Brand new to message board!

Hi there.  I'm Debra and I'm in LR.  My Lap-band is scheduled for 12/04/07, and I am on the pre-op protein shake diet.  My doctor is Rex Luttrell, and I have been SO impressed with him and his staff.  They are kind, encouraging, and just as excited as I am that my insurance company approved me.  My highest weight was 316.4, which was this past Monday.  This morning (11/22), I was already down to 310 just from being on the pre-op diet, so that's good.  It's weird, because I'm really not feeling tempted to violate the diet.  It's like now that I know I'm finally going to have the help I need, I believe I can stick to it.  Of course, this is a one-day-at-a-time thing, but I can't tell you how excited I am.  I've noticed a lot of folks on here have had surgeries other than the lap-band, so I would especially appreciate any advice from fellow lap-banders.  As I said, I'm scheduled for 12/4 and I have to be at work on 12/6 (I'm an attorney, and I have a hearing), so I'm planning on recovering quickly!  I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE to think anything other than positive thoughts.   I'd love to hear from you folks, and would like to know if there is an in-person support group of lap-band folks here in LR.  Thanks.

Good morning Debra, and welcome to our little corner of the world Congratulations on your great attitude about taking control of this part of your life. Positive outcomes start with positive attitudes! I'm the leader of a post-op support group at Baptist Hospital and you're more than welcome to join us when we start back up in January. Keep an eye on the boards, we always chat about the up coming meetings and I try to post more than one reminder. As far as I know the only two weight loss surgeries that are done here in AR are the lap band and RNY.  There is an increasing number of "banders" here on this board and I'm sure you'll be able to get first hand help from them. We're a friendly group and generally there isn't any " my surgery is better than yours", or " my doctor is better than yours" nonsense going on. We're just here to support each other. Keep us posted on your progress, and good luck on your journey

Hijack

Hey Susan I found out with LOVE she used in LR, it was Edwards Love.

AB

Hi Debra, Even after surgery, you'll learn to take it one day at a time.  I had gastric bypass and have been super pleased with the results.  I started out at over 500 pounds, lost down to 340 and had the surgery.  I had actually lost down to under 300, and before I even entertained the idea of having the wls, I began gaining weight back.  While I was still considered super morbidly obese, I didn't want to gain another pound and would have been happy to stay around 300 but could not maintain it, so I researched wls and in October of 2006, I had the surgery.  I must say, now that I am over a 100 pounds lighter, I would do it all over in a heart beat.  There are so many things that I can do now; things that I had forgotten about, like putting on panty hose, putting lotion on the back of my legs, sitting in the floor, and on and on.  I can not list there are so many but the best is not being the fattest person in the room, and fitting in any chair.   You'll see.  Welcome and it's so nice to meet you.

Thank you Susan & Jeannie for your responses.   Susan, I will look forward to the post-op support group.  I hear that lots of folks find their weight loss more successful if they are in contact with others going through the same thing.  I agree that one WLS surgery isn't any better than another, but I figure that each has its own set of adjustments, so while I definitely want to meet other post-op folks, I'm glad there are some lap-banders in the group so I can ask questions.  The scariest thing for me are the idea of the fills.  Silly, I know, but a needle to the abdomen scares the heck out of me.  Jeannie, your story is amazing.  To have lost over 200 lbs on your own, before WLS, is quite an accomplishment.  And I'm looking forward to the things you talked about -- being able to fly (I've been too embarrassed because I can't fit in the seats well), bending over to tie my shoes (right now, I tie them first, then slip them on), being able to sit on the floor with my dogs and then actually get up without it taking an act of Congress to pull myself off the floor, etc.   In my job, I'm around a lot of people most days (I'm a lawyer), so I'm looking forward to the shocked faces as I start losing weight.  When I meet a new client, I always tell them they can't miss me -- I'm the short, fat chick with glasses.  In 12-18 months, I'll be the short chick with glasses.  How cool is that?!   I'm going to try to fit in a little time each day to check out the Arkansas forums.  Between my practice, teaching (I'm a part-time professor at the law school), and sorting through a couple hundred emails a day, I've thought up to now I just didn't have time for anything else.  But my mom died a month ago at age 70, and she's been in bad health a long time, much due to weight problems and the attendant illnesses that go along with being obese.  I don't want to be in the same boat, so I'm going to get the weight off and start doing all the things I've wanted to do but never been able to as an adult. Bike riding! Skating! Water Skiing! Snow Skiing! Mountain climbing!  I just know the whole world is going to open up to me, and I can't wait to get started.   Again, thank you for the welcome!

I'm a lapbander, and I love it.  I think you'll be fine going back to work.  You will definitely be sore and have bad gas pains, but you'll be sipping baby drinks of water and protein drinks and things will be fine.  Just sit down as much as you can!

Hi Debra, welcome to the Arkansas board here on obesityhelp.  I am sorry to hear that your mom died.  For some of us, I guess it takes something big to get us to realize we need to make changes.  For me, it was being disabled with lung disease, for me to realize that I needed to lose weight.  I had surgery Aug 15th, I had the Open RNY (gastric bypass) and I have lost just over 100lbs, I couldn't be more happier with my new active life :)

Welcome Welcome Welcome you will be in our thoughts and prayers, Dec 1st last year I weighed in at 322, and that was after 2 days of fasting!  Hoping to be at 189 by then. All my best AmyBeth

Well, my surgery is scheduled for Tuesday and I've been very excited about it and now I'm getting nervous.  About 6 weeks ago (before I decided to have the Lap-Band done) I ordered a program (the 6 week body makeover) and for some reason they screwed up the shipping and it didn't come.  Well, it came today.  And now I look at it and I'm feeling guilty that I can't do this on my own.  I don't understand this feeling.  Intellectually, I know that I have tried darn near everything, and I've been overweight for almost 30 years.  If I could have done it on my own, I would have.   Did anyone else have these feelings before surgery?  If so, how did you feel after surgery?  Regrets? or Just glad you went ahead and did it?  I'd sure appreciate some feedback.  Thanks. Debra

NO REGRETS WHATSOEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

AB