RobinLB

thsisme - well said! What I neglected to ad in my first post are my biggest concerns: not knowing exactly what is a 'small' bite although I've been given the analogy of the size of an eraser on a pencil. That does help. What amount is a 'sip'? How am I going to deal without being able to gulp when I'm SO thirsty? I've never been able to get a good analogy from anyone what it feels like when food gets stuck, other than its 'comfortable' or 'it really hurts'. I've got my ammunition (Papaya enzymes and meat tenderizer) ready though. I already assume my skin will sag and have no illusions about a 'beautiful' body, except in the spiritual sense. I'm extremely happy that I won't be taking up so much space everywhere I go, no issues with airline seats or even my discomfort in them, and trying to pack my arms in to no intrude on the next person's space. I want to know what it is to not be winded going up stairs, to not panic when I approach a turnstyle, to not have to pay an additional $5-10 to get clothes in my size from a catalog, often needing help to get a seatbelt closed when insomeone else's car, wondering before I sit on a chair if it will support my weight or how am I going to be able to get up and out of a couch without looking pitiful. And with any luck, be down enough to be able to qualify for an individual medical insurance plan with premiums less than what I'm paying on my current small group plan (I'm self-employed). Regardless of the bumps in the road, look how our lives will become easier, less stressful and fearful, and I'm sure there's a lot more I haven't remembered to add to the list above. BTW, I know a lot of people consider getting obesity surgery a private matter and struggle with who to tell, who not, etc. Everyone's different, but I don't relate with this at all. What's the big deal about it? (no pun intended, LOL) When appropriate, I always mention it. People seem to be very interested in that. If anything, it's an ice breaker, LOL. Someone else mentioned she doesn't want other people watching what she eats and and ready to judge. People who 'watch' will do that even in you're on Weight Watcher, and you know they've always been watching you being their superior selves. "Look at her, that's her 2nd dinner roll". With people like that, just pull a chair up to where they're sitting, the more in their space as possible, the better, and comment on everything they're eating with each bite. "You shouldn't be eating that fried shrimp! Do you NOT care about your cardiac health? (and then rattle off some statistics about mortality rates related to eating fried or unhealthy food. You have children you need to be there for!! Then do it again with the next bite they eat of anything where there's a health risk (which is almost everything!). Do some slow moving your head back and forth, with a superior, there's nothing that can be done for this person expression on your face). You get the picture. Letting people get away with stuff like that is giving them permission to do it in the first place. There has to be an uncomfortable/annoying/embarrassing/mortifying consequence or it will continue. Mortifying is always good. Ok, now you know I'm a Scorpio (vengeful), LOL. But incredibly kind also. And modest!

This week (and the next) is a big one for all of us. Let's virtually hold hands for encouragement and support as we embark on our new and wonderful life even with whatever bumps in the road we may go thru. It will all be worth it, you'll see.

I'm scheduled to be banded on Monday also. Since I was approved last fall, as I've approached the date, I have taken this very matter-of-factly. But I noticed from about ten days ago, I've been feeling kind of anxious, wasnt sure why but I realize that it's quickly becoming real. Since yesterday, I'm feeling grief. Ok, I thought, what is this grief about? My whole life is going to change -- the way I socialize, what I do to satiate myself when I'm on the run, how I sooth myself, not thinking about food except when I'm hungry and want to it some. I've been on the verge of tears today. It hasn't occurred to me to back out, I don't want to. I'm apprenhensive about the change. I have ADD so I have to be so very mindful about drinking and eating, especially when doing so with others because I'm easily distracted. I have to -- not try to, as in the past -- I have to drink a lot of water, something I've never been good at. No more gum or soda, or eating popcorn of sipping from a straw. For the first 6 wks, have to walk for a minute every hour. That's no problem but how am I going to rmember all of this, and get in drinking 30-60 minutes before a meal? I'm single, live alone and I ALWAYS do something else while I'm eating...watch TV, on the computer, etc. I've tried, but haven't been able to NOT to. All these things I've been unable to do in the past I have to do now along with a whole new slate of rules and do it inspite of ADD. Ok, I see now I'm overwhelmed. I always get thru things better than I think I will, and sometimes, things magically happen where there's no angst. I'm not dwelling too much on not losing enough weight to justify the band. I've heard several people say in my support group, as well as the surgeon's coordinator, that the people who don't lose aren't eating properly to lose the weight. Emotional eaters can struggle with the band because soothing milk shakes go down easily. My neighbor got the band a couple of years and she hasn't lost very much but acknowledges she eats the foods she did before, although she gets full faster. Apparently she needs more caloric restriction. I have friends but I'm really alone in the world -- no parents or children or family that are close. I'm 59 and I want to be able to control my life until I die, not be at the mercy of busy and/or uncaring nursing staff. That would be my idea of hell. So, that's why the lapband, I need to be healthy and vital for the best chance for independence for the rest of my life. And I want to be able to cross my legs!!!!! 265 lbs, 5' tall, have no idea what my goal is but I'll take 135lbs.

I use permanent hair coloring. I remember when my girlfriend was pregnant years ago, her color never came out as intended due to hormonal changes. After baby was born, no problem. I hope a few more people chime in if using permanent hair they've used for a long enough time to know what is 'normal', and if results changed after surgery.

I received a private message from someone who is about my age, is banded, and has been worrying about this potential problem, even regretting she got it because of it, though she has lost quite a bit of weight. With all references to her omitted, here is my response: Yes, I'm SO glad it occurred to me beforehand, I think it's a huge issue since even in early dementia, each meal has the potential for food to get stuck, vomiting, or need for emergency surgery. I MAY still go thru with it but with a plan. As I mentioned, no husband or children, parents both gone, no siblings - not even cousins, nephews or nieces who live close enough, or are quite in the category of close enough to be involved in my day to day life. So in terms of family, I'm on my own. I do have friends, a few I consider close friends, who happen to be on their own as well and we have become extended family for each other. Even now, with one of them, we make sure we have phone contact with each other everyday just in case, each with house keys, pet instructions, doctor/insurance info, etc. for the other. I enjoy the diversity of friends and continue to enjoy making new ones, and it doesn't hurt to increase the size of an extended family. So the plan I referred to earlier might consist of asking all the friends I have to watch for signs of trouble when we happen to be eating together, or if I say something that raises a red flag. I'd make sure each friend has the contact info of the others to compare notes, and information who to contact if there needs to be an intervention of some kind. This is not a bad idea anyway for reasons other than LAP-BAND® trouble. But before getting the LAP-BAND®, I will be going to a hypnotist for help with compulsive eating and the anxiety that causes it. And if that fails, I will go to perhaps 2 other hypnotists to assure my failure is not due to their style, our compatibility, or perhaps their competence. The one I'm planning to start with next week says 6-10 weekly sessions should do it with a follow up here and there, not a long time to wait and assess. Will keep you posted. In terms of your situation, you could set up a buddy system similar to mine, or perhaps determine an age, as you suggested, by which you'll have it deflated completely (to avoid another surgery to remove it). Where there's a will, there's a way (even if there's no mind), LOL. Robin

I've been approved for LAP-BAND® by insur company and was looking forward to it until I thought of something over the weekend which is having me re-think this. I'm 58, young enough not to worry about dementia anytime soon, but both parents in advanced life did have dementia so I'm at a certain amount of risk. I'm single, no children - no one to keep up with what's happening to me on a day by day basis. My concern is if I should slowly start developing dementia and unable to be mindful of how much I'm eating, what I'm eating, eating slow - and perhaps not able to remember at all if I've already eaten. Without my understanding why or ability to correlate pain in the esophagous or frequent throwing up, I could be in a world of trouble. Although I've researched LAP-BAND® ad nauseum (no pun intended, LOL) for a few years prior to making the decision to go forward with it, haven't ever seen this issue addressed. How has that situation been handled with early lapbanders who may be advancing in age and having lapses of memory?

Of course I'd need full time care if I got that bad, but what I'm concerned about are the years that lead up to that point. Some of you may have experienced with your aging parents that they ask the same questions over and over. Often times, the children become impatient, and say "You've asked me the same question 10 times now!", not realizing the parent is not purposely not paying attention but its the early onset of dementia. If anyone has had hands on experience with loved ones with dementia and understands my point, I would appreciate hearing from you.

My initial consultation with surgeon is soon. I have a lifetime phobia of vomiting, this could be a deal breaker for me, even if you don't heave. One of the reasons I decided against gastric bypass was the vomiting issues. Yes, I know the way to diminish it seems to be small bites, and chew, chew, chew. It's just a matter of time until you're a little distracted or in a hurry, and find your self in trouble. I do need the surgery if I want to loose significant weight, a lifetime of dieting off and on has proven, at 57 yrs/old, that it's not going to happen on my own. How do you think I would do if I just gave up eating, only drinking Protein shakes? The vomiting, intense pain, embarrassment of being in public - I would never allow myself to eat in public just in case. Again, your opinion about Protein Shakes only. Thx.

1. Walk past small children without fear they'll point to me and say to their mothers "She's fat" or something similar. 2. Not worry when I see the entrance requires going thru a turnstile. 3. look at myself in a group picture where I don't overwhelm everyone else by size. 4. feel that I'm not taking up so much room in any situation. 5. attach the seatbelts in any car. 6. attend a dressier event, not feel that I'm over-dressed. 7. look at my feet and they're not puffy. 8. fit in any chair without it killing my hips because its so tight. 9. go to the doctor, get an xray, or anywhere I have to lay down on a table, without struggling to get up by myself. 10. spring out of bed. 11. easily get up off the floor. 12. Easily get myself up and out of a cushy couch. 13. Enter a class or meeting room without first quickly scanning the room for the widest chair or the one without arms, and if nothing will work, quickly decide how to handle this with a minimum of embarrassment. That's all for now, getting late.

It sounds like, if you hadn't been banded and you were only on a diet, this is the point where the diet would end, and THAT'S why you got banded, right? But this doesn't make your situation easier, and I've been there and why I will be getting banded. I have one suggestion, using a simple tapping energy technique called Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). There are many sites that explain it and show you how to do it. You might start with tapping.com, emofree.com is great. No need to pay for any of the information about EFT, there's enough online about it that's free. This can help diminish or stop hunger. Good luck.

That's the bariatric surgery center my insurance company (Anthem Blue Cross HMO/Monarch) would have me use. Interested in feedback about each of their doctors, or the one you're familiar with: if you have preference for one doctor (& why?) patience? responsiveness if there's a problem or concern? Will one or both doc's really go to bat for me with the insur company if I only want the band, or just make a half-hearted attempt to appease me? if its not the insurance comp requiring it, do either of these doc's put you thru the hoop with 6mos or a yr of dieting beforehand, psych eval, that esophegeal test I've read about, etc? Any other thoughts about them, negative or positive, all appreciated. If you had any complications, what were they, and who was your doctor? Did you have to have band removed? What is your age, gender, your starting weight, time since surgery, and current weight?

They will sedate you if you have anxiety. Have you ever been sedated? It really works, you'll love it. You don't know what serenity is until you've been sedated. I know what you mean about fear going under, but honestly, it's no different than when you fall asleep at night when you're really, really tired. I've had several surgeries, never any nausea, although mentioned my concern about it to each anesthesiologist. They add anti-nausea meds to the anesthesia they give you. Now, about anxiety attacks, which you won't have once sedated, I recommend a homepathic remedy which has worked for myself and a handful of people I know that gets them - the brand is Bach Flower Remedy, and the specific flower essence is called Rescue Remedy. I've had only 2 anxiety attacks, and once i put the drops under my tongue, the attack subsided within a couple of minutes. It's available in many health food stores and online. Good luck.

I'm in Mission Viejo, and Monarch only uses the Bariatric Center in Fountain Valley, Dr. LePort. I'll be making consultation appt next week, but I'm not interested in bypass, only band. I've heard my insur co may consider it experimental, on the otherhand, I've heard they might approve band with a compelling letter from doctor. Would love to have feedback about the above, and how you liked Dr. LePort or Dr Frances, if you prefer one over the other, etc, etc. I'm basically healthy, just fat. 5'0', 255 lbs, 57 y/o, blood pressure 120/60, slightly high blood sugar, no other health problems. Thx in advance.