Who'sThere

I am going to buy some really cute new PJs to wear to surgery. I also want to get my hair colored. I really wanted to get a pedi, too. However, my surgery instructions say to remove all nail polish. I know that I'll need to have it off my fingers, but do you think we can leave it on our toes? I hate to pay for a pedi and then have to take the polish off. (I like to get mine done french with a little ladybug painted on each of my big toes...I'll post a picture...too cute!) I suppose I should just call and ask, but I thought I'd see what y'all had been told.

Well, I started my pre-op diet today. Unlimited Items: S/F Jello, popsicles Zero calorie beverages broth Soups Limited Items: Regular Jello or Popsicles (3 per day) 100% fruit juice, Gatorade, or Powerade (16 oz. per day) Skim Milk (three cups) High Protein, Low Carb supplements (1-2 per day) So far today hasn't been too bad. I'm at the beach on vacation (leaving tomorrow), and it's so hot I don't really want to eat anyway. However, I know that the seven hour drive home tomorrow will be hard because I will want to snack in the car. I will just have to drink, drink, drink, and stop to pee, pee, pee!

Okay, since we are all admitting our fears, here is mine. The last time I REALLY tried to lose weight I was very successful. I lost 100 pounds in about 7.5 months. The problem is I lost the weight too fast (of course I gained it back just as fast). I had SERIOUS trouble with low blood pressure, and at one point, I actually almost died. I was in the ambulance and my husband was pleading with the EMTs to take me to a different hospital than the local one because I had been there quite often and they treated my symptoms and sent me home. They never got to the cause of the problem, and I kept having to come back. (I was passing out from seriously low BP.) I heard them tell him I wouldn't live long enough to make it to the other hospital which was about 30 miles away. Everyone envolved knows about this history and I think it will be monitored carefully and taken care of. I am just afraid psychologically that I will psych myself out of doing as well as I can because I may be subconsciously still afraid of losing weight and getting so sick again. I don't think this will cause me to self sabatoge, but I can't be certain. I KNOW I have to do this or the consequences could be just as bad. I am so very close to being diabetic, and I know if I don't get this under control once and for all, things could be even worse. I'm also glad we have a place like this to vent. I can't talk about this to my husband. He is really supportive, but he HATES any kind of surgery, so he says that he won't relax until I'm awake after my surgery. If I throw this at him, he will have even more to worry about!

I got this today at Sam's Club for $55.68 plus tax. I haven't used it yet, but I have watched DH try it out. (I've been doing graduate research which is due 4 days after my surgery.) He has really worked up a sweat. Also, he bought Punch-Out (a boxing game) and really got a good work-out from that too. The leg strap was too small for him too, so he put it on his calf. It didn't work perfectly, but it was better than nothing.

I have a preop liquid diet that I must follow for 10 days prior to surgery. It is full liquids/lo-carbs for the first 9 days and Clear liquids with a bowel prep the day before surgery. In the meantime, I have to admit, I'm eating many of my favorite foods. However, I'm not pigging out on those things. For example, I went to Carino's today and got potato Soup and Bowtie Festival, but I didn't finish it. As for exercise, I bought a used treadmill. I have walked on it twice so far. I also bought a Wii and the Wii Personal Trainer. I hope to start getting active one small step at a time.

Well, here's my take, for what it's worth. If everyone took a look at the 5 year weightloss statistics of every weight loss program before trying it, no one would be on ANY weight loss program. If any of these programs were great, long term solutions, we wouldn't need the band. Granted, the band is a much more drastic measure than programs like Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, and even fentermine. However, I have tried everything else, and this is my one last hope! If I can keep off 1/2 of whatever I lose for five years, I'll consider that a victory! It will be far better than what I've EVER been able to accomplish. Don't get me wrong, I fully intend for this to be a complete lifestyle change, and I hope to maintain 100% of my weightloss for life. I'm just saying that for me, it is definitely worth a chance no matter what the studies show! I plan on being a "results not typical" bandster anyway.:tongue:

Congrats! Have you found the July 2009 bansters' forum yet? We are the Freedom Fighters! We'd love to have you!

Congrats! Here's hoping you don't have to wait too long!:tongue:

Yes, IndigoGirl, thanks for the advice. I must also say, "You go, girl!" Your ticker looks great! I can only hope that mine looks as good in two years! Thanks again for the support. Don't be a stranger!

Okay, I just have to ask. What is Lilly? I also noticed it in your signature. You make Lilly sound great, and I think I want it too! LOL!

Yes, the are just jerks! I have, as one might say, kissed a lot of frogs. I had low self esteem, and I was grateful for any attention. Lucikly, God sent me a prince. My husband didn't even try to kiss me for like three weeks (and more than five dates). When you find someone who truly appreciates you for who you are, it will be very much worth the wait! It sounds like you have more sense than me, but I'll just tell you anyway...don't kiss too many frogs while you're waiting. You'll regret it!

My daddy used to make popcorn in an iron skillet every Sunday night after church. You'd better believe I'm glad I can't make it myself. As a matter of fact, anything on Food Network is beyond my capabilities. The fast food commercials are what kill me. I always get tempted to call the hubbs to bring some home. (And unfortunately, I usually do make the call.) I love what you say about being an addict. That's me! Now, I just have to learn to deal with it, and I am confident the band will help!

Yeah, what she (Wendy) said!

Okay, so my surgery is just over two weeks away. I plan to document my progress with lots and lots of photos. Perhaps this makes me vain, but I want to look as good as possible even in the hospital, so I thought I'd buy some cute new PJ's for my surgery day. Well, I went to the Lane Bryant outlet. I found this really cute pair of PJ pants, pink with different colors of flip-flops on them. (Have I mentioned I LOVE flip-flops?) Well the tops that were supposed to go with them were tanks. I DON'T do tanks. My arms look really bad. (I've never seen anyone else other than my baby sister when she was born at 10 pounds who has rolls on their arms. Sadly, I do.) Anway...I found some cute tops that would match, but the largest one they had was a 22/24. Well, I have some quite large ta-tas, so I must have a 26/28 top. I know that this particular store often has extra stock in the back, so I thought I would ask a clerk for some help. BIG MISTAKE! I found a lady and explained to her that I needed a 26/28 in any color of that particular style of top. (All the colors in the collection would've matched the bottoms.) She looked at me for seriously at least five seconds without saying a word. The she said, "Well, I guess I can go look in the back for you." I go to the counter to wait and watch the lady walk over to a different style of top and she literally hollers back, "They have your size in this one. What about it?" This top had no sleeves either, and I'd already looked at it. I said, "No, thank you. Just forget it." The lady at the counter could tell I was miffed. She asked what I needed, and I said, "I'll just take the swimsuit." (I had already fought and won that battle.) She said, "Please allow me to go look for a top for you. What do you need?" So, I let her look. In the mean time, the other lady came back and said, "We don't have your size in purple." I wanted so bad to say, "Geeze, lady, don't you listen?" I had already told her I would take ANY color. Anyway, they didn't end up having any of the tops in my size, but I did appreciate the other clerk being willing to help. It was clear that the other lady did NOT want to be bothered. Maybe I'm just crazy, but I used to work retail (that's how I put myself through undergrad school.) and I would NEVER have treated a customer the way she treated me. This is just one reason people judge us "fluffy" folks as being lazy. Laziness, rudeness, and arrognace really get under my skin. This lady was two for three!

Okay, so my surgery is just over two weeks away. I plan to document my progress with lots and lots of photos. Perhaps this makes me vain, but I want to look as good as possible even in the hospital, so I thought I'd buy some cute new PJ's for my surgery day. Well, I went to the Lane Bryant outlet. I found this really cute pair of PJ pants, pink with different colors of flip-flops on them. (Have I mentioned I LOVE flip-flops?) Well the tops that were supposed to go with them were tanks. I DON'T do tanks. My arms look really bad. (I've never seen anyone else other than my baby sister when she was born at 10 pounds who has rolls on their arms. Sadly, I do.) Anway...I found some cute tops that would match, but the largest one they had was a 22/24. Well, I have some quite large ta-tas, so I must have a 26/28 top. I know that this particular store often has extra stock in the back, so I thought I would ask a clerk for some help. BIG MISTAKE! I found a lady and explained to her that I needed a 26/28 in any color of that particular style of top. (All the colors in the collection would've matched the bottoms.) She looked at me for seriously at least five seconds without saying a word. The she said, "Well, I guess I can go look in the back for you." I go to the counter to wait and watch the lady walk over to a different style of top and she literally hollers back, "They have your size in this one. What about it?" This top had no sleeves either, and I'd already looked at it. I said, "No, thank you. Just forget it." The lady at the counter could tell I was miffed. She asked what I needed, and I said, "I'll just take the swimsuit." (I had already fought and won that battle.) She said, "Please allow me to go look for a top for you. What do you need?" So, I let her look. In the mean time, the other lady came back and said, "We don't have your size in purple." I wanted so bad to say, "Geeze, lady, don't you listen?" I had already told her I would take ANY color. Anyway, they didn't end up having any of the tops in my size, but I did appreciate the other clerk being willing to help. It was clear that the other lady did NOT want to be bothered. Maybe I'm just crazy, but I used to work retail (that's how I put myself through undergrad school.) and I would NEVER have treated a customer the way she treated me. This is just one reason people judge us "fluffy" folks as being lazy. Laziness, rudeness, and arrognace really get under my skin. This lady was two for three!

I have chronicled most of my journey in my blog here on LBT. To get to it, I think you just click on my photo. If not, post and let me know. I'll try to figure it out.

Congrats, Bandsters-to- be! I was approved last Friday and will be banded on July 7. My insurance was really quick. It was submitted and approved in the same day. The lady that files insurance for my surgeon said that I have really good insurance. Since I am a teacher, I suppose that is the upside to being so underpaid. :thumbup:

Paulette, I also notice that our BMI's are pretty similar, too. That will be really neat to keep track of and compare. I am going to send you a friend request so we can message back and forth. If you would like, accept me.

I'm scheduled for July 7th, 10 A.M., with Dr. Michael Hodge in Johnson City, TN! I too start my pre-op diet on the 27th. It will be really good to have someone with which to compare notes. Have you been to the July 2009 forum? Juniper is compiling a list of all the July surgery dates.

Congrats on the approval AND the quick turn-around.

What a great story! :blushing: Luckily, I won't have to worry about buying smaller clothes. Through the years I have kept Rubbermaid containers of basics in various sizes. I'll get to pull those out. Since I haven't seen them in so long, they'll feel like new clothes. Many of them that had been purchased after weight loss didn't fit for very long before the dreaded regain anyway...

Ok, no haters, please! My copay is $25 for the surgery. I have also had to pay a $20 copay for my psych. consult, and seven $25 copays for my six preop visits. Add to that $35 in copays to my PCP and a $25 copay for my EGD, and my out-of-pocket costs will be a whopping $280. There is one pill that I will have to take the morning of my surgery (Emend, anti-nausea med) that my insurance might not cover. If it doesn't that will be over $100, but it will be well worth it. I feel very blessed! I guess there are some perks for being an underpaid school teacher...good insurance!

I start my 10-day pre-op liquid diet on the 27th. I'm hoping to lose ten pounds, but I'll be happy with any loss because with this "Last Supper Syndrome" that I'm suffering from, I'm sure I've put on some pounds since my last appointment on the 8th. Shoot, even if I weigh in the same, I think I'll be happy!:wink:

Surely they are confident you will be approved or they wouldn't have given you a date. Keep your chin up! I'm sure things will end up okay. (But I would certainly be pissed too...)