Hey Guys, I am new here and still in the beginning stages of this. Have my first appointment with the surgeon next week and I am a bit apprehensive albeit committed to getting it done. I weigh 360# and have struggled all my adult life with eating and my weight. At one time I was a competitive powerlifter, seems like a million years ago, but after many injuries I had to give it up. Never gave up the massive appetite though so here I am. Guess I am just looking for some encouragement from other guys who have gone thru this or are going thru it. I do have a former lover/friend who was one of the first in the country to get it done post FDA approval and she has been very supportive about my decision which helps. Well thats it for now, hope I havent ranted to mush and look forward to hearing from you

Well I am off for the final Doctor's office visit until the surgery next Friday and what do you know but I am beginning to get nervous again! The future has always been such an unknown and many times, at least for me, an adventure! I have seen so many people on this site do wonderful things and make incredible changes in their lives that I can't help but be inspired and motivated myself. I will keep everyone who is interested up to date as I go forward and hopefully achieve some of the same success I have witnessed here. My thanks to all who had made the same choice I have made and gone forward to a new beginning!

Rick

Best of luck, Rick! You will be glad you did this. I am down 36 pounds, and feel a huge difference already. All the best and let us know how you do!

FINALLY! Jeez, waiting for Rick to hurry up and get his band has been like being 9 years old and wishing Christmas would come while you're still on summer vacation...

Nerves are part of the price of admission, Rick. We all had 'em, we all dealt with 'em, and now we're all banded.

Except for you, ya lazy bastid! Get in there, get your band then come back and talk with the other big dogs!

Everything will be fine, and then it'll get better and better.

hey, big rick this is coondawg. Looks like you and me are kind alike. 355 i use to powerlift play football. i should be getting banded late june or july, hope to hear from ya, good luck!

Yes I powerlifted competitively for more than 15 years. Then things just started breaking on me. I finally figured out you cant be a human bulldozer forever, I just never stopped eating like one and thats why I am here!

Well I have just some of the most wonderful news. As of today I got confirmation that I have Strep throat and my surgery has been cancelled and I will have to reschedule it for another time. I am bummed/pissed not to mention just having gone thru one of the WORST weeks I have ever had. Been just sick as a dog with a fever over 104 for several days before I finally got some anti-biotics. I am feeling much better now but still upset. Now I will have to wait until the end of freaking July to get this done. Just always seems to be one thing or another standing between me and the band. But no one ever accused me of being anything less than a stubborn Bastard so I havent given up yet, just makes me more determined

Damn, Rick, that's terrible!

I thought you had come to post that they'd managed to slip you in, and you were finally banded...

Look, the next few weeks'll fly back, and you'll be banded in no time. Hang in there!

Yeah, that sucks Rick. Hang in there.

Sorry to hear about your delay! Take care of yourself and hang in there.

Well, barring anything unforseen I FINALLY get cut on Friday, it's about freaking time! I will post again once I am finally a member of the fraternity! Wish me luck!

awesome - good luck Rick - let us know how it went !

Good luck Rick

:thumbup: Good luck tomorrow Bigrick. We'll be thinking about you. When your up to it, let us know how it all went.

Well. I FINALLY got it done and am now a member of the fraternity. Been laying low due to pain and just an overall crappy feeling, have not been able to get comfortable at night at all since I usually sleep on my side but that has been to painful and sleeping on my back I just cant do for very long. Already stopped with the Percocets as I hate though things and only use them for as little a time as needed. Hopefully today i will be able to move around more without feeling like I am dieing!

So the journey begins for real!

Congratulations, Rick! Hope your recovery is speedy and uneventful.