sistasassy

My doctor's office said I do not need one but I know many on here who's doctor did recommend one. I would follow the advise of your doctor and go from there. I am in the process of ordering a medical alert bracelet for another condition and am just going to go with the one that has the phone number for them to call to get all health information. I will list my lap band there.

Husbands can be extremely insensitive at times. It does not mean that he does not love you. I know (in my own head and heart) that I would be much more attractive to my husband if I lost weight. Men are highly visual individuals. What matters is whether he still loves you and still shows you he loves you. When I lose weight, my husband will benefit and he will "visually" probably be more pleased. I am sure that if my hubby had met me at this weight, I would not have been his pick. That is part of marriage. We change and we love anyway. I know a woman who told me that even though her husband is now well over 400 pounds and is very very round that she still loves him and is still happy to make love to him. She would love it if he lost weight because she is not exactly attracted to him at that weight but she will always love him and be with him. I think you need to not make any hasty decisions, like others have said, and I would try to talk to him, either on your own or in couples therapy and see if you can get more out of him. Sometimes men don't always say ALL of what they mean. The Lord knows, my own hubby opens his mouth and gets himself into hot Water all the time but once we hash it out I am able to find out what he really feels and really means.

I wonder if you could get away with saying you just had exploratory surgery and cannot lift due to a weight restriction which you could get a note from your doc about that. Technically, it is an expedition when they go in looking for the stomach. You just don't have to tell anyone that they left a little something behind while they were in there. :tongue2: If anyone asks what they were looking for, just say you were having some stomach problems (which would be true since we want to eat less and haven't been able to on our own) and they went in, checked things out, and believe they have resolved the issue. Then, change the subject. A lady I worked with had a complete hysterectomy while on vacation and no one knew for a long time. She just said she had surgery while out and it was no big deal. She then changed the subject and that was the end of it. It wasn't until months later that our office manager opened her big fat mouth and told everyone. Sooooo rude. She never could keep anything to herself. Hence the reason I no longer work there. I moved on to a place with an excellent privacy policy.

I have no idea then. I would look it up on the internet and see what it says. Good luck with that one! :thumbup:

A few years ago I had a hysterectomy. Before my surgery and while I was post op for a month or so, I went to the Hyster Sisters website ALL THE TIME. My surgery went great and I recovered so fast it amazed even my doctor. I really had no need to go to the forum anymore since I was doing so well and I went on with my life. I am sure that people who are successful with the band do the same thing. There are some people who are just not the kind to hang out if all is going well. There is nothing wrong with being here or not. I am sure, by the same token, that there are some who have not succeeded with the band and have converted to something else. They would have moved on to another forum.

Do you mean and EKG? If so, they just place some stickies all over you and then press a button. 15-30 seconds later your done. Absolutely no pain. I don't believe there are any pre-op tests that you will be put under for. I have not found any to be painful.

I have had the same conversation with a number of people and I now don't converse with them about that topic anymore AND, if the situation calls for it, I flat tell them that. I have had one very negative person, my grandpa, who someone converted into a supporter. He goes to "exercise club", as he puts it, with a woman who had the bypass and she is doing great. He is now onboard for my surgery and understands that it is a different surgery and my loss will most likely be slower. Now he wants to be the one to take me to surgery. Your step-mother may also be reacting from jealousy because you are fixing to lose weight and she will still be "heavy". Just avoid the subject with her....walk away and grit your teeth...and look forward to being a healthier you. You ARE doing the right thing!

I was just in the ER two weeks ago for the same spasms. They gave me a GI coctail to stop them and I got better. I was having them because I was drinking ice cold Protein shakes.....like icy milkshakes. They started the spasms which in turn over stimulated the vegus (sp) nerve which threw my heart out of sync. Was a bad day for me. :rolleyes2: The GI coctail numbed everything from my lips to my stomach and stopped the spasms. I was better within about 30 minutes after suffering for about 6 hours total.

I think that around two pounds a week is great! That means that your body has time to keep up with the weight loss so I would get moving if you are not already doing so. That also means that at two pounds per week that would be 104 pounds gone in a year!

I would think that an approval is an approval. I would not think there would be a court in the land that would allow them to deny now. If it is somehow denied, my thoughts fall with Dana......$1.00 per week....and tell them to take it up with the insurance company since their insurance coordinator told you that you were "good to go". Of course, I am in a rather negative mood today so I may have a nicer reply tomorrow....or later today. Either way, this is not your fault and you should not have to pay. I guess that would be my nicer remark. :cry_smile:

Perhaps you need to change something up for your body. If you are not on liquids then I would try to lower your carbs perhaps. Also, I know that I have been on a self-imposed pre-op diet to this point (still waiting for a set date) and about once a week I increase my calories for a day to a day and half and the weight seems to disappear. That works for me. It may or may not work for you. Perhaps a call to the doctor would help too.

It could also be the scales on the Gyn office are off too. I always seem to weigh more at my Gyn. Also, you could be just retaining a bit of water since you are working out too. Don't get too worked up about it. I am sure those pounds will be gone in a few more days.

You need to probably check with your insurance to see if they cover the surgery. Then, if they do, I would call and set up a consultation and go from there. I know Dr. Gilman will supposedly only do the surgery if you have an initial BMI of 40. The hospital he does surgery at has the same requirement, I believe. It would be a worth a shot to call though. It may have changed lately.

I am being banded by Dr. Gilman in Decatur in September and was wondering if there was anyone else he has banded. I know he has recently banded a few and there is to be one other banded on the same day that I am. Kind of excited to meet my "banding buddy" on that day. I hope to, anyway. :smile2:

There is a steakhouse in St. Louis that is $40.00 for their buffet. We go there every year during our annual marriage retreat with our church. My hubby and I will be eating somewhere else this year. There is no way I would feel comfortable about spending $40.00 for such a tiny amount of food. I will be just as happy picking a different place and starting a new tradition....a tradition of being healthy and thinner. Good for you for not eating. My big question would have to be about the support of your husband and friends. I would think they would have all offered to go somewhere else where you would be better able to eat with them.

I think the psych evaluation is really just to make sure you know what you are getting into and that you are stable enough for surgery and post-op living. I have panic disorder and my GP had me wait until we had my panic attacks under control before moving forward with surgery. I think there would be nothing worse than having to go through the "bandster hell" portion of post-op and not be stable. I just met with my shrink, told him I wanted to have lap-band surgery and needed his approval, he said he would type up the letter and fax it to my surgeon. That was all I had to do. I am glad I waited. It will be much easier this way. BTW, I no longer have to see a psychiatrist. I have been downgraded to a psychologist for cognative behavioral therapy (CBT) to help handle my panic attacks. Woohoo for me! I am no longer crazy, just a bit loony!

I would think that the "mess" the specialist left behind would be grounds for a lawsuit......thus, providing the cash to pay for a second banding if you so chose to do so. Just a thought.

I was under on the morning I was going to get weighed as well. I had been above the whole time while waiting but for some freak reason, that morning, I was under. I wore heavy clothes (jean material and hoodies weigh alot). I also found heavy shoes, and drank a ton of Water the whole morning before my appointment. If you do that, you are not adding extra pounds that you will have to lose later.

From what I understand, decaf is fine anytime. That is just what my doctor said. You should probably check with yours.

I have pre-started my pre-op diet and am practicing slow eating, lots of chewing, no drinking while eating, the whole shabang. I figure if I am going to jump in the pool, it might as well be the deep end. Am now losing weight and loving it. That is making it soooo worth it.

I would be patient. You doctor is only looking out for you. If he gives you too much then you will have to go in for an unfill and that will be equally if not more troubling. Hang in there. It should get better soon. Remember, (as I keep telling myself while waiting to get in for surgery) this is a tiny portion of the rest of our life. We will be thinner and healthier soon and can rejoice then.

I am copying that post because hence far, I have not received any real patiient information from my surgeon. Maybe next week.

Mattoon, IL here. Testing all done and approved. Just working on setting the date. Surgery will be done by Dr. Albert Gilman in Decatur, IL. Am on day 6 of my pre-op diet and doing well. Should be banded within a few weeks, depending on schedules.

I am using the Body Fortress vanilla from Wal-Mart. I add flavored Splenda packets from the coffee isle at Wal-Mart. They are awesome.

Well, kind of kicking in my two cents worth as plain did.... You said you caught him masterbating next to you in bed. PERHAPS, he is not cheating. Perhaps he is masterbating more than you know and he is using the viagra to masterbate. I know it is a VERY slim chance but what I would recommend is bringing it up at in your counceling (sp?) session and see if you can get a straight answer. He may feel safer there telling you if he is being unfaithful than at home. At least you would know.