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!

November 26th with Dr James Davidson.

I'm scheduled Nov 14 in Omaha. I think us November sleeves are unique because we are all probably giving up the biggest food holiday of the year- THANKSGIVING! But I guess that will allow us to spend more time focused on what we can be truly thankful for instead of food- a healthier body and feeling better about ourselves, and everything that goes along with that!

A family member asked me, why not wait until Thanksgiving and Christmas.Your going to miss all that food?.To which I replied, "Well, I have eaten like it was Thanksgiving and Christmas on many days that were not. I'm not missing out on anything important..My family and friends will be there..Thats all that matters..I had forgot that for a long time."

"You have such a great personality." Ugh. *insert eye roll here*. Lol. I want to be seen for the special' date=' awesome chick that I am. I'm tired of being invisible in spite of my size.[/quote']

oh my god i said the exact same to my hubby the other day i was trying to explain how it felt to be big and how the bigger i got the more invisible i became he thought i was mad x x x thanks for making me feel normal x x husband is getting summons to the screen Im about two seconds to read your post

"You have such a great personality." Ugh. *insert eye roll here*. Lol. I want to be seen for the special, awesome chick that I am. I'm tired of being invisible in spite of my size.

You look pretty cute, special, and awesome from what I can see Just wait, all those people who said those things are the ones that will be chasing you down

oh my god i said the exact same to my hubby the other day i was trying to explain how it felt to be big and how the bigger i got the more invisible i became he thought i was mad x x x thanks for making me feel normal x x husband is getting summons to the screen Im about two seconds to read your post

You are so not alone. Trust me. It's funny how walking into a store and someone catches the door for a skinny person then when they bump into me they act surprised. I'm like really?! I'm kind of hard to miss. I'm not talking down about myself but I'm not going to ignore my reality either.

You look pretty cute' date=' special, and awesome from what I can see Just wait, all those people who said those things are the ones that will be chasing you down[/quote']

Awwwww thanks!! I know right. It's funny how I will suddenly seem acceptable. But I'm lucky. I credit my confidence to my dad, sister and my friends. They don't see my outer appearance. They see me. And love me unconditionally. It's hard to not be aware of my self worth with people like that in my life.

And I'm tired of being told that if I just lost the weight...I'd be the perfect package. I love sports (especially my Boston teams), I'm a wicked good cook, love to try new things and I do NOT play games. But I'm a big girl. I am not given the time of day. I even had a guy tell me once that I'm cool and he likes me but his friends would give him a hard time for dating a big girl. Wow....so not a real man. Lol. I dodged a bullet with that one.

All in all, my life is what I make of it and this sleeve will be what I'm willing to sacrifice to make it work. We are all tough, worthy of great things in our lives and we WILL see success. We have each other and that is more than some have.

Hugs all around!

November 26th with Dr James Davidson.

Im on the 26th too in Mexico good luck and I cant wait to hear how your doing!!!

Hi November Sleevers

My name is Sara, I'm a 32y/o nurse who will have surgery on Nov 26!!! I'm so excited to have surgery!!!

Welcome Sara I will be having my surgery on the 26th as well in mexico...So excited for you and hope to hear how things are going through your journey!!!

Awwwww thanks!! I know right. It's funny how I will suddenly seem acceptable. But I'm lucky. I credit my confidence to my dad' date=' sister and my friends. They don't see my outer appearance. They see me. And love me unconditionally. It's hard to not be aware of my self worth with people like that in my life.

And I'm tired of being told that if I just lost the weight...I'd be the perfect package. I love sports (especially my Boston teams), I'm a wicked good cook, love to try new things and I do NOT play games. But I'm a big girl. I am not given the time of day. I even had a guy tell me once that I'm cool and he likes me but his friends would give him a hard time for dating a big girl. Wow....so not a real man. Lol. I dodged a bullet with that one.

All in all, my life is what I make of it and this sleeve will be what I'm willing to sacrifice to make it work. We are all tough, worthy of great things in our lives and we WILL see success. We have each other and that is more than some have.

Hugs all around![/quote']

That guy was obviously a loser and not deserving of your affection. I love my Boston teams too! Pats are my favorite! I know the feeling, Im always the "awesome guy" "so funny" but I'm always stuck in the friend zone. I have a second job as a bartender. I know that I'm twice the bartender as any ken doll with twice the personality. However, I've never got hired at any upscale place due to my size. I can't wait to go reapply when I lose the weight. Then, when they offer me the job I'm going to ask them, why the change of heart? Hopefully their faces turn red :/$

That guy was obviously a loser and not deserving of your affection. I love my Boston teams too! Pats are my favorite! I know the feeling' date=' Im always the "awesome guy" "so funny" but I'm always stuck in the friend zone. I have a second job as a bartender. I know that I'm twice the bartender as any ken doll with twice the personality. However, I've never got hired at any upscale place due to my size. I can't wait to go reapply when I lose the weight. Then, when they offer me the job I'm going to ask them, why the change of heart? Hopefully their faces turn red :/[/quote']

Revenge can be sweet. Just don't lose your personality and sense of humor.

I love my Pats. My poor Matt Light retired. So sad. Lol. You must be gearing up for that storm. It's gonna be a hellacious one. Told my dad and sister to bunker down. I'm pretty sure my step-mom is going to work from home rather than go into Boston.

I also look forward to applying for jobs once the weight is off. I know that they can't and won't say it but appearance means more than most anything to people. Get the weight off, rock your sleeve and get down to where YOU are happy. That kind of confidence can't be taught or bought.

How is your pre-op diet? Have you started one?

Mine is November 13th!!

Hi my name is Kim. My surgery is scheduled for Nov. 20th. My preop diet starts Nov 6th. I wish everyone luck and blessings!

Today I checked out the extract section at my local Walmart and found some great flavones of extract that I can add to my pre op shakes. I'm getting excited to make up some concoctions! I'm sure it will get old quick

Today I checked out the extract section at my local Walmart and found some great flavones of extract that I can add to my pre op shakes. I'm getting excited to make up some concoctions! I'm sure it will get old quick <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

That is a great idea!

I just got my medical clearance today from my pcp. I'm so excited I can't wait for November 15th to come!