Hello to all

I hope to use this blog as a way to journal my way through the lapband experience not only to give insight to those considering it but for myself as a reminder of what was and what will be.

As a RN I know full well the risks of being obese but it's much like the respiratory therapist who smokes, what we know and what we do sometimes conflict! I've been overweight for as long as I can remember. My mother says the Dr. had me on a diet at 2. My earliest memory of diet was as a sophomore in high school. I've tried slimfast, dexatrim, calorie counts, and weight watchers all without serious weight loss. At 54 I am at my heaviest weight ever, 235 I never imagined I would be this heavy, how does this happen, how could I let myself get this heavy? It's a lifetime of poor habits obviously and genetics play some role. I swear I have the metabolism of a slug.

We (my fiance and I) went to a seminar on Jan. 28th and had done a lot of research before hand. The staff at the seminar were great and answered everyone's questions without hesitation. From the moment we met Dr. Fox I knew he was the surgeon I wanted. I scheduled my consult a few days before the seminar, I knew this was the surgery I wanted, needed, to help me lose the weight and be healthier. I had my blood work, pulmonary function test, and my EKG the Thursday following the seminar.

Yesterday, Feb 6th I had an EGD to see if I had a Hiatal Hernia. My INS. has a total ban on any bariatric surgery but will pay for hernia repair. No surprise, I have one , should I be happy. The good thing is that while fixing the hernia I get the lapband. Even if I hadn't had the EGD, Dr. Fox would have fixed the hernia during banding. So now I save 5k because the INS. pays for the hernia.

The only step left is to meet one on one with Dr. Fox for physical, and instructions on pre-op diet. He uses phase one of the South Beach diet preoperatively. My surgery is scheduled for March 2nd so I have a few weeks. The biggest thing I will have to give up is Diet Coke and carbs. I, like most overweight people am a carbaholic. I could eat pasta 7 nights week. I have tried to taper off the diet coke slowly but am not ready to say no more just yet. I have a few favorite foods I must eat before the pre-op diet begins simply because they will be off limits afterwards.

As the surgery gets closer I get more excited about what's to come. One day at a time, one pound at a time is my new motto.

D