Scarlett O'hara

I am so glad I posted this question!! THANK YOU all so much for the great advice! Virgo girl - you are right & DUH! on my part, of course the insurance would see the PA, so from here on out, I know they know. Lifechange82 - I am beginning to wonder if in the back of my mind its the surgery causing all my anxities, and I am making excuses. What happened when you had the attack 15 minutes before surgery? did they give you anything? was it really bad or manageable? How are you doing now with the lap band and are you still having panic attacks? To all - I have an appointment tonight with my counselor and I am going to tell her.

Thanks for all the great advice! My surgery is on a Wednesday so my DH will take W,T,F off work plus the weekend. If I still need help after that I am lining up people to stop by and get him in/out of his crib in the a.m. and for naps. Currently he (baby) is working on going down the stairs and will hopefully have that mastered by 4/30! Here is another question - how soon after could you drive? Only 31 more days till my surgery:thumbup:

I got my date!! April 30th, 4 months before my 40th birthday. My son will be almost 18 months old and my ? is how do you handle not picking up your baby? I need to get him up and down the stairs, in and out of the crib, up for diaper changes. Not to mention getting him off the kitchen table, counters and everywhere else he gets the idea to climb. He is a handful!! Any suggestions?

I was told the same thing about the nicotine corroding the port and band by the shrink at my psych eval. I've been taking Chantix too and it is a miracle! I did not even want to quit when I started taking it! Now I cannot imagine being a smoker again. Hope I feel the same about WLS (scheduled for April 30).

I am getting banded April 30th and everytime I get dressed I think, I won't be wearing this next season! I CAN'T WAIT!!! am I getting excited way to early? It makes me feel like a kid waiting for her birthday! I have 4 different sizes of jeans and jean shorts under my bed waiting to be worn again! (bathing suits too)! I have heard of a charity that helps women find jobs and dress for the interview - anyone know what the name of it is? I have a whole closet of work clothes that will need to go (I'm a SAHM and want to pass them on b-4 they go out of style)! When I do go back to work, they won't fit! yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! congrats to all of you who are currently doing your spring cleaning!

BandofHope, Your post went right to my heart. I am 39 and I feel so much like you do. A slave for food, thats me too. 5 3" and 270+ pounds. I will drive miles out of my way for food, and spend my last penny as well! My daughter goes to pre-school 3 1/2 days a week, and those days I hit the F.F. resturants and indulge myself with the fancy of the day. (lately foot long subway turkey, L, T, xtra pickles & black olives, mayo & oil-of course Diet Coke). If I don't stop this, in the fall when she is in kindergarten I can treat myself 5 days a week! How about when both kids are in school all day 5 days? I could do Breakfast AND lunch! This has to stop NOW for me. My weight is beginning to get in the way of my life and every year it gets worse. I can barely fit into resturant booths any more. My jeans that used to be baggy are now tight or don't fit at all. Im am officially in a size 24. I have a beautiful bicycle rotting in my garage. My house feels like it is getting smaller, when its me getting bigger. Getting around Disney World last summer was an embarresment. We are going again when my son is 4 and at this rate, I'll be riding a handicap scooter. I was diagniosed with rhumetoid arthritis 5 years ago after the birth of my DD Sarah. Basically, I stopped physically moving except to take care of the kids. (had son Rhett 16 months ago). The Arthrits is only getting worse as the pounds pile on. I eat to soothe everything. Its the only thing I have left that is MINE. after a year of considering the surgery and realizing I cannot fight this weight alone anymore and 6+ months of jumping thru hoops for my insurance company, I am having my lapband surgery on April 30. I know this is for me, I am at peace with my decision, and it's not cheating. From reading so many posts, this is hard, hard work! keep educating yourself, the more you read about it, the more you will want it! The pro's outweigh the con's a million to one! Kelly

Hi Yaz, 22 is so young! check out most of the ages of all the great replys. These people talk from experience! I'm 39 and WOW how things have changed since I was 22! Keep the band in, the battle just gets harder the older you get (Dammit, my Mom WAS right) I will be banded April 30th and I KNOW I am going to regret it for a while. I am pre-warning my husband!

I quit smoking and gained about 15 lbs. during my 6 months of dr.s visits for insurance approval. I called the clinic during the 3rd month and told them I was gaining, not loosing. They said all the insurance wanted was 6 consecutive visits and my Dr.'s notes that we discussed weight and diet. Maybe yours is the same ? (I have been approved & scheduled for April 30th).

Hey Mary, I am right there with you! The positives over-rule the negitives! I can't wait for all the things you said and then some! Kelly (just got my surgery date of April 30)!

EVERYBODY CALLS ME: Kelly or Kel MY PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS INCLUDE: My Husband Pat (13 yrs), DD Sarah,5 and son Rhett, 17 months. MY NON-HUMAN FAMILY CONSISTS OF: Scout 6 year old cat, looks like Audrey Hepburn! I LIVE IN: Near Detroit Michigan (don't be scared) I'm an Eastsider. OCCUPATION: SAHM, Ebay seller. AVOCATION: I quit smoking and took up recycling! FAVORITE EXERCISE: before I was fat, roller skating. After surgery is yet to be decided. I COLLECT: designer handbags, my current obsession!

I had to see the shrink 2 times. Both times he sat in his chair holding up a picture of what a lap band looks like. The entire visit! He barely asked me any questions about myself or eating habits. Just gave me lots of info on the surgery itself. Stuff I allready know! Oh yeah, the second visit he talked about how MY skin will sag and the wrinkles I do have now on my face, you just cant see them b/c of the fat, will show up and basically, my whole face will be wrinkled and I will be wearing a "shirt made of skin". NICE GUY - He really said that stuff! What a Di-k! Between the 1st & 2nd session, I had to take a 500+ true/false questionarre, ?'s like 'if given the chance I could change the world' 'my father is a good man' alot of the same ?'s over and over but phrased different. It took over 2 hours to do! Both sessions with the shrink lasted a half hour, but I am sure my insurance was billed for the whole hour. I let it upset me for about a day, now I find the whole thing pretty comical. He can be the biggest jerk in the world, just tell them I am sane! It was worth the 3 hours I put into it. Don't over-think your upcoming evaulation! I just heard today, "if you THiNK your crazy, your probably not" (the truly crazy don't know it, never thought about it)! (I have been approved and my surgery is April 30th)!

Robin, I am sending you prayers at this very moment. Please find someone to talk to about your sucicial thoughts. As a new Mom who is witnessing grandkids and grandma's falling in love with each other, you need to stick around!

Hi all, I'm an Eastsider! April 30 is my big day & I am having it done thru St. John hospital (anybody else go thru St. J)?. I agree, this website is so helpful! Everytime I have little doubts, I come here and they all fade away!

April 30th for me!! can't wait, everyday when I get dressed I think, next year I won't be able to wear this! Its so exciting!

I got my surgery date of April 30 and I am worried about sagging skin too. I will be 40 in August and have had 2 babies in the last 5 yrs. The shrink I had to see for insurance approval told me "it will be like your wearing a shirt made of skin". NICE GUY. But you know what? regardless of lap-band or not, I HAVE to loose this weight, I cannot continue like this. I think my kids would rather have a sagging skin Mom who enjoys a healthy life than a Mom who's world revolves around food.

When I got married 12 years ago, I spent so much money on things that looking back even the next day did not matter ! cut corners on things like centerpeices - simple candles work fine - you dont need a limo (or several) have the person you know with the best or coolest car drive you and your DF. You dont need monogramed napkins, matches or any of that stuff - no one cares! Hire a photographer just for the ceremony and put those throw away cameras on every table! Have a friend of a friend video tape everything (you dont want to ask a friend "do you mind working during my wedding). get a small but pretty cake for you to cut, and buy a large sheet cake hiding in the back to be served to your guests! We did our wedding on a Friday night, which was 3 dollars cheaper per person! that adds up when its divided by 200! I think we did our wedding for under 10,000! The best thing I did not cut corners on was my shoes! I spent 200 & wore them all night! I also love the idea of doing a late after dinner wedding with just cocktails & hor'dervs (I am sure that is spelled wrong). Hey, how fun would this be -- serve white castles! It does not matter what kind of food it is, what people remember is that it tasted good! If the food is crap, generally the people will remember the wedding as the same!

Hi all, I need help. I have been visiting my general Dr. for the last 6 months to cover insurance requirements. Well, my 6th visit is over & I am starting to freak out and my mind is letting me wander into backing out. I have to do this ! I know if I don't I am doomed to be overweight forever. My friends mother is extremely obese, 60 years old & now lives in a nursing home because her body no longer functions because of the weight. That will be me in 20 years. I am killing my self with food. I have terrible rhumetoid arthritis in my knees and the weight is not helping me move. I have 2 kids under 5 who I do not want to pass my eating issues on to. I need to break this cycle. I am afraid I will die during the surgery. I am afraid I cannot follow the eating restrictions. I am afraid of my life changing (even though it sucks right now). I am afraid I will die if I keep eating like this. I am afraid I will back out at the last second. Anyone else go through something like this? Any tips on how to get over it?

Thanks, that is the kind of things I need to hear! I am not getting alot of encouragement here at home. My DH seems indifferent (maybe he's scared too) and my Mom says 'I don't know if you can do it" (what a bi-ch). My Dad is blessed with never having a weight issue, so he does not get it. Yesterday I was at kmart and 2 young girls laughed at me as I walked by (fat & walk awfully b/c of arthritis). I want to cry. over Christmas I kept saying to my self, last fat x-mas. My Dr. promises me I won't die, but that still remains my biggest fear--but all your replys help so very much! You are all right & very brave ! Kelly 39 yrs old, weight 260+ never remember weighing less than 190

Hi ! this is fun, am loving all the creative people out there!! My maiden name is Rowe, married name is Shanley. (pretty boring) I am a good Irish girl living in Michigan near Detroit. 2 kids Sarah age 4, Rhett 12 months on Nov. 8 ! Hoping for speedy approval in January ! am not into Football but love the Tigers! I am addicted to this site!:kiss2:

I told 2 of my eating buddies yesterday that I am on my road to getting this surgery. They spent the next hour telling me the horror stories of the one person they know who had this, and how every one they know who has lost weight looks sickly and strung out. I am not going to talk to them anymore about it. I have to do what is right for me and my family. Rowan

I totally agree !! When I shop for my 4 year old DD, it feels like I am looking at the clothes I used to buy to go to the bar in the late 80's & 90's (I was single & skinny). Other clothes look like the clothes the burn out kids used to wear ! I have had good luck with stores like Gymboree (if you hit a clearance and there is a printable 20% coupon thats good till Jan 08 online) and the Lands end dept at sears. Trying to stick with the classic stuff and stay away from the hoochie-mama things! Its not easy, but no way is she wearing a belly top and low rise jeans at 4!!

Hi, I posted this last night, but just realized that I put it under someone else's post (sorry, just learning). I am currently visiting my general physican for 6 consecutive months so my insurace will approve this for me. I have 3 more visits and hopefully everything will go smooth after that. What a relief to find this site! I have backed out in my head so many times! Reading these posts has helped me so much, I have not had any doubts since finding all of you ! THANK you all so much for sharing! I was wondering what you tell the kids about your food changes (liquids, mushies). I have a DD who is 4 & am trying so hard to not pass on my food issues to her ! but I am wondering what to say when she asks why I am not having what everyone else is. I have never discussed weight & food problems with her, she is too young and although I am sure she knows Mom looks different, she does not quite get the whole awful fat thing yet. I am hoping she is still young enough that she wont remember the overweight mom, only the healthy one who can go on walks and bike rides and makes good food choices and knows how to eat normal portions.

Thanks Nina, great advice! I like telling her that the different foods are so my tummy will mend ! Perfect ! I cant wait to run with her in the park ! Rowan

Hi, I live in Harper Woods. Any east siders out there? any one do this thru the st john system? I am currently visiting my dr 6 times per their rules. only 3 more vistis to go and hopefull I will begin to schedule things. I am planning on attending the monthly support group by oakland hospital. Just wondering if anyone had any experiences with St John and how it went !

Hi I am so glad I found this site ! I am in month 3 of visiting my doctor for 6 monthly vistis so my insurance will say o.k. I am hoping to have my band in Jan/early Feb. I was honestly starting to chicken out in my mind until I found this site. Now I have little to no doubt, this is for me ! Thank you all for sharing !! I have a question, anyone with kids--what do you tell them about the surgery & band? how about all the food changes (shakes, mushies). I have a 4 year old DD and am working so hard not to pass on my food issues. She makes me so proud with her food choices -her fav's are salads and fruits! Yesterday she had an apple, rice cakes and a tomato for breakfast, I skipped breakfast and had fast food while she was at school. I am hoping she wont remember the eating disorder overweight mom, only the healthy mom who can take her on bike rides and walks. Any one have any advice or experiences? Thanks, Rowan