kaytiebugs

I'm 242 pounds. I'm 24 years old. I want to lose about 100 pounds. I'm wondering if I'll have much excess skin? Weight is a big consideration. I forgot to ask my doc, but a lot of people say that because of my age, my skin is more likely to shrink on its own. Obviously I won't ever have washboard abs without a TT, but I'm okay with a little jiggle.... I've just been watching RNY youtube vlogs and they have a lot of excess skin.... but they started at a weight much higher than mine. Anyone around my age post op and close to goal want to offer their experience?

My surgeon will not operate on a smoker. I quit in July and I'm so glad I did. I feel so much better. Honestly, the only reason I quit was for surgery. I won't start back though. It was hard for about 2 weeks, and I still had cravings for an additional 2 weeks (the kind that you get just because you're used to smoking at that time... like as soon as you leave work or right after a meal... not so much a craving, just a little reminder that says 'hey, isn't it smoke time?'). Since I quit, I feel much better in general. Plus I'll have less risk of complications from anesthesia and my body will recover much faster.

So do you think the fact that I've been overweight for about 5 years and obese for about 3 makes the outlook better? Or worse?

I got a Bed Bath & Beyond coupon in the mail yesterday so I figured I'd go ahead and get myself a couple of the things I need. What should I look for in a good kitchen scale? I've never used one before. What should I look for in a good body weight scale? I don't want to spend more than $30-35, but BB&B has several for that much or less. Thanks for your help!

Did/Does it ever seem surreal to you? Getting/being banded? I'm pre-op. It's all I think about. It's like I'm planning my wedding or preparing for another child. I've mapped out exactly how I want the first couple of days to go, I've made arrangements with family members to come help my hubby out (he's a college student, he'll need help caring for our daughter, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of me), I've got all of my appointments scheduled and I have a good general idea of when surgery/pre op appt will be. I know about how long ins will take to give prior approval. I've done so much research I could practically perform the surgery on myself. I'm ready. But then sometimes when I'm sitting in traffic my mind goes "Holy S$(T am I really doing this?!" Anyone else get like this?

My doc says I REALLY need to quit taking in caffiene. I WANT to quit. When I was pregnant with my DD I quit caffiene (and smoking, drinking, everything cold turkey as soon as I found out). I knew I HAD to then... and I really NEED to now. It's not good for me. But GEEZ it's super duper hard this time! I am so freakin tired I fell asleep at the wheel at least 3 times during my hour commute to work this morning. What can I do??? The obvious suggestion would be to work out, which I did take a little walk on the treadmill last night, but I'm just getting back in the habit of exercising so I wasn't on for long. Any other suggestions? I'm at work and I seriously feel like I could fall asleep sitting up at my desk. I'm about 2 seconds from hitting the coffee pot. I just started quitting yesterday and already I'm bombing. I really think it was easier to quit smoking... at least then I was awake and not endangering people (well, aside from being a homicidal B%$#^H lol).

I'm pre-op but when I attempted weight loss a couple of years ago I did my pictures like this and I really liked them. I had my hubby take them. I faced the camera with my arms out, turned to the side with my arms down, and faced away from the camrea. I did side by side pictures as I progressed and would use paint or photoshop to add in little arrows and stuff at things that had decreased. These were like 3 years and 57 pounds ago... I wish I was this size now. I lost, but of course gained it all back and then some.

I shop at the maidenform outlet and usually get three bras for $25, plus I get discount % off/$ off when you spend $__ coupons in the mail. I love it. So all of my bras are not only cheap, but they're friggin awesome!

Thus far, it has everything to do with my doctors. Some are apparently either extremely busy with a very high volume of visits and surgeries, or maybe they're just not very flexible, I don't know. But I've been able to call them and get my appointments scheduled for within a week of calling. They called me to schedule my first class less than a week after I mailed my app, they wanted me to come in 3 business days after they called but I couldn't (vacation), and a bunch of other stuff held me up until finally I made the class, but that was all my fault. I could have been banded by now had it not been for that. The psych and dietician both have been very flexible, I could have had my appointments sooner but I have to consider my job and how they'd feel about me going to more than 1 doc appt in a weeks time. So I'm trying to spread them out a bit without delaying everything too much. Everything is almost ready to submit to insurance, this time next week it should be sent off. My insurance said they take about 2-3 business days to review and I don't think I'll have any trouble getting approved because my BMI qualifies and they don't require a medically supervised diet. So, long story short, things are progressing quickly thanks to physicians with flexible schedules.

My psych eval goes like this.... it's a HUGE multi-part psychological evaluation test thingey. Like 400 True/False questions about myself, then several other 2 page Q/A tests.... along with an IQ test. I went to the psych today (took the test last night) and he said I would have to retake it. He said that basically it looked like I answered questions to make everything look better than it truly is. I really answered all of them honestly! I'm a very happy optimistic person, I don't have a lot of confidence/self esteem issues, I didn't have a bad childhood, I'm not psychotic, etc.... I'm pretty much "normal". So now I have to redo everything (except the IQ test.... which I scored in the 85th percentile on {50% being average/normal} yay me). And I'm super nervous because I feel like this one will be micro analyzed or something. I'm supposed to be more HONEST this time.... but I really wasn't lieing to begin with. There's a lot of GRAY area. Like maybe sometimes I feel like doing something, but I resist. And HELLO I'm a gemini... sometimes I might feel one way, others a completely different way. There's like 5 of me lol.

He said I won't have to pay twice, and my insurance covers 80%.

I know how my doc says it'll go.... but I want to hear it from people. How are the first 7 days of post op? I would really appreciate your help. I just want to know what to expect. You don't have to write a whole book about it, just something like "Afternoon/evening of surgery- absolute misery, pain, trapped gas, unable to swallow, etc... Day 2- a little better, not so much pain, able to walk around, able to eat, etc.... Day 3- able to carry my child, not taking pain meds/only tylenol, starting mushies, a lot more alert, etc... Day 4- almost normal, able to drive " I don't know if this is what it's actually like, I'm looking to get a good idea of what to expect. I'm having surgery on a Thursday and going back to my desk job the following Monday. Just wondering how miserable I'll be.

Wow yum!! I'm gathering up links to add to my blog, this will be one of them

Wow what a wide array of replies! I guess I won't know what to expect until after surgery! Thanks everyone!!!

Why would someone have to spend the night after lap band surgery? I know it's almost always out-patient, but what are some of the reasons you'd have to spend the night?

I was just watching a youtube video and the girl said she had to give herself lovenox shots for 10-12 days post op. Why would this be done?

The purpose of this thread was not to bash my husband (who I am married to and don't plan on leaving), but to get advice. He said one thing to me... he hasn't held me down or lowered my self esteem aside from that one comment. I've deleted the original post and I'd appreciate it if we could all let this thread die. My hubby is a good man. Thanks for those who provided me with advice.

Thanks for this little tip!! I'll go ahead and have hubby put my DD's mattress in the office downstairs the night before surgery so it'll be ready for me. Our downstairs sofa isn't really a comfy sleeping sofa, the seat part is a little too narrow for a plus size gal to get cozy on.

This was before we found out about my health problems. But I just can't help but be angry at him for being so pig headed and vain. He's been a lot more understanding since we found the reason for my weight issues and inability to lose. It just still hurts. I can see where he's coming from, but still. Letting it out kinda helped. I haven't ever told anyone. I never discuss anything about my marriage with anyone. I hear my girlfriends gripe about their spouses and it makes me think all kinds of negative things about both them and their spouse. I don't want people thinking negatively of my hubby, nor do I want people thinking I'm a nag or ugly to my hubby.

There are other problems. I have PCOS and hypothyroid... so being tired is pretty much a given for me. I can't find my thyroid meds ANYWHERE (somehow I wound up with hubbys meds in my purse and my thyroid meds missing on the same day, maybe he's trying to kill me slowly lol), if I don't find them today I'm just going to have to get another refill... but I really don't want to because i JUST got that one less than a week ago. So yeah, health problems.... that's why I'm so dependent on caffiene... coffee, energy drinks, $5 lattes with an extra shot of espresso, soda, etc. I'm practically a junkie. I just went and got a half cup of coffee. I'm going to taper.

I love smartwater. It's one of my fave waters. I don't think that's what is making you nauseous. JMO

I really think I would have asked my friends and hubby if we could have gone elsewhere.... if they are your friends they will understand. I wouldn't pig out on crab legs in front of a dear friend who couldn't even eat dinner. I'd feel like a real a$$ if I did.

I thought about it for 4 months before I finally started going to seminars. I tried dieting/exercising one last time... I needed a reminder of how IMPOSSIBLE weight loss is for me. After that last failed attempt, I started going to seminars. Maybe you should give diet/exercise one last shot, and if it doesn't work out then you can revisit the weight loss surgery thought. :-)

I only asked a few questions, because I already knew everything else. I, like Restless, had done extensive research and pretty much knew what I was getting into. Plus my doc provided me with a 3 ring binder that's basically a book of exactly how there program works, everything you're required, etc. Maybe some people wanted to ask there questions to the doc in private at the consult?