~Michelle~

Everyone has been supportive to my face, and I guess that's all that really matters. I have one friend who told me she could "fix" me by running me behind her car, because that is how she got her dog to loose weight. I imagine she realized how rediculous her comment was, because now she is very supportive, even though she doesn't agree with it.

My surgery is Friday also, I am nervous, and I have cheated a little on my pre-op diet. Actually my nurse, and dietician told me I could add a little salad, and chicken brest, also SF jello, and SF popsicles. I had some pork chop last night, and I felt guilty, but today I am back on, and plan to stick to it to perfectly. I am hoping my slip up doesn't cost me. Right now its really hard, because I am a stress eater, something I just recently discovered about myself. But I just keep telling myself this will all be worth it in the end.

Guess I really didn't think of that.....I really don't care if people know though. Besides if they hear about through gossip, then that's all it really is, I live in a small town so I am used to it...lol

My surgery is Friday also, I am very nervous, tons of anxiety. I am afraid of the surgery itself, complications, not waking up, the whole nine yards. And then there are the fears of regretting it, and fears it won't help and I'll still be over weight, fears that it will have adverse effects on my marriage. So I think being nervous at this point is normal, I know I am, its right around the corner. I am not going to have finger nails left by Friday..LOL

I had to take an intelligence test...and then a q & a test, and then we just chatted a bit. I think mainly they want to make sure that you are making an informed, and non-impulsive decision. My phyc also told me they want to make sure that if do have any kind of issues... eating disorders.... depression..etc..that they are addressed.

My family, and closest friends are the only one who know about my surgery. I guess the people I think should know about it know. I really don't want a lot of people knowing at this point. I also told my haridresser, only because she had it done also, and was one of the people who helped encourage me to get it done.

I have been reading so much about different pre-op tests. The only test I have to do it some blood work. No x-rays, or upper GI stuff. Is this normal?

I prepare everything the night before, and take it to work with me. If it needs to be refrigerated, then I have a little ice box I put it in. LindaD congrats on the weight loss, and good luck tomorrow.

Wow nothing but liquids...guess I shouldn't complain, at least the shakes help me feel like I am actually getting something. My nurse, and dietician told me yesterday that I could have some SF jello, so that should help fill the void a little. I can also have a little bit of chicken breast and some salad at night, just small portions. No creamy dressing.

Thanks for words of encouragment, I am feeling a little better today about it. My surgery is June 5th no time set yet, have to wait on the hospital. My pre-op visit is the day before surgery, and I will find out then what time.

I started my pre-op diet today. I am already having a hard time with it. My Dr has me on Slim Fast, nothing but Slim Fast. I also quit smoking recently so this is becomming very difficult. Anybody else on the pre-op diet? I really am feeling like I can't do this...already cheated a little by eating some chicken breast....has me second guessing everything, but I know I truely want this, and if I had some kind of restriction this pre-op diet would be so much easier!!! I am so hungry right now, and I can't imagine how hungry I am going to be in a few days!!!

I have also lost up to 50lbs and then regained, and I am hoping Lap Band will help keep it off and more for good too. Good luck to you too!:smile:

I am right now going through the same thing. I have been eating like crazy since I really decided to get the surgery, and I had the loan to do it. Yesterday my surgery was scheduled for June 5th, and so I start the liquid diet on Monday. I have ate 3 candy bars since yesterday, and made sure I got some Chineese food. I am having tons of anxiety about surgery, because I am afraid I still won't stop eating even after surgery.

I am new, so not sure if this is the right place post this, sorry if it is not. I am very frustrated with the whole process of finding the right surgeon right now. I live in Northern AZ where the closest real town is 2 hrs away, and I am also self pay. So there are several issues, besides making the intial decsion of having WLS, to consider. One cost, second a surgeon I am comfortable with, thrid how far am I going to have to travel. I started with attending a seminar in Flagstaff which is about a 2 hr drive. Then I made the decision I want Lap Band, so I called to make the first appt for consult. Asked what the surgery would cost and explained I was self pay, and I was told approx $15,000 which seems to be the norm, but then there is the labs, and dietician, and phyc eval, and 4 hour ed class, which none of it is included in the price I was given. Also there is only 90 days of aftercare, with 3 fills included. So I decided to check out other places to get an idea of whether or not this is normal. I checked out the Saint George area because it is about the same distance as Flagstaff. They have a set price for the surgery with is under $14,000 that includes one year aftercare, and 15 fills. So I call to get more information, and got an answering machine. The coordinator got back to me the following day. She told me I would need to get labs, phyc eval, and so on, but I could do them here at home instead of having to travel there to do it. She was suppossed to get all the information to my Dr so he could prescribe the labs for me, and get me referal to dietician, and so on. Well she never got the stuff to him , and never called him like she said she would. Everytime I try to call I get a voice mail, so I am starting to think that cooridnator is not a nurse like I thought she was. So I believe that I have not spoken to any real staff memebers. So now I am not sure if I am comfortable with that. I want to talk to staff memebers, nurses, something other than a machine. So then I hear of a Dr Simpson in Phoenix, I call they have a set price for the surgery $16,400, and all labs, dietician, and phyc eval are included, with 2 years of aftercare, and fills durring that 2 years. The only problem with Phoenix is that it is a 5-6 hr drive from where I live. So my head is just spinning with all these things to consider. I really wish Flagstaff had some kind of set price for self pay patients. I mean it could end up costing me a lot more then what I expected to pay. Especially not knowing what some of the other things I have to do are going to cost me. My insurance will pay for the labs if its done under another code other than obesity, but still its just scarry going into something like this having no real confidence in what its going to cost. Also I don't like the fact that it costs nearly the same as Dr Simpson, but doesn't have that same amount of aftercare. Then in St George I can't talk to a real staff member. If I go to Phoenix, its a long drive that I really don't like making, and I might not save any money going that route. Can anybody share anything with me that might help me decide. Like if 2 years aftercare is really necessary, or if 15 fills is necessary. Maybe if someone has had to travel a far distance what kind of strain has that put on you. I know no one can make the decision for me, but really I am not sure what to expect after the surgery is done, and whether or not aftercare is really that important or if its just a selling point.

It so nice to hear that there are people who are happy with the Lap Band.

Anyone heard of or been to Dr. John Miller or Jared Speakman of St. George Utah? I am considering getting my surgery through Dr. John Miller already checked his credentials, and did a back ground check. Came back clean, just hoping to find someone who might have had their surgery there.

After really doing some research, and thinking about things, I am definately going to get the Lap Band done. Still a little torn on where though. I am really scarred also, worried it won't work, worried about the surgery, worried about complications, and worried about sagging skin, but I am definately ready to be healthy and thin, and I think that outweighs the fears.

Hi, I live in Northern Arizona. I have made it to a seminar, and have decided on getting surgery, just not sure which one or where yet. I am leaning more towards Lap Band, but have been considering the Sleeve also. I have been hearing horror stories about Lap Band, but also have heard some really good things. With the Sleeve it seems that after surgery there is less restriction, less hunger, and fewer complications, but I guess it depends on who you talk to. which is why I am glad I found this site, it will be nice to get to talk to some people who have had this done. The other decision I am torn on is where to get it done. In Mexico it is so much cheaper, but my husband has some concerns about my safety as far as getting it done in Mexico. Anyone have any experience with this? Is just as safe?

Wow great information this is one of things I was worried most about with the Lap Band