debbieperez55

Sorry for the long title. Well I did it, I told the HR Person. I was floored when she told me her sister had bypass and another of her friends. The both lost 150 pounds. In fact she had thought of getting bypass also but could not take the time off of work. When she heard how quickly you heal with the band she told me she would have to look into it. It was as if a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. I had told only a couple of people at work but I knew it would get back to her and I didn't want her to feel as if I had gone behind her back. Anyway, she gave me words of encouragement and guidance. It was nice and we talked for quite a while. She understood totally where I was coming from. Now if she gets a band ...... small world.

You don't know how relieved I am. Your fears are my fears. We have the same problems telling some of our friends. I knew we all share a special bond, and this is not the first time this has happened, but it's like your words are from my brain. It is amazing that so many people from different walks in life share so much. Okay, maybe now we just need to get these out in the open, because obviously more of us are thinking the exact same things, but we are afraid to say anything. I cannot tell you how afraid I was to even post this. I thought I was the only one having the occasional "what if I can't be a success at this?" "what if it works for everybody but me?" thoughts. And you are right, we need to be educated and prepared. I guess the Doctors are right, we do need a support group of people who understand what we are going through. As for the friends who do not share our vision of the future - the Lap Band. All I can say is, they are not in our shoes and they do not understand. They do not understand what has taken us to this place, down this path. All we can do is share and hope they understand, if they don't, perhaps it is not our place to change their minds. We are educated and we know the risks of both doing it and the risk of not doing it. I know where I will be in a few years if I do not have the Lap Band. Right now, maybe this is the time in our lives when we have to be self centered and think of us first. I have always considered the feelings of others, tried to be the peace maker. This time, well, it's my turn to do for me. I am so gratefull you are all out there. Thanks Just knowing I am not the only one has eased a lot of my nervousness. :-)

After reading how much time you are all taking, maybe three days isn't enough.:thumbup: I am scheduled for surgery on Friday September 19 and I was going to return to work on Monday. I really started to get worried that I was pushing too har. I finally got the nerver to speak to someone in HR, not the Top Dog, but someone close to her. She suggested that I also take Monday and Tuesday as scheduled vacation days. So as far as everyone in my office will know, Friday, Monday and Tuesday will be vacation days. I will have my surgery on Friday and since it will be scheduled, if I don't feel better Sunday I can plan to take Monday and Tuesday off. If I feel up to it, I will just come in and say I was bored and cancel my remaining days. Since I have to cancel 99% of my vacation anyway (I am the Manager of the Department) no one will be the wiser. And I won't look bad asking for more time at the last minute. I feel so much better knowing I have a little wiggle room And she told me it is no one's business except my own what I do on my vacation. I just want to thank everyone for all their input. It is a hard decission especially when you have to work. And to make matters worse, My Husband's Company is closing, he is going to be 50 and out of a job. But at least it is my insurance and this surgery is not at risk. I am going to need my health more now than before. You know they say you never know what the future holds. I just didn't see this coming.......

Well today sucked. Now mind you I have done nothing wrong. But I got it in the end. A "sour puss" nurse called and told me the Doctor had to reschedule. I am now Friday September 19. I asked if I could still return to work on Monday, a very big concern for me. She asked what the Doctor had said, and when I replied he had said yes with a Wednesday Surgery, she said it should be okay. Then I asked if I would have another appointment with the Surgeon prior to the surgery for a pre-op. She became very short and I had to drag out of her that a Preop Coordinator will call me two weeks prior to the surgery. So I mentioned, I thought she cared and the Dr said if I had any problems I should call her, that I finally got to the correct place for the Psyc consult, but that I am still having trouble getting my Stress EKG and other preop tests. She became snotty, short and then hung up. I sat there wondering what I had done wrong. :confused2: I called my Dr Office and asked for status on my tests. I was told the insurance said the surgeon was suppose to schedule them, and I am sure you know where this went. I called the insurance, the person who never returns my calls and finally got through to her. Now for the good part - the Snotty Nurse - never sent in notice of my surgery date and a list of the tests I need. The woman at the Insurance was very nice and told me that it isn't me, that nurse is always like that. She finally told me that she coordinates everything for my surgery. So I asked her, is my surgery going to get cancelled because these tests are not getting done. I was assured that everything is fine, but I was left with a bad feeling, and then thought, well the Snotty Nurse must have a hard job, dealing with insurance companies. Then I told my Husband that he changed my date. Mind you we both requested time off of work based on the first date. Not that big of a problem, but I still worry that I will be able to return to work on Monday. And the worse part, I am a September Samuari. IF they change the date any further I will be into October. So that makes me an October Octopus???!!!??? Okay, a moment of self pitty. But when you put so much into this and everything goes to "hell in a handbasket" it hurts. I know I am still getting my surgery, it is approved, but why all the obsticals? I don't use a lot of these happy faces, but todday I am feeling :bananapowerslide: Thanks for listening.

My Dr insists on his support group. There is also one online. I joined only to find out that I am the only Lap Band. Everyone is RNY, Gastric Bypass. I was referred to another web site, even more biased to Bypass. I was "attacked" for my choice. Someone remarked, I can't believe Dr K didn't talk you out of the Lap Band like he did me. YOu are not going to be happy. I just need some Lap Band Support.:thumbup:

See, this is the type of support we all need. When I posted the original entry, I was so down and almost in tears. But here I got support from people who understood and who cared. Honestly, I don't care what if a person is blue, as long as they are caring and compassionate and honest. We have all suffered just being overweight and the "crap" we have gotten with that. I was married to a man for 22 years who insisted that I would just do it HIS way I would not have a weight problem. Fat people to him were disgusting (me especially), they were repulsive slovenly lazy pigs who didn't try. To bad they don't have "bypass" for brains - ha ha ha ha ha - but seriously, I didn't mean this to pick on anyone, and I was surprised by all those who had experienced the same thing. But in the end - it was the support and a place to vent or express ourselves, that ment the most. So I guess it doesn't matter which WLS we choose, we just need to understand and be there.

We might be soft on the outside but inside - September Samuari's kick butt!! What more do we have to say! This is it, our lives change forever - for the better. And September Samurai's do kick BUTT!

I know, I acutally felt guilty because I didn't have to jump through half the hoops others have. I still have to fight with getting my pre op tests, but I can see the end. Now if I just don't have to drink that horrid stuff. It wasn't that many months ago that I had that stupid test. The only good part was they put me to sleep an I awoke with a smile ready to go home.

Two Bottles! I had to drink some junk, a gallon, for a colonoscopy and it was horrid. I would take off work. My Mom takes that stuff for hers and it works quick. Do we all have to drink this junk? Now I am afraid :whatchutalkingabout

If you would like to check us out. Go to the 2008 Support Groups, September 2008. We are getting quite a croud and everyone is fantastic:thumbup: I can only say that personally I have received enormous support from everyone.

Go to the 2008 Support Groups, September 2008. We are getting quite a croud and everyone is fantastic:thumbup: You too can be a September Samurai I am scheduled for September 19, just a bit before you, but I think there are two or three with your date Debbie:wink_smile:

Welcome Cindy, so glad you could join our little group!

And I thought "slimming" was bad. Okay here is a questions. I burp a lot, but this is different right????? I that thought that since I would be eating slower, smaller amounts that the regular burping would go away - no sodas too, I am a Diet Pepsi addict. :tt2: I am slowly going off the diet pepsi, but after 30 years it is harder than you think. :whatchutalkingabout

======================================================= My Dr has a support group which I had to join. I am the one who was bashed. When I said something to the leader, I was directed to another group obesityhelp.com where I read scathing trash from RNYs again bands. In my Drs group I was attacked and actually told "I'm surprised that Dr. K did not talk you out of the Lap Band as he did me! I went into his office convinced that I would be having the Lap Band" and "I am curious if Dr. K had a preference for you either way? You may wish to take time and read some of the abstracts posted on the www.asbs.org website. This is the American Society of Bariatric and Metobolic Surgeons. Eash year they have a conference and you can find some very interesting research abstracts on the site." This is just a small sample, I had to keep samples so that I can tell my Dr why his support group was not right for me. Even though I had clearly expressed that this was a personal choice I was constantly told that their choice was the only correct choice. And the last time I posted to obesityhelp.com I read the most disgusting tirade against someone who choose a lap band. I decided there and then that this was not the sight for me. Just as you may not be one of the biggotted, obviously there are enough of us who incounted this type of behavior to get so many posts. Actually everyone was so supportive and as you said, it doesn't matter what form you choose, just don't shove your choice down my throat. I personally expressed my condolences to the young woman who lost her sister. Personally I am not prejudice against anyone! Be it RNY or DS, but TRUST ME a few of us have experienced CRAP, as I put it, from others in other groups. That is why I choose to be in this group, with people who understand me and my choices. I guess you have received all my pent up feelings, but when you cannot even participate in your own surgerons support group. Funny - I guess they didn't understand the concept of SUPPORT!

Thats right, September Samurai's do kick butt. I will have to tell my Dr that when I see him. I am thinking of making a T-Shirt with the Logo. I could wear it home from the hospital. You know, I have NEVER been more sure of a decission in my ENTIRE life. I am getting more and more excited, while being more and more nervous at the same time.:thumbup:

I was so excited with my first date, a Wednesday, because I would have three days and then the weekend. Now I was changed to a Friday and I need to go back on Monday. What can I say, I need the money. I have a high pain tollerance so I think I should be fine. I have heard the port might be a problem with pants so I guess I could wear a dress, god forbid - no one ever sees my legs. I had my gallbladder taken out so I know about the gass pains. I hope I am doing the right thing.

Thank you all so much, you brought tears to my eyes, I am so touched. I was just feeling sorry for myself yesterday, okay I was pissed off, but I am better today. See, I knew it. We might be soft on the outside but inside - September Samuari's kick butt!!

My date is now September 19.

Thank you for sharing such a painful experience in your life. I am sure that your sister's experience will be very helpful with others who might be trying to make their decision. My son's friend had some, but definately all, of the problems your sister experienced. In fact when I told him I was going to get a lap band he was very upset. Once I explained that this will be able to be customized for me and, god forbid something happens, it can be reversed. My greatest fear was malabsorbtion but I never in my life imagined that it could be that severe. I made my choice after careful examination of the facts. I dont care if I loose faster or loose less, I want to loose "healthy" Thank you again, and my heart goes out to you. God Bless and take care. Debbie

It is so beautiful, you are very talented.

Hey another Sept 17, that is so fantastic!

September 17 for me. Glad a few of you are first so you can guide us through! :-)

Weird, this is my reason too. I know I have sleep apnea, I have developed asthma and I have the high cholestrol. I can't take the statins because of "fatty liver". So now I'm damned if you do and damned if you don't. Take the cholestrol meds to lower the lipids and then kill my liver or play roulette. I think I would love to have more energy, even just alittle more. So glad you have your date. You are on your way, but I am just about a week behind you. I know this isn't the perfect solution, and there can be complications, but for me, it is what I have to do. Congradulations to your Dad! He is doing a fantastic job, what an inspiration for you. You have someone close to you to guide you through. Two thumbs up to you and your Dad.

Of course you can join us. We are here to help anyone who needs an ear, a direction or support. As I see it, I may not have the answer, and trust me I usually don't, but some one does and there is lots of support to go around. Do you have your date?

That banner is so cute, all sparkley, it just makes you smile..............:wink2: