Let's get to know each other before our surgery...I'll go first.

My name is Amy (37 years old). I live in central FL with my husband and two kids, 3 yo DS and 4.5 yo DD. I work in IT doing technical writing and operational readiness. I love photography and have a small side business, and when I'm thinner, I really enjoy running and spinning.

I was banded in Nov 2009 at 374 lbs. From my banding until Dec 2011 (2 years), I lost 198 lbs. I was thrilled! Despite the occasional vomit and inability to eat certain foods, I was still 99.9% happy with my band. Right after Christmas this year, however, I got a terrible upper respiratory infection. I coughed and coughed and coughed. I coughed until I puked, which caused a slip.

I got a complete unfill in early January. Once the slip was fixed, I started getting fills. But then my band developed a leak and slipped once again. Since the surgeon I was seeing was less than helpful, I found a new surgeon, Dr. Domkowski, who finally treated me without acting like I was crazy, as my last surgeon did. Based on his recommendations and test results, we decided to do the removal and sleeve in two separate surgeries.

Dr. D removed my band on August 3, 2012. Because of the extent of damage done by the band, including scarring and pulling the fundus through the diaphragm, I am waiting around four months to be sleeved. I'd love to be banded on November 25, which would have been the three year anniversary of my band.

I've gained about 70 lbs since December. Sigh. The good news is my surgeon is not at all concerned about my weight gain. He is 100% convinced that I'll lose it all once I'm sleeved, since I was so successful with the band. I'm a bit of a goody two-shoes, and I followed the rules to a "T", and I intend to do the same with the sleeve.

I hope the next four months fly by!

Amy, with two little kids, four months will flash by! I don't fit into this category for your post because I was sleeved in June. I wanted to wish you luck anyway! Looking forward to hearing of your successful surgery! Glad you found a more caring doctor.

Hi! I'm Kelly also 37 years old from Maryland. I am schedule for November 20th so no thanksgiving dinner for me this year but that's ok! I am hoping it will be well worth it! I have struggled with my weight my whole life. I did at one time lose almost 80 lbs on the adkins and kept it off for 1 1/2 years but as soon as I fell off the wagon I gained it all back plus some. I am putting all my hope into this surgery that it will work for me and enable me to keep the weight off forever. November can't get here soon enough for me!

I'm hoping for November 14th surgery date. No thanksgiving for me either but it's just one holiday. I just wish time would fly by faster lol.

Hey-

I'm expecting to have my surgery date assigned around thanksgiving. I have 2 boys 9 and 10 mons. I am finished with my 6 months in October but because I'm a teacher I am hoping I can get the sleeve around a scheduled school holiday to reduce the leave I use up. I'd love to keep in touch with some November sleevers.

Hi! I'm Kelly also 37 years old from Maryland. I am schedule for November 20th so no thanksgiving dinner for me this year but that's ok! I am hoping it will be well worth it! I have struggled with my weight my whole life. I did at one time lose almost 80 lbs on the adkins and kept it off for 1 1/2 years but as soon as I fell off the wagon I gained it all back plus some. I am putting all my hope into this surgery that it will work for me and enable me to keep the weight off forever. November can't get here soon enough for me!

I'm also from Maryland!! I live in Charles Co. Hitesh Amin is my Dr. How about you?

I am scheduled for Nov. 5, I was denied once, original surgery date was July 2nd (paper work was sent too early) Hoping that this time around i will have my surgery without any problems.

I am 37 (will be 38 in September) married and a mother of two sons ages 20 and 14 and a 17 year old daughter.

Wishing everyone luck and let's get this thread rocking!! We need to be here for one another. The waiting will be toughbut we can help each other get mentally prepared.

Hi! I got my surgery date - Nov 9! 11 weeks from Friday!

Glad to see this thread hopping.

Hi,

I'm Dana from New Orleans! I'm 49, married, no kids - except the 4 legged kind. I'm shooting for a late November surgery date. My Aetna 90 day requirement is up on Nov.13 and the office said it usually takes about 10 days to get an approval back. I just wish I would have come to this decision (it was almost an epiphany for me) a few months ago -- I am chomping at the bit here.

I've been overweight/fat my entire life starting at about age 7. Ten years ago I lost 160lbs over a 1.5 years on low carb. Even after the 160lbs I was still overweight but very happy at a size 14/16. I managed to keep the majority off but I have gained back 60lbs over the last 5 years despite still being on a mostly low carb diet to this day. I thought ok, maybe my body is immune to the low carb thing since I've been doing it over 10 years. So I tried Weight Watchers and GAINED weight. I felt like I was losing control of being able to maintain or lose. I remember thinking, ok, apparently the only way you are going to lose weight is if you cut your calories to bare minimum. But who can really live like that? I started investigating the sleeve and knew immediately that this was the tool that was going to allow me to cut my calories for a lifetime, allowing me to keep weight off. I'm hoping to lose 100lbs which would put me at 168lb. I know that is not a normal BMI but I think it's realistic. If by some miracle I lose more well, I cannot even imagine that honestly. I weighed 169lb when I was 12. To me, being a normal BMI is a pipe dream.

I'm looking forward to the November Sleevers encouraging one another and sharing the ups and downs of this life changing journey. I'm so excited about it I feel like I could jump out of my skin. I'm going to go crazy for 3 months. If they called and said Dana we can do your sleeve tonight at midnight I'd be there with bells on.

~Dana

Dana, I can totally relate about the low carb/WW stuff. I, too, gain weight on WW. Doctors (and other people) don't believe me, but I really do. I weigh, measure, count, obsess and gain...

Welcome - we'll be sleeve sisters!

Dana' date=' I can totally relate about the low carb/WW stuff. I, too, gain weight on WW. Doctors (and other people) don't believe me, but I really do. I weigh, measure, count, obsess and gain...

Welcome - we'll be sleeve sisters![/quote']

I gained too with WW. I gained a major dislike for that process. I couldn't lose on it and the little skinny chick that admittedly never had been more than a size 4, told me that I need to take it seriously cuz I had A LOT of weight to lose. That's a quote. I wanted to plant my fist in her face but I didn't. I stopped going there. Not every diet, pill or whatever works for everyone. And that sucks...but if it did...none of us would be in the positions we find ourselves in.

Hi! I have a tentative booking for Nov 6th! Can't wait!!! Lost just over 30lbs so far, looking to lose 150 total! I'm excited!!!

I'm also from Maryland!! I live in Charles Co. Hitesh Amin is my Dr. How about you?

Sorry just saw ur message! I'm in Somerset county on the Eastern shore. Dr. Sofronski is my Dr.

Hi Im scheduled for Nov 13th YEAH!!!!!

Im nov 26 in nyc . Cant wait