ieducate2

Thank you for sharing. Congrats and keep up the good work!!!

Thanks for the post and all the suggestions...I am starting my prep-op diet Tuesday 2/23/2011. I have the same concerns and the suggestions given are good to have ahead of time.

I will keep you all posted...

Best wishes on your journey!

Congrats!!!

We have the same day...best wishes.

I just was approved by my insurance company today. It only took 1 week. I called my surgeons office and my surgery date is March 8th. I am going to be a March bander also.I didn't think this day would get here. Now that it has I am nervous.

I am here!! My surgery date is scheduled for March 8th...I will be starting my pre-op diet Tuesday. I am excited and nervous all at the same time...

Best wishes to you all...Keep in touch!

I will be starting my pre-op diet in a fews weeks, I am trying to prepare my mind and body for the journey. I have started replacing one meal (usually lunch) with a Protein shake. I am excited about the surgery but not about startiing the pre-op diet...I wish you the best!

Congrats! My surgery is set for March 8,, 2011!! My surgeon told me to start the pre-op diet two weeks before surgery so I'm starting my pre-op diet February 23, 2011 - I'm kind of nervous about that, too. I am a middle school teacher. My job requires for me to be "with-it" so I decided to take 2 weeks off in order to give myself time to adjust. I haven't told anyone at work. I believe it's a personal surgery therefore should be a personal choice. Of course my very supportive husband knows in additon to a few close family members and friends. I am a very private person so my decision was very easy.

I wish you the best!!

Hi, my surgery is set for 3/21/2011. I was wondering when to take a leave of absence from my work. My pre-op diet is set to start on febrruary 24. I feel like it is too long and I'm afraid I won't succeed and will be too tired to work because of not eating enough. Also, I don't want to tell anybody at work because I don' twant to be judged. At this point my husband is the only person who nows about this. He is not very supportive but he is not discouraging me either. Please share your experiences. Thanks.

Congrats!! I know it is a great feeling.

The lap band seems to be the best choice for me...

I also was approved this week, what band are you girls using thats my only ?

Congrats!!! I, too, was approved this week. I see my surgeon for a follow-up appointment next month for the surgery date...Best Wishes!!

Thanks! I heard from the insurance company this week, I was approved!! I have a follow-up appt with the surgeon next month so that I can receive the date. My birthday is next month so this will be the perfect gift!!

I am 38. I too have always been a big girl. I had to shop at big girl stores in high school when my friends were shopping @ 3-5-7 (store that only carried small cute clothes... I am trying to see myself smaller but its difficult when you have been plus size all your life. I was approved yesterday so I am excited thinking about how I'm going to look by Spring!

Sorry, about your bff! Maybe this will encourage her to takes some steps toward reaching her true weight loss potential.

Best wishes!

I've been fat since I was 12, I'm 40 now. My mom asked me to think about how I'm going to look this time next year and I just can't picture it. I've not been thin since I was a child. The closest I ever got was when I got down to 200lbs in college and I thought that was pretty good. My husband married me at 250lbs my kids have only known me at this weght. I just don't know what I'm going to do with a thin me.

My BFF of 30 years asked me today if I was going to stop being her friend becuase I won't be fat anymore, she weighs the same as I do but is only 5'1" and I am 5'7". She's already not talking to me as much, she doesn't want me to do this, she doesnt' want to be the last fat friend,she's talked me out of this twice before, but not this time. When I was diagnosed with Hight blood pressure on my 40th birthday, I said enough , I'm doing this. My surgery is in 6 days.

After about 2 months of doctor’s visits I was approved by psych, dietician, and doctors for surgery! I am now waiting on insurance approval and surgery date (they said within 4 -6 weeks.) I am ready for a new me in time for the New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I had my appt yesterday at 1:00p, I was literally out of the office by 1:05p. I couldn't believe it! He NEVER asked me anything related to the surgery or even about weight loss or how I felt about it. He asked typical questions about:

What do I do for a living

Ever had suicidal thoughts

Depression

Have children

Have friends

On medication

Feel like killing self or somebody

Feel stressed

Do you have high blood pressure or diabetes

Any medical problems and are you healthy now (I wanted to say, look at me - 261lbs of an unhealthy problem!)

I was very careful in how I answered even the simpliest of questions. I didn't want anything to get in the way of not being recommended for surgery. Example, he asked if I'd ever been depressed, well I didn't lie and stated, yes, about 15-20 years ago. Because I said that, he asked more questions about it, but I was very confident that that was not an issue any longer.

Some questions he repeated in a different form. I could hardly understand what he was saying - seemed like he was mumbling and just going through the motions to approve me. I didn't care, I just wanted to hear that he would approve me for insurance purposes. I would never go to him professionally, he had no personality and was assigned to me through my insurance. What I did understand him say clearly was that he would send over his approved recommendations on Monday pm. That's all that is standing in the way of submitting everything to my insurance for surgery approval. And that's all I cared about! :eek:

I wish that was how my psych eval went! I only did the evaluation because it was part of the process not because I felt I had to see a psych...

My first appt lasted 2 hours. My second appt was about 30 min, and I have one more the end of the month. I think its about money..to be honest. They had me fill out the hundred questions at home before my first appt. He asked about my eating habits, family life, suicide, how long I've been dealing with my weight issues, etc...

I had a long discussion about this with my therapist about a month ago and he said that he didn't see why I needed to tell anyone if I don't want to...it is none of their business!! Once the pounds start coming off you can just tell them that you are working with a dietician to change your eating habits (technically, this is true).

I have decided not to tell anyone at work (or the majority of my family) because I don't want to feel like everyone is watching everything I put in my mouth. I have told my husband, my kids, my mom and my mother in law...but that is all I plan to tell at this point.

My advice is to do whatever you are comfortable with...

I agree with you! I am comfortable with telling my husband, parents & in-laws. Everyone else, I am dieting & exercising...which is the truth.

I Dr. said, that I am likely to have my band completed in December. I really hope everything else goes great, as I am ready to bring in the new year with a NEW ME. I am still not quite open about the surgery, in fact no one knows but me. I may tell my husband, as the timeline approaches, but the closer I get the more excited I feel.

I,too,have a tentative December surgery date:thumbup:. I am so excited and ready to move on with my new healthly living. I met with the surgeon, psych and dietican and am all clear. I am now waiting on clearance from my insurance company.

Best wishes!!

I was asked that question by the psych. I said 1-2 lb because my doctor mentioned that 1-2 lbs is what I should expect to lose, although I have been reading stories from others about what to expect. Can anyone tell me how many times you saw the psych before you were cleared?

Hi Everyone, I am new here as well. I have been thinking about lapband surgery for the past two years. I started the process about 1 1/2 years ago and I now know I am ready. I have an appointment with the surgeon on the 27th of October. I hope my surgery will be scheduled for some time in November. I am glad I found this support system.

Best wishes to you all!