Hey February 2010 Bandsters!

[southernbelle07 0]

#1. Surgery date? February 3 2010

#2. State you live in? Alabama

#3. Doctor/Surgery Center? Dr. Liza Pompa Gonzalez in Tijuana MX

#4. Insurance or self pay? Self pay, $5500

#5. Age and height: 22, 5'7"

#6. Current weight and goal weight? currently 280-ish, would like to be 140-150ish

#7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery? To know I can't go on living another day as a victim. I want to be around for my husband and daughter and all the other kids I plan to have for a really long time.

#7. Do you have the support of family and friends? Mostly. Some have expressed their concerns but mostly people are ok with it.

#8. Concerns and questions? Slightly scared about doing it in MX, but I'm pretty confident in my choice of surgeons. I'm mostly scared about slippage later since I don't have insurance right now. Gah.

[Northern Mist 2]

Welcome southernbelle! Mexico sounds like a good alternative if people don't have insurance. It's something I would have looked into if I had to pay out of pocket.

Have a great New Year!

[kathyNH 0]

Hi Everyone!!!!

1. Surgery date? am told most likely some time in Feb

#2. State you live in? New Hampshire

#3. Doctor/Surgery Center?Dartmouth Keene

#4. Insurance or self pay?Insurance

#5. Age and height 38 yrs old, 5 foot 3

#6. Current weight and goal weight?256/140

#7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery?

Where do I start? have a cpap and the pressure had to be put up higher, recent bout of elevated liver enzymes. Feeling disgust with my body. The biggest thing is, and i hope I dont offend any one.....I am now having a hard time wiping my ass properly!!! ugh I cant believe I said that!!

#7. Do you have the support of family and friends?100% support of my husband, parents and siblings, only 2 friends know so far and they have been very supportive

#8. Concerns and questions? Terrified of going under general anesthetic, I dont want to die trying to get healthy, all surgery is a risk and I have two beautifull young daughters to live for.

My other worry is the 2 week Optifast diet. I hate all of those shakes, I am really hoping they will be okay with me adding a small amount of fruit to the shakes so that I can tolerate them better!!! I need to be 100% committed to the preop diet as I have the elvated liver enzymes, known fatty liver, so I am sure my liver is nice and inflammed.

.......................and anything else you would like to add!

[Lori in Spokane 0]

Hi everyone....Glad to find this thread. My first appt with the surgeon is this Thursday, Jan 7th. Then they will submit to my insurance. I am right at the BMI threshold of 40, but have all the co-morbidities, so I would anticipate being approved within 1-21 days (required by my ins. co.). Even 30 days out from there would put me in February. Time goes by fast enough, so that's fine.

Here is my info....

#1. Surgery date? February 2010 (exact date tbd).

#2. State you live in? Washington

#3. Doctor/Surgery Center? Dr. Spitz - Rockwood Medical Center

#4. Insurance or self pay? Insurance

#5. Age and height 54 5'3"

#6. Current weight and goal weight? 226 current; 120 goal

#7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery? Getting off the meds. They mess with my memory in a big way, and really impact my life negatively so I want to get off of them first and foremost. Also, extending my life is an added bonus. The weight loss and cute clothes are another added bonus that I know I will enjoy also!

#7. Do you have the support of family and friends? I have only told my husband, daughters and 2 best friends. They all support me in a big way...they are wonderful.

#8. Concerns and questions? No concerns at the moment. I have a high tolerance for pain and discomfort, so post surgical time I know I can control with the meds, and I'm disciplined enough to follow instructions to alleviate any other problems that I might cause.

.......................and anything else you would like to add!

I have had Type 2 diabetes for 7 years. Went on oral meds last Spring and already have had to have them increased. I see the insulin train coming and I really don't want to get to that point. Between that and the meds, this is the logical answer and treatment. I have followed Weight Watchers system for 15 years (18 points per day since they went to the point system) and my weight stays at 225ish (+/- 5 lbs). I can't imagine what my weight would be if I didn't! My internist says that I can't go below that amount of food and even increasing my daily cardio to 50-60 minutes of brisk workouts don't do anything to help me lose weight or abate my other conditions. I have no other choice to become healthy. I am really at peace about doing this and gain a lot of hope from reading so many peoples' success stories.

I look forward to following along with all of you and sharing the journey! Thanks for your support and being so willing to share your stories - you are all an inspiration to me!

[Me3 0]

#1. Surgery date? Feb 28th, 2010

#2. State you live in? Florida

#3. Doctor/Surgery Center? Dr. Wilfred Aguila

#4. Insurance or self pay? Insurance- Humana

#5. Age and height 33;5ft 9in

#6. Current weight and goal weight?246/150

#7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery? Wanting to have a baby; had a stroke in July 09; wanting to be around when my sgtep-grandkids grow up and get married; want Migraines to lessen; want to be healthy; want to burn my fat sucker (girdle); want to be able to shop somewhere else then lane Bryant's, Catherine's etc.

#7. Do you have the support of family and friends? Yes and Yes

#8. Concerns and questions? My major concern is getting the hospital to recognize and act the night after surgery and be ready to put me out of my misery should I get a Migraine which I have had that happen the last 2 times I've had surgery.

.......................and anything else you would like to add! I can't wait to get this party started! lol... the wait is the worst!

[Northern Mist 2]

I'm almost to my 30 day mark! My surgeon says NO blood thinners, birth control, etc... 30 days out. It's getting closer!

[btrieger 21]

I get my date on either Wednesday or next Monday. I am on all sorts of meds. I hope it doesn't move the date out too much.

[Lori in Spokane 0]

I'm on all the meds too. I wonder how that's going to effect anything? I have my first surgeon visit tomorrow. Hope it goes well for you too!

[Rolliepollie 0]

#1. Surgery date? Not scheduled yet, Orientation Next Wednesday and Doctor is scheduling for Febuary surgeries.

#2. State you live in? California Baby!

#3. Doctor/Surgery Center? Dr. Antonio Coirin

#4. Insurance or self pay? Insurance (80/20)

#5. Age and height ...37

#6. Current weight and goal weight? 248 (5lbs variance daily)

#7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery? Well let's see... The daily pain my body is in carring the weight is a grreat factor but the final factor was me deleting all the pictures of me and my family from this past Christmas. I use to love getting my kids all dressed up and having our pictures taken together. But It's been years since I done that. My fiance wants a picture of us together but I wont do it. I wont get married until I feel comfortable in my own skin again. Pathetic!

#7. Do you have the support of family and friends? I sure do!

#8. Concerns and questions? Tons but were do I start...Oh yeah Orientation! Yippy!

[janellody 3]

#1. Surgery date? February 22, 2010

#2. State you live in? Oregon

#3. Doctor/Surgery Center? Dr. Ortiz at OCC in Tijuana!

#4. Insurance or self pay? Self Pay.. my insurance doesn't cover it.

#5. Age and height 5'7", 27 on January 31..

#6. Current weight and goal weight? 263 and I don't know... gonna talk to Dr. Miranda and see what she thinks..

#7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery? I need help with this.. can't seem to do it alone.

#7. Do you have the support of family and friends? Yes!

#8. Concerns and questions? Not currently... I ask and ask and ask when I do, though.

[stamich0830 0]

Hi!

#1. Surgery date? 2/4/10

#2. State you live in? nj

#3. Doctor/Surgery Center? Dr Washington

#4. Insurance or self pay? Insurance

#5. Age and height 35 5'4

#6. Current weight and goal weight?285 current and 150 goal

#7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery? to be healthy and happy

#7. Do you have the support of family and friends? yes

#8. Concerns and questions? lots of concerns just want to make it work

[Northern Mist 2]

I'm glad there are so many February bandsters! I think keeping in touch throughout our journey will help us feel like we are not alone and that there are others going through bandster hell, etc.....

[wickedredhead09 0]

#1. Surgery date? Feb 18th

#2. State you live in? Cali

#3. Doctor/Surgery Center? Dr. Mir Ali

#4. Insurance or self pay? Insurance Out of pocket should be about $300

#5. Age and height: 29 5'-6"

#6. Current weight and goal weight? Current 298... goal well we are shooting for 200 right now beyond that is icing on the cake LOL

#7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery? I want to be healthier, and live life to the fullest.

#7. Do you have the support of family and friends? Yes my noyfriend and family and everyone here = D

#8. Concerns and questions? I am jumping in with both feet... I am of course concerned about missing certain foods and being able to pig out on yummy stuff but nothing tastes as good as healthy will feel!

I am more excited and anxious to get started then anything...Good luck to my fellow February Fabs!!!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

[MyDreamsWillComeTrue 0]

I am loving this topic, and would like to take this opportunity to thank the person who created it! :tt1:

I am super excited about my surgery and everyone else's for that matter.

It seems i am one of the last to have my surgery in Feb as i get banded Friday 26th which makes me more impatient but it's great as i will be able to learn from everyone else's experience. I can't believe how fast this time has come around! I have waited a year for this, and it's nearly here!!! Woop Woop :eek:

I have red all the other Feb posts and a couple of them stick in my mind, mostly and it's a laugh but so true, that one person said they struggled to wipe their bum! I had to laugh but maybe in shame as i hear you there! There are so many things i won't miss the list is endless!!!

Some would be: Being restricted to shopping in the fat shops.

Being short of my breath after a simple task

Taking an hour to go anywhere because i get changed 5 times because everything is either to small or makes me look like a tent!

I could make a topic about this it would be interesting to see what people wrote....

4 weeks on Monday till i meet with my surgeon to start shakes! Excited!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bring it on!!!!!!!!! 4 weeks left of food freedom! :eek:

[Northern Mist 2]

It's less than two weeks until I start my Pre-op diet! I'm getting more nervous as the time gets closer...... I'll deal with it.

Does anyone else have weird dreams and lose sleep over big decisions? I sure do :tt1:

In one dream my sister had the surgery instead of me and I had to pay for it! I was confused and pissed at the same time!