hopeandhealing

Wow, you all are soo inspiring and sooo caring. Thank you so much for your kind thoughts regarding my daughter. Yes the loss of a child is the worst loss. However, I have been blessed to continue to have a very precious relationship with her on the other side. And I am VERY blessed to have a wonderful husband and 2 beautiful daughters and a 7 year old granddaughter that is my sunshine and 2 incredible SIL's on this earth. So, in spite of all the pain of losing my darling girl on this earth, I would not have missed the chance to have had her in my life. She continues to inspire me with every heart beat on this earth. And I have no doubt has lead me herre to this board. Thank you:wub: Tomorrow is the day! I feel such peace about it. I know it is the right thing for me to do today. And I thank you so much for sharing a bit of your stories with me too. You have no idea how inspiring and hopeful you all are. I feel a sense of hope about EVERY aspect of my life that I have not felt in a very long time. I VERY much look forward to getting to know you all better. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery in every way. Be gentle with you today, Dyanna

Hi everyone. I have been around here for several months now (but just found this group in the past few days and feel I have found my new *home*) and was finally approved (after 1 denial) a few weeks ago. I have surgery this Friday and I cannot wait. I am also turning 60 in August and I cannot wait for that either. I am hoping, praying, and hoping some more that some how the 60's will be a better decade for me and my family. 6 months after I turned 50 (which was the most wonderful birthday in the world as I was on vacation with my precious daughters and my husband and all was well with my world), my life was blown to bits by the death of my oldest daughter. She was 28, newly married, and a wonderful wonderful person. She was hit by a drunk driver. I instantly went into a hell I could not have imagine ever existed and it is only by the grace of God (whom I call LOVE) and my angels on earth and in heaven that I am still here today. In this past decade I have gained more than 50 lbs., (for a total of about 80 lbs. overweight) went through the menopause from hell, and much much more. So I am seeing the turning of a new decade as a chance for a new start in every possible way. I was once so good about having balance in my life in every area. I am desperately trying to get that back. I am very hopeful that this is a start in that direction. I am so looking forward to getting to know you all better and to be part of a group of very courageous people. (whoever said "old age is not for sissies" was certainly right!) Thank you for your friendship, support, wisdom and most of all the gift of HOPE that I have found here. :wub:I pray you will be gentle with you today. Dyanna

I am almost 60 and have really struggled with my weight in these past 10 years. Also had extreme stress to deal with in the past 10 years including the loss of my child and both my husband and I surviving cancer. However, I have always eaten relatively healthy. Just eat way too much. I am also recommitted to exercising and want my 60's to be a much better decade in every way than my 50's were. I am far more concerned with my health than with the number on the scale or the size I wear. I want to be able to MOVE without pain. I weigh 215 and am 5'4". I would love to get down to about 150, but I know even 25lbs will help greatly. Please pm me if you are out there. Thank you. Dyanna

I am having surgery in a few weeks. I have made the decision to only tell my daughters and my husband. From other things I have gone through in my life, I have found out the hard way that they are truly the only ones who have my best interest at heart. I am "thin skinned" and hate meanness from others. Therefore, I am seeing not telling others as an act of self love. However I too have a family event in August and will still be on liquids only and have been struggling with what to say. My daughter said just tell them you had hernia surgery and although it was relatively minor surgery and you are doing well, your dr. wants you on a liquid diet for a few weeks until you heal completely. And then change the subject. I hope it works. Above all, be kind to You. Dyanna:grouphug:

As of today I am approved for lap band surgery!! It has been a long wait, but very necessary, as I was not ready to do this till now. I actually started the process last fall. In January I went through the initial consults, etc and in February received my denial letter from my insurance. I was relieved! I was not ready. I put it on the back burner until about a month ago when I decided I was ready. I wrote the ins. co a 2 page letter about why I needed WLS and sent it off on Monday. Today I hesitantly called thinking it was too soon to find out anything and they said I am APPROVED!! I am so beyond thrilled and READY and at peace about my choice of lap band. I have my surgery scheduled for the 24th of July! I will be 60 in August. In my letter I said that I did not care what I weighed or what size I wore, I just want to be HEALTHY. My birthday wish is coming true already:thumbup: will write more later, but just wanted you to know that I have just recently discovered this board and LOVE IT! It has been enormously helpful and encouraging in making my decision. THANK YOU! Dyanna

......does the port get in the way during sex?:confused_smile: Are there better or worse places to have the port put to minimize accidently moving it during exercise, sex, etc?? Thanks, Diana

I spoke with a Dr. today (new, I have not seen him before) and #1. He will only give me a referral within the system He/I work for (I work for a hospital), thereby excluding the other hospital which is where the majority of lap band surgeries are done. #2. He was very condescending and discouraging. Told me I would never meet the criteria for a lap band as my BMI is barely over 35 and high cholestrol and breast cancer and back and knee pain and depression and sleep problems and failing over and over again for the past 40+ years to take the weight off and keep it off are not enough for insurance to cover me. He told me "just eat a little less and exercise a little more. You can do it":sad: I will NOT go back to him again. However I did get a referral from him to see a lap band surgeon (the only one) in the system (albeit 70 miles away!) so I guess I will talk to them and take it from there. I am hoping and praying for help. I really believe in my heart of hearts that lap band is key to my health. I have run out of other options. Thank you for listening. Joy p.s. I have been reading here for several weeks now and have no doubt this is the answer I am searching for. For those of you who pray, please pray for a miracle for me. Thank you.