Blackbelt3rd

In 2005, I once again lost 45 pounds and looked great at 150 pounds.  In 2007, I realized that I was going to gain it all back again when I gained 50 pounds in 8 months due to stress.  During this 8 months, my husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, my best friend and soul sister died of breast cancer and her husband kept her closest friends away from her, and I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.  Between the pain and not being able to move well and the stress of these things, the weight came back and came back fast.I started researching the lap band in 2008.  I weighed 216 when I finally went to the seminar in 4/09.  I really didn't start getting my information to the Dr until that summer.  I thought that I wouldn't qualify because of the 3 year history.  My weight was on it's way up, but when I started to look into it, I did meet the requirements.  I wasn't 100 pounds overweight, but I had 5 co-morbidities.  High Blood Pressure, Neuropathy, Fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, and hormonal issues.Of course, the insurance company turned me down saying that my high blood pressure was controlled by medicine.  The day before it was 181/108!  That's really controlled, huh?  My Dr's office (yeah Merri and Althea) wrote the appeal telling them how much money they'd be putting out on all of my health conditions that would be improved or disappear with weight loss and I received my approval letter the beginning of 11/09.  Then I couldn't see the Dr until January.  My surgery date is on Tuesday, 2/2...almost 1 year to the day that I called to schedule my spot in the informative seminar.  I am on the first of my liquid preop days.  I have already lost 25 pounds due to the low carb diet that I've been on.  I was worried that I would disqualify myself.  I don't need to have the lap band to lose the weight.  I can do that....I've proven it at least 7 times in my life!  It's keeping it off that is my problem.  I am praying that this is the tool that will help me keep it off.I am looking forward to wearing that 2 piece bathing suit again, but more importantly, I'm looking forward to less pain from the Fibro.  I want to be able to compete in Taekwondo again without wearing down from the weight.  I'm looking forward to being healthy and to move easily.