NurseShay

I know exactly what you mean! I'm a california girl and I have never fit the streotypical standard! I went as far as being the self proclaimed token fat girl of the group trying to beat all the jokesters to the punch! A defense mechanism I adapted in skool yard days right along with being the 'muscle' of the group intimidation feature. . Those kinds of people are classless, ignorant & often times insecure! Honestly what pushed me over the edge to commit to being banded was when my bestfriend posted a rather unflattering picture of me on facebook & I read the deleted comments that my fb app automatically saved... people are cruel for no reason at all. But my motto is ''The Greatest Form of Revenge is Success!'' So let nay sayers be your motivation & pray for them! You will have the last laugh.

I'm a april 14th bandster so you must let me know how yours goes when you're up to it! I jus started posting here also but I've found you can go to your own profile (click on your name) and click on all 'find all posts by [your name]' and you'll see everywhere you posted something and therefore can view the thread with all the comments that followed your own. Ill keep you in my prayers! Stay positive & prayerful. Shay Ps:Feel free to pm me!

Oh really?? That's good to hear!! I kept reading all these hospital stories & the vids on youtube where people were overnight there and I'm thinking hmm maybe something isn't right about my havin surgery at 8 and out at 12! So thanks for relieving that doubt! Count down jitters!

Ohh Queen I can relate!! I have already considered holding off for one last attempt at weight loss on my own! Any kind of 'invasive' scares me laproscopic or not but its for the greater good! These stories on here are very encouraging every time doubt surfaces so this is all I've been doing since I set the date Thursday. I'm a few days ahead of you so ill be sure to let you know how it goes & what helped for me! Support & research are essential!

Hi Jaxie! I'm addicted to this forum which in any case is better than grazing while I'm on these quiet graveyard shifts so you can always count on a response from me! At this rate we'll soon have a club of 4/14th bandsters!haha I am so anxious to get this show on the road! My pre-op diet started at midnight. I've been a regular slimfast dieter for yrs so so far so good! Ask me again tomorrow though.haha Look forward to keeping up with you as well. Ill try to make it on on the big day & check in but that ofcourse depends on how drugged I am! Good to meet you.

I'm in SD & due to be banded next week looking to connect with other people in the area but doesn't seem to be much activity in the SD threads! Any1 who's looking for support / to connect feel free to pm me! :-)

Haha I feel your confusion! I ate leftovers before work tonight and thought I should've had a 'last supper' at my fav restaurant or something more grand than half a cold burrito! I guess that's just the addict in all of us craving one last fix, so to speak. I can honestly say I probably will miss my comfort foods at first but the benefits from this wls will far outweigh & provide much more comfort than any food. My diet starts today as well so here's to a fresh start! Good luck!

Congrats on getting a date! I'm scheduled for april 14th so I don't have much veteran advice for you but hopefully with our dates being so close I can provide some encouragement! Almost time for a brand new life.

Lol! Yes I am a nurse & I have worked flu clinics giving over 100 IMs a day but point it at me and I'm ready to run for the hills!lol doesn't help that with being overweight I have those pesky thin rolling veins that seems to allude most nurses! How many times I've said just take it from my left hand and they see it as a challenge to try & conquer! So we have much in common!

Just beware that they expect you to have been overweight for 5yrs, be 100lbs overweight & have proof of trying to lose weight & failing. Not just your BMI is considered. Especially if your looking for full insurance coverage. Lap band is a tool & should not be a first resort to weight loss. No offense but the risks that can come with it may have you regret trying to gain weight just to fall in the parameters of for the surgery so weigh your options carefully! Best of luck to you!

I think we all have the same thoughts! My skinny dreams are.... 1. Definitely to be able to shop at regular stores -in the mall!! Oh I haven't been able to do that since middle skool! 2. Ride every ride at six flags or any theme park. 3. To go dancing with my girls & not be the odd ball in the group. 4. To not have to assess the chairs I sit in or the bathroom stall I use. 5. To not have to 'plan' how to or 'count off' or 'rock' to get off a low seat. 6. To wear a little black dress- without counting on spanx which 30mins into the night roll up & cut off circulation. 7. To be excited to be tagged in picture on FB rather than dreading it wondering which unflattering angle they caught of me. 8. To go indoor sky diving (wt maximum 250lbs) 9. To have children with no risks & teach them by example. 10. To have a wedding & be a beautiful bride! =)

Wow all these stories are encouraging. I'm 25 been overweight since about age 12. Am scheduled to be banded on 4/14. (3 weeks before my 26th bday) I have a lifetime of bad habits to overcomme so I'm pleased to see this works for people who have always struggled rather than those who just got off track in the last few yrs.

This is one of the major issues on my mind. Weight definitely held me back from a lot of things including relationships with people I felt intimidated by because they were just too good looking & I didn't feel I wanted to compete with any competition in the form of skinny girls.(I'm confident that I could have just didn't want the potential drama) So I've been in a relationship wit my bf who likes thick girls- this is what made us work! I like to eat & so does he. He was average when we met & once we moved in together and I started cooking for him he's packed on @ least 20lbs. And actually that's what really showed me how bad my habits are! But though he supports me in my decision he's expressed some concern that my options will open up even more & that I wouldn't want to have a chubby signif other. I guess he has the same mindset I do about sort of sticking with your own. But I love bigger ppl regardless of my size & would def still find myself attracted to them. However part of why I want to lose weight is to finally sieze opportunities to do things in life I haven't been able to & experience life with a new carefree attitude. I'm only 25 & have been neglecting to do normal things because my weight detains me. I never went to my prom, don't travel or go out like I want to & sometimes I think I settle in a life that was 'safe' for me. I honestly DON'T PLAN to leave him but I can predict that the lifestyle ill probably want to lead will dramatically change us & probably stress us to the max. We've only been together 8mts & we're good with each other & he's been very supportive but I'm feeling like we're both young & since we have no children & are not married this may be too drastic a change for us or maybe that I want to experience life for the first time just for me, with no baggage. How selfish am I?! =/

I'm due for my surgery on the 14th would also like to keep in touch with someone to keep me on track! Feel free to pm me. =)

Hi purple! I'm glad to find someone else who's having it the same day as me! Its exciting & nerve racking! I am starting the pre-op diet tomorrow. Jus had my last icecream bar.lol since I have to fast tues for the pre-op tests I figure I might as well get a head start. I have read some nightmares about the pre-op diet though! I think we're probably entering the most difficult time of being banded so I hope to keep in touch with you & your surgery goes smoothly. 1 day down! =)

I'm new here but just wanted to give a little info and that is to beware of ads for cheap band surgeries! My surgeon told me the 4th series of the lap band made by Allergen which is the newest & obviously improved version costs $4500 itself. Allergen is the leader in lap band manufacturers. And there are surgeons who use a cheaper swedish band that can be purchased for $250 itself. This band is of a much lower quality. So the cheaper the surgery often times shows lower quality of equipment, staffing & other ways clinics will cut corners to make a sell while still being totally legal. I'm a nurse, and although I don't work in bariatrics I've definitely seen how facilities will cut corners so really research the clinic, the surgeon & the band your surgeon plans to use. Even more so the most dangerous part of any surgery is going under so make sure you have a qualified anesthesiologist! (Keep in mind that in the US their fees often run $1500/hr).

Having mine done in San Diego, Ca at the aesthetic weight loss out-patient center for $15,300

I am scheduled to be banded april 14th @ 8am. As the date gets closer I find myself having doubts. For much of the same reasons as Ravyn. Fear of failure... fear of bein at the mercy of this system, surgeons & all that. I'm a nurse so I don't exactly have blind faith in the medical system, as people mistakes are inevitable. I'm hoping for the best but in need of some encouragement! =/

Hi.. I'm new to the forum but have been reading it for quite some time. I find this process to be quite quick for me as well. I went to a seminar on the 31st and since I am self pay the surgery was basically on my own time table. I am doing my pre-op appts this week and am tentatively scheduled to be banded on april 14th. While I am more than excited about starting this journey I am also a bit nervous & overwhelmed. I'm a nurse that's scared of shots!ha So I can definitely understand where you're coming from. I think the best we can do is research & fully understand the risks & rules of this procedure. Knowledge tends to create confidence. I wish you the best of luck & ill let you know how mine goes! =)