Sazparella

Hey Daisy Thanks for the reply I'll be getting banded by Mr Sigurdsson end of April hopefully Any tips for the day?

Some women are just so vicious, especially in the office environment! There is absolutely no need for that kind of child like behaviour. We can only assume she's insecure about how she looks, and is jealous about your progress!! Keep your head held high until the finish line when you can wipe the floor with her catty remarks and gossiping! I'm not going to tell anyone else. I've requested holiday leave from work, although part of me thinks I'm being stupid and should take it as sick leave as I don't get much time off to myself on holiday as it is! I guess I have the option of providing our HR department with a sick note but it's tricky as I would like the reason to remain hidden from everyone to avoid gossip and bitching. Oh for a life where we can just click our fingers and everything is magically fixed. Talking of work, I'm off to bed! Ho hum Nah night everyone xxx

Woah there!!! Thank you How did you find that? I've been looking for hours... I obviously need to improve my researching skills!

Says it all in the title really! I'm trying to find any local support network/meetings. Can't find anything on the net. Any info or advice would be appreciated. Good luck peeps x

Thanks DaybyDayBaby - that's some determination and strength you have there It makes sense to keep assessing where you're up to before rushing into something life changing. I'm going to call my co-ordinator tomorrow and I think I'm going to delay by a month just to sort my head space out, as well as get rid of this 7 week long cold and throat infection The stress is making me get really run down. GP told me to go on holiday - not a bad idea! I'll ask my brother to look through some lapband information once he's calmed down through the week. I agree with you all. I don't think men understand these issues as much as women because their bodies are built to make it a lot easier for them to lose weight naturally, whereas ladies are meant to bear children and layer fat!! It's so infuriating!!! Maybe the men (dads, brothers, friends etc) in our lives are just so closed minded to think that we're just doing this to attract other men? Never thinking that we can't bare to look at ourselves in the mirror without crying. Chris - How dare your neighbour tell her boyfriend!!! Where does it end? Who does he go on to tell after that? Why does she think you're doing this? This is exactly why I've only told my mum and brother, and only because I need my brother to take me to surgery and mum is next of kin. I'm trying to look for support networks in Liverpool but no luck so far

Thanks Cazzy I don't doubt that I can't lose weight without this band, and that I'll still be in this dark bubble in 30 years time saying the same old thing only with more regrets. I want to look forward to being healthy, having no headaches, lessening my depression and becoming more socially confident. This can only happen if I lose weight. The first thing he shouted at me was "you'll be on Soup all your life" so I guess it's just lack of education about the band. My co-ordinator isn't the best and hasn't gave me any info on post-op diets tbh so I've just had to do some self-research in a kind of blind panic! That is what I'm most scared about at the moment. I've heard about difficulties with rice which is scary because I live on it with being a vegetarian, but I'll have to deal with it! Thank you so much for your calming words Cazzy xx

Hi DaybyDayBaby All of my extended family have had or currently have weight issues, it seems to run through the family. My mum is very obese, more so than I am and also has multiple illnesses with it which scares me to death! She's in denial about her weight though and won't do anything to help herself. My brother has struggled to lose and maintain his weight since his teens. He's kept an average weight for a few years now. I've paid for the surgery after saving really hard for this. I know I'm determined enough. I'm sure our families care about us, but maybe they've spent so much time watching us all become fat that they associate food and chubbiness with love and health?! I don't understand it because at my size I feel unloved and far from healthy! Do you mind me asking how long you delayed for?

Hiya Niki and waitingpatiently Psych evals aren't compulsory in the UK. I think a person has got to shout about wanting to do themselves harm before they become concerned, and that's probably just to cover the surgeon's back in case they get sued! I wish it was compulsory like in the US. Just some sort of independent advice and counsel is all that is needed instead of marketing type phone calls There's just a lot going on in my head and my weight is only 1/4 of it! I so desperately want to start my weight loss journey off any way I can, but I again have doubts put in to my head again. I know my family love me and they're worried but at the same time, they should worry that I'm so overweight! This weight is lethal and in no way am I happy! It's no life to live. Sorry to be so depressing PCOS is a terror isn't it? Destroys so many lives whether it cause obesity, infertility, excess hair, depression etc. If someone doesn't have it, then they don't understand it. I haven't met a single compassionate doctor yet about PCOS! It's comforting to see so many ladies on the forums going through the same thing, so that we can share experiences and help each other through the tough times. I think I may reschedule initially for a few weeks to get a few more doctor's and my own counselor's opinions at least. Sarah xx

I'm on the verge of calling my co-ordinator to cancel, no matter if I lose my money or not. I've been up and down so many times since scheduling, nearly cancelling off my own back because of nerves a while back. Now my brother thinks I'm being too extreme and that I'm not mentally stable enough to be able to make such a big decision. I agree with him that we should all undergo some sort of psychological testing before the op even if depression isn't disclosed. I personally did a full disclosure of my depression, counseling and medication but nothing was brought up about me needing to be assessed... I feel slightly let down in that area. He doesn't understand certain other aspects of why I need this though, like the physical and emotional struggle that I've endured for 16 years and the PCOS is acting against me. He wants me to just give the diet and exercise one more go under his supervision I just don't know what is right for me anymore with getting dragged from one side to the other I feel so out of control with other stresses in my life as well and I'm just begging for some light right now

I've basically been given this milk and yoghurt diet sheet which doesn't seem healthy to be having over two weeks... I know, who am I to be questioning a doctor?!! I keep hearing people mentioning Protein shakes, but I have absolutely no idea what these are or where I can buy them! Well done both on the weight loss! Good luck for the op waitingpatiently!

Which pre-op diet have you all decided to go for? I'm finding it really difficult to choose a liver-shrinking diet and starting to worry I won't be ready for surgery on 29th March... I know I'm being irrational!! I've managed to lose 6lbs on a restrictive diet with loads of exercise but I need something more specific for pre-op now... please HELP!