MelissaN

where is it? I have a 10cc band with a 1.5cc fill right now... My doctor fills SOOO slowly! LOL I wanna get to a good place in my first year (I have until August) because it will be $250 per fill after that point. Just curious where seems "comfy" for most of you!

How're my Banded Buddies doing? Just checking in...

I was banded on Tuesday (5/11) and as of today (5/15) I'm down 7.8 pounds! Yay! How's everyone else?

Yay Kerri!!!! I look forward to hearing from you about it!

My surgery date is May 11-- Tuesday! Can you BELIEVE how close we are?!?!? I'll be going to Monterrey Mexico for my surgery Monday morning... Surgery Tuesday... Recovery/Swallow study Wednesday... Fly back home to Alabama on Thursday morning!!! I'm praying for as little pain as possible!!!

*hugs* My poor band buddy! I don't know how we keep missing each other in real-time chat!!! I wish I could be here for you when you need it!! 'Cause I SO get it! Anyways, be strong. You can do it-- not much time left before we're banded and have the tools to help us truly succeed!

I can't believe it'll be soon for all of us! I'm busy with last minute stuff around here-- since I'm getting banded in Mexico, I'm cleaning and making plans for my 3 year old to stay with grandmama.... Just trying to focus on getting everything ready so I don't have time to stress and second guess myself!!!

Looks like there are a lot of us... I'm so excited!

My surgery is scheduled for May 11... I'm gettin' nervous, but at the same time am SUPER excited to be moving into this new phase of my life!

A surgery date!! WOO HOO!

I was told today that my pre-op diet will consist of 48 hours of clear liquids. My BMI is hovering near 40 (either 5'6 or 5'7, 245 - 255)... Is 48 hours only of liquids enough to do the job of shrinking my liver? I mean, I guess if Dr. Zapata thinks it's enough I should be content that it's not a SUPER long pre-op, but... I sure as heck don't want to get there for pre-op testing and them say, "Oh... Hmmm. Nope. Can't do it!" Anyone got insight?

And I'm so excited! I've spoken to the staff of Dr. Roberto Rumbaut and also to the staff of Dr. Miguel Zapada-- Dr. Z looks to be a bit cheaper and still highly recommended, so I'm guessing he wins this race. I've researched both surgeons as extensively as I can and asked all of the questions from the sticky about Mexican bariatric surgeons... I feel comfortable with either . Also... And THIS is a biggie... I've convinced my husband that going to Mexico is NOT "sheer idiocy" (his original wording) but rather a necessity as our health insurance is worthless in this case. I don't think he LIKES it, but... He IS willing to accompany me (I have a 6 month old nursling who'll have to be tended to while I'm in surgery-- he's gotta eat!). I'm waiting on a check in the mail before I book my surgery... And then it'll probably be about 6 weeks out as I need a deal on airfare and without booking 6-7 weeks in advance, the prices are just a bit steep for me. Now... I'm just want that check to GET HERE! It could take another couple of months, though (geez, I hope not!), so... For now I'm going to work on cutting all caloric drinks out of my diet as that could be a big problem-- even banded... And I'm going to start stocking up on Protein drinks. I hear Isopure plus is the best tasting? I'm just ready to get it done, now... I'll be stalking my mailman even moreso now!!!

My surgeon told me that because of where my BMI is, I will only do a 48 hour liquid diet. Can you tell me more about the Optifast? I want to make sure that I don't go in for my pre-op testing and them say, "Oh my... We should have had you on a more stringent pre-op diet!" Just curious :thumbup:

Soexcited, I would NEVER jump into surgery, period. Let alone surgery in a different country. LOL I totally see your point, though. When I first began researching, I thought people who went out of the States for surgery were crazy! But, now... In my area, at least... I feel entirely MORE comfortable with the 2 doctors I've researched in Monterrey than I feel with the doctors here in my hometown. When you add in that my insurance doesn't cover weight loss procedures at all... Well... It takes care of that 0.5% niggling doubt about Mexico. IMO, I'd be more likely to have my esophagus banded here in Alabama than in Mexico. But, I might just be unlucky in the medical choices here in southern Alabama, too. I'm sure there are great surgeons in the US as well. I'm just not fortunate enough to have access to 'em!

Good luck! Our insurance does NOT cover lap band... And that's fine. After attending the seminar here in town, even if insurance DID cover the surgery, I believe I would STILL be looking for alternatives. I know it might sound a bit far out, but... The prices in Mexico can't be beat and, frankly, there are some doctors who just impress me exponentially more than the US doctors I've spoken with. PM me if you'd like more info (I've been researching like mad). Good luck on the journey!!

OMG! Y'all should read my latest blog entry. Geez... I think even if insurance covered 100% I'd be looking for other options after the lap-band "seminar" I attended with my hubby and mom tonight. UGH!

Hidey Ho! I joined here... 2 nights ago? I was researching and joined up to read more about what people who'd had the surgery thought of it. I suppose I'll introduce myself, now. I'm Melissa. I live in Mobile, Alabama and have been contemplating having WLS for quite a while-- at LEAST since the birth of my daugher back in '07. When I started looking into it a little more seriously... Lo and behold, I found out I was pregnant with our second baby (born in Sept of last year). I've struggled with being overweight all of my adult life... I thought I was overweight as a teen, but really, I was tiny. Weird how our brains work as teenagers. :smile2: At the moment, I've not attended seminar or met with a surgeon. I know who I would like to perform my surgery-- Steven Weinstein here in Alabama. A friend had full on bypass back in 2002 and she can't say enough great things about her surgeon. But, when I called for an appointment Friday, I was told I had to attend a seminar first. The first available seminar is March 10, so... Only 3 more days away! Hopefully I can get in to see him promptly after that and get the ball rolling. My BMI is around the 40 mark.. (I can't decide exactly as I'm unsure how tall I am-- I've been told between 5'6 and 5'8, depending on the doctors office-- weird, I know) I don't have any obesity related health problems AT THE MOMENT. Well, other than foot pain from walking with so much weight on me and occasional back pain. But, in my family Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, respiratory problems, and the like run rampant. I know I'm on track for all of that. And I've got an almost 3 year old and an almost 6 month old... Not to mentioned a husband I love very, very much. I owe it to them (not to mention MYSELF) to get healthy. I've tried numerous diets and I can lose OK, but... It always come back with a few friends. This is the largest I've ever been and I know I'm headed for serious problems unless the changes are made... And I feel that lap- band will be the ONLY way I can make the necessary changes! I'm excited to be here... Excited to find others who understand my pain (my DH is skinny-- he SO does not get it)... And excited I'm finally willing to admit that I have a problem and have GOT to have help to fix it! Thanks for making it through my introduction novel. I look forward to getting to know y'all!

...to get the ball rolling. I don't even attend seminar until this coming Wednesday night. And I know that there could be a potentially long wait before I actually get banded (fingers crossed that my insurance is compliant), but I just want the ball rolling. Yesterday, I drove my mom to the day spa to get her hair colored. There was a scale in the bathroom. Should've known better, of course. I stepped on, curious and it flashed 255 at me. Now... I haven't weighed here at home in 3 weeks, but... I WAS at 235. 20 pounds?? Seriously?? HOW?? It hardened my resolve. I've considered WLS for over a year now... But, I got pregnant with my son just as I had started looking into it, so obviously it kinda took a back burner. And now, I'm nursing him. So, again, I assumed (read : decided to be LAZY and assume) WLS was an impossibility. After my research, I've seen that that is not necessarily true. So, after over a year of waffling back and forth... And 5 years before that of being obese... And a lifetime before that of being overweight... The time is here. And I'm ready. SO ready. I'm more than willing to make the changes needed. I just need HELP to make them. And I truly, truly believe the lap-band is what can help me. I've read so many INCREDIBLE stories/blogs/posts from people and am just SO thankful that I've found this place and quit trying to convince myself-- "Hey, Melissa... You're not THAT FAT!" Because... Well... I am... And, as y'all know. IT SUCKS.

Erika, LOL! Yeah... I'm weird like that... I played tennis in high school and worked in competitive gymnastics for SO long... For some reason, I really never see myself as "obsese". My MIL took a TON of pictures this past Christmas (new grandson's first) and when she sent them to me I was HORRIFIED. I was like, "Gosh, what am awful angle! I look atrocious!"... And then, as I kept flipping through 'em... It was NOT the angle. It was me. And it was BAD. *shudders* I suppose it's better than all out hating on yourself all the time, but... What a shocker to realize you've gone from OK to morbidly obese in one fell swoop! (Well, in MY brain anyway!)

...Is it possible? Or should I hold off on this process until my kids are older? :smile2: I'm a stay-at-home-mom to an almost 3 year old and a 5 month old. My husband helps, of course, but... Someone around here has to make MONEY so I leave it up to him! :w00t: Would I be able to recover and care for my kids? Or... ``With their ages would that be nearly impossible? (I'm attending seminar next Wed and will be able to meet with a surgeon only after I've attended that-- so I am SUPER early in the game!)

Congrats on getting here! I look forward to starting the official process on Wednesday with the required seminar before I can meet with the surgeon! I'm proud of you!!

Betsy, I agree... Especially since I have a darn needy 5 month old. LOL This is one on my growing list of questions to ask at the seminar. I'm under the impression here that it takes a good bit of time to get approved and get your surgery date-- so it might be a moot point. Heck... Calvin might be a toddler by the time I'm scheduled! It's even more rough because... I'm not entirely certain I would tell the people who could help me out that I'm considering WLS. My mom is great... But, she would NOT be supportive of "the easy way out" of being obese. Which is frustrating. I suppose if it comes right down to it, my husband can use some vacation days to take the brunt of the baby. I'll be quizzing my doctor as soon as I can! And thank again for such quick responses!

Thanks for the quick responses! I have so many questions... But, I really feel I need to do something now. I've coached competitive gymnastics for years-- I was put on bedrest while pregnant with my 5 month old and have not returned... But, even at this weight (243) I'm still active-- can still even do back handsprings and stuff... Gosh... I just can't fathom how much BETTER I could feel with all of this weight pulling down on me! I want to enjoy my kids!!!