Blund

Yeah, it kinda looks like one! Thats how I described it to the one friend I told about my surgery. She made some comment later about "dieting the right way" without something "foreign" in my body." I don't think she meant anything by it, although I know she is not exactly "rallying" behind me. You've lost 31 lbs already!! Wow!

Hi I start my pre-op diet today. Mine isn't as strict as some I've seen. Pretty much just eating light drinking Protein drinks and one smallish meal per day. I do have certain amounts of protein & callories to follow, but I can eat as many veggies as I want. I went shopping yesterday and SF Jello and pudding were on sale, so I bought a bunch. I also bought the low fat cottage cheese & yogurt & sliced cheese. I'll have to hide it from my kids who are cheese freaks like me! I did buy them regular yogurt and cheddar cheese to distract them! I haven't told them about my surgery, but I think I might have to now. At least to the 2 older ones (7 & 9yrs) so they understand why they need to stay out of "my" food! I'm getting excited and starting to think about having a "zip tie" and tube in my belly. Its been hard NOT to buy clothes I find on sale out of habbit. I have to stop myself and say "pretty soon, I won't be able to wear that anyway cuz it will be too BIG." I've only bought a couple of pair of cheap sweat pants for the recovery period. I'm rambeling on......but I only have here to do it!

Cool, Jacqui! I was hoping so. It felt full and kind of uncomfortable. Its strange. For years I've been wondering how I could get that same feeling again without being pregnant! I would gain LOTS of weight after delivering and during breast-feeding. I was searching the web, and found out about the band, and then that TV commercial with the lady and the lion being her hunger came on. (A Lap Band advertisement.) It was like a sign to me.....thats what I've been looking for!

These are some great posts, guys. I'm in the "jitters" stage too...wondering how it will be. Kinda like having my first baby - the "great unknown" thing!! My problem is also portion control. I eat pretty sensibly, just too much. I had stomach issues during my pregnancies where I couldn't eat much without feeling full. I actually lost 15 - 20 lbs DURING pregnancy! I think this may be a simular feeling I'll get with the band. I'm also hoping that any pb's or sliming will be a deterrent from me eating improperly. But, I am still wondering how I'll deal with "head hunger" and the whole lifestyle change. Again the great unknown! From what I've been reading here, I know the band is a tool and I will still have to make a sincere effort at this. PS I have NEVER eaten canned chicken!!

Yes, I know about the finance charges tricks. I used to work in lending. Thanks :puke:

Chrisann, LOL at your Pres response! That was great! It will be an interesting social experiment once my weight starts coming off. I'm a stay at home mom, so I no longer have the office interaction, but boy do I remember it!

What I don't get, is why I've lost 9 lbs for no reason?!

Take pictures and/or video, call the school, call the cops. I don't know your neighborhood, but I've lived in the good, the bad, and the ugly. Sometimes the retrobution is not worth it. If the little shits are behaving that way AND doing in front of adults, chances are they aren't being "parented" in the first place! We moved away from a place where the "gang bangers" kids were riding the bus with our kids! Yikes!

It's almost April! Counting down the days. I'm glad to have a place to come and whine during my pre-op diet! :teeth_smile: It starts April 10th.

Yes, the 0% credit cards are looking like the way to go. Most of the "medical" loan places have to be affiliated with my surgeon. There are a lot of cc's at 0% intor rate. Am. X has one for up to 15 or 18 months.

OMG! Two of the toilet seats in our house broke, and one at my in-laws that we visit weekly. WTF?? Humiliating!

Great poll! I'm also in that pre-surgery 'what if' stage. Hope to see more poll results.

amsderb. OMG! Youre a librarian too?? What are the chances. Well, you are probably familiar with the stereotypical personality traits! Even if you dont fit them. (I hope!) I'm embarassed now. :0

My Mom. Well its really too much to explain. Lets just say we've had our difficulties. And the fact that she was a librarian for many years may shed some light!! The weight isn't her fault, but she does admit to teaching us kids to overeat. Of course we were sticks back then. She doesn't know about the surgery. I've only told my DH and 1 friend. Not sure how she'd react. Probably critically as usual. It does seem like forever, but its better than the waiting for this and that as in the last several months. At least there is an end in sight. We're taking a trip over spring break, so that will help the time pass. I'm really getting excited too! Good Luck.

Thanks Nana. I see those hand-held deals at the thrift stores all the time. I'll have to check them out now. I just spent a chunk of money on 2 nice scales - 1 digital nutritional for the kitchen, and a digital bath scale. Gettin' ready for the ride!!!!!!!

I've been surfing the web for a loan to pay the approx $5,000 co-payment I will have. We have excellent credit, and would like to find a zero interest 12+ month loan. I had this kind of financing for my lasik eye surgery a few years ago. My surgeon's office doesn't offer anything. Any ideas?

Is an "immersible" one of those hand-held deals? I have a blender now with a drink cup attachment for single servings. I also have a small food processor.

...ummmm....ouch

Congrats on your date! I start my pre-op diet on April 10th, which is my Mom's birthday! Kind of appropriate in a warped sort of way!

Having been through a family suicide, the lap band scape goat theory really fits. IF that's the case. Sounds like you have your head on straight about it though. As time goes by, maybe they'll chill.

Sorry for your loss and lack of information. If your family believes it was band related, then you have a right to know details, don't you? If there's a Dr patient confidentiallity issue, perhaps your surgeon or PCP could contact her Dr and get the information. At least your Dr would be informed, in case there was a problem with her band, which would only be fair to him too. Good luck.

I take meds for depression. Tried to go off them a couple of times in the last 10 years, but ended up back on them. Please be honest with your Dr. There isn't much of that stigma with depression meds anymore. Losing weight and stress can cause all kinds of havok with the chemicals in your body. Nature really stuck it to women with our hormones and all! Estrogen is stored in our fat, so when we lose the fat, the estrogen blasts through us! I did a sleep study too as part of my ammunition for insurance approval. I have sleep apnea, not severe, but I was only getting about 3 - 6 or 7 minute chunks of REM sleep a night! Since getting my CPAP machine, I feel SOOOOOOOOO much better. That may help you too. Again, make sure you ask for help from your PCP. Good Luck.

I'm not part of an actual "trial" but am part of a study on bariatric surgery for 5 years I think. I have to fill out a questioniere for them once a year. Its either by Michigan State University, or University of Michigan. There is nothing different about my overall care. The nurse said they are researching what protocall works best. Hopefully, this will be beneficial for future insurance approvals.

I might email my friend an informative link. We've been friends since 3rd grade when I was a stick & she was chubby. Both of our weights have gone up and down over the years, and now we're both overweight again, and have been for a while. I'm going to keep doing my research (mostly on the "head hunger" issue) and not bring it up to her again unless I have to. Like I said, she's not UNsupportive, just worried, I think.

Its not really a negative response, but my good friend keeps giving me the "are you sure you want to do this?" She's overweight too, and keeps suggesting the things I've already tried like food logs, excercise schedules, etc. I believe she'll be supportive, and just doesn't know much about the band. DH is like "lets go!"