I HAVE A DATE!!! JUNE3rd!!!

Its been a battle for 8 months now with insurance Co./ I gave up & said "I win!! I'll pay for the darn thing myself!." So that is what I will be doing. I already gave the old MC a swipe yesterday & put done the $5200.00 to start & hopefully that wedding gown will sell soon & maybe a few other things:0)

I start the liquid phase on friday & will be doing the full two weeks even though the Doctor only requires two days of a fast. I just got off the phone with my Mom & finally decided that I am done deciding--i.e. I have been thinking this thing to death & its not only holding up my life in general but also I've been gaining more while waiting for insurance & other monies. Enough was Enough:0)

The only other stummper was my Doc yesterday suggested the RNY. Showed me AMAZING photos & said I would be 100 pds down in 9 mnths & because I was young & relatively healthy that I was a great candidate. He said the way he does it there is no malabsorbtion & that skin will sag because of stretching & age, not how fast you lose it. Not only that it would be $2500.00 less because the hospital (believe it or not) is less than for the lapband. He went over all the problems the band can raise & said he has just fond that his RNY patiences have much greater success than his band patiences do & in a Much shorter period. I must say he maid Excellent points & had me thinking for the last 12 hours.

BUT I am done thinking- Its the band for me! I know its harder than RNY ( both R hard- I know)- But I think that will make me feel more successful in the long haul(At least I hope) Also even though he said RNY was reversible - the band is so much more easy to reverse. It took awhile to put the weight on so two yrs to take it off isn't all that bad. Plus I would be able more readily to have a child quicker w/the band they say because of it being adjustable. Can you tell I am still nervous on my decision??

Nervous & happy at the same time has I am sure all of you were. You know some of my decision process was made WITH YOU GUYS in mind. Its true - I thought "what about my band family?" They have been the best support I have had so far! I mean it- I know when the poop hits the fan- my internet family will be there. Since I am a "closet bandster" that support is all the more important to me! Thank you one & all!

So let the count down begin!!! ((crying)) I have made the commitment & I"LL SUCCEED!

Yay you!!!! Welcome to the June crew!!!! Please give us all the details around your surgery!! I'm super excited for you! (and me!)

Christina, I understand everything your saying, and I've known all along that the band was the ONLY option for me, but I just had to vent, how I sometimes feel. So thank you again for reminding me, that I did chose wisely. I know that this band will work for me, I have successfully lost about 32 lbs and haven't gained it back, right?? So I just have to learn to have patience and soon enough the rest of the weight will come off.

I love you guys.

Christina,

I'm so happy for you and I know you made the right choice. I too have been researching the "band" for a while, although I'm sitting waiting impatiently for my insurance to get back to me with an answer. I'm scheduled for surgery on July 27th - I hate to have to wait that long!!!! But it's more about time off from my new job than anything else.

Please keep me posted on your progress....I'm like a sponge now wanting to know every little detail - so fill me in!!! I know you'll do great!

I especially want to know about your daily pre-surgery food/liquid choices and how you felt immediately afterwards. Where the port was placed above or below belly button?

What you were told to eat post surgery (choices I mean). I really an excited for you and for myself. Thanks for sharing and someone metioned earlier - you ARE WORTH the cost!!!! Congratulations.

Christina, Congratulations I am sooooo happy you finally got a BAND date!!

Soon you will be on the losing side of things.

Good luck girl!!!!!

Karen - congrats to you has well

Lynn- I sure will

Terri- I can't wait to permenately be a loser!!!

Estela- Check in with us a week from today & tell us of your 1 pd loss or more- I know you gonna do it - I really feel it!!!

congratulations.......................The RNY does take the weight off faster but I believe the band is not only a tool for helping you control the amont you eat but it is also a tool to help you overcome the mental stranglehold food has over us.

Okay, Christina, I'm up for the challenge, I will weigh in today and next Friday when I check in I will be at least 1 lb lighter. I promise you, I will be thinner in a week... Yep I will, yes I will, yes I will, yes I will, see I'm already excersising my fingers!! he, he heeeee...How do I make myself drink so much water, that is what my problem is, I haven't been going to the potty too well, (not enough water) so I'm really constipated, so really, I'm full of SHIT that is why I'm fat and can't lose more weight. LOL!!! Does drinking gatorade or unsweet/sweet tea count for water??? Please tell me it does, maybe I can do that instead of having to drink so much darn water. I can't do it, just can't. HELP ME OUT HERE!!! What else can I do to take in more water without drinking so much water????

Sweetie- try a little light sun tea- now that the weather is better. No quite frankly I was told gatorade doesn't count- infact its really not that good for you unless your truely dehydrated & or working out & losing all kinds of sodium. But has for the unsweetened tea -& sweetened lightly tea- I think that should definetly count:0) But drink extra just in case.

Christina, Congratulations! While I was in the pre-op area, I saw an OR nurse that I knew had RNY 3 years ago and had lost a lot of weight. But she had gained half of it back. That really reassured me that I'd made the right decision as they wheeled me into the OR.

Went to the store today and stocked up on water, and some berry flavored water and some more water. Got my benefiber and bought some shredded wheat, so that should help things move along, If you know what I mean, and I bought some white grape juice in the baby isle. That always helped my babies, maybe it will work for me too. Oh I'm so glad to hear my tea can count...Christina, you are so wonderful. Love you bunches..

Good for you Estela-

Well I have only i min to tell you al an update- My back has been out for 13 days- sever pain & I may have to cancel surgery! Can you believe it???!! What knid of silly thing is the Lord trying here? But I know she;0) has a reason. I will know more next Tuesday. That will be the last day I can postpone the date. Its my sacrarilly ack & My siatic nerve(spelling?) So that s it for now- can't be at the computer more than a momemnt or so.

I also am 90% sure I will do the startand port position instead of being the maverick & going below the underwear line.

I'll keep you all posted when I can

((Hugs)) _ Especially to Penni-Chin Up Girl!

Good for you Estela-

Well I have only i min to tell you al an update- My back has been out for 13 days- sever pain & I may have to cancel surgery! Can you believe it???!! What knid of silly thing is the Lord trying here? But I know she;0) has a reason. I will know more next Tuesday. That will be the last day I can postpone the date. Its my sacrarilly ack & My siatic nerve(spelling?) So that s it for now- can't be at the computer more than a momemnt or so.

I also am 90% sure I will do the startand port position instead of being the maverick & going below the underwear line.

I'll keep you all posted when I can

((Hugs)) _ Especially to Penni-Chin Up Girl!

I went through this for 8 months! I couldn't walk without help. I can tell you as you lose weight it will ease up. I never had to have the surgery to fix the problem because I lost weight that took the pressure off. It was the one time I was glad I was overweight. When it happens to a thin person, they have no choice, but a fat person can lose weight and take the pressure off.

Good Luck!

Christina, I am so sorry that you are in pain, I hope you start feeling better really soon and don't worry a little delay in your surgery is okay. I fell so bad for you, my back was out once and it was the most horrible pain I have ever been in (even worse than childbirth), so I know how you feel. Take Care and keep us posted.

Hi Christina -- I am a back-pain veteran. I'll send you a PM. Hope you feel better soon!