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Hello

I am sceduled for banding on the 26th of October by Dr Lee Grossbard. Dr Grossbard has teamed up with Dr Ernest Rhenke to start the band program in St Petersburg FL. I have struggled all of my life with weight and am at an all time high of 309lb and I feel like I am dying a slow death. I am a 39 however I suffer from hypertension and high blood pressure. My reflux has been an ongoing problem. I am looking forward to this new life and being a part of this community. All words of encouragement are welcome.

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Hey Cort: Glad to have you on board. Welcome to the rest of your life. I too had high blood pressure along with high cholesterol, back pain, knee pain, etc. Since losing 48 lbs I have gotten my blood pressure under control and off medications, my cholesterol was 130 just two days ago and off medications, my knees and back no longer hurt. I have LOADS of energy. I can get down on the floor now without being embarrased or hurt myself. But better yet I can get up off the floor by myself without a crane. LOL!!

Welcome and don't be shy.

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Hi Welcome!!!

You have come to the right place for support and encouragement that is for sure. This place is the best...it's like one big happy family. I have heard good things about Dr. Grossbard. He was banded himself by my surgeon Dr Ortiz. I wish you all the best on your upcoming surgery..Keep coming back reading and posting. This place is what I believe has helped me to be so successful. Lots and lots of support & love here!!

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Welcome and congratulations on your upcoming Banding! You are taking a positive step to reclaiming your life. You will be amazed at how your health problems decrease or go completely away. You will be able to get out there and take part in life, instead of sitting on the sidelines. Best of luck to you!:)

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Congratulations! That's just two weeks away. If you have any questions, be sure to look at previous posts on this board, both in Introductions (where a lot of us have talked about the surgical experience), General Discussion, and the themed sections (Food, Support, etc.). I am so grateful for the frank information and opinions I received here. And if you have a question that hasn't already been addressed, just ask! We've all been where you are in your band journey, so you'll have plenty of help. Good luck!

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Welcome Cort!! So glad to have you here and congratulations on the decision to reclaim your life! We have all been right where you are, so we understand how you are feeling. Let me just say that I too, was dying a slow, torturous death having had blood clots in both my legs and lungs, cholesterol of 306 and severe swelling in my extremeties. My top weight was 250, for a 5ft body and I simply could not stand one more pound. I have since lost 67lbs and although I've had some minor bumps in the road, I am very pleased that I've been banded and hope to finish my journey soon. Please feel free to browse all the great info and ask anything you feel we might be able to help you with!

Good luck to you on your banding journey!

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Hi Cort, I, like you, suffered with reflux, hypertension and high cholesterol. I want you to know that those problems are resolved now, since I got banded. My BP is 140/70 now. My cholesterol went from 347 to 190, without drugs. My reflux improved immediately after banding. I love my band!

I know you will enjoy better health, too, when you get this wonderful tool to help you take control of your food. Good Luck, we're glad to have you on the forum.

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Hi Cort, and welcome. I was just banded 3 weeks ago, and reflux was a pretty irritating problem for me preband. Since banding I haven't felt it once.

If you read through the many many posts here, you'll be very prepared for just about anything by the time you get banded. This site certainly educated me like nothing else, and no where else I looked.

Good Luck!

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Cort

you won't find a better place to send you pre-surgery and post surgery then here. Not only are these people supportive they are just plan beautiful (proof of that is just look at my avatar LOL LOL).

Delarar normally would have more to say but she just hosted a whole group of lapbanders at her home in Vegas over the weekend and I suspect if you were at here house now she is probably sitting at the computer...typed out Howdy from Veags and fell asleep. The woman has energy like no other. But it has to catch up to her sooner or later.

I think we all had the same feeling you have about what was going on with us. You'll see here shortly that that will disappear soon after surgery. The people here wil be proof there is life after fat.

Good luck and keep us posted

Greg

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Hello Cort, Welcome to the family! This is a great place. Look forward to hearing more from you and your success upon banding.......... wooohoooo Take care, and read these posts, they are great!

Hugz

Jodie

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Welcome! And congrats on your decision to become one of the banded! :)

I love the St. Pete area. Our family vacations at Clearwater Beach every summer.

Please keep in touch on your upcoming surgery and please ask away. There are very knowledgable people who post on this board, I've learned so much just by reading and asking questions.

Tricia

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"Delarla normally would have more to say but she just hosted a whole group of lapbanders at her home in Vegas over the weekend and I suspect if you were at here house now she is probably sitting at the computer...typed out Howdy from Veags and fell asleep. The woman has energy like no other. But it has to catch up to her sooner or later."

Greg, stop reading my mind, it's not polite! I usually go to bed around 10:30. Last night at 7:45, I finally opened up the MP3 player that Donali gave me. I popped in the "Meditative Classical Guitar" CD (one of several that she gave me with the MP3) and was out like a light. Too pooped to post!

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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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