The Process

In October of 2008 I went to a Weight Loss Surgery information session.  I had been doing my research online about surgery options and felt it was something I should find out more about.  I listened to everything they had to say at the session and decided I definitely wanted to go through with the Lap Band surgery.  I felt this was the tool I needed to give me that extra support in trying to lose my excess weight. 

I scheduled my required appointments with the Surgeon, the Nutritionist, the bariatric nurse, and made an appointment for a psychiatric evaluation test. They leave no stone unturned when a patient considers something as extreme as surgery.

By the end of November 2008 I had completed each appointment and went to my first of two mandatory support group meetings.  I went back to the Surgeon for another followup and he said I was good to go on getting a surgery date.  I felt relief and excitement and had flashes of myself in a bikini walking the beach. 

I was hoping I would have my surgery booked by the New Year so that I could have it done while still on winter break from college.  That semester I was taking 6 classes, but all of them were offered online, so it was a better time than any to have surgery and comfortably go through recovery while still being enrolled in school.

Christmas was soon approaching and I had just finished up what would be the worst semester in my 8 year long college career!  I had gained almost 10 pounds during the last couple of months of school because I never had a free minute to actually cook food.  I would literally sit down for 12-14 hours STRAIGHT at my computer writing papers, lesson plans, assessments, etc.  It was madness.  I barely had enough energy to go to class after pulling all-nighters, let alone go to the gym.  It was quite depressing to not have any time for any outlet of enjoyment.

 In late December 2008 I got the call for my surgery date,  it would be on January 23rd 2009.  Time flew by from that point; I was so busy around the holidays that I barely had anytime to truly let it all sink in.  After the holidays I realized I was having Lapband surgery in just weeks.  It seemed so surreal.  My nerves were starting to kick in, but it was understandable- it was my first time ever having surgery.  I was just looking forward to starting a new life and a new way of living.