DottieDoo

I'm scheduled to be banded on 4/15! Looking forward to starting that yummy pre-surgical diet . . . hmmm, maybe not. I'd rather chew on my shoe than eat a dry chicken breast so I'm making friends with Protein shakes. I've gone through a lot of back-and-forth thinking about the surgery, researching and questioning everything, weighing all the pros and cons. Could gastric bypass be a better choice because I’ll lose weight faster and, as an added bonus, explode if I eat too much sugar (apparently an excellent deterrent to eating a dozen donuts for breakfast)? And what will that little alien plastic thingy be doing to my stomach when I’m not looking? All the noise aside, I’m feeling very confident about my decision, very hopeful about my future, and motivated to change. Wish me luck!

Hey MJ! My doc gave me some good feedback on the foreign object issue. There are lots of things and medical devices that people have in their bodies to improve their health (and make their boobs bigger). Titanium hips, pacemakers, cheek/chin implants, all kinds of stuff. It didn't seem creepy when I thought of it that way. I think of it as a little Gucci belt that's going to help me to look marvelous.

WOW, that After picture is so inspiring. You look awesome!

Hestie, I am scheduled for surgery on 4/15. I am starting out at the same height and weight that you did! You look absolutely beautiful, ten years younger than your Before picture, and your lifestyle changes really inspire me. Thank you for sharing your story.

I was warned that my insurance company was requiring the 6 month supervised diet for a lot of patients prior to approving the surgery so I was worried about it too. My BMI is over 40, but I have no co-morbidities. They approved my surgery without making me jump through any hoops so GO FIGURE! Prior to the approval, the dietician told me that the 6 months can help you to prepare to be successful after the surgery. Blah, blah, blah . . . :huh2: I know she was right but I didn't want to wait either so I know what you mean about being worried that they are going to require it. Good luck!

My insurance company has approved my surgery so I am just waiting to get the surgery scheduled! :frown: There seems to be differing info. on whether or not we can drink regular coffee after the surgery. I was planning to have a tiny espresso cup of coffee in the mornings once I am a couple weeks post-surgery, but the dietician told me "No More Coffee After Surgery!" unless it is de-caf. I don't see this exclusion in any of the lap band info. I have read. Are you still drinking coffee? This might sound like a silly question, but how do you make sure that you get all your Water in every day when you can't take in a lot at one time and with the stop/start drinking around meals? Just sip, sip, sip all day long?

These posts were exactly what I needed to read today because I have been feeling anxious about my decision to go forward with the surgery. You all made me laugh out loud at times (especially Makulafamy's comments about hiding her seatbelt extender in her bra and bald guys with small, um, willies). You also made me feel that I am not alone in the pain and embarassment that I have experienced because so many of the stories that you told were my stories too. The thing that I am most ready to put behind me is hiding. Hiding from events and people because of fears of being embarassed, of not fitting into chairs, fears of people saying cruel things about my weight, etc. I'm ready to get on with living!