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Newbie here - Don't know what I'm doing



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Hello, all. I hope I'm posting this right. I'm looking into having

the lapband surgery done after the first of the year. I'm an

insulin-dependent diabetic, have had 10 stents put in over the

past two years and need to lose at least 60 pounds. I'm just

in the "gaining information" stage. Cathy in Texas

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Hi Cathy

Where in Texas? If you aren't far from Denton - you could meet up with us in at the Cracker Barrel on New Year's Day at 2pm - and we can answer a mess o' questions for you...

Yep - you posted right... and hopefully, the band will help you lose your dependence on insulin along with that 60 lbs... :]

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Thanks to everyone that welcomed me on board! Regarding

the message about the group meeting in Denton, I'm in the

Ft. Worth area and Denton would not be that far for me to

drive. Unfortunately, I have plans for New Years Eve and

Day, spending time with my daughter and her twins, but perhaps

at a later meeting?

I've read quite a few posts and am both encouraged by what

I read and more confused than ever. That's just me, though. I

have to mull over and digest all the information before I make what

I consider to be a very life-changing decision. Thanks again.

Cathy in Texas

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Thanks to everyone that welcomed me on board! Regarding

the message about the group meeting in Denton, I'm in the

Ft. Worth area and Denton would not be that far for me to

drive. Unfortunately, I have plans for New Years Eve and

Day, spending time with my daughter and her twins, but perhaps

at a later meeting?

I've read quite a few posts and am both encouraged by what

I read and more confused than ever. That's just me, though. I

have to mull over and digest all the information before I make what

I consider to be a very life-changing decision. Thanks again.

Cathy in Texas

Cathy,

It took me two years to mull over information and decide, so I know exactly what you mean. It was the best decision I have ever made for myself. I had type II diabetes with my second pregnancy along with hypertension. My blood pressure went from 150+/98 to 112/88 since I have lost weight. My PCP is very very happy with my results.

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Welcome to LBT cathy

Best wishes on your research and decision making...LBT is a rich resource of information and advice so you have come to the right place.

keep us posted.

:bananapartyhat: becky

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I can already tell this group is rich in information and compassion,

both of which I need. I was just wondering if any of you had any

problems actually missing being able to stuff yourself. I know this

sounds like a silly question, but I really love to eat. I quit smoking

back in 1999. Never thought I would or could, but had to because

of medical reasons, so I guess it has become another case of medical

necessity driving me to change my eating lifestyle. I'm just curious

about the psychology of it all????? Thanks again for your help!

Cathy in Texas

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I can already tell this group is rich in information and compassion,

both of which I need. I was just wondering if any of you had any

problems actually missing being able to stuff yourself. I know this

sounds like a silly question, but I really love to eat. I quit smoking

back in 1999. Never thought I would or could, but had to because

of medical reasons, so I guess it has become another case of medical

necessity driving me to change my eating lifestyle. I'm just curious

about the psychology of it all????? Thanks again for your help!

Cathy in Texas

That is a good question Cathy. I do miss "pigging out" every now and then, however my band doesn't allow it at all. I will say that I have sat and ate for 2 hours just so I could eat more. In that 2 hours I ate about a half of a saucer full of food, but it seemed like so much more.

I have a great example that happened just this weekend. We traveled east to see family where there are Krystal burgers. I grew up with Krystal burgers and I love them very very much however there aren't any close by me. We stopped at Krystal burger and bought a 12 pack of cheese burgers. I took the bottom piece of bread off and still could not finish it. Krystal burgers are very small 2 to 2.5 inch squared burgers. I was so ready to eat 6 more and I just couldn't. I ate one for Breakfast the next morning then lunch the day after that without the bottom bread and only about half each time. By the third time, I was getting sick of Krystal burgers and felt very satisfied. So, yes I missed pigging out, but eating what I wanted several times worked just as well.

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What I like about the band is that you can still eat most anything u want. Just ALOT less. I am still new to the band experience(banded nov. 10 06). But when you eat something that doesn't go down right..believe me you don't want it that bad anymore. It's a way too uncomfortable feeling and when you eat too much....OUCH the cramps you get are not nice. It's a way to control ourselves since we can't do it alone. The band will do the work for me. I know I know and exercise too.;)

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Thanks for the reply. Another question I have is, about

how long does it take most people to recuperate enough from

the surgery to go back to work? This group is really helping

me make a good decision regarding this. Again, thanks so much.

Cathy in Texas

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My wife had her surgery on a Thursday, went home that evening, was back in the office by the next Tuesday. She likely would have gone back on Monday, but there wasn't a need..

BUT, different people tolerate these things differently.

When I get mine done this Feb I am setting the expectation with my boss that I am having it done on Thursday, and that Mon/Tue/Wed of the following week will be "work from home" days.

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Welcome from another Texan. I wish you the best of luck.

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Cathy, I went back to work after a week. I was still a little sore and moved a little slower. Wasn't unbearable tho.

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Cathy, I had my surgery on Wednesday and went back to work on Tuesday. I couldn't have went back any earlier, the day I chose was perfect.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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