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Hello From Chicago

3musketeers

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3musketeers    1

3musketeers
Posted

Hello, wanted to introduce myself. I'm new to this site and hopefully soon I will get my lap band done. I currently weigh about 255 and my goal is to lose 100 lbs. I also have Type II diabetes, hopefully with this surgery my diabetes will go into "remission" I'm excited and nervous, but am ready to take this step.

My surgeon is Dr. Ryan Headley and having my surgery done at Macneal hospital. Anyone have their surgery done with Dr. Headley or Macneal? I would love to hear your story. I'm still in the process of getting all my requirements in. I need to see the phsycologist and I'm done meeting will all the doctors. Hopefully soon I can get a date.

Any advice, stories, I'd love to hear from you. HOw did you do on the liquid diet? I'm trying to prepare myself, that's going to be rough.

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losinandlovin    2

losinandlovin
Posted

Welcome., this is an awesome site. Lots of lookers few sharer's. I am in Texas and I can tell you, you are in for the ride of your life. It is a great journey. I decided before my procedure I could deal with anything. I tried every plan out there and this was my last hope. I wish I could tell you I do everything by the book. I do not but I would do it all over again because of what I have gained so far. In the 15 pounds I was able to get off all blood pressure meds, at 15 I also was noticing I had more energy. I am in the process now, after 67 pounds down, I am getting my life back and I love it. I struggle, I went through a divorce and I will tell you right now, the band does not like major stress. But I managed through it. The liquid diet is for a certain time and is required for your body to heal. I can do anything for a limited amount of time. Get a calendar and mark the date you get off the liquid diet and make marks showing the progress of each passing day. This will help you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Something else I did before the surgery was to make a list of things I can not do and it has been a joy to mark things off my list one at a time as I was able to do that task. For example I was on a trip not long ago and I did not have to have the seat belt extension. I can do my own pedicure. I can walk certain distances and not lose my breath or feel as if I am going to pass out. Make a list of even little things and then when you get down, grab your list and get happy at all you are accomplishing. Bottom line IT CAN BE the best thing you ever did. YOU get to make that decision. The band is a tool, not a fix all. So know what you are getting into, know what it will and will not do. It will not slap your hand when you reach for something you should not eat. It will not force you up and make you exercise, it is a tool that works.

Best of luck.

Hello, wanted to introduce myself. I'm new to this site and hopefully soon I will get my lap band done. I currently weigh about 255 and my goal is to lose 100 lbs. I also have Type II diabetes, hopefully with this surgery my diabetes will go into "remission" I'm excited and nervous, but am ready to take this step.

My surgeon is Dr. Ryan Headley and having my surgery done at Macneal hospital. Anyone have their surgery done with Dr. Headley or Macneal? I would love to hear your story. I'm still in the process of getting all my requirements in. I need to see the phsycologist and I'm done meeting will all the doctors. Hopefully soon I can get a date.

Any advice, stories, I'd love to hear from you. HOw did you do on the liquid diet? I'm trying to prepare myself, that's going to be rough.

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jennifer1    180

jennifer1
Posted

welcome fellow chicagoan!!LOL! i was banded on may 20th by dr. elli at day one health in downtown chicago! this has been a very interesting experience. I had my first fill today. This site is a great support group and has tons of info. Feel free to PM if you have any specific questions. i am very open!

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3musketeers    1

3musketeers
Posted

Welcome., this is an awesome site. Lots of lookers few sharer's. I am in Texas and I can tell you, you are in for the ride of your life. It is a great journey. I decided before my procedure I could deal with anything. I tried every plan out there and this was my last hope. I wish I could tell you I do everything by the book. I do not but I would do it all over again because of what I have gained so far. In the 15 pounds I was able to get off all blood pressure meds, at 15 I also was noticing I had more energy. I am in the process now, after 67 pounds down, I am getting my life back and I love it. I struggle, I went through a divorce and I will tell you right now, the band does not like major stress. But I managed through it. The liquid diet is for a certain time and is required for your body to heal. I can do anything for a limited amount of time. Get a calendar and mark the date you get off the liquid diet and make marks showing the progress of each passing day. This will help you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Something else I did before the surgery was to make a list of things I can not do and it has been a joy to mark things off my list one at a time as I was able to do that task. For example I was on a trip not long ago and I did not have to have the seat belt extension. I can do my own pedicure. I can walk certain distances and not lose my breath or feel as if I am going to pass out. Make a list of even little things and then when you get down, grab your list and get happy at all you are accomplishing. Bottom line IT CAN BE the best thing you ever did. YOU get to make that decision. The band is a tool, not a fix all. So know what you are getting into, know what it will and will not do. It will not slap your hand when you reach for something you should not eat. It will not force you up and make you exercise, it is a tool that works.

Best of luck.

thanks for your response. I'm still trying to figure this site out. I've read tons of post and it has given me lots of great information. Thanks for sharing, I feel I can relate to alot on the board here. I know it's going to be a tough road, I am more than ready. My two main concerns are "what if this doesn't work for me" and "keeping the weight off" Just so ready to start my new life. Thanks again!

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3musketeers    1

3musketeers
Posted

welcome fellow chicagoan!!LOL! i was banded on may 20th by dr. elli at day one health in downtown chicago! this has been a very interesting experience. I had my first fill today. This site is a great support group and has tons of info. Feel free to PM if you have any specific questions. i am very open!

Thanks for the welcome. I orginally wanted to have my surgery at Day One. The office is 5 minutes away from where i work so it would have been great for my appointments without having to leave early but of that office wasn't covered under my insurance. Thanks for sharing and wishing you all the luck in the world.

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nurseghana    167

nurseghana
Posted

:D hello how are u doing i am not banded but i hope to be this summer i am in chicago (skokie)

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RitaB    0

RitaB
Posted

Hi, I am in Chicago too! West side! I got a call from the doctors office yesterday that they have my referral. My first appointment is August 9. I am 226 pounds and 5'2". I have type 2 diabeties for twenty years. I am excited to see if this stops the progression of the damage caused by my diabetis. I am seeing a Dr. in Downers Grove through Advocate Medical. This site was a great discovery.

Rita

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nurseghana    167

nurseghana
Posted

;)

Hi, I am in Chicago too! West side! I got a call from the doctors office yesterday that they have my referral. My first appointment is August 9. I am 226 pounds and 5'2". I have type 2 diabeties for twenty years. I am excited to see if this stops the progression of the damage caused by my diabetis. I am seeing a Dr. in Downers Grove through Advocate Medical. This site was a great discovery.

Rita

nice to meet you my paper work have been send now let see how long it will take my doc that will do my lapband is in evanston let keep in touch ;)

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Veggestyle    0

Veggestyle
Posted

Hello! I live near the Chicago area as well and have been 'banded' for almost five years now! I can hardly believe it when I type that number! It really has been quite a journey. I would be happy to answer any questions that my years of experience with the lapband may be able to help me answer. Best of luck to you all! :)

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Go To Topic Listing Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

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    • Doughgurl

      Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

        Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

    • LeighaTR

      LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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