CarolineDC

Just thought I'd update this thread in case other people happen upon it later and decide we all perished from the pre-op diet! I started feeling better within a few days. My pre-op diet includes one solid snack per day, and I discovered that if I eat the solid snack earlier in the day (instead of saving it for night time), I feel better. I hope everybody else is feeling a little better by now, too!

That's my philosophy, too. It comes up with doctors when they assume that because I'm a mom, I gave birth (I didn't; my partner did), or when they ask about my plans for birth control, or when they ask if I'm married. Those pregnancy tests are SOP; they can't risk operating on a pregnant woman and causing a pregnancy loss. It has nothing to do with you personally. And yeah, if I came out to a professional who couldn't be professional knowing I was gay, I'd fire the person and find somebody else. But that's a privilege I have, because I live in a place where it's not socially acceptable for doctors to mistreat patients because they are LGBT. I know not everybody can just walk away from a doctor.

That sounds bad! Have you talked to your surgeon or nurse about the pain in your neck and shoulder? Is it possible your meds need to be adjusted to accommodate the amount of food you're (not) eating? I think the reason I'm feeling bad right now is just the dearth of calories (<1000/day); I'm hoping my body will adjust somewhat. Hope you're feeling better soon!

When I first read your post, I immediately put together the phrases "coping" and "cake". No big mystery how I got so overweight!

I'm not keeping it a secret exactly; I'm just not telling a lot of people. It feels like a personal thing that I don't want to talk about with most people. I did tell my best friend, who is a doctor, and he was totally supportive. I might tell some more family members when it's closer to time, but I haven't decided. It's not that I'm ashamed of the band; it's just that I'm a pretty private person.

I'm a straightforward kinda girl. I like "June 09". :redface:

I just got my surgery date -- June 12! Pre-op is June 3. My head is reeling a little; I just had my consultation yesterday morning, so this is all happening fast! I've been doing a lot of reading, talking it over with family, et cetera..., so I'm feeling good about my decision. I'm hoping to avoid cosmetic surgery after my weight loss. I know there are lots of uncontrollable factors that contribute to skin changes, but I'm planning to moisturize like crazy, drink plenty of Water, and try to be sure I don't lose too much muscle. Anybody else thinking about this yet? I think it hasn't sunk it yet that I'm really doing this. I can't get my head around the idea of being 60 lbs lighter at this time next year!

Hoping somebody can share their experience! The only co-morbidity I have is high blood pressure, and it's actually well-controlled without medication now. It was high last year, and I took meds for about six months. Came off the meds, and I've been within normal limits since then. Does anyone have any experience getting insurance coverage with a co-morbidity that's successfully treated without medication?

If you're a stay-at-home-parent, or were when you had your surgery, how long did you recover before returning to "work"? My partner will be able to take a medical leave for my post-op recovery, but I have no idea how long it should be. I have one child -- a very active two year old, 33 pounds -- and it will be very hard to get through the day without lifting him if I'm the only one home. How long was it before you could lift your kids? I know I'm going to need help after the surgery, but for how long? Thanks! Caroline

Thanks for sharing your experiences, everyone. It's so helpful to get information from people who are already further down the path!

Hey, everyone. I'm Caroline, 35. I have my consultation with the surgeon in three days. I expect to self-pay if I move forward with the surgery. (I had high blood pressure last year, but it's controlled without medications now, so I don't technically have any co-morbidities.) I don't want to wait until I do have a lot of health problems. I look at the lap band like a leash; a dog on a leash might still try to chase squirrels, but he's not going to catch them. I need the lap band to be my leash, to pull me back when I want to chase down an entire buffet table! Caroline