meesh

that is terrible...i know she is checking email because i just emailed to cancel my surgery and attempt to get the $500 back and she emailed me back immediately to tell me no, that i could not have my deposit back...i know she is online now...maybe try and email her again... good luck!

girls, thank you so much to all of you for replying, you all have made me think. i know i can work out, i am just being lazy and looking for an easy way out...i know it. i have to get my a** in gear and get off my "had a baby am fat" pity party and move on!!! i will have to make this decision soon but you guys have opened my eyes...thank you thank you....

i knew i would do this! my original surgery was scheduled for february 25th, i had to change it to march 7th and now i am thinking i will not do it at all. i am 5'4 and 187 pounds...i am normally around 140, i had a baby 10 months ago and gained 87 pounds. long story long...i am now taking optifast and have already lost 11 pounds...so here is the question, do i forgo spending the $7500 in cash and just keep purchasing the opti fast and loose the weight that way? i am so torn....i have to turn in my money this friday and am not sure what to do. i have already paid the $500 deposit and paid for my plane ticket, not that it was a lot... i guess i am wondering if i should do it because i have the following fears 1. i am afraid i will get the band and not feel good/not loose weight or loose it so slowly that i will resent spending the money since i could have just went on optifast... 2. i am afraid i will be throwing up all the time of pb'ing as you all call it...or frustrated because i can't eat but am not loosing weight fast enough 3. i am afraid i will be turning to alcohol as my husband and i dine out a lot with friends and are very social ..and not being able to eat will have me "drinking my dinner" thus turning into a complete lush! and so on and so on...i feel like a total baby right now..not being able to make a decision i have so many fears and wonder if needing to loose 50 pounds is enough to spend on this type of surgery? ugh, i am so torn...any advise would be helpful scared in california!

oh god, thank you for the photos...i absolutely do not want a scar like that one on my stomache, i am freaking out right now! honestly, my stomache is my only and best quality - sounds weird but i gain all my weight in my legs and rear!!! my sister had gastric bypass 2 times...i know so scary and her scar is like that only 5 times the length, it is horrible to look at and she is so self concious of it...i think you said this was NOT by dr. ortiz though...

this is going to sound like a stupid questions, but i have scoured the forum looking for information or feedback on the port hole? not even sure what its called...i am getting banded on the 7th of march and keep having anxiety dreams that i have this huge hole on my side...i know it;s ridiculous, but can anyone tell me if the port is outside your skin or inside? i was hoping to wear a 2 piece this summer!!! lol michelle - california

angela, you are exactly where i want to be!!! i am 190 right now and want to get back to my pre baby weight of 135 - actually that is 10 pounds less than pre baby weight) do you have any advise??? what worked well for you....it seems as if you only had a couple of fills...which is great, i am hoping to loose 50ish pounds with only 3 fills...for cost and travel reasons....any advise would be great! you are a complete inspiration!!

clynn, you are a complete inspiraiton...i am curious how much you have lost to date as you haven't updated your profile - which i love reading everyones by the way! -. it's amazing what you have done in such a short period of time!

ella, your weight loss is inspiring and making me feel better about this whole thing! i leave in 2 weeks and am scared to death i won't loose anything! i am not sure why...i guess because i have tried everything and i have failed at it all!!! do you have any advise...are you exercising? i already exercise daily - it s my massive in take of food...i can out eat my husband any day of the week! i ahve a total of 45 pounds to loose....any advise - like the no bread thing, i wonder if that is going to kill me!!- would be appreciated! i also keep invisioning this huge hole on the side of my stomach, is there any truth to that? michelle - california

hi ruth, age - 35 height - 5'3 weight - 190 bmi - too high! goal - 135 we will get there!!

good for you!!! i just decided not to do the financing and went to the bank and drained my savings...am i nuts? ) oh well...you only live once!!! what does PM mean? i have never been on a chat room or message board so am a little unfamiliar with all the abbreviations! ) mcihelle (from california) march 7th surgery

hi michelle, my name is michelle as well (from california!) can i ask why you are getting banded again? i have this major fear that i won't loose any weight or will be so miserable!! i just went to the bank and pulled the money from my savings...ugh, what am i doing!!! lol

hi donna, i am scheduled for march 7th as well...live in california and decided to do it after watching oprah...god that show has a lot of impact on people! i hope i will see you there! am going at it alone as my husband is totally against it, lucky for you your husband is going with! michelle

hi there, i was to be leaving this sunday but we are heading to the snow for the weekend and my financing hadn't come through so i changed the date to the 7th, i arrive on the 6th and i believe i am NOT in a private room, i also believe i am paying the normal price but lori said i would have my first fill free.? i acutally need to check on that again. maybe we will be in the same room! i had my second baby 10 months ago and gained 87 pounds...i am only 5'3..needless to say i can't loose the weight and am miserable so i thought i would try this and hope it will be a tool to help me stay on track. i keep reading all the posts in the different areas and it makes me a little nervous that some loose hardly any weight and so on...are you scared? i am so scared...i hate needles!

thank you, thank you both for the explanation and the tip...i actually have 800m motrin so i will take it with me just in case! thanks! >

hi ruth, i am scheduled for the 7th as well...my name is michelle from california! you actually got great airfare, mine is $200 and change for a 45 minute flight!!

i go 2 weeks from today......march 6. i keep reading some of the posts and am scared i wont loose any weight.....

i just booked my surgery and just joined the board....feel so much better reading your post! thank you for that...what is the deal with the shoulder pain - i have read that on other posts...why does it hurt...is there something they do with it? sorry to sound so lost about it but not sure how it plays into the surgery?? thanks for responding...

hi there, i too just faxed and paid my deposit! i am scared to death and i am going at it alone as we have 2 small children and my husband needs to stay home with them! we live in california, so the trip isn't far but i am so scared. i am supposed to leave on sunday for surgery on monday the 25th, but i think lori is moving me to the 27th since the financing company can not get the check to them on time! i just wanted to say that someone out there shares your fear!! ) and excitement! i hope to get down there next week...i won't know until tomorrow when lori is back in the office. best, best of luck to you!