1st post! Yes, Michigan!

WELCOME TAMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm just around the corner from you in Lapeer!! I truely thought that pop was going to be the thing that made me fail at wls. I was soooo addicted to it, easily downing a 2 liter in an evening. I can't believe (looking back) how much money I spent on pop alone!!! I made myself slow down before surgery but I didn't really stop all together. I had surgery and I've had absolutely NO desire for pop since!!! None, and actually, I took a sip of my husbands pop once in a restaurant when my water was gone and I needed a small drink - EEEEEWWWWWW It was HORRIBLE to me!!!!! Now it's been a little over a year and I still have no desire to drink pop again. This surgery can change your taste for things a lot!!! Good luck on your insurance approval. Where are you having your surgery at?? Hugs Neighbor, Laurie

Well Howdy Neighbor! I shop at the Super Walmart every week in Lapeer. It is nice to know someone is so close. I am having my surgery at Hurley. I went to the Hurley Bariatric Center on 05/23/06. My Doctor is Dr. Obeid. I have heard great things about him. And when I met him, he was a kind and gentle man. I feel safe. I read your profile. Wow, did you go through the ringer with insurance. I pray that mine will go smoother. By the way, you look great! Thanks for the advice on the pop. Pop is the one thing that is going to be the thorn in my side. I can give up cheese and potatos and even salt, but pop is making me worry. But I want to do this and I have to take the good with the bad, right? Are there any local support groups? Sincerely, Tam

Hi tammy, Welcome and just as everyone else has said.... give it up now and you will be much happier in the end! I too drank ALOT of pop before surgery and I decided to give it up in JUne 2004 ,2 months before surgery. I occasionally have a diet pepsi slurpee as a treat but that is it. I did use flavored water before surgery but found that afterwards it was to sweet. I use the green tea packets to add to bottled water now and I love the stuff! Good Luck with your surgery.

Thanks for your encouragement. I guess I have no excuse. I can't be weak now! My Doctor requires 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery of a diet of liquids. That is my newest fear!

Welcome Tammy! I had surgery at Hurley also, Dr. Obeid assisted with my surgery and he is now my follow up doc. He is great and you will love him. He really truly cares about bariatric patients. I do not care if I drink po*****t now. I have had a sip here and there, but no more than that and I find that it is uncomfortable in my stomach and I would prefer flavored waters now! It is amazing what this surgery will do for you. If you have any more ?'s about Hurley, feel free to email me. Wendy

This is my first post also! I live in Livonia. I am going through the Cori Center. I had my physc evaul last week. I wonder if anyone ever 'fails' those? Anyway, I have my appointment with my surgeon on the 7th. My PCP submitted a letter of support for me last week. I have BCBS. We shall see how this goes. I was hoping for LapBand surgery, but now I am wondering about Lap RNY. Any thoughts? My BMI is @ 41. Thanks, Robin

Hello Robin, I have the same question. I want the lapband because it is less tramatic. Your recovery time is less and it is reversible. BUT, it is hard to find someone that has had it done. Why is that? I would say 90% of the people here at OH have had RNY. I have already seen my surgeon. He told me that I qualify for both surgeries. So I asked him which one should I choose. He said that I only had to loose 50 to 60 pounds and it would most likely make my diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol go away. He said if I were his Daughter or Mother he would recommend the lapband surgery. I left the office confident that I had made the right wls choice. However, after reading so many profiles and talking with people here, I am not so sure! ( By the way, I personally feel I could loose 84 pounds and be just fine!) My BMI is 37.

My surgeon can do both surgery's laporascopically. I would love the band, but I am afraid that it wouldn't be a permanent solution. I am really worried about the erosion and slippage. However, I am afraid of other complications with the other surgery! I need to lose @ least 100#s. I only want to do this once! Hopefully things will be clearer for me when I go to my surgery consultation on the 7th! Good luck to everyone!