fat2nrml

IT'S $8500 FOR DR.O

OH YA, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I SENT OPRAH AN EMAIL TOO.......

THAT'S ONE OF MY CONCERNS TOO, THAT SHE LOOK AT THIS IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT. I REALLY WISH SOMEONE WOULD TELL US HOW THE WHOLE THING WENT!! I'M GOING TO BE BANDED ON MARCH 25th AND DID ALOT OF RESEARCH OVER THE PAST YEAR AND WOULD HATE FOR OPRAH TO POO-POO ALL OVER IT!! HOPEFULLY SHE WENT INTO IT WITH AN OPEN MIND AND ACCEPTS THE FACT THAT BECAUSE HER WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT WORKED FOR HER DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'LL WORK FOR EVERYONE. :-?

I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING..... WHAT HAPPENED? HOW'D IT GO? WAS OPRAH 'FOR' LAP BANDING?? SOMEONE PLEASE POST SOMETHING!!!! :-?

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT!!! I'LL KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR MORE INFO!! =D>

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT SEEING YOUR REFLECTION.... I CRINGE EVERY TIME!! I WON'T LOOK IN A FULL LENGTH MIRROR, I CAN BARELY STAND TO LOOK AT MYSELF FROM THE NECK UP!! I'M SURE EVERYTHING WILL GO FINE, I'M REALLY NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE SURGERY, I USUALLY DO PRETTY WELL. I THINK I'M MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE PRE-OP DIET!!! LOL!! I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS TIME NEXT YEAR WHEN I WON'T BE DISCUSTED WITH MYSELF.

HELLO, I HAVE MY SURGERY DATE MARCH 25th AND I'M ALSO EXCITED AND NERVOUS. I'M MORE NERVOUS ABOUT THE TRIP THAN THE SURGERY. I DECIDED NOT TO TELL ANYONE [bUT HUSBAND AND GROWN DAUGHTER] THAT I'M HAVING IT DONE. I DIDN'T WANT THE LOOKS EITHER AND DO NOT NEED THE HASSLE OF EXPLAINING THAT I'VE RESEARCHED THIS AND AM SATISFIED THAT I'M MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE. GOOD LUCK TO YOU BOTH IN FEB., WISH I COULD HAVE MINE SOONER.... WAITING FOR INCOME TAX. BEST WISHES, DARLENE

HELLO JANET AND PININA, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR MESSAGES.... IT IS SO NICE TO KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT ALONE!! I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENS TO SOME PEOPLE AND NOT OTHERS. I WATCHED OPRAH A FEW YEARS AGO AND I REMEMBER HER SAYING THAT YOU HAVE TO DIG DEEP AND FIND THE HIDDEN REASON THAT WE OVER EAT. [i GUESS SHE MEANT THAT SHE WAS RAPED AS A YOUNG GIRL AND THAT'S WHY SHE OVER EATS.... WHICH I CAN UNDERSTAND] BUT I DIDN'T HAVE AN AWFUL CHILDHOOD, IT WASN'T ALL THAT GREAT, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED THAT I THINK WOULD PUSH ME TO EAT THE WAY I DO. NO ONE SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE LIKE ME OVER EAT. WHY CAN'T I GET ENOUGH FOOD? I KNOW I'M NOT HUNGRY, SO WHAT PUSHES ME? I GUESS IF ANYONE ON THIS SITE KNEW THE ANSWER, THEY WOULDN'T BE ON THIS SITE, HUH? THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING, AND ANY TIME YOU WANT TO CHAT, DROP ME A LINE! DARLENE

HELLO, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO ANSWERED MY PLEA.... I SEE NOW THAT MORE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M GOING THRU THAN I REALIZED!! I HAVE SOME ABSOLUTELY GREAT NEWS!!!! I'M GOING TO BE BANDED BY DR. O ON MARCH 25th!!! I'M SO HAPPY BUT NERVOUS AT THE SAME TIME!! ANYONE ELSE WHO'S SCHEDULED FOR THIS DATE, PLEASE DROP ME A LINE! I WILL BE GOING BY MYSELF, FLYING OUT OF PA. THANKS!! DARLENE =D>

THANK YOU BUGGYNUT!! I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT THINKING. MY MIND'S ALWAYS ON FOOD SO IF I COULD SHUT THAT DOWN, I'D PROBABLY BE ALRIGHT. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SURGERY ON MONDAY... SURE WISH I WAS GOING TOO!!ALSO, GOOD LUCK WITH WEIGHT WATCHERS, I TRIED THAT AND DIDN'T LIKE IT. I DID REALLY WELL ON LA WEIGHT LOSS A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT GAINED IT ALL BACK +. THANKS AGAIN, DARLENE =D>

HELLO FURELLIE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR QUICK REPLY, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT!! WHEN WERE YOU BANDED? DID YOU GO TO DR. O? I TRUELY BELEIVE THAT THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO WORK FOR ME BECAUSE I'M SO OBSESSED WITH FOOD. I SAID MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, BEFORE I HEARD OF LAPBAND [i'LL BE 44] THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF IS IF I'M RESTRICTED SOMEHOW. HEARING ABOUT LAPBAND WAS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE!! BEING STUCK IN AN OBESE BODY IS HELL. I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING AND THEN I REALIZE HOW LIMITED I AM. I'M NOW AT THE HEAVIEST THAT I'VE EVER BEEN, EVEN WHEN I WAS PREGNANT!! SHAVING MY LEGS IS SUCH A CHORE, I CAN'T GET PAST MY GUT TO REACH! IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE ELSE KNOW'S WHAT I'M SAYING. MOST PEOPLE I TALK TO DENY HAVING A PROBLEM. THEY SAY THEY DON'T EAT THAT MUCH AND CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE FAT. I'M HERE TO TELL EVERYONE THAT I EAT EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY CAN, WHENEVER AND WHEREEVER I CAN! I'M OBESE BECAUSE I EAT ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN 4 ADULTS [ AND PROBABLY A KID OR TWO!] I JUST WISH SOMEONE COULD FIGURE OUT WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE THIS WHEN OTHERS COULD CARE LESS ABOUT FOOD. A FRIEND I WORK WITH [sHE'S SKINNY] SAYS THAT SHE "FORGETS" TO EAT! HOW CAN YOU FORGET TO EAT?!! READING AT COOK BOOKS AND LOOKING AT PIX OF FOOD WOULDN'T DO IT FOR ME, I GOTTA BE ABLE TO SHOVEL IT IN! LOL! THANKS AGAIN AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D BE INTERESTED IN HEARING YOUR "LAPBAND STORY". [ANYONE'S STORY!] DARLENE

HELLO EVERYONE, I HAVEN'T BEEN ON FOR A LONG TIME. I'M CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET THE FUNDS UP [AGAIN, TRIED LAST YEAR TOO] TO HAVE LAPBAND SURGERY DONE IN MARCH BY DR. ORTIZ. I HAVE FELT KIND OF ALONE IN MY LIFE LONG FIGHT WITH MY WEIGHT. ANYONE I'VE SPOKE TO DOESN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND [OR DOESN'T WANT TO ADMITT TO UNDERSTANDING] MY ADDICTION TO FOOD. FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY "DRUG OF CHOICE". I NEVER DID DRUGS GROWING UP, I DID DRINK AS A TEENAGER AND YOUNGER ADULT, BUT FOOD HAS BEEN THERE AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. I CAN REMEMBER AS A KID BEING AT THE DINNER TABLE [THERE WERE 2 KIDS, 2 ADULTS] AND HAVING FOOD PUT ON MY PLATE AND TAKING INVENTORY OF WHAT WAS LEFT AND CLAIMING IT!! I HADN'T EVEN STARTED EATING WHAT WAS ON MY PLATE!! AM I ALONE?? THAT'S MY FIRST MEMORY OF BEING OBSESSED WITH FOOD. I HAVE DIETED DOZENS OF TIMES OVER... LOST, GAINED, LOST, GAINED, BUT IT ALWAYS CAME BACK. MY OBSESSION IS ALWAYS THERE. WHY? WHAT CAUSES THIS? I NEVER WAS STARVED, I NEVER WENT WITHOUT. I CAN BE SO FULL THAT I'M ALMOST SICK [i FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET TO THAT POINT WITHOUT ACTUALLY GETTING SICK OVER THE YEARS] BUT I'M STILL THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE FRIDGE OR THE CUPBOARDS. AS SOON AS MY STOMACHE FEELS A LITTLE BETTER, I'LL STUFF SOMETHING ELSE IN. I'VE BEEN TOLD OVER AND OVER "CUT BACK AND EXERCISE" AND I'VE DONE THAT DOZENS OF TIMES BUT THE ADDICTION'S STILL THERE AND EVENTUALLY WINS. I HAVE NEVER MET A DOCTOR THAT SAYS "I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH", NEVER!! DOES ANYONE OUT THERE KNOW WHAT I MEAN?? ANYONE HAD THE SAME OR SIMILAR EXPERIENCES? I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IF YOU'D SHARE, I'D LOVE TO FINALLY KNOW THAT I'M NOT A "FOOD FREAK". THANK YOU ALL!!!

HELLO!! I'M HOPING TO HAVE THE LAPBAND PUT IN BY DR. ORTIZ IN MARCH [sTILL WORKING ON THE MONEY.] I WANTED TO GET IT LAST YEAR BUT COULDN'T GET UP THE FUNDS. ANYWAYS, I WAS WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE YOUR BAND AND HALF YOUR STOMACHE REMOVED? I HAVEN'T BEEN COMMING TO THE FORUM LATELY, SO I'M BEHIND. THANK YOU, AND I HOPE ALL'S WELL WITH YOU!! DARLENE :-h

Hello Lydia, I sent you an email a few days ago and haven't heard back???? I won't be getting my surgery until Feb. or March of '08, I couldn't raise the money. Let me know how your fill goes in NJ. [You're getting it done on my B-day!!] It seems all the Dr.'s locally don't want to do fills on anyone who are'nt their patients. I did ask a few in Pittsburgh and they said they'd do the fills, but I didn't get a price. Hope to hear from you soon, Darlene

Saw your photo's and you look GREAT!!! There's no way I could ride like that, you should be sooooo proud!!! Darlene

Hello Becki, CONGRATS on your bike trip!!! Awesome!! I tried looking up the pictures but couldn't get the site?? Keep up the good work. I'm hoping to be posting my story soon..... still trying to get the funds! Darlene

HELLO, I'M HOPING TO BE BANDED SOON AND I'M LOOKING FOR A FILL CENTER OR DR. TO DO MY FILLS IN CENTRAL PENNA. FILL CENTERS DO NOT HAVE ANY IN PENNA. YET AND THE FEW HOSPITALS THAT I CONTACTED WON'T DO FILLS UNLESS THEY DID THE SURGERY. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! THANKS! DARLENE

Hi, I'm looking for fill centers or surgeons who will do fills in Pa. Any help greatly appreciated!! Thanks! Darlene

Hello Robin...... Just checking up on you to see how your first fill went??? Darlene P.S. Did you get your fill in the States or by Dr. O?

Hello Clynn, Thanks for your reply! Do you have the VG band? I just got Dr. Ortiz' book Lap band for Life and breezed right through it! He did say that it depends on the Dr. if they decide to use the VG band. Some like it more than others. I'm sure we'll discuss all the options with the different size bands. I'm currently working with the bank to get the money for the surgery,.... they drag it out so much! Thanks! Darlene

HELLO JUDY, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S INPUT!! THANKS SOOO MUCH! I ALSO THOUGHT THAT FILLS WOULD BE OFTEN [READING THE FORUM] THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE GETTING FILLS, THEN GOING BACK FOR UNFILLS THEN A MONTH LATER GETTING ANOTHER SMALL FILL. I SENT AN EMAIL TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL HERE IN PA. THAT DOES LAP BANDS AND ASKED IF THEY DO FILLS FOR PEOPLE OTHER THAN THEIR PATIENTS AND SHE WANTED MORE INFO. SHE DOESN'T SOUND TOO THRILLED ABOUT IT. I HAVE'NT GOTTEN AN ANSWER YET, SO I'LL KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED. I'M STILL TRYING TO GET THE MONEY UP TO GET THE SURGERY.... I WANT IT BAD!!! AGAIN, THANKS SO MUCH JUDY AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BAND!! ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN THINK OF, DROP A LINE!! DARLENE

Hello Kelly, I'm so sorry to hear about the problems with your band! Did Dr. Ortiz say whether you could get the band again sometime in the future? Your weight loss was awesome, are you able to maintain it now? I hope to be banded by the end of the year by Dr. Ortiz. I hope things go better for you!! Darlene

Hi, I'm also a newbie and read the forum alot. I agree, people who want and get lapbanding need the help of the restriction. I'm currently raising the money to have it done by Dr. Ortiz and hope to be banded before the end of the year. I feel that I'm addicted to food. I don't eat very healthy, but I do love "diet" food. [salads, yogurt, cottage cheese...] My problem is portion control and total control overall. I'll eat every spare minute if I can. Being full doesn't matter, I'll eat more. I said years ago [and many failed diets ago] that I'm going to HAVE to be restricted somehow before I lose weight and keep it off. [remember the Fobi-pouch? I thought back then that it would be perfect for me] Is there anyone else who feels this way about food? Am I alone? I can force myself to stay on a diet and lose weight but within a short time I gain it all back. My last diet was LA Weight Loss 2 years ago... did really well and lost almost 40lbs and have since gained it all back plus. I truley believe that the band is going to work for me, hopefully soon!!! Darlene

Hi tmckee, I'm pretty fearless too, I was never afraid when it comes to surgery. I had a hysterectomy last March and then had to have my appendix out in Dec. Both operations went pretty well. I did get sick both times though. Doc said it was the anestethia,[spelling] but I say it was the gas they use to pump your gut up with to do the laproscopic surgery. [but what do I know?] I think the biggest fear I have is going to Mexico. I've never been there and I'll be traveling alone. I'm not telling anyone that I'm having the surgery [except my husband] I'm not one to have a bunch of people surrounding me either. Where are you from? I'm from central Pa., so it'll be a bit of a trip. It's great that you're feeling so good right after surgery!! Are you going back to Mexico for your fills? I'm not sure what I'll do, I'm still searching my area for a place. I hate the thoughts of traveling back to Mexico so often for fills. I read some other patients stories, and it seems like they pay as much for a local fill as it would cost for airfare back to Mexico!! If I think of anything else, I'll be sure to ask. Thanks! Darlene

Hi tmckee!! I'd be greatful to hear your whole story from start to finish.... if you have the time! I read some of the other posts and it has been very helpful in making my decision to have the surgery. What was your starting weight? How tall are you? I'm 5'5" and I'm way over 200lbs. [i haven't been on the scale in over a year... too afraid!] I haven't heard anything bad about Dr. Oritz in all that I've read, only good things! I did read one post that said Mrs. O was kind of cold and didn't converse much. The rest was all good. Thanks so much for responding, I really appreciate it! Darlene