Chloe

(((((((((((((((Chloe))))))))))))))

Welcome new bandito. I'm so proud of you for going to a treatment center. There is an international organization that holds meetings "over the phone" 24x7 to talk about coping with food addictions and I must confess that more often than not I'm listening in when I need extra support.

I believe in you.

xo

Hey Robbyn,

That's very interesting, I've never heard over a phone support system. I don't really like talking on the phone, haha, but if in need, I might use it.

Also--I have no idea if you've heard about it or not, but there is actually an Over Eaters Anonymous. Their website is: www.oa.org. They have meetings in most cities.

It's pretty cool. It is a 12-step system, but I think it's another good place to get support.

Thank you for your well wishes. =) Take care!

-Chloe'

Hey Chloe!

Glad to hear you are dealing nicely with everything. I'm on day 21 today! Yew Hew! I can eat food tomorrrow! I have found that the port pain lasted longer than anything. Bending forward would really aggravate it or sitting in a car for any length of time was bothersome too. But today all pain is pretty much gone with just a little tenderness at the port site. I hear that takes awhile to go away completely.

You know, I think of myself as a food addict too. I miss cheeseburgers and bread, pasta, bad carbs mostly. And I didn't eat those things all the time, but when I did, it was in very unrealistic portions compared to what other people ate. Eating that kind of stuff really filled some kind of weird void in myself that was such a comfort. I don't know what it was, really. Once I get restriction after a fill or two, I don't think I will give those foods a lot of thought because I will feel more full than I do now. I think the challenge for me will be to get through the time between tomorrow, solid food, and my first fill without over eating.

You sound like you are on the right track and have good support from your family and that is going to help you to succeed. You keep up the good work and good luck in San Diego! Your great attitude is going to make you successful on this journey!

Red

RED!! Hi =D

YAY!! 21 days of liquids done!! I feel like I will never reach that day, haha, but it's ok. I'm doing fine enough with starting full liquids. I can't wait for soup!

The next day after I wrote that post, my port pain was gone. Not totally, but I think I was just having a bad pain day. And I weight myself, I've lost 5.5 additional pounds in the first week. I'm already starting to feel better, health-wise. Crazy how it's working.

And agreed, the bad carbs are my issue too! Even now, knowing that breads, cakes, pastas, etc, don't go down well with a fill is literally stressing me out. They are my comfort foods, and hopefully the fill/band will make me not crave them, but who knows. I hope that's what happens for you. =) We need all power against "the Carbs" we can get.

And I think you'll be fine between those interim days. Really, cause I know that just knowing the band is there and I want to give myself ever shred of help to succeed, ya know?

So I think you'll be given a power you've never known; if not, then it's three weeks until a fill, and as long as you are generally careful, and eat small portions at a time, even if it's a lot, the band will be fine, and then you'll have your fill in no time.

I BELIEVE IN YOU!

Good luck.

Chloe'

Wow, how interesting! I am so glad to hear how well things have turned out for you Chloe! Keep up the good work! I am getting banded next week and starting to think about lots of different things in regards to how I eat. Like you (and many others on here I am sure) I am a food addict...it is every bit as serious and hard to recover from like any other addiction...maybe even harder since we can't just give it up altogether!!

I wonder if I will dream of food too...I found that so interesting what you both said! I can see waking up in a panic worrying I ate something too soon!

This is such an amazing forum - learn so many valuable things on here and just to know so many others have walked this path is a great comfort!

Can't wait till I cross over and join you all in bandland!!!!

Jen! I am excited for you to join us bandsters. =D

Ya, the food addiction is the other half of the issue that we have to deal with. I've often asked why I couldn't be an alcoholic or something, so I can give it up indefinitely , but no such luck. If you get post-band and realize you need some extra support, the hotline like robbyn mentioned is good, and GUESS WHAT?!!?! There is also an OVER EATERS ANONYMOUS. Just like alcoholic, and narcotics, etc. Here's the website: http://www.oa.org/. You can find meetings in your city. I've gone to one meeting, but at the time I don't think I was ready to heal myself.

Good luck with your surgery! It will go so smoothly you'll be in shock, I know I was. The pain after is really not unbearable, and it almost feels like you've finally survived the food/weight battler with yourself. Let me know if you have any questions!

Also--suggestions for liquids-->I really enjoyed Vitamin Water's Lemonade. It's a really good flavor, 10 calories, and it's a nice break from broth. Red is right about the Special K Vitamin Water, you should be able to find it at your grocery store! I bought kiwi-strawberry juice that was a life save too, and find a sugar-free popsicle you enjoy. Some I don't like. (And I hate yogurt, so my two days of yogurt are slightly unpleasant.)

Take care.

Hey Chloe!

So glad all is well. I had a dream similar to yours, but I hadn't been banded yet. I was fasting for Lent, the whole 40 days straight, and I dreamt that I was eating a (delicious) ice cream sandwich. I remember feeling in my dream upset that I had broken the fast, but when I woke up I was so relieved, but real curious about dreaming about eating. One thing I noticed not only during that time, but also during the 21-day post-op liquid phase, was how many food commercials are on TV! I swear, it is like subliminal messaging. And do they make the food look juicier, richer, cheesier, and more chocolatey (sp?) on TV than it is in real life? It sure seems like it when you are only doing liquids. Anywho--so happy that you are on the other side of the decision part of this, and now are in the "action" phase. Take care, kid!

Tootsie---OH MY GOODNESS, they definitely digitally enhance food on TV! It looks INCREDIBLE. No wonder, in addition to other things, 66% of America is obese. We have addictions that are fed my our culture. Ya, strangely enough though, I have found looking at food in magazines a comfort, how weird is that? It's like eating what I see almost, haha. My mom thinks I'm torturing myself, but it makes me feel better; she laughed and said I can talk about that at the treatment center, I guess it doesn't sound too normal. Lol. Thank you!!

Hi everyone,

I don't know if it's easier to start a new thread or to keep posting on my old one, but I chose to start a new one. =)

Hi RED!! Thanks for asking how I am doing! And thanks to all of you wonderful bandsters that commented on my last post! (You guys are seriously amazing...!)

I am now 7 days post-op, and things have been good. I am in less pain than I imagined I would be in, and really, the pain is mostly gas related. Though today I am having pain above the port and its incision, but it's not terrible. I can pretty much move around without any trouble, though getting up from lying down is sometimes a pain. I haven't struggled with the clear liquids too much, asides from some hunger and reminding myself that I NEED to drink lots because I'm having such a low-caloric intake. I love chicken broth and juice, haha, so it's been nice to consume these as much as I want. I'm taking my liquids vitamins and chromium, and things are really going well. =D

The worst thing so far has been my food nightmares! I have been having terrible dreams about eating, and waking up and thinking I had actually eaten and then being in a state of panic. My Dad, who is a psychiatrist, says this is a classic happening when an addict stops their addiction. My family and I already knew that I was addicted to food, and it's pretty clear that I have an eating disorder, but not the kind where I don't eat, but where I eat TOO much. It's called binge eating, followed by more binge eating and never purging. I'm sure a lot of you have had similar experiences. And I just wanted to say that accepting the fact that I really am not in control, and that I am not just lazy or unmotivated, that I have a DISEASE, has helped me alot. Other people on the outside might just think we are copping out or lazy, but it is serious!

Starting in September, I am actually going to be going to an eating disorder treatment center in San Diego (it was a coincidence that it is near OCC) for 40 days. I won't be able to get online =( to chat and get support, but I will be in a good place, a place where I can finally start to address the psychological reasons for my over eating. The band is in place to help with actual food intake, but now I need to learn to not make food my go-to comfort thing.

I am so glad I got the band, and I know it will help me immensely. I am sort of upset by the prospect of not eating cupcakes, flour tortillas, and sandwiches ever again, but hopefully at the treatment center I will learn to make those not important to me. I am very much looking forward to full liquids and I will check in again soon!

I hope you all are all doing well!!

Much love from Tennessee,

Chloe'

Hello my wonderful forum friends!!

I am reporting that I did indeed get banded today, and it was a piece of cake! I'm back at my hotel in the Marriot. Dr. Martinez, Dr. Sol, Dr. Miranda, Dr. Jimenez, and Carmelita were WONDERFUL. It was a great experience, and I actually feel relatively fine. I've been walking alot, and oh my goodness! I have so much to say that I can't type fast enough.

I'm really thrilled I did it, and I am even excited now. I wanted to send my greatest thanks for all of your support beforehand and let you know that it REALLY helped.

I have a feeling I will become a forum addict, so get used to me! hehe.

I have not had too much gas pain, but I did a lot of burping when I was at the clinic, so maybe that helped. I'm somewhat sore, but otherwise I am fine.

I have a huge cheesy grin on my face, so thanks to ya'll for helping get me here.

You were all right, and I am glad I was able to hear from you and now trust that this was the right decision for me and it will give me my life back.

Tomorrow we are still going to be in Tijuana so we will probably go out and shop so I can walk and my Mom won't be cooped up in the hotel. Then a flight back to Nashville Thursday where I shall begin the healing process. I'm pretty stoked about Capri Suns, I haven't had those in years.

Alright, off to bed now.

I hope and pray for the best to you all, and I'm sure I'll be posting again soon.

<3 Chloe'

Chloe--are you getting your lap-band done by a US doctor?

Tootsie, no I am not.

I am going to the Obesity Control Center in Tijuana Mexico. Any reason why?

Dr. Martinez is doing my surgery. Where did you do yours?

CHLOE, JUST MAKE SURE IT’S YOU OWN DECISION AND NOT ANYONE ELSE’S. IT’S YOUR HEALTH, YOUR BODY. IF YOU THINK THERE’S ANOTHER OPTION FOR YOU, THEN REGROUP AND GO OVER YOUR OPTIONS AGAIN.

I DON’T REGRET FOR ONE MINUTE NOT GETTING THE BAND AND WOULD DO IT AGAIN TOMORROW. IT WASN’T MY FAMILY, HUBBY, FRIENDS OR ANYONE PUSHING TO GET IT DONE, IT WAS ALL ABOUT ME AND WHAT I WANTED AS IT SHOULD BE

HAVE YOU ALWAYS HAD A WEIGHT PROBLEM OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S COME ON THE LAST FEW YEARS?

Well, I was overweight when I was in 8th grade, then did Jenny Craig most of high school, but was also a varsity athlete, so I stayed thin in high school for the most part.

In college, I gained and lost, and then in the last two years have gotten extremely overweight. And I tried a fat camp last summer, for two months. I lost 40 lbs, and then a month after leaving camp, it all spiraled down hill again. I think the band will be the TOOL that can get me on the right track. It will help with control, which I cannot do on my own. Like I said to someone else, I will also be attending an eating disorder treatment center for a month after surgery. There I will be able to work on the psychological issues while also losing weight and preventing serious health issues.

So you did NOT get the band? Am I reading that correctly? Can you tell me why you decided not to do it? And how have things been since then?

Maybe that was a typo--I have a feeling you did get the band...

To everyone:

Ya'll (I'm from the south..TN) are awesome for being so honest and sharing with me your thoughts and stories. I really genuinely appreciate it. And REALLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

TO SValentino:

I read your post last night, and I cried. The good kind of crying though.

I think it was just the piece of support that I needed. My girlfriend doesn't want me to do it, my mom wants me to do it, and my dad thinks if I want to I should, and if I don't, I shouldn't.

Just getting feedback from you was like the little push I needed, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate what you said.

TO Smiley:

I think your advice is very sound, and I appreciate your forcing me to decided if it's for ME, and not for my mom. I do want it for myself, I think I'm just so scared about it, and so overwhelmed with the things going in my life that I decided to push it on my mom, as if its HER fault, so to speak, that I'm getting surgery. It was initially her idea, as a doctor she was aware of the procedure, etc., etc. And I've wanted to get it before, but have had trouble deciding if it's right/necessary. And the more I read from everyone, especially everyone's stories, I realize it IS a tool I need. I have plans to go to a treatment center for eating disorders after surgery, though not sure starting when considering I have to recover, etc. Thank you for responding, it has given me a new way to think about my situation. And I AM going to have surgery, because I need it, and I want it. =D

TO ValleyGirl:

Ya, I mean, it's been a hard decision. I just graduated from college, don't yet have a job, and it's summer. The time when everyone is going out and enjoying themselves, etc. I might miss out on some of that care-free partying post-college, but I think it's worth it to be healthy at 24/25. I know that being overweight will hinder by career process, as much as people say it 'won't;, it does. And I think that I've already been so unhappy at 20-22 because of being so overweight that missing out on some partying is worth being healthy and thin. THANK YOU for making me think about that.

TO Red:

Hi! I've been reading a lot of your posts/questions/answers, and it has been very helpful. And I think you are right, I just need to calm down. I let my anxiety get the better of me, and I freaked myself out. Sort of like my brain, my eating brain, is trying to sabotage me. I have watched Dr. O's videos, and some testimonials. They have helped. I think part of the problem too is that societal influences are making me feel sort of pathetic, ya know? As if I should be able to just do it myself, but in the last month I have really begun to understand that I do not have control because it's the way my brain deals with stress and things. Thank you very much!

TO Lisa:

Yes, you are right. I am very blessed and lucky to have this opportunity. I'm pretty sure my mother told me that once or twice, and I suppose I took that idea for granted. But you are right! And also true, if I don't do the band or take serious action, I will just become more overweight and develop diabetes, which no one wants. So, I think it is the right thing for me, I let my nerves get to me. And I am grateful to hear from someone more than one year out. Obviously life is an adjustment post-band, but since you are three years out, does life get more 'normal'? Do you feel you can do most things that others can do? I'm nervous about sleeping on my left side, intimacy, etc. How has your experience been with these things?

I would love to know more of your experience! =D

TO Tootsie:

It is really nice to hear that your young daughter has had it and could be brave through the process. That gives me much confidence. And that as a parent, you felt comfortable having your daughter have the band. I know my mother would never put me in danger, and in fact is probably getting me out of health danger by supporting this. At first, I would say that she sort of pushed me to it, but that's because she is so worried. I have definitely thought about it before, but wasn't sure if I really needed it. (Obviously I have been unsuccessful at serious weight loss before. In fact, I went to a weight loss camp last summer, for 2 months. I lost 40 lbs, and then about a month back at college I spiraled out of control.) So, yesterday I full heartedly committed myself to going through with surgery. I even came up with a little phrase for myself "instead of eating, searching for pleasure in food, read, and search for pleasure in knowledge". I know it is SUPER cheesy, but it makes so much sense to me. Instead of spending my time eating, why don't I read and make myself more knowledgeable? Anyway, thought I would share. Thank you, and tell your daughter thank you as well.

TO Pammie:

If you read my other responses, it was/is a mixed decision. I have wanted it before, and my mom has suggested/talked about it many times. My family basically had an intervention three weeks ago. The end result being my agreeing to have surgery. I wanted to do it, but didn't at the same time. I am pretty afraid of surgery, and I started to psych myself out for some reason. I need this, and I now know I want it. I am committed to getting the band, and will be committed to working with it to make my life better. Thank you for asking, it's definitely an important distinction and one I have had to deal with myself at a very personal level.

Hi Everyone,

I am scheduled to have surgery this coming Tuesday. And I am literally freaking out.

I am 22, 5'3'', and 246 lbs. Well, 243 since this darn liquid pre-op diet.

I have had weight issues most of my life, but never been obese like I have been the past two years.

My mom is a physician, and insists I have lap-band, because of all the health problems that will arise from being so over-weight.

I need to lose weight, I admit that. I don't want to get diabetes, I admit that.

However, I just don't know if I can have this surgery.

I've been reading basically every thread on this website, and I am now realllllly freaking out.

I feel I wasn't exactly given all the info before I said YES. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I feel so scared that I would go jump on the tread mill and eat perfectly for the rest of my life.

And I mean, the reason I am overweight is because I am a binge eater, which is a psychological disease.

It's not about control, etc. etc. How is having surgery going to fix the way my mind works?

It won't. Granted, I will lose weight and that will make me feel better, but I am not sure if I can handle all this other stuff.

I don't want anything in my body, and I certainly do not want to experience the left side pain, or have to get fills were a needle is stuck into my stomach.

Can ya'll help in any way?

I'm freaking out and thinking about canceling my surgery and potentially ruining my relationship with my mom for a while.

I don't know what to do.

HELP!!!!

Also--in the U.S. psychiatric evaluations are required, I'm assuming this is not true in Mexico?

Thanks.

-Chloe'