Veggestyle

I totally understand everything everyone is saying and thank you! Yeah, I think that they are skeptical that it is a risk (since it is a surgery placing the foreign body in your stomach) and they think that i will just gain all of the weight back. I cant help but think that my sister secretly wants me to fail so I can still be "large" with her. We have other issues besides this, obviously, which make me distrust her and I guess those issues are truly surfacing during this difficult time.

Unfortunately, that is pretty much what I think will be the best way of handling it, such as so many other issues in my family...avoidance...:phanvan It makes me really sad though to have to take that approach, b/c this is such a big change in my life and I really do want them to be a part of it, but it just seems that they dont understand! I truly, truly appreciate all of your support!

Friday I had my final visit with my surgeon, Dr. M, before the actual surgery, which is soon approaching! Today I go for my "final" pre-op bloods, EKG, bloodtest and chest X-ray. I also got a flu shot today for the first time, and it really was not that bad! It is going to be a hectic afternoon, but I truly know it will all be worth it in the end! I hope that everyone out there is happy and feeling successful in one way or another! :high5: :whoo:

Friday I had my final visit with my surgeon, Dr. M, before the actual surgery, which is soon approaching! Today I go for my "final" pre-op bloods, EKG, bloodtest and chest X-ray. I also got a flu shot today for the first time, and it really was not that bad! It is going to be a hectic afternoon, but I truly know it will all be worth it in the end! I hope that everyone out there is happy and feeling successful in one way or another! :high5: :whoo:

Good luck at your meeting BetsyJane! Let us know how it goes! I bet that you will be even more inspired! :typing:

I definitely agree that it would be unethical for a surgeon to "push" a surgery. I feel that my surgeon is very excited about the surgery and how it does help people. He truly seemed genuine and honest, and he was very personable. It still hurts that my sister was so aggressive in trying to "push" onto me that the surgeon is making everything sound better than it is...he did talk to me about complications, risks and the like, but he also talked with me about how life changing the tool can be.

No, I do not plan on getting the patch...luckily I have only been smoking for about six months, and not regularily...I am planning on sheer will power...we'll see how that goes, and chewing sugar free gum...My boyfriend and I are quitting together...

Well, I know that it will be difficult. Peronsonally, I HAVE to lose 10 lbs. by surgery date or the surgery will be postponed, so the pressure is on and I just have to keep on telling myself that I CAN do it! :nervous

I have been trying to get into that same mindset as well. That is why I have begun to replace my lunches with Target's version of slimfat...right now...well, I am rather hungry...but i know it will all be worth it!

When do you plan on being banded? Where are you now in your journey?

I can totally understand that BetsyJane...and my mom actually did say to me "why cant you just diet?" Well...just dieting... only works out for a very very small percentage of people long term and some of those amazing people are on this board. However, I have tried and tried and I dont feel that "just dieting and exercise" will change my life when that is exactly what I need! there are a variety of studies out there that show like only 5% of people or so are successful with dieting and then keeping the weight off long term the percentage becomes even lower... I totally understand your concerns and I feel that this surgery is a tool "just like dieting" but is a more successful one if used correctly....Hope this helps..

Thank you for the support and ecouragement. I do believe that part of it could be jealousy, but that is nothing that neither my sister nor my mom would ever admit, so really it is hard to know for sure. However, I know that my sister is very very self-conscious and she is larger than me...so maybe...and I know that she "enjoys" bonding with me and having the commradery of being "a large one." However, they both claim that I should not do it and when asking them why, they respond because it sounds dangerous (especially with having the foreign body in my stomach). The more info. that I share with them, the more resistant they seem to be. What are anyone's thoughts on a surgeon trying to "push" the surgery?

I have faith that I'm coming out of it to a far better journey! I love this quote! Thank you for the inspiration!

Oh yeah...along with preparing for the liquid diet and the surgery...I have also stopped smoking...as of yesterday! Wish me luck today!

oooo, Angela, that sounds delicious! I am definitely interested in smoothie recipes to help make it through the ten day liquid diet that i start on Nov. 10th. I have begun to prepare myself for the diet by replacing one meal (usually lunch) with a Target version of Slimfast, which is good and cheap!

Oops..typo..I meant unsupportive about the "surgery" not the "surgeon"

Angela--that is a good idea to start reducing the amount of carb intake so that the liquid diet is not so harsh on the body!

Wow! That sounds so amazing! I have always wanted to visit a tropical location. I am a big nature and animal lover and your trip just sounds so wonderful to me!

Hello Everyone! Tomorrow I am going in for my final consult with the surgeon. My sugery is scheduled for Nov. 20th! I have been working on being banded since July now and I am really excited, nervous..etc. I was wondering if anyone had any words of wisdom or suggestions of what to ask/talk to with the surgeon during this imporant appt. before I am actually operated on!

Thank you so much, this list really helps! There are some questions on there that I would never have though of on my own!

Thank you for all of the words of encouragement.

Congratulations Jack!!! What a wonderful accomplishment!!!

I was hoping that anyone out there could give me so advice...I hope that I havent offended anyone...

Hello Kris, I am having my band put in on Nov. 20th and I am feeling very nervous too. My family is very unsupportive about the surgery and is trying to get me to change my mind so I have to struggle against that too. However, I really think that it will all be worth it. I know that it will be tough and probably a bit painful at times, but I have heard over and over again that it is not a terrible experience to go through. I actually have two women in my office that have had the band put in a while ago and they are doing wonderfully! Good luck to you and dont be frightened, look forward to a new you!

I have begun to practice the liquid diet. I already know that it is going to be very very difficult and I want to start preparing myself in hopes that it wont be such a horrible shock to my body (even though it will be good for it!) I have begun replacing one meal with a Target version of slimfast and be very very watchful of what I do eat b/c that is what I am going to always have to do. I just weighed myself yesterday and I weigh about 273 depending on the time of day, and I took this weight in the morning, which I have heard is the best time to do so. Tomorrow I am going with my boyfriend for the the final consultation with the surgeon. I am looking forward to having my boyfriend, Joe, be able to meet the surgeon. Wish me luck! :peace: