heidsz

Hi, I am getting ready for my surgery on Thursday and am having mixed emotions. I was just wondering if you are happy that you have been banded or do you wish you would have waited or done something else? I guess I am thinking about this too much and am starting to pysch myself out. What are somethings that you wish you would have had on hand once you were banded?

Hi, I was scheduled for surgery three months ago and I got scared and cancelled my surgery. I realized I made a mistake and they allowed me reschedule it. I guess I am just hoping and praying I am doing the right thing. I am 5'4 and 223. I have not been able to loss weight for about 10 years. I have PCOS which also make losing weight hard but still wonder can I do it on my own? I know "bad" way of thinking since I haven't lost weight in all these years. Just wondering are you all glad you had this done? Thanks Heidi P.S. My surgery is Thursday

Wow, you look great... thanks for sharing! Heidi

I will be getting my surgery May 26th! Looking forward to it and nervous as well. Heidi

I am 3 days away from surgery and I am still battleing in my mind "Is this the right thing" "Did I exhaust all avenues"... I am encouraged by all the great sucess on here and it makes me feel I am doing the right thing. But when I think of never being able to eat certain things again it freaks me out a little. I feel like if I kept drinking liquids and eating one little meal a day I could lose weight - but will I is the big question... I am not diabetic now, but I was when I was pregnant - I lost a child full term 3 days before I was due to gestational diabetes (they think). I guess I am scared of what could happen even though the risks are low... I had low risk when that happened and it is something that haunts me to this day. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Heidi heidshosh@aol.com

Hi, I am getting banded on Thursday and have been getting some of the things I have seen listed on this site and from my doctor. I was wondering when were you able to eat lowfat cream Soups? What are some of the things you wish you would have had on hand when you were banded? Has anyone tried any of the recipes on the bariatric recipe site for in the begining? (I saw a puree vegetable soup) on there. One of my friends swears by the vita mixer... it is quite expensive and I am wondering if it is worth it? Do you like have a juicer and if so what kind do you use? I have a food processor and was hoping that would be a good thing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am excited and also scared "Am I doing the right thing". Thanks for any advice, Heidi heidshosh@aol.com

Hi, I am a patient of Dr. Minkin at Des Peres Hospital. I know they have support groups that meet twice a month. Take care, Heidi

Hi, there is a possibility I may have MS and I am scheduled to get my lapband surgery next week. I should find out on Wed. for sure or at least see what my neurologist says. I am just wondering if anyone on here has this and how the lapband has or has not affected your symptoms? Or has not bothered it at all. I am scared and just wondering what the right thing for me to do is. Thanks for your help, Heidi heidshosh@aol.com

Wow, you look great! Thanks for sharing your story... I get my surgery in two weeks and wonder am I doing the right thing... then I look at your pics and it answers my question. Great job, Heidi

Thats awesome... I have been thinking of buying the clothing (a piece here or there) to let me visualize getting some nice clothing! I have a trip to Vegas 2 months after my surgery I am visualizing in my mind what 20 pounds would look like off of me (haha)... hoping for that anyways. Good idea... HEIDI

Best of luck to you! I am 2 weeks out till my surgery. Take care Heidi

Hi, I forgot to ask my doctor how long I am in the hospital? Is it overnight or is it in and out surgery? (sorry if this is a dumb question) just wondering! Thanks so much Heidi

Best of luck to you! I am going in March 3rd and am nervous as well. I just have to keep telling myself how good it will feel to be healthy and looking better in shorts this summer! Take care, Heidi

Hi, I am getting banded March 3 in St. Louis, MO. Kind of getting nervous - like what am I doing?! But I know in the end it will be worth it, it is just scary. Heidi 229

Hi, I was checking my status on "Mytricare.com" and this morning there was no pending authorizations in my account. So I thought, "Oh no it was denied" but I thought it should at least show it there. I called Tricare (north) and the lady told me that I didn't need an authorization. Then I explained to her that this was for lapband and there were requirements that tricare has, and she said I met the requirements and a letter would be sent, but that I didn't need an authorization. I know for all my other care like specialist I don't need authorizations that is the great thing about standard but I thought for this I would get one. Any thoughts? I haven't been able to get ahold of my doctor yet this morning. Wondering how long now till my surgery. I am scared but excited at the same time. Heidi

Wow, you look great! Thanks so much for sharing your story. It is an inspiration! Heidi

Wow, you look great. Thanks for sharing your pictures, it is an inspiration. I am nervous about getting banded in 2 weeks and pictures like yours helps keep me motivated. Congrats! Heidi

I think you look great! I can totally see the difference in 39 days... it gives me hope of what I have in store for me once I get banded. Thanks for sharing! heidi:thumbup:

Hi Ashley, I have been where you are so many times. I am prior military and married to the military for the last 16 years. It is a different lifestyle that unless you are in it you have no idea. Hugs to you while your husband is/was gone. I think the military life has helped contribute to my weight gain for sure. Being alone, having children, moving - I mean it is understandable what you are feeling. I agree with the above poster that there is something about military spouses though that when we are down we need to dig deep and know we can do this. We have to be strong when our husbands are away, keeping the kids in a normal schedule, moving, dealing with not talking to one another for days... I do believe you are strong. You made the decision to get this surgery and that took a strong person to do that. Take baby steps and just regroup. I just wanted to say I understand and wanted to send a "hug" your way. Heidi

Hi, I just met with my doctor today and I am hoping to have my surgery in Jan. I was a little worried when he said for the rest of my life I have to eat 4 oz at each meal and drink 2 hours later.... I totally know that this will change my life (my dad had gastric bypass 7 yrs ago)... but he isn't restricted to 4 oz, he can eat a little more then that. I guess I am just getting a little anxious by thinking, "Am I doing the right thing" ... etc. etc. I am sure you all have felt like that at one time. I just want to be able to go out to eat once in awhile and feel somewhat normal around people when eating. Do you feel like this now? What do you eat? Are there any good books out there about lapband? Are you glad you had this done? I have been overweight for the last 12 years and just want to get back to being healthy. Thanks for letting me vent , Heidi heidshosh@aol.com

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate it. I was just making myself feel a little anxious after all my consults today. Take care, Heidi

Wow, you look so great. Thank you so much for sharing your story. On Monday I go for all my peliminary paperwork (pysch eval.. etc.) then it goes to my insurance. Hopefully everything will go smoothly. I keep going back in forth in my mind, "Am I doing the right thing"... but I don't want to be regretting not getting this surgery sooner and living the active life I once led. You look so great.... thanks again for sharing, Heidi

Hi, I was just wondering what your experience with Tricare has been? I am 5'3 and 229 BMI 40. I do have arthritis in my one ankle, have degenerative disc disease in my neck and am pre-diabetic. Just wondering what you think about my chances for approval? I also am considered disabled through the VA (I am a vet, for migraines, and my arthritis, etc). I am also tricare standard (best decision I ever made in regards to doctor choices) I am near St Louis now Thanks for your help. Are you glad you got it or are getting it? Heidi heidshosh@aol.com

Hi, I have my first appt today at noon... I have so many medical records I am not even sure what to take, what to copy. Did you all have a letter from your primary care doctor to take with you? Since I am on standard I barely go to my primary doctor... could never find a great one (except for colds and all that) but had a great GYN doctor , neurologist, pain doctors for all my things... So I have all those records. I am also a disabled veteran and have all that documentation (basically it documents in outline form what happened to me over the last 10 years). I am 5"3 and about 229, so I am right on the cusp of the weight requirements. Any thoughts of how to organize my records? Doctors notes you took with you? Thanks so much for all your replies they have been so encouraging. I can hardly believe I am going to possibly get weight loss surgery, in one way it makes you feel like, "How did this happen" and then in another way I see how great it has been for people in my family who got their lives back. Take care, Heidi heidshosh@aol.com