dtarlen

My name is Daren, I am 42, married to an awesome man who is my rock. Together we have 4 daughters who are 15, 6, 5 and 3. I began my journey towards the lap band about a year ago. A friend of mine who was my doctor (sadly our insurance changed so he is no longer my physician) suggested that I think about a bariatric procedure of some kind. I have been overweight since the onset of puberty though I was amongst the fortunate few who was never teased about my weight, well not from other kids, but my mother had no problem pointing it out every chance she got. I remember being 13 and weighing in at about 130 pounds...and it just continued up from there. My six year old daughter is the only "genetic" child I was fortunate to give birth to (the others are of my heart, no my body) and when I went for my first prenatal exam I weighed in at 234. Did I mention that I stand a mere 5'4"? I worked very hard while I was pregnant to not gain weight and was unfortunate to gain 29 lbs the last 12 weeks that I was pregnant. My friend chewed me out every visit reminding me that since I was diabetic (gestational at that point) with every pound I gained I was endagering the baby that took my 16 years to concieve. I swore to him I wasn't doing ANYTHING I was not supposed to be doing and I was even exercising...something completely unheard of for me! I tried to no avail to convince him that it was all water and baby. Seldom in a large womans lifetime is she believed to not be overeating...but I honestly was NOT. I was validated the day after she was born and stepped on the scale outside of my room and showed him that literally overnight I had lost 35 lbs! I really was all water. Thankfully she weighed in at a mere 6lbs 13 ounces...so I was mightly proud. I was warned that because I was a gestational diabetic that if I did not lost a significant amount of weight I would likely become a type 2 diabetic in the next 5 years. I decided since I could lose weight while pregnant I could do it when I wasn't. I didn't take into consideration that I had lost my mother a mere 9 months previous to my daughters birth (you do the math...she was a gift if I ever saw one!!!) postpartum depression and how cut off you are when you go from a full time working woman to a stay at home mom all of a sudden. I am a VERY social person and didn't realize until I was sitting on my kitchen floor in tears sobbing that I was totally and completely depressed. I worked on that and with the help of modern medicine, found some relief from the crying jags but continued to decline as I discovered over the next few years that I also had fibromyalgia. This coupled with depression, untreated sleep apnea made life a living hell. I got treatment for the sleep apnea and hoped that it would relieve all of my symptoms...sadly I was mistaken in this hope. I still have fibromyalgia and in March of this year discovered that I had type 2 diabetes. I weighed in at a whopping 273 pounds (9 more than the day I walked into the hospital to give birth to my daughter...youch!) and decided that it was time for a life change. I started researching and discovered that many of the life changes required for the lap band I had already accomplished without even knowing anything about the lapband. I stopped drinking soda when I got pregnant and aside from an ocassional one here and there never really developed the taste for them again. I used to be the pasta queen but stopped altogether when I was pregnant and never really missed it so I figured I didn't like it nearly as much as I thought I did. I started working on some exercising, though with fibromyalgia, it is difficult...but I have discovered that the Wii is an incredible invention and that coupled with the Wii fit software, I exercise far more regularly now than I have ever done so before...and the kids get to play with me so it fun for the whole family. I just finished a 14 week class with Kaiser on Healthy Lifestyles and have finished most of the pre-surgery requirements for their program. I was told I had to lose a total of 20 pounds from my initial weigh in at their orientation (259) and am happy to say that I am only 1 pound away from the goal weight. I want to take it down an extra 10 just as a cushion since every single scale that I get on says something different!!! With luck and some pushiness on my part I am hoping to be banded before the end of the year!!! My six year old asked me if I would still look like her mommy when I was "skinny" and I told her that I would be the new and improved healthy versions of mommy. My 15 year old promises to share her clothes with me (and steal mine) when we are the same size...can't wait for that!!! Anyway, that's where I am at right now... Daren

I am from Northern California and will be going to South San Francisco for my procedure. I was pleased to see that after my 5 day holiday I hadn't gained any weight...my friend and I also went on a cruise in August and THAT was my biggest test to see if I could stick to the "diet" that they prescribed for me at the beginning of August. Not too bad...didn't lose anything on the cruise...but didn't gain anything either...I figure I broke even so it was a wash...lol My friend and I have gone through husbands and children and divorces (non recently thankfully) together and have always found solice in our bread and brie days...alas...no more of those. I think I will miss the french bread most of all...but if I can stop smoking (9 years ago) then I can live without french bread and brie and be a better person for it...or so I keep telling myself...though I did find out recently that after you are released for "real" food you are allowed to have small quantities of well toasted bread...half a piece would do me just fine...knowing I don't have to go complete without forever makes it a lot easier. I can handle a little bit but NEVER I don't think would happen.

I'm new here and just posted my first blog...I'm excited to be here and to meet everyone. I have a great group of women that just finished a 14 week Healthy Lifestyles class at Kaiser (something I highly recommend...non members can join the class as well...great class and you make a great network of friends in the same "boat") and am looking forward to making new friends here as well. Daren

Thank you for letting me know that someone actually read my post...It was nice to "tell my story". I look forward to reading more stories here and sharing more of my own. I have not been banded but am hoping to be by the end of the year. Just went on a 5 day holiday to see my best friend who I've been eating with for 20+ years. Already learning to adjust to not having so much when I'm not with my family. They have already adjusted to my changes so far but it was new for my friend. It's been interesting to see the reactions you get from wait staff when you tell them that you don't need anything to drink with you meal...or before it. They always want to bring you Water or something "just in case". I always have to have them take it away because so far that has been the biggest adjustment for me...I'm really not a huge eater in the first place so smaller portions isn't too difficult (though I have been known, when completely bored to polish off an entire bag of Ruffles!!! lol) but drinking is the hardest so far. I'm sure I'll have other challenges ahead. Thanks again, Daren :crying:

I too am a Kaiser member though 5 am doing mine in S San Francisco. I can tell you from personal experience that unless you are VERY VERY VERY pushy you will get ZERO results. I got the phone number for the Bariatric Dept and called EVERY day for cancellations and have fast tracked myself. If I waited for their timeline I would not have even been to the nutrition class until sometime around November and then would still have another 4 months of waiting after that. With frequent calling I have completed everything I needed and am waiting to hit my goal weight (plus another 10...but that is my choice not anything they told me to do) So be proactive for yourself and look up the bariatric dept phone number and then call the scheduling person until you have an appointment. It's the only way at Kaiser...they have an AWESOME program but a terrible waiting list because people sign up and then don't come for their appointments or call and cancel...so use that to your advantage!! Good Luck!!

Tell her that everyone loses at different rates...and for some reason men seem to lose faster than women do anyway. I know they mean well but...

My name is Daren, I am 42, married to an awesome man who is my rock. Together we have 4 daughters who are 15, 6, 5 and 3. I began my journey towards the lap band about a year ago. A friend of mine who was my doctor (sadly our insurance changed so he is no longer my physician) suggested that I think about a bariatric procedure of some kind. I have been overweight since the onset of puberty though I was amongst the fortunate few who was never teased about my weight, well not from other kids, but my mother had no problem pointing it out every chance she got. I remember being 13 and weighing in at about 130 pounds...and it just continued up from there. My six year old daughter is the only "genetic" child I was fortunate to give birth to (the others are of my heart, no my body) and when I went for my first prenatal exam I weighed in at 234. Did I mention that I stand a mere 5'4"? I worked very hard while I was pregnant to not gain weight and was unfortunate to gain 29 lbs the last 12 weeks that I was pregnant. My friend chewed me out every visit reminding me that since I was diabetic (gestational at that point) with every pound I gained I was endagering the baby that took my 16 years to concieve. I swore to him I wasn't doing ANYTHING I was not supposed to be doing and I was even exercising...something completely unheard of for me! I tried to no avail to convince him that it was all water and baby. Seldom in a large womans lifetime is she believed to not be overeating...but I honestly was NOT. I was validated the day after she was born and stepped on the scale outside of my room and showed him that literally overnight I had lost 35 lbs! I really was all water. Thankfully she weighed in at a mere 6lbs 13 ounces...so I was mightly proud. I was warned that because I was a gestational diabetic that if I did not lost a significant amount of weight I would likely become a type 2 diabetic in the next 5 years. I decided since I could lose weight while pregnant I could do it when I wasn't. I didn't take into consideration that I had lost my mother a mere 9 months previous to my daughters birth (you do the math...she was a gift if I ever saw one!!!) postpartum depression and how cut off you are when you go from a full time working woman to a stay at home mom all of a sudden. I am a VERY social person and didn't realize until I was sitting on my kitchen floor in tears sobbing that I was totally and completely depressed. I worked on that and with the help of modern medicine, found some relief from the crying jags but continued to decline as I discovered over the next few years that I also had fibromyalgia. This coupled with depression, untreated sleep apnea made life a living hell. I got treatment for the sleep apnea and hoped that it would relieve all of my symptoms...sadly I was mistaken in this hope. I still have fibromyalgia and in March of this year discovered that I had type 2 diabetes. I weighed in at a whopping 273 pounds (9 more than the day I walked into the hospital to give birth to my daughter...youch!) and decided that it was time for a life change. I started researching and discovered that many of the life changes required for the lap band I had already accomplished without even knowing anything about the lapband. I stopped drinking soda when I got pregnant and aside from an ocassional one here and there never really developed the taste for them again. I used to be the pasta queen but stopped altogether when I was pregnant and never really missed it so I figured I didn't like it nearly as much as I thought I did. I started working on some exercising, though with fibromyalgia, it is difficult...but I have discovered that the Wii is an incredible invention and that coupled with the Wii fit software, I exercise far more regularly now than I have ever done so before...and the kids get to play with me so it fun for the whole family. I just finished a 14 week class with Kaiser on Healthy Lifestyles and have finished most of the pre-surgery requirements for their program. I was told I had to lose a total of 20 pounds from my initial weigh in at their orientation (259) and am happy to say that I am only 1 pound away from the goal weight. I want to take it down an extra 10 just as a cushion since every single scale that I get on says something different!!! With luck and some pushiness on my part I am hoping to be banded before the end of the year!!! My six year old asked me if I would still look like her mommy when I was "skinny" and I told her that I would be the new and improved healthy versions of mommy. My 15 year old promises to share her clothes with me (and steal mine) when we are the same size...can't wait for that!!! Anyway, that's where I am at right now... Daren