Hi!

I'm Julie and looking to change my life on April 2nd. Yep, that would be my surgery date.

I'm a single mother of sometimes adult children. Own a very small salon in central Phoenix and have never worked so hard to make so little Just kidding, life is what I make it and it's awesome! This growing up has been a process and I feel like I have control over everything in my life but my weight. I've struggled my whole life with eating and bouncing up and down on the scale. More often it's UP! I feel like I've done it all... weight watchers, HCG, calorie counting, Atkins, and even the cabbage diet. Ya I lose, but when I get back to normal eating (No, one cannot live on Cabbage Soup), the weight slowly comes back on and adds a few extra pounds for good measure.

So here I am! This is me, getting real with myself and sharing my journey.

Hope to connect with you soon,

j~

Welcome to the group, Renee! Thanks for sharing your story. Local support groups are beneficial to many people, but I am like you and prefer this type of support. You'll find this is a wonderful group!

The pre-op diet has been harder for me than I thought it would be, too. And I shouldn't be whining as mine is more flexible than most. Today hasn't been as much of a struggle, though. No more cravings!

I have gain lots of weight over the past 4 years due too lack of mobility. I was diagnosed with bone cancer and had my knee and femur replaced (twice). I tried to push my self so much and i caused myself to break the prothesis.

Anyway I hope with this surgery I will walk better and be more active so I can keep up with my son., Ohh and of course look good for the summer..

I'm sorry you've had so much to deal with in your young life but your determination will likely aid you greatly with this surgery. I hope you'll soon be able to walk better and find it easier to keep up with your precious little son.

Hi, girlie- I'm in ny- where are you? I'm in syracuse

Welcom everyone!

GirlieGirl you have already been through so much and you are still so young! My thoughts and prayers are with you as well as everyone in the "Springers" group!

I had two of my 4 pre-op appointments today, the nutritionist and a surgery nurse. It was cool because I also got to meet the other person having lap-band surgery the same day as I am and one that is having it a week before.

I also found it interesting to hear more about some things like Pbing, hair loss and other "complaints" I have read about on this site. As we have all read before, follow your doctors recommendations. I remember reading on this site about someone who said their doctor was not worried about them throwing up (Pbing) and someone else adamantly stating that it was not normal and they needed an unfill or something to help. I am glad to know my team does not consider it normal after surgery! They also explained that it was more bile-like than puke-like, not that it really is any better! I hope I haven't grossed anyone out yet.

I start my pre-op diet on March 30th. It will be a combination of Protein Drinks and bars, one piece of fruit and unlimited non-starchy vegetables. I think my toughest hurdle will be giving up Coke Zero - I am addicted to the stuff!

Hi guys, thanks for the warm welcome.. I'm in Westchester NY ..

I am really excited and nervous and I know this is the best thing for me.. I am so happy to have found these forums because there is so much support !! I wish everyone the best and hope we all can live happy and healthy on our new journeys..

I start my pre-op diet on March 30th. It will be a combination of Protein Drinks and bars, one piece of fruit and unlimited non-starchy vegetables. I think my toughest hurdle will be giving up Coke Zero - I am addicted to the stuff!

Coke Zero is my biggest hurdle too! I am soooo addicted to it...I have a glass right next to me right now! I'm doing the 3-month insurance required diet right now and I haven't cut it out yet. I figured if/once the insurance approves me and I have to do the actual pre-op diet, then I'll have to taper off and cut it out of my life.

Oh, the memories of CZ will have to be enough. Sniff sniff. I figure it's worth the sacrifice compared to all I'll get in return...but it's HARD!

Welcome everyone.

So happy your all here. I think ya'll will love this group.

Happy Posting,

julie

Hi everyone. I just got approved by insurance last Friday and have scheduled my surgery for April 26 which is when my parents can come up to help me out. I am 46 years old and a single mom to an almost 6 year old. She is the light of my life and I want to be able to be around for her for a very long time. I also want to be able to do the things I once loved to do with her (skiing, rafting, biking, etc). I have been overweight most of my adult life (since college). I have had some sucesses back in the day with Phen/Fen bought illegally from Mexico because I couldn't get a doctor to prescribe it for me. I did Atkins and many other diets but like everyone else it came back with a few extra. I have never been able to maintain my weight more than a couple of years.

I went to my first seminar last summer and then insurance said I had to do a six month supervised diet which started in October. In February insurance changed their policy and removed the six month requirement and my surgeons office resubmitted me as soon as they were notified of the change. So now I get my surgery 2 months sooner than planned which will hopefully give me a good jump start on summer!

Glad I found this forum and this group. I start my pre-op diet on April 12.

Susan

Welcome to the group Susan.

Where do you live? It seems like we have a ton of nurses in here. That's a good thing for ppl like me who tend to avoid docs.

Keep posting!

j~

Susan,

Welcome to the group. It's great that your surgery was approved earlier than you anticipated! I think you'll find LapBandTalk is a fantastic source of information, and the people in the Springers group are wonderful!

Havent been on for a few days so welcome everyone.

It is. The national statistic is 0.1%. Which comes out to 1 out of every 1000 people. I know that is less than 1%, but I just can't help but be worried about it. Not worried enough to back out mind you.

I'm not on any pre-op diet yet. I'm sure when I see my surgeon on 3/9 I'll be put on one. I just hope it's one where I get to have some real food. Good luck with your diet! You can do it!

Also of note, those number include all people regardless of other health conditions. Many people going for this surgery have lots of underlying conditions that brought them to this point. I have been blessed because I should have tons of things wrong with me at my weight. My doctor said the higher the BMI, the higher the risk but not having any other the other issues like diabetis, heart disease or high blood pressure significantly reduces the rate.

Hi I'm Mike and I am from Maryland. I just got my surgery scheduled for April 16th and the countdown has begun. I have had varying success with weight loss over the years having lost around 100 pounds 3 different time but in each case ran out of steam and ended up putting it back on.

My surgeon said I had to lose 30 - 50 pounds before surgery and so far I have lost a little over 66 pound but the going is getting tough. I want to be below 400 before surgery so I need to lose 16 more pounds before the 16th.

My reason for the band is to improve my health and be able to increase my activity. There are so many things i want to do but just can't right now.

In addition to watching my diet in the last 6 months I have been exercising by swimming and walking at the pool for 1.5 - 2 hours at least 3-4 times a week and that has made a real difference.

Tonight I decided to see what a difference the exercise and weight loss has made by walking up a 6 story parking garage (up the ramps) and was able to get to the top and not be completely out of breath, Small NSV.

Hope to hear everyone's story.

HI mike i am debbie.. and WOW .. thats for sure an accomplishment. Glad you joined our group

Hi Mike, welcome