KMCD

Congratulations!!!!! and Welcome! Good luck and keep us posted!

Okay, so I am not having surgery until the 24th, I haven't even started my preop diet yet...but I am seriously freaking out about having the surgery:scared2:. It doesn't help that mom is telling me cryptic LB horror stories about my Aunts best friend who is in the hospital because she can't stop throwing up, ya da ya da ya da....I am eating like a pig and getting more scared by the minute that somehow I'm gonna mess this up big time....tons of what if's...I hate those:frown: I keep trying to remember why I am doing this. I've got plenty of reminders, trust me...I'm just so stressed about the whole thing...any words would be helpful. Maybe after we hear from our brave April 1sters, I'll feel better...Jeez! Why am I so scared now?!?!?!?!:thumbdown:

Thank you all so much for such wonderful and supportive comments! I know lingling has already had her surgery and was even on her computer while in the hospital. I think it's a day to day thing. Yesterday, I was back to being excited. Bandpal, thanks for the great links. What's crazy is that is was my mother who has been after me about getting WLS! I can't head in to surgery now without admitting that I have a seriously dysfunctional family at times!:wink: It's hard to admit that I did this to myself, but I had a ton of help from my skinny mom who has never been satisfied with my weight. Even when I was bulemic, 126 lbs with an 18 inch waist in highschool! Yep! I'm 45 and still in therapy! But with that said about my mom, she does the best she can. I'm not 11 years old and unable to process what are really her own issues. I do think I am actively saying goodbye to a way of eating. Each time I take a huge bite, I think, "God, I won't be able to do this anymore." Plus, each time I do it, I think "Wow! I won't HAVE to do this anymore." I love that thought. I love the thought of being a "normal" size. Thanks again and God bless you all! Bunny Bandsters UNITE!!!

WOW lingling! I am so impressed that you are on your computer!!! Can't wait to hear about it and glad that everything went well! Congrats!

To all our April 1st'rs: Good luck and thanks for paving the way! I will be thinking and praying for each of you tomorrow but you better darn well let us know how it went! :biggrin:

Hi quiteajourney and welcome to the site! You might find more information at this forum: POST-Operation Lap-band Surgery Questions & Answers . I am still waiting for surgery, but I've been all over the site and found a ton of great information. You might try posting in the post op section to see if you get some helpful hints about your situation. Good luck and I hope it gets better soon!

Hello all! I've got my surgery date! Looks like I'll be an April bandster!!!!!! I am the first case on April 24th! I cannot believe it!!!! I was expecting something to slow things up. But, I guess not! Now, I've got to set my sites on the preop diet two weeks out (Good Friday - I guess no chocolate bunnies for me!:sad:). Who CARES! I'm gonna get healthy and lose weight!!!! :biggrin: :biggrin: :w00t::woot::crying: YIPEEEEEEE!!!!!!

HI ALL! I am relocating to this spot for the Bunny Bandsters! I am having my surgery on April 24th!!! I wish it was the 1st! I am so very ready! I also wish I could copy jerseygirl518's bunny banner! Too cute!!!

HI! I guess I'm a "Bunny Bandster!!!" My date is April 24th! That means "hrtgoeson" and I are band buddies...right? Or is it band twins?!?! Whatever, I am so excited!

Hi 31andnew! I have suggested this to other folks too, but take a look at the forum site and scroll down. There are several other forums that are specific like: those who have to lose 100 lbs or less, low BMI, high BMI, etc. Great place for info. I am a low BMI too. I have about 70 to 80 pounds to lose. My last appointment is with the MD tomorrow and hopefully will have a surgery date then. I cannot wait!!!!! Good luck and let us know about your journey too!

Welcome Amy Elizabeth! How exciting to be so close. I'm hoping to be banded in April or May. You've picked a great site to join. I've found so much good info here and the support has been wonderful. Whereabouts are you in Texas? I'm from Austin. My doctor is Dr. Fass at Southwest Bariatrics. Keep us posted on your journey and good luck!

Hello Charminglysouthern! I am fairly new to all this too, but I know there are a couple of other areas where you might find more weight specifc and BMI specific discussion. I have cut and pasted them here (don't know if you click on them that they will go to those sites though). To find them on the main forum page, you have to scroll down towards the bottom. Good luck and keep us posted!!! Weight Specific Lap-Band Support Groups (NEW!) Lap-Band support groups which concentrate on issues common to members with similar weight goals Sub-Forums: 200 Lbs+100 Lbs+50 Lbs+25 Lbs+Under 25 LbsLife At (or Near) Goal WeightSlow Losers UniteSteady Losers UniteBMI over 50Low BMI Bandsters

Wow! Congrats Tren on getting the "go" sign :scared2:. Getting the preop stuff done is a breeze. I didn't have to go through a lot of tests though. The best was getting to talk to the nutritionist. I really felt like I was on my way! Good luck and keep us posted! :scared2:

Okay, so I simmered on this for a couple of days and I completely see your point. I have completed triathlons in this body and I work hard to dress well. I had someone today say that I "hide it well." And no, I am not telling everyone on the planet that I'm having this done. There are times when I do feel like its a compliment. But its entirely different when a medical professional, who is doing your preop work questions you as if you haven't considered it enough. I don't want to be inflammatory and I'm sorry if I misread your post, but saying that you don't know why we are offended is unfair. This is a place for us to vent and talk about our feelings. If you are okay with people talking to you that way, then why read it and why bother posting? :rolleyes2:

Hi all! About to have my final appointment with the doctor before setting the surgery date. I talked to the pt advocate this morning about what it would cost to have a revision (in case something happened) or to clear up an infection (like a port infection). She said it would be about $6000 for the surgeon! I also asked if I would have to pay up front (I am self pay) before anything was done. She said that I would most likely have to pay up front. So, here are my questions: 1) If I get an infection, isn't it wrong that I have to pay up front before they will fix it?, 2) What does it typically cost someone to have a revision?, 3) If you have a gastric sleeve instead, will your insurance cover any costs associated with problems after it?, 4) so if I end up needing to get re-banded - do I have to pay another huge chunk of money up front to do it?!?! Also, right as I was getting ready to hang up the phone, she went over what my out-of-pocket costs for the band were. She mentioned all the doctors fees, facility fees etc, but then said that it would cover post care for up to three months. Originally, I was told it was a year! Was I hallucinating?!?! Is 3 months normal? I was feeling so much better about my decision, now I'm back to wondering what the heck I am doing! HELP!:frown:

Well, today, I had my consultation with the nutritionist. That was last on my list of things to do before I get my pre-op visit with my doc! My EKG, blood work, psych consult and now this was all I had to do (no exercise visit because doctor felt like I was okay without it). I've already gained weight since my last visit! YUCH! :ohmy: I am still looking into the sleeve versus the band, but I am leaning more heavily towards the band at this point. I have to have all my questions answered before I make a decision. I talked to one of the office folk today and she is going to send me a series of EMMI videos to watch. I feel so much better about the whole PB/Slime thing. It's just gonna happen and I'm gonna be prepared for it. I talked to the nutritionist at length about it and how to prevent it. I think the hardest things for me will be: 1) giving up diet soda, 2) not drinking with meals, 3) emotional-in-between-meals snacking. I have so much support from my family for this to work. I have such high hopes. I am super scared about it though. Thanks for all the support from you guys. This site has been a life saver! K Pre Op appointment - March 27th Highest weight 250 (10 years ago, lost it with exercise and refusing to diet - just eating better) Current weight 218 Goal 145

Now that's what I'm talking about!!! You weren't being rude (even though he was), just standin' up for yourself. They need to know. I bet you changed the way he talked to his other patients (I hope)...I went to my PCP for the preop tests. He stuck his head in and said he was proud of me for making the decision. He struggles with weight too and we've talked about it for a while. He wished me good luck and told me to call him if I needed anything. We talked about meds in the past, but he didn't even bring it up again. Good doc, I'll go back because of that... FrankieJ - congrats on your first steps. I have been considering this for years and I have been right where you are just a little while ago. This is a great site to get all your questions answered and get support for issues just like this! Good luck and I'm hoping to put out a post with a surgery date next Friday!!!

As a nurse (and a professor who teaches nursing students), I have to say something here. First of all, you do not ever have to take rude behavior from a health care provider (nurse, doctor, nurse aide...). I tell my patients, that if they feel they are not getting the attention they need or are being treated rudely to speak up! You can talk to the charge nurse. It may be that this person is new (which excuses nothing) and needs remediation to learn that questioning a patient in such a way is wrong. If I were that nurses supervisor (or professor) they would have received a good talking to. It does sound like they were just trying to be nice and supportive. However, I am with you, I do not feel the need to justify my decision with every one on the planet. It was hard enough to come this point. I don't need their opinion on top of it. Speaking up is important though. If she/he doesn't know that what they said was wrong, they will never learn and will do it to someone else. I know it's hard to do when you are in a more vulnerable position, but once you do it, you'll find yourself speaking up more often. You can do this in a kind and compassionate way (unlike the way in which you were approached). I instruct my patients to simply ask (kindly) to speak to the charge nurse. If your needs are not met with the charge nurse, move on up the chain. Hospitals are (for the most part) very patient centered. After all, you are the customer. Your service keeps them in their jobs. I have already encountered two people telling me that I am too small for the surgery and that I am out of my head crazy. WHATEVER! Walk a mile in my shoes! Also, the nutritionist kept saying that I was probably one of the smaller folks to have this surgery. Again, WHATEVER! His little skinny hiney doesn't have to worry about gulping down that Big Mac and Fries after I have a bad day at work and then not being able to zip up my "fat" jeans the next day. Nor does he have to listen to his daughter explain her pictures of me to me: "Mommy, I had to make you a little rounder because your tummy is round like a baby is in it, but you aren't pregnant." Sorry to rant, just wanted to make a point. You do what you need to do and tell all the others to stuff it!

Hi all! I met with the nutritionist yesterday. My last appointment with the doc is next Friday (3/27th) and hopefully, we will pick a surgery date!!! :thumbup: Anyway, the nutritionist showed me a dime and said that my bite size had to be the size of that dime! I tried to do that this morning and there was no way I could chew a dime size piece of food 30 times!!! :laugh: 1/2 a grape dissolved before I chewed it 15 times...:w00t: Is this the reality? Or is he just going over board trying to get me to take smaller bites (which wouldn't be bad seeing how I can eat a piece of pizza in three to four bites --- I know, gross!)? :smile: Thanks for the advice.

Thanks for all the info! I chuckle sometimes with the things you guys say here. :thumbup: I always feel so much better after bringing my concern here. I am really hoping for a surgery date soon! Wish I could just get it done today before I get scared again! Thanks again for the advice. :smile:

Hi! I am so glad to see your post. I am inching closer and closer to getting my surgery and my emotions are running high. I met with the nutritionist and I'm doing some real soul searching about having to give up sodas (I only drink diet, but the carbonation is a "no-no" I heard) and learning how to take teenie-wheenie bites. The nutritionist said it had to be the size of a dime. Wow! That's small!!!! Thanks for being a great inspiration! I am so ready for this change....:ohmy: I would love to hear your story. I would also give anything to weight 160! How wonderful is that!!!!????

I have been reading the other sites and I've read about PB (productive burp) which I am absolutely NOT looking forward to. However, I just read about "sliming?" What does that refer to? The person it happened to was very uncomfortable with it, so I suppose its not a pleasant experience. Just want to know what to expect...:sneaky:

Hi Tammy! I feel exactly the same way. With any luck, I will have my surgery before the end of May. I'm not so worried about pain. Complications are my biggest concern. Especially since I am self pay and insurance won't touch anything having to do with bariatric surgery. I've got a few more questions to ask of the surgeon, but I'm hoping it will all come together neatly. I've decided to think positively and assume that it will all be okay. I know the risks (just as I'm sure you do) and we have a plan in case those complications happen. One day at a time... K:smile2: P.S. good luck on your surgery!!!

When I saw the nutritionist today, he said that if you don't use it correctly (like the tool that it is), it just becomes an expensive funnel. Funny way to put it but gives a great visual. We are making this change for our whole house. Its time for all of us to eat healthier. I just need a little more help.:ohmy: Good luck!!!

So when you slime, do you experience nausea? That's what I hate the most. If I get nauseous, I will do almost anything to keep from throwing up. I would rather lay down and be supremely still than to feel nauseous. You would think I would just go throw up and get it over with. However, I hate throwing up just as much...Sounds like I'm in for some funny situations...:tongue_smilie: