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Young one from TN!



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Hello everybody!!

My name is Lynette and I am 18, nearing 19 years old. I am from Knoxville, TN. I have fought obesity for as long as I can remember. I am 5'4 and 279lbs, I have researched lapband for the past year or so. Before a trip earlier this year, my sister brought it up and said my mom, her, and I should all get the surgery done as we are all overweight and have tried to diet and failed many times.

I kind of let that thought go for awhile and on the 3rd of July, I ended up in the ER with two kidney stones and a massive kidney infection. I also found out that I had a slightly fatty liver most likely due to my weight.

Then my sister told us that there would be a seminar at an area hospital and we told her to sign us up. I go tomorrow and am so interested in what they will say! They also talked about pre-approving there, so wish us luck! I have gone through these forums and everyone seems so nice and open. I hope it is that way for me. :wacko: Thanks!

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Welcome and I will keep my fingers crossed for you and your Mom and sister. It is a wonderful tool and I love my band. I didn't have to do a preop diet because I had to pay cash for mine in Mexico and they don't require it and I'm 5'8" and was 280 pounds surgery day and they said my liver was fatty too when they got in there. They said since I've lost 80 pounds in the past 12 months that should help the situation.

Welcome and if I can help you in anyway just let me know. Feel free to ask questions we're all in this together and help each other here and this is the best place in the world for support.

Hugs,

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Good luck...I hope that all goes well ...I hope you are pre-approved and can have the surgery right away....OUCH on the KIDNEY STONES...I have had four of them over the last couple of years, and I know how painful they are...the most terrible pain I have ever had...and I have had open heart surgery and two children....

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Thank you!!! :) I actually was 272 today, I don't know where those 9 pounds went but YESSS!!

I went to the seminar today and it was amazing. Luckily, I have done so much research on it and knew I was well informed, but learned a lot of things today and learned their requirements. I can't gain any more weight than I was today before my surgery, which now I'm worried about any food I eat.

I have a lot of forms to fill out and need to call my insurance. I am so excited though!!

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Good for you! I'm 29 (scheduled for surgery this Wednesday) and how I wish something like this was an option for me when I was still in my teens. I am incredibly happy and excited for you!

All the best!

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I'm so excited for you! I'm 31 and will have my band placed on Aug. 23rd. I only wish it would have been an option when I was 19! I guarantee you life will be a lot different as a "normal" size person in your 20's with dating and jobs. I've always been up and down, and I'm tired of losing and then gaining it all back. Thats where I think the band is going to come in handy for me. Helping me keep it off after I struggle to lose. You will have such a easier time as a smaller version of yourself. How lucky to have a mom and sister to go through it with! What a great support system. Keep us posted! Good luck.

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    • LeighaTR

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      · 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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