NanaRenan

I'm heading off to the shower...have to be at the hospital at 5:30 AM. I hope I leave with MORE than my "weekly I.V. and shot of heparin"~ A couple of people have contact info, so if I'm not home tomorrow, they can update for me. Hugs everybody!!!

Yes, after telling the director of the hospital that he NEVER wanted to be scheduled with that anesthesiologist again, my doctor is bringing in someone he works well with as well as a respiratory specialist to do the intubation.

MMS, I'm sorry this has you so down. But fight it down to the last appeal. That's what we did. We were told "No!" FOUR times. We were on our last appeal and the lady at my surgeon's office requested that the insurance company have someone who specializes in bariatric surgery look at my file. The answer came back in 7 days "APPROVED!" I'd all but given up, convinced it would be another NO and we'd have to find an alternative way to do it.

Kacee....just between me and you, I like shoulder pads, too. Maybe not as gargantuan as in the 80's, but they've always been a staple of finely tailored clothes. And especially important for the really overweight woman, who can tend to get really round-shouldered.

Thanks, BJean. I appreciate the support. And all my kiddoes CAN be sweet!!!

They told me to expect a night or two in the hospital. That's all I know to go by. And my hubby is SO not a forum type guy -- he could mount an expedition up Everest more readily than he could follow instructs to get here. How about I PM you with his cell # -- you can call him or text message him tomorrow evening??? If the Houston Police answer his phone, you'll know the surgery didn't happen, cause he's prewarned the kids how to get their hands on bail money if this surgery does NOT happen AGAIN!!! It's funny/sweet -- cause he's such a mellow, laid-back, diplomatic kind of guy. But he's SO sick of seeing all the hassle I've had to go through just to get approved, and then two surgery dates come and go with nothing but tears and sobbing. **sigh** just shows how sick he gets seeing me suffer. Pam<----off to PM that info

OMG, tismepatti -- I've been a crack(er)-head this week, too! I did good -- no cheating -- before my first trip to the hospital. Alas, no surgery. Then I had to wait another 5 days -- only a tiny, consolation cheat. But after my second trip to the hospital produced NO SURGERY, I had to have food that required CHEWING. I've been struggling to get back on the straight and narrow, but the saltines have been taunting me from their tightly sealed little sleeves!!! Isn't it weird the things you can fixate on when you're so limited in your choices?? Lets hope that tomorrow I get more than my weekly I.V. and heparin shot! I want a band!! #&%^@(:angry

My "sugar" addiction includes many 'savory' items that just turn to sugar in your body -- Pasta, rice and potatoes, primarily. But, like a true addiction, the more I eat, the more I crave. If I were to bring home a case of Coke -- my personal black-tar heroin! -- I'd drink one today, three tomorrow and by the end of the week I'd be polishing off a six pack before lunch!! Therefore, certain things just can't be in the house! But still, I can at times get so 'sugar' addicted that I have to 'go Atkins' on myself for 3 or 4 days just to break the cycle. Virtually nothing but Protein until I've beaten back the Beast one more time.

Ah, there are more!! Complimented a lovely, elegant older woman at my church one day: "I just love that suit you're wearing." She sharply replied, "Thank you, lose some weight and I might let you borrow it." ____________________________________________________ Went to visit a new doctor because we'd just moved and I needed my Rx's transferred. The only thing bothering me that day was my feet and legs were slightly swollen from being on my feet for days moving in and unpacking. This tiny, little man -- MAYBE 5 foot tall, 120 lbs: looks like he'd been on a hunger strike with Ghandi!!! -- walks in, pokes me in the leg and says, "So why you eat the butter and the gravy and the may-Oh-nnaise?" Before I can pick my chin up off the floor and even begin to formulate a response he starts to rattle off a diet: "3 oz. white chicken, boiled or broiled, one cup of steamed broccoli, etc., etc." Like I walked into his office that day NOT KNOWING I was fat! _____________________________________________ After reading an article on thyroid issues, I asked another doctor about checking mine, he sighed, tossed me file on the counter and said, "Lady, every fat woman in America thinks she's got a thyroid problem." Well, thank you for that reality check!! _____________________________________________ Daughter got mad at her Daddy once -- we were on vacation and I was in a pair of shorts, he said, "You know, Honey, your legs are really great!" She said it sounded like a condemnation of the REST of me. But it didn't bother me -- it's true, I am built like an orange with 4 pretzels sticking out.

I've always taught my children: "SMALL" people belittle others to make themselves feel bigger. And I also tell them, "The only thing you can REALLY do about people like that is DON'T BE ONE OF THEM!" Here are a few of my own experiences: Walking into the mall one hot summer day, I noticed a gaggle of teen girls -- obviously waiting for a mom in a minivan to collect them. I was vaguely aware they were singing, but my mind was on returning an item. A few minutes later, errand complete, I walk past them again and no longer distracted it dawned on me they were singing the Jenny Craig jingle. I glanced around and YEP -- I was the only person in the parking lot, so the seranade was just for ME. I got in my car and drove off, shaking my head and such youthful arrongance and seriously praying for forgiveness if I was EVER hateful to anyone over their weight back in the day when I was then. About then it hit me what I needed to do. I pulled U-ey and went back into the parking lot. Unfortunately, their ride had come and they were gone. But I was planning to hop out, grab the obvious ring-leafer by the collar and say, "You know, you'd better be careful what you say or do, because you just might be looking at your future, cause I know I was no where NEAR as fat as you when "I" was 15!" Prolly a good thing they were gone, I would've likely ended up in jail!

A few years back I lost about 50 lbs. I tho't I'd be smart AND THRIFTY and wear my 'fat clothes' until I reached my goal. And then I saw a photo of myself and ditched them all. OMG -- I was so sloppy looking! (Actually, I prayed for them to be a blessing to someone in need. A friend from church approached me about giving them to a co-worker. I did and she was thrilled to get them.) ennywayz... I've already extracted promises from my two daughters and a couple of close friends -- the MINUTE they notice me looking sloppy, it's time to pack off the old stuff and TAKE ME SHOPPING!!

I keep hearing about the gas pains afterward. I tho't they were something particular to Lap-Banding, but the pre-op nurse told me that it's just from the laparscopic surgery. This will be my FOURTH laprascopic procedure (hysterectomy in 1990, gall bladder in 1992 and hernia repair 2006) and I've never experienced any sort of gas pains that I'm aware of or remember. Do ya think I'll escape it this time, too??

Gayle!! I'm thrilled for you! Truly! I'm not banded yet, but even at 300+ lbs I have a huge apron, from my four pregnancies! (Foolish me, thought once 'stretched' it was good for as many runs as you wanted to give it -- no, I 'stretched' more and more each time!) I fear it'll be to my knees by the time I near my goal weight! And you've made me somewhat optimistic that the insurance might pay for it!! I just assumed "No Way, Jose", since we've had to fight so hard to get them to pay for the banding!! Hope you can share some pictures soon!

I do thank you! Pam<-----off to order that book PRONTO!

Prayers and best wishes for the best possible outcome, Alexandra!!! We look forward to hearing a good report!

Prayers and best wishes, Miss Nilsa! Let us hear from you as soon as you're able.

I get sick of the sweet flavors of Protein shakes REALLY quickly. I bought nearly tasteless 100$ ANY whey Protein powder and add it to Soups, broths, grits (Hey, I'm from La. and grits are served with salt and butter!!), etc. I've been on it for 2 weeks and 2 days and I've lost 14 lbs.

Hey, Tammy...or anybody...? What's the name of that book and where might I get one? And is it helpful?

Thanks, Karen. I'm being banded Tuesday and can get myself in a panic reading some of the scary posts here. I'm glad for every good thing I read. Somebody remind me to post when things are going well!!

I found my HAT picture!!!

Thanks! I appreciate the support. I'm having it done at Vista Medical Center in Pasadena, TX.

It's probably been 12-15 years ago, but I subscribed to a magazine called BBW (Big Beautiful Women) that was supposed to be like any other women's magazine minus the skinny models and articles urging you to always be on a diet. I bought into the whole "fat acceptance" hoopla. Then I started getting a TON of junk mail -- ALL of it weight-loss oriented. I could by cases of grapefruit, or this pill or this machine, etc., etc. ALL of them had gotten my name from BBW because it was misspelled in the same obvious manner! I was furious and sent them a box FULL of all these lame DIET offers and insisted they cancel my subscription immediately. They did, but I never got a refund! Bloody hypocrites!

This thread reminds me -- did anyone see that show "I Can't Believe I Wore That"....? I recorded the 70's, 80's and 90's episodes (don't know if there are more or not!) So far I've only watched the one from the 70's. Man, we wore some ugly junk!!!!

I've never been able to join in when women are on men-bashing rants. I realized a long time ago that Mike on his WORST day is better than a lot of husbands on their BEST day, so I've got no complaints. I told him this morning that I'd read a lot of posts on here about infidelity and such following banding and weight-loss. We find it puzzling to say the least, but both agreed that if we see even a HINT of a problem, we're going for counseling. We both know we have something special and don't ever want to take it for granted or jeopardize it. We've already planned out a weekend get away for every 20 lbs lost!! :kiss2:<hubba :kiss2: hubba> :kiss2:

Oh Sweetie!! It may be 'ridiculous', but it seems like it would be next to impossible to NOT think about it! First of all -- that's a LOT of loss you've endured. Every time we lose someone, we come face to face with our OWN mortality. That alone is enough to make one a little shaky. I think it would benefit you to talk to someone professional about it. Just being aware of it and taking it out could save you a lot of private anguish. And get checked regularly. My mother had Alzheimer's and I panic every time I forget something. She was also legally blind due to macular degeneration , so I panic if my eyes get blurry. It's human nature, I think, to react to such things. Most importantly, she died from strokes brought on by her diabetes which was brought on by her obesity -- so I am being banded because I don't want to follow that path.