Barbee

My surgery is a week from today and I'm reading this and wondering.... do I really want to do this? If I do, I'll never touch meat after reading this.

Your diets sort of disappoint me. I thought once I got banded I could eat whatever I wanted only in smaller quantities.... I sick of diets... been dieting for 20 years.... What you people are eating is what I am eating now and I'm not losing at all.

Cream of wheat already??? Is that allowed? I love Cream of Wheat. I've been on Phase 1 of South Beach for 2 months and I'm so sick of eggs...

How long before the first fill?

My regular doctor gave me Darvocet.... that will work. I hate the way these pain drugs make me feel. When I was on Lortabs I had terrible nightmares and nausea. Thank you. How long before I can actually chew food?

Wow...you've been a BIG help... you listed a few things I forgot. I bought the Protein shake.... wow, expensive I got the Vitamins but all I could get in chewable were Flintstones. Everything ran me $50. I hope I don't need much more. With the tests and everything.... and my husband's medical expenses it's getting tight. Medicare stinks.

The office gave me a 4 page shopping list... does anyone know if we have to buy all of it? I'll have to mortgage the house?

I'm next Monday and very nervous. They gave me a shopping list and it's 5 pages long... do they expect me to buy all this stuff?

Tango.... my worries exactly. Hubby and I are retired and one of the things we enjoy the most is eating out... we go to different casinos and play the penny slots and enjoy the buffets... I'm sure that what we enjoy most will now be something no longer enjoyable for either of us. KHunt.... I do believe that eating disorders are an illness and they really need to find a cure for this. I don't think the Band is a cure for eating disorders. My problem is not an eating disorder, it's my metabolism. I hear my husband telling people... "but she doesn't eat that much".... I don't. I agree that I don't exercise like I should, but everything hurts when I do, so I don't. I don't think the Band is for everyone. I have 17 days to decide if it is right for me. My biggest worry is that getting the Band will not only take the pleasure out of eating out for me, but for my husband (who isn't fat) also. I am coming to this board to see all sides and decide before my surg. date of June 28.

How do you do the "thing" under your post that tells your progress...? I'd like to do mine too. My first weigh in was 238 and now I'm at 231. I'm anxious and leery at the same time... a bit nervous. Dr. H is going on vacation so I have to see another doc for my first visit and that is sort of a downer too.

Dr. Hoffman! The best doc in the world. I just love him. He really and truly UNDERSTANDS... something none of my other doctors have done. They would just keep telling me.... lose weight.... none ever took into consideration that it isn't quite that easy.

I will be sure to ask but the water is chlorinated so I'm thinking it's probably better than a shower. It's also a good start on my exercise because I do water exercises.

Thank you, Hummingbird. I sent him or her an email.

I don't know how to find my posts from a few months ago when I was very discouraged and leery of this surgery. If I could find the fellow who encouraged me, I'd like to thank him. I was prepared to leave the program and his words kept me in and now I have a surgery date of June 28. Am I nervous... sure. I am also searching for more info on post lap band so I can be absolutely sure I want this surgery. I still have a few lingering doubts. I've come so far... but a few things bother me... like can I possible go weeks with nothing but liquids? I've always been a fast eater, can l learn to slow down? Can I really eat without drinking? Does it hurt? Does it hurt to be filled? I just wanted you to know I am still in the program and scheduled for surgery. I'll stroll over to post surgical section and see what everyone has to say about the after effects.:thumbup:

Thank you, Caldwell.... you really encouraged me. My surgery date is 6/28 and I was feeling the "jitters". Thanks.

My date is June 28th so we will be Banded twins. :thumbup: Good decision on your part. I have to go to a graduation party the day before my surgery... and I have to eat nothing but liquids after Breakfast that day. But I can do it. My biggest problem is my husband has to have hip surgery right after mine and I have to nurse him at the same time as I'm nursing myself. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. My question is.... my paperwork says 4 oz. of liquids every hour. Do they give you something to measure that? And since you aren't filled yet... do you get hungry? How do you deal with that?

Greetings from Buffalo, NY. My name is Barbara and I am scared. I want the surgery... I'm almost to a surgery date... but I'm getting cold feet. Decided I should come here and get some input. I enjoy eating and am afraid I'll never get to enjoy it again after the surgery. When you are my age there are few pleasurable things left in life. Will I ever be able to eat pizza, a hamburger, hot dog or ice cream again? Will I always have to eat just 1 cup of food? I've done all the paperwork have all the tests done and just have my doctor appt scheduled for May 25th. I can still back out... Current weight 236 5ft 2

Thank you all for you encourage ment... that and my doctor have talked me into continuing with the surgery. She said at 66 that surgery is the ONLY way I'll lose any weight at all... the older you get the harder it is to lose. I can't jog, play tennis etc., I can walk but only about 1/2 a mile and then my back hurts so bad. I can swim and bike but only so much. Thanks you all again.

I think the difference is our ages... I'm wondering... do I want to go through all this at my age? I looked at the recipes and they all look very good, but I noticed the absence of tomatoes or tomato sauce. I thought tomatoes were a healthy choice?:ohmy:

Thank you, Pault. That was great advice. I wish I could say that your reply has given me a definite answer to my dilemma but it hasn't... but it has put more weight on the "yes" side of the scale. My husband doesn't want me to have it, but he is leaving it up to me. He knows he'll be the "support" should something go wrong or if I'm later sorry... Others keep saying it is reversible... it is, but only if you pay for the reversal surgery yourself. The only way insurance will foot the bill is if you are seriously ill and it must go. My family tells me I'm going too drastic... they remind me that I'm 66 and should just accept my weight and be happy. But I'm not happy. Here is what I've decided to do: I am not cancelling but I am putting it on hold. I'm going to try one more time to lose this weight. I'll give myself until September. This might be the best incentive to lose weight yet. I'll keep in touch. :thumbup: Thank you, ALL.

Thank you both. I'm 66 and not sick of food yet. LOL. I am sick of dieting that's for sure. I'm sick of all the diet foods. I've been dieting for over 20 years and sick of it. I'd love to be able to have a slice of pizza now and then and maybe a hoagie or hot dog. We travel a lot and eat out a lot so is this surgery going to hamper my lifestyle? I've been on Atkins on and off for years because it's the easiest to stay on while traveling and eating out... I just tell them hold the Pasta or potatoes and I eat the meat and veggies. I don't think I can force down another plate of scrambled eggs or eat another steak.... ugh! I envy my friends who can eat these things and not gain weight... So I want the surgery, but I want to end dieting. Will this surgery end dieting or will I still be force to follow a diet?