Nathalie

Telly - I've been non-sexually crushing you for months! I saw your first "shy girl" pics and then watched as you blossomed into the powerhouse diva that you have become! YOU GO GIRL! I only hope my post-band success is as amped as yours. I am on a 2- month holding pattern because of low Iron. I get my blood retested on Monday (30 Oct.) and they BETTER be ready to schedule my surgery! I've printed the initial post and am ready to work my ass off! Thanks, girl and keep it up. You are beautiful inside and out. Nathalie

I am a BCBS of MI and they cover it 100%. I only have to pay $100 out of pocket for my hospitalization. I think every plan is different, depending your employer and what they cover. Good luck! Nathalie

Hi Mindy! Know that I'm sending you big hugs! Your emotions are normal - because they are YOUR emotions. Feel what you need to feel and accept it. That's how I'm dealing with mine at this point. I know your frustration. My parents are totally unsupportive, and for that reason I have chosen not to tell them, especially my mother. All I'd hear was negativity and derision, so I am choosing to avoid the frustration and keep my plans to myself. I would recommend that you at least get your blood checked. One thing that has stalled my progress was my Iron level. I had completed everything, thought I was in perfect health and ready to be banded in September until my bloodwork came back with low iron. I have to take iron pills 2x per day, plus Vitamin C. I'm also taking a Multivitamin at this point. Two months (end of October) I go back to have my blood tested again, and then they'll assess how I'm doing, then get me a surgery date if my blood is thicker/stronger. I cried for 4 days when I heard that. I've also taken time to get my head around surgery since then. The doctor told me to lose 15 pounds prior to surgery to shrink my liver. I've already lost over 20. (But every day is a struggle!) I'm trying to think and eat like I'm banded. I figure I can't control other people, but I can control me and how I react to the jack@sses in the world. I'm doing things for myself to put me in a better place - exercising, drinking tons of Water and not eating sugar. Keep your chin up, do what you can do to help yourself meet your goal, and stay positive! Nathalie

You may also want to try Ebay. I got all of my maternity clothes there (size 22/24; 2x or bigger). AND I sold them there when I was finished with them. The clothes were gently used, quality and MUCH less than you'll pay at a retailer for brand new things you're only going to wear for a temporary time. Also, some women will sell lots of clothes - meaning more than one item in the same auction. Many will be coordinated so that you can make more than one outfit out of the clothes. If you take good care of the clothes, you can resell them when you're done and get your money back. Just a thought - some people don't like Ebay or used things, but I wanted to mention it as an option. Good luck! Nathalie

I'm still a newbie and am poking in and out while I wait for my date, but I agree with AC. I hate the "I'm leaving the boards" threads - not just here, but everywhere. (No finger pointing from Fat Nat!) On one board I was on just a few weeks ago this guy made a HUGE deal out of needing some time away from the boards, and he had to do some soul searching and recenter himself. He left a long confusing and vague post about why he was leaving and alluded to the person/people who hurt his feelings. This chump was gone for TWO DAYS, then was back posting the same crap (links to doctor's sites, band rules, etc. etc.) that he always posted. I thought WTF? He didn't need a break, he needed some attention. That's one of the reasons I left that board, by the way. And I didn't even post an "I'm leaving" thread. I just left. But that's my issue - I agree, I don't like the threads, I usually don't know the people, and most of the time I don't know who/what/where/when/why they decided to leave - so I don't go into the threads. No sense in clicking in to contribute to the drama, just begone already. So long, see ya, wouldn't wanna be ya! JMHO, Nathalie

Hi! I am going to the MMPC in Grand Rapids. I've done all my pre-op testing and am waiting for my surgery date. I was on a different board for a while, but they were primarily RNY and quite nasty, in my opinion. I'm glad to be here and hope hope hope to find a friend in the GR/Kzoo area! Nathalie

Hi purtynailz! I'm very close to you. I live near 28th and Breton in GR. My surgery was postponed because of a low Iron count. I have to take iron for 2 months, then retest my blood. My insurance is on board, I just have to get my iron up. Are you excited? How long after you're released from your sleep apnea will they schedule your surgery?

Hi - I hope I'm posting in the correct forum. I am pre-band. I've gone through all my tests and am waiting for a surgery date. When I had my behavioral assessment, the assessor recommended I see a therapist to deal with so many changes in my life (new baby, new job, new city, etc.) because I was feeling overwhelmed. I met with the therapist yesterday and she is a RNY success story. She said she was nearly 340lbs and now she's a size 8. When I told her I wanted to have the LB, she didn't say anything, but said that I should look closer at RNY because I have "control" issues and she thinks that I may fail at the LB. The internist at the surgeons' clinic also recommended RNY because of so many life changes. I'm getting confused. Especially because I thought having the LB would reduce the amount of loose skin (which I'm discovering is not the case), and because I am honestly fearful of the idea of having my organs re-routed. But since the therapist has also recommended RNY, and cited my own thought processes as the reason I may fail, I don't know what to do. How do you know which decision to make? How do you know that the LB vs. RNY is the right decision for you? I am 287lbs and want to get down to about 170. Even the surgeon said I probably wouldn't get that thin because of the statistics. Thanks in advance for your feedback, Nathalie

Okay. FIRST off, I am at work and trying to hold it together. The surgeon anticipated my having surgery sometime late September or early October as all I had to have was bloodwork and an endoscopy. Done. Ready to rock and roll, right? I expected to get a surgery date this week. F*CKING WRONG! I got the lab results today and my Iron is low. They want me to take an iron supplement (325mg/day) and a Vitamin C supplement (500mg/day) for TWO FRIGGIN MONTHS, retest my blood and then they'll look to schedule a date. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED AND SO ANGRY AND JUST WANT TO CRY AND KICK AND STOMP MY FEET then go to Bob Evans. :hungry: :think :hungry: Just thinking about it puts tears in my eyes. I'm ready to go home, crawl into bed with a sack of Double-Stuff Oreos and watch I Love Lucy reruns. I want meaty cheesy followed by salty sweet. And even though it won't make me feel better, it will get me through the bad feelings I'm having now. I had a physical in April and my PCP noticed the low iron (I don't eat a lot of meat) but said it was 2 points within "normal" range, so they weren't worried. FUGGITALL! If my PCP doesn't care, wtf? Although, I also had low blood during my pregnancy and my OB/GYN put me on iron for 4 months so my blood would be strong for the C-section. So I understand needing the supplement and the waiting period. I guess I'm writing this to you all for support as well as to myself to get my head around my bloodwork issues, my ongoing mental malfunction (that makes me want to eat through my pain instead of deal with it) and my ultimate goal, which is to lose weight. Two months isn't that long, right? I mean I've waited 38 years for the band, so 2 more months is a mere blink of the eye. The surgeon challenged me to lose 10 - 15 lbs prior to surgery. With 2 months ahead of me, I can do that and more! I have an elliptical machine at home; I can challenge myself to be on it daily for at least 30 minutes. I will eat lots of spinach and other foods with iron in addition to my supplements (to keep constipation at bay) and I will, in 2 months, be ready to be banded. I truly believe that this is a crock of bullsh*t, but I also believe that the surgeon's office wants me to be as healthy as I can going into a major surgical procedure. My inner child is throwing a helluva tantrum right now; rational me is making a plan to make it through the next 2 months. F*cking iron... Thanks for listening to my rant/pity party/stream of consciousness musings... And thanks in advance for the support. Nathalie

gonnabethin - your post scared me! I was trying to figure out how one drink could have 1150.0 calories - but the 0.0 means something else. DUH Bettina: Try vanilla vodka with a diet vanilla coke and a cap full of vanilla extract. (I really like vanilla) It tastes like a really vanilla delight. And if I'm feeling especially naughty I'll add a shot of vanilla rum. Cabana Boy. LOL But I thought we were supposed to give up alcohol post banding? My surgeon was adamant about that. So was the behaviorist, matter of fact. I wonder if that's fact or if that's judgment! Mmmmmm booze. I'm going to dream about buttery nipple shots and tequila shooters. Nathalie

maudeispam - I am going to MMPC and my surgeon is Dr. Kemmeter. Where in MI is your sister? Elisabethsew - you have already welcomed me more than once with your kind and supportive emails. Thank you so much.

I did BFL a few years ago and lost 30 pounds in 12 weeks. The workouts were hard; I kept a little journal of all of my weights and reps so I could see how far I've come (I'm making a new little journal for myself now.) Bill Phillips endorses EAS (whatever the brand) shakes because it's his brand. That's why there's so much emphasis on drinking those Protein shakes and eating the protein bars: He makes more money when you buy them. I think some of those people had to do BFL multiple cycles before they attained their results. I agree - some of those pictures are a little too hard to believe, but I do think the pictures are authentic, and those people did change their bodies through exercise. I could see my muscles getting "cut" even through my 270 pound bodyflab. :biggrin1: The program is awesome but takes a lot of time and dedication. It's much easier to follow if you have a partner. I would love to get back on that program once I lost some weight. The results will be even greater, I believe. But for now I want to concentrate on my cardio. Nathalie

Thank you all so much for your replies. I have done the research and LapBand is what I chose after reading and reading and reading. The surgeon and the behavioral assessor agree with my decision and fully support me. That makes me feel better. I know that I will be successful. I am a binge eater - and I also know what happens to my stomach when I can't eat a lot! While pregnant I had complications that seriously restricted the amount of food I could eat at one time. I lost 90 pounds from the day I got pregnant through the week after I delivered. I've (unfortunately) gained most of that back. But I know that if I can get to that point again, I will make healthy choices, exercise and lose weight. I still can't help thinking "but what if" - do you all get that? But what if I fail? But what if I can't stop eating? But what if I fall into a depression and don't follow through with my doctor. I suppose I need to find a close knit support group (online and in person) to share my success and help me through my struggles. I am crying right now - thank you all so much for helping me clear my head. It's such a desperate thing for me - I've always been dead set against surgical options thinking I had enough control to diet and exercise myself thin. I can't do it. But with some help and some friends I know I'll make it. Thank you for sharing your success and your opinions. Thanks, too for the PMs. Big Love to you all! Nathalie

Hello Everyone! I'm new around here. I'm 38 years old and weigh a whopping 285 pounds. I'm 5'8" and am still in the pre-surgical phase. I have had my orientation, the meeting with the internist, a surgical consult, and today I completed my tests: bloodwork, urinalisys and my endoscopy. Now all I'm waiting for is a surgery date. I'm SO excited! I started the process (orientation) on July 31. And I anticipate being banded before the end of September. I'm so excited. Since my surgical consult I have been exercising daily, trying to get my Protein in and I'm drinking tons of water! My surgeon has asked me to lose 15 pounds before surgery, and I've already taken off 5. Just wanted to say HI, introduce myself a little and mentally prepare for the surgery. How long does it typically take once you've done all your pre-surgial tests? Thanks in advance! Nathalie