steph_co

I didn't even think of that! LOL It should be the same for me, too. That is a really cool thought - thanks for bringing it up. I can sit and obsess all day about the things that'll be different as I get smaller. I love thinking about it!

I wondered the same thing, but looking at all the dates on the most recent posts, I'm going to have to say no. LOL The board is also now running really slow for me. :car:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f11/considering-dr-kirshenbaum-26213/

I plan to get back into it soon. If not before the band, then as soon as I can pick up that kind of exercise after the surgery. I did it last year before starting my night job and LOVED it. It made me feel great and I had tremendous success. Unlike other exercise, I didn't feel like I had to FORCE myself to do it - I actually enjoyed it. And I liked being able to do a 15-min workout if I didn't have much time. In a month of doing it, I lost 22 inches all over my body (the nutritionist at the Dr's office was impressed with that). I'll attach links to my before and after pics (I don't want them imbedded in this post and have to see that everytime I open this thing). PICTURES REMOVED FOR PRIVACY'S SAKE I know it seriously looks like I'm just holding my gut in for the second pics, but I wasn't...that's how dramatic the change can be. And you can't say I sucked anything in for the picture of my back. LOL I just know what works for me and T-Tapp will be the first good habit I pick up after the band. I want to see those results as quickly as I can! :whoo:

I'm sorry, but alcoholism is nothing like being obese. Yes, food can be an addiction, but like you said - you HAVE to eat to survive. You could go your whole life and never have a drink and be just fine. The biggest thing I heard from my surgeon at the patient seminar that really pushed me in the direction of getting the band was that something like 98% of people over a certain weight that try diet and exercise will gain the weight back and then some. One thing I've noticed about A LOT of people that are unsupportive about this kind of thing is that they are actually afraid. Afraid of whatever their biggest problem may be with it. For some, it might be that their spouse could die or get sick from the procedure. He might be afraid that you'll change...like maybe you won't love him as much once you get skinny. He might be afraid if he has heard all the stats on divorce rates amongst patients after bariatric surgery. Has he done any research on the procedure himself? Have him watch one of the live procedures in the FAQ section on here. Show him some of the literature. If necessary, have him talk to your surgeon's office with any questions he might have. He might just be embarrassed to admit he's afraid. If it's the other stuff, then maybe spend more time with him. Plan a date night. Write him a letter letting him know how much you love him (like maybe a list of the reasons you fell in love with him). Seriously - people are unsupportive because they're afraid. I wouldn't say that he's doing it because he doesn't care - it's probably because he DOES care, he just doesn't understand some part of the equation. I hope things can get worked out.

Uvula. You could probably help it to heal faster if you gargle with salt water.

I know I've read on here from people that you shouldn't lie down for awhile (an hour? 2 hours?) after eating. I can't remember the exact amount of time. But I'd guess that's the problem - you're lying down too soon after eating. I'm just going off of what I've read here. Never really researched it. Maybe somebody else will see this that is more knowledgeable than me.

LOL! DH has had to pass stones before. He actually ended up at the ER because he almost passed out from the pain (and he's the type to pretend he's not feeling anything). I'm sorry to hear about your kidney stone, Saint Luvr. I haven't had to deal with that, but just from watching DH, I hurt for you.

I wondered about this, myself. I asked in the "at goal" forum and didn't get much response. I guess I worded it wrong. LOL Anyhow - I worry that people who knew me when I lived in Utah will be kind of snobby about it. DH is my closest friend here, so that doesn't really matter here. He's fully supportive and plans to lose some weight along with me. I don't plan on telling anybody in my family other than *maybe* my mother. My siblings I could see doing the tight-lipped disapproval. I'd rather not deal with it. My mother told me when I was in my teens that if I ever wanted to do plastic surgery, she supported me to do whatever it took for me to be happy with myself (no - she wasn't hinting, she just had seen people ostracized by their own families - she was very open about things like that). I'm a pretty hardcore homebody, so I guess I don't have to worry too much about the people I hang out with rejecting me. It's more the people I grew up with that knew me chubbier than I will end up that I wonder how they'll react when they see me.

I go in for a nutrition class on Nov 6th and they'll be giving me the parameters for the liquid diet at that time...to start the next day, I would assume. So it'll be like a 9-day liquid diet.

She asked about any mental health issues (depression) and any acting out, compulsive behavior, etc. She asked me about my support system (which is mainly my husband). Asked me if I had any history of eating disorders. Asked about my expectations for the band. Asked about my fears/reservations with the band. Asked me to name some non-destructive coping mechanisms and my homework is to find more. I didn't have to take a test. But she gave me several handouts. One that can help me differentiate between head hunger and real hunger, one with a list of things I can do instead of eat... I can't remember what else. But it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was just honest and I have a good handle on things, so it went smoothly and I got a thumbs up for the surgery from her.

I can hardly wait to be able to say that. Congratulations on the good work!

Thanks. I'll have to look around for it - I have never seen it here (western slope of Colorado).

I'm trying to figure out the protein water thing. I've heard others mention it. What brand, exactly, is it? I couldn't find anything. I thought maybe Propel, but it didn't have any protein listed in it.

Thank you, ladies. This is what I needed to hear. One day at a time, I guess. I appreciate the responses. Thank you!

I thought once I got my financing approved and my surgery date set that I would be SO excited. I can't help being a little nervous. The thing is, though, I'm not worried about the surgery - I know it's going to go great. I know I can succeed on the band, stick to it and exercise and that I'll end up looking awesome in a swimsuit. What I'm worried about is leaving behind this comfort zone. That's exactly what it is. I can eat when I'm sad, I can eat when I'm worried, I can eat when I'm bored. After the band, I get to change all that. In addition, I conveniently use my weight to keep from having to engage in life too much (major introvert). Too much of my life has revolved around food. Now I have to find new things to do with my time, new things to think about and plan for, etc. I am already starting down that path. I have a therapist lined up for afterwards/during to deal with the emotional issues that are tied to the eating. I fantasize about what I'll look like in a certain outfit (I know what my adult body looks like skinny - I was a size 8 in my senior year of HS). When my sweetheart and I were out grocery shopping for some last-minute food that I plan to say goodbye to, I found a page-a-day calendar that teaches origami (314 different ones). I figured that's at least ONE thing I can do when I'm bored and looking for something to keep my hands busy. My social worker at the psych consult told me to find new coping mechanisms and I'm taking that seriously by keeping an eye out. So I KNOW I can do this. I have every faith in myself. The band is something I have considered and looked in to for about a year. I know it's the path for me. I think it's the fact that I realize how PERMANENT this is as opposed to all the diets and exercise in the past. I'm preparing to say goodbye to the fat suit that has been my comfort for too many years. Please tell me I'm not the only crazy person that is scared of the success!?

I'll be paying $10,850. Doctor: $3,300; Medical center: $7,000; Anesthesiologist: $550. I think it's a dang good deal based on everything I'm seeing around these boards!

As long as you meet the criteria of being over 40 BMI or being 35-40 BMI with co-morbidities (diabetes, arthralgia, acid reflux, infertility, etc), you can qualify for the band and go straight to a doc that does it. I don't even have a primary care provider. Technically, nobody can MAKE you do anything. But smoking is really hard on the healing of your pouch/lapband, so it would probably be STRONGLY recommended that you quit to get the best results. As to if they'll decline to do the surgery unless you quit, I don't know for sure. YES, you can get pregnant on the Lap Band. When I went for my psych consult the social worker asked me to consider getting on some kind of birth control because as I get smaller, it could get easier to get pregnant (unexplained infertility for 4 1/2 years and one miscarriage). If you DO get pregnant, they can monitor the amount of nutrients in your blood and your OB can determine whether or not it'll be necessary to unfill your band to get more. I've read people on here that didn't need an unfill at all and had a perfectly healthy pregnancy, didn't gain very much, and lost the weight pretty quickly afterwards. I look forward to this benefit. :clap2:

I was nervous about this portion, too. I had read people online saying that they had been denied because of depression. I was worried if I was honest about it, I would be, too. But I have a good handle on it and I have realistic expectations for the band. Even if you might have emotional problems (I haven't run into many overweight people that don't), if you are well-adjusted, you should be okay. She just recommended to me that I start seeing a therapist for unrelated issues (which was already a pre-req that I set for MYSELF to be sure that I succeed), but she gave me a thumbs-up to get the band. Know what your limitations are, be honest, make sure you have a good support system (mine happens to be my husband).

That has to be the most graphic, disturbing and INFORMATIVE description I've heard given of a PB/sliming. I didn't know how to describe it to the nutritionist when I went to my consult, but now I can when I go back for my nutrition class. LOL Seriously, thank you. It's good to know what CAN happen, and now that I have that image burned into my brain, I'll remember it every time I go to take a bite and I'll be thinking, "chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew..." LOL I'm seriously not being a smartass - this was interesting.

So excited! Got my surgery date: November 15th. I added Cynthia, too. 1st PattyPoo Nessa3678 brandymom1234 Mom_of_Chuy 2nd lindata lizzie_07 KristinaDawnB lindseyann2u 5th DLW Forest Cat Hungryforchange 6th ndmom 7th Goldie1109 susieq125 shadst83 MyLady 8th anw5102 Cota129 needto 9th Banded4Life neen7171 maccy mariaxoxo4u 10th Selisejohnson omlagirl jen6740 12th jrsyshoregrl684 suebob 13th vanessav Princessannod1 CCFRA 14th dream'n2bthin 15th steph_cn 19th Mrs Smartypants 27th 731Shawty Julie-Ann 28th lukin 29th Sassafras

I've posted here and there. I keep coming up with questions, but always seem to find the answer where you guys have already talked about it. The board is VERY informative and has helped me to make my decision. I have my consult on Thursday. Since the surgeon is 2.5 - 3 hours away from our house we're going to stay overnight at a hotel out there. I'm excited! Every once in awhile I get nervous, but the excitement by far outweighs it. I'll be self pay (no insurance...self-employed). The surgery will be $10,800 to include the anesthesiologist and 3 months of aftercare. I know a lot of people have been to Kirshenbaum, but I went to a seminar of Dr Brown's and I really like him. I think it's important to be comfortable with your surgeon (the thought of somebody poking holes in my stomach, KWIM?). I didn't look any further once I was sure of Dr Brown. I know I have to go through the whole approval to get the procedure done, but I see it going through relatively easily. I have a BMI of 37 with several weight-related health problems (although nothing severe like diabetes). I've read bits and pieces of what people went through during their consult, but I'd love if any of you would post here so I know what I'm getting in to. I've already started buying items on the shopping list. Can you tell I'm excited!? LOL I've lurked more than posted, so most don't know me, but I'll say there are several here that I respect and look up to and I thank you for sharing your journey.

I haven't read the whole thread, but probably will, now. Just responding real quick. I'm 27 and I don't see it as giving up. I see it as seizing the moment NOW instead of waiting until I'm in my 40s and regret the time I wasted (I'm not saying that anybody that waited until that age to do this wasted anything - it would be wasted time in MY life) because of everything I missed out on. I stand outside my own life a lot and hold back because of my weight. I want to claim back my life NOW and in mental preparation, I have already begun doing that. I know it's a psychological change that has to happen now rather than after the weight loss - but I'm so ready for the lap band that for some reason my view on life is already shifting.

OK...prepare to be crazier than I already am after I get banded. Check.

I can pretty much relate with everything in this thread. It'll be nice to feel normal and I can REALLY agree with the getting pregnant comment - it's been 4 1/2 years and only one miscarriage to show for it. And miscarriages/trouble getting pregnant does NOT run in my family at all (they're SKINNY, though).