mypov

I'm a monday-er myself! I see you have been losing weight on the pre-op diet. I think that's great, if you've been able to stick to that enough to lose some weight then looks like you are able to tackle the head hunger as it comes. Hope everyone has a quick surgery and little pain on Monday!

Congrats! I have mine scheduled for Monday. I hope mine goes as smoothly as that. Good luck on your journey!

I just came across this post from last month, but I was interested because I just learned this for myself. My doctor said that anything other than clear liquid will make your stomach do its normal churning, and that any movement of the stomach in the first few days can disrupt the healing of the band/placement/stitches. Clear liquids go right through the band and are quickly absorbed without the stomach having to churn to digest it. That's how I understood what he was saying anyway! Good luck!

Okay so if you haven't heard of Walmart's new generic drug program here's the deal- some of the most common prescription generic drugs (300 of them) are now being sold at walmart for 4$ for a 30 day supply. When I first heard about this I wondered how all those "little pharmacies" are going to compete- or will it put them out of buisiness as well.... HOWEVER my husband adn I have been without insurance for 2 years now. He's been working construction and we couldn't qualify for individual insurance because of weight and health problems. Well, now he's got a new job that offers insurance but it is 25% of our monthly income!!! So today, as I looked at my budget and realized our cash flow is pathetic thanks to Christmas this month, and desperately needing to refill two of my meds, I called my pharmacy to ask if they could offer me a lower price. They said no and quoted me $189.99 for the two medications. So I went to walmart and battled the lines and traffic and left with the meds for $8. That certainly helped me out this month. What do you think of their new program? What consequence do you see coming from it (good or bad)? And WHEN is our whole messed up health system going to be FIXED!?!?!? Thoughts? http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=546834

Thanks for all the visuals guys! I think the baby untensils are a great idea, and hey I already have them on hand. I just realize that right now, my bites are HUGE compared to this so I'm going to be really paying attention now. Thanks again all!

Hm. In hearing that (and having no idea where he got that information from) I would take it from a different point of view. First of all, people who have been morbidly obese at some time in their lives likely have some health problems resulting from that that are unfortunately not reversible, the damage is done. Secondly, since people who are overweight don't always lose all their excess weight when they try ANY type of diet or surgery to get it off, those left over excess pounds can still cause some health problems. Lastly, I think as banding becomes more popular and well-known, people will start knowing about the band sooner, get it done younger, and perhaps have less co-morbidities and problems prior to it. That should statistically raise the life expectancy rate. That said, as soon as I'm banded I am going to try to pay it off as quickly as possible and be saving my money because I do KNOW there are no guarantees and I may have to replace it someday. Basically, the info doesn't scare me. Heck Until I got approved for the band I didn't know if I would make it to age 35 let alone 65! I'd love to be able to hope for another 30 years beyond that!!!! (Though more is always better

Josette this sounds soooo much like me! Thats the thing about PCOS, it doesn't just cause fertility problems, it wreaks havoc on every part of your body. Sometimes I feel it has stolen my femininity. I am hoping to start feeling that again as I lose weight! Wow, that is soooo encouraging! VERY interesting!! As I prepare myself for surgery I have FINALLY started to see the scale go down for the first time in years....slowly...the only change I've made is eating less and not denying myself of things I am cravingm and not beating myself up emotionally after I indulge a bit. Maybe its when our bodies and minds are finally connecting and when your mind is saying "I want this" the body is saying "okay but just a lil" that things can finally fall into place. Just a thought. Keep up the comments!!!

In the pack at the pre-op class I was given samples of a clear liquid protein drink called Nectar. I tried it but it's difficult to swallow and I can't imagine myself living off this during the clear liquid days. I need to hurry and order something so its all ready to go. Looks like they also suggest isopure, beneprotein and things like that. Have you guys used them and which ones did you like? Thanks!!!

Hi all, just like my title says my mother-in-law weighs 500+ lbs. She has spent the last 2 years considering gastric bypass but gave up that idea because her surgeon required her to lose 50 lbs first and she only lost 35 and got stuck....i can't believe what a stickler the guy was. anyway, she can see how excited i am about the band and she is wondering if it will work for her....I don't know what to tell her- can they do lap band on someone her size? We all fear she doesn't have much time left without something being done- thoughts?

Hello all toddler mommies!!! My little guy is 20 months. He is one of my main motivations for surgery (along with my hubby and 2 girls). He is sooooo active I just can't keep up. I want to run along side him and carry him for longer periods and just be there enjoying every little moment. One of my little worries after surgery is that I wn't be able to pick him up for awhile, I hope someone can at least hand him to me and I can rock him cause he loooooveees when I rock him and sing to him- hey, at least SOMEONE appreciates my singing voice!!!!

I too am a december bandster. I am extremely excited! Nervous too, of course. Hopefully by this time next year I will down 60, 70, maybe even 80 lbs!!

Wow, very sorry to hear you are in so much pain. Are you sure you don't have a slipped or bulging disk or something? Have you had an x-ray to check? I don't have nearly that pain but I do get uncomfortable if I don't have a pillow under my neck and under my knees when I sleep. This seems to keep my spine better aligned. Keep us posted on how you are doing!

Very encouraging! Thank you all, and thanks Kimberly for the great ideas on what to have. I will just keep reassuring them all that I will be fine. I agree though, this is a Christmas gift to myself I have been looking forward to for a long time. There really is nothing else anyone could get me this year that I will appreciate more!!!!

Sherilynn, I think we can all remind you of why WE chose/are choosing the band, but no one, not even you will know the outcome (so sorry to hear about your cousin Tricia) so it's important to be comfortable with your decision. One of the reasons that I want the band rather than bypass is the fact that I don't want to just lose weight, I want to be healthy. You can eat junk food with both surgeries but since with the bypass you don't absorb as many calories I felt I would use that as an excuse to continue eating the same types of food as before. I want to HAVE to chnage my eating choices to make a significant difference. You CAN be thin AND unhealthy and that's not what I want for myself. I also like the slower weightloss factor because 1)may allow the skin to shrink along with the weight loss better than what the bypass would allow and 2)Honestly I think I'll have to answer less invasive questions with the weight coming off slowly. 1-2 lbs a week is easier to explain as "eating less moving more" than is 50 lbs in one month. I do want to say to Tricia though, please don't ever blame yourself. Your cousin made the choice to have the surgery and if she hadn't heard about it from your experience she would have found out about it some other way. She chose the SAFEST of the two surgeries and my heart goes out to you and your family that she passed away. My sincerest condolences>

So I this problem. Last night I was laying in bed and fantasizing of all the wonderful things that will come from losing weight. I would finally be able to quit stressing about being so overweight and having so many health issues. And then, suddenly, this panicky feeling came over me and I thought, OHMYGOSH THEN WHAT?!?!?! I have been putting so much of my focus and time into researching and preparing for this surgery. I have been obsessive about it (much like when I was in the process of trying to conceive a few years ago). The way I work is that I NEED something big to look forward to, I NEED a project. Crazy I know. Anyway, so if I finally get the surgery and lose weight THEN WHAT??? Any of you experienced this? ANy one have major non-weightloss related goals? Thanks I really need something to strive for I guess.

You guys have really helped me think about things. I think what it really is, as someone mentioned, is that the actual losing weight is the fun part. Well- of course it will be hard work but it will be neat to watch how my body changes, get compliments, realize I can buy new cuter clothes and all that. Maintaining seems like such a chore and BORE. That's where I think as many of you have mentioned, I should plan to set an exercise goal or some sort of goal to work on once I get to my goal weight. Exercise is something I dread, so I want to work on that and have a goal to do a 5k or bike race or something. I did always find kick boxing interesting......and am I too old to learn hip hop dancing? hmm..MB I could talk hubby into taking a ballroom or swing dance class with me.NEway You guys all had such excellent thoughts and ideas. Another thought I had was that sometimes life seems so mundane the only things I look forward to is food, or events that feature food prominently:rolleyes: Birthdays, thanksgiving, ben&jerry's while watching tv with hubby late at night. I need to find different things to look forward to. Little things. MB I will pick up scrapbooking again or being better at my journaling. Little things to do when I'm bored and just want some me time.

Yeah, Dumping is exactly how I'd describe glucophage side effects too. I've been on/off it for several years to prevent full-blown diabetes. Everytime I forget or miss a couple of days I have to schedule in a new time to start, a time when I won't have to leave the house for a few days (very difficult). The first time I was ever put on it I lost 25 lbs in a month, going from 243 to 218, but if you look at my stats now, obviously that was short lived. I believe everything I lost was purely water weight. The only reason I still take it is because my sugars are so high with out it that I could very easily become diabetic, and I don't need that along with everything else!

I'm so upset!!! The surgery center I'm going to is 2 hours from my home. Not knowing the area at all I left 3 hours prior for the pre-op education class on Tuesday night. I figured this would give me an hour to find it in case I got lost. Well, I got stuck on the freeway for an hour and 40 minutes!!! I ended up at the meeting 40 minutes late!!! It lasted another 40ish minutes after I got there and I talked with one of the nurses who'd run the meeting about what I missed. I got my packet of info and had my picture taken "so we know who you are". So tonight I checked my junk email folder and I got an email from the center saying "We missed you at the pre-op education class. There are no other classes offered for this mandatory meeting until early next year so we need to reschedule your consultation and surgery date." AHHH!! So was I not there long enough for it to count? Did I not sign some role??? I am freaking out!! I have no room in my schedule for surgery until summer 2007! I had everything arranged!! Will they really make me reschedule??? Whhaaaa!!!! Now I'm panicked :) :girl_hug: :omg: :help: :paranoid :cry

Thanks so much. I emailed the nurse back and explained everything. They aren't open today of course so I hope Monday I will hear from someone and it will all be ok. Sheesh I hate waiting.

Josephine, Congratulations on your accomplishments!! Well done. I hope the very fact that I am going through a major surgery and spending all this money will be a huge motivation to change my life. Sounds like that is what has happened for you? Again, well done!!!

I had this SAME question! Good to know!

Well I've known about this thread for quite awhile, but only now do I feel I can say what has contributed to my weight problems. 1. Depression. It runs in the family, but I believe I had it from a very young age. My mom says that she knew I was sad a lot when I was a child but at that time it wasn't believed children could actually HAVE depression. I wasn't diagnosed until age 16 and in those years of depression going untreated I found food was a source of comfort. 2. Big family, little money. My mom cooked high fat, high calorie casseroles and did lots and lots of baking to feed all of us kids. I remember at dinner time as I watched the casserole dish empty I'd start to feel panicky thinking I gotta hurry if I wanted seconds. Sometimes I still feel this panicky feeling even when I KNOW as an adult I could go out and get myself more of whatever it was. WEIRD. 3. Family history. My dad was especially overweight. After dinner he'd usually sit down with a half gallon of ice cream and I remember I'd always ask for some and he'd say "I've had a long day, I BOUGHT this ice cream, when you are a grown up YOU can have your own ice cream." So I do, a lot, and I too reward myself with it after difficulties. (side note: my dad got control at about age 50 and lost 150 lbs and has kept it off 5 years!!!) 4. PCOS. I ate myself right into what I believe triggered my PCOS, insulin resistance. Since the onset, I have gained an additional 90 lbs. I am very determined to never hit 300, and since I've been trying harder since setting a for-sure surgery date, I have very SLOWLY been going down. Those are the main reasons, been there are many many other reasons I'm sure......

YEah actually I've been keeping a notepad file on my computer and as I read lapbandtalk if I think of questions I type them up. Watch me forget to print it and bring it on my consultation day I live in the Logan area. I think my main questions are: 1- Should I plan on going all the way home the day of the surgery or should i stay in a hotel nearby in case of complications? 2-What should I do if I have concerns over the holiday, will I be able to get in touch with anybody? and my main concern: Will I lose weight wiht my PCOS??? I don't know how many women he's banded that have it, but I hope it doesn't hinder my progress. Oh and actually I am curious of what his stats are now (went to the info meeting over a year ago) like how many he's banded, how many slips, removals, erosions etc And if there are different size bands or just one that he uses lol okay ill stop. Good to hear from you all!!!

Can I join the U-crew? Its nice to gather with some people that know of the unique Utah culture. I haven't met Dr. Hansen other than the originally informational meeting, but not personally. I have sooo many questions for him during my consultation. I'm really hoping they are easy to work with...I have heard good things about them.

I recently read that people rate food as tasting better when it is presented in an attractive way. So I was thinking, you know how those expensive restaurants get away with serving tiny portions and charging big bucks? Well first of course their good chef's but they make it about presentation. I'm wondering if I will feel more satisfied during the thick fluids/mushy stages if I present each tiny meal as if it is gourmet? What do you all think? Any tips on how to do this?