jena

I've got to say this thread is one of the funniest things I've ever read. I'm almost looking forward to having my first public PB so I can share it with all of you. Almost. Jena

Molly, The Beck Diet Solution is an awesome book! It has helped me get through this first week of pre-op dieting like you wouldn't believe. I highly recommend it as well. For those who don't know, this book is based on cognitive behavioral therapy. Dr. Judith Beck is the daughter of Aaron Beck, considered to be the father of cognitive therapy.

Ahhhh. I understand it now. I googled "Brooke Bates" and found a lot of links. After looking at a few of them, the mother should be shot. After the lipo, guess what? The mother and the 68 year old plastic surgeon, the self proclaimed "biggest fat sucker in Texas" have written a book! Why am I not surprised? There is a long interview from Good Morning America with her and her mother. Why would a mother let a 12/13 year old girl dress that way? Micro mini's, low cut tight tshirts, push up bra's. What's up with that? I'm sure in another year or so, we'll see headlines something like "14 year old girl get's DD breast implants." And of course, a movie and a second book.

My opinion is that mother is an idiot. She feels that all of the pre-testing is unnecessary, just put the band on her 12 year old daughter? IDIOT! She even said her daughter is a compulsive eater, yet she didn't want her to have a psyc evaluation because it was just more money to pay. WTF? It wouldn't surprise me if this young girl is unsuccessful with her band. I saw something the other day with people who had lost a lot of weight but didn't deal with the underlying emotional problems had turned to alcohol and/or drugs to replace the food addiction.

I've had that tiny needle too. I know just what you are talking about. I think a mosquito bite hurts more! Heh heh. Every nurse I've ever had draw my blood has said that men are the biggest babies when it comes to having their blood drawn.

I've been having my blood drawn several times a year since I was14. I'm 50 now, so I'm pretty used to it. :biggrin: Do they have a hard time finding a vein? It's always worse if they have a hard time. When the nurse ties the band around the top of your arm, make sure you make a tight, tight as you can, fist. This helps a lot. Tell the nurse about your problem! Tell them that you will probably faint. Ask if they will use the thinnest needle they can. The thinner the needle, the less you feel it. The only way you will get over this problem is to push past it. Make yourself watch! No, I'm not crazy, watch them do it. When you see it being done, you'll see that it's no big deal. Really! You'll wonder why you were so afraid. Finally, if you are afraid of the prick of the needle when it goes in, ask if they can give you a topical numbing before they stick you. Actually, it goes much faster when you are not afraid. BTW, I don't think you are afraid of needles, you are just anxious about having your blood drawn. You can do it!! I know you can!

I am also from Lawrenceville! I am going to TJ Mexico to be banded by Dr. Ortiz. I'm self pay and the $24,000 it would cost for me to be banded in Atlanta is just too much for me. I really didn't want to finance it, so I decided to look into Mexico. It's $8,000 for everything except airfare and Dr. Ortiz has a great reputation. I'm going to fillusa.com in Roswell for my fills as well. We had a hard hale storm yesterday, but after it went away, the sun came out! My office building is the Centennial Tower right across the street from CNN and the Dome. Our floor suffered no damage, but the upper floors had windows blown out. They were pretty much replaced by yesterday evening. It's amazing that so few were injured! When I left work Friday evening the sidewalks were packed with people going to the SEC game.

Hi Caterpillarfly, I'm also in Atlanta and am planning to get banded. I went to one of Dr. Hart's meetings over at John's Creek location. (Not True Results Weight Loss) The price for the Lap Band was $24,000!! So what I'm wondering is how the same Dr. can charge 9k less at a different facility? I can't find any information online about True Results Weight Loss in Atlanta other than the address. At Johns Creek it's done in the Hospital, Is the True Results Weight Loss place just an outpatient surgery? Right now I'm planning to go to Dr. Ortiz in TJ Mexico; it's $8,000 for everything except the airfare. Dr. Ortiz has an excellent reputation. I might consider doing it here....maybe. If you have any online info about the Atlanta office, do you mind posting it? Thanks and good luck! Jena

You know I've only been using Slim Fast Optima and Atkins. They didn't taste too bad at first, overly sweet and left an odd taste in my mouth. Now, 6 days later, I've started to crave them! I haven't tried any others because I love these. I've got the Slim Fast Optima French vanilla and Milk chocolate and the Atkins Caramel Latte which tastes like a frappachino.

That's a great idea about keeping something to drink next to you at all times. I just bought a big plastic container that has a core that you freeze to keep the liquid cold. It has a little spout that you use to get the Water out. I'm going to fill it with water and sit it right next to me! Jena

I guess we all handle stress by eating. Don't worry, It takes a lot longer than a week to mess up what you did in 4 weeks! You have acknowledge why you "messed up" this week, now is the time to move past it. Get excited about your surgery this week! What's done is done, Celebrate what you did in 4 weeks! Your life is about to take a turn for the better, forget about this last week and look forward to the future. Good for you for taking this big step, and lots of luck with your surgery! Jena

Hang in there, you can do it!! I'm reading a cognative therapy book that has really helped me. One of the things I keep telling myself (also on a pre-op diet) is "hunger will not kill me" (this is from the book) The other thing is to write down on index cards the reasons you want to do this and the benefits of losing weight. When you are hungry, go through your cards to reaffirm why you are doing this. Doesn't take away the hunger, I know, but it does remind you why you are doing what you are doing. Good luck!

Excellent explanation, Bandme08!

I find it bizarre too! If I found out I was one of the first three bands a doctor performed, I would run for the hills! :blushing:

Situational depression is a co-morbidity, clinical depression is not.

LiseSeattle, we are so much alike! I've always said if I have a boob job, I'm not only going to show them to everyone, I'm going to make them feel them. haha I look at it this way. I'm fat. I have about 180 pounds to lose. It is not a secret because no matter how much black I wear, it's hard to hide 180 extra pounds. Everyone knows I'm fat. Unfortunately, fat people wear their fears, problems, doubts and troubles like a giant badge for all the world to see and judge. So, I'll tell anyone who asks and a few who don't in case the subject comes up. I figure they will ask what I'm doing to lose weight once it starts to come off so why not go ahead and tell them? It's nothing to be ashamed of (for me) and I'm hoping a couple of the guys here in the office will take me as an example and look into having it done.

Atkins has a shake, Caramel Latte, that has 20g of Protein and 2 (I think) g of carbs. It is awesome. Tastes like a Starbucks Frappachino. At least that's what I tell myself. :angry_smile: I also like the Slim Fast Optima French vanilla and Milk chocolate. The Milk Chocolate tastes very much like a fudgecicle. I drink them all very, very cold over ice.

Ara, I am bi-polar as well. The therapist I had to see (a PhD) passed me on the approval of a psyc. doc evaluating my meds. My meds were in need of a change, so that was a good thing. The thing about being bi-polar and having this done is that having any major life-altering event can set the bi-polar mood swings off. You need to be monitored before and after surgery. Some of the docs I talked to wouldn't touch someone with bi-polar disorder! Another thing, I don't know about you, but I have to depend on a very close friend and my sister to tell me I'm in the beginning stages of mania. I know it logically, but I keep hoping it will go away because that means I need a med change (again) and I don't want to deal with that. I know my signals (vivid dreams, mind racing, not sleeping and my voice changes slightly) but I deny they are happening. So, if you are like me, you could be manic and deny it too long until damage is done. Hopefully you are not getting your diagnosis and meds from your GP, but are seeing a psyc doc to monitor you. I see mine about every 6 months, and if he has to change my meds, every month for 3 month to evaluate the dosage. Take your bi-polar seriously. If the psyc doc gives the thumbs up, see if he will talk to your surgeon and get you approved. The psyc doc is also an MD, and their opinion on what's best for your health should weigh more heavily than a therapist. Just my opinion and my experience! Take it with a grain of salt, or Zoloft. :angry_smile: Take care, Jena

Speaking as someone who has "come to" during two different procedures under twilight, go for the deepest sleep you can get! I didn't feel anything that was going on and I was too relaxed to panic, but I certainly remember it! One was while I was having liposuction on my upper arms and while they were turning me over, I came to and told them to hurry up! The second time I was having a bunionectomy and I woke up during the surgery. The surgeons were talking about golf and I could hear a saw running. Of course I couldn't feel anything, so I didn't panic. I didn't connect at the time that they were using the saw on me! ha ha. I asked the surgeon if I could watch and he told me (joking) he would have to kill me if I watched and learned his secrets. Then he told the anesthesiologist to put me under deeper and boom! I was out. When I was scheduled for a hysterectomy a couple of years ago, the anesthesiologist asked me if I wanted a twilight or a deep sleep and I said "Give me as much as you can!" As I said, when I woke up during the procedures, I didn't feel anything because the areas had been numbed, but I didn't want to take a chance again.

heidabear, Do YOU notice a difference in your clothes? You will probably be the first to notice. I bet part of the problem is you are continuing to wear the same clothes that are getting baggy. If you don't update your wardrobe with a few new pieces, it will take until they are falling off of you before someone notices. Wal-Mart is a good place to go to pick up some t-shirts and jeans or slacks at a pretty good price that won't break the bank. When I'm losing weight, i only buy sale items, discounted items and cheap clothes because I figure I won't be wearing them for long. Get rid of those baggy clothes, girl!! Jena Getting banded hopefully at the end of April!

I am on Wellbutrin as well. Alyson, please ask your doctor about crushing the sustained release tablets! Crushing them negates the sustained release effect. Ask your doc to prescribe the smallest pills. I'm not banded yet and I'm worried about taking the large pills and I have another pill I take that is quite large!

I know someone who did something similar and is now being investigated for insurance fraud. Not only is is morally wrong, it's criminally wrong and if you are found out - which is easy for them to do - you not only will have to pay all of the expenses back to the insurance company, you could face going to trial on the criminal side. Is it worth that? Also, before you cancel and switch to your companies insurance, get specific details on what you have to do to qualify for surgery. Some require a 6 month diet history under a Dr.'s care. If that's the case here, you wouldn't even be eligible until Oct. 1 st. In that case, it might be worth your while to wait. Good luck!

Thank you so much for the quick reply TheGh0st! I just got off the phone with Dr. Ortiz office in TJ. The price is right (meaning I have more than enough saved) and he has a fine reputation. I'm not a religious person, more of a spiritual, and this weekend I prayed and asked God to show me another option for the banding. I don't want to go into debt, but I want it done NOW. :thumbup: So today I find this forum, which opened my eyes about surgery in Mexico. Thank you God! Lori gave me the name of a place to have fills here in Atlanta, so I'm covered there.

The surgeon I'm looking at has self pay pricing as follows: Initial office consult $175 Registered dietition consult $50 Pre-op office visit $150 Pre-op testing/evaluations varies Surgeon fee $7,500 (that's a $2,500 discount) Assistant Surgeon Fee $350 Hospitle charge $12,500 Anesthesia charge $975 Which comes out to a whopping $21,550 That's for lap-band. Okay. So why is my Dr. so much more than others? Mine is Dr. Hart in Atlanta.