SunnyRachel

I don't have an answer; I just have a hug. I'm sorry you are feeling down. I'm still pretty new at this too. I just wanted you to know someone listened and hopes you feel better.

Thanks, Lilnena!! Congratulations! I wish you a smooth recovery, and how cool to meet another LBT member on the day of surgery!! I wish you well and look forward to your updates. Hopefully DLD is home doing well too! Take care!

My husband wants your phone number. :thumbup:

Ooooh, weights in the bra!!! That's a good one!!! Nobody will check there! Much better than eating ten cakes and 50 pizzas!

That's one of my goals too!!! Thanks so much for sharing this! What a beautiful family, and you look amazing! Congratulations! All of your hard work really shows, and that is so inspirational!!

Maybe others doubt IBS because it seems so common for a banded person to have lots of rumbling and gas. I had never been this noisy...but I guess it was just that there was so much in there before that there wasn't room for air! lol I know, that's not very scientific, but we tend to be more anecdotal around here. Someone asks a question and when lots of people respond that they feel the same way, you chalk it up to normal and move on. I think everyone would agree though that if you are concerned about it, and you still don't feel comfortable after many people say they experience it too, then really sit down with your doctor about it. But you've done that already....so..... hmmm... second/third opinion? I hope you find some peace of mind though. Take care!

Yes, just like dolphanatic22 said... they want to see that you can make a good effort and comply with the nutrition afterward. I was thinking at the time, "Oh, no! What if I lose too much and they say I don't need it anymore!" Well, I lost 15 pounds prior to surgery and nobody said boo. (Except saying, "Yes, you are approved!")

Congratulations!!! I wish you a smooth healing process and a very successful 2009!! Your positive attitude is great!

I wish I could help you with an answer on that one, but that's something you really don't know unless you look down in there, right? I am replying though to give you sort of a pat on the back for admitting your lapse at the start. I think that it's good you recognized your mistake and have corrected it. It's hard making that adjustment mentally. I felt that way... I didn't feel like my stomach was traumatized by the surgery, but I knew it must have been. I'm guessing you were feeling pretty good too! I'm sure you will do well now. Keep taking it easy and follow the rules and don't be so hard on yourself if you misstep here and there. It's really hard. Heck, if we were perfectly disciplined to begin with, we wouldn't have gotten the band, right? You're doing great! Congratulations on your surgery!! Keep healing!

I'm anxious to hear how surgery went for you and lilnena. Did you guys get to meet? Are you feeling okay? I know, it's early, but I just hope you both did well and are having a smooth recovery. Take care!!!

I think being at this fork in the road in life is scary for anyone. So many conflicting thoughts swirl around... on the one side you think you've failed and can't lose the weight by yourself...on the other side there is still that thought that you can do this yourself without altering your body. Being in danger due to your weight is scary. Surgery is scary. Maybe if you made a list of what scares you most... one column for fat, one column or surgery...then maybe once you put your fears down on paper, some of us can help you work through each item and help you see it in a different perspective? If you want to give it a try, I'm more than willing to read your list! The important thing is that you are taking action for your health...and you can't go wrong there! Welcome to LBT. I wish you all the best! :tongue2:

Well the nurse says it's not enough, but have you asked an insurance rep if the two comorbidities and being that close would be enough? I mean, depending on the company, it's actually people that are making the decisions, right? It woudln't hurt to pick up the phone before you picked up the cake, right? In any event, I hope you do get the approval you are looking for!

I'm sending you big hugs and healing thoughts. I hope that you will find peace and comfort all around you. With deepest sympathy, Rachel

My appetite has been tamed. I look at food differently. I am not eating huge portions anymore. Before I didn't want to eat healthy because I had plenty of room for the not healthy... but now that I can only eat so much... I am finally starting to eat to live...not live to eat. I'm not wasting the space on empty calories. If you think that kind of change will help you, then you are going to be okay. I wish you all the best!!! I am glad you want to get healthy again!

Mine is a couple inches to the right and up from my belly button. I can't feel it normally, but if I push around, I can find it. It doesn't bother me being in there. Congratulations!!! I hope the time passes quickly for you so you can say you're a bandster too!!!

Kandi! Congratulations! That is so wonderful for you. I am looking forward to hearing more about your progress. Thanks for sharing this good news. Happy New Year!

Well, my nutritionist told me all about the soda and not being able to have it again, but she didn't mention other foods that are not necessarily banned, but may present challenges to get down later, such as bread, red meat, tough-skinned fruits and vegetables. I think a big question should be: What can you eat right after surgery, for how long, and for the long-term, what foods might you have to give up? Another good question: Do they have a handbook or manual that they will give you so that you know what to do after surgery and what requirements your body will need...like Protein, Vitamins, et cetera. I hope this eval. goes better for you! Take care!

Happy New Year! Something that caught my attention in your message ... "I must say that for now my motivation stems from a fear of failure." For me, I used to make goals in the negative for ages. Then I realized that by speaking the negative, my brain was not catching the not part. So for example, "I won't burn the toast. I won't burn the toast." My brain fixated on "burn the toast! burn the toast!!" So if you say, "I don't want to fail! I don't want to fail!" -- well, you can figure it out next. So now I try to keep it simple... "I'm drinking more water today," et cetera, kept in the positive tense... speak only what I want to actually happen. So what motivates me.... remembering how much fun my family has in the summer at Knoebels, a campground/amusement park, and how much easier it is for me to walk around all day, even back to the campsite, when I have no back trouble... and how much more comfortable I am when I'm pain free...and can enjoy those moments with them! Having more quality time with my family is what motivates me. I know you will make 2009 a fabulous year for you!

Yeah, my home scale never matches doctor's scale..it's always higher for some reason. I weighed 10 lbs less when I was weighed at the hospital for surgery...doctor didn't even notice. I think they use it more for anesthesia and dosing meds and stuff like that. I doubt they will cancel your surgery for a 3-4 pound fluctuation. It sounds like your nerves are talking! Take a breath and realize that everything should be just fine. We all get those pre-op jitters! I wish you all the best! Enjoy the weekend and get lots of rest so you will be bright and feeling great for surgery! Take care!

I think in the beginning we don't realize how much we actually do eat. For example... I used to say, "But I only have a bowl of Cereal for breakfast!" Well, I didn't realize that my bowl of cereal was actually like three to four labeled serving sizes and three servings of milk... even though non-fat. Not to mention that if I got to the end of the cereal and there was milk left, I put in more cereal. No, I wasn't eating a large bag of chips every hour...but when I ate, I certainly did NOT eat reasonable portions. Not only does the band stop me from putting more in, I'm not hungry in between my meals. That's what it is doing for me so far. There are many other things to consider though, so I think you should definitely keep researching and talking with others with the band. But a CAUTION: The band is like a car... everyone can get in and drive it and get from Point A to Point B.... but not everybody drives it the same. You have to follow the rules to take good care of it, and you have to have patience and good communication with your surgeon (mechanic) to find the right adjustment for your body. If you can't do that, it will break down on you and leave you on the side of the road cursing. So when you talk to others about the band, think about how they are using it in relation to their experiences they are sharing with you. It's hard work on your part and requires a lot of patience and a good support system both medically and socially. It is really the safer and less scary route to go as far as surgery is concerned. I hope you find all the answers you need to make your decision. No matter what though, it's great that you are trying to be healthier! I wish you all the best! Take care!

Stormie, I wish you a smooth pre-op process. You are doing the right thing...and that is being honest with yourself about your weight. Your first paragraph sounded like one I've written before... never thought I was that heavy...never thought I was in the danger zone. I messed around with serious back issues though to the point of crippling pain before I just said, "OKAY!!! I GET IT!!" So here you are... and each step is going to get you to a healthier place. Congratulations! I look forward to seeing you around here!

Hi, Poodles!!! I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better!! It sounds like you are doing great!!

Hello from another Rachel!!! Congratulations on your surgery! How are you feeling? Welcome to LBT! There are so many nice people here with lots of advice. Glad you joined!

Oh yeah, that salisbury steak is so tender and moist! That's a good choice! Why do all the rices and pastas in those things taste that way anyway? Do they all come from the same waxy rice factory? lol

Hi! Well, obviously my husband knew first. Second was my mom because she wanted me to do this, and I was like a cat trying not to be thrown into the toilet. She is enough cheerleader to make up for the rest of the family. I told one best friend I could trust that wouldn't judge me or talk about me to others...and one good friend that I don't see that often because she is wise and fun, and I can tell her stuff like that. That's all! Everyone else I know would either harp on it every time I see them, be negative, or say nothing at all and make me feel bad... so it is better this way. What I'm actually finding funny is going out to eat and barely eating it and the waitress going, "Is that all you ate?" Yeah, I left the napkin and table in once piece this time, Jo!! ha ha ha At first I thought it would be hard not to talk about it or to keep my mouth shut for so long...but I'm finding it very easy to just go about my business and follow my rules and nobody really has questioned me yet. It's just the beginning though. Wait until they see me next year! he he he