Rascal76

Thanks everyone... I really appreciate you taking the time to write to me! This is such a huge step... Although I might like the faster results of the bypass I don't like the risk and I definitely don't like the idea of being vitamin defficient for the rest of my life!

Thanks everyone... Those are the exact reasons I chose the band! I mentioned those concerns and was told basically I was a surgeons dream for either surgery... young, very healthy, able to exercise, etc. Then he said with the band I would expect in a year you would get down to maybe 165 (which usually thrills me to death), but a year later with a bypass I could be 135... I said I was in middle school when I weighed that! It was like dangling a cookie in my face... like do it, do it, you know you want to, you know you like it! Ugh! Then I asked about complications and he said with the bypass the complications are up front and basically if you make it out of surgery you will be fine... but with the band the complications come later, slippage, port problems, infections, esophagus (sp?) problems,etc. Now as I mentioned I have been coming on here for quite some time and it seems like the problems are really minimal in comparison. Ugh! This is so frustrating... I wish I was never in the room with all those people for hours... they all said they eat what they want, they don't experience dumping syndrome,etc. I wow really surprised by their reactions.

You are right... I wondered the same thing... I asked about children because I don't have any yet and they said with some extra vitamins the baby will take what it needs and that I should be just fine. I think the office is pro bypass...I don't know that they really have a lot of what they consider "successful" bandsters... The main reason I think they told me to side with the bypass is that I like sweets and they think if I have a rough day or am feeling depressed I will eat around my band... therefore not seeing the results.

:redface:Hello everyone, I have been on here for a few months really preparing me for surgery... My surgery is Monday - I can't tell you how happy I was to finally get a date! So Friday I went to see my surgeon to sign the consent form... and I was waiting for a really long time in the waiting room... I was surrounded by gastric bypass patients... they were just thrilled with their sugery... everyone was soo happy and had lost tons of weight with what seemed to be great ease! Long story short when I finally got checked in... I started to question my procedure and the nutrionist chimed in as did the surgeon and told me that they really think I would do fine with either surgery, but overall with my diet the bypass would be the best option for me... I am soo confused.... I was so set on the band and now I'm in limbo... Please weigh in with your comments... I need some guidance... Shannon

Hello, I met with my surgeon last week who said he just switched over to the Realize band and he loves it! Said it was easy for him to put in, also mentioned the benefits listed above and raved about the Realize website for support! I can't wait... 12 days to go until surgery! Good Luck Everyone! Shannon

Hi everyone! I'm in... getting the realize band May 19th! Can't wait... 14 days to go!:wink2:

Hello Everyone! Please add me for May 19th! Shannon

Thanks everyone for the well wishes! To answer your question as to who the "approved" is... It's the insurance company. Shannon

Hello Everyone, I am sooo excited! I finally have a surgery date! I will officially be a bandster on May 19th! Anyone with me on that day? I will be having surgery at Lowell General Hospital, in Lowell, MA. with Dr. Jiser.... I am also getting the realize band which I'm happy about! So keep your fingers crossed! The countdown is on! :biggrin2: This site has been so helpful and so great in answering all of my questions... I really feel like I'm going into this as well informed as possible! I know after surgery I will look to it even more! I thank you all for your posts and pm's along the way! Smiles, Shannon

Good morning, I am so excited... I feel like I want to shout it off the roof tops! I have a date, I have a date! LOL May 19th at Lowell General Hospital, in Lowell, MA... Dr. M. Jiser. Getting the realize band! The countdown is on! I'm thrilled to be a part of this group! How is everyone doing? Smiles, Shannon

I have been contacted and told that my case was submitted to my insurance company for approval! I am sooo excited! Seems like it has taken forever to get to this point! Now everyone please please please send happy thoughts and wishes for a quick turn around! If I hear back early enough this week I will have surgery May 5th... if later in the week then I'm looking at May 12th (The surgeon only does lap band on Monday)... Ugh.. the torture continues... I'm ready now! Waiting for my official date! Shannon

Hello, I totally agree! I'm not much of a May Flower.... but Love the name shrinko de mayos! It's fun and energetic!

Hi Coco, I had to lose weight too... and I did very well with the following diet from my nutritionist... Saw results immediately... She focussed on a lot of Protein 65-105 grams a day... and I don't cook much so she gave me super easy things to eat... Here goes: Breakfast: Two hard boiled eggs (or eggs of any kind) Fresh Fruit Snack: String cheese Lunch: Lean Cuisine the new chicken Flatbread one is delicious and a small salad Snack: 100 Calorie pack (my choice) The new carrot cake ones are good and actually have 2 or 3 grams of protein Dinner: Body Fortress Protein shake - Buy it all Walmart $13.00 for a huge container... I like the vanilla but chocolate is good too. I mix the Vanilla with a cup of Simply Smart Milk, ice cubes, a sprinkle of cinnamon and thow it in my Magic Bullet and it's a nice, super creamy shake! If I am still hungry or feel like something I can have another 100 calorie pack of my choice. Don't forget to drink tons of water! When I did this I lost around a quarter pound to a half pound a day! Good Luck! Shannon

Thank you everyone for your kind words... I'm starting to feel a little better and yes tonight I am definitely only having a shake for dinner and taking my dog for an extra long walk! Thanks again! Shannon

Hello, Just feel like I need to post something to vent a little frustration with myself! I know and have known for a few weeks that in order for me to get surgery I need to lose 5% of my body weight... I easily lost most of the weight except for two pounds... two pounds you say no big deal, well you know what... it's turning out to be a huge pain in the ass! I knew last Friday that I had to lose it and I have lost 2lbs a hundred times in a hundred different ways really really quick.... For some reason this time the scale goes down and I think I'm in the clear - I can eat that and of course it's back up the next day... So I did pretty good this week and the scale has moved down and for some reason this afternoon at work I got myself worked up thinking I really wanted chocolate! Big mistake! Idiot! My appointment is now less than 24 hours away and I have just devoured an entire medium size Lindt chocolate (hollow) bunny! Tell me what I am thinking? Why would I do this to myself when I know for sure that I have been wanting this for almost a year now??? Why would I let myself do something so ridiculous? I will be crushed if tomorrow the scale isn't down! Ugh... feel like crying... how can I be so dumb?