BanTam

My sincere thanks for all of your supportive messages. I appreciate them and I am feeling better now.

Turns out it didn't matter what either of us wanted, the doctors office told me that to have the surgery at the hospital with my complications would be about $3,000 more than we original planned. So the surgery is out of the question for now.

I am going to try to stick to my post-op diet because I've done pretty well and have lost 14 pounds. I've also told my husband he is my new trainer; he's in excellent shape.

BUT if this is another one of my (many) failed attempts to diet, my husband and I talked and I will try to have the surgery again next year.

This is a really great bunch of people, you know ?? I know that neither the decision to have the surgery or the lifestyle change is easy. Good luck and prayers to everyone on their new life !

My myspace page is myspace.com/anonamoose

I'm really bummed. My surgery was cancelled because the anesthesiologist was surprised to hear that I needed "awake intibation" although I made it quite known whenever I spoke to the surgeons office and the surgery center.

My husband has also fallen off my "fan wagon" and is not very supportive of me going through with the surgery. Have I mentioned that my husband has like 5% body fat and has no idea what it feels like to be fat ??? ..or that we just celebrated our 26 anniversay ?

The surgeon rescheduled it for Wednesday at noon but I just can't have surgery w/o the full support of my husband. It really hurts me and I just don't know how to handle either situation. Most likely I will not have the surgery.

I'm still a little chicken, but I think we will all be just fine !

God Bless everyone.

I'm getting the Realize Band on Monday. The main reason I wanted that particular band is because the port is much flatter. :laugh:

My doctor really likes the website after care part.

GNC sells a cup with a lid and a ball wisk at the bottom. It mixes up Protein shakes quick and smooth. I think they are about $10.

...cramadan...interesting smileys.....!

I'm excited and a little nervous. But finally I feel like everything is going to be okay.

My surgery is at 2:45cst. I'm getting the Realize Band.

There are many of us getting banded on Monday. Did you put your name on the list ? It's under the June Line Up thread.

What time is your surgery ?

I loooove this recipe:

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1/16 tsp pepper

1/16 tsp salt

2 cloves garlic, crushed (about 1 1/2 tsp)

2 tsp sugar free honey (I get it at Walmart)

1 tsp Trappey's Bull Louisiana Hot Sauce (similar to tobasco sauce)

Place all in a jar and SHAKE!

Don't drown your salad because a little bit goes a long way.

If you like the sweet/hot flavors...I also mix some of the tobasco hot sauce w/the sugar free honey and I use it as a dip for my chicken.

If you all have never had Tilapia Loins, they are the best! Tilapia filets seem fishy compared to the loins. In Texas I buy them at HEB. I put the frozen loins under the broiler with a sprinkle of lemon pepper, then a squeeze of lime when it comes out. It only takes about 15 minutes from frozen.

I have also used a fat free Miracle Whip mixed with sugar free pickle relish to make a tarter sauce.

I wonder if those of us who have had surgery before (any major surgery) if we are more anxious than those who have never had surgery ?

We have a Memorial Day function to go to tomorrow and it is expected that I bring my Texas Sheet Cake...not this time. I love our friends but I have to put myself first this time. This time they get Betty Crocker Brownie Mix ! ...but I'll throw some walnuts in there, too!! It's still going to be a little tough. :biggrin:

Another Texan here, just a bit east of Austin, out in the sticks. I work for a law enforcement agency and have been there for nearly 17 years...all I can say is my early retirement date is 10/31/2014 (..find my happy place..find my happy place).

Married for nearly 26 years, no kids...cancer "survivor" which is reason for no kids. I say survivor but mine was caught very early and was cured with the hysterectomy.

I have been struggling with my weight for over 20 years. My employer has weight loss surgery specifically excluded, so I am a self-pay.

The possibilities of being able to move again w/o a fat gut getting in the way excites me....but ummm, I'm scared.:cursing:

It may have been mentioned earlier, but I use fitday.com

I really like how I can create a "library" of my own custom foods.

My self-pay price quote from Southwest Bariatrics in Austin, Texas is $15,000 plus there could be miscellaneous fees depending on what insurance have. That includes all follow-ups/fills for one year. They give no discount for self-pay clients.

My insurance does not cover the surgery but I can utilize my Employee Assistance Program for the pysch eval, and I can have my regular doctor perform the physical and blood work (because I need a physical for this year anyway). My exercise eval is $60 and I think my nutrition consult is $150.

I called another place (I think a "lapband chain store" type) and they also quoted me $15,000 but first they asked in what town would I have the surgery. I asked if it would be cheaper to have it done in Houston and there was a loooooong pause and she very slowly said nooooooooo. :thumbdown: ...sure.

My doc's office called with a June 2nd date! I missed the call on Friday but you bet I'll be calling first thing on Monday with a HELL YES!

It's all moving so fast! I mean, I just had my consult this week. I kinda want to let out a girl scream, but I AM a girl, so YAAAAAAAAAH!

...okay, I feel better.:thumbdown:

Now that's the kinda story I like !

My big worry is conscious intibation. I have sleep apnea and five years ago when I had an abdominal hysterectomy I had to have the breathing tube shoved down my throat while I was still awake. NOT a pleasant experience despite the banana flavored numbing agent...and yes, I remember everything including the feeling that I was choking to death.

My consult is on the 13th and if everything goes well surgery should be the middle of June.

....ooow...I need to go shake off that memory now ! :frown:

Jet Blue has larger seats, too. I know they had some problems last year about long wait times on the runway, but when we flew it was almost comfortable and AND I got to watch TV !

Just wanted to pass the word about what happened to my sister last month.

My sister was visiting me at the beginning of March. She flew with her just turned 5 year old child.

Yes, my sister is also overweight, but her child is a little string-bean.

As my sister is waiting in the "boarding with children" line when a Southwest Airlines employee comes up and asks her if she is comfortable flying. My sister says, yeeeeessss..... not sure where he was going with his comments. Then he started to ask if she was comfortable in the seats, yeeeeessssss......then it dawns on her. He is specifically asking her this because she is fat and he confirmed it by then asking her if when she is sitting in the seat can she put the arm rests down because the law states she must fly with the arm rests down. She was livid, but what could she do? Yell at the guy in front of her child ? All she could say was that she was flying with her small child and there would not be a problem. She was near tears.

Mind you, the Southwest Airlines employee did this in front of EVERYONE. If Southwest Airlines has a problem with overweight people buying tickets from them, then they should say so at the time of purchase ! My sister found it very humiliating.

I've had Blue Marlin that was really mild.

Also, if you have not tried the Tiliapia loins, not filets, you will find them even better!

I pop Tilipia loins under the broiler while they are still frozen, for about 12 minutes, sprinkled with lemon pepper half way through. I have also pan seared them with a tiny amount of oil and served with a sauce of lime juice, garlic and cilantro on the side. :redface:

I haven't been to the BL message board in a while, anyone here ever go ? They changed the format a couple of years ago and made it a lot less fun.

Find yourself another doctor and send your current one a postcard of a bEach. Maybe she'll get the hint. :thumbup:

Good for you for being strong enough to realize there are a lot of good choices out there and she ain't it !

My co-worker has been watching the show and she also said his techiques are working for her.

What I don't get is when he asks someone what their level of craving is for a certain food on a scale of 1-10...the people always give him a high number. Then he has them poke at their face, sing a little song and then he asks them again and suddenly they no longer crave poptarts, or whatever....is that scientific or the power of suggestion ?

I dunno...can I just take my fork and poke my face as I'm eating the poptart ??? Just wondering.....:purplebananna:

I've been getting a lot of great info from the sight which have made my decisions much MUCH easier.

It is very encouraging to find a forum for other people like me.

I'm not yet banded but my loan has gone through so now I just have to make the appointment and get the process started. Doctors love it when you don't have to go through an insurance company...too bad they don't offer discounts !! :tt1:

You have to go on a liquid program before the Lap Band? I am so scared of this surgery.

I'm not yet banded but in my research I have read where some doctors want their patients to go on a liquid diet to shink the liver. A smaller liver makes it easier for the doctor to perform his task.

Low profile port ??? Wonderful ! I had no idea. Right when I think I've done research -BAM- someone gives me some great new info.

Thank you.

I did consider Mx, but I decided it wasn't right for me. I wanted the same surgeon to do the follow-ups too.

Is it true that the doctors here charge out the wazzu for fills if you have it done in Mx ? My follow-ups are free for the first year and since I'm self paying the surgeon said he would limit my cost for revision, if needed.

I like the idea of having the port more under the right breast, that's the small side anyway...girls you know what I mean. I too have a smaller waist than rear so maybe that would work better.

The scars I don't care about. I don't have a gall bladder scar but I do have an 8 inch verticle slice from my belly button downwards from my hysterectomy. My scars usually heal over well although if in a few years I need a Tummy Tuck I'll be happy to get rid of the hyster scar.

Thank you again for your posts. Everyone's input really helps me.