toomuchrose

@@Bmjohnson I'm getting banded and of course I'm having a major case of the nerves right now, three weeks away from the surgery. If you noticed the dates of my posts, I first investigated WLS in 2009 and decided it wasn't for me. Needless to say, things only got worse over the years and I've finally wised up to the idea that I'll never do it by myself. I'm really glad to hear from someone a month out from banding and I'd love to know how you progress. You must be about ready for solid food now? So glad to hear you are happy with your band.

I sympathize with you PMS ladies. One of the few good things about getting old is I don't have to deal with that anymore!

Update: It's now the end of April 2014 and my surgery is scheduled for May 20. My insurance required five months of eating 1400 calories, recording everything I ate and turning in a food diary at monthy weigh ins. I decided to do this at my surgeon's practice at the hospital instead of my PCP and it worked out well. I met with a nutritionist each month who reviewed my diary and gave me advice. I had a ton of pre-op tests, upper and lower GI, cardiac, blood work, etc. and was pleased an surprised to find that everything is really good despite my age and weight. My main problem is severe arthritis. i have bone spurs and stenosis on my spine and severe sciatica on the left. My right leg is very weak due to a surgical mishap; Seven years ago a surgeon crushed my sciatic nerve during hip replacement and I wear a brace. Most of the time I use a wheelcahir, so my exercise has been very limited. But the good news is I'm not diabetic, and I have no heart problems. I have low cholesterol. My main reason for having surgery is that I hope that with less pressure on my spine, I might have less pain and be able to walk more.

@@enjoythetime Thanks so much for posting your eating ideas. I've had the dumbest reaction about what to eat once I get onto a regular diet. I think fear of the unknown and fear about giving up my favorite foods caused me to sort of blank out ideas about how to eat. The guidebook given to me by my surgeon lists nothing but plain foods, not the recipe stuff I've always eaten, and I was beginning to think I'd be stuck with 3 oz of plain chicken or whatever day after day. I don't think the surgeon means I can't eat other things, I think that was simply the easy way to explain it. I know plenty of healthy recipes, but I couldn't visualize them in my post-op life. You've helped me a lot!

I loved this post. Human behavior is inexplicable sometimes. Why does my friend with COPD still smoke? And also complain about her breathing problems? It goes beyond eating; most of us repeat counter productive behaviors despite vowing to stop. I read a meditation during Lent which cited a Bible passage that asked the same question, so 2000 years ago people were pondering the same problem and not much has changed since. The heart wants what the heart wants, I guess, and the head can't always sucessfully stop it.

I'm excited for all of us and I hope everyone keeps posting their experiences. It helps so much to know others feel like I do and to get an idea of the little details about the whole thing. Sometimes I can't wrap my mind around the idea that it's going to actually happen because it's such a drastic change!

I didn't want to mention the reason for my fear before because I don't want to spread negativity here, but I got freaked out when my friend told me about her daughter's experience. She suddenly vomited all over the table in a nice crowded restaurant! She had a bypass, not a band, and she did tend to keep overeating after her WLS, so I'm keeping in mind that I don't need to go down that path. I live alone and don't get out as often as most people because I use a wheelchair, so I'll have plenty of time to learn to eat while alone at home. I think the take away with that story is to follow the doctor's advice about post-op eating! I'm also focusing on the idea that every day is another chance to succeed. After a bad week, I've ended up doing pretty well today. My eating is in line and I'm thinking about those old jeans that I might fit into pretty soon. Samirax6, I'll bet those foods made with almond flour are delicious! I've never heard of almond flour.

Haha! I guess it's inevitable to have one last slip. I truly think I will follow directions after surgery though because I'm too afraid of causing problems. I saw from another post that you and I have the same date Martha, May 20.

At least I'm not the only one scared and nervous! My attitude has been lousy recently and I'm fighting what I call the "last meal" mindset. Like, I'd better eat a pizza (or Chinese food or whatever) now because I might never be able to eat it again. I know that's awful, but I'm just being honest about what I'm thinking. At this rate, I'll regain the whole amount I lost in 5 months of dieting to qualify for insurance. Today my attitude is a little more positive than it was all last week, so I'm hoping to hang on to some will power. I'm having a big party on May 3, and I'll admit I planned it as my "last meal". I was always big on having parties and I don't know what I'll do in the future, I can't see making great food for 30 people and sitting in the corner eating yogurt and cottage cheese myself. I think I'm really scared of giving up my friend food. I do serve some healthy food, things I could eat post-op when I have guests, but I think I'm also afraid I won't be able to eat in front of other people due to fear of vomiting, etc. How's that for a case of the nerves?

Congratulations! I can't wait until I'm where you're at, hopefully by the end of May. I'm so glad to hear that you're not hungry and not having problems, that really gives me a boost and helps my fears. Please keep updating us on your progress and I hope things go well for you. Sorry I don't have the experience to share something to reassure you, but it sounds like you are where you should be. I guess that feeling that you should be eating more is simply a matter of readjusting an old, long held pattern. I'm having trouble changing my thinking at this point. Keep up the success!

I agree that this sounds a little shaky and you need to be able to trust your team. I'm not sure how this works in other places or exactly what a so-called bariatric center is, I guess it's a for-profit practice that isn't part of a hospital? I'm going to a bariatric department in a major hospital, and the team there has 5-6 staff doctors.plus nutritionists. psychologists, etc. The hospital, UPMC Magee-Womens, is very well regarded; it originally was a OB-GYN facility, but now has all types of departments and does a ton of bariatric surgery. They don't sell any supplements, foods or Protein powders, nothing like that. I think they would regard that as kind of unethical or suspicious. My health care insurance has set guidelines for coverage and co-pays, so all I need to do is check with their annual coverage book to see what I'll end up paying.

My surgery date is May 20, but insurance approval is still pending. I don't think it will be a problem however. My doctor isn't having me do the 2 week pre-op diet thing. I'm not sure how she determines who does it and who doesn't, but I'm glad to escape that part of it. I'm getting really nervous and I can't quite believe it's really happening!

That's a great thought and I just went through the same thing last week! I decided to put my winter clothes away and get out the warm weather stuff. I looked at some of those old things I've worn for years and realized I might never need to wear them again! And I went a step further, I bought a couple smaller size shirts! Maybe this seems like a silly time to buy new clothes, but my old stuff was getting ratty and I need a boost to my self confidence. I've been buying from those places I call the "fat lady stores" for years, Roamans, One Stop Plus, etc. and their stuff runs much bigger than other stores. I've been wearing 3x, and they are usually much too wide in the shoulders, but I needed the size for my hips and middle. That means they slide around and gap sideways on my shoulders and neck. I got sick of looking so frumpy, so I bought 2x this time, and they actually fit well now, even pre-surgery. My tentative date is May 20, pending insurance approval. On Thursday, I'm getting my hair cut and colored and getting highlights for the first time at a new salon. The new me is going to be reflected in my appearance so I can start feeling and looking better!

Hi, I sure can relate to all the emotions you are experiencing. My tentative date is May 20. I've finished all my medical tests and the five months of 1400 calorie dieting required for my insurance, and it looks good for me to get insurance approval. I go through mental changes every day, worrying if I can succeed, how I will deal with head hunger, whether I'll have complications, etc., it goes on and on. The program I'm in has a bariatric psychologist on staff and I'm going to see her on April 23 in hopes of adjusting my attitude in a positive way. I don't actually know anyone who has been banded, and I wish I did so I could see a good example. I'm counting on the folks here for that!

After reading on here about experiences with a pre-op diet, I realized there was no mention of it in the extensive printed material my doctor gave me, so I asked the office nurse. She said my surgeon does order a two week pre-op diet for some people, but I wouldn't be one of them. I guess I'm relieved to hear that I don't have to do that, but I'm wondering what criteria the doctor would use to decide that? What's the purpose of it? I know I should have asked the nurse while I was talking to her, but typically, all the questions occur to me as soon as I hang up!

Those sound like plausible reasons but I have a high BMI, about 50 and I'm completely sedentary. I spend a lot of time in a wheelchair due to arthritis and a damaged leg, so I don't exercise at all. My eating habits might be a little more healthy than some patients, however. Even before I started on my restricted calorie diet to meet insurance requirements, I always ate predominately fresh fruits and vegetables and very rarely ate fast food. My problem is eating big portions and adding on sweets after dinner, I rarely drink soda pop. I just had a battery of blood tests and my cholesterol is 168, and I'm not diabetic I don't know if my surgeon thought that had anything to do with it.

My answer is one less than I told yesterday, lol! A woman in my apartment building (senior independent living) offered me a cookie yesterday and so I told her I was on my five month diet to qualify for insurance for banding. She's actually a kind person and I know she meant well but she proceeded to tell me about her friend who died from peritonitis after WLS! Like I needed to hear that! Like many offices, a senior building is tightly focused on gossip, so I'm sure most people here will know because I already discussed it with other people who were pushing me to eat Cookies.

It's great to hear that you're doing well and not suffering from hunger. My tentative surgery date is May 20 and as I get closer, I'm getting more nervous, spending more time worrying about all the details and so on. Reading posts like yours is extremely helpful and comforting. Thanks and I hope you continue to do well and keep posting.

Cairobat, I've felt the same way many times over the years I've considered this surgery. I went to orientation meetings twice, even talked to doctors and then backed off. This time I'm further down the road than ever before. I've been recording my food and having monthly weigh-ins since Nov. to qualify for the insurance requirements. My tentative surgery date is May 20. On bad days I think about how scared I will be to not be able to soothe myself with food like I've done all my life. But the others are right. Food has been a false friend. It's destroyed my health and my appearance and robbed me of so much that I could have had. I think of all the sports and activities I could never do with my friends and kids. All the guys who never gave me a second look because I was so sloppy fat. All the times I was too tired to do what I wanted to do, working, shopping, having fun. How many times was I embarrassed in a public place where only flimsy little chairs were available and I worried they wouldn't hold me? I remember going to a concert and realizing the seats were just 17" and when I squashed myself in, It was obvious I overflowed badly. It was humiliating. Does a true friend cause any of those problems for you? I'm not in a position to talk about my success yet, but I'm trying to change my outlook. I hope you will consider what you hear from the people here and choose to have a better life.

How awful that both of you were treated so badly. No patient should have to experience rudeness and disrespect from a doctor or staff in any medical situation. I hope you both find better support and continue on your journey to health.

Wonderful. I'll bet you feel great.

I think it's a great idea and I'd love to take part. My surgery is tentatively scheduled for May and I think support is very important. My only suggestion is to be sure to hold the meetings in a handicapped accessible location as I am in a wheelchair. I think some folks who are still at the start of their journey may also have mobility problems.

I'm so pleased to hear all your comments. I read a very negative comment in a different section of the forum a few minutes ago which scared me, so I am reassured to hear from healthy successful people. I haven't gotten insurance approval yet, lots of tests to go through first, but my tentative surgery date is May 20. Good luck and good health to us all! I think we've made the right choice.

When I started my supervised dieting, I had the choice to do it either at my PCP's office or right at the hospital practice where I'll have my surgery, and I decided to go with the hospital's program because it's easy to get to, well regarded and I figured I'd be sure to know exactly what was required of me. At the first information session they expained that, yes, surgery was for people who couldn't lose otherwise, however, insurance wants the patient to demonstrate willingness to follow a new eating pattern and lose if possible. They said many insurers will disqualify you if you gain even one pound over the starting weight. I was instructed to eat 1400 calories a day, weigh and measure everything and write it all down in a diary they gave me, or use an online tool like myfitnesspal.com. I chose myfitnesspal because it's easy, I've used it before, and I don't have to worry about carrying a notebook around. I have the app on my phone, I am required to turn in a printout of my food diary for a minimum of 22 days each month, ideally every day, when I go for my monthly weigh ins. Not only did the nutritionists explain all of this clearly at the first session, but they gave me the rules in writing and had me initial that I'd read it and understood. I'm going for my fourth weigh in/nutritionist meeting tomorrow and I'm nervous because it's been a bad month for me. I lost 10.5 pounds the first month, and three more since, so at least I have a little cushion where I feel safe I'm not going over my starting weight. I think I'll weigh the same as last month when I go in tomorrow. I worry because I'm prone to retain water and my weight can go up 3-4 pounds if I've eaten too much sodium. I'm sure every insurance company has different requirements and every doctor expects different things. I hope you get approved after all the effort you've made. That's a long wait. Good luck

GoWalking, thanks for the encouraging words. I hope you are recovering well from your hip replacements. Despite the ordeal of physical therapy and recovery entailed in joint replacement, it's such a great relief to be free of the constant pain. I know excess weight makes it much worse and it looks as if you have done wonders so far in recovering your health. Skywalker, it's hard to be certain the decision to have wls is right for you, but I hope you will be encouraged by the members here to do it while you have decades of healthy living ahead of you.