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!

Hello Guy and welcome.... good luck on your journey.

Hello guy! Welcome to positivity. I'm scheduled for the 28. I'm so excited!

Twenty two days!!!!! Who else is having difficulty controling your appetite? I've misbehaved a lot this past week. My nutritionist said it's fairly common to gain weight just before surgery. GRRRR! I don't like it.

This morning I decided to try just protein shakes and vitamin water to see if I can reign in this wild appetite.

I hope the rest of you are doing well.

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!

Hey GUY!! Glad you came to what I consider the best group of supporters in this whole community. Glad you are no longer on the hampster wheel with getting approved. I know it doesnt help with your significat other I to just went through the same thing. I've done my grieving and am not reflecting on me once again.. We are all excited for you and wish you all the best on your journey let us know how your doing and we will in turn do the same. You will be sleeved 6 days before me so please if you have the time and energy afterwards to give me an idea of what I can expect...Hugs coming your way!!!

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!

Welcome, Guy. This is the best place to find support. Another great place is your surgeon's weight losss support group. I never miss a meeting. Every time I go, I learn so much and I've met such wonderful people. It could be just the thing you need right now,

As for your partner leaving, I want to say congratulations. I know that sounds weird but here's my thinking. You decided to have this surgery, which is a big deal mentally, physically and emotionally. If your partner decides to leave just when you are embarking on this life altering journey, that person wasn"t there for you and would have just been in the way, emotionally. You need to surround yourself with people who really care about you. We all deserve to be loved and appreciated. Do not let any negativity fill your heart/soul. I'm guessing that for many of us, that's part of how we got here in the first place. At my last support meeting a psychologist spoke. He said that a typical WLS patient is one who takes care of others first and we need to take care of ourselves first. My new mantra, "take care of me first". Not that easy, but it's time.

Well said fun size. I agree wholeheartedly. We are typically codependent people. Which giving to others is not a bad thing, but it is not healthy when we do it to the point where we become a detriment to ourselves...be it emotionally, physically and/or psychologically. Just take this one day at a time and those that really matter will be there to weather whatever storm comes our way. Hugs to everyone.

You know, I keep reading about stalls. Especially on the contest threads. I have an idea. So that we November Sleevers stay absolutely motivated no matter what the dang scale says...lets have our contests be two parts. Yes the scale matters as it does pertain to our goals of healthy weights, BMI's an such, but it is not the only way to measure success. We will have times of no weight loss but still our bodies will change. So that being said I propose we have goals for pounds lost/final weights AND for inches lost. That second one will be hard to gauge. But it would still an important motivator for us.

Lets do keep in touch ! Hey' date=' 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![/quote']

Our website is www.circlesewing.com. My favorite type of quilting is scrappy! I just love mixing all the colors. I give the majority of my quilts to the homeless and to women's shelters. I love the look of appliqué quilts, and some of my customers are experts at it....but I don't go there too often. I thought I'd have time to sew at work, not so much! LOL. My customers keep me hopping, and uncle sam's paperwork takes up the rest of my time (heavy sigh). I do sneak in a little sewing though...he he he

Hi bear, glad you're here. I like you already! My surgery date is nov. 6th. Your date is my daughters birthday, so I'll remember to keep you in my prayers that day...and all the other nov. 20th sleevers. I look forward to seeing you on the loser's bench! Hang in there.

I am ready, all my life I had to shop in the HUSKY section that hand only three shirt stlyes and pant made of petro by product that cost 140 dollars . All can invasion is a smaller ass in jeans from Walmart!!

You know' date=' I keep reading about stalls. Especially on the contest threads. I have an idea. So that we November Sleevers stay absolutely motivated no matter what the dang scale says...lets have our contests be two parts. Yes the scale matters as it does pertain to our goals of healthy weights, BMI's an such, but it is not the only way to measure success. We will have times of no weight loss but still our bodies will change. So that being said I propose we have goals for pounds lost/final weights AND for inches lost. That second one will be hard to gauge. But it would still an important motivator for us.[/quote']

I like the idea of including inches lost. How does the contest work. My day is 11-28, so I'll be a late starter. However, I am very excited.

I am ready' date=' all my life I had to shop in the HUSKY section that hand only three shirt stlyes and pant made of petro by product that cost 140 dollars . All can invasion is a smaller ass in jeans from Walmart!![/quote']

That's a great goal.

I like the idea of inches too.... I will be a late starter as well, my day is 11-30-12 , but I'm in and very excited

I like the idea of including inches lost. How does the contest work. My day is 11-28' date=' so I'll be a late starter. However, I am very excited.[/quote']

When you get your surgery....set a goal. The first contest will be tough just cuz you really don't know how your body will react to the surgery...but it's good cuz we can all stick together. Some will lose fast, some slow. But the point is we're all gonna lose. I say wait til surgery since that is when you get your official day of surgery weight. And like I said...we motivate each other. And regardless of the beginning of the month or end...we are all November losers. And it gives us a month or so to New Years.

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!

Hi Guy,

Welcome and so sorry about your partner. Maybe she/he was afraid of what might happen if you get thin. He/she might only like Bears. Whatever the reason, Don't look back, you can now look forward to your new life. My current motto is "2013, is going to be a GREAT year". Here's to you and all of us. Ainslee