Mel Mel

:thumbup:Bravo Spartan! Your post must have hit home with so many people. I have mentioned in my own post that I was still on the fence with having surgery. I have done everything I was supposed to do and now I'm probably setting a surgery date this thursday with my surgeon. Starting the pre-op low carb diet and how miserable I felt and not liking the shakes I've tried really scared me, almost out of not doing this. I too, am working with a therapist. We talked about my fears about why I wouldn't want to go through with the surgery. I was afraid of some of the complications like my food intolerances (I hope I can still eat shrimp) but mostly of not succeeding. Part of me knows I can do this, I know about nutrition and I'm willing to learn more. I'm active now I hope to do more. So I just keep telling myself that I know what to do and the Lap band will be a tool to help me get to my goals!

More than the anesthesia or the surgery itself, failure is without a doubt my biggest fear.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. It really means a lot to be able to talk to others who feel the same way I do.

I get worried about the surgery and post op how I will tolerate it. If I will be successful. What people will think. I hate having this secret but at the same time I'm not sure I'm ready to share this with many people. I've only told my husband and one friends only because the lap band was recommended to her mom. My parents and close friends don't even know.

Thank you everyone for your support and thoughts. I'm having such a tough time with this low carb / high Protein diet and finding the Protein drinks that I like. I think I'm starting to feel overwhelmed. I've been to the psych eval but at the time I was completely onboard. I haven't been able to see my therapist because I've been working when she has business hours. ssandedocI did the same thing... go through the motions and then make a decision. All I have left is my cardiologist appointment and my followup with my surgeon. I still have a few pounds to lose before the surgery. I guess its normal to get nervous this close. I could be scheduling this surgery when I meet the surgeon next! I was even nervous going in for the endoscopy. sandiegokate At the seminar my surgeon said 10% but the odds still aren't in our favor. And I see your point. This is why my emotions flip so often, if I was able to do this on my own, I wouldn't have steadily gained 10lbs a year for 11 years. amylovescookies Good luck with the tummy tuck. My husband was against the lap band at first, I don't know what changed but he's on board. Not that I want him to tell me what to do, but it does mean alot that he wants me to have it. Like I said I'm healhty... now. But we want to start a family and I just can't at this weight. Too much that can go wrong. I think he understands this and wants me to stay healthy and even get healthier. I really do appreciate everyone's responses. And thank you for the well wishes.

Initial consultation 2/12 check Pulmonary Function Test 2/23 check Psych eval 3/11 check Nutrition Consultation 3/11 check Ultrasound and blood work 3/15 check Met with PCP to discuss surgery 3/15 check Pulmonary consultation 3/16 check EGD 3/25 check Cardiology consult 3/31 Meeting with surgeon and my husband 4/1 It's been a busy couple of months trying to get in all these consultations and appointment. Working nights doesn't make it easier either, people forget you have to sleep sometime! My cardiology has been postponed due to the receptinists sending me to the wrong office... twice. But I think we have it this time! lol I'm been dreading and putting off the low carb diet. That is until I read a very informative post about how the liver actually shrinks. Time to get my butt in gear. I've lost weight, don't get me wrong but apparently I'm not shrinking my liver at all. I was very nervous going to the EGD. I've never been under anesthesia before. They rolled me into the room and once I saw my doctor I felt much better but still hated the idea of losing control. The anesthesiologist says goodnight and the next thing I remember is waking up in recovery. I told the nurse it was the best power nap I've ever had. On the first I will meet with my surgeon again and he will meet my husband since he didn't attend the information seminar. At first my husband was against me having the surgery. Then I started to get cold feet and panic and we had a heart to heart and he thinks that I should go through with this. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions these passed few months and for awhile I convinced myself not to go through with it at all. I'm not sure when the surgery will be since I haven't been doing the appropriate diet to shrink the liver.

Initial consultation 2/12 check Pulmonary Function Test 2/23 check Psych eval 3/11 check Nutrition Consultation 3/11 check Ultrasound and blood work 3/15 check Met with PCP to discuss surgery 3/15 check Pulmonary consultation 3/16 check EGD 3/25 check Cardiology consult 3/31 Meeting with surgeon and my husband 4/1 It's been a busy couple of months trying to get in all these consultations and appointment. Working nights doesn't make it easier either, people forget you have to sleep sometime! My cardiology has been postponed due to the receptinists sending me to the wrong office... twice. But I think we have it this time! lol I'm been dreading and putting off the low carb diet. That is until I read a very informative post about how the liver actually shrinks. Time to get my butt in gear. I've lost weight, don't get me wrong but apparently I'm not shrinking my liver at all. I was very nervous going to the EGD. I've never been under anesthesia before. They rolled me into the room and once I saw my doctor I felt much better but still hated the idea of losing control. The anesthesiologist says goodnight and the next thing I remember is waking up in recovery. I told the nurse it was the best power nap I've ever had. On the first I will meet with my surgeon again and he will meet my husband since he didn't attend the information seminar. At first my husband was against me having the surgery. Then I started to get cold feet and panic and we had a heart to heart and he thinks that I should go through with this. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions these passed few months and for awhile I convinced myself not to go through with it at all. I'm not sure when the surgery will be since I haven't been doing the appropriate diet to shrink the liver.

Daily I change my ming regarding this surgery. One day I'm 100% into it and then the next I'm scared of the surgery and want to try it on my own. I got my bloodwork back and was cleared to start the low carb diet. But since I work at the hospital where my bloodwork was done i took a peek. There's nothing. All my levels were fine, maybe slightly off but nothing of major concern. And at first, my husband was against me having this surgery and now he thinks I should. Not that he's making my decisions for me but I do value his opinion. I'm 26 and I feel like such a big fat failure. I'm afraid of making a decision and it being the wrong one. I'm supposed to go for an endoscopy this week and I'm about to cancel it because I'm afraid. But 110lbs is a lot for me to lose. Can I do it on my own? Is this surgery the best choice for me? I meet with the surgeon April 1, and I feel like I'm losing time to make a choice. I'm hoping that someone out there has been through what I'm going through. My husband just doesn't understand it's not just a choice to have surgery or not. Afterward there will be major changes in my eating habits and food tolerances. I've only told him and one friends whose mother is thinking of having the surgery. So I don't feel like I have anyone I can really open up to and really share my thoughts and concerns.

Tomorrow I start a low carb, low fat diet that I follow until the 2 week pre-op liquid diet with the Protein shakes. It will be a littl difficult but I'm sure I'll manage. Good luck

Thank you for your reply. I think I'm having a case of cold feet. When I think about how I haven't been able to do this on my own shows me the need for this tool. I just get worried about how I will adapt. The liquid and mushy diet are short term but it's after that. How will my life change with regard to family and friends? Family meals? Eating out? And as I was going about my day today, it dawned on me, I'm choosing food over life. Regardless of whether or not I get the band, I will need to change the way I eat. I just can't eat like I used to... I shouldn't have in the first place! But I still get nervous.

Things went well with the psych consult. It seems I have been gaining 10lbs a year which is upsetting since I've tried to LOSE weight. Anyway, everything was going well with the nutrition consult. Basically a lower carb, high Protein diet after my bloodwork, and a 2 week liquid diet. It's the postop diet that has me worried. Mushy ripe fruit? Sounds kinda gross. How am I really going to eat once I'm on a regular diet? I'm nervous that I'm going to be intolerant of the things I enjoy like apples, oranges, and grapefruits etc. So then what do I eat? Please share your experience with me. I don't want to do this and then regret it later.

The way I see it, you are actively participating in the WW program. You are doing the same thing as that person. So for that person to say "lazy" just blows my mind. If you were lazy you wouldn't be doing the work. Plus, how many times have people done WW? Joining, quitting, joining again... something isn't working because I remember at a meeting, the leader made a comment about a someone who was joining for the first time, that it's unlikely to meet a WW virgin here. WW is a great program developed by professionals but it's not all will power. There are metabolic changes that occur when you are heavy, that work against you. I'm sorry you had to deal with this.

I've pretty much been heavy my entire life. And yes, my mom did put me on WW at a young age, (9 or 10 y/o). In Junior High I was fit because I was on the school swim team but have steadily gained more weight since then. I have 110lbs. to lose according to my surgeon. I've mentioned that I've been on the fence but after thinking about it I've truly tried on my own. WW, low carb, Jenny Craig among the most popular. Currently I work out with a personal trainer which I love but I'm still not seeing the results I think I should see. So I'm excited about being able to utilize this tool to help me change my life. I'm happily married and live in a great neighborhood too. But I think I can be happier. I want to start a family but I'm afraid pregnancy will be too dangerous at this weight. And I'm also hopeful that I won't develop the comorbidities associated with morbid obesity.

Wow, 67lbs four months post op! That's inspiring.

:thumbup:Just got home from one of my first appointments. I had the pulmonary function test. Now, I work as a nurse but have never seen one of these test performed. It was weird, and a bit uncomfortable. Your breathing into a machine and are told to breath normal... it's hard to do when you are all of a sudden so focused on your breathing KWIM? Anyway, the tech said I did well. In two weeks I'll meet with the pulmonologist and hopefully get clearance. I'm the type who has so far been on the fence about the surgery and figured I'd go to my appointments and when I met with my surgeon again April 1, I would then decide if I would go through with this. But I'm not going to lie, I'm starting to get pretty excited about this. I'm really looking forward to the extra help to change my life. For now I'm starting to work on changing my eating and exercise habits.

I was wondering about this too because my doctor hadn't even mentioned a liquid diet pre-op. I was told to lose 12lbs before surgery to shrink the liver.

Not a colonoscopy but I am required for an upper endooscopy. Not looking forward to it, but it's important to makes sure I'm a good candidate for the surgery.

Thanks for sharing. I'm one of the new people that have been on the fence. I've been struggling with my weight pretty much my whole life. I've been very active for the last year and still not the results I should be seeing. DH is still concerned about the whole surgery aspect and doesn't want me going through this. But I don't think I can live like this anymore. I want to have children one day which isn't going to happen the way I am. I'm so unhappy with my energy level and my appearance. I know I "should" be able to do this myself but I haven't and I've always been trying! Even though I'm fairly healthy I'm not getting any younger and I know obesity related comorbidities will be lurking right around the corner. So why not gain control now utilizing this tool designed to help me? Congratulations on your progress! :thumbup: And I hope you have all the success you seek.

No date set, but I think April is going to be the month.

I went to the information seminar in january and had my first consultation in feb. Now I'm working on all my consultations. My surgery date isn't set yet, but April is looking like the month. The big thing is your insurance. Mine wants 6 consecutive months of documented weight history, which thankfully is retroactive, so I can submit my work physical and gyno appts etc...

My insurance requires 6 months of documented weights, which is retro active. That means the Drs. appointments I went to in Oct and December count and hoepfully they will give me November. This will allow my surgery date to be April. Between weighing in at the office and these visits I should be good to go. Try to find out the exact information they will need for your insurance and see if they have a form the PCP can fill out for you. I'd rather save my vacation time. Also, you can sign a release to have all the info sent to the Drs. office and they can take the info they need. Good Luck!

Hello. I'm married without children... yet. My goal is to get healthy for pregnancy and of course life lol. I've been to the information seminar and my consultation with the surgeon. I'm making all my appointments and I'm hoping that if all goes well my procedure will be in April. I'm still skeptical if this is right for me but I figure I'll talk to all the professionals and make my decision by april. In the meantime I do workout quite often and I really try to watch what I eat.

I wish I could tell you how to gain support but I'm having a difficult time myself. I'm not completely sold on having the procedure myself and I'm sure that makes it easier for hubby to not want me to have it done. For now I'm going to my preop testing and everything and he will come to my next meeting with the surgeon and have his questions answered. I think education is important. He read through some materials but did not make it to the information seminar so I'm really counting on him to make it to the appt.

I attended the information session. I pretty much knew about the procedure and which one I'd be interested in having. My husband unfortunately did not make it. He had to work and could not get out of it. He doesn't think I need the surgery (it's nice to know he loves me just the way I am) even though I most definitely qualify and have been struggling with my weight my whole life. I think the idea of surgery scares him and he'd rather I keep on working out and working on nutrition. The whole idea of surgery scares me and I'm not sure if I want to go through with it, yet. I'm nervous about this myself and I could really use at least, his understanding why this is important for me.