TravelLady48

April: I do know dh after 32yrs, I really think he just doesn't know how to get excited, that's just not his way. I don't know why I should expect him to react any differently. He knows I'm going to do what I want anyway but he still wants to try to control the situation. He will come around once he starts seeing the results. Hey SinkNTired: Yes, he has that kind of insecurity. I have always been there and he does fear I will get out and about more, without him.

Hey Y'all: Just because I was born in Socal, I have deep roots in the south. My parents are from Louisana and I also spent 5 happy years working in Atlanta.:biggrin2: GG: Don't mistake Grits for cornmeal porridge, its taste much better. I have in-laws in London and have been there many times. I hope to come again soon.(once Iam comfortable enough in the airplane seats).

Brina: Thanks for the list. These are things we can all relate to. I especially like #110. Before I retired I worked for a major airline at Atlanta airport and I thought I would die during the summers there, having to wear a full dress uniform which included a vest (which I wore to cover up my mid section) and on top of it I was having hot flashes. I just wanted strip off my clothes. (would not been a pretty sight). :scared2: This fat girl loved Hotlanta, but not the heat and humidity of the summer.:biggrin:

Curves: It's so good that your husband is so supportive. :biggrin: I told my husband only once I was approved and my first date was set. I can't say that he was unsupportive, but all he can talk about is how much money it will cost, and he wants to throw up to me about all the other times I have lost weight and gained it back. :scared2: My son has explained to him how it is for my health and for better quallity of life. DH does not like doctors or hospitals, so he can't understand me going for this elective surgery no matter what we say to him. I will not let him change my mind.

Tammy: Thanks for your reply. I am planning to visit a nutritionist as soon as I see my PCP on Wed about my extremely elevated HBP. (she has been on vacation). If I can not get can't get help from my PCP (she is against any WLS). I have contacted another internist that will help me on my journey toward the band. I'm also sure I can get help and the name of a nutritionist from my diabetes doctor, who is very much for WLS. :biggrin: I will keep you informed.

Southergirl: I so happy for you, 8/1 will be here before you know it.:biggrin: Best of luck with your pre-op and finally your surgery.:smile::scared2:

Hi everyone: This is a great thread and I can say I have experienced all that everyone has mentioned. I have a really bad knee and my arthritis doctor has been trying to get me to have WLS for the last 5 years, so I changed doctors. I try to avoid pictures, but when I can't, I am just horrified and ashamed that I have let myself get to this point. My son always wants me in the picture no matter how I protest. The final staw for me came after I was laid off from my job 4 years ago, after 28 years and could not get another job in my field. (It was not due to lack of education or experience, but due to my excess weight).:drool: I became very depressed and confused which made me eat even more and I put on about 50lbs. This made my type 2 diabetes go out of control and I developed sleep apnea, also my bad knee keeps me from excersizing and even walking very far. I have been protesting against WLS, until my doctor told me very bluntly that my only alternative to surgery was an early death. :tt2: Well, that got me really looking into the LapBand, and my son has been very encouraging. He tells me that he wants me around to be in his wedding next year and to play with any future grandchildren.

Dabble: First good luck on your surgery. :drool: Thanks for your reply. The information on a pre-op diet sounds like what I have found other places. I was thinking about Optifast, it has been around for a long time and feel I can lose quite a bit of weight quickly. I will see my PCP on Wed. I especially like what you said in your earlier post about variety and the use of spices. I think those will be the key. I really want to get my band ASAP. Anne the Travel Lady

Hey Ladies: Since I have not been banded yet, I am interested to know if there are any foods that people are struggling with? :wub: I have seen in other forums, people asking about eating pizza, not being able to eat scranbled eggs, but they can eat deviled eggs(which I would think those would be to fatten) and drinking alcohol (luckily I don't drink). Can you eat salads? or do they fill you up too fast? I have given up carbonated beverages already. What Proteins can you eat?

LaMonica: Thanks again for the information. I'll store it for my later use. What about tea and coffee? :thumbdown:

LaMonica: Thanks for the information, this sounds like something I can do. It's just good basic nutrition. (except for the lack of carbs). Were you taking any Vitamin supplements?

April: What a saga. I will definitely keep you in my prayers. You are a real fighter, more people need to stand their ground, as you have. Big business think they can just step on the little man, with no consequences. Definitely, continue to look at the possibility of a HIPPA violation. It took me about 3 weeks, to get my approval and but during that time my surgeon was no longer in network for United Health Care. So the surgery will cost much more than I had originally planned. :wub:

Thanks for the reply Rhondalou: Good luck on your banding. My doctor did not really have any suggestions about what I should eat to lose weight. Eventhough my BMI is 50.2, he didn't think I would have a problem. After getting on LBT, I am the one who kept asking about reducing the fat around my liver and stomach. I just didn't want to be put under and then have the surgeon say he could not band me because of the extra fat. I have heard about Myocel, I will take your suggestions.

Liond: I was not put on a Pre-op diet prior to my original date, and after reading so much about the possibility of having a liver that was too big, I cancelled my surgery. (My BMI 50.2) The doctor has now put me on a Pre-op diet, in preparation for another surgery date. I hope it works because I would hate for them to put me under and then decide I was not ready, because of a fatty liver.

Kizzie: So sorry you are so uncomfortable. I have not been banded yet, but this does give me another question to add to my list, when I go in to see my surgeon. Hope this can be corrected.

I'm happy I found this forum, because I am confused. :wub: After I cancelled my first surgery scheduled for Jun. 12, my surgeon decided that he wants me to lose 25lbs. He wants to see if I am committed to get the band. The problem is that he did not give me any directions as to how to lose this weight. As I see from this post it looks like some type of liquid diet and light meals, making sure to get the necessary Protein. My own PCP is out of town but I am hoping she will give me more help.

I am not banded yet, so this is for my future use. Hae you discussed with your doctors why scrambled eggs to do go down very easily? What about boiled eggs? :wub: It woud seem that devilled eggs might be too greasy.

Ladies: Believe it or not I have have never been much of a shopper, but have always looked the best I could for my size. In fact it has been a year since I last bought anything (I don't work outside of the house anymore). We are preparing to go on a cruise, and I realize my last purchase was 1 year ago before my last cruise since I shopped. So I'm truly looking forward to going out and shopping anytime and in any store I please. Victoria Secrets is high on my list. It will also be great to stop shopping primarily from catalogs.

Tammy: I too am so proud of all the young women who are trying to take control of their weight while they are still young.:biggrin2: OMG, the things I have missed out on, the list is too long. I want to take pictures with my family, go out to eat and not have to worry if the chairs have arms or to sit in a booth. As a retired airline person I have life time travel benefits but don't travel because it is so uncomfortable in those small seats (I even have my own seatbelt extender).I can first first class, but that is much more expensive. I would love to work for a while longer, but eventhough I have Master's degree and teachers credential, I feel I was not considered for jobs due to my excess weight(after my early retirement). I coudn't even get a job that was not customer contact and I feel it was because they think about the medical cost of hiring an older obese person. I also want to wear beautiful clothes, ride on a roller coaster, go swimming and not feel self conscious. I avoid many social situation, unless it is with people I know. Go to see a play or concert and fit comfortably inmy own seat. When my son was very young, if anyone called me fat he would say "my Mom is not fat she is fluffy." I am not his fluffy Mom now, he wants me to lose weight for my health.

As I have I stated ,this has been a long road for me and I have finaly made the decision to have WLS. I see that I am much older than most of you ladies, so I have had many more years of up and down in my weight. I have not been banded yet. I have been approved and had a date set for Jun 12, but cancelled. My PCP is obese herself and so she has never encouraged me to get WLS. It was my diabetes doctor and orthopedic doctor that have been pushing me to get Bypass surgery, which I have avoided like the plague. I don't think they really know that much about the LapBand surgery. In the last couple of years I have developed co-morbids and my PCP has finally said that she can now understand the reason why I need the band. She has discussed with me the fact that African-American people do tend to have higher blood pressure, diabetes, strokes and heart problems brought on my excessive weight, which she as a white woman so far haven't been prone to, eventhough she is older than me. I have been overweight (not obese) all my life and because I did grow up in a white environment, I was always considered the big girl because most young white girls(of my generation) were very short and thin, and I was 5'6" and weighed 145 Lbs in high school. After graduating from college I went to Africa to teach and loss lots of weight because of the food, heat and lack of transportation, I then weighed only 115lbs at 5'8" and the African ladies told me that I would never find a husband and not be able to carry a baby because I was just too skinny. :biggrin: I have always been able to loss weight and have done it many times, but each time I would put it back on plus more. I have been fairly active even as I put on more and more weight. I love to eat and really enjoy going out to fine resturants, as well as I love to cook. After I retired 5 years ago my weight went out of control , I just have to make a change. Anne from Pasadena, Ca

Congratulation Idelay, you did it. I wish you all the success. Interesting to hear about your blood pressure. My doctor has put me on hold until my pressure stablizes, because he said if my pressure spikes on the day of surgery, they more than likely will cancel.

Hi Ladies: :mad: Since I have not been banded, maybe I should not answer, but I think the issue of lose skin depends on your age and how much weight you drop. I have girlfriend who had the bypass and she was in her 50's, as I am, and she had lots of lose skin on her tummy and hanging breast. she ended up having a breast lift and Tummy tuck and looks great. That extra skin didn't keep her from meeting a wonderful man and they recently married (her 1st serious relationship), I am just so happy for her. So, I do expect that I will have the lose skin problem. That is a small correctable problem to regain my health.:biggrin:

Idelay: Good luck on your op today. :thumbup: Let us know how every goes. Thanks for all your input on my LapBand search. I may be looking for another surgeon, if this one puts up anymore roadblocks for me.

This site has given me lots of hope. I see there are so many people who are my weight/BMI or higher who have had great success. :thumbup: If my doctor puts up any more road blocks after I lose my 25 lbs, I will definitely be moving to another surgeon.

Tammy: Congratulations on your decision to get the band, I hope to join all of you soon. I might have to change Dr's to get my band, but I am determined. It's for my health. You are also lucky that your husband is going to join you, because he does understand about your struggle. My husband (of 30 Yrs) still thinks I should be able to just stop eating and that should solve the problem. After all these years he should know that isn't going to work. My son Patrick is also a Hampton graduate (2005) as is his fiance. they are both my major support. :thumbup: