January 7, 2007
I have yo-yoed all my life with my weight. I mostly gained weight when I was really happy; I call it my "domestic tranquility" weight gains. Of course every time I quit smoking I gained at least 20 lbs, so my weight just kept climbing. I quit smoking for the last time about 4 years ago and man I started gaining. I met "
Idaho loser" when she worked with my husband and when I found out she had weight loss surgery I had to check it out. I did a bit of research the spring of 2006 and then the family business took off and I was too busy to worry about losing weight. I just ignored my weight problem, when my knees started to ache all the time and then my back and I couldn't dress my self some days and had to have help from my 11 year old granddaughter (she has been with me since she was 4 months old, I didn't associate this with my weight gain. I remember being out with my hubby and friends one night and caught a look at myself in the mirror and what I saw pissed me off. I looked like a damn pumpkin. Me, who had always prided my self on my appearance, had become a pumpkin. I was fat and my extra weight was hurting my body, I decided then and there that I was changing my life. I started looking at the Lap Band seriously. I mentioned to a customer at my office, Rae, whom I was close to that I was thinking about surgery and low and behold she was banded. That was all I needed I now had 2 friends losing weight when I met Idaho Loser's mom it made it 3.
I read everything I could find on lap bands. I was going to be self pay so I knew I would need financing. As I looked for a doctor, I found out that if I went to Mexico it would be a lot less money and the doctor's in Mexico had done more procedures. I was headed to
California for the NHRA finals in November 2006 and I had an idea. I found a finance company for my surgery and they recommended a few doctors, so I researched and spoke to the patient coordinators and I made Dr Aceves in
Mexicali my choice. I was banded on November 8th 2006. I met some great new friends, Kia, Kami and Brenda who were banded the same day. The
Almater
Hospital was beautiful and Yolonda and Mary Louisa and the staff were just wonderful. Dr. Aceves made sure we knew everthing he was going to do and we felt well informed about the procedure.
We stayed at the Hotel Lucerne the night before and it was so gorgeous I felt like a celebrity. Thank god the paparazzi didn’t find me LOL!!! We had our "last meal" in the Italian Restaurant at the hotel. YUMMMMYYYY!!!!
About a week and a half out I had a moment of regret. I was hungry, hurting, depressed and crying. What the hell had I done? I started reading the messages on the OH forum and made up my mind to JUST HEAL and to quit thinking about the band 24/7 and enjoy the holidays. I found out that I wouldn’t feel any restriction until I had some fills so I just did the best I could to eat less until I had a fill. Rae helped me along the way, encouraging me and answering my "dumb" questions.
On January 4. 2007 I had my first fill at the fillcentersusa location in
Pocatello Id. My friend Rae went with me to hold my hand (thankyouthankyou) I am the biggest weenie when it comes to needles, so I was a baby, HOWEVER, in retrospect it was not painful. I am just a weenie. I now have .8 cc in my band and I have restriction. I went ahead and scheduled another appointment in 6 weeks (the quickest I could get in) in case I need another. I am now just 3 days from my first fill and I look forward to finally losing.
I met Nancy R for lunch on Saturday the 6th of January and 2 hours was just not enough. It was great to meet someone from the forum.
Nancy your awesome!!!
I am starting a support group in my area for bandsters since there are at least 6 of us now that I know of and maybe we can get enough money together to have one of us sign up to be an OH leader and help others in my area who need information and support. Our first meeting is January 9th 2007.
