diva

I didn't think the band was well represented on the show or People magazine.

ok so now I am crying. But crying because there are really people out there who know what I am feeling-that you all are all over the globe but you understand how I am feeling. I do deserve this- heck I'm only 51 1/2 (birthday is in August-both birthdays the 4th for my band and the 28th for me) so I still have some years to have fun. I want to take my niece to Disney World and fit into the seat rides. I want to wear nicer shoes than my easy spirit sneakers. I want to walk all over Italy and not be winded. I want the focus to be on me not on my butt. I want to be under a size 16 which I haven't seen in 20 years. ::huggie:: I am getting there I think. I guess I am not a person who can "let go" very easily. It seems like both a long time and a short time since I started this whole journey. Thank you all very much from the bottom of my heart.

I just saw it-they didn't explain anything about the band at all except its a plastic band that makes your stomach smaller. They also asked them if they were concerned that "4 out of 10 people have complications" HUH???? Anybody know that particular statistic???

You all will never know how much your words of encouragement mean to me. I really have noone else to turn to. My DH is the only one who knows except for my fellow wls peers at the hospital. This is my choice but it is lonely. It is hard letting go of "what ifs" "If only" I am working at it.

Ok so no barrium on the rocks parties? blah! My husband and I have been doing that schtick all night-barrium straight up, barrium margaritas, barrium and coke, barrium shaken not stirred, barrium with a beer chaser, barrium shooters, barrium mojita. LOL! Hey Kutia! Our band birthdays! What time and where? I have to be there by 6:30 am but I found out today the surgery will be at 7:30 am. I'll be in Boston at New England Medical Center with Dr. Tarnoff.

I'm finally being banded on August 4th. Yes, I am excited and anxious and scared. But as the time grows closer I get more and more angry at myself. I am 52. I was always chubby but reallys started to gain in college. I know in my heart I have tried and tried from Atkins, Weight Watchers, pills, shakes, soups, injections, fasting and every diet in between yet I am angry for letting myself get so freakin fat. I did it, I ate the food, I reveled in going out to dinner, cooking for friends, trying different tastes. Why oh why didn't I get control when all I had to lose was a lousy 15 or 20 pounds???? My life would have been so different. I just know it. Maybe I would have married earlier, had kids, made more money. I dunno. I know weight doesn't equal happiness. I know if I was thin I still wouldnt be guaranteed kids and money. But yet... as I choked down that disgusting barium, as I lie to my Mother about only seeing a nutrionist, as prepare to put a foreign object in my body and go into surgery I feel I am the biggest jackass for having to resort to this emergency tactic. I don't have a problem with using a tool to lose weight. I don't consider it an easy way out, it is me that I have a problem with. In addition I know there are people in our country and lots of others who are starving. And I have the audactiy to have surgery to lose weight and not be able to eat as much! I feel incredibly guilty and very selfish. And I feel incredibly dissapointed in myself. I've wasted so many years. Thank you for listening as I rand and rave, this list means a lot to me. I am really down about this.

Hi, its countdown time. Surgery is Aug. 4th Just got back from hospital for the preliminary tests. EKG, more blood tests, chest x-ray and an upper GI. The barium is still grossing me out and its 3 hours later!:speechles Do I have to swallow barium every time I get a fill? I sure hope not. blah! One thing they didn't do and they didn't bring up is my gallbladder. I have still have it. I told the surgeon so he knows. But there was no test or ultrasound or anything to check for gallstones. Is that supposed to happen? Does it need to happen? Thanks guys!

Hi, Georgia will still be pretty hot in September. Depending on the city it could still be 80 degrees. How old are you? I've lived in Jersey and GA. Find out where the wedding will be and if there will be a dinner/dance or simple cake & punch. Find out the time of day. Morning/afternoon is a lot less formal then evening. A lot of southern weddings have the receptions in the church hall or at home. So it may not be as formal as you might think even if he wears a tux. A size 20 is fine at your height. What part of you do you like? For instance, I play up my bust and shoulders because I am a huge pear. Keep the same color all the way down, draw attention to your best part. Wear 3/4 sleeves or long sleeves that can be pushed up. Don't go sleeveless you will be tugging all night/morning long. Break in new shoes before the wedding. Try www.kiyonna.com and their little black dress dept. The black lace one with the v-neck and 3/4 sleeves is terrific. If you check out its wedding area they have the same kind of dress in lighter colors. Try silhouettes.com and jessica london. If your legs suck like mine do-go for a palazzo pantsuit or even a tuxedo pantsuit (try Lane Bryant or Roamans on-line). Just remember find out the info on the wedding before you make any decisions about formal or informal. Go girl!!!!

I am with you in spirit and nerves! I can't believe I only have 2 weeks till being banded! I also have those guilty feelings-how the heck did I get so fat? Why didn't I diet when all I had to lose was 20 pounds not a 100? But to the future! The hell with the past. I think everyone is nervous. Here's to us!!!!

My husband and I are hysterical laughing that when they try and wheel me into surgery I'll still be clutching an egg mcmuffin yelling "get away from breakfast bitch-its my last egg mcmuffin!!!!" ohmigawd I am so so so sad Surgery date August 4th at 6:30 am-thats 6:30 in the morning-I won't need any anesthisia (sp), I'll be out of it already.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Went out and bought some Isopure drinks and papaya ensyme chewables. On tues the 25th I go in for the blood work, EKG, upper GI and meet with the aenestheseologist (sp). And...I am crazy nervous. I haven't lost as much weight as they wanted. I hope they let me have the stupid surgery. The closer the date gets them more I want to eat. I am going to get fried clams this weekend 'cause I am on the MA coast, they are wonderful and no matter how loose I am I know that fried clams will be a dim memory! I am nuts. Surgery date August 4th at 6:30 am-thats 6:30 in the morning-I won't need any anesthisia (sp), I'll be out of it already.

Thanks for all your replies. I may pick it up on Amazon. Seems like LBT should write a book!

Hi all, Anyone ever read this book??? Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery by Jessie H. Ahroni Did you think it was worth it? Is it out of date? Thanks you all!!!!

Thanks guys-I am writing down the hint about the citrate magnesium now to add to my ever growing list of "to buy". Love you all

:clap2: To all the members of this terrific group-THANK YOU! I started asking dorky questions in April and now I have my surgery date! August 4th will be my new birthday! You all have been patient, informative, fun and gracious. I've freaked out and you gave me strength and hope. I've asked crazy questions that to a seasoned bandster would seem slightly insane but you all have answered with patience and humor. To the moderators-you run a wonderful board. As an ex list moderator I know how hard it is. You sure can't please everybody at all times! I'm not going anywhere so this isn't ciao. I just wanted to know I don't take LBT for granted and to say thanks. This board has given me advice and information I couldn't have gotten anywhere else including my doctors. So I am on my way-making my list of foods/drinks/vitamins etc. I am both scared and excited! My surgery is 6:30 am. I just hope the surgeon is awake!!!! :notagree

August 4th at 6:30 am. That would be 6:30 am. Did I mention the surgery would be at 6:30 am?

Not banded yet but... the surgeons at my hospital say they now do the ports on the sternum area which is right in the middle under the breasts. But not where the bra hits. My surgeon said to put a mark where I want it. LOL! I also asked about the low profile port, they aren't doing that at this time since they feel the original size is easier to access for a fill. :: I was hoping for low profile, I can't imagine what it would be like to have the port replaced. yuck

Thanks so much everybody-I'm going to try both the couch and the bed. See which one works out best at first. I don't think I stay overnight-most lapband surgeries go home the same day if the surgery is early in the day. I'll take everyones advice, rolling and pillows (esp the pillow). My port will be just below my breasts in the middle. Not sure how I feel about that either.

Hi all, As my surgery is getting closer I'm going to have some wierd questions. (BTW I've never had any surgery at all so I don't know how it feels on your abdominal muscles and tummy) For the first couple of weeks after surgery I keep reading that a lot of you slept in a recliner. I don't have a recliner. I have a bed that is a little high, I have to kind of climb into it. And I have a couch that I'll usually sleep on when I'm sick to have some privacy from the DH. :notagree I have a feeling I'm going to need something to hold onto to get out of bed but what? I usually get up by just sitting straight up . I'm a little worried. If I use the bed right after DH will go to the couch. He won't be able to hear me if I need help getting up. If I use the couch-the same thing will happen. Anybody else without a recliner? Or a DH? (I got one but not very handy) What did you hold onto to get up. Or how did you get up? Can you lay directly down?:help: Thanks so much!! You all are so great- I am so blessed to have found this group.

Thank you guys. I have tears in my eyes. What an amazing group to reach out to a stranger like this. I know in my head I'll be fine, my nerves just have to catch up with my head! I wish it was over with. As much as I am scared I want the date already. I need my life back, its been too long.

HI all, Have my appt w/ surgeon tomorrow. DH going with me. Have my questions all ready. Hopefully will have surgery late July or early August. You guys have been great and I have asked some really "stoopid" questions. My problem is-I have all the info from you all and my hospital (3 months worth of psychologists, nutrionists, exercise guy and group) so I have all the facts. But... I am a control freak. Never having had surgery since I was 5 the whole anesthesia thing is still freaking me out. Now I had 2 colonoscopies, didn't feel or remember a thing- great drugs! I don't have a fear of needles at all but I am claustrophobic and have apnea (no cpap though-won't use it). When I start reading or hearing about "you can't breath by yourself because they pump you full of air" I get the willies. Usually I am not squeamish at all. The mask idea is not a fun thing for me. But they can lay me out naked to the world I just am getting scared. As the time approaches I am getting a little more nervous. I know its probably normal. That you all have certainly lived through it. Do they put you out before taking you into the operating room? If they do then I am freaked I'll be out and they might lose me or take me into the wrong operation (yeah, I know that is by far the stoopidist thing to think). If I am not out before getting into the operating room then I am afraid I will freak so bad my blood pressure will soar and they might stop the operation! So.. I am completely nuts. I wish wish wish wish they could do it with a local like a c-section. But I know they cannot. Just venting, just whining, just slightly freaking Thank you all for listening. :nervous

Dear Debbie Call the 800 # on your BCBS card. Ask them to send you a copy of their medical policy on "Medical and Surgical Management of Obesity" Its a few pages long - but the bottom line is: "Patient Selection Criteria" states you must have a BMI over 40 OR that your BMI id 35 or higher AND you have one or more high risk co-morbid conditions which are -sleep apnea -Pickwickian syndrome (no clue what that is) -Pseudotumor cerebri (?) -obesity related cardiomyopathy -Type II diabetes -At least Stage 1 Hypertension based on JNC-VII (?) -Coronary artery disease -Obesity related pulmonary hypertension hmmm-some things I never heard of! Anyway-check it out-call them And good luck! What hospital are you using?

Hope I'm not too late! First congratulations!!!! Rihanna-Pon de Replay Black Eyed Peas-Lets Get it Started It Had to be You-Harry Connick Jr. That's Amore-Dean Martin Mambo No. 5-forget Music-Madonna To throw the bouquet Pretty Woman -Roy Orbinson

Da Vinci Code movie-Not so great Da Vinci Code book-Really great Can't wait for The Devil Wears Prada-the book was great and I think it should translate well to the screen Saw Rumor Has It on pay for view-um, ok-a little wierd but ok.

Congratulations Wheetsin! I've been on different boards since '97 and even moderated one for a while. It is hard work. The moderators here are great. And I thank all of you.