Constance

I'm pre-op but I wanted to say something about the post-op depression. I can tell you from reading hours and hours on the subject of surgery, it is normal to feel a sense of despair and depression. It can be a combination chemical balances out of whack from the anesthesia, plus the nutritional changes PLUS the fact that you have just undergone a huge transition! Seriously, you are not alone, I've read so many posts saying what you've said only to read the same people being overjoyed a few weeks later.

I think it is hard, too, because to the average 'normal' non-celebrity, going from 350 to 200 would be wonderful and considered a success. But for her to be considered sucessful, she has to be at the lowest weight she can possible be.

Yeah, you could just follow that program, never get the band and lose weight... AND your sanity.

marlluvia, I'm not telling peeps at work either and I know they'll be all up in my business when they see me losing. I am planning to say , "I'm slowing way down when I eat and cutting back on portions. But also I've cut out bread and processed foods", because that is what they will witness, right? You could maybe make up a fake diet supplement. Then sell it to them! haha! "Here it is! It's 50$ a bottle and it works for me!" Seriously though, I think if you tell them everything you are doing EXCEPT for the banded part, they will buy it. (Buy it, meaning your story, not the phoney supplements.)

I just backed out too! I really wanted to see it but I imagined my belly there on teh table and got all weak.

I'm so moved by everyone's honesty and candor. I truly know I am not alone. For me, it was the sum of many things. I have been heavy since I was 10 so I have a laundry list of weight related angst. But most recently it was a trip to Mexico with a (thin) friend. Throughout the trip I kept thinking, "as soon as I get back I will start The Diet and lose weight so I can make this same trip again with less humiliation and self-consciousness". Then it occured to me I had made that same promise to myself during EVERY vacation and/or business trip I had ever taken. How much longer would I diet and fail until I really looked ta surgical options. Other big freak-outs that occured in the last few months to make me SURE about surgery: I turned 30 at my heaviest weight ever. I celebrated my 1st year of marriage with 30 more pounds than on my wedding day. I have a constant rash on various body parts due to the rolls and chafing. I dress like a homeless person. I have new dark stretch marks on my stomach and I've never been pregnant. Most of all, I'm just sick of it! All of the mental and physical BS that comes with obesity...why continue to suffer when there are other options that can help me?

Congrats! How exciting for you. I can't help with the pain issue since I'm still pre-op. But I'm sure someone will chime in. How was the surgery? Were you nervous? What were your first thoughts as you woke up?

I started out determined to keep it a total secret. So far I've told: 2 friends, husband, and my Dad and his wife. Even that many people feels like a lot. But no one at work knows, including my brother who I work with. And my Mom and her husband don't know. That's pretty huge for me. But really, I'm just choosing to avoid the judgement of the naysayers or the people who might poilce my every move.

Ginger helps for nausea. You can get crystallized ginger...or ginger ale gone flat. Also, some people say camphor smell helps nausea. So you can take a cotton ball and dip it in Sea Breeze astringent and sniff that now and then. Another one that has helped a friend of mine when she was pregnant, is sucking on a strong peppermint - like an Altoid.

Wow, completely gross but also completely fascinating! Trish, I'm sure you'll heal up just fine. Hang in there. We're rootin' for ya!

I am 5 months into the 6 month wait. It has been especially tough maintaining this weight and not telling most of my friends and family why I am so heavy and doing nothing about it. These months have forced me to just accept myself, more than ever. I don't know if I've been so sucessful at that. More than anything I just try to ignore how large and gross I feel. I have new stretch marks, something I haven't seen since I was 12 years old. They remind me of the permanence of being this heavy. I'm so anxious to get the weight off. Yet at the same time I go through times where I feel so much apprehension about the surgery. Will I get sick of all the caution around what to eat, chewiing enough, etc.? I am trying to be patient and keep up my self-esteem and body image. I know the weight loss isn't a cure all...but I do think it will feel fantastic!

I am 5 months into the 6 month wait. It has been especially tough maintaining this weight and not telling most of my friends and family why I am so heavy and doing nothing about it. These months have forced me to just accept myself, more than ever. I don't know if I've been so sucessful at that. More than anything I just try to ignore how large and gross I feel. I have new stretch marks, something I haven't seen since I was 12 years old. They remind me of the permanence of being this heavy. I'm so anxious to get the weight off. Yet at the same time I go through times where I feel so much apprehension about the surgery. Will I get sick of all the caution around what to eat, chewiing enough, etc.? I am trying to be patient and keep up my self-esteem and body image. I know the weight loss isn't a cure all...but I do think it will feel fantastic!

I am on month 5 of the 6 months diet and exercise. It really does go pretty fast. But yes it is annoying to out it on hold - and I do have the fear that despite jumping through hoops I may not get covered. But I have to at least try. 15K$ is a lot of dough so it is worth the wait in the long run...for me anyway.

Since posting this I have had the WORST case of, well, to put it delicately, I've been rafting down The Might Mississippi. Anyway, I've lost about 6lbs, so maybe I can manage to keep this off for a couple more months or just maintain at the least.

These posts do help! (though I skipped over the one with the disclaimer, too)

I'm confused too. I haven't heard of the "Sleeve" and I thought I had researched the heck out of this. But surely someone else here can be of help.

Oh that just breaks my heart! (no pun intended) I wonder if she will ever tell her story. It's common for people reach goal weight with WW or some other diet plan and go back to their old ways. But I can't imagine what she must have been going through mentally to say "I want to surgically reverse what I have achieved". And I do believe the story about her just wanting to eat again -- otherwise, with her history of obesity, don't you think they would have suggested RNY?

Cool, I just switched over to WE and the show is on here in the Mountain time zone. Thanks for the tip!

Morseille, I love the archaeologist scenario! hahah!

I have asked the same question - but not out loud. Thanks for posting and responding. It's also something my family and friends (those who I've told anyway) have brought up, and this offers me some answers.

Just an update here. I spoke to the insurance guru at my surgeon's office. She said I need to do six CONSECUTIVE months of the supervised diet and exercise. So I am at about month 5. I am really sucking at even pretending to be on a diet. I just posted about it in LB Support.

:help: I am about 5 months into the "physician supervised weight loss attempt" and I have GAINED weight each month. Will my nsurance see this and say, "oh please, she can't be serious"? I know I am a good band candidate, but my compliance with the supervised diet is joke. Am I screwed?

For what it's worth, my surgeon said his patients average 3 fills to get to the sweet spot. Some need more, some need less.

Awhile back someone posted about a discrete timer made for behavior modification with eating. Here is the link....I think it sounds pretty cool! www.powerseed.com

What do your montlhy payments work out to be? (I could look it up but I'm lazy)