Maranda

Ending the month with a new beginning for me. The 30th!:thumbup:

Ok this is more exciting as crazy as it may seem than many if not all first dates I ever had before I got married. So this date is the date with the rest of my life. Hopefully a start of a beautiful new relationship with me, food and well food. I am so excited. I have no reservations or fears.. as of right now. I only told my husband the date. As it turns out my parents to my surprise are less than thrilled about my decision. This is the first time in my life I have not sought approval from my parents. It only took me 33yrs to obtain this feeling. So anyhow. I decided that I am not telling anyone in my family the date so they dont worry. I will just tell them when its done. So now I begin starting the new me. But here is the screwed up thing about this whole process. I am over a month late. I have taken 3 test all negative so I figure its just nerves, stress ect. And here is the thing. (tell me ladies if I am wrong) I am only late when A: I want to get my tom and do whatever, or B: I have something planned. SUPRISE SUPRISE. I had decided a long time ago children is not something I want. I love my career and I dont feel I am cut out to be a parent. This is why I have 2 dogs. I love my boys more than it is probab to beconsidered normal. So if my beloved TOM does not come over the weekend I will be forced to go see my gynocologist and have him take a looksy. Yeah me. :lovechoc: Now if you are still reading this then you are wanting to know my date. Well my date is Sept 30. I dont have to do any kind of preop stuff like liquids for 2wks before ect. Surprised? I know I was. Anyhow I just want to say thank you to all who have read this post and answered my and other prebanders questions. You truely have made a valuable contribution to those of us in the wings. It helps settle the nerves. I for one.. am gateful:smile2:

I too wonder did you ques why the denial. I would say to these companies. Do you want to insure me 10 yrs from now when I may or may not have more medical issues than now that I may never have if I had this surgery. The squeeky wheel gets oil. I say fight hard.

Its like waiting for Christmas. So excited for you.. Good luck keep us posted.

I do not have a date yet but anticipate Oct as I cannot get any time off in September due to staffing issues. Hopefully hear something soon. :tt2:

I just got off the phone with my insurance company and I was approved for the surgery. I just have to wait for the paperwork in the mail. I started my process in July but because of vacations of various consults I got held up. I am so excited right now. Just wanted to share with someone!!!!! Maranda

Rudest comments: For being a big girl you dont let anything get in your way.

Sweet Cutie, 1st of Congrats on your wt loss!!.. I completely understand where you are coming from. I too was there once in reguards to the gyno.I have not been banded but the wt and gyno issue I understand. My recommendation is ask some friends who they use. If you dont want them to know you havent been to the gyno yet be vague. Ask around. Also when you make your 1st appt let the receptionist know this is your 1st appt , you are nervous. There is no shame in it. It is one of those things as women you need to do. Once you go you will be relieved. If you are really body conscience perhaps a female would be a better choice of a gyno. I had always preferred female then by fluke ended up with a male on one visit and it was perfectly fine. Once you make the appt that moring go about your typical routine, shower dress and go. There is always debate about leave socks on or off. I leave mine on. THe dr. will ask you ques, do a breast exam and an internal exam which is where they insert a speculum(might of mispelled that) do a swab testing which is not painful and your done. IT may seem like a long time but typically I have had my dr in and out in less than 5mins. You will be fine. Remember to breathe. You will get to keep your gown on during the exam which to me helps. Talk to your friends. Or even your mom/sister or aunt if you are close to them. (I would never of dreamed asking my mom or sister so I was on my own) Good luck. Keep me posted. maranda

99% of my Questions have been answered. I have one that I am curious about. Is there something you know now, that you didnt know before the surgery that would of been nice to know about? Something or a topic that has yet to be mentioned or mentioned very little. Kinda like "what to expect when you are expecting.. the band"

Initailly I didn't even tell my husband about the apt with the Dr. for the consult. I was embarrassed, ashamed and couldnt believe I had come to this decision. Then I realized, I couldnt keep it a secret. My life is pretty much an open book I am very open about pretty much everything in my life. So I told him. He is beyond supportive, jealous, he wants the surgery too but has not made the appt. I told him I would go with him but I wont make the appt. He has to do it. I told him dont tell anyone. Then I decided to tell 1 of my sisters who is pregnant. She was 50/50 she felt that I look fine, I carry myself well, but also knows I have thought abou this for a very very long time and told me to do what makes me happy. I told her it is more about healthy than happy. I wasnt going to tell my parents not sure why as I am very close to them. All my life I have ALWAYS looked for approval from them in everything I do. School, marriage, car purchase ect.. but this was not one of them for some reason. But while on vacation with my dad who is a retired ICU nurse I told him about it. He wanted more information. I told him what I know, I should him the pamphlet and he too said if this is what I need to do then go for it. Just do your "research" babygirl. I then told my brother who has been amazing. I finally told my mom and she was ok. Telling coworkers was not a choice I wanted to do but I told my peer as we are managers together in a group home and rely heavily on each other. She is very supportive. I then decided "screw it" and told one of the people I know will tell everyone and she was great. She asked ques and asked me to speak to her husband who has wanted to do it but is afriad. So I think all in all my "coming out about the lap band was good" I think you should not look for approval from others. Tell those who you feel need to know. Others feel them out. I started my telling by"I want to tell you something, NO I am not pregnant, I have something I want to share it is my decision so no judgements, please listen to me for a minute" and that is how each of my conversations went. I agree with the man who spoke. Skinny/thin people dont understand unless they have had the band. They have no idea. good luck be strong. Maranda

I too like many had thought of wieghtloss surgery for yrs. I had this Dr. # for 5yrs. I went to the seminar 2yrs ago. Wasnt ready. This past summer I am finally ready. I researched found a dr. who does both the gastric and lapband here in my town. Made an apt went for a consult. His office set up my other appts that day. I had the cardiologist and Pulmonary the next day, got a letter of necessity from my primary at the end of the week. Saw the nutritionist 2wks ago, just waiting on approval. I read the dr background. I asked alot of quest. Write them down as you prepare for your appt so you are ready to ask. Most ques I had where answered during the consult before I had a chance to ask. Good luck. Maranda

I was looking in the mirror of this person who is me. I wonder what I will look like in 2yrs. I know its a bit early to wonder this as I have not gotten approval yet.. but I wonder. I have a few questions of curiosity: 1. If you have cellulite before surgery does it fade away in to sunset with the weightloss or does it hang with you till your last breath? 2. Did you wonder what you were going to look like in the months/yrs to come after your sugery? How far off where you on your thoughts and how much were you surprised? Thank you to all who have read this post and responded to me. Its great to find a place where I can ask the "hard hitting" questions..

I started the process about a month ago. I went for a consult to see Dr. Artuso. 1st time meeting him. He answered all my 20 questions I had and said if this was want I want to do then I would be a perfect candidate. Leaving his office the receptionist who are amazing told me there was a openings to the needed consults the next day. I got my cardio and pulmonary consult done the next day. Received my letter of necessity from my primary on Friday of that week (talk about timing, when I called his office he was leaving that saturday for 3 weeks out of the country dr's without borders. ) I had my CXR that weekend. I had the echiogram done on Tuesday and a stress test on Wednesday. Saw my cardiologist on Wednesday and he said all is go and given his approval. Saw the nutritionist on Thursday and after a long chat she said I was an excellent candidate. I expressed a concern not getting approved as I do not have any comorbities. Not to steal someones quote but I too seem to be a healthy fat person. My BMI is 46.9 percent. My knees and feet hurt all the time. Even at night when I have them elevated. I work 2 jobs. One is a supervisor in a group for the state home. I often work over 8hours a day. Sometimes I am on my feet all day running around. My other job is a work as a LPN for a nursing agency doing per diem work. That is a 8 hrs of nonstop go go go. I barely get a chance to sit down to eat or even go to the bathroom. My decision to get the band came after a long thought of over 5yrs. I have had this dr. number for that long. I have talked to nurses who have had the gastric bypass. I dont know anyone personally who has had the lapband. I went 2yrs ago to a seminar at Westchester medical center sat thru it. Walking out feeling like you know what.. "I put this weight on by my own hand and mouth I need to take it off" I joined a gym days later. I would go to the gym 5-6 days a week and pound the hell out of myself. 2yrs later I had made little dent. I had gone to my primary and had routine bloodwork. Hoping my thryroid was to blame.. NOTHING. Back to the gym I go. Fast forward to this summer. In June I was at my sisters house. Wihin a matter of 1 hour I broke the stairs to her pool, and inflatable floatation device and 1 stair going up a set up steps. Thank god I was amongst family. I was humiliated. That was a breaking point for me. I am tired of living life not to the fullest. I would rather now sleep then go out shopping or stay at home watching tv. My feet hurt more often than not. So now I wait...:confused2:

I started the process about a month ago. I went for a consult to see Dr. Artuso. 1st time meeting him. He answered all my 20 questions I had and said if this was want I want to do then I would be a perfect candidate. Leaving his office the receptionist who are amazing told me there was a openings to the needed consults the next day. I got my cardio and pulmonary consult done the next day. Received my letter of necessity from my primary on Friday of that week (talk about timing, when I called his office he was leaving that saturday for 3 weeks out of the country dr's without borders. ) I had my CXR that weekend. I had the echiogram done on Tuesday and a stress test on Wednesday. Saw my cardiologist on Wednesday and he said all is go and given his approval. Saw the nutritionist on Thursday and after a long chat she said I was an excellent candidate. I expressed a concern not getting approved as I do not have any comorbities. Not to steal someones quote but I too seem to be a healthy fat person. My BMI is 46.9 percent. My knees and feet hurt all the time. Even at night when I have them elevated. I work 2 jobs. One is a supervisor in a group for the state home. I often work over 8hours a day. Sometimes I am on my feet all day running around. My other job is a work as a LPN for a nursing agency doing per diem work. That is a 8 hrs of nonstop go go go. I barely get a chance to sit down to eat or even go to the bathroom. My decision to get the band came after a long thought of over 5yrs. I have had this dr. number for that long. I have talked to nurses who have had the gastric bypass. I dont know anyone personally who has had the lapband. I went 2yrs ago to a seminar at Westchester medical center sat thru it. Walking out feeling like you know what.. "I put this weight on by my own hand and mouth I need to take it off" I joined a gym days later. I would go to the gym 5-6 days a week and pound the hell out of myself. 2yrs later I had made little dent. I had gone to my primary and had routine bloodwork. Hoping my thryroid was to blame.. NOTHING. Back to the gym I go. Fast forward to this summer. In June I was at my sisters house. Wihin a matter of 1 hour I broke the stairs to her pool, and inflatable floatation device and 1 stair going up a set up steps. Thank god I was amongst family. I was humiliated. That was a breaking point for me. I am tired of living life not to the fullest. I would rather now sleep then go out shopping or stay at home watching tv. My feet hurt more often than not. So now I wait...:confused2:

A great thread. I have to say like so many of you I always thought it "was just me" feeling a certain way about my weight. It is nice to know I am or was not alone in my feelings. So here goes my list that I hope this time next year most will be only a memory Things I wont miss: *scoping out the room of a function, staff meeting to see if I am the largest person in the room. *Constantly tugging at my shirt to pull my arm sleeves down due to my enormous arms. Drives me nuts. *Grocery shopping period. *hearing "You know Maranda for your size, you dont let anything get in your way. And you have such a pretty face..... " *After I hurt my back at work one day I couldnt even stand I was waiting on my husband to pick me up. The maintance guy said to me, well if you would lose weight, you wouldnt have these problems" *People thinking just because I am a plus size person you can say whatever the hell you want to me and it is suppose to be ok because its for "my own good" *Having people say to me You don't mind going to the gynocolgoist at your size? Hello I may be fat, but I still want to have preventative maintence. *Having people ask me when am I due. I always act surprised then put on a serious face and say something that is matter of fact, but I get the message across if you are unsure.. dont ask. *my feet and back hurting , which is all the time these days *cooking meals like I do now. I hate to cook. *Constantly have to adjust my bra on my sides I call my rolls my guard rails and having to yank the sucker back into place. *having boring sex. I want to try a majority of the Karma Sutra.. just not yet, dont want to buy another new bed. *boring old granny panties *not being included in coworker clothing giveaway. I always get shoes. I want freebies too *Not going to amusement parks because I want to ride but afraid I wont fit. *My parents attempting to buy me clothing and they buy the largest of anything they can find..this past christmas it put me in tears when they purchased a top. It was 5 sizes larger than I wear. And I thought, Mom and dad see me as this big.. well how big am I really? Do I need to get my eyes checked or my head checked by my shrink? *Not making jokes that the only thing on my skinny is my ears. *The risk of stroke, heart attack, diabetes and the fear of dying young. Like 2 of my uncles in the last 2 yrs. 1 was 48 stroke the other was 51. *Getting letters from my doctors where it says "we at blah blah want to thank you for appointment.. this 33 yr morbidly obese female. *Be considered once a goodlooking woman. *When I go out dancing get someone to dance with me. Men have rejected me. I respond I just want to dance, I dont want to have sex with you. Am I that revolting? *The flopping noise of my gut when my husband and I have sex. So not romantic. And I dont think that noise will be futured in the next "in the mood for love soundtrack" *Having my dogs use my gut as a step to get closer to my face *wearing shorts over my UGLY swimsuit because my gut sticks out too far (like a pair of shorts hides that)and also knowing I needed a edge in the forest below but couldnt get to the area. *shotty shaving jobs on my legs. ohh I could go on and on sorry so long Just waiting on approval from my insurance company.

Hi to all. My name is Maranda, I live in upstate Ny with my husband and 2 dogs who are everything to me. I finished yesterday all my required Dr. visits and nutritional eval. Now it is just a wait and see with my insurance company. My doctor had told me once we get approval which takes about 3 weeks I can have a date by september. I think we are looking more like october, we will see. So hi to all of you and I look forward to talking with you. Maranda:cool2: