debbut

Kaninag and Jason...I'm so glad you had this conversation. It's nice to know that the life with the band is a love/hate relationship. I'm having some of those same feelings. I don't eat much any more which is great but I'm finding that I'm continuously having to fight old habits and try to change them. I'm doing well and making good choices but it's still hard. I'm learning to pack a small lunchbox to take snacks to class since there is nothing in the vending machines that I even want to look at. This also seems to help with the urge to stop at Taco Bell and order a sack of tacos. Old habits do die hard don't they? On a different note, I'm having a lot of gas still. Painful gas that wakes me up about 4:00 every morning. I'm trying to decide if it was something I ate, if I didn't chew my food well enough, or if I ate too fast. I guess it'll take awhile to learn my new stomach.

Debbut how are you feeling this week? Doing great...other than dying to sink my teeth into some real food. I'm considering joining the gym and I almost feel like I'm back to my normal self.

That's funny. The day before my surgery I was afraid I was getting sick. I guess you're right...it stemmed from the excitement and nervousness. I know the clear liquid diet today will be tough but remember that you are doing this for yourself. That's what kept me going. Good luck tomorrow...the surgery experience at the hospital was a great one. The staff is wonderful. A funny thing that happened to me was that when I met my OR nurses...one of them was an old friend I went to school with. It was great.

Sure is quiet here.

Everything is going great. The only thing that seems to be a problem is the gas but I'm sure that'll get better over time. The doctors, staff, and Veronica do such a great job educating you about the procedure and how to take care of yourself that I just don't have many questions. By the way, walked a little more this evening because I'm going to do this once and for all. I have hope now. Great docs and a great support group.

Hey Jason....you'd be proud of me! Got out and walked up and down the driveway a couple of times...just before it started raining....again.

I didn't have any problems with the preop diet. Full liquids were ok with me and you get some recipes to try out at the nutrition class. They were good. I get to go back on full liquids tomorrow and am looking forward to it. The shakes are better with milk. The surgery went pretty easy. Dr. Miles does a good job. I used the pain meds Thursday and Friday but haven't needed them today. Liquid Tylenol is working for me now. No hints really...just do this for yourself and stick to it....you're worth it. Just do what Veronica and your doctor tells you.

I got $$$ for my birthday at the beginning of May and am saving it for the fall when I hope I will need some new clothes. You're right about the kids growing up fast. My son turned 20 this month and now I only have one teen. She'll graduate next year. Seems like yesterday when I spent all my time at the ballparks just like you.:thumbup:

Hey Guys! I'm now officially banded! I'm doing great. I slept a lot yesterday and didn't get on the Internet. Jason, I took my pain meds up until 5:00 this morning but am taking the tylenol now. Probably end up going back to them tonight but I feel pretty good. I think when I get all the gas out, I'll feel a whole lot better. Been getting up and walking. Trying to get the fluids down. Just a little scared of the new stomach and not sure of what it'll do but don't want to get dehydrated either. Just wanted to let everyone know I'm doing ok. Shawna, thanks for asking. Deb :thumbup:

Hey, just found the link. I would love to meet up. I love Spring Valley Beach. It's a lot of fun. Or, I'd meet up somewhere else....going to need a lot of support and new friends who understand the ins and outs of the band.

Tomorrow's the day. Everyone is asking me if I'm excited. I know it's crazy but I'm not exactly excited. I'm thrilled it's here. I'm extremely happy to be doing this for myself but I feel so serious about it. Maybe excited isn't the best word for it....maybe more like I'm becoming focused on my health. I will be glad when the surgery is over with. I'm ready to live my life without the pain and shame. So maybe I AM just a little excited. :smile:

Veronica told us Wednesday that a plastic surgeon would be at the support group meeting tomorrow. It starts at 10:30. I won't be able to make this one since I have so much to do before Thursday. Hopefully, I'll make it next month! Deb

I have BCBS and I knew the day Peggy received and submitted all my paperwork. Thanks Shawna, Jason and Crimson....need all the encouragement I can get right now. Shrinking the liver right now and a little hungry but I'm keeping my eyes on the prize!

Well...here it is! I have been approved for surgery and will be having it May 21st. Went through all the pre-op tests, nutrition class and meeting with Dr. Miles today. Woooo hoooo!!!

Congratulations! Hope to hear about mine soon. When is your surgery date? Deb

Woo Hoo Jason...Way to go! You are such an inspiration!

I had a wild day yesterday. I had my last visit with my PCP on Thursday. I thought it was last month but it was actually this month. I called Dr. Miles' office to see about some paperwork for my PCP and to make sure they had everything else from all the other doctors. Before I knew it, Peggy had me scheduled for surgery on May 21. It became a whirlwind of a day. Getting a sub for the nutrition class next week....talking to my principal about taking off the last week of school (who revealed to me that he was considering lapband surgery)...lining up a sub for the week I'd be taking off. I'm so glad it worked out this way. I was trying to decide how I was going to handle surgery and starting back to classes in June. It's funny how everything fell into place. Exciting and scary at the same time. But I can't wait to have a chance at a quality life again. To not feel like the biggest person in the room. Went shopping with my daughter last night and it was so much fun to walk through the regular size women's department and say to her, "Next year, I'm going to buy that." or "Next year, we are going into that store and buy me something." It was so much fun to think about where I'll be next year.

Today will be my 7th visit to my PCP. I was supposed to go Monday but the Dr.'s office rescheduled my visit and I hope that doesn't screw everything up with the insurance company. You guys were right, the time flew. I hope to schedule surgery sometime in May since my classes won't end until the end of April. I also don't want to take off a week from work with DIBELS (if you have kids in school, you've heard the term) coming up. I hope it all works out. I'm so ready to have this done but at the same time, I can't help but be a little apprehensive because I'll be losing my best friend....food. But to be able to walk into one of my college classes and not have everyone scoot their chairs up so I can get by will be worth it all.

I won't make it to the meeting tomorrow but I'm really starting to get psyched up. April will be the 7th month of my weight loss program. I haven't lost a thing, although I have been exercising more. I can't have the surgery until May. I just don't think trying to tackle finals and having surgery at the same time would be a good thing to do. I looked at myself in the mirror at my hairdresser's today and told myself that it wouldn't be much longer before I didn't fill the chair up and my face wouldn't look so big. That's what I have done to get through the past six months. I've accepted myself and anytime I feel huge, I just think to myself that soon I will be healthier and thinner. And, that's okay. I'm a little apprehensive about all the changes that are coming. But what would life be without some emotional growing?

Jason, I know you didn't feel like standing up in front of the crowd today but I'm glad you did. I wouldn't have known who you were otherwise. I believe I will come back next month just for a good kick in the pants. But, Jason, I am definitely not ready to get up and talk.

I went to the support group meeting today and it's nice to put faces with your user names. I was so surprised at the number of people who were at the meeting. I didn't realize that many of them had stayed after attending a seminar. I realized that was me sitting there 4 months ago. I was apprehensive about going since I was by myself and was worried I would stick out like a sore thumb. At first, I was a little uncomfortable but overall I enjoyed the meeting. Veronica was a pistol ball and it was apparent that she believed in what she was doing. She was very inspiring. In fact, everyone who "testified" was inspiring. It was very good to hear that this procedure was something they would do again even when complications were involved. I learned a couple of new things like the 5 grams of fat and 15 carbs. This is something I could begin working on now. This is all becoming very real for me now. I meet with Dr. Dey, the pulmonologist, in a couple of weeks to have my sleep study results sent over. I had a sleep study about 2 1/2 years ago when I had some health problems. I'll only have to complete the 7 month weight loss program at the beginning of May and attend the nutrition class. Hopefully everything else will go off without a hitch. I teach in an elemetary school and considered waiting until June to have the surgery but if the surgery can be scheduled before then I'm going to take the time off. When you attend the nutrition class before the surgery, does Veronica give you all the information that you need to be successful or do you receive nutritional support after surgery? You all look wonderful and congratulations on your success. I can't wait to be one of the post-op gang. Deb

Sorry you feel so bad:frown:. How much had your band been filled before this fill?

You guys give me hope! I love reading that you didn't gain or that you only gained a pound or two. I love reading that you had the ability to abstain from the "kid's candy". When I went to holiday parties, I'm usually the largest person there but it didn't bother me so much this year because I knew I might not be the largest person there next year. The funny thing is that my sister (who I don't see very often) looked at my plate and asked me if I were dieting. I didn't fill it up like I usually do because I knew if I was still hungry I could go back. I told her no and couldn't help but wonder what she would think next year when I had even less on my plate :0). Guess I'll have to 'fess up then. I haven't told anyone in my extended family yet. I expect the most resistance to come from my dad. He had a friend who died from complications from Gastric Bypass. So, I'm waiting until everything has been approved. Everyone have a Happy New Year! I'm looking to a quiet evening at home....away from high school basketball games!