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Cathy, you are doing so good. when I joined this forum just 6 weeks ago, you were at 38 pounds lost. You have lost 10 pounds since I joined. Good for you. You are an inspiration to me, just because I can see the change. Weight loss can seem so far away, but when I see that this is working, it makes it easier.

Hi Christina, Girl, I am right there with you. I was banded the day before you and I am going NUTSO!!! To make matters worse, we had company all last week and my husband BBQ'd all week. Rib Eye with bleu cheese, Ribs, stuffed sausage, and spicy asian chicken. (he is fabulous with food) Of course, BBQs have always been my weakness. Yes, I had to go to bed early one night and another night I went out for a drive. I soooooo understand the power of the social eating circle. I figure, I had my temptations and instead of feeling like crap about myself after wolfing it all down, I stand on the scale and lose a pound. We have to remember this is only for 3 weeks and we are already way past half done. Thank GOD!!!!! Sometimes being "rude" is alright. It is these situations that got ourselves into the predicament that we are in now. I wish you all the luck in the world. We are so close to the end of HELL and will be able to test this baby out(not really) but getting to feel like normal again is going to be nice. Hang in THERE

I am hoping this is going to stop me from eating when the time comes. I have done the post op diet for 2 weeks now and I am obsessing about what I get to eat when I can. I am so hungry and want to have a normal meal. My friends are telling me that I am a recluse now because I never want to do anything. If only they understood how hard it is to be around someone who I ate with alot, Or even worse someone who is eating around me. I just want to get this time over with a feel some satisfaction in my belly. I do not want to stuff my face, I just want to be able to sit with my family while they eat and not be tortured, Am I seriously freaky or what? Only 6 more days to go. this post gave me some encouragement that I can possibly lose interest in the one thing that I can not seem to get out of my head.

i must say, I am quite jealous of your experience after surgery. It was a lot more than I anticipated. It seemed that everyone said it was no sweat. I strongly disagree. The gas pains felt like a heart attack and the port inscision was so sore, I am just now able to sleep on my side again. I am 2 weeks out now and am finally pretty much back to normal. I must say, the 3 other women who had surgery the same day as me were awesome. We did laps in the clinic together and had "breakfast" together after we got back to the Lucerna. I talk daily with one of them. So the friendships I made totally outweigh the crappy way I felt. Congrats on being banded, I hope all continues going well.

Hi there, and welcome, I had my surgery on sept 2. I sent them a $500 check for deposit and then wired the funds a week before surgery. It was all quite easy. If you pay with credit card, (not thru paypal) they do charge $300 fee. the preop diet is hard but totally worth it. I started 2 weeks before and had off 10 pounds for surgery. they need you to lose weight so that your liver can shrink prior, since the band is so close to the liver. they can tell if you have lost too. Lori was most helpful at the OCC, very quick responses to calls and to emails. Good luck!!!!

Well I went out and bought myself a new computer, it is so great to be back. I finally started to drop some weight again and it is so nice to know that the work is somewhat beginning to pay off. i am ready to eat though, I am afraid that I may blow it when i get a chance. All I think about is when this stupid liquid diet is over... I am not in the diet mindset anymore. 4 weeks now I have been on such a strict diet that all I want is some real food I am obsessing. I hope this a normal thing to go thru. Other than that, all is well. I feel good with just some soreness in the port area. I can finally belch again, and let me tell you, I will never take a belch for granted again!!!!! Thanks again for all the support.

Oh it is nice to be here again. I have been in internet darkness for close to a week now and have missed you all so much. Of course, this comes less than a week out of surgery when I have so many questions. I am on day 12 of post op and could have used some moral support for the freaking diet that we are to be on for 21 days. I have done well on my own though. The weight has slowed down since I started on the cream soups so I am a little depressed. I actually gain 1.8 pounds when I added the soup. That is gone now but that only makes 6 pounds since surgery date. kinda depressing since I see so many here who lose like 25 on post op. Any way. I am just borrowing this internet but hope to be back on real soon. You all take care!!!!

Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Miranda were very clear that they want us to follow their post op diet. He says many do differently but in the long run these 3 weeks are important to the long term goal of the band. Spending this much money, I do not want to take a chance.

Are your slimfasts high in protein? I think for me that makes a huge difference. Before the preop diet I could never lose more that 2 pounds a week, even the first week. But the high protein kicked in and did some major damage. Also make sure you are not having too much carbs or sodium in the lean cuisines, you may be bloating. I have a feeling if you are following the diet per instructions you will drop a few pounds one morning and be surprised. good luck, I know how hungry you can get, I thought I would not last one more day...everyday.

You better be ready, I got a call the day before my flight that I would fly into san diego and go directly to theclinic for the surgery. I flew in at 12:40 and I was out of surgery before 5. I was kinda looking forward to an authentic mexican taco, bummer. But it gave me a few more days to recover though. good luck, I need to schedule my first fill somewhere in October so maybe I will see some of you there.

I am on my 5th day after banding. I have a wonderful and very supportive mom who is so proud that I am doing something about my life long struggle. However, just being down at the OCC she could feel how life was going to be different. She did not enjoy her food nearly as much without me joining in. She said, this is not the kind of vacatiion we woud usually take, is it? I said those are long gone. to be honest, it is kind of sad. We enjoyed each others company over a good piece of pie or nice dinner. I know I will never lose the support from her. She just may lose weight thru this as well. but there is a certain grieving process one must go thru for the loss of their old life. If a friend is not supportive, I can see where they don't want to go thru the uncomfortable mess of having to sit with a nibbler when they are used to a vacccuum. good luck and remember we are all friends here who want nothing but the best for each other.

Hi Christina, Just got home from the OCC. I think I saw you there but was not sure if you were a bandster and didn't want to offend. You are probably going home tomorrow, so good luck with that. Good for you if you are only feeling "discomfort" with the gas. the 3 others who were banded the same day as me (as well as myself)were having a little more trouble than that. It was overall a great experience in TJ and I hope you had a good one as well. Wishes for a quick recovery, Race ya to the finish line!

Okay, I leave for the airport in about 45 minutes and I really covet all prayers for my 3 1/2 hour plane ride. It is very hard to sit still and I am getting anxiety just thinking about it. The gas is still pretty bad and I have not slept much since I am a tummy sleeper, that sort of sucks. I am also really nervous because Dr o and Martinez found a cyst behind my stomach during surgery. Right now, i am a little emotional. :lb12: please pray for me if you are so inclined. Thanks again for all of your support. You all mean so much to me. Btw, did you all have gurgling during the night. Talk about annoying!!!!1

Hello all, I am getting close to the 24 hour mark of post op. Right now the gas pain in chest is a killer. I have been walking and taking the gas ex strips but it still hurts. it feel like when you drink to large of a gulp and the swallow gets stuck in the chest. Did that feel like what any of you had? I do not like it. I am also hungry. Was hoping that would have waited a few weeks. Other than that, I feel good.

Okay, this is heidi and I am at the hotel right now. I was so out of it last night. My mom tells me I spoke spanish for awile after surgery. No too bad from what the nurses say. I thought I forgot it when I graduated school. Go figure. I dohave some soreness from the gas pressure in my chest. A good walk and I feel better. still weird to think that all this waiting is over. Staff has been wonerful. Love those nurses!!!! Dr. Miranda was very kind, thougrouh and relaxed. They all were great at making my mom feel good about my decision. I had 4 others here that had surgery yesterday. They are doing well. Anxious to get this ball a rollin. thansk again for all you support.-Heidi

Hi CHristina, great to know that I will not be alone down there. Good luck and we will see there!!

hey all, Just thought I would share with you that I leave tomorrow. I don't fly out until Tuesday but I drive to Omaha (2.5 hours away, for cheap tickets) stay the night there and then fly out early tues morning. I am hoping i can find a hotel with a computer to keep in touch but I am not counting on it. I am really excited but beginning to get nervous. AM I READY FOR THIS??? I think I love food too much. Will I be able to do this? I am miserable on the preop, starving!!! Does the hunger go away a little more with the post op? I sure hope so. Well just wanted to let you all know what was going on. I will talk to you on the other side!!

here I am pre-op and I am having the same difficulty. I have been on the preop diet now for almost 2 weeks and am really beginning to feel deprived. As if I have not eaten enough in the last 32 years!!!! My son had a bowl of cereal this morning and all I wanted to do was grab it and wolf it down. I think to myself that the banding will stop this, but I know that this is in my head, not in my stomach. this is something that i am really worried about. I am having so many life changes right now, I hope I can remain strong. I hope that I will be able to retrain the brain and I know this forum is going to be the biggest motivation. thanks again for being there and helping me not feel alone.

Holy Cow!!! Did you lose 100lbs in 8 months?????? Thats flipping awesome. I get banded wednesday by Dr. O. I sure hope in april I can make the same post.

I just want to say a big THANK YOU to all of you. You are wonderful. i don't know what i would be like if I did not have this support system. Wow, to think I did not know any of you 2 weeks ago. You are all so wonderful. I appreciate all of your advice. Just for the record, I am quite sure there is no other woman in the picture. I do know that there is an idea of another woman though. You know, the ideal one that I am not. I hope this is a temporary separation, he is a good father and when things aren't "emotional" or mentally intimate,we can be...buddies. That said, I still think he is a jerk! Thanks again, I can't wait to have my surgery in 6 days, that is what is keeping me afloat!!!!

So my husband and I have decided to separate after I get back from TJ. Our problems extends to way beyond recently but they sure came to a head. I am a mess and he is.....just fine. :lb12: So that makes me even more of a mess!!! Does the last 9 years mean nothing? We have got 2 gorgeous children together who are going to be devastated. my main problem with him has been, it seems like he fell out of love with me more each pound I gained. he looks at me with more disgust than love. He would never say anything out loud but a wife knows. With the weight comes lack of respect. I am treated more like his child than his equal. he shows no emotion and pretty much gets bored and frustrated if I ever do. I tried to talk to him the other day, he said, "it never does any good, so lets just not try it again", I asked him if he wanted to separate, and he thought that was a good idea. It took 2 years for him to "allow" this surgery. All the money is under only his name. (I know, should have given me a clue) Anyway, we recently moved to this area and I have no friends to confide in. I need someone to listen to me and give me some support. I am so lonely. My mom takes care of my grandma and she is such a gossip, so I need to wait till granny is not there to overhear. Thanks for listening

I know you were suppose to be going now and I am sorry. I can't imagine having looked so forward to this and then having it pass you up. I am so glad you are still here. Hope to hear a date soon.

I absolutely love reality shows. Survivor, amazing race, big brother, and the mole. I have become addicted to shows like House and LOST. love love love DVR. I never could get interested in shows before that since my schedule is always different but now I just choose one afternoon and watch them all at the same time. I love fall programming!!!!!

My oh my, girl, can I relate. I have had anxiety disorders since my son was born 8 years ago. It sucks. My anxiety was triggered by many things and insomnia made it worse. melatonin really helped me find my sleep. it is OTC and does not have any side effects or addicting components. Concentrating on breathing helped me. Mentally telling myself to breath in and out. Not only did it take my mind off of the attack but I was calming down with the oxygen. Fighting attacks only made them worse, allow them to take their course. Hormones are a big cause of my anxiety. The electrical wiring is messed up in the brain. Add hormones to that and I am a mess. For example, I could not get into a car with anyone else for a few months. I was scared i would have to go to the bathroom. I had anxiety attacks thinking about going for a drive. When I got into a car with someone I would demand they pull over so I could just get out. It could take up to one hour to drive 20 miles. I am currently on Zoloft and it is working good. Still, I never know when something is going to creep up. Your weight loss could also be doing something with the brain. it is a chemical, physical problem. you should talk to your doctor about your symptons and see if you should try some medications. Living with panic attacks is rough. It is mentally and physically draining. Take care of yourself.

I have phobia with cameras. I will try to be brave and stand still for a photo. NO BIKINI though . Gosh if they made a bikini in my size i would be shocked. . But I will try for that photo.