klkirk_2001

Hi all: I haven't posted in a while, but I have visited this thread often, especially when I start to feel alittle discouraged. It's so nice to know you're not alone. I've had two fills so far, going in for the third today. I have lost about 30 lbs so far, and I am now at a standstill. I don't think I have lost any since my second fill about two and a half weeks ago. I have upped my walking to two and a quarter miles a day (which is a big accomplishment for me) and started the weight training suggested by Amy, but for some reason, I can't quite get past the 30 lbs mark. I have been dreading my weigh-in today because I'm afraid I may have gained. I could use some pointers on how to get through this plateau if anyone has some. For some reason, 30 lbs was always where my dieting would stop before because I couldn't get over this hump. I would get discouraged, and give up. I don't want to repeat my past mistakes. I've spent too much money on this to give up now. Maybe this fill will help get me motivated again. It surely can't hurt!! Till next time, kathy

Hi all: Was just getting ready for my nightly walk, but I thought I'd check in here first. Princess21: I went to the February 25th behav mod class with Katie. I don't know about you, but I found it to be really informative. The thing that has stuck with me the most is the "tan experiment". I don't know if you remember this or not. Katie had us look around us and notice all the tan items. Then she had us close our eyes and list what we remembered. No problem. Then, with our eyes still closed, we were suppose to name off the blue things we seen. Few could recall anything blue. The point was that it is so easy to get focused on one thing that you can overlook others. I realized that I had been so focused on everything I had to give up with the surgery, that I couldn't see any of the good stuff, like better health, not getting so winded, being able to shop in the regular sections instead of the plus sizes, etc... I told my hubby about this when I got home, and from then on, "See the blue" has been a popular phrase around my house. Especially during the liquid phase. How was your first fill? Any problems? I'm scheduled for my first one on the 24th of April. Am so ready for it now!!! Kookie: After you attend the seminar, you'll be given a packet to fill out and return to Mary. She will call you shortly after she gets it to set up your first appt with Dr. Edwards. Then you will have a Psych eval, nutrional appt, physical rehab, and behavioral mod class. After you get these done, you'll be given your final appt with Dr. Edwards, in which they will set up your surgery date, and start you on your pre-op diet. At least that is the way it worked for me. How fast this goes depends on whether you are self-pay, or have to wait for insurance approval. I was self-pay. I attended the November seminar, and was banded March 12th. I drive over the road, so I had to work my appts around my home time. Maybe someone else can help you with any insurance questions if you have any. I hop this helped answer some of your questions. Let me know if I can help with anything else. Well, I guess I ought to head outside before it starts to get dark on me. Hope you all are enjoying this beautiful weather. Have a great weekend. Till next time: Kathy

Hi All: Was just reading all the updates, and it sounds like everyone is doing really good. Kim: 122lbs...Amazing!!!!Good for you! Man, that must feel great. Holly: congrats on getting your insurance acceptance. Let us know when you get your surgery date. How'd your dads surgery go? I don't remember reading anything about it. I hope everything went alright. Karen: good luck selling your house. Marshfield is really growing, so you shouldn't have too much trouble selling. I had surgery on the 12th of March and just went to my post-op appt Tuesday. They set me up for my first fill on the 24th of April and I am sooooo ready for it!!! Have lost 18lbs so far, and I'm really getting frustrated. I thought I'd lose more than that by now. Guess I'm just a little impatient. At least I have advanced to mushies. I swear, I hope I never have to taste chicken broth again!!! Heather said that I could advance to more normal foods in a few days. I thought the mushies lasted longer, but guess I was wrong. Lords knows, I'm not complaining either. Enjoyed all the updates, and am looking forward to reading more. Enjoy the beautiful weather and have a great weekend, ladies. later, kathy

I haven't been banded yet, but will be on Wednesday, the 11th, and I have been really worried about all the changes. I couldn't help but wonder if things will ever get back to "normal" again. When will food not be the central thing in my life? So, Harleygirl's words of wisdom really hit home with me. They were what I needed to hear, when I needed to hear it. I just need to develop a new "normal". What a great way to look at it. Thank you Harleygirl. I guess sometimes we are so focused on the loses that we overlook the gains. I am so thankful I found this site because the information and the encouragement you receive from people that are going through the same thing you are is absolutely priceless!!!!

I'm another May 12th bander. 5:30 a.m. I am getting so so so nervous. My doctor required a two week liquid diet and said that I should be able to lose 15-20 lbs during that time, and here we are, two days before surgery, and I'm only down 8. I am soooooooo ticked! My husband, who has just been eating one meal, and drinking Protein drinks the rest of the day has lost 8. I haven't cheated once!!! I've really had to fight myself from getting in the negative mind-set because of it too. I guess I should be happy with the 8 gone. After all, it's better than none. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you and sharing in our adventure into lap-band living. till next time, kathy

Hi all: Just checking in on everyone. Seems like there's been alot of good news lately. Hollygurl: I'm so glad you got your approval. Let us know when you get your surgery date. When you start your liquid phase, check out the entrenet whey Protein at the Healthy Weight Supermarket. Pricey, but not bad at all. It's the only one I have been able to drink, and I haven't had any problems with hunger. I'm actually having a hard time getting the 700-800 calories Dr. Edwards suggests because I am satisfied with 3 drinks a day which is only 330 calories. Also, have a safe trip. I will be praying for your father and his recovery. Let us know how the surgery went. Lindao1: keep us posted on your progress. TabithaH: Thanks for the tip on the fabric shop. I plan on checking it out on Monday. I have two weeks off for my surgery, and I'm hoping to feel well enough to get started on a quilt. Kimberly: What's new with you? Do you go to the support group often, and if so, are there usually a lot of people there? I would like to go to one, but I get really anxious around a big crowd of people. After the behav. mod. class, I realized that a support group would probably be benifical for me, so I may need to just get over that feeling. I really enjoy reading everyones posts. It's nice to know there are others out there going through the same thing and succeeding. It's a great inspiration! Till Later, Kathy

Hello Everyone: First off...Michelle, I can't help you with any of your insurance questions since I'm self pay, but I'm sure if you call Mary in Dr. Edward's office she can answer some of your questions. She is a very motivated person and seems like she really cares about the patients. She has been very helpful with any questions I've had the whole process. And Lauren87, yes there are support groups in Springfield. I believe one is on the second monday of every month from 5:30 to 7:30. If I'm wrong about that, I'm sure someone else in this group can give you the right dates. I went to my final consult this morning and got my b-day set for the 12th of March at 5:30 a.m. I do believe that will be the only time in my life that I will look forward to being up that early. I also did the preadmission tests today too, to get them out of the way. I start my liquid diet tomorrow. I don't think it's gonna be as hard as I imagined. I thought it would be two weeks of only liquids, but he said the first week I just need to replace two meals with a Protein shake, and eat a sensible dinner. The second week is all liquids though. My husband may not like me very much at the end of the two weeks, but I'm sure I'll live through it. It will all be worth it in the end, right? Til next time... Kathy

Hi all: I just got back home my class today. Everything went really well. Had a great group. I guess I was a little disturb by some of the quizes Katie had us take. I always knew I was a little dysfunctional, but to put a number to it, and have a higher number than most was a bit of an eye-opener. Guess I have alot of work to do. It's gonna be a challenge, but a challenge every now and then isn't always a bad thing, right? I have my final consult with Dr. Edwards in the morning. Can hardly wait till I get a date!!! I'll post tomorrow and give an update. later, kathy

Thanks for the welcome, Kimberly. I appreciate it. Hollygurl, I look forward to meeting you Monday. I seen Katie today, and she said that there were going to be about 13 of us in the class. Not too big I guess. I have my final appt with Dr. Edwards on Tuesday and I am soooo excited. I am self-pay, so I haven't had to hassle with waiting on the insurance co. to approve. I've heard that can be a real nightmare. The only thing that has held me up is getting home off the road for my appts. I am sorry to hear about your dad and I will be keeping him in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us posted on his progress. Til next time, kathy

Hi all: I've been lurking on your thread for a while now and thought that maybe it was time to introduce myself. Reading all of your posts has really got me motivated and excited about the lap band. I am so thankful I've found this site. It's nice to be able to have someone around that has been there, done that. Personal experience is sometimes just as valuable as medical advice. I have done all my pre-op appts except the behavioral class, which I am attending on 2-25-08, and the final appt with Dr. Edwards on 2-26. I had the dietary consult this morning, and my mind is still trying to absorb all the info. luckily, my hubby went with me, so I have back-up in case I forget something. I should get my surgery date on the 26th. I drive a truck for a living and I'm really hoping that that will help me get through the 2 week liquid diet. (no kitchen readily available). Plus, it's always easier to turn down truckstop food than it is to turn down home cooking. I've had to fast before, but never for that long. You all are proof that it can be done though, so I guess I'll live through it. I look forward to getting to know eveyone and share in the lapband experience. Til next time, kathy

Bud: The only doctor I know about in the Springfield area is Dr. Edwards with St. Johns. I can give you the nurse coordinators number if you are interested. His staff has been wonderful so far, and I couldn't have been more impressed with him.

My schedule is actually pretty flexible. As long as I let my dispatchers know about a week or so in advance, they work really hard at getting us home, so hopefully the fills shouldn't be too much of a problem. I'm worried about the dietary aspect more. Truckstops don't usually have the best selection of healthy food. I have my dietary consult the 22nd of February and I'm hoping to get some good ideas then. Dr Edwards suggested that I remain home for a few days after a fill to make sure there aren't any complications. I guess it would be hard to find a doctor while out on the road. I don't think I would feel comfortable with doctor I didn't know anyway. But that shouldn't be a problem either. You won't hear me complaining about needing to take a few days off.

Hello everyone, I'm new to posting to this site, but I've been lurking for a while now and figured it was about time that I introduce myself. I'm going through the pre-banding process now, with the initial surgical consult, and the psych evaluation behind me. I have the physical, dietary, and behavior classes scheduled over the next month. I'm hoping to be scheduled for the first part of March for the banding. I'm having the procedure done in Springfield Mo by Dr. Edwards. I've read a lot of good things about him and his staff and he made a very good first impression, so I feel that I'm in the very capable hands. I drive a truck over the road for a living, which has helped get me in the place I'm at now (overweight and in need of medical help). I'm a little concerned about how difficult the post-op adjustments will be, living on the road as i do, but I am determined to make this work. Luckily, my co-pilot is also my husband, and he is very supportive, so that should help. If there are any other drivers out there that have had this procedure, I would love to hear from them, and maybe get a few pointers. I am looking forward to this new challenge in my life, and I hope to meet others that have taken this challenge and are suceeding. Till next time, Kathy