K@t

Thanks so much for such sweet comments... a lady huh? Sometimes I feel like I'm still such a kid. Every one trying to tell me what to do. I hope for everything to go smooth too...I have had to deal with a lot lately from every one about this surgery, and I just want to get it done with so no one will say any thing else about it and I can be left alone. Thanks for all the support guys!

Yep, the guy was a total ass, and when he apologized he actually said thank you to me for controlling myself while he was saying all of this....whatever I'm totally over it. He isn't worth my time, and when I told some of my colleges about the cakes they were all up hauled as well because they all know I don't eat them because I don't like them. As far as my man, he understands that I want to do it and he has accepted that we are going to pay for it, but he wants to wait until we have more money in savings so we can pay it all and have some extra cushion. But thats just his nature, he's always worried about money. We are fine and it will be fine. The doctor already has me running all kinds of test and I told hubby if we wait I'll probably have to do the tests again which means paying for them again. Besides when its all said and done he will be happy we got it over with before the summer when were going on vacation back to Florida, and I will feel happier and more confident going out on the beach. Um yeah, that part had me more upset than any thing, I'm use to people giving me diet and exercise advice, but to some how throw that in was just beyond me....I actually told him when he said that, that's how gossip gets started isn't it...when some one says some one did something etc.

Hey everyone. I saw the surgeon on Wednesday and we had a long talk. He told me that the state waiting list is about 2 years instead of 1 like I originally thought, and he said the equipment and facilities at the private hospital are newer and nicer. He basically said he prefers to work at the private hospital. (he gets paid either way if I go private or public so I don't think he was trying to be a salesman or any thing.) He has me doing a battery of different test, blood, liver, etc. and then I have an apt. with him on the 12th of April to go over all the test results, and then he said we can do the surgery any date after that. We are shooting for April 26th. He said he thinks I'm a good candidate and the first thing he asked me was if I knew this wasn't easy and if I knew I would still have to change my eating habits ect. I told him yes, thanks to all my buddies here at LBT I do. I also asked him about the bands and he said he likes the VG band the best but that he can put any band I want. He seemed impressed that I knew about the different bands (thanks to whoever posted that thread) and that he does stitch the band in place. Money wise, he said its going to be between 7,500€ and 10,000€ he said I won't know the total cost until the end because the longer I stay in the hospital the more expensive it is etc. I have to pay the hospital part up front on the day I leave and he said that should run about 6,000€ and then he said the rest was his part and I could pay that in payments or whoever I had the money to pay. So that was nice to know. Any way apart from the crappy day I had today with my director, everything seems to be going well and I'm excited to start my new journey.:clap2:

Hey guys, Thanks for all the support....and update....he actually called me about an hour ago to apologize! I'm not sure why but he called and sounded really humble and asked if I would be willing to talk to him and of course I said yes, and he told me that he was really sorry and his remarks were inappropriate and that he hoped we could still continue to work together. :faint: I don't know if he felt guilty of if he was just covering his ass. Then later he actually called the director at the school where I work (there are several branches and fortunately i work in a different branch then him.) and told my director that he hoped he hadn't causes any problems for me and that he was really sorry. My director said he thinks that the guy is really embarrassed about the whole situation and is truly sorry...... N e way, I'm going to avoid the guy as much as possible and I'm going to take my days off for my surgery and I'm not going to listen to any thing else. Yep thats me, but the waiting list as I found out is more like 2 years now. Plus its in a state facility and I think the private facility has newer equipment and is nicer. The surgeon seemed more confident in the private hospital and he gets his pay either way. Thanks again guys!

I haven't had time to read the entire thread, but I just got my date for April 26th so I wanted to join the group... I'll post more later when I have read through all the posts.

Hey Vicki, I'm fairly new here but I can help on a few. NSV=non scale victory i.e. when an old pair of jeans fits better, when you can see ur toes...that kind of stuff where you know u have lost some weight but it's not necessarily weight off the scale. PB=productive burp....you can do a search for this and find lots of threads that explain what it is, but basically its when food gets stuff and you burp it back up or push it back down. (I think) DH=dear husband, or DS dear son, or DD dear daughter...you get the picture. and the Ils im not sure about.......

What makes us think this person is even going to pay for a LAPBAND surgery? This could just be what their using to get free cash.

Unfortunately I don't have one yet....I'm still trying to decide which doctor I'm going to get it with. I live in Portugal and I have a unique situation, but I have a consultation on Wednesday this week so hopefully I will know more soon. The portuguese state will actually pay for the surgery but the waiting list is over a year long, so I'm checking into having it done privately.

GREAT!!! 24lbs in 3 weeks totally rocks! I hope I have progress as good as you after I'm banded!

Hey Cindy, I can try to offer you some advice about my own situation....I have been overweight all my life and have always been on one diet or another (I'm 5'5 242lbs). One day I came across a lapband site when looking for weight loss websites. I read about it and thought....woooohhh...I could NEVER do that! liquids for 2 to 4 weeks....thats crazy, surgery?! never!!! The worst I have ever had was I had my wisdom teeth pulled out! And then I found this forum. I got myself informed about the surgery and its benefits and drawbacks. I decided that the positive FAR outweighs the negative and I couldn't be happier about my decision... I'm currently in the process of getting banded (sorting out options and what not) but I'm very excited about it and I can't wait to join "bandland". Every one is different and every one has to decide whats best for them, but I would recommend sticking around this forum and reading up on things to help you decide....also speak to your doctor about it see what he/she thinks. Good luck in your decision!

hehe I didnt read it either the first time I saw it because I thought the same thing... Very cute I just read it to my husband....he said we better start speaking in Portuguese then!

Hey thanks for the info, I didn't realize what all they could do I guess. Welp, hope you get to feeling better soon your looking great!

Hey Rachele, I can understand why your feeling frustrated, but there is an ignore option in the control panel. You can add people to it for whom you do not want to see their posts. Then you will never have to read the things that can be potentially upsetting.

Hey Kellie, I just had a few questions about the breast surgery....so they actually used ur excess skin to in effect give u bigger firmer boobs? Do they feel real? Do you know if you will still be able to breast feed after a surgery like that? I actually have one breast larger then the other and it would be nice if they could make the smaller one the same size as the bigger one....or something like that....any way, I wouldnt mind bigger perker boobs, but I'm afraid that it will be really painful, plus I still want to have kids.

Mine went out yesterday.....enjoy!

I'm a part of the His and Hers computer club as well. Hubby has his "mean machine" and he bought me a nice laptop. Funny thing about the forums is that I use to be like the husbands, I use to get upset at my husband for being on forums all day long and making posts etc. However after I found LBT I understand why he spent time in those places. Now we both happily sit across from each other in the office typing our own messages. :typing:

Thank you ALL for such great support. It's hard when we both can't agree on something. But that being said, I am an adult and I make my own money and I can decide what I do with it. I didn't complain when hubby wanted to redo the kitchen (even though I thought the old kitchen was fine, 7,000€) and I didn't complain when he wanted to get custom made desks instead of just buying furniture(5,000€). I realize it's a big investment, but like most of you said, in a year I could be a whole new person. At this moment I have no co-morbidities, just a BMI of 40.8. However, in the last year I gained 25lbs, what will another year do? I have high cholesterol now, and heart problems and diabetes run in the family, plus in the last 6 months or so I have been experiencing back pain and pain in my knee that I never had before, which makes teaching really difficult since we stand a lot. The plan for now: hubby was going to go with me to the consultation, but he really doesn't like to do that sort of stuff so I'm being "nice" and letting him off the hook. I told him he didn't have to go. That way, I can talk to the doc in private and let him convince me that I need the surgery right away. Then when I go home I can tell hubby that the doc thinks I need to do it right away and that waiting another year might be dangerous for me. (which it very well may be), that should be enough of an incentive to at least get him thinking about the idea. Getting my FIL in the act won't do much, my hubby doesn't listen to him, never has and I doubt ever will....however its good to have some support here in Portugal, and also, it sounds like he might be willing to donate a bit to the cause. Ain't that the truth....fortunatly I already have a job, but I work with adults and teenagers and no matter how good of a teacher I am I still hear snickers from the kids and comments from the adults about my size. Here in Portugal it's just not acceptable to be this big and they assume that your lazy or sloven if your over weight. I have told him how difficult it is and how I feel and he understands, and he is still looking for ways around the waiting list, but the truth is, there isn't a way and if I want it done now I will have to pay...and he just can't accept that. Amen sista! Isn't that the truth, I'm always putting his needs before my own and then I go eat a chocolate bar. And the matter of factly telling him is what I think is going to happen. Thats how I got to the consultation point. I told him, I love you, I'm not going to fight with you, I'm not upset with you, but I'm going to make a consultation and see what my options are. And it's up to you whether or not you want to sulk about it or support me. Thats EXACTLY how I feel. I wish he would agree but if he doesn't then we are just going to have to agree to disagree. Sorry for such a long post guys....thanks again!

Ok so here is the skinny on my current situation. I'm on the states waiting list, and they will pay for the surgery everything included at a hospital near my house. The catch is that I have to wait at least a year, maybe more. There is no way to know where I am on the list or how long my wait will be. There is no one to call and no one to talk to. I tried calling different places and I even went to the hospital and got the same answer of just wait. They will send me a letter when they are ready for me. I can go to France and have the surgery done for about 6,000€ this included plane tickets and hotel stay for 2. I can have the surgery done here in Portugal with the same doctor who will do it for free on the states tab (he works for the state and he also has a private practice) He will do it in his private clinic for about 8,000€ and I can have it done next month. I haven't asked about payment plans or any thing like that yet, but I intend to. I have a consultation appointment with him on the 29th. About the family: My father in law is totally excited about this and even though the surgery cost so much he said "we will see what we can do". He was the one that suggested I go ahead and go in for a consultation with the surgeon rather then waiting for the state to send me in. The surgeon is a friend of my husband's uncle and he will probably make some allowances for me (give me a discount or let me make payments etc.) The doctor even tried to skip me up the state list but he couldn't do it, they are cracking down on that kind of stuff I guess. My husband is totally against paying for it any where or in any way because the state will pay for it. He said I've been fat for this long, what's another year. I work 2 jobs and make my own money, we aren't rich, but we aren't hurting for it either. I could afford it with my salary alone. With out even touching his money. However this is less money in savings for a new house...etc. (mind you when we bought this house we are in now, we spent 7,000€ to remodel the kitchen and 5,000€ for custom desks to be built in the office.) So it's not like he hasn't spend big amounts before. Any way, I guess I'm looking for reassurment or looking for something....I don't know, some one to agree with me. Every one thinks I'm crazy for wanting to spend 8,000€ when I can get it for free if I wait....but its so hard to wait when you know there is something there that can help you, besides we aren't guaranteed tomorrow.....what if I die next year when I could have lived this year happier and healthier?

I'm Athena.....I can relate....

wow, thats great! I know some times we need that extra push to get us where we need to be going again. A compliment from a doctor is even better!

59% dixie, raised in texas, but then moved to Florida, so you loose a lot of the twang.

We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers, hopefully she will be better soon.

I remembered another one. Here in Portugal, when you are served shrimp in almost any restaurant, its with the heads on them (thats considered a good presentation in Portugal) and when my aunt (who is almost 50) came to visit us, she saw the shrimp and asked...what's that, and I told her, it's shrimp...and she was like...well but what's that coming out of it? She was pointing to the head of the shrimp. Apparently she never knew that shrimp had heads, she thought shrimp where what they serve you at Red Lobster (all cleaned and de-veined and de-headed) hehe, it gave my hubby a good laugh....

Great thread! It's funny how so many of us have things in common. ok my list: I will buy a bikini and sun topless on the beach (yeah thats right...topless!!! Here in Portugal its totally normal.) I will shop for cute clothes in all the cute quaint boutiques here on the streets of Portugal with my mother in law. (she will be so happy we can shop together she might pay!) I will stop wondering if people in the mall are staring at me. :nervous I'll wear low cut blouses and suggestive skirts to all my adult language classes so I can make the college boys fantasize about their English teacher....:guess I'll let my husband show me off to all his college buddies at the next reunion instead of being ashamed to be his wife in front of his friends (even though he isn't ashamed of me) Most of all....I'll thank God (or Buddha, or Allah, etc..)for being happy and healthier then I have ever been my entire life. :clap2:

Hey Murphles, I know EXACTLY how you feel. My husband did the same thing, he said, sure honey thats a great idea!! So I jumped on the train trying to find out when and where I could get it done ASAP. Turns out I can get it done here in Portugal where I live, but I will have to wait...God knows how long (about a year I'm guessing) however I found out I could have it done in France next month! But cool, calm hubby says.....just wait for it here, its easier. But of course I was chomping at the bit to go to France, however, then I would have to find a fill doctor here in Portugal, and of course there are all those other problems like what if there is a complication etc... it would be a lot easier if I just waited and got it done here in Portugal. (plus if I wait it will be almost free in Portugal but around $6000 in France) However, I'm not very patient, plus like you I would like to actually walk on the beach with my head up this summer. At the moment I am trying to go through a little loop hole here in Portugal that may allow me to get it done faster....if that works, great.....if it doesn't, I'm going to be pressuring my hubby to go to France, cuz I don't think I could handle waiting another year.