Susan's Solemn Silliness

[susansilver 0]

Last night I was watching Gene Simmons Family Jewels with DH and they were showing very graphic details of his and Shannon's face lifts. OMG!

I looked at DH and asked him if I was crazy! "What's so bad about being fat?", I asked. "Do I really want to go through surgery?"

Well the answer is yes. Fat is bad for me. Diabetes, High blood pressure, risk of heart attack and stroke.....No I am not crazy, I am finally taking control of this disease of obesity and overeating that has plagued me all of my life.

I have one foot in bandland and can't wait to jump in wholeheartedly!

Susan

[susansilver 0]

Since I was a child, I have HATED throwing up. :sick We're talking hysterical crying, not being able to catch my breath etc. I would make an awful bulimic.

I am hoping with my fear of vomiting, that I will be a compliant bandster, in order to lessen that effect.

Musings....

[Yoda 0]

Susan...I can related....I was/am like that as well.

The goooood news is that the "vomiting" after the band is very very different from regular vomiting pre-band. It is not at all the same (shouldn't do it either way, mind you!). It is just like a "cough" and up it comes. (nice visual, eh?). There is no more of that deep vomiting/gagging up from the actual stomach with stomach acids etc.....

You'll be okay and surprised at the difference. You'll have to feel it yourself to know what I mean. I remember someone else telling me the same thing (pre-band) and I couldn't understand, but now I do!

It's all good!

[susansilver 0]

Ohhh! I am so excited:D

Another step on my journey. I have my pre-op seminar tonight. I have a long list of questions that I want answered and hope to meet some nice people.

What should I expect? What was your seminar like?

Susan

[susansilver 0]

Just called my GP to tell her I decided to go ahead with the surgery. I had discussed it with her and she was noncomittal at the time. I also had blood work done when I saw her (in February) and told her not to call me with the results because I did not want to know.

When I spoke to her this morning, she told me she was fully supportive and thought it was a good investment in my future. She told me that my sugars were awful but since I did not want to know she didn't call. I knew that of course.

I feel good that she is behind me on this and told her I would call her after surgery to let her know how I am doing.

Further proof that I am doing the right thing!

[LeslieLee 0]

-=huge smiles for Susan=-

You are doing the best thing ever. You are taking time for you and making a change for the positive side of life.

Last night on the news they had a spot on obesity and how the medical profession really does not treat it as it should be treated.

Somehow we were all blessed to find a way to end this suffering and are brave enough to say I am going to do this!!

And I do mean BRAVE! It took a lot to get to this point in our lifes and we know what it is going to mean. I already know I am going to wish I had done it sooner!

-=takes Susan's hand and walks down the same path=-

ps, can't wait to hear about your seminar!

[susansilver 0]

Somehow we were all blessed to find a way to end this suffering and are brave enough to say I am going to do this!!

It is suffering Leslielee - isn't it. I am ready for it to end.

=Takes Leslielee's hand=

Will let you know about the seminar.

[susansilver 0]

I went to my pre-op seminar last night at TLBC. I found that it was very informative and well run. They told you literally every little detail about what would happen to you from the moment you entered the clinic on surgery day until you left and afterwards. We even got a tour of the operating suites, recovery room etc. Daryl the nurse conducted that part and she was great. Oh yeah...except I'm not having mine done at the clinic - but at Scarborough Grace Hospital. No problem! I told them that and they told me the procedure for there. Daryl also gave me the name of the recovery room nurse, told me what meds to ask for etc. Really fabulous service.

Afterwards was a discussion on the pre and post op diets. The dietician was sick so Nisrine filled in, but they have also hired a nutritionist who was there last night and she gave her input as well. Nisrine did a really good job because she as you know has been banded herself and so it was very real and honest.

The nutritionist will start in 2 weeks and she will help patients with meal planning etc. When you book your fills you can book an appointment with her. Very good added value. I really think that TLBC really cares about your success and I am very glad that I decided to go with them.

I have been eating totally out of control and have gained about 7 lbs since I started this process. :hungry: I spoke to Nisrine last night about starting the pre-op diet early because I felt so out of control and needed something rigid to get me on track. She was supportive as long as I felt I could do it. I told her that I might add in some veg for the first week (I am starting a week early) and she was fine with that. So I have decided to start on Monday after my child free weekend with DH. I am feeling very good about that decision.

All of a sudden I was so nervous yesterday! :nervous I couldn't think of anything else but food and the surgery! (The food thoughts have been a constant). I even spoke to DH about doing our wills! Crazy talk! I know I will be fine. I know I no longer want to be fat. I know I want to be healthy.

I'll be okay.

[Yoda 0]

Yup, you'll be okay Susan! Glad you enjoyed the pre-op seminar. That is something new they have done since I was banded a year ago.

That is great that you've decided to start your pre-op diet early and that you feel good about it. Good luck...you'll do great!

Re. the "food thoughts being a constant"....I hear ya there. I never used to obsess about food but once I decided on the surgery, I totally obsessed and thought about it alllllll the time. Worse, once I was banded, it was ALL I could think about. It was like, since I could no longer have it (ie. the post-op diet) and it wasn't an option, I was completely obsessed with that fact. Once I started "eating" I thought those obsessions would go away but they only got worse and more intense.....all my waking thoughts were about food (what to have, what can I have, how much, should I have it, angry cause I wanted to eat MORE etc etc)....it was horrible....since I never had those foody thoughts before being banded. I won't say that has completely gone away for me (this is my "head" stuff I deal with) but thankfully it has subsided a great deal. Still working on it. Sometimes I catch myself NOT thinking about food!! LOL. Then again, better I just think about it than act on it!!

[susansilver 0]

Our addiction Yoda. To me it's like the drug addict who is going through withdrawl, they crave it more because they can't have it!

Dealing with the "head" stuff is definitely a huge part of this recovery. I find that reading other people's posts make me feel like I am not alone in this disease of obesity. The support here (and I hope to go to the groups at the clinic as well) is tremendous. It's a great community and every bandster should be on here!

[susansilver 0]

:omg:

Less than 3 weeks away. Lots of why me.....sick of eating...tired...the dog is waking me up too early....this week is dragging on...Still gaining - I am going to have to change my ticker...

[Doddie63 6]

Hi: Well at last there was a programme on PBS called "FAT" and it was about the emotional struggles we have as well as a doctor from Harvord U. with some very original thoughts on obesity. One doctor stated that if diet and exercise was the answer, we would all be thin. Also, an article in the Financial post states that there is medical evidence that diets don't work, in fact they make us fatter. Maybe, just maybe we are gettng closer to the civil servants giving us more than lip service with medical coverage. Doddie

[Gaffer 1]

Maybe, just maybe we are gettng closer to the civil servants giving us more than lip service with medical coverage. Doddie

Which brings me to the recent Obiesity Canada guidelines that were released earilier this week. Great, just what I need is a guideline to tell me that I am fat. Oh wait, I have mirrors in my house. Thinks like this make me crazy, they are such a joke.

Andrew

[Dame J 0]

Sounds Crazy but sometimes I just hate reading about the new obiesity studies or watching news on obese people because I feel like they are just talking about me. And I know they are talking about me as a statistic and not personally but I am so tired of being the statistic. I'm just sick of being fat I guess. These studies always get skinny peoples backs up about medical costs in the country and how fat people are the reason why our medical care sucks. I'm just sick of it.

[Doddie63 6]

Yes, but the tone is changing. The PBS show was very good in that a doctor was on that also had the band. Word of mouth amongst the medical profession will eventually filter down so the GPs know a little bit more about weight issues besides exercise and diet. What 'p.....s' me off is the doctor that sat in front of me was at least 275 lbs and he was telling ME I was too fat and I had to exercise and diet more. I just looked at him and said "pot calling kettle black ain't it" got up and left his office never to return. Doddie