TexasDy

You guys are killing the whole reason for this site!!! We're all here to support each other. Chill out a little. The cheating comment may have been out of line, but who doesn't have that one frind that is open and blunt about their opinions?? I have two! She spoke her mind. Leave her alone already. And the OP already addressed the comment. It was made to him and it didn't bother him bc he knows the truth and is secure in his marriage even with their issues. That's what's important.

I bought a pack of bay spoons to use the first few months. I've already started with smaller portions and bites, just not pinky sized. Also practice chewing, if you haven't already. That's what I'm having trouble with. Glad I started now!! The automatic-swallow reflex is killer!!!

I understand completely. And am so sorry you're going through this. My husband and I have been up and down as well. We love being intimate, but it's just plain uncomfortable sometimes. Big bodies get in the way, we run out of energy, don't feel sexy - you name it. We were both overweight before we got married but have steadily gained throughout our relationship. Even though we were big when we were overly sexually-active, being bigger now makes it difficult. Communication is VERY important. Body language communication too. I'd be having a fat-depressing-unsexy day - all it takes is for my husband to put his hand on the small of my back for me to feel like the sexiest, most beautiful woman EVER. So other than counseling, I'd recommend finding out what makes her feel sexy. Small touches and making out (without leading to sex, just making out) are what do it for me. What does it for her? I'm sure you know that. But I was sure my husband did too. When I verbally told him what I needed, our intimacy level exploded. So, hope it helps.

Austin!!!

That made me smile! Thank you! My husband and I don't ride comfortably together on his Street Glide. I love riding my own but miss riding with him. Very much looking forward to doing that again!

I had a little mucus the next morning. Just a mid-sized loogie. Nothing I was concerned about. Glad you're feeling better!

3 years later - I hope you rode and are still riding!!! I'm 335, 6weeks to surgery, and ride my Honda Shadow 1100 whenever I get the chance =) Definitely looking forward to hot biker chick clothes!!

I highly disagree with anything below 750cc!! I've had my license for just over a year. My class was all on 250cc - SUCKED!! Especially as a big girl... I looked ridiculous on that tiny thing! I ride a Honda Shadow 1100. LOVE the 1100 =) My husband as a HD Street Glide 103, about 1800cc if calculated to metric. I did ask the doctor if riding would cause any problems. He said just during the recovery phase. The only lifting involved is bringing the bike off the kickstand - definitely more than 20lbs! I'll be sad to not ride for a month or so, but it'll be worth it! Good luck in your purchase. It's the BEST THING IN THE WORLD!!!

That is exactly what I needed to hear. I've had Philippians 4:13 stuck in my head for over a week. I KNOW that God is strong enough to help me lose weight without the band. But He also made the band available as the tool HE uses to get us there. Thanks again.

Exactly what I've been going through!!! Thanks to all! My husband and I started this together. Other than him, only my parents and 2 other know I'm considering it - both of whom have had WLS. All just encourage me to look at both sides, the good and the bad. Last night, I made lists and lists of everything that COULD go wrong throughout the process. You all know them, so I won't put the list here. When I was finished and looked it all over. I realized that none of the POSSIBLE side effects and complications were as bad as the road I'm on with my obesity. Even the worst case scenarios I've heard about are worth the risk to have a better and healthier life long term. Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." I know that it was not God's plan for me to be obese. But it is His plan for me to get healthy so He can use me to glorify His kingdom. I've proven I can't do it on my own and am so thankful He showed me the tool to use to get finally get there =)

The pain will go away. Not tonight, but probably by morning. I had mine 4/26. Had to fast. So by the time we left the hospital around 230 - I was starving! And couldn't eat anything b/c it hurt! I had a Moolatte at Dairy Queen. The cold helped but the sugar definitely did not. And about an hour later had some mashed potatoes. I didn't follow the rules b/c I was hungry. I ate again about 5 and had taco bell about 9. Thankfully nothing went wrong and I didn't damage my throat. So hang in there. Sorry you're hurting so bad. It will feel better =)

Thanks Katy. I'm looking forward to it. I sent you a message. Would love to keep in touch!

Thank you so much for the encouraging words in your story. I'm still 6 weeks before surgery but very much looking forward to people's comments no longer hurting quite as much. I had a similar experience the night before my first consultation (what a coincidence!) - but with an adult. Going to start another thread with it... I think it's time to share that. Get it completely off my chest and let it go.

"I weighed 165 lbs. when I was 13 and was considered a fat freak; now I can't wait to weigh 165 again." ME TOO!!! I was 5'7", 165, and stacked - every 20year old guy's fantasy... but I was THIRTEEN!!! We lived in a duplex on a college campus while my mom was getting her degree. Kids my age thought I was fat and stuffed my bra - the college kids thought I was one of them (except for the clothes and that I rode a pink bicycle!). I look at pictures from that time and cannot believe I thought I was fat!! I'm fat b/c... 1) I am addicted to food 2) I have high self esteem and have never really cared what others said about me 3) I've been DD and larger since I was 14. I haven't seen my waistline since then - except in the mirror of course. For me, gaining weight was gradual. I just didn't realize how severe it was until I hit 275. I then yo-yo dieted myself up to 335. It's time to take my life back. I've proven again and again that I can't do that on my own. Looking forward to using the Lap Band as the tool that will finally work!!!

So... I'm having trouble this week. My husband and I have been looking into the band for almost a month. We had a consultation. I had an EGD and found out I do have a hernia. We're making progress towards surgery... but I'm having trouble remembering that I'm doing this for me. My #1 reason - I want to have a baby. Desperately. My husband and I agreed that I needed to lose weight to have a healthy pregnancy. We've tried everything and nothing would stick. Weight Watchers, HCG, diet and exercise, Slimfast... We'd do it for a while, not see much results, get discouraged and stop. Well, since we started down the path to the band, I've been getting comments that I've never heard before - towards me or anyone. I'm sure b/c of my size things have been said behind my back. But WOW. I didn't know people could be so cruel. And of course, it had to happen AFTER I made the steps toward something that could actually help me be healthier. I've never had a self-esteem problem. I like me, always have. I'm not getting the band b/c I think I'm ugly or unattractive. I want to be healthy. I want to start a family with the man I love. But these remarks are so hurtful and discouraging. It's hard to remember that this is for me. That I don't need other people's approval. That I'm not trying to prove them wrong. What's your motivation? What keeps you going? How did you fight ugly-on-the-inside people before the band? And after?

Thanks Dee!!! I started the small meal 3x a day today to try it out. Bkfst was awesome... but waiting 6 hours for lunch I already killing me! I'm tired of yo-yoing and am ready to take me life back! Doing better with remembering why I'm doing this. My husband helps a lot too =)

Thanks Dee!!! I started the small meal 3x a day today to try it out. Bkfst was awesome... but waiting 6 hours for lunch I already killing me! I'm tired of yo-yoing and am ready to take me life back! Doing better with remembering why I'm doing this. My husband helps a lot too =)

I'm still 6 weeks out and have been wondering the same thing. If I'm going to do this, I don't want to be the one that screws it up. I'm coming to terms with the risks involved (something wrong w/ the surgeon, surgery itself, the band, or my body physically rejecting the band) and have started playing head games. Can I really do this? Will this truly be the tool that helps me overcome this fight? Thanks everyone for your encouraging words!!

Hey girl - I agree with hummingbird, milk it for attention!! LOL I'm sorry your family is being discouraingly-encouraging. Mine has the same problem. Hopefuly it will get better as they see it working for you.

So far, I LOVE the True Results team in Austin, Texas. My patient advocate Paul Gandy is a lot of fun and very knowledgeable. Dr Alex Esquivel did my EGD 2 weeks ago and was very polite and efficient. I'm looking forward to our meeting prior to surgery to get to know him a little better. I haven't found anything recent in the forums about Dr Esquivel. Most is 2010 or older. So I'd like to ask any other Austinites what your experience was w/ the staff at True Results and Dr Esquivel himself. Thanks!

I had an EGD w/ Dr Esquivel 2 weeks ago and surgery scheduled for June 22. Thank you for the reviews!!

Hi... I do not have the band nor scheduled my surgery, yet. It's a huge step that I want to take but am more than a little nervous about. A little about me - I'm 26, 5'9" 335lbs, married to an amazing man and my best friend for 2.5 years, photographer, biker, no kids yet just animals - a pug, a cat, and 2 birds =) that's me in a nutshell! My husband and I went to a band-consultation together - with him thinking "let's do it" and me thinking "i don't know". Afterwards, we traded opinions. For now, we've decided, if we move forward, it will be for me alone and he will probably do it at a later time. My hesitation now is that I did what I was advised to do... research the good and the bad. The good is, of course, amazing - the perfect partner to help you achieve your goals. The bad... is pretty bad - worse than what the patient advocate described. The doctor and band related complications are terrifying by themselves. But also the possibility of causing problems by not sticking to the program - WOW!! I'm looking at this b/c I've tried to lose weight on my own and can't. How is this really going to be any different? Now, if I get off my diet, I gain the weight back (with all the future illnesses that can cause). With the band, if I don't do exactly what I'm supposed to do... I could cause all kinds of damage to my body, be completely miserable, have projectile vomit, get malnourished, and so many other things. For now, I don't know what we will ultimately decide. But I'm very glad I found this site. It's extremely helpful.

I've been struggling with this same question!! Thank you for posting - and thank you everyone who responded!! Much better info than my patient advocate gave!

I posted this as a forum topic, asking what everyone's motivation was. Then realized it's a better blog entry. Thank God for copy/paste!! So... I'm having trouble this week. My husband and I have been looking into the band for almost a month. We had a consultation. I had an EGD and found out I do have a hernia. We're making progress towards surgery... but I'm having trouble remembering that I'm doing this for me. My #1 reason - I want to have a baby. Desperately. My husband and I agreed that I needed to lose weight to have a healthy pregnancy. We've tried everything and nothing would stick. Weight Watchers, HCG, diet and exercise, Slimfast... We'd do it for a while, not see much results, get discouraged and stop. Well, since we started down the path to the band, I've been getting comments that I've never heard before - towards me or anyone. I'm sure b/c of my size things have been said behind my back. But WOW. I didn't know people could be so cruel. And of course, it had to happen AFTER I made the steps toward something that could actually help me be healthier. I've never had a self-esteem problem. I like me, always have. I'm not getting the band b/c I think I'm ugly or unattractive. I want to be healthy. I want to start a family with the man I love. But these remarks are so hurtful and discouraging. It's hard to remember that this is for me. That I don't need other people's approval. That I'm not trying to prove them wrong. What's your motivation? What keeps you going? How did you fight ugly-on-the-inside people before the band? And after?