chasingadream

So great to hear that your incisions are finally healing in the right direction. Sounds like so many great things are on the horizon for you! Good for you! Hope all continues to go well for you!

Hello from a newbie whose closer today to being banded than yesterday....please be sure to come back for newbies such as myself. For as many "ignorant" people on here, there are an equal or more (i like to think ) number of people who count on people such as yourself to share their story, give their advice, and support. You are an inspiration to me and I dont want to lose the support and advice of "veterans" such as yourself. So thank you for all you've done in the past and I hope by the time I am banded you are back....and I hope all the other veterans hang around for folks like me!

That's great....looking forward to those feelings too soon...please keep your successes coming!

OK....so after all the drama I found here from one 'crazy' thread....and the fear I found from it...tonight I can say that i have PEACE. I made my follow-up appt. with my surgeon (after the initial consult) and went in with my ever supportive hubby (i am truly blessed) and my full paged typed in tiny font list of questions I have come up with since my initial consult on May 28th. Many of my questions stemmed from many of the posts found right here and some came from my continued researching to learn all I can about what I am getting into when I have my surgery on Sept. 19th with the LapBand with Plication. What I found out was that the band is meant to be a LONG-TERM tool in my quest to remove this excess weight and keep it off...the plication is there to help...i love my surgeons analogy of its "a belt with suspenders". If I am compliant with my surgeon's directions and use the excellent aftercare program that is set up by my surgeon's office I will be just fine. He stressed that any questions or problems that may arise should be called into the office immediately so that it can be checked out....most times it will be nothing!! I know that my surgeon is one of the best with the proper training and experience performing LapBand with Plication. I am in good hands and this is the BEST DECISION FOR ME! What I take from this...if you have questions ASK YOUR SURGEON...if you have doubts about what your are going to do....ASK YOUR SURGEON....if you don't truly know what you are getting into(pre and post op and long term) ASK YOUR SURGEON. At first I was nervous and felt ridiculous going back to my surgeon and asking my "silly" questions....some generated here and some elsewhere...what would he think??....honestly, I think he was happy I was coming back and straightening out many untrue statements and POSSIBLE complications that I was told WERE SURE TO HAPPEN TO ME IF I GOT THE LAPBAND! I left that office feeling great about my decision to move forward and I take that very seriously since I have 2 small children who count on me every day! And before anyone :ph34r: can say "hey there WILL BE complications"....yes there COULD be and yes there MAY NOT BE ANY! So with that...I move full steam ahead and continue trying out protein shakes to find the best ones for me and I move forward and buy myself some tiny plates to eat from and I move forward and start cutting liquids from my meals and I move forward and start practicing eating slower and taking small bites.... ...and most importantly.....I AM MOVING FORWARD! :wub:

What a great story...I hope to have such success in one year....keeping my eye on the prize! Thanks!

Hello there! I am scheduled for September 19th...can't believe I finally have a date! Woo hoo!

Just think...you are closer to the end than the beginning....hang in there.....

As a newbie, I THANK YOU....your success, and most importantly, honesty and hard work are an inspiration to someone just starting out on this "wild ride". I've already learned so much in just a short time being on this forum....from reading successes (and sometimes struggles) from great people like you!

This lapband journey has had its ups and downs already and I'm still waiting to be banded. Finishing with the nutritionist tomorrow and then a surgery date and insurance approval and then I'm home free....so they tell me. It's been some journey so far. An experience in every aspect. First, the decision to do this...years in the making...and what a decision it is...lots of research, lots of reading, and lots of questions. Then, came the testing...the poking, the prodding, the multitude of appts and doctors and hoops to jump through. What came of it all...luckily, I'm "healthier" than I thought for being morbidly obese....or maybe I should say that my luck hasn't run out yet! And happily, I've begun to make some new friends on this journey of mine! Just when I'm on a roll and feeling positive a flood of negativity and fear comes flooding in from just one thread on this site. It was disheartening and more than anything else...SCARY!!!! So, I've decided the following..... ...I'm moving forward with positive thoughts ...I have a 2nd appt with my surgeon to ask every question that has come up since my 1st appt...and there are many!! ...I will continue to follow the positive, successful, and supportive members here who really want to help....YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!...AND I THANK YOU ALL AGAIN! ...I will continue to educate myself and ask as many questions as I want! From all this I've learned I have the right to question and question and question some more....and not to feel bad about it. I've learned that unfortunately there are naysayers who dont want to share "opinions" and tell there story--they want to breed fear. :ph34r: I've learned I will not be a part of that again. I've learned to stop doubting myself to the point of panic setting in. I'VE LEARNED TO BELIEVE IN ME...SOMETHING I HAVEN'T DONE FOR WAAAY TOO LONG! :wub:

Hi, I just saw the psychologist in my surgeon's office and I had to sign a section on one of the informational forms I filled out before I saw her that said I would complete the required recommendation of the psychologist...whatever it may be. I agree with Missy, I would ask to see the report and see if you signed anything like I did. I signed the form BEFORE seeing the psychologist but during our discussion she made a big point to explain what I had signed.... Good luck...hope you get it resolved quickly and easily!!!!

Pick yourself up and move on because its in the past and you can't change it...you can do this.....you've worked so hard and come so far...there will always be stuff in the way, be it personal or food related...and look how far you come that you recognized what you were doing and were able to correct it...that's HUGE! Things will get better and tomorrow a bit brighter...hang in there!

Very handsome....you look great!

You say you want to educate me but saying, and I will quote you, "DO NOT GET A BAND", is more just frightening someone. You tell me to see my surgeon and discuss my concerns and options...do you think I didn't already meet with him and ask informed and educated questions...do you think I didnt read and research on my own...do you think i just woke up one morning and said "hey, i think i want to put a band around my stomach to help me get healthy". Ummmm, NOOOOO! You say you've been banded for 10 years...I'm curious to your background as nothing can be found in your profile except for 4 posts in many years....did you follow all of your doctors instructions....everyone to a "T"...did you follow up with your aftercare exactly as you were supposed to, did you make ZERO mistakes during your 10 years of banding....did you eat well, exercise and follow all the rules. I do, in fact, appreciate your "opinion" as you call it....it seems more like a directive to me. I appreciate the articles you posted. What I dont appreciate is you popping up out of the blue and dictate your thoughts and prognosis to everyone here.....

WOW...thanks for scaring the SH*T out of me....just when you think you are all ready to get your surgery date....now what????

Hope you are healed and feeling better soon...hang in there!

Hello all, Just finished my testing and 6 month supervised diet....one more appt and then a surgery date....it is alot but doable....just keep plugging along....it all gets done...I thought I would be the last one banded here but now there's a whole new "class" coming in after me! Wishing you all the best on the beginning of your journey's. I feel like I've been waiting FOREVER but it is getting closer....taking it one day at a time!

You gals are all amazing and continue to inspire....thank you for keeping it real and ALWAYS sharing your experiences!

hello there! Congrats on your decision and surgery date! Im hoping for a september date very very soon. this is a WONDERFUL place...i haven't been here long but Ive found some wonderful people here who are very supportive and have great advice.... :wub: I stay away from the naysayers---seems as though there are quite a few of them who creep around here! :ph34r: wishing you all the best...look forward to following your success!