Stacy1980

Happy Birthday :w00t: I am not banded yet - but this year on my birthday, I specifically wanted to stay away from the typical "food" celebration. So i told my family I want to spend the day at the beach. We played ball, we played in the water, we just spend time relaxing. I didn't have a cake, no 1000 calorie dishes and I honestly had the best time. What do you like to do? Start from there. Maybe go to a fair (we have Renaissance fair here and that was fun).

Hi there :w00t: If everything goes according to plan..I will be banded in November!!!! I just have to do one more test and once thats completed, my documents will be submitted for insurance approval. My insurance has to respond in 24-48 hours. I also told my surgeon that I have to have it done before end of November because year end at my work lasts from December to March and nobody is allowed to take off unless you are on your deathbed and even then..they will make you work from home lol. they said that most likely i will have the surgery in November so i don't have to deal with my demanding job and recovery.

Good job!!!! :w00t:

When I first started with the process - I told a lot of people and now kicking myself in the ass for that. Some people (especially the ones who are closed minded) do NOT need to know. If they ask me how its going - I just brush it off and say "i decided to hold off on it". My closest friends who truelly know me and my struggle with the weight know. My wonderful supportive family knows. My ex-husband...definetly doesnt know. I will tell my manager once I get the approval and the surgery date. Thats pretty much it ...oh yeah!!! and this entire forum knows :mad:

thanks for the info! I was so scared that I will be awake for this procedure. I had this done when I was 10...back in russia and I was fully awake for the entire procedure and they just numb my throat a little bit. I still remember the feeling after 19 years! Question - how long did the procedure last?

esesophagogastroduodenoscopy aka gastroscopy or upper GI They stick a tube through your throat to check out your upper part of the gastrointestinal tract.

that is sooooo awesome!!! It must be the best feeling to say "Here..you can have these, they are too big on me.!

Oh I have plenty. I come from a Russian family that doesn't have a filter on their mouth. When I was younger: My mom's Russian Friends told me "you have such a pretty face but you won't ever find a husband if you stay this fat". I had random guys make comments about my weight and those comments hurt but I got over them fast. I think the one that hurt me the most is my now ex-husband used to say. Into 1st year of our relationship - he told me that he didn't want to go to his family reunion with me because I was overweight and that he was embarrassed. Either it was my very low self-esteem or the way he said it, i was upset about it but forgave him. He would make comments like that through out the 9 years of being together. He justified it by saying "I care more about you being healthy not being skinny". Then when I gave birth to our beautiful daughter and gained 30 lbs because of pregnancy and because I was in the hospital by her beside for 6 months...he said he wants a divorce because he is no longer attracted to me and he can't brag to his friends about me. So he left me for a girl who looks exactly like me ..but skinny. yeah...i think thinks that was probably the most hurtful experience I had to deal with when it came to my weight.

Hi Debbie I am soo happy for you! Good luck and wish you speedy recovery :w00t: Stacy

YOU JUST MADE MY DAY EVEN BETTER!!! thank you

Today I had my initial surgeon consult, nut and phsyc eval. Surgeon, Dr. Bertha said that since I have to loose 135 lbs he would recommand Gastric bypass - but i told him that I want to try the band. I will put all my efforts into it and if the weightlloos doesn't happen even if I follow the instructions 100% i will think about the gastric. He was very supportive about it. He also said that he is not going to make me go to 1000 doctors since my health is pretty good, except for back and joint pains. I just have to get my blood test done on Friday and have a gastro appoitment sometime in the next 2 weeks and they will send my paperwork to the ins. The ins coordinator said that when they called Tricare, they didn't say anything about the 6 months diet. So i am praying becuase I have been on the diet since I was 7 and I am just ready. I also made monthly appoitments with the nut because she has given me instructions on several things i should start on such as: drinking 64 oz, eating slowly, getting protein first, and walking. things i looking good! I might be getting a lapband by november. eyeyeyey!!!

I second that! I have used it for a month my skin looked amazing (plus the Water of course). I went about 2 weeks without it and you can play connect the dots on my face. After 3 days of being back - its cleard. and the Spot Treatment is awesome! totaly works.

Have a glass of warm water + fresh lemon juice - first thing in the morning. Helps a lot and very good for you and BM issue

hi :frown: Congratulations on your success.! you look fantastic! Dr. Bertha is the doctor who will perform my surgery (if i get approved that is). What was your experience with him?

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I am stll in the process for getting an approval but I am spending everyday gathering new information on how to be succesful wtih the band. I have read over and over again how a tight band is not a good deal. I have also noticed that people who had it too tight - stoped loosing after 50 lbs or so. I do have a question. I know that some pills are a big no no after the surgery because they damage the puch and the band. Are slimquicks Kosher to user post surgry? Just wanted to make sure they were approved by the doctor. I know they work very well so i am thinking about adding that to my regime but wanted to make sure first. Thank you!!! :thumbup:

How true!! I get on this website and 3 hours later...its dark..and i have like 3 hours till I have to wake up again LOL!!!

that is wonderful!! Congratulations!!!!!

Hi Everybody! For a long time I was not sure which way to go RNY or the band. After a lot of research I have finally made my decision to go with the band. I know that I have a sweet tooth so RNY might be better in that sence but I also know that regardless of which way I go...its is ME who is goign to be responsible on how successful i will be. Will instant gratification of eating M&M that takes 2 minutes to eat more important than being healthy and the right weight? No, its not. I believe with the band, I will learn how to eat healhy and take responsibility for my own actions. I also like that fact that the band can be adjusted year after year that will be a great tool in keepng up wtih the weight loss or mantaining. I also believe that the slower weight is better for the organs and the skin. I have been over weight for almost 30 years now - I don't need to loose 135 lbs in 6 months - I can wait another 2 years as long as the scale is moving in the right direction. I need to learn how to eat healthy not just for my sake but for my daughters sake. She is 2 years old who copies me in every single way! She now gets excited pizza and cookies and it was cute in the beginning but now I am realizing that I need be prime example that fruit and vegetables are as yummy as the candy. and guess what - for the past 2 months I have changed how I ate and now instead of asking for a cookie she asks for an apple. I refuse to let her struggle with the weight and what comes with it. I already did the seminar and now i have my surg. consult, phsyc and NUT on September 2nd. I am hoping that my insurance will approve and I can move on and start living my life. I wanted to thank everybody who has shared their success, struggles, happy and sad stories, people who had questions- i have leared a lot and I am looking forward to chating with all of you. Stacy

Hi You will be fine with your tongue ring. I took mine out for a job interview that lasted 4 hours - and actually ended up putting it back the next day. I was just fine. I miss my tongue ring soo much. Had to take it out because my job involved a lot of client visits. :thumbup: good luck!!!!!!