Polished Pig

I really believe that Lap Band is the way to go for me. Now I have to decided if I can handle the idea of having a foreign object in my body...seems strange. And the band fill maintenance seems costly. In the end I'm sure losing weight and getting healthy makes it all worth it.

I just worry that if I can't stop eating now....how am I going to stop after surgery? My problem is I don't hurt for a long time when I'm over eating....but I do stop when it hurts...is that what its like with the band? I've heard people talk about eating around the band...what does this mean and how can I avoid it?

How can you tell if your an addict or an over eater? I eat all the time.....hungry or not. I eat 10 minutes after I finish a meal. I eat huge meals, I eat inbetween meals, I eat lots of sweets...lots of sweets. I mean aren't we all addicted to food? I've been debating getting the band for years now and I still have so many questions. Band slips, bands eroding and now trying to figure out what kind of eater I am.....CONFUSING!

After my initial consultation I could have scheduled that day and had the surgery within 30 days. Im a cash patient and I knew that going in because I have strict restrictions on weight loss surgery through my insurance. So anyway....all I needed was time to see the nutritionist, blood work, EKG etc. I scheduled on Feb 3rd and my surgery is Feb 27th. It was actually kinda scary to see it move that fast but exciting too!

Hey there Hal! My surgery date is Feb 27th. I am feeling exactly the same. Listing out all the things I'm going to miss after this surgery. But then I kick myself and say, "Is a buffet really more important to you than living a full life?" There are so many things I can't do with this extra weight....many because I physically cant and many because I'm scared to even try because of my weight. Being overweight is a minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day struggle for me. I know it's that way for most of us. But Hal....we are worth so much more than that. We deserve to really live not just to be alive. I think making the choice to do the lap band is a decision we make not only with our heads but our hearts as well. Listen to your heart.....it will tell you it's worth it!

Hi Julie thanks for sharing your story. I was hoping you could answer a couple questions for me. My banding is scheduled on the 27th. I thought the whole point of this diet was that we could eat whatever we wanted but that with the band our bodies would not allow to over eat? Am I wrong. What is wrong with having a cookie? Are you on a diet as well as having the band?

Well I talked with my Band rep today and I feel a lot better. She basically told me to shut up and quit running from a better life. It's exactly what I needed to hear. She made me feel a lot better. I know that once the surgery comes and goes I will feel a lot better. I know it wont be easy but I'm just going to take a deep breath every day and try to stay focused on my goals.

You guys are right. I know this is for my health and thats one of the biggest reasons I've chosen to do it. I talked to my husband and asked him to give me his honest opinion about all this. He has been supportive through all this but I couldn't help but feel like he was just agreeing with me because he knew I wanted this. So I told him that and he said he has absolutely no financial concerns and that the cost does not matter to him. However, he is extremely worried about the surgery itself. He even said he was concerned about what he would have to tell our kids if something went wrong with the surgery and I died or ended up in a coma or something. He is a guy that thinks the worst but I understand where he is coming from. I wasn't sure how to ease his pain other than to reassure him that this procedure is very safe and that the riskiest thing about it is the anesthesia. But because I have had a couple surgeries before with no problems this should be no different. Anyway another thing I didn't mention is I'm having a rough time feeling like this surgery is my only option because I'm a failure. Has anyone else gone through that? I mean I've tried over 15 different kinds of diets/pills and other programs. Most of them I think might have worked if I could of just stuck with it. But thats the problem I couldn't do it. And now I have to turn to surgery?? I know most of this is cold feet but mine are freezing!

As some of you know I am a cash patient. It was my only choice because my insurance has a restriction on weight loss surgery. So I've saved and saved and finally managed to save enough to pay for my surgery. My date is scheduled, I've had my appointment with the nutritionist and now I'm just waiting. But it seems like waiting is the hardest part. And in my case it's not because I'm anxious or giddy with excitement. I thought I was at first...I'm still wanting the surgery but my head is playing tricks on me. I'm really struggling with the reality of the money I'm about to spend. I've never spent that much money on myself. And I'm married, I have kids...how can I spend that money on myself? I keep telling myself I should be using the money for something for my family. Something for our house or an investment of some sort. I don't know what to do. I'm questioning all the things I thought I wanted. Is this really going to be worth it? Am I really going to succeed or will I have spent all this money for nothing? Feb 27 is just around the corner....I'm feeling lost.

As some of you know I am a cash patient. It was my only choice because my insurance has a restriction on weight loss surgery. So I've saved and saved and finally managed to save enough to pay for my surgery. My date is scheduled, I've had my appointment with the nutritionist and now I'm just waiting. But it seems like waiting is the hardest part. And in my case it's not because I'm anxious or giddy with excitement. I thought I was at first...I'm still wanting the surgery but my head is playing tricks on me. I'm really struggling with the reality of the money I'm about to spend. I've never spent that much money on myself. And I'm married, I have kids...how can I spend that money on myself? I keep telling myself I should be using the money for something for my family. Something for our house or an investment of some sort. I don't know what to do. I'm questioning all the things I thought I wanted. Is this really going to be worth it? Am I really going to succeed or will I have spent all this money for nothing? Feb 27 is just around the corner....I'm feeling lost.

Wow that is very different from what I've heard from anyone else. In my case I'm so terrified of doing anything other that what my surgeon says! I'm a cash patient so I don't want to screw this up! :scared2:

Hey clifford.... Yeah the nutritionist did say 85 grams but she meant only with the protein shakes...which means I would have to drink 6 - 8 shakes a day. :scared2:

Wow that was a lot of information. How am I supposed to remember everything? I met with my nutritionist today. My surgery is Feb 27th and according to her my Doctor does not require the 2 week pre-op diet but she recommends it. So I'm still not sure if I will do it or not. She went into detail about how the pre-op diet was really designed for shrinking the liver to make it easier on the surgeon. And according to my surgeon it doesn't make a difference if you do it or not. So I think I'm going to do it for at least the week prior to ready myself for the post-op. So she went on to tell me that I need to be getting 85 grams of protein a day. I currently weigh in at 295 and my goal (long term) is 165. She said for my height and history that 180 is realistic but that 165 is possible. And let me tell ya...either way I'm happy! I remember the last time I weighed 180 (just barely).....I was one hot mamma! Anywhoooo I am ready for this but boy I sure am nervous about the post-op stuff. Advice is always welcome :scared2:

Wow that was a lot of information. How am I supposed to remember everything? I met with my nutritionist today. My surgery is Feb 27th and according to her my Doctor does not require the 2 week pre-op diet but she recommends it. So I'm still not sure if I will do it or not. She went into detail about how the pre-op diet was really designed for shrinking the liver to make it easier on the surgeon. And according to my surgeon it doesn't make a difference if you do it or not. So I think I'm going to do it for at least the week prior to ready myself for the post-op. So she went on to tell me that I need to be getting 85 grams of protein a day. I currently weigh in at 295 and my goal (long term) is 165. She said for my height and history that 180 is realistic but that 165 is possible. And let me tell ya...either way I'm happy! I remember the last time I weighed 180 (just barely).....I was one hot mamma! Anywhoooo I am ready for this but boy I sure am nervous about the post-op stuff. Advice is always welcome :thumbup: