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Three weeks ago my neurologist told me that I had a "mass" on my thyroid and that I should see my endocrinologist. A week after that I was lying on a table having needles stuck in by throat (the biopsy). It wasn't fun or pleasant and it was done without any form of anesthetic because my endo said "it won't be as bad as you think". Easy for him to say since he was the one piercing my throat with a needle (again and again and again) and I was the one being stuck. But, alas, it was true ... not nearly as bad as I thought it would, but I guarantee I would not volunteer to have it done again. I left his office a bit traumatized (I wasn't actually expecting to have the biopsy that day ...), but not bad. He said it would take a week to get the results back.

I did really well over the holiday weekend -- on the conscious level. My band gets tight when I am stressed so I had a hard time eating, but I could live with that. I was thinking positive and praying and moving along with my life. Then on Tuesday morning after my walk, I came home ... laid across my bed and started thinking. Big mistake! I started crying and couldn't stop. Geeeez I thought, I have been doing all this stuff to get healthy and the Big "C" is going to take me out!!??? WTH???!!! I pulled myself together and went to work -- only cried half the day. I got myself together and yesterday went okay.

As I was driving home from work yesterday evening my phone rang ... it was my endo. He said he had great news, said that the mass was benign ... that we would have to check it regularly, but that I was good to go! I was so happy and relieved. Now, before banding that would be a reason to Celebrate -- with cake, or Cookies, or ice cream. In the 2 years since banding a LOT has changed in my life. I don't just "look" different, I also "think" and "act" differently. For about 3 months I have been changing into "comfy" clothes before leaving work so that I don't run errands, grocery shop, etc. in heels. YUCK! When I got the great news from my doc I drove a walking path near my home that sits high on a hill, with a view of the ocean and the sunset -- and I walked, and walked, and walked. Sweat was pouring from my face ... and everywhere else. When I was done the sun had set and I had walked FOUR miles! YAY!! So, together with the 3 miles I had walked that morning before work, I had 7 miles under my belt for the day!

Pre-banding that would not have happened. Between my band and my therapist I am emerging a totally new person and I LOVE the new me!

This lapband journey is a many faceted journey indeed! I LOVE MY BAND!!

~Fran

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Three weeks ago my neurologist told me that I had a "mass" on my thyroid and that I should see my endocrinologist. A week after that I was lying on a table having needles stuck in by throat (the biopsy). It wasn't fun or pleasant and it was done without any form of anesthetic because my endo said "it won't be as bad as you think". Easy for him to say since he was the one piercing my throat with a needle (again and again and again) and I was the one being stuck. But, alas, it was true ... not nearly as bad as I thought it would, but I guarantee I would not volunteer to have it done again. I left his office a bit traumatized (I wasn't actually expecting to have the biopsy that day ...), but not bad. He said it would take a week to get the results back.

I did really well over the holiday weekend -- on the conscious level. My band gets tight when I am stressed so I had a hard time eating, but I could live with that. I was thinking positive and praying and moving along with my life. Then on Tuesday morning after my walk, I came home ... laid across my bed and started thinking. Big mistake! I started crying and couldn't stop. Geeeez I thought, I have been doing all this stuff to get healthy and the Big "C" is going to take me out!!??? WTH???!!! I pulled myself together and went to work -- only cried half the day. I got myself together and yesterday went okay.

As I was driving home from work yesterday evening my phone rang ... it was my endo. He said he had great news, said that the mass was benign ... that we would have to check it regularly, but that I was good to go! I was so happy and relieved. Now, before banding that would be a reason to Celebrate -- with cake, or Cookies, or ice cream. In the 2 years since banding a LOT has changed in my life. I don't just "look" different, I also "think" and "act" differently. For about 3 months I have been changing into "comfy" clothes before leaving work so that I don't run errands, grocery shop, etc. in heels. YUCK! When I got the great news from my doc I drove a walking path near my home that sits high on a hill, with a view of the ocean and the sunset -- and I walked, and walked, and walked. Sweat was pouring from my face ... and everywhere else. When I was done the sun had set and I had walked FOUR miles! YAY!! So, together with the 3 miles I had walked that morning before work, I had 7 miles under my belt for the day!

Pre-banding that would not have happened. Between my band and my therapist I am emerging a totally new person and I LOVE the new me!

This lapband journey is a many faceted journey indeed! I LOVE MY BAND!!

~Fran

Glad to hear that you did not have cancer! I'm glad you love your band!

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Thank you pinklily!

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That's great, Phran! Congrats on the diagnosis and the excellent way you handled it!

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That's great, Phran! Congrats on the diagnosis and the excellent way you handled it!

Thanks much, Cindy!

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Fran, I'm so happy to hear that you are ok. You have always been such an inspiration-- and you've done it again :)

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Fran, I'm so happy to hear that you are ok. You have always been such an inspiration-- and you've done it again :)

Thanks so much Stateofzen. You are an inspiration to me also.

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I'm so glad your result was that it was benign. You must be so proud of how you dealt with the whole situation!

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Three weeks ago my neurologist told me that I had a "mass" on my thyroid and that I should see my endocrinologist. A week after that I was lying on a table having needles stuck in by throat (the biopsy). It wasn't fun or pleasant and it was done without any form of anesthetic because my endo said "it won't be as bad as you think". Easy for him to say since he was the one piercing my throat with a needle (again and again and again) and I was the one being stuck. But, alas, it was true ... not nearly as bad as I thought it would, but I guarantee I would not volunteer to have it done again. I left his office a bit traumatized (I wasn't actually expecting to have the biopsy that day ...), but not bad. He said it would take a week to get the results back.

I did really well over the holiday weekend -- on the conscious level. My band gets tight when I am stressed so I had a hard time eating, but I could live with that. I was thinking positive and praying and moving along with my life. Then on Tuesday morning after my walk, I came home ... laid across my bed and started thinking. Big mistake! I started crying and couldn't stop. Geeeez I thought, I have been doing all this stuff to get healthy and the Big "C" is going to take me out!!??? WTH???!!! I pulled myself together and went to work -- only cried half the day. I got myself together and yesterday went okay.

As I was driving home from work yesterday evening my phone rang ... it was my endo. He said he had great news, said that the mass was benign ... that we would have to check it regularly, but that I was good to go! I was so happy and relieved. Now, before banding that would be a reason to Celebrate -- with cake, or Cookies, or ice cream. In the 2 years since banding a LOT has changed in my life. I don't just "look" different, I also "think" and "act" differently. For about 3 months I have been changing into "comfy" clothes before leaving work so that I don't run errands, grocery shop, etc. in heels. YUCK! When I got the great news from my doc I drove a walking path near my home that sits high on a hill, with a view of the ocean and the sunset -- and I walked, and walked, and walked. Sweat was pouring from my face ... and everywhere else. When I was done the sun had set and I had walked FOUR miles! YAY!! So, together with the 3 miles I had walked that morning before work, I had 7 miles under my belt for the day!

Pre-banding that would not have happened. Between my band and my therapist I am emerging a totally new person and I LOVE the new me!

This lapband journey is a many faceted journey indeed! I LOVE MY BAND!!

~Fran

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I now the feeling. Having the big C label isn't fun, I'm happy for you that they are going to do just follow ups. I had lung cancer at age 30 never smoked now 51 and now a lymnode is getting enlarge. Scared! I decided to continue with my dream of the lap band. It's been only 2 weeks out. I need to find a job, for I can go to a cancer Dr. again. Money is tight now taking on this payment. I had a carcinod tumer that grows slow in the past. I'm going to try to find a study that will help me. But I new, I needed to get healthy body and mind to take on this next hurdle in life.

I sure hope I can do a 3 mile walk in 2 years. I think you are doing great.

Today I just sign up hoping for some support and meeting nice people that can understand.

Deanna111

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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      1. LeighaTR

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    • 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

        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.

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        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.

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

    • CaseyP1011

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      · 0 replies
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