Any November LapBanders Out there?

My LapBand surgery is taking place in Connecticut on November 20th and I am super excited. I was wondering if there was anyone else out there being LapBanded in November and was wondering what state you were from. Maybe we can stay in touch as we go through this journey together! Diana

Hi Diana. Yes, I am a November LapBander!! My surgery is scheduled in PA on November 19th and I'd love to chat and stay in touch through our journey. I am super excited and nervous all at the same time! Finally it is about 3 weeks away and I can't believe I have made it, I am so impatient sometimes!! Tell me about yourself and how you came to decide on LapBand. Lisa :-)

Hi Lisa, Well we are having our surgeries just one day apart, so this is definitely a very exciting and nervious time for the both of us! I actually just began researching the LapBand the first week of August and went to an informational session two days later and met with the surgeon two days later. I am very happy with my surgeon he is a part of a group, there are three of them, and I felt that they were very thorough. I had a friend who had had gastric around seven years ago and I had seen what a transformation she went through, but I honestly never thought of doing it myself, I thought I could do it on my own. After getting married last year, I lost like 35 pounds and regained them and then some. I am (according to what I was told a pre-op psych eval)what is known as a professional dieter...ouch!!! My parents are not supportive of my decision, but my husband is extremely supportive, he wants my happiness and would like to avoid any complications during my pregnancy seeing as we would like to start on a family in another year or two. How about you? Tell me about yourself and what made you pick the LapBand? Diana

Hi Diana. Glad that we can chat! My journey began way back in April of this year. My health insurance requires a lot before surgery. I had to go to my PCP once a month for 6 months to document my "weight loss" attempt. I also had to go to a nutritionist, a psych evaluation, pulmonary clearance and of course, the surgeon. I have been to the doctor so many times, I can't stand it!! So, this is why I say that I am so impatient and I have made it this far. It has really been a long process. Then after all visits are complete, all results have to be sent to the surgeon and then sent to insurance for approval. I was so excited that it got approved after all of the visits to doctors!! Just last week I went to my pre-op seminar and got all of the info about what to expect after surgery, etc. It was really informative. This Friday I go to get my blood work done and EKG and chest x-ray. After that, I am done with doctor's visits! So, I went to an informational seminar way back in May and that began my research into the Lap Band. The surgeon thought I was a great candidate for the Lap Band, I am not in an emergent situation and need to lose quickly like most people getting a RNY. I have had a lot of problems over the course of about 6-7 years with weight and never really lost anything for a long time. I haev an 8 year old son and a 3 year old daughter and let's just say that I never really lost what I gained with the 3 year old and gained additional too. So, it's been a struggle. I work full time and so does my husband so our eating habits are not the greatest, it's always a *****aotic in our lives trying to pick up the kids from wherever they are and then get home and try to make a healthy, quick meal. And, since we are not home and settled until after 6 most nights, we tend to eat late which is not good. And, of course, I don't make the best food choices, it is so much easier to eat junk food than to eat healthy! My husband is very supportive of my decision and thinks its going to help our entire family eat better. My mom tends to be very opinionated and has not really been all that supportive and at times has questioned my ability to handle to liquid diet afterwards. She tends to be a negative person so I can't let her get to me, I know I am making the right decision for myself and my family. I have been married for 12 years and I think at times she still thinks she can control what I do......but that's a whole other story! It does get to me at times b/c I wonder why it is so hard for her to be supportive. But, it is a constant thing with her so at this point, it's just one more thing for her to criticize. My dad is really supportive....not at all like her. (thank god!) Sorry to ramble on and on....I am glad that we are both on our way and we can hopefully help each other out. So many things will be changing, it is very exciting!! Do you know the time of your surgery or the details about your hospital stay yet? Talk to you soon!! Lisa :-)