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!

Hi all! My name is Denise from Columbus Ohio. My surgery is scheduled for Nov 12. I started the process in July. No kids, but 7 dogs . Glad to be part of the November sleevers.

Hello sleeve sister! I am the 12th as well (10:45 to be exact). I live near Toledo. Two dogs. Grown kids. One lives in Victorian Village (Cbus).

I'm getting excited!

I am counting the days also. Scheduled for November 28. Yeah!

HEYYYY!! The best day in November my birthday....HEYYYYYY!!!! My surgery is the 26th so this is my birthday gift to myself!!! Best wishes!!!

I've started a blog: sharonm723.wordpress.com

I have my surgery date. It's November 20th. I had my EGD today and everything went fine. So I just need to finish my weight management program (which I will on November 5th). Im so excited.

We are very similar in dates. I don't have my EGD until October 30, but my nutrition and case management classes are November 5. I start my pre-op diet on November 6, surgery on November 20. I'm very excited and hope the time goes quickly :-)

Good luck!!

We are very similar in dates. I don't have my EGD until October 30' date=' but my nutrition and case management classes are November 5. I start my pre-op diet on November 6, surgery on November 20. I'm very excited and hope the time goes quickly :-)

Good luck!![/quote']

My NUT and orientation classes are on 10/23. My pre-op starts 11/6 too. Good to know we have a similar schedule.

My name is Debbie, I am a former buckeye but now live in Virginia. I am 57 years old and my 6 month ins requests will be done in November! I am grandmother of 16 grandchildren, I work as patient service rep for internal meds practice. I have been so excited to get to the end of my 6 mo period. my hubby was hospitalized in the last 3 weeks. He had been in icu for 2 weeks and it was touch and go for him. He is now home and seems to be getting stronger each day. After spending 2 wks with him in hosp around the clock I am not so excited any more. My stress has gotten the best of me. I was both his nurse and wife while he was in hosp. I needed to stay with him to do his pd dialysis @the clock bc alot of the nurses didnt know how to do his dialysis. I was teaching them how to do it. I am exhausted and feel like I have been defeated. I have been stress eating, I had lost weight and now I just feel lost. My highest weight was 310 and finally down to about 255. I really wanted this for me, to do something for me to be healthy, as well as possibly get rid of my Diabetes. I love reading posts on this website. Have been reading since June. I just wanted to say I love the website bc it encourages me in times like what I am in right now. I just want to say Thank You to those encouragers out there.

Hi Debbie, Welcome. You have done very well to lose 55 pounds. I suppose we will all be faced with stress eating in the future and maybe it would help to start visualizing how good you are going to feel and look after the sleeve. You ate while your husband was in the hospital. So be it. No you know what they say "if you fall off the wagon, get back on and ride". easy to say. Good luck. Sending love.

Hi Debbie,

I' m sorry to hear about your husband. However, I'm sure he loves you and wants this for you, too. Unfortunately, life can be stressful. The rule is "Just don't give up!". Be encouraged and realize that this is for you. You deserve this for yourself and are worth it. I'm sending prayers for you and your husband. I'm scheduled for the end of November. When are you scheduled? We will cheer you on.

My name is Debbie' date=' I am a former buckeye but now live in Virginia. I am 57 years old and my 6 month ins requests will be done in November! I am grandmother of 16 grandchildren, I work as patient service rep for internal meds practice. I have been so excited to get to the end of my 6 mo period. my hubby was hospitalized in the last 3 weeks. He had been in icu for 2 weeks and it was touch and go for him. He is now home and seems to be getting stronger each day. After spending 2 wks with him in hosp around the clock I am not so excited any more. My stress has gotten the best of me. I was both his nurse and wife while he was in hosp. I needed to stay with him to do his pd dialysis @the clock bc alot of the nurses didnt know how to do his dialysis. I was teaching them how to do it. I am exhausted and feel like I have been defeated. I have been stress eating, I had lost weight and now I just feel lost. My highest weight was 310 and finally down to about 255. I really wanted this for me, to do something for me to be healthy, as well as possibly get rid of my Diabetes. I love reading posts on this website. Have been reading since June. I just wanted to say I love the website bc it encourages me in times like what I am in right now. I just want to say Thank You to those encouragers out there.[/quote']

Hi Debbie, hang in there. I live in no. Virginia. I'll keep you and your hubby in my prayers.

Hi, I am 53 years old, 5'2"' and weigh 250 lbs. I live in northern Virginia and own a small quilt shop. Eleven years ago I was hit by a car when I was out walking and sustained a traumatic brain injury. During the course of my recovery I gained 100 lbs on steroids. Over the past 10 years I have gained 20 more pounds trying to lose the 100 lbs!

My surgery date is almost here! I am scheduled for nov. 6th. Blue point surgical group (dr. Halmi) is doing my surgery. My 2 week liquid pre-op starts next Tuesday. I am so excited and so nervous at the same time.

But most of all, I'm happy to be a November sleever. Good luck to everyone getting sleeved this month and I'll meet you on the loser's bench!

Hi ! We are of the same age and I LOVE quilting ! Sitting here amongst a pile of fabric as I type : ) My surgery is on November 9th and I start my diet on the 26th.

Hi ! We are of the same age and I LOVE quilting ! Sitting here amongst a pile of fabric as I type : ) My surgery is on November 9th and I start my diet on the 26th.

That is so cool! I had to open a shop to store my stash! LOL. Good luck to you and let's keep in touch.

I had to go to a costume party this weekend. This is my last Halloween at this size so I decided to embrace it. Here I am.

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

Me too!! November13th!!! Go us!!!!!

Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hello, my name is Guy, but everyone calls me Bear.now there is a clue about my lifelong struggle with my weight. I am 49 years old and I live in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. My surgery is Nov 20, 2012. I have been jumping through hoop for a year to have this surgery, and right when I am scheduled to have it... BAM.. My partner decides to leave. Ha! I am the only person that starts off surgery with an instant 350 pound weight loss. Buddies and support is what I need. Let's all get heathy and wiser together. Peace!

That is so cool! I had to open a shop to store my stash! LOL. Good luck to you and let's keep in touch.

Lets do keep in touch ! Hey, do you have a web site for your store? What is your favorite type of quilting/ Mine is appliqué . I work so dont get much time to quilt...owning a quilting shop wold be awesome. I suppose you could justify sewing at work LOL!

Hello' date=' my name is Guy, but everyone calls me Bear.now there is a clue about my lifelong struggle with my weight. I am 49 years old and I live in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. My surgery is Nov 20, 2012. I have been jumping through hoop for a year to have this surgery, and right when I am scheduled to have it... BAM.. My partner decides to leave. Ha! I am the only person that starts off surgery with an instant 350 pound weight loss. Buddies and support is what I need. Let's all get heathy and wiser together. Peace![/quote']

Welcome to the group Guy. I'm scheduled for the 20th of November as well. I have to start my liquid diet on 11/6. Gonna be rough but it's all gonna be worth it in the end.