gardengrl

Good for you, Cathy!!! You do deserve to feel as good about yourself as possible. I personally can't wait to lose the weight so I can get plastic surgery and esp SMALLER B**BS! I want to go to the neighborhood pool with my kids but just cannot face being in a bathing suit around all my neighbors. It's not like a vacation where you hate how you look, but know that you'll never see these people again. I'll see them everyday. :sad: So, I keep daydreaming about next summer (or even in a few months) and how different my outlook and self confidence will be. So glad to hear about your heart test!

I've had other surgeries before (tonsillectomy, c-section, others) so I guess I am not that nervous about the actual surgery. The last time I was under, the tube scratched up my esophagus and made my reflux feel so bad. Other than that, I am not that worried. I'm more worried about the post op and making sure I do the right things so I don't have complications later.

That's weird. Now I've disappeared off the list. Do you guys know something I don't?

Not really any change in diet. I did have gest. diabetes when I was pregnant with my twins and was SO careful with what I ate. Maybe that changed it and it hasn't gone back. They are almost 2 so who knows?! Gotta love my skinny husband (who I PRAY my children take after metabolism-wise) - his question has been "So, when are we going to Golden Corral?" Funny since I haven't been there in at least 4 years. It's going to be hard with someone else who always has food on his mind but not on his body. : )

Wow! I wonder what the most has been in a month!

Congrats on getting a date. I laugh since I am also "Maria - mom of 2" so I love your screen name! : ) I had tests done years ago from my gastroenterologist that said I had a fatty liver, but none of that showed up in my pre-op tests. It was done at least 4 years ago, but I am still the same weight (a little more, probably). Could it have fixed itself over time?

I'm def. going to be over 100 lbs. but I feel you on all the PCOS stuff. I personally did not lose any weight once I started the Metformin which I thought I would. I did level out but have been off it for almost 3 years (went off in my 2nd trimester and couldn't handle the side effects and caring for twins afterwards). My OB and my surgeon both feel like the PCOS is going to be GREATLY reduced by losing the excess weight. I think if you have under 100 to lose, that is a wonderful thing to start with. Have you talked to your endocrinologist or pcp about LBT? It's important to get their input. The insulin resistance is such a hard hurdle for losing weight that I believe this band will be my life saver! Good luck!

Thank you!!! Dr. John Daly is doing my surgery. I met with him again last week and feel so comfortable with him. There were a ton of people in his waiting room (not happy having to wait) but they all said he was a great dr. and I was in good hands. Always good to get 1st hand opinions!

I'll be getting mine June 9th in Atlanta. :woot:

I don't have a pre-op diet, either. Just clear liquids the day before. I think all my pre-op testing was fine because he wasn't worried about me shrinking my liver ahead of time. I'm nervous as should be normal but more excited about the ability to be a normal (notice I don't say SKINNY) weight again. Just want to be healthy for my family and myself! I'm sure it will hit me when I get the week before the surgery.

There's also a product called Culterelle that you can buy (CVS, etc). It has the bacteria that's in yogurt in a capsule. When I give my kids antibiotics, I'll add this to their milk (just open it up and dump it in). Their pediatrician recommends it to keep the stomach flora stabilized. You could probably just put it in the fluids you drink and not worry about the volume from actual yogurt.

Thanks for asking. I like when people try to inform themselves! PCOS is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It is a major pain in the butt thing to have. Your body doesn't make enough insulin to regulate blood sugar so you gain a lot of weight (and unless diagnosed, can't figure out why!). There are a lot of symptoms: infertility, increased body/facial hair, brittle hair, acne, depression, etc. Most women don't find out they have it until they are trying to conceive or wonder why their periods are so irregular. If not controlled, can develop Type II Diabetes and other worse health problems. It makes is EXTREMELY hard to lose weight even with a proper diet so the Lap Band is a wonderful tool to help. I was so relieved when I was diagnosed since so many problems I had which I thought were totally unrelated all of a sudden made sense. There isn't a "cure" for it and they are still trying to find out the cause, but there are many things you can do to "control" it, mainly weight loss.

PBPunisher- Oh my goodness! :hurray: I can't believe that person actually told someone else in your church. It is breaking the law and if you're too embarrassed to even face going back to that church, you need to report her to your surgeon. It is unethical and totally inexcusable. We have to sign HIPAA docs everytime we go to a doctor's office for this very reason. I personally don't even leave my name at the front desk since anyone who walks in can see who signed (way to be accountable, medical offices). For her to violate your privacy like that needs to be addressed. I am a Christian and I have told the people in my woman's group since I know that they will support me (mentally and physically) but it's still MY right to tell who I want to know. I'm a lot more open about it than most, I think, but she had absolutely no business passing on your medical information. Who else has she done this to? I am so not trying to raise your stress levels but you are going through major surgery and need to know that you can TRUST the surgeon and the office which you are going to be dealing with for many years to come. Good luck! (BTW - you're still making the right step in getting banded!):cry_smile:

I met with my surgeon today and got all set to be banded next month! YEAH! Having read so many posts, I naturally asked him 1) do I have to do a pre-surgery diet? and 2) What is the post-surgery diet? He said no to a pre-surgery, just Clear liquids the day before. My tests were all good so I am happy with that. As for post, he said 7-10 days clear liquids, an office visit and then right to solids - no mushy food stage. He said his reasoning was that he doesn't want his patients to get into a mindset of what they can "sneak" through so he likes them to feel full sooner and on track sooner. Solids meaning flaked fish, scallops, etc. (that consistency obviously not french bread and steak:wink2:). Personally, it makes a lot of sense to me. I could see where I would start to get too used to pudding, etc. Has anyone else's doctor gone with something similar and if so, were you ok? My only worry is the healing period, but I feel more than comfortable with my surgeon and so that is my only thought. Thanks for the input!

Thank goodness Waffle House doesn't make Bloomin' Onions, huh? Hey - does anyone else watch those reality food shows (Top Chef, Hell's Kitchen) and did you stop when you had your surgery? My husband and I watch them, get so hungry, and then eat. Will I need to cut those out of my life for a while, too? Please say no since I love those shows so much!!!

Cool! I am glad you guys responded! I have seen so many different directions from doctors (based on posts from this site) that I wanted to make sure that it wasn't totally "out there". His mindset is that I'll be able to eat almost anything but in severe moderation which is EXACTLY what I need (It's my job to make sure I'm not stupid with food). When I was pregnant with my twins, they consumed all my calories (BLESS THEM!) and with limited stomach room, I lost a lot of weight. Of course, now that I have twins, I am not getting pregnant again just to lose weight! Ha! Thanks again!

Oooh, all that golden fried goodness..... Just don't ever look in the bottom of the basket after you're done. That trip to yummy-land will be over immediately.

I don't know about your surgeon, but I'm from Atlanta, have PCOS and know Tuscaloosa pretty well. My mom's from there so I know how attached my granddaddy was to Druid City Hospital. LOL! Good luck with everything. My surgeon told me he didn't expect me to have a more difficult time losing weight once I had the surgery due to the PCOS. I am praying he is right!!

Jack! What are you doing to the poor girl? Don't make her addicted to our "high end" culinary delights? HA HA!!!!! All that Aussie food sounds awesome! I actually do eat lamb more than most here. The Armenian in me requires some good grilled lamb and cucumber/yogurt sauce (tzatziki). The German in me requires constant carbs (bread, beer and schnapps) and then the remainder of my dang heritage makes me eat the rest of what's out there. Darn mutt genes!

Oh, if only the Bloomin' Onion were as healthy as a roasted onion!!! It's an onion that is cut with some special thing to make it look like a big flower and then it's dipped in some kind of batter, deep fried and served with a spicy creamy sauce. Each bite must add on 1 lb! Personally, I am a Jersey Girl (New Jersey, that is) and it's diner country there. The best thing to eat were French fries (chipped fries, I think is what you call them) and brown gravy and sometimes with mozzarella cheese melted on top, too. :thumbup: And we ate that 24 hours a day, esp after a good night in the bars. Thank God where I live, you can't find that on a menu. My husband and I would love to go to Australia in the future. I won't be able to make it a culinary tour like I usually do. :tongue2: And now I am wondering why I am talking about food so much! I am here to be a good girl and not bring up those memories and make anyone else's mouth Water. SORRY!!!!

I hate to say it, Fanny, but Bloomin' Onions are addictive. I'm just so glad I haven't eaten any of those things except a bloomin' onion (and not by myself). I actually lost my appetite seeing those numbers!!! Yuck! I'm sure I've been close to some of those totals with my own imaginative eating which would be why I am here! LOL I'm just glad I don't live in Germany where I can get better breads at the gas station than I can at a bakery here. Thank God for the Lap Band to save me from myself!

First of all, congratulations on making the decision. It's a big change but a good one! I think it depends on the people/situation. I am telling some, esp. those I need to have support from. I'm also choosing not to tell everyone since I also think there might be some out there who will think I am taking the "easy" (yeah, right) way out and haven't just tried hard enough (grrr...). I can see your perspective and if you are ok with it, then that's what matters! Good luck!

It's a tragic story, but I'm so glad so many people questioned this. Surgery is a risk. But every time I think of those risks, I think about how many less years I might be around for my kids due to the complications of my weight and the lack of a good life I really have, not the surgery. I think there are so many more positives with WLS. It is so important to have your papers in order. No question there. We did that as soon as our children were born. Like everyone else, I wonder why we're only hearing about 1 post and why someone would join just to post that info. I almost wish there was a Snopes for these boards. If this is true, I feel so sorry for her loss. But we need to remember we do this for a better life and we're better people for at least trying...

Hi! I am brand new to this site. I was happy to see a local board about this for support! I'm 36 and the mom to twins. I wish I had joined my local twins club before they came so I know that it's important to join LBT before I get banded. I have been going back and forth on the Lap Band for over a year now and FINALLY made the decision to go for it. I had even done my consult, pre-surgery tests and saw the nutritionist last year and then due to insurance/my own anxiety I let it go. Like most of you, I realized this was just dumb on my part and I want(& need) a better life for myself & family. I am planning to go with Dr. John Daly and just wanted to know if anyone else has gone to him. I was very comfortable at my consult but like with everything else, I have to do my research. I'm hoping to have the surgery in June (self pay so no need to worry about all the insurance hassles I dealt with last year). Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

I loved reading your post. I read so many posts with problems, it's great to hear about the positive (but realistic) stories! I was esp. happy to hear your reflux disappeared at surgery! I would only hope for the same thing. I am trying to figure out how in the world I'll be able to take my Nexium. My surgery is June 9th (self-pay) so I hear you on not wanting to screw it up since the price is so high. Thank you again and best of luck in your journey to a new you!