susi1662

Well, I made my decision after a lot of reading and soul searching. I decided to do the bypass. I didn't make this decision because of my online friends. I know it's more drastic than the band, but I really think that I'll be more successful with it. I did research on the sleeve, but my insurance doesn't cover it, so that's a closed door. Thanks for all of your oppinions and advice, I do appreciate it very much!

Sincerely,

Susi

Thanks for all of your advice and encouragement. I do appreciate it very much, but (I'm not trying to be rude, really!) the last thing I need now is to hear/read about horror stories. I have read/heard many; and it's not a help to me at all. Please don't take me wrong if you told me about something that happened to someone else. I know that you are just trying to help.

I am still wavering, one day going for the band, the next for the bypass. I am trying to be calm about this, and be reasonable about it, instead of stressing myself about it. I made an appointment with my surgeon to dicuss it with him, we'll see what he suggests. He himself has the band, so I know that he'll be more in support for it, than the bypass. But hopefully he'll also listen to my concerns, and respect my decision either way I go.

I am doing a lot of researching and reading about both proceduree, and I feel that I have a good handle on the pros and cons. Now it just comes down to me. I know that my online WLS friends will also support me in whatever decision I make.

I will post my decision when i am feeling confident about it. As for now, I thank you all for letting me vent here. It's good to have a place where I feel I can do it, without being judged.

Sincerely,

Susi

Hi everyone,

I used to read the forums a lot back in May/June, when I first started my wls journey. I kinda slipped away, and here I am again, with quite a dilemna. Since I made the decision to have the lapband, I have not wavered about it. Recently I have been thinking about the band vs. bypass, mostly because almost all of my online friends have had the bypass, and are very happy with their decision. I have started to doubt myself and am worried that I might not succeed with the band. I don't like the idea of having my insides rewired, but I see that so many are having such great results. I don't know any people who have the band, in person and online. I would like to hear from bandsters who are having success with it, especially those are recently banded up to 1 year out. I need some support, help!

Hey y'all who may remember me!

I haven't been in the chat or on the forums in a few months, but now that it's getting closer to surgery time, I thought I'd come back to get back into the support system.

I started my journey last April, but I don't have a surgery date yet, due to an insurance issue. Mt paperwork will be submitted the beginning of January, so I am really close!

Things have changed a lot since I started this, my fitness level has risen greatly, and I have lost 35 lbs so far. (I don't know why, because my eating habits have still remained about the same)

As I said above, my eating habits are still pretty bad, and that worries me a bit. Hopefully having the band will force me into eating right. For right now though, I think my exercizing is what is helping keep losing weight. I know that will continue!

Anyway, I just wanted to po in to say hi, and I hope to get into the swing of things here and start posting again.

Susi in AZ

Has medicare changed recently? I know that a few weeks ago, I was looking for approved physicians and facilities for AZ, and I found several listings, but now I can only find one facility in the entire country, which is in MD.

I called CMS to get information, and they told me the same thing. Was bariatric surgery taken off of the approved benefits?

Right now I am using my private insurance to pay for my surgery, but I was hoping the medicare would be there to help with some of the costs. I was even thinking of changing to a different doctor that takes medicare.

Now I am freaking out, because I will have to pay a HUGE copayment for the hospital.

Does anyone have any info on medicare benifit changes for bariatric surgery?

I started my journey in April, and I still have a long way to go (due to ins. issues I can't get my paperwork submitted until Jan 2011). I am on my required 6 month diet, and am not doing so well. The first six weeks, I lost 14 lbs, but in the past 2 months, I have neither lost nor gained. I know that I am not eating like I should be, I am falling back on bad habits; but I am now more active than I was before. Maybe that's what's got me maintaining, I don't know. I feel like I am not taking this seriously, since I have such a long time before I get banded. Is anyone else experiencing the same type of thing?

I really want to get banded, and I know that once I am, I will be forced to change my eating habits and lifestyle, but I need to start that now! Am I sabotaging myself?

Please help!!!

I am sort of having the same dilemna. I am currently doing my required 6 month diet, and even though I lost 14 lbs the first 6 weeks, I have not budged since then, neither last or gained. I know that I have not been eaing like I should, but am maintaining this weight because I am doing Water aerobics regularly (6 days a week, plus 2 evenings). I just saw my surgeon this past week, and he suggested that I try the Atkins or south beach diet to kick the process forward.

I am not trying to sabotage myself, but I know that I am not taking this as seriously as I need to.

I still have 6 months to go until my paperwork will get submitted, and hopefully will get approved shortly afterward...I'd better get on the ball.

Hi all!

I have a question.... I am preband, and am currently on my 6 month diet plan. I have been doing Water aerobics evrday morning and twice a week in the evenings, but am worried if I am doing enough exercise? I have been pretty sedentary for the the past 3 years, and the water aerobics are pretty much the only type of of exercise that I can do successfully right now.

I can feel that that I am getting the exercise, because my muscles are telling me, but is it enough to help me lose weight?

Is there anyone out there that does only water aerobics, or any other simple exercising routine, and finds that they are losing weight?

I got a sample pack of Syntrax Nectar and I hate them! Maybe mixed with juice they would be better, but mixed with Water thay are horrible! I was so disappointed because they sounded like a good alternative to always drinking the other kinds of shakes.

I did like the cappuchino and vanilla creme flavors that were sent with the fruit flavored shakes.

you can find a bunch of good recipes on recipezaar.com. Good luck!

I had my EGD done on the 3rd of may, to check for hiatal hernia and other stomach issues. They did find that I have a hernia, but no other problems, thank goodness, so I am okayed for that test.

It's great that you and your husband will be doing this together! Good luck!

I am not banded yet, but I know that it's the best decision for me! I am tired of being overweight, and being afraid that I will reach 300 lbs before I am 50 yrs old... (only 2 years away!).

Ever since I made this decision, I have a much more positive outlook on life, I am more active now, because I have something to look forward to! I know that I am going to love the new me, and I am sure that you will too!

susi

Great blog! :cursing: I won't be banded for a while, so I will probably be subscribing to it, so I can see how you are progressing. It's good to hear someone elses story, and see that it is a positive experience!

Thanks for sharing!

I love, love, LOVE my magic bullet! Works like a charm!

I am so excited about this life change that I am making that I am telling everyone that I know who will listen to be anyway!

I just posted in my status message on Facebook that I have decided to do it, and how positive that I feel ever since I made the decision.

I am on disability right now, and all I did for the past 4 years is sit around and become a hermit. I never went out unless I had to, and that was even a struggle at times! A lot of the weight that I have now has been gained in those days.

I am now eating better, exersizing and my outlook on life is changing for the positive. I don't care what other people think, as I am doing this for me, and for my personal well being! I am on a journey towards a new life of being healthy!

sorry that you are having problems, sandi. I wish you good luck, and hope that all goes well for you!

I have to be on a 6 month supervised diet, but due to an insurance issue, I will be stretching it out to 8 months. My diet is more of a practice diet to learn how to eat after being banded, not so much calorie counting and weight loss, but I should be losing something if I follow the guidelines, and am exersizing.

I have strated replacing Breakfast or lunch with a Protein shake, and that hasn't been too difficult. What I find most difficult is trying to eat slower, and taking smaller bites, and chew chew chewing! Drinking at meals isn't bad at all for me.

Anyway... you said that you don't want to be drinking milky, creamy things, you can try Syntrax nectar Protein drinks. They have fruity flavored ones. I personally don't like them, but you may. You can get a sample pack at bariatricpantry.com that comes with 11 single serving packets for 15 dollars.

Good luck to you! Just remember that this is only temporary and that it is starting you out on the best journey of your life!

Good news to report! I am making progress! I started Water aerobics two weeks ago, and I am doing great with an hour workout 3x a wek! I also go to the pool just to walk laps as you suggested, and have been able to walk 15 minutes at a time, then go to some of the exersizes from the aerobics class, then going back to walking. I am also doing the exersizes with the exersize band recommended by the exersize physiologist, and I bought a fitness ball yesterday!

You are right, baby steps were all it took for me to get started. Thanks for your encouragement!

I just started Water aerobics two weeks ago, and I love it! I feel very welcome there, and the instructor is great! The interesting thing is that she is overweight, but is full of energy and gives susch a good workout!

The other members of the class are older than I am (I am 47) and have varying body shapes and abilities.

I agree that it's not so much cardio, but I do feel the resistance of the water is ging me plenty of a workout. You should really try it, if you have access to it!

I was worried about my psych eval because I have bipolar disorder and ADHD. When I had the eval, he really focused a lot on my mental health issues, and I wasn't sure if I passed or not. But I did!

Don't worry, it should be ok. We are all human, and have our moments. Just be honest with the therapist, it's the best thing to do.

Good luck!

Betsy, thats a hilarious story about your son!!! lemonade flavored gravy??? Hahahahaha!:confused:

My sample pack of Syntrax Nectar just came in the mail, and I am really disappointed with the taste of the fruit juice flavors. So far I have tried the fuzzy navel and Twisted cherry flavors mixed with Water, and personally I found them awful! Maybe if they were mixed with soy milk they'd be better, but then again, I can't imagine drinking the iced tea flavor in milk!

My daughter tried the cappuchino flavored with soy milk, and said it it is pretty good.

So for now, I think I will stick with the Body Fortress brand from Walmart. They are cheap, have 26 grams of whey isolate Protein and taste really good!

Hi!

I am also in the process of getting banded, and am currently on a 6 month supervised diet. My diet is probably different from others because it really is a practice diet for life after the band.

I am to eat at least 4X per day, and having a Protein with each meal. I have to eat the protein first, then vegetables. I have to avoid eating bread, rice, and Pasta. I can't drink with meals, and have to wait at least 45 mins to an hour after I eat to drink something. I have to practice eating slowly, and chewing thoroughly (my biggest challenge! lol).

The diet is not meant to be a weight loss diet, although I should if I follow the guidelines! I am also starting an exersize program.

I don't know if this is what you wanted or not, but I hope it helps a little!

susi

hi sandi,

thanks for responding and giving me the rearding myself idea. I'll try that!

I have gone to the Y now, walked on the treadmill for about 6 minutes, it wasn't much, but it was something! I also did some weights too, that one of the trainers showed me. That was a couple of days ago. I have yet to really start the exercizes that the exercize physiologist gave me to do and home with my exercize band. Today I did do a bit of a home walking program by Leslie Sansone, I had to take breaks every once in a while, but I know that with doing it more, I'll be able to keep up with the dvd. I am going to see if I can get my daughter to do that with me!

It's been unusually cold here the past few days, so since I HATE cold Water (LOL) I haven't started the water aerobics yet. As soon as our normal AZ comes back. I will get started.

I am going to be more positive about this, and take baby steps and I know I will be successful! I have to start small to get started, as I haven't ever done any exercize before!

I am going to make it!

Here is a link to a youtube video that you might like to watch if you are a fan of fried cheese sticks.

YouTube - WLS Recipe: Fiberiffic "Fried" cheese Sti