Koko

Koko, I was at that same seminar. My pcp actually recommends them. Unfortuneatly my insurance requires a 6mo Dr. directed weight loss program prior to being considered for the surgery. Good luck on your journey and would love to here of your experience.

Thanks,

Dona

Hey Dona, that's quite the coincidence about you being at the same seminar - I thought that they did a really good job at going over everything and answering questions. The only thing was at the end, they lost control/focus of the crowd and I couldnt hear any of the questions and answers due to so many people talking. Anyway, I did come away with complete confidence in them.

My insurance also requires a 6-month dr directed weight loss program and it stinks. I did great on my own for so long and just found that I couldnt get full on the amount of food I needed to lose more weight. The band seems like a really good fit for me though and I will pay for this out of pocket if I have to! I really believe that my life depends upon it.

Let's keep posted here - let me know how your doing.

ROTFL.....see just how far she has pushed me???? I am planning my own demise.....good grief!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, no matter how bad it gets, I imagine it could be worse LOL Gotta take these things with a grain of humor lest we all go certifiably insane!:faint:

Texas, this is a huge deal!!! Of course I have quite a ways to go but believe me, I noticed a big difference after losing 100lbs. It's been with strangers rather than friends in that they will meet my eyes more whereas before, I was invisible. Becoming "visible" is scary at best - especially for those of us who have never been thin and did not grow into womanhood learning how to deal with attention from members of the opposite sex.

Frankly, getting to goal scares the bezeejus out of me in this respect. It's flattering getting attention but as someone who has spent their life trying to blend into the background, it's not necessarily welcome.

To be fair though, your personality and friendship may be perfect but they have not previously been physically attracted to you. Yes, it should not matter, but it does. We all have biases and preferences, unfortunately our society finds this particular "fault" to be one of the worst. I read a poll once where the question was "would you rather date someone who was overweight or a cocaine addict?" - the majority answer was "cocaine addict" :omg: Good Grief!

Vera, congratulations! What a wonderful accomplishment... the weight loss and the adorable kids

RNY

Besides that, you are in danger of winding up with a dispropotionately large head. I don't know why that happens. I just know that it does happen to some people.

I don't know how right on this is but when I went to my lap band seminar, they actually talked about this and said it was because a person can lose so much muscle that they have this appearance. Hey, on the up-side there may be a Hollywood career in that - don't all those stars have a huge head compared to their body?

Seriously though, KLS it looks that many are giving you some good information. There is no such thing as researching any surgical measure to death. I am sure that whatever you choose, it will be the right decision for you. All the best, this is not easy.

The whole idea of my normal digestive system be sliced and diced is really horrifying to me (personally). from everything I have read, the lap band is so much safer and does not have all the nasty side effects of the other. Also, losing weight too fast can equal muscle rather than fat loss.

RNY is

High risk

invasive

irreversible

Vitamin deficiencies

requires longer hospitalization

Protein malabsorption

DIARRHEA

not adjustable

etc.

Everyone has to make their own decision - good luck, this is a big one.

I told my boss and a really good friend at work who is discrete but don't want to tell anyone else there at all. It's a very personal thing to me - don't even know if I'm going to tell my extended family, just kids and forum friends. I'm going to just take a vacation week so no one will think anything of it.

I have to say that these few that I have told were extremely supportive and positive

Maybe once she died she got to be with her daughter and found out who the killer is. Maybe her spirit stayed around to guide in finding the killer. Maybe I just haven't had coffee yet.

Hunny, that was my thought too but then again I havent had my coffee yet either :help:

503-250, I think I'm in love with you Way to go, I love your way of dealing with these rude types... give it right back!

I so get what you are saying. I spent a year and a half walking past the danish Cookies, bowls of large candy bars and the box of donuts the florist brought every day and it was hard! All of the sudden one day, I was really hungry from skipping Breakfast and lunch and dug in.

There is no such thing as just one for many of us and there is no such thing as "moderation". I know that these types of foods will literally make me ravenous and I could eat the whole box. The people that bring these things in, usually don't understand this and they CAN eat just one and not keep going back. A POX on them LOL

Lisa, that's great! I'll be anxious to read about your experiences on this journey. Good luck to you

Morsaille, thanks

Thanks. I would try drain cleaner but I am not sure if it would go down with the band....just kidding...

Ummmmm.... I think that the drain cleaner was for her :omg: LOL

In law issues can be a pain :help:

YIKES!! So much good information on this site - hope you feel better soon.

I'm going to my informational seminar tomorrow night and was wondering if anyone here went through "Northwest Weight Loss Surgery"? I've already made up my mind to get banded as soon as possible but want to make sure my choice of surgeons is a good one.

Any input is welcome - thanks :biggrin1:

So many positive replies, I'm getting really excited! Thanks guys!

Well if I lose 65% of what I have after getting banded (in the preliminary stages) then I'll be happy. Anything more would be a dream - with good food choices, exercise and the band, I believe it can happen.

It's amazing to me the things that people will do and say to someone about their weight. We live with this for years, it causes us pain and we would rather not have it in our face any more than it is.

You try to pretend that your not all that big and then someone comes along and points it out

My sister has always been sensitive about her weight. There was an older man at church who always made negative comments about her weight.

Good grief!! I must have missed that scripture in the bible where Jesus ridiculed someone for being overweight... off to find my bible

For years my Mom would introduce me by name when encountering friends but proudly introduce my slim sister as her daughter. It hurt and even though she has stopped doing this, it's a pain that is hard to forget. Our families are supposed to love and support us, not tear us down.

Laura, the wonderful thing about being in Ketosis is that your body has switched from burning refined carbs for energy to burning fat. Definitely a good thing You can buy some strips at the drug store to check if this is the case - basically you pee on a strip and the color will indicate ketosis. Good luck to you!

Hey! Nothing wrong with being in ketosis. Just brush more and make sure you brush your tongue... sugar free mints and gum can be your friends

My Sweet Baby (my 4 year old) says I'm "Bouncy" and she looooovvvveeees bouncy! *LOL* No ill intent, just a descriptive word that makes sense to her.

That's cute. I had a similar nickname when my son was 4-8, he called me "squishy".

As I've never been thin (at least since I was 5 years old), I don't have any idea what is "normal" for me... no clue at all.

However, I found a pretty good link that you may want to check out.

http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm

I'm curious to know how those here feel about their lapband surgery and whether they have any regrets about it. Most likely those here are going to be more positive than not but here's a poll:

Thanks for all the good advice. If we are unable to talk openly about this more and work through the feelings, I will definitely seek out therapy. Just a clarification though, we are not married and don't live together - we've been together for 8 months so its a fairly new relationship.

He's my first serious guy since my husband died suddenly in September 2004. I always felt "not good enough" with my husband and he was really bothered by my weight fluctuations. This guy loves me for how I am and it's been so liberating to have this for the first time in my life.

Who knows what tomorrow brings? The bottom line is the communication issue - if we can't communicate, there are bigger things wrong than me losing weight and being more attractive to other men.