txdee

I just met with NUT Friday, she said gum after 4 weeks, but as we all know, every dr. is different (even though it makes very little sense)!

Hello - How did you know whether or not your liver was fatty? Did they run a special test or something? I've been curious about that. Thanks!

Add me, please! Tuesday, June 5th, Dr. Nick Nicholson. I had my first NUT and pre-ops yesterday! Woo hoo!

Yes, thank goodness for the online info! I just got off the phone with a therapist I found that is a WLS guru, so I think I've got that covered. I have had MANY years of therapy to try to overcome my weight problem in the past, and yet here I am today, so I might be a bit jaded. I think I've got the nutrition part covered fairly well now after some phone calls. There are also group seminars one night a week that are included, so I will probably go to those when possible. I'm feeling better today, I'm just cranky due to being on the first few days of the pre-op diet!! Take away my precious food, and I get like that, but I know I can do this thing!

Thanks for the info. I'm self-pay, so I don't get any bells and whistles! I'm already on pre-op diet and I haven't even seen a nutritionist. I get ***one*** pre-op visit and one post and they are group, not even individual. To add insult to injury, my health insurance premium is about $800 a month and it excludes weight loss. Can you tell I'm angry - could have to do with eating basically NO FOOD!!!!! Grrrrr.......

I can't wait to look and feel fanfreakintastic for a change when my son gets married next spring!

Good luck! Let us know how it goes - my date is June 5th!

Good luck to you!! The whole thing is just nerve wracking! Just curious, do you have a plan to keep your dogs and kids off your stomach? I've been worrying about that a bit.

We have had a death in the family, family coming in from out of town, travelling to do, etc. I feel like I would get off to a much better start for 2 week liquid pre-op diet if I start it Wed. instead of Tues, can one day be that big of a deal? Did any of you start it a day late? Thanks!

May be a stupid question, but I'm getting a pedicure next week - can you wear polish in the operating room or do they remove it anyway? (I have a friend who is in nursing school and she said they can't wear it.) Also, what is a good, quick substitute for canned sodas, since no more carbonation? What is everyone's favorite go-to drink now? Probably tea, but is there a good, canned or bottled tea? Another dumb question - what all IS carbonated?? Sodas and champagne - anything else? I don't want to inadvertently make a mistake and drink carbonation. I am so glad to have this forum! So far, it is the best source of info for WLS that I have found. Other sources aren't as reliable as they should be...I'm just sayin'... Thanks in advance!

I'm with you, I think I'll forego the toenail polish this time. Also, I wasn't told to wash with anything special but I think I will. I wash with deodorant soap and an antibacterial soap that I can't think of the name of right now. Maybe I'll look for hibiclense - @ Walmart??

You are lucky - all I get is one GROUP consult before and one after. I don't agree with that, but I guess I'll go and see if it is as ineffective as it sounds. Maybe it will be a really small group! Fingers crossed!

I feel the same way - I love, love, love my Diet Dr. Pepper, but I've had a million of them; enough to last me 4-ever. I've been meaning to quit them for years now. I'm not saying that it is not going to be tough, but I'm ready, as of 06/05/12!

Finally have a date, 06/05/12! Now it is beginning to feel so real. Have a lot of loose ends to tie up (no pun intended). This is a big step in the right direction - onward and upward! I'm so glad to have this forum for reference. Need to find some protein liquids I can tolerate.

My friends says to be leary of self-pay prices. That advertised prices such as $12,000 for sleeve do not include everything and could in fact run up to like $50,000. Sounds like she is quoting price that is passed on to insurance companies. If a WLS doctor's website says in writing that $12,000 includes surgeon and anesth. fee, 2 nights hosp, pre and post op visits and a few other things, seems like I could trust what is in writing. Barring complications, has anyone ever been ripped off after being quoted lower self pay amount??

I finally had my first consult! Have another one today also. Anyway, 1st doctor requires same extensive testing for me as a self-payer as he would as if I had insurance to pay for it. This is just standard operating procedure for him, but I really have no symptoms to warrant sleep study, EGD, visit with cardiologist, etc. I had talked to several doctor's offices who said such extensive tests not done in most cases with self payers. I know it is better to be safe than sorry, but all those tests evoke stress which isn't good either. What do YOU think??

Hang in there! I haven't even had my first consultation yet, and I know I feel like that too. One day I feel one way, the next day I wake up and think something else. To me, it is almost a good thing, because I think I can always look back and know that I considered all options and gave this major decision lots of thought. I know my loved ones are the same way too - they really would prefer I not do it - because of the risks but probably also because of the overall change. Humans just don't accept change well. Make your decision, stick with it, and be positive...that's what I plan to do! Good luck!

Thanks for sharing, prayers and positiveness coming your way - please let us know how you are doing.

I'm hoping for June sleeve also @ Forest Park with Dr. Victor Gonzales. I think a DFW support group is a great idea!!

I'm assuming most people on this site are banded, pre-op and post-op. What do YOU think of the gastric sleeve? Did you even consider it? If not, why not? Thanks in advance!

I am VERY scared too, one day I think I'll do it, the next I think I won't. My BF and my hubby don't want me to do it because of the risk. It is a lonely decision, because I know I have to make it by myself - and I hope my dr. will help. I've yet to have a consultation, but I am SO ready to at least do that and get off this fence. I feel like such a baby! I made my pros and cons list last night - it is evenly divided! One thing I have definitely decided, once I make up my mind, I'm going to try to put the negative behind me and go forward positively with whatever decision I do make. But know you are not alone! I guess a little bit of fear reminds you how serious it is, but then I think surrounding yourself with positiveness is the way to go! Good luck!

I didn't put this in insurance category, because I thought it would get lost since most people are concerned about insurance paying the surgery to begin with. But what about after the surgery? What if you or your spouse loses or changes jobs so you have to change insurance companies or you apply from group to individual coverage or whatever. Anyway, I heard you are excluded from new health insurance coverage for 5 years, and that is only IF you lose weight and maintain that weight loss. My insurance runs out 08/01/12. Does anyone have any experience with this (esp. in Texas)?

I can only speak for myself, but I am most certainly a food addict. I don't think or see why anyone would "want" to be a food addict. I think it takes a lot of guts and courage to admit any kind of addiction. In the simplest form, the reason I know that I am food addict is that here I am, I'm intelligant, I know exactly what causes me to be morbidly obese, I know exactly what ill effects this weight causes my body, intellectually I know what I can/should do to correct it (and have done it to the tune of 1,000 (yes, one thousand) pounds over 50 years (my parents took me to a diet dr. when I was 7), and yet here I am....powerless over food....and still morbidly obese. I was very beautiful, and all this weight distorted my looks and robbed my self esteem. It has caused isolation and insecurity that I cannot even describe. I am invisible to most of the world. It is no fun not to be comfortable in your very own skin. Yet, I'm am SO extremely scared to have any kind of weight loss surgery, I'm on the fence about having any at all. Close friends and relatives are scared for me have surgery, due to the inherent risks and complications. It is a HUGE decision. I am not overexagerating when I say it is the biggest decision I'll ever make and I am not making it or taking it lightly. If other types of behaviors are addictive - such as illegal and prescription drugs, alcohol, smoking, gambling, sex, just to name a few - why not food?? It doesn't surprise me one iota. I live it everyday and so do lots and lots of others. It is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. It has basically ruined my life.

Please be honest and realistic. I am so on the fence, I need and want to lose weight, but wow! I never imagined in would be SO much work with this tool called Lap Band...and to have to do it everyday for the rest of my life? I need to make a decision! I've been on a million diets, but I've never eaten so slowly and such small bites, that concerns me as much as anything. Would YOU really do it all over again?? Hindsight is 20/20. What do you think??

That is exactly why I am on the fence about getting surgery at all; I don't mind small portions but all that chewing to mush - good grief!!!!! Could you take a break with no fill and splurge now and then when you reach your goal weight? Other than that, I would make a copy of what you wrote here about all the positive stuff and look at that while you eat, and/or before/after pics or something like that. De-emphasize the negative and accentuate the positive. That would be my tactic.