Cathy S.

I think it's an awesome accomplishment! I've noticed that sometimes, when you are a heavier person, it takes a while and more pounds than the average person, for people to notice your weight loss. I can so relate to your statement of seeing yourself look unhappy. I'm looking forward to when I like having my picture taken again! :thumbup:

I can relate. It's kind of like you finally run out of steam and just fizzle out on the whole experience. You just jumped through all the hoops, you're entitled to take a mental breather. I think you will get your zeal back and be ready for the next part of your journey! Hang in there. :thumbup:

I made the decision to get the lap band at the end of May naively thinking I would have the surgery, oh by say, July? No such luck. There are hoops, and then some, to jump through. I'm in the 6 month pre-op mandatory diet program, although I recently just found out my insurance company doesn't require it. I can't get in to see my surgeon until August 20th, and at that time I'll find out if I can have it done sooner than the December time frame I was initially given. Does anyone else ever feel like it's never going to happen for them? Once I was ready, I was ready! Now it's like the proverbial carrot being dangled in front of me. I know I can't be the only one feeling this way.

Thanks everyone! I'm just so tired of being fat and feeling crappy. I want to be on my new journey, I just have to realize these steps are part of my new journey. Sorry, if I sounded whiney, must be PMS or something!

Lotsabirds, that's awesome! I firmly believe we are never too old to do anything. I guess I just want this so much I'm like a kid who can't wait for Christmas!

Catherine55, you're Dear Abby reference is very apropos. I'm still in the 6 month diet program, just in case, and I know I will get there sooner or later. I just want it to be sooner!

Restless Monkey, there are only 2 surgeons in my group to choose from, and the one I'd go with anyway is the one I've got the consultation with. He only does consults 1 day a week, hence the long wait to see him. I'll definitely have it done sooner if he says it's a go! I just want to be sharing my band experiences, not dreaming about them! LOL There's a thin impatient Gemini waiting to get out of this fat impatient Gemini!

I'm in the 6 month pre-op diet program, and as part of our classes there was a class devoted to the Lap Band. Surprisingly enough, just like you latamblyn, I knew more about the surgery and after effects--info gathered mainly from this site--than the person giving the class. Even though my clinic is not doing Gastric Bypass, that's what they kept referring to and Lap Band is totally different. I even heard some people saying they would never do it because of the side effects, which were GB side effects, not LB side effects. In the end, it's up to us to educate ourselves. This site provides a wealth of Lap Band information.

Do any of you have significant varicose veins, and if so, did losing the weight reduce them at all? I'm curious as to whether mine will stay enlarged when I get banded and lose weight, or if they will shrink a bit.

Mine is too big to be injected, but perhaps it would shrink down to the point where it could be.

I'm hoping the weight loss will shrink mine. It is in my inner thigh down to just below my knee. I had the other removed years ago and it was a very painful surgery. Even if the vein doesn't shrink, I probably will live with it. But I'm hoping!

It's great that you have a surgery date! I'm still in 6 month pre-op program and wonder if it will ever happen for me. Doubts are normal. Let me just say that in my job I see many random things that most people don't. Something unfortunate can happen to you just walking out of your home. There's a risk in everything we do, just look ahead to when you are shrinking and feel awesome!

I'm in the 6 month pre-op program as well. I have been overweight for the last 16 years, since my last child was born. At various times throughout the last 16 years I thought about gastric bypass and lap band surgery, but the possible side effects and after effects scared me too much. Earlier this year I was transferred to a new position within my department (law enforcement). This position is exciting and definitely a career advancement, but does require standing for hours on end at scenes. I came to the realization that I could not physically do that, and that basically snapped me out of my denial. I am obese. I am not a big girl, or big boned, or heavy. I am obese. I investigated and researched gastric bypass and lap band and decided that lap band was the right choice for me. In fact, once I had decided, I was so excited that I wanted to cry when I found out that I'd have to go through a 6 month supervised program first! It's a good thing though, I think it helps prepare you and get you in the mindset that you need to be in to make the band work. Mostly, I want to stop feeling crappy: all the aches and pains because of my weight. (Throw in a ballistic vest and duty belt and it just makes it worse.) The fatigue at the end of my work week because of lugging all this weight around. I want to do it while I'm still relatively young enough to enjoy it. While overweight I have always felt "less than" around anyone smaller than me. My accomplishments or talents didn't matter, I automatically felt inferior because I was fat. I am not "less than"! On this journey of a thousand miles, I have taken the first steps to regain the "me" that feels trapped in this body.

I am in the pre-op process and have a phobia about vomiting. I hate to vomit! Does everyone vomit after surgery, or do some get through without vomiting at all? I'd rather deal with pain all day long than throw up one single time! :thumbup:

So food getting stuck and coming up is actually different than being nauseated til you throw up?

Thanks Amy. Are you happy you went through the surgery?

Hi everyone, my name is Cathy and today is my 48th birthday and I've decided to give myself the best gift ever: the lap band. I'm finally ready to make a change, and after much research this seems to be the best choice for me. I have taken the first steps on my journey, but just found out that I have to be in a 6 month certified weight loss program first, which totally took the wind out of my sails. However I am determined to be healthy and weigh less, so I will meet every requirement they put in front of me! This forum has wonderful information and I'm very glad to be a part of it.

I'm new and in So Cal too. I have Blue Shield HMO and have to go through a 6 month supervised weight loss program before I can have my surgery. Believe me, after getting myself all psyched up thinking I'd be thinner by Christmas, hearing that nothing would happen until at least Christmas bummed me out. I'm tired of feeling crappy and 6 more months of it feels like an eternity. I know it's really not, but when you finally make that choice you are ready!