is freaking out!

Karen, yeah, I do feel better, except for my:sick I have at the moment. Going to the support group helped, but mostly just making my mind up (again) and having great support. Also, I lost 4 pounds this week. That always helps. I'm not even scared of the surgery anymore. The thing that worries me most right now is the p.bing. I really hope I don't do that much. Oh well, It's always something, right? How's everything with you?

Kelly, I did go to the support group last night. It was my first one with just all banders. The people there were very supportive, and I'm glad I went. There were a few scary stories, but even with that everyone seamed glad they did it. You'll have to come next month. Do you have a surgery date?

Kelly, I'm in Bakersfield too! I am having my surgery with Dr. Irani. I'm pretty sure there is a support group tonight at the downtown Mercy hosipital. I think it starts at 5:30. I've been trying to call today to find out for sure, but they have not been answering. The number is 661-663-6764. I'm planning on going. If I don't hear back, I am still going to go because I am pretty sure about the date and time. I'll be the one with the six year old boy. ( I don't have a sitter) Hope to see (meet)you there!:eek:

Please add me to the list. Oct. 24!!! Thanks

Karen, thanks for the advise. You are very supportive. Are you sure you weren't a cheer leader in a past life? lol How are you doing with your pre-op diet? Is your surgery the 29th of Oct.?

My lap-band date is Oct. 24. I am starting my liquid diet today. I was supposed to be banded Sept. 18. It turned out I needed gall bladder surgery just a few days before. When the doctor took my gall bladder, he said that I needed to lose more weight first. I'm really scared because I've only lost a pound and a half so far.:omg: I have lost 51 lbs of fat, and gained some muscle though. I've only lost 19 altogether. I was supposed to lose 40 - 50. I have been wanting to come on this thread for a while, but I've been too worried about my doctor changing the date. Then I decided to post anyway, because I'm thinking that any support would be great.:car:

Hi! It's me again. I just went to my doctor yesterday. It was my first time seeing him since my gall bladder surgery a week and a half ago. I told him that I am gong to stick with the band. I spent this week week doing a lot of praying, soul searching and asking for a lot of advise. I just can't bring myself to the point where I'm alright with the bypass. I feel so good about my decision. He said that I would difinity lose 100 lbs., but the rest would take a lot of work on my part. I want to lose 200 lbs., but I would be happy with 150 -170. The doctor says I can have my lap band around the end of October. He wants to to lose 20 lbs. before then. Thanks for all the support, and advise.

Here's my story. I started my lab-band journey three months ago. I've been approved, and I've had all my tests. My lap-band surgery was supposed to be Sept. 18. Well, during the tests, I found out I had gall stones. I had gall bladder surgery last week. At this point I had been on a liquid diet to perpare for the lap-band for about a week and a half. After the gall badder surgery, the doctor told my family that I should have a grastric bypass instead. He also told them that my liver was still too big and that I would have to lose more weight before I can have any surgery. I saw the diet person today to try to get help about losing weight fast. She also told me that I should have the bypass, and so did the staff at the place I weigh in. They all have said the bypass would be better for me because you have to stay on a diet for the rest of your life with a lap-band. I'm wondering if they think I am a bad dieter, and that I would not lose wieght with the band. They also keep telling me how much faster I will lose weight with the bypass. They also told me most people who have had the lap-band are not happy. Is this true? Now I'm wondering what I should do. My heart was set on the lap-band untill this week. I'm not taking this lightly. I have thought about doing something about my weight for a few years. I just want to make the right choice. From what I've seen on this website most people who have had the lap band are happy. Does anyone know where the disconnect might be between my doctors and the people on this site? Thank you for reading, and any help you can give would be great.:help::help::help:

Wow! Thank you for your responses. I saw my doctor today, and I told him that I am going to stick with the band. I did a lot of praying, soul searching, and advise seeking this week. But in the end, I just had to go with what I feel more confortable with. It's funny, but I usually spend a lot of time on the computer reading the posts on this site. It really gives me alot of encouragement. But this week I kinda stayed away to clear my head, so I could make the choice that is right for me. The past two weeks have been really hard. I was 6 days away from getting my band, and then forced to rethink the whole thing. As you can see from my ticker, I have a lot to lose. The doctor told me that I well definitly lose 100 lbs., but the rest will take a lot of work from me. He also told me the normal weight loss if 50 - 60%. I hope I do a little better than that. Well, thanks again for responding to my plea for help. The advise I got really hepled me alot!!!

Thank you guys so much for the support. I realy feel like I need it right now. This has just been a really hard week. I posted my concers on the pre/post op questions board to get even more advise and support. I'm thinking that I may seek out another doctor here in town just to get another opinion. There are only 2 doctors in town that do weight loss surgery. I'm just thinking that might mean I'll have to start all over again when I am already so close. Do I sound like a big baby or what? I hate feeling this way. :think I was so sure of myself a week ago. Karen, I feel kinda bad. This thread is supposed to be a support for you, and here I am getting support from you!!!!

Thank you everyone who has replied so far. It's great to hear about people doing well with the band. Like I said in my last post, I was supposed to have the band by now, and I felt really let down that I had to go back and lose more weight. I have been sure that the band was the right choice for me. It's just really scaring me that everyone I come in contact with who has to do with this surgery is telling me to do the bypass. There was a lapband support group last week. I couldn't go because of my other surgery. The "experts" told me that everyone was very unhappy with the band because they were not losing weight. They said their was only one happy person there. I want to be one of those happy people! I am going to see my doctor this next Tuesday. It will be the first time seeing him since the gall bladder surgery. Any suggestions???

hi Karen, You must have a great sense of humor! Well, I just saw the diet person today, and she was really trying to talk me into getting the gastric bypass. My doctor wants me to get the bypass, and so do the nurses where I weigh in every week. I knew all along that I did not want the bypass, but everyone keeps telling me that it's the way I should go. They were saying that you always have to be on a diet with the band, and the weight comes off really slow. Also, I think that they are telling me this because I have only lost 19 lbs in 3 months. I was supposed to lose 40-50. I guess they think that I'm not a good dieter. I may decide to get the bypass. I will have to do more research. What to do...What to do. :car: Well, anyway, that's what's going on with me. How about you?

Karen, Thanks for the support. Your post really made me laugh. Well, maybe we will be band partners after all!! That would be fun. We could compair notes. I went back to work today, and I got a lot of support. I just hope I can lose the weight that the doctor wants me to. Note to self - - keep a good attitude!!

Wow, I miss a few days, and look how this thread has grown! :biggrin1: Thank you for thinking of me the day I had my gallbladder surgery. The surgery normally takes 45 min., but It took an hour and a half for me because of my weight. But, everything went well. I was really scared going into surgery. I had never had surgery before. In fact I was so scared that the doctor told my family I maybe too emotional to have the lap-band surgery. Having the first surgery took most of my fear of the second surgery away. I think the doctor is jumping to conclusions. He has no business making judgements after knowing me such a short time. He also told my famiily that my liver is still too enlarged to do the lap-band on the 18th of Sept. He said I need to lose more weight. This was not what I was expecting to hear minutes after coming out of surgery. I was thinking the doctor would be telling me how good I did and that my liver was looking great. After all I had been on the liquid diet for nearly two weeks. I was so close, and now I feel like I'm starting all over again. I would have got back to my computer sooner, but I've been feeling kinda sad. Also, I have a wound right under my rib cage that still kinda hurts. Sorry if I sound too depressing. I think I do have a good attitude. I will see my doctor Sept. 25. At that time he will tell me how much more weight I have to lose, and select another surgery date.

I won't know how much more wieght I have to lose untill I see the doctor Sept. 25. I weigh 416lbs and I am 6" tall. My bmi is 56. I was told two months ago when I first started this process that I would need to lose 40 - 50 lbs. I hoping I won't have to lose more than 20 - 30 more since I've lost 17 already. That may take me another two months. I'll let you know what he says.

gurlygirl and poohlvr, thank you for your support. I feel like I was so close to getting a new start, and now I have to wait. I guess it is in my best interest to wait untill my liver gets smaller. I was just so sad when I woke up from the gall badder surgery, I was sure my doctor was going to tell me that my liver looked great. Instead, I hear that my liver is too big and I will have to lose more wieght. I've lost 17 lbs so far. This was a big mental set back for me, But I think I'm ready to get back on that horse and keep trying.

Well, I guess I'm not a September Bandster anymore. I just Had gall bladder surgery 2 days ago, and the doctor said my liver is very enlarged! I was so disappointed to hear this. I had been on a liquid diet for nearly two weeks. So anyway, I won't get a new band date untill Sept. 25. I feel like I'm starting all over again!:think

I just found this thread. My surgery date is Sept. 18. I was supposed to lose 30-50 lbs. (in 2 months I might add) and I've only lost 17. I just saw the doctor today. He said to come back and weigh in on the 14th, and then he will decide if he wants to keep the date or not. It's so hard to wait! Also, I have to have my galbadder out in the 12th. I'm sure this will all be worth it, right?