ZebraMom

To MOMINLV13, I had my surgery on the same day, May 19, and my total weight loss is 61 pounds. How weird is that? Congratulations to all who are fighting the fight and are losing:)

I started with 200 pounds to lose and now, after three months, have 145 pounds to lose. It is difficult to keep focused on the little steps. I think it's human nature to want to have it all RIGHT NOW!!! But I do my best "work" when I concentrate on the lap band guidelines and set little goals. Right now that is to break the momentous 300 pound mark. To all of you who are just starting out good luck! Take it slow and you will succeed.

Dear Speck-I know we can get through the rough parts. It means so much to have people who understand. When I feel panicky I get "That Look" from my husband and I want to cry. I certainly wouldn't act so stressed out if I could help it. Anyway, there are lots of good things about the band and the weight keeps going down! I shall Celebrate the positive. You have been planning the band for a while I see. September will be here before you know it. Good luck with your surgery. It's the easy part!

I hope my post is appropriate here. I had my surgery May 19, 2008 and I have yet to need a fill. The doctor says I am losing weight at a rate ahead of the curve and that he won't fill me until my weight loss slows down. (50 pounds including pre-op fast.) The problem I have is that I am hungry most of the time and can eat more food than is probably okay. I do reach a point however, where I can't eat anymore. Just wondering if anyonoe else has had this experience? I should just be happy I haven't needed a fill yet, right?

I have lost 50 pounds since early May 2008!!! Congrats to everyone for their awesome weight loss! This thread is happy making!

What is the hardest thing? For me it is wanting to continue eating after I am full. I sometimes feel panicky when I can't eat more. I have been suffering uncharaciteristic anxiety since my banding. It gets quite bad sometimes and I had to get some medication to help me cope with it. It's really difficult because I was formerly a very fearless person. I'm working it through with my shrink and am hopeful I can put fear and anxiety in it's place! I would not take back the 50 pounds I have lost for anything.

To all of you who are still experiencing the delays and frustrations of insurance companies and dr. visits, etc. Hang in there! I finally had my surgery on May 19, 2008 and I am so glad I stuck to my resolve through all the the preliminaries. I have now lost 50 pounds and feel so much better. My mobility is improving little by little and three months out now I can really see a difference. I can't say that post op was a breeze, but it gets better quickly. Aside from some anxiety caused by my inability to eat anything and everything I want, I am doing great. Stick it out through all the pre-surgery requirements. I think you will be happy in the long run.

I was banded May 26, so I am very new to all of this. I was wondering if anyone else was feeling anxiety and/or having episodes of panic after banding? Food is/was so important to me that several times I have had a sensation of panic when I think about how I have to eat now. I am also anxious and restless. Does any of this sound normal? To the outside world I look fine but inside I am jello, quivery, scary jello.

I find all of your comments and suggestions very comforting. Northwest Nance, thank you for sharing about your friend, it sounds familiar. One thing, I'm not afraid to talk about "what's wrong." I find some pretty good insights if I risk sharing. You guys are great!

Yes, I do suffer from depression, but not so much anxiety. I'll talk to my doc and see what he says. Thank you.

Thank you for the encouragement John P from KC. Here's how it's going for me. Within the first two months after my insurance said I could begin the process, I finished things like "The Doctor's Talk" and the "Nutrition Talk" and attended a support group meeting that was all bypass patients. I had to have Nutritional counseling (a condition of my insurance) and this paperwork didn't get to the surgeon. Then I had to have an upper GI which took forever to schedule. Then I had to get clearance from the Cardiologist and he won't approve until I have had a stress test. That is scheduled for this Friday. After this I am still one more test away from scheduling a date and there is some conflict there between the surgeon and my insurance. Oh, the holidays were nestled in there somewhere. Nothing happened in December at all. One thing is for sure, I am committed and I will not give up. Best of luck to you on your journey.

I started the process toward lap-band in June 2007. I have still not been able to schedule a surgery date! Looks like I'll be a year our or more before I get my band. Boy, am I ready!