SkiGirlDenver

Hey everyone -- I have a question -- I just got banded last Friday and was doing great -- already down 11 lbs in a week and feeling really good. I had moved to the full liquids portion of the diet and wasn't having any problems. Last night however I had some cream based Soup -- which was on my list of approved items. Anyways -- I think I may have started sliming but I'm not sure -- I have this heavy mucus feeling in the back of my throat but nothing is coming up and I have no urge to PB. I called my doctor this morning and he said it should pass in an hour or two -- said it was probably due to the soup. Anyway -- here I am a full day later and I still have the sensation -- I don't have any pain and nothing is really coming up just a super flemmy feeling in the back of my throat. I can deal with it if its sure term -- but I am panicing -- is this feeling going to be with me for the rest of my life with the band b/c i don't think I could handle that. Has anyone ou there had this sensation? Any suggestions? Did it ever go away -- please help I am truly starting to freak out.. as always, thanks these boards are a life saver.

hey everyone out there in lap band land -- I have a question/concern. I am getting banded on May 23rd -- and I am sooooo excited -- I have been debating this surgery back and forth for 2 years now and have finally made the decision (after a ton of research and conversations) to move forward. But as the date gets closer I find myself getting more and more scared. Not about the surgery, or the post-op diet/eating change but a lot more about what happens if the band and losing weight doesn't change anything. Here is basically my concern in a nut shell -- I have this really great guy friend -- we hang out all the time and have a complete blast together -- we confide in each other and support each other and in general are just great friends. For a long time I thought we would be more than friends -- you know how it is -- but one night he was a little tipsy and was brutally honest and up front -- basically said as much as he loved me as "a friend" he is only attracted to really skinny girls (which clearly since I am on this site and getting this surgery I am not really skinny). For a while it really hurt our friendship (this all happened about a year ago), but after alot of work on his side and a ton of apologies, I finally let him back in as a friend, and I just put all the other stuff out of my mind. Anyway -- long story short -- we went to dinner tonight and I told him (for the first time) about my plans to get the lap band and the surgery and how excited I was etc. He was great -- super supportive and thought it was a great idea -- but then he said "but you know, you'll always be the fat girl to me." I was stunned -- I couldn't understand why he would say something like that to me -- I've always been such a good friend to him. But then it really got me thinking -- what if he is right? Will I always see myself as the "fat girl" -- the life of the party with a great personality who every guy loves as a friend but never a girlfriend. Will I be able to see myself as anything more than what I was? Will I finally value the person inside once I look like I want on the outside? All these questions really got me very scared and make me want to back out even though I KNOW this surgery is the right step. I guess in a nutshell I am most scared b/c my weight has been the excuse for so long -- I wasn't married b/c I was fat, I didn't have a boyfriend b/c I was fat, I didn't get that job b/c I was fat -- always the same thing. What happens if I get the band and I lose the weight and nothing changes -- is the answer then that I am just a bad person? And if nothing changes am I strong enough to deal with it when my easiest excuse is gone? Anyway -- sorry for the long rant -- am just really struggling here -- I want this surgery but am so afraid of it at the same time -- is anyone else feeling like this or have felt like this -- would love to hear from you.

First, I want to say THANK YOU so much for all your supportive responses. I am feeling a lot better today -- in large part b/c of all your thoughtful and wise advice. Kristy -- I agree -- there are people who come into our lives in a moment in time and teach us something (good or bad) and clearly my "friend" is one of those people. Maybe the friendship will survive maybe it won't -- but at the end of the day I am doing this for me and only me. As long as I can hold on to that thought and not get to far ahead of myself I should be fine. I am hoping that the slow and steady weight loss of the band (as opposed to gastric bypass) will allow me time for my brain/self-image to catch up with my body. Finally, Yvonne -- just wanted to send some love back your way -- you've taken the steps to get healthy and happy but I am sorry that your DH has stopped seeing the real you beneath your shell -- please know that my thoughts are with you. Good luck everyone and thanks for the support!!

Hey Aqua -- Don't put too much pressure on yourself. I suspect the liquid diet is really HARD -- w/o the band as a back-up tool its just another diet -- which none of us are very good at or we wouldn't be on this site. Don't get me wrong -- my understanding its important to really follow the pre-op diet to shrink your liver so the surgeon can get unfettered access to your stomach but I don't think the post-op diet will be as tough as the pre-op b/c we'll have our bands there as support -- good luck -- I am sure you are going to do great.

Hey -- I hope this helps. I just had my final consult with my surgeon (band May 23rd -- yeah) and he said b/c my starting weight / BMI was pretty low -- 215/37 -- that I should expect to lose slowly -- like 30-40lbs in the first year -- so less than the average 1-2lbs a week everyone talks about. At first I was really disappointed but then I thought about it -- 1) I won't be gaining (finally) and 2) it took me 10 years to get this big so a few years to get it off makes sense and maybe the upside is no plastic surgery after b/c if I lose slow enough hopefully my skin will snap back into place. Good luck -- and remember slow losing is still losing!!! :blushing:

Hello May Bander's -- I just got my surgery date -- yeah -- its May 23rd -- Friday of Memorial Day Weekend -- that way no one at work needs to know. I totally can empathize with how everyone is feeling -- I am terrified that this won't work for me and that I won't lose any weight and will feel like a complete failure. But here is how I am trying to think about it -- I KNOW if I don't do it, I won't lose any weight and am pretty sure a year from now I will be the same or heavier -- so that is probably the worst outcome. Chances are it will work and if it doesn't then I am no worse off. (OK maybe a little worse off but I am trying to be an optimist :blushing:). My doctors is being really good -- trying to set realistic expectations for 30-40lbs in the first year -- at first that sounded so SLOW i was disappointed but then I thought -- hey it took me 10 years to get this big if it takes a few years to get it off so be it -- maybe that will mean my skin will snap back. Good luck fellow Mayster's and I hope we can all stick together and support each other through this crazy journey we are about to embark on.

Shiny -- First congrats on your weight loss that is great -- I am a 38G so I can appreciate how tough it is to find good bras -- I know they are a little pricey (about $100) but I buy my bras at the Nordstrom's at the Cherry Creek Mall -- they have a really good lady who does the fittings and I know they carry larger sizes and/or they can order them if you need larger -- good luck and enjoy your trip to Denver we are suppose to have a beautiful day tomorrow.

I agree with Long -- remind him that you are doing this for YOU and your health -- and it isn't going to change the person you are inside. Ask him if he is going to love you less if you are skinny? Obviously the answer will be no -- so why would it think you'll care less about him just b/c your skinny. I think though you also need to be honest with yourself (not that I am implying you are not being) but I see you're only 30 -- do you think there is any truth to his concerns? Do you think you may want to "take your new look out for a test drive" so to speak. I am 33 and I can tell you honestly, as I get skinner I am getting a lot more attention, frankly for the first time in my adult life -- and I am loving it -- so being in a committed relationship would be tough for me right now. I haven't just dated in so long so I am liking seeing what I missed in my 20s. Just one person's opinion -- best of luck -- let us know how it goes.

What a great post -- I am hopping to get my band in late May but am already so excited about all the things I won't miss like: -- not fitting in the airplane seat -- going shopping with girlfriends knowing I can't fit into anything at the stores they go to -- snoring --getting winded going up the stairs --always feeling uncomfortable in my own skin -- telling people I believe pictures steal our souls when really I just don't want to see how huge I look -- getting the "you have a really pretty face" comment -- always being the great girl "space" friend but never the girlfriend -- feeling ashamed all the time

Hello ladies -- I have my initial consult with Dr. K next Tuesday April 22 -- I almost got the band two years ago but chickened out -- was afraid I wouldn't be able to handlge the emotional loss of food and being able to eat. However, 2 years later and 10 lbs heavier I have finally decided to move forward (assuming Dr. K will do it). I just want to say thank you for all the amazing and supportive posts you all have put on this board -- reading them has been very helpful in making my decision -- I hope to be a regular contributor. I am pretty nervous -- any questions you wished you asked Dr. K before the surgery. Does anyone know the proces post the initial consult -- roughly how long does it take before you can get your band -- a month? six months? I've been overweight for the past 15 years, and now that I've made this decision I am eager (impatient?) to get it moving forward. Again -- thanks for all the great posts -- I think it is amazing how supportive you all are of each other. Wish me luck...