SillyGoose

March 16th for me too! I can't believe it's only 3 weeks away! I hope all goes well for you!

I'm one of the ones that had to quit before surgery. The Dr. is going to check with a blood test. My surgery is scheduled for next month and I can't wait! Although I no longer have any type of withdrawals, I must admit that I do still miss smoking. I DO NOT miss the effects of it, wheezing, coughing, smelly clothes, hiding all the time (closet smoker - everyone knew but I didn't like to do it in front of certain people). But I do admit that I catch myself thinking about smoking after surgery and that really scares me! I don't want to be a smoker again! I'm also going through a really difficult time right now, so that is probably part of the desire to pick up a cigarette. If it wasn't for the surgery coming up, I know I would have started again by now. Sorry for the downer - I don't mean to discourage you or anyone else from quitting. It's been hard, but I'm also very proud that I've finally accomplished it. Good luck to you!

Absolutly no pressure - feel free to just ramble away!

I agree - great post. I've found myself doing the same thing since June. I'm here almost daily reading and absorbing as much info as I can. I hope all goes well for you. Take care!

March 16th for me. It's been a long 9 month process - I think I'm in denial that it may actually happen!

March 16th for me! Could have been Feb. 24th but that wasn't convenient for me at work. :cursing:

I haven't been banded yet, so I surely don't have much advice. One question does pop into mind when I read your post.... Are you drinking fluids while you eat your meals? Hang in there and don't give up! I know that must be easier said than done. I know I'm fearful of feeling the same way you do once I'm banded.

Quitting smoking was the hardest thing I've ever done. But it has been the best thing ever! I played around with quitting for a few months. Tried Patches, lozenges (spelling?) and even some prescription meds. Nothing seemed to really work. It seemed like the more I played with all the fake nicotine stuff, the more difficult it was to not want to smoke. Finally I decided to just stop - stop it all! I just quit cold turkey. I won't lie to you - the first week was miserable! But, after that it got easier a little bit day by day. My husband was supposed to stop with me and he didn't - at first I was very upset with him because I was jealous that he was still smoking and I wasn't! I'm over that now - I just pray and try to gently encourage him to not give up. I did not try the Chantix - I hear pretty good things about it so maybe your dr will give that to you. You can do this too! You just have to make up your mind. My doctor wont operate either if you smoke - I guess that's what finally helped me make up my mind. Good luck to you!

Hi there, I'm in the Central Valley too and should be banded in March. This is a great site with lots of information. I've been reading here almost daily since June 2008. You will most likely find other people here with the same concerns and fears that you have. I hope everything goes well for you!

Hi there, My son is ADHD. He was on Concerta for about 3 years. This school year, he seemed to be struggling more, so his doctor switched him to a new one called Vyvanse. So far so good. The only side effects he has had with either prescription was loss of appetite. I make sure he eats though! His doctor does always ask if he is sleeping ok - which he is, so that might be a side effect to watch for.

Hi there! Well, I don't have a date yet, but it does look like my surgery is going to be in March. This has been a really long process for me. It will be about 9 months by the time surgery happens. For the most part, it has gone by rather quickly - It's just these last couple months that are dragging big time! Well, I look forward to getting to know all of you March Bandsters. Good luck to all of you! Sharon: Thanks for all the great information. I'm going to take your advice and read some of the March 08 threads to see how your first year was! Take care! Chealyn

I agree with Minxz. Kaiser's up north may do things differently, but I doubt you have anything to worry about. From what I've read from everyone going thru Kaiser (and other insurance's), they want you to lose a certain amount of weight to show that you are serious about making a lifestyle change. If you don't lose the percentage of weight required, then they aren't convinced that you are ready to have surgery. The surgeon takes your heaviest weight documented. Even if you lose below your 40 BMI, they will still preform surgery. Wait until you start going to the classes and find out for sure though! I do remember thinking the same things you are. Good Luck to you!

Well, I finally met with the surgeon today. Looks like my surgery will be in March! I guess everything is booked for Jan. & Feb. So by that time, this whole process would have taken me about 9 months! But you know, it has gone by really fast. I bet these last two months will move sooooo slooooow! LOL!

This has been the process for me in Fresno. After reading other Kaiser threads on this board, it sounds like each Kaiser may do things a little different. Check with your PCP and go from there. Good Luck!

I haven't been banded yet. But about 4 years ago - during my last attempt to lose weight, I was drinking 80 to 96 oz of Water daily. I was constantly getting up from my desk at work or out of bed during the night to use the bathroom since I was drinking so much. During this time I was also constantly thirsty! I too am not diabetic and I'm not a doctor, but I always thought the reason why I was so thirsty was because as I was constantly flushing out my system, my body was needing more water. I must say that during this time my weight loss was very steady. I should start it up again but I dread the constant trips to the bathroom! lol!

No Kidding! I think my current method of trying to lose weight has been a combination of every diet I've ever tried. Everything is so jumbled up inside my head - I can't keep it straight. I think the name of my current diet is.... ready for this... Weightwatchers/Slimfast/Cabbagesoup/JennyCraig/Optifast&VitaminBshot/Lowcalorie/Lowfat/Highprotien/Lowcarb/LowGI - NutriSystem/Grapefruit/cottagecheese/lowsodium and everything else you can think of inbetween diet. LOL! Seriously though - I have definitly dieted my way to being fat!

Thank you so much everyone for your comments - it is much appreciated! Jachut - I have to say that I do like the idea of eating the way you do. You're right about the processed foods here too - it's outrageous! Again, I have not met with my surgeon yet, but I have heard that after your healing period, he no longer wants us on shakes of any kind (yay!) but he does want you on a strict Protein only diet for the first month or two! I couldn't believe it when I heard this! I've done low carb before - and I tried it again recently. I just can't stick to it! I need a variety of healthy foods to keep me satisfied and sane!

You know, I've heard the same things too. Yet another reason why I'm going with the band. Thank so much for letting me vent. I just needed to talk with other banders.

Monkey - I guess it was a "had to be there" kinda a moment. Their reaction to the band was more of a "you're insane for choosing the band". The shock on their faces and quick judgement is what got to me. But, you're right - they were just stating their fear. It just seems that no one (even the dr) are in favor of the band. While I was in the 6 mo. classes, no one was interested in getting the band. All I heard was quick, negative comments about it. As far as their comments causing me to second guess my decision - it was more of adding to my own second guessing myself. I mean, how many times have I started a weight loss regimen and said "I'm doing it this time and nothing is going to stop me". I guess I'm fearful of failing at this too. I truly believe that I'm making the right choice and shouldn't let what others think or feel bother me. Thanks for your input - it's much appreciated!

I've been doing the required steps for the last 6 months to get the band and it looks as though it will be my turn very soon to have surgery. I just got done sending a private message to a friend I've met on this board who had the band done by the same doctor. I wanted to share part of it with all of you and get your input as well. I'm a little irritated right now. I went to a group appointment yesterday. Which went very well by the way. The doc was VERY nice and explained all the procedures very well. It was funny too because the dvd he had to show us wasn't working so he had to try and draw pictures of all the procedures. Anyway, he started with banding and talked for a short period on that - I asked him about complications and he briefly explained slippage and eroding. Then he gets into the bypass and goes on and on with the drawings and explanations about how it's done and all the different complications that could occur (don't get me wrong - he was very clear and I'm glad he did spend as much time as he did) but this whole time I'm thinking to myself "this is exactly why I don't want the bypass! Why can't you people see that!?" Ok...LOL...Let me start over here. I got irritated before the appointment. When I checked in yesterday, there were a couple of ladies from the required classes I was attending that spotted me and waved, so when I finished paying my co-pay, I went and sat near them. After talking for a few minutes, one of them asked me which procedure I was doing. I said I was leaning more towards the band. One gal shook her head and said "oh, I wouldn't get the band" and looked at the other lady who's eyes started to bulge out while saying "I'd never get the band! You'd have to go in for adjustments for the rest of your life!" All I wanted to do at that moment was poke her eyes back into her head! But, because I am a non-confrontation type of person - I just gave her a thin lipped partial smile and said "well, I really don't like the idea of having things cut away and re-routed." Ugh! I really understand that banding isn't for everyone, and that's fine. I understand that for medical reasons, bypass is definitely a better option for a lot of people. But I am not one of those people. I don't need to lose the weight fast, I don't have medical problems caused by excess weight that requires me to lose it by the time I wake up tomorrow! I'm just sick and tired of always being fat, my back aches, can't sleep well, can't enjoy activities with family and just simply want to be healthy! While I was at the group appointment. The doc also said that the band success rate has always done very well in Australia but they haven't figured out why it isn't doing well here. I don't know anyone personally from Australia, but as far as Americans - do you think it could be the fact that we like to have everything in abundance?? Sorry for the long post - I just didn't like the fact that I walked away from the meeting second guessing my decision for lap band. I'll discuss it further with the surgeon when we meet one on one.

As the other poster mentioned, it does seem to depend on which Kaiser your going to. From reading the different Kaiser threads, it appears to always be a good idea to follow up with phone calls. I would begin calling either your pcp or the health education department for the contact information about the orientation. As you can see, I began this process around June, and I finally have an appointment for the group surgery meeting next week. I'm hoping I can have surgery by January or February. Best wishes!

That's an awesome victory - congrats!

There was a comment that threw me for a loop the other day.... I haven't been banded yet and have only lost about 20lbs. I'm still wearing the same old clothes, they just fit a little better now - don't feel like I'm busting the seams anymore lol! Anyway, one of our maintenance guys asked if I've lost weight. I was shocked that anyone, let alone some guy I worked with that I really don't know well noticed (we just joke around once in a while in passing). I said "yeah, about 20 lbs - and thanks for noticing!" then laughed with him. Then I told my sister (work at the same place). And she said that's just the way he is and that he even asked another gal at another building that he works at if she'd been gaining weight! lol guess he's not one of those guys who's afraid to ask!

Sorry to hear about the complicated surgery - But I must say, you look great.... younger too! Congrats!

This sounds just like me. My mom didn't want me using tampons so it was never talked about. I remember being at someones house (can't remember who's) and started. I was too embarressed to ask for anything so I went searching the bathroom and could only find tampons and I too put the whole thing in - I was miserable! After about 30 min. I took it back out which was very difficult and rolled up a bunch of toilet paper until I could get home!