~Bridgette~

Hi everybody! I just got my date for surgery! October 29th! I'm excited and nervous at the same time! I don't go in for my nutrition class until the 14th, so I'm not sure what kind of pre-op diet I have.... will have to check into that. Just wanted to say hi, it's been a long time since I've been here, but will be here a lot more now!

Hi everybody! Sorry I've been MIA. I've got an appt for the 24th to do my computer test and meet with Dr.Clark at WLSC. I'm very excited and somewhat nervous. I guess that's normal though. Hope you all are doing well.

That was a great post, Sunshine2! Thanks for sharing!!

You look wonderful! You're even standing taller in your recent pics! You go girl!

I live in Chesapeake and have only been to WLSC in Newport News. I really liked them there. I'm not a huge fan of the travel but it's just about as close for me to go there than to Norfolk. Good luck!

I haven't been banded yet, but when I saw my folks a few weeks ago, I started dropping hints about changes I plan to make. Like cutting down on portions, eating protein/veggies first, exercising, etc. That way, when the time comes, I'm doing the work (but I'll have the help of the lapband) :thumbup:

Hi Della. I'm in Chesapeake, nice to meet ya. I've just gotten started and am looking to go through WLSC in Newport News. Best of Luck to you.

My employer is a small private company and they don't have the rider for WLS. DH works for a large company and has different options for Insurance. If I switch to his insurance, how would I know how long I'd need to wait to get approval for surgery? Is that even possible, ya know, to subscribe for coverage to a new insurance and then immediately apply approval for surgery? :embaressed_smile: DH's current insurance is BCBS of VA. Any thoughts?

Congratulations!!! Thats awesome!! Way to go!

Thanks, Gina! I appreciate your offer! I hadn't thought about doing the audiobook thing; which is odd, when I drive across the state to visit my folks I always listed to audiobooks! LOL I might have to check out the audible.com site. I just got a Zune for Christmas and that might be a great option.

Nice to meet ya! No, actually when I called the office to see if I could start up the process again last month, they said if it'd been over 6 months since my seminar, I had to start all over again. It's ok, I got to ask more specific questions this time from Dr. Clark because I'd had a chance to read up on it and learn from the folks here. I felt I am more equipped now to make a solid decision. Let me ask you, about how often do you have to go to the office in Newport News? I hate driving on the Peninsula and that was one of my hinderances in the beginning. Then I realized I can drive it if it'll save my life, ya know?

my Dunkin Donuts iced decaf coffee with skim milk and splenda when I get my band? I know this sounds petty, but I love my iced coffee in the mornings... just curious.

Hi, y'all. I just went to the seminar last night with Dr. Clark. I went last May but got *distracted* for a bit so I had to restart yesterday. Everyone seems so friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. I'm trying to get this going. I'm having insurance issues so we'll see how it goes.

That's a great idea! I never would have thought to use a smaller dish!

Great thread! I am not banded yet either, but am already starting to think about what kinds of changes I can make and be successful in before I get banded.

I know this sounds silly, but I'm going to my informational seminar tomorrow. I went to one last May, but it's been over 6 months so I have to go again... Anyway, for the last week I've been wanting to just eat and eat and eat. I'm not usually an eater like that. Do you think I'm doing this b/c I know once I go tomorrow, I'm going to start the process to lose the weight and won't be able to just eat and eat and eat again? Sound crazy?:drool:

That makes sense. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I totally understand what you're saying. I am starting the process, like I did last spring, and keep having those doubts. Should I try yet another diet? Am I strong enough to make this work when I couldn't make any of my other diets work? I guess we have to take it a day at a time and figure out what is best for us in the long run.

I'm still trying to decide about the lap band but have found a great amount of information here. Thanks!! I am wondering about the gas. How bad is it really? You see, I'm prone to panic attacks where I think I'm having a heart attack. I want to lose the weight so the possiblilty of that heart attack will lessen. My question is, will I be constantly thinking I'm having a heart attack with the increased amount of gas? I hope you all don't think I'm crazy, but I don't want to set myself up for multiple panic attacks every day, kwim?

Thanks! My concern is that the gas is going to be so bad it'll send me into a panic attack? Have any of you experienced anything like that?

Have you tried the Special K protein water flavors (like Crystal Light)? A coworker had GB 2 years ago and she's now drinking them to get added protein along with her water.

congrats on getting banded! What shots in the belly are you referring to? I haven't heard of that yet.

Thanks for the positive feedback. I was talking to a good friend, who happens to be studying for her degree in dietetics focussing on post WLS patients. She has done a lot of studying of the various procedures, etc. and she had something very insightful to say. I was telling her that I think my folks are afraid for me that I will "fail" at this b/c I'm not determined enough. Because *if* I had what it takes to stick to something like a diet/exercise, I wouldn't need the band. She reminded me that my body simply isn't able to support what I want to do. So even with all of the determination in the world, my body is currently working against me. My stomach allows me to eat all I want to, without any consequences. The lap band is a tool, that will help me to be accountable to the lifestyle I need to live to lose the weight.

I haven't gone through the process yet for the surgery but last spring/summer I had decided to proceed.... until I visited my parents... I'm very close to them and as I was explaining the surgery, they started with about 150 questions and basically questioned if I'd tried the diets hard enough to resort to surgery. By the end of the weekend, I had lost my resolve and decided to try the diet/exercise route on my own before "giving in" to surgery. Now 7 months later, weighing about 5 pounds more, and feeling much more discouraged than before, here I am again. I know they'd kill me if they found out I had surgery and didn't tell them, but I don't know if I can count on them to be positive when I'm facing fear of surgery as it is. I know the surgery isn't a "quick fix" but I know it is a tool that would help me to get healthy as I can't do it on my own. So here I am, trying to learn more and make my own decision this time. I'm 34 and feel I'm trapped in a body that is killing me... My folks are worried I'll die from the surgery, I'm scared I'll die without it. My health is quickly deteriorating and I want to LIVE my life. KWIM?

I went to an info seminar last spring and was very excited. However, upon discussing the lap band with my family they encouraged me to try a diet again, so I'd know that I'd given it my best shot. I've gotta tell ya, I didn't last 2 weeks on the diet. Here I am again, I really think the Lap Band is the tool that will help me succeed! I need to be realistic that it's not a magic pill, that it will require hard work and determination, but I will be held accountable and have the support system that I don't have trying to just "diet"... I've been reading through the board and I loved this thread. Just thought I'd join in to say so.