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, new here. I am 34, mother of 4, and from Kansas. I am scheduled for the week of Thanksgiving in Mexico with Dr. Ariel Ortiz. My insurance has a complete exclusion from weight loss anything. I am a public health nurse and it is really difficult to advise people how to be healthy when I'm not myself. I am really excited about having this TOOL that will help me to make better decisions when it comes to food, and hopefully the activity will follow.

My oldest daughter is a senior this year. At my current weight I am never in pictures and when I am, I'm so embarrassed of how I look. So one of my motivators is that I can take pictures with my daughter at her graduation in May 2013 and feel good about it!

I look forward to sharing this journey with all of you! November here we come!!!

Hi all, new here. I am 34, mother of 4, and from Kansas. I am scheduled for the week of Thanksgiving in Mexico with Dr. Ariel Ortiz. My insurance has a complete exclusion from weight loss anything. I am a public health nurse and it is really difficult to advise people how to be healthy when I'm not myself. I am really excited about having this TOOL that will help me to make better decisions when it comes to food, and hopefully the activity will follow.

My oldest daughter is a senior this year. At my current weight I am never in pictures and when I am, I'm so embarrassed of how I look. So one of my motivators is that I can take pictures with my daughter at her graduation in May 2013 and feel good about it!

I look forward to sharing this journey with all of you! November here we come!!!

Hi! I know exactly what you mean about pictures....I tried to hide when the camera comes out. And if I can't avoid the camera I try to hide myself behind other people in the picture. And if I can do that I just refuse to look at the picture --- because I know it will just make me more depressed!

Yea Novembers!! It cannot get here soon enough!

Hi, I am new to the group. I just created my password, but have no idea how to set up my profile so I thought I would introduce myself.

My name is Ainslee. I am, newly 61 Y/0. I have an adopted daughter who is 19 and 2 cats. I stated this journey 2 years ago and then became quite sick so her I am again. You can imagine how anxious I am for the surgery. I crated this surgery date because that is when I want it. In truth I got a message on Friday that I am insurance approved. Yeah. So tomorrow, I will call and get my date. I have to wait due to work. I cannot wait. I have already organized my clothes by size so I can wear them as needed and then get rid of them forever. I have a size range between 14 and 20! (I actually have smaller sizes but they are in boxes.)

I am looking forward to this group and the group support. I am a good cheerleader for everyone else (not for myself).

Hi Ainslee!

What a good idea about sorting clothes by size to get ready. I bet we all have a huge range of sizes -- mine range between 14 and 24. Most of the 14, 16, 18s are in huge storage bins in a storage unit. I have a ton!! But sorting them and getting them ready to wear would be a good way to keep the excitement going. Maybe I'll start with the 22s and 20s / 2Xs and then once I actually have surgery in November go to the smaller sizes.

Welcome to the Novembers 2012!

My name is Julie and my surgery date is the 16th in Puerta Vallarta Mexico. I have a low bmi but have every comorbidity under the sun! I am so excited to get this done!

Hello November Sleevers! I'm fairly new to the board yet I have found myself plugged into the vst forums daily. You guys and gals are amazing! The information and support on the board is incredible. I'm located in Northern NJ. Tentative surgery date with Dr. Ewing is November 9th. I've completed all my requirements and I will be submitting all my paperwork to horizon Bcbs for approval. Some have said my decision to do wls is drastic yet being 316lbs is not cool no matter how well you dress it up! I've made being "big" to cute and comfortable for myself and others that no one not even myself could ever think being smaller and healthier is possible. I've done just about every diet and appetite suppressant. Lost a few pounds and gained it back. Over the years I have changed my eating habits drastically and I enjoy working out on a regular basis however I can't seem to lose 3lbs w/o gaining 5. I've lost 75 lbs back in 2010-2011 and quickly gained at least 50 of it back. I'm extremely nervous about this surgery yet I'm ready for consistent long term success. I'm ready to experience more living! I experience my share of doubts but I firmly believe I'm making the best choice for myself.

Hello November Sleevers! I'm fairly new to the board yet I have found myself plugged into the vst forums daily. You guys and gals are amazing! The information and support on the board is incredible. I'm located in Northern NJ. Tentative surgery date with Dr. Ewing is November 9th. I've completed all my requirements and I will be submitting all my paperwork to horizon Bcbs for approval. Some have said my decision to do wls is drastic yet being 316lbs is not cool no matter how well you dress it up! I've made being "big" to cute and comfortable for myself and others that no one not even myself could ever think being smaller and healthier is possible. I've done just about every diet and appetite suppressant. Lost a few pounds and gained it back. Over the years I have changed my eating habits drastically and I enjoy working out on a regular basis however I can't seem to lose 3lbs w/o gaining 5. I've lost 75 lbs back in 2010-2011 and quickly gained at least 50 of it back. I'm extremely nervous about this surgery yet I'm ready for consistent long term success. I'm ready to experience more living! I experience my share of doubts but I firmly believe I'm making the best choice for myself.

Hi,

Yep, your story is a lot like mine ( and probably most!). A lot of my friends also think this is too drastic.

What I try to explain to them is that it is time for "drastic". I have tried everything... I'm DONE with that and I'm READY for this! I'm very scared too but staying fat scares me more.....

Welcome to our Novembers club!

~Dana

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.

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.

Congratulations!! I'm hoping my date will be around that same time!! We'll be able to support each other!!

Congratulations!!

Hello Ladies My name is Bernadette Im 32 and from Killeen Texas no kids I think because of my weight... As I see we do have the same story for the most part heavy from adolesence until now. I was banded in Feb of 2009 and I thought thank you lord a way for me to finally get this weight and be healthy. However, I followed my diet and ate small portions and worked out only to lose about 51 pounds to 223. When I saw the weight coming back I stopped getting fills because I knew this was not going to work. I heard about the sleeve when I got my band but I was like the less invasive the better NOT!!! I wish I would have went with my second mind to research the sleeve. I just recently started looking into the sleeve because I've been having pains from my band where my port is and where it is around my stomach. I mean sleeping or sitting wrong will cause pain. Then after looking at the post about the band being bad just through me for a loop. Im like really all of this can be happening to me? Okay its got to go!! Well I talked a freind of mines into getting the surgery she got her band in 2010 and can hardly keep food down, which sucks because we are both contractors in Afghan. Its not enough the food is bad but then not being able to eat almost anything has to be bad. Anyhow Im glad to say I will me going to my neighbors in Mexico to be revised on the 26th of NOV. Im so excited for everybody here. Im tired of being ashamed of my size going to buy bigger close because the ones I bout 4 months ago dont fit..smh..I am currently around 250 and looking for at least an 80 pound weight lost. I still wont be in normal BMI but I will take overweight over obese anyday..lol.. I want to wish you all well as our days are numbered ladies!! My only 2 concerns is about my smoking I have patches I plan to start using at the begining of this month and then eventually stop but then the pre op diet I dont know what Im going to do cause I really dont have a choice being in Afghan if you guys have an idea let me know I will try to have my sister ship me something!! BEST OF LUCK TO EVERYBODY!!! Hopefully we all will be at goal this same time next year and living life to the fullest and healthiest possible...!!!

I hope you get your date that week too so we can support each other! C'mon November, hurry up already!

I'm so excited for us!!! Lol

Me too! November cannot get here fast enough! I've already started putting outfits together in my head!! heehee!!

I'm hoping for that week too! My Aetna 90 day program requirement is up Nov 14.... So technically I can go anytime after that but the office told me that it normally takes about 10 days to get the official approval once the paperwork is submitted.

Yeah Novembers!

I hope you get your date around that time also so we can support each other! Yippee!

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.

Hi I'm Nov 20th also! 62 days to go!!

Welcome to all November sleevers! I am sure we are all going to be a great support to each other.