danaclark2

JenWillwin-- Your post is exactly how I feel---I've been thinking the same thing. How could this not work if we eat significantly less. I'm really not into sweet drinks--I'm more of a cookie person, but I'm willing to do away with them (for the most part) to reach my goal. 70 lbs. in six months--I could only dream... Here's my truth as I see it now: I HONESTLY DO NOT CARE IF I ONLY LOSE 30-40 LBS IN ONE YEAR--AS LONG AS I'M LOSING AND AS LONG AS I CONTINUE TO LOSE THE NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT. OF COURSE, I WOULD LOVE FOR IT TO BE QUICKER--BUT BEING 40 LBS LIGHTER IS BETTER THAN BEING 40LBS HEAVIER THAN I AM NOW--OR STAYING THE SAME. I'M ABOUT 27O LBS NOW--IF I AM 230LBS ON APRIL 18, 2007, I'LL BE SINGING FOR JOY--AND THEN IF I'M 190LBS BY APRIL 18, 2008, I'LL BE JUMPING FOR JOY. JUST LET ME MAKE PROGRESS, PLEASE. I'M REALLY HOPING THE BAND WILL GIVE ME JUST THAT--THE EXTRA PUSH TO ACHIEVE MY WEIGHT LOSS/HEALTH GOALS.

I know EXACTLY how you feel--I'm in my pre-op diet phase--supposed to be a 30 day deal. Well--I'm going to be banded on April 18--just about 3 weeks or so away. I did not fair so well with my first week of this liquid diet thing. Days 1,2, and 3--great job--then days 4, 5, and 6--hog city. My daughter's 1st birthday was day 5--and I just went crazy. I feel really gross now, but tomorrow's another day. I really hope the band helps me pull the reigns on my galloping hunger. Chin up, we fight on...never stopping for better health and freedom from the obsession with food.

Hey, all! Just wondering what your pre-op diet was like. My surgeon has us on a modified liquid diet 30 days before surgery. I'm about 26 days from surgery and have been trying this diet for five days. The first three I did VERY well--yesterday and today--not so great. Just wondering if I stick to it hard core a week to two weeks before surgery, will I be ok? He has us on like two protien shakes and a sensible dinner--like SlimFast--drinking sugar free liquids in between. This is soooo hard.

Well--today is day 6 of my 30 pre-op days of liquids and one small meal. It is also my darling baby girl's 1st birthday. Boy, did I blow it. I ate and ate and ate--potato salad, ham sandwiches, deli cheese and strawberries, chips, deviled eggs--and cake--and icecream. I feel like a big fat cow--but I am near my period and I do tend to have a hard time with food around this time of the month. I plan to go all force 14 days before my April 18th surgery. I just hope this one day hasn't caused my liver to swell like a whale! Ahh--c'est la vie. All I can do is wake up tomorrow and start again--and try, try, try. I really hope the band helps me to pull the reigns on my galloping hunger...

I hope that I never come across to anyone here or elsewhere as judgmental towards a person for what surgery he/she has chosen. I am certainly in NO position to judge anyone about weight, etc. I have gone back and forth in my mind on which surgery is best for me--I really don't know which one is--I've never had WLS. By faith, I choose the band. Who knows what will happen in the future? What upset me the most at my support group meeting is that the leader pretty much said banding was for the birds--and even said that "most people will eventually convert to RNY." That wasn't exactly the most encouraging pep talk right before my Lap Band surgery. Ahh--who knows...I know this--I feel peaceful in my spirit about getting the band--at this point in my life. God may direct me in a different direction in the future. Let us all support each other in this battle against obesity--no matter what weapon we choose.

I would love to find a "Just Bandsters" support group--I wonder if they have one in Nasvhille? I just live about 45 min. from Nash., TN. Perhaps as the lap-banded increase in my area, there will be interest in starting a meeting just for the banded. I am more and more confident everyday with the decision I've made to be banded. Just 26 more days!!!

Nanster-- Thank you for your story and your comments. I feel confident in my decision to get the band--I feel peaceful about it. I just couldn't get the--real peace about getting the bypass. That's just me, of course. I don't expect a miracle cure--I fully expect to work hard for my weight loss. What I am hoping for is help with the gnawing, physical hunger that accompanies me now as I venture forth with this liquid pre-op diet. That's really all I expect--help with the physical hunger. Everything else I'm willing to work on--emotional hunger, head hunger, exercise, etc. I am going to go all out--full force--when I get the band so that just in case it is removed shortly after getting it--I will have made a big dent in my weight loss--and hopefully in changing my former bad eating habits. Marching on for a better life, I happily and peacefully choose the band over the bypass.

3loves, I'm glad you had a good experience. My experience wasn't all bad--it was mainly the leader of the group who was so persistent in her opinion of the band. One girl (who had had the gastric bypass) who I spoke with said that her sister had the band around the same time that she had had the bypass and that her sister had lost 160lbs in about 18 months. I know the band is the best decisions for me. I'm so excited!

I had my first at 26, my second at 29, and my third at 30. My mom had her last (and fifth) at 36. I certainly do not think early to mid--or even late thirties is too old to become a mommy! Enjoy the rest of your 20s--relish the time alone--just you and your husband because once the babies come, "alone" will be a word of the past. It's great having children--just takes so much energy--and patience.

Awesome--and congratulations! I know how you feel. I am looking forward to being banded on April 18. It's like a dream come true...

I got a date!!! Woo-hoo! I will be joining you all in Bandland on April the 18th. Started today with the liquid diet--boy, am I hungry. I really hope I have some restriction during the healing phase (before first fill) because this is really hard--and I'm only on day 1. C'est la vie! I'm so thankful for this site and all of your advice, etc.You guys have been great!

Thanks everyone! I'm really excited here--on my second day of liquids--low carb, etc. I'll have to say that the caffenie in coffee is really surpressing my appetite. I've never been a big coffee drinker--but this is not bad... ***Audra--I used to teach 12th grade Eng. and 7th grade language arts---I know how tough it is. I just love teachers--it's the hardest job in the world, I think. ***You don't have much longer, do you? Just a few more days...We'll be April 2006 bandsters together.

Audra, My surgeon says to do a liquid diet for 30 days before surgery--pure torture, if you ask me. It kind-of follows the Slim Fast plan--you get one meal a day with two shakes, etc.

Oh, Vera--that alone would stop me from getting the RNY. How dreadful!

Glad you're home!!

Thought I had responded to this post--but guess not. I have a surgery date of April 18--to be banded by Dr. Steely at Gateway Hospital in Clarksville, TN.

Alexra, 128lbs. in 11 months--you go girl!

Great, great thread!!! Love it! I plan to be on the list.

Welcome! I'm from Clarksville, TN--not far from you. I've been approved but waiting on a surgery date!! Glad you're here. This is a great site.

Hi, all!!! So excited--just received my "This surgery is medically necessary" letter! Woo-hoo!!! I should get my surgery date this Monday. I really thought I was going to have to put up more of a fight. Yesterday, I just sent in old weight loss journals--with pictures and all. Guess I didn't need to send them after all. I have a question for those of you who take Synthroid for hypothyroidism. My doctor said I could just crush the pill and take it that way--but I've heard you shouldn't crush thyroid meds. What do you all do? I can't wait to join you all on the other side....

Thanks everyone! That's what I was thinking--the Synthroid pill is quite small. If you all swallow it, I'm sure I can. Oh--I'm so excited!!! Ready to defeat the O-beast(ity)!

Just when I think all I have to do is wait--wait for the hopeful "Yes, we approve you!", they ask for more information. My surgeon's secretary sent in all the needed info. :psych. eval., letter from doc. (that included all the info. that the insurance company wanted), etc., but after calling them (BCBS of TN) Friday, they said that they needed documentation that I had been on a weight loss program, monitored by my doctor for six months. The letter from my doctor said all of this--I guess they needed his clinical notes. I saw my doctor in August 2005--he put me on phentermine. I saw him again in Sept., October, missed November, and then saw him in December--so about five months. My doctor's secretary forwarded all the clinical notes (with my weights, etc.) to BCBS of TN. I'm hoping this is all they'll need. I HOPE THE ONE MONTH THAT I MISSED SEEING MY DOCTOR IN NOVEMBER WILL NOT DISQUALIFY ME FROM GETTING APPROVED. I stopped the Phentermine in December because it was making me crazy. BCBS of TN also wanted proof that I've been obese for over five years. The only doctor who has this documented is my gyn. I called his office--and they said it would take 7-10 days to get that info. to me. It just seems to drag and drag and drag. Oh, how I want to be on with this... Thanks for "listening."

Congratulations!!! I shouldn't be too far behind you. I'm going to call my insurance soon--they've had two weeks already... See you on the other side. :confused:

Dody-- No--Knoxville isn't too far from Clarksville.--3.5 hours, I think. I'm in the waiting-for-the-insurance-to-approve-me stage. It's been almost two weeks since BCBS has received my paperwork, so I'm hoping for an answer soon. Good luck to you, too. I'm sure you will be very successful. I plan to be.

1. At the mall one afternoon, I decided to stop and get some chinese food for lunch. The tiny Asain lady behind the counter asked me so sweetly and pointing to my tummy, "Oh, eating for two?" This is before I had my first child. I felt so sad... 2. While swimming at the YMCA last summer, my little boy spotted an overweight woman entering the pool. "Mommy, Mommy, look. She's fat like you," he said, as if it were nothing more than sharing the same hair color, wearing the same outfit, etc. He does not associate anything negative with being overweight right now; he's five. He's so funny. He says that I am a "circle" and my husband (who's is about 10 lbs. overeight) is "straight" (like a line). This hurt me more than the Asian lady's comment. I don't want my children to grow up with a fat mom; hence, I am pursuing the lap band.