Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hi everyone, I am Laura... I was banded on 3/23, and am hoping that this is the beginning of a new life for me. I am looking forward to being an active member of this community - and am so grateful that it's here!

My name is Kath and I had the lap band put in when I was 17, back in December 2003. On the day of my op I weighed 160kgs (350 pounds).. Six years later, I weigh 75 kgs (about 168 pounds?). I'm from Melbourne Australia. I have mixed feelings about my surgery. I've come here to seek some answers, and see if others have experienced the same things as I have. I also see lots of people new to their band-lifestyle, so I guess I'm a bit of an old hand. I might even prove helpful, who knows.

Hi, I am scheduled to have my surgery April 12. My pre-op diet begins April 2nd. I have read and heard about so many success stories and the not so successful stories. I do not know what to expect. I am getting nervous, but I know that I am making the right decision. I have a very supportive husband and two very young children at home. I just want to be successful. Well, if you can offer suggestions, words of advice and encouragement- I would greatly appreciate it. Saundra

I was banded 3/19. Between the pre-op diet and post-op, I've lost 31 lbs. as of today (130 more to go). I feel completely confused on planning meals/menus, keeping portions small, and getting the 80-90 g of protein my dietician wants me to have. If you are not supposed to drink 1/2 hour before your meal, during your meal, and 30-60 minutes after you meal, how do you get 64 oz of liquid down in a day? I'd like to hear from anyone who is 3-4 weeks post-op, and how they are doing. Semper fi

Here's my story. Was always a somewhat hefty kid. In junior high (7th grade) came home to an empty house and was lonely. food became my friend. It didn't help that even at that age I had a regular menstral cycle and a 32C bra size! When I graduated college I was about 185. A few years later, I saw the scale reach 195 and I told myself I was not going to be over 200. My now ex husband had me walk 5 miles a night and I had a can of Chunky Soup for lunch and a can for dinner. I dropped down to 140 lbs. I was then diagnosed with major depressive disorder. A couple of years later got pregnant with my daughter and gained back the 60 lbs I had lost. By the way, I'm only 5'3".…

Hello All- Although I only formally registered today, I have been ghosting this site for a couple of months. I can't thank you enough for the posts and comments here. They are so helpful for those new to the process. I am actually pretty far in the process. I was sleeved by Dr. Bonnor in West Houston on March 1st. I've been extremely fortunate to have no complications nor have I struggled with re-introducing foods. Weight loss is going relatively well and that's before adding in fitness (I will return to the gym this week). I almost feel guilty posting that after reading some of the struggles other have endured. Why I had the surgery: I have struggled with weight sin…

Hi everyone, Well I've never joined a group like this before, but when I live in a small community where there is not a support group I guess I need to take other measures. I had the lap band put in on Nov 2010 and I've lost 35 lbs. I went in to see the doctor for a fill today and he said no fill was needed. Not really the news I was expecting to eat. Todays appt was more like a reminder that now is my time to work with my tool and quite choosing the wrong foods to eat. I guess I'm here to get that support from others who might be going through what I am and I would like to know I'm not the only one out there. Have a great weekend everyone and please try to enjoy our acc…

Since this is the year for ME I applied for my passport a few weeks ago - no trip in mind but my daughter got hers as well because she is going to Europe in July so we will be taking trips in the future.... So it came yesterday. And you just don't even know how BAD I want to book a trip to Mexico for surgery!! Trying to be patient, I know my insurance will pay, I just have to get through the 6 months of medically supervised diet or whatever they call it. 2 months in. Taking some others suggestions to make appointments every 25 days to shave some time off.... God grant me the PATIENCE!!!!

what exaclty causes a lapband erosion??

My name is Donna and I was banded on 3/29/11. It's only been three days and I'm still dealing with a little bit of gas, pain in the sternum and some diarrhea. After reading many posts I see all of these things are normal. I have not been able to even swallow apple sauce so I think my stomach is a little more swollen then some others. I will be patient and wait until I can before trying anything else. I was told I could try some egg drop Soup by the PA at my surgeons office -- wouldn't have thought of that on my own. It went down somewhat well but no more than 2 ounces! Other than that it's been Protein shakes, low sodium broth and sugar free juices. Oh, and of course Wate…

Hi, I'm Dit and am hoping to have a lap band done soon.I'm looking for any information regarding post op liver transplant and lap band procedures. I had a transplant 4 years ago and i really want to have to have a band done.I got a second chance so now I want to be happy with my figure.So far I haven't found anybody who has had this done.If anybody knows of anybody who has could you please let me know. Thanks, Dit..

WHOOT! WHOOT!! WHOOT!! I am so excited I just had to share the good news. I weighed myself today and I needed to pinch myself cuz I am finally am in wonderland. Good luck to all and hope to see you all in onderland very soon!

So I got denied for the vertical sleeve from BCBS of Tenn because it's investigation. If I want to resubmit my claim for lap band or the roux en y there would still be problems since in 2007 I had lost 10% of my body weight, etc etc... I am so piss... I Will be going to Mexico.

Hey Everyone, I am new here and I am scheduled to have my surgery on May 13th, which just happens to be a friday **I'm Brave lol**. I was just wondering if anyone else has a date close to mine?? I am planning to start the 2 week liquid diet on May 1st and I am gonna have to start buying some Protein shakes. I hear the muscle milk light is the best tasting one. Does anyone have any suggestions on which ones taste good??? Also I had a question that may sound a little crazy but I'm just gonna ask anyway...... I feel like I am gonna be in a constant panic that my band is gonna slip whenever I do anything physically extraneous. Like for instance, what if I go to Great A…

Hello , I was banded on 2/9/2011 and starting wieght was 325 and I am now @ 250. I belive that I am at a stage to where I am eating more " no where near the way I used to " that I should but I dont get full a quick as I did before. I only have 3cc in my band right now. I would just like to see if anyone went through this as well . I get a fill on 04/12/2011, and I am hoping that this will do the trick . Any comments will help!!!

Hi, Im seriously considering a lap-band but hubby is dead set against it. He thinks I should be able to diet & keepit off on my own even tho I've battled my weight all my adult life. I have lost weight before, but its always found me again! ... Im now 115kg, and my doctors/chiros want me to get to and stay at under 80kg because of spinal osteoporosis and other health issues. Any tips guys??

I am having surgery April 8th, 2 weeks and 1 day from my 34th bday and am feeling every emotion there is right now. I am thankful that God blessed me with the money to pay for it, happy to begin finally after 2 years of saving, and sad because though I am not a real big eater, I wish I could have lost the weight on my own without needing such a drastic tool. But the main thing I feel is peace. I have been doing a low carb shake diet for 3 weeks and even if I could not have done it, I would still be dieting and eating better. I just feel relieved that finally, I too will be able to get the help so very much needed to help my health. As for who I am, I am and always will…

Hello! My name is Heather and I have my appt. tomorrow with the Bariatric coordinator to discuss my BMI and the surgery that I am wanting to chose. I have went back and forth for months trying to figure out what would be right for me. I am 25 yrs old, 5'4", 224 lbs. My BMI is 38.6. I have been struggling with being obese since I was 15 when my doctor discovered I have hypothyroidism. I just recently been treated with hypertension and acid reflux. My insurance won't cover WLS until I have been an employee for 3 yrs. and 3 yrs. will be June 13th. I can't wait to get started on my weightloss journey and be healthy. I want to prove to my daughters that being obese is not the …

Please pray for me... This all starts in 2006 I had lap band lost 150lbs but was so sick the entire 2 yrs.. It was removed in 2008 when I gave in to my body shutting down.. It had slipped... now I have gained 165lbs back and I am trying to get vsg..yes I understand it was my fault to haved gained all the weight back but at the time I had alot of stress in my life and gained instantly 30lb in fluids the 2 days I was in the hospital when the band was removed.. I was starving to dealth... now I was getting enough money back on taxes to get the vsg and have an appointment for 4/18 with Ramos Kelly... well that said.... I got a letter that my taxes are delayed for further chec…

I am really getting excited as the surgery date near.....a little bit nervous. I have heard good and bad things about the surgery. I have to remember that this a tool and it's up to me whether or not this will successful. Through God everything is possible.

HI Everyone, I have been approved by the insurance company and am now just waiting for a date. I am excited, nervous, scared and anxious all at the same time. I have so many questions about what to do and not do but will be attending a pre-op class at my surgeons office. Can anyone out there tell me how long the actual procedure takes ?

I have Anthem BC/BS administered by Health Comp and began the 6 month approval ordeal at the end of January. My surgeon mentioned when I first met him that he has a good relationship with Health Comp and would try to submit after 3 months for approval. Well he submitted after 8 weeks (after seeing him 3x, the Nut 3x, and the psych eval), and a week later (today) I got word that I'm approved! Not only that, but my surgery is scheduled for this coming Monday, April 4. Sweet!!! I was debating between getting the sleeve or the plication, but in the end opted for the sleeve. So I'm quickly ordering my Vitamins, vita-mix blender, and Protein powders. Hopefully the opera…

Hi, from California, I thought I would join this site for extra support! I get surgery on April 4th and am excited but nervous. It seems that in the past week I am hearing more bad stories or negative rather than positive.

Hi I am 35 years old and I was banded about 6 weeks ago and have lost 35 lbs!!! I have been very strict about my eating since being banded and I feel just using total self control right now to keep my food intake to a minimum. I have my first fill on April 4 and am very excited and a little nervous. I love being able to come to banded living it has been the biggest help in so many ways! Looking forward to lots of success and new friends! I have gone from 263lbs to 228lbs and feel like my goal is finally going to be something that can happen!

hello my name is Kami and im from california, im 23 years old i am a mother of a 4 year old boy. i have a dr appt tomorrow 4/1/11 to talk about getting started with the lap band!! i am 5'5(ish) and 265lbs. i am really hoping i am approved, i am borderline diabetic(if not there already), my hip gives out all day every day, i cant walk when this happens, my ankles are swollen by the end of the day from all the walking i do at work. I feel very tired all day long and i seem to be always cold, which i have been told has something to do with poor circulation which is because im over weight. I have tried EVERYTHING under the sun to loose weight and all i can seem to do it looks…

Hello from Texas! I was banded on March 18th and am going through the tough "hungry" stage. I just pray I hang on till my fill!

12 days post op and feeling great about my weight loss. I am already tired of liquids and mushies, but when I weighed and measured today i was down 22lbs and 21 inches since my surgery date. Suddenly, mushies didn't seem TOO bad! :cheer2:

My asst brought red velvet cupcakes for me (my favorite) because it was my last day of eating at work(provided all goes as planned). I start my liquid diet on Monday. As soon as she brought them to me, i started bawling....i think the reality hit me like a ton of bricks....i know i should focus on the big picture, and i am determined to do this. But i dont think i realized how much i love food and how much i am going to miss it. I am dreading the next 4-6 weeks. I was literally on the verge of tears all day and I have a lump in my throat as I write this....I had the same feeling last nite at the bar with friends....like is my life of fun and carefree living over....c…

Hello everyone. My name is Diana and I am a 29 year old female, married, no children. I had my initial consulation on March 15th and at that time I weighed 216. My BMI is 45 and height is 4'10; no other medical conditions. My surgeon told me that I am definately a candidate due to the aforementioned and would not need to go thru the 2 week liquid diet prior to surgery that many others do. I had my bloodwork done March 28th and nutritional/psych eval done March 29th. Insurance paperwork has been submitted and I'm awaiting approval. BUT ~~> I'm getting cold feet. I tell myself, why can't I do it on my own? Why must I have a foreign object placed in my body in ord…

Hello everyone. My name is Melissa and I am in the very beginning stages of deciding whether or not to attempt getting bariatric surgery. Right now, I have no insurance, but my husband just got a new job and will be getting insurance in a couple of months. I have no idea if they will approve me for the surgery or not, but I am going to do all the research I can up until he gets it so that I'm prepared. My BMI is about 36, but I also have sleep apnea and high blood pressure. I spoke to my dr yesterday and he's all for the surgery. I was thinking lap band at first, but he suggested the sleeve, which I started leaning towards the last few days anyway. The only thing…

Hello, all! I'm a newbie and on the road to getting banded, hopefully in June! Can't wait to join you all on this amazing journey My question is about port location...my surgeon, highly respected, done 1000's of LapBands, Center of Excellence, etc etc (saying all this to reassure you all he's not a quack!), mentioned that he has placed a few ports right at the sternum location. There is a natural depression there to the right (he made me feel it) and he says the people he has done this location love it. It is not affected by your underwire bras (for us ladies) and when you do lose most of your weight, they use a lower profile port so it doesn't protrude at all. Als…

I am having my surgery April 4 and I am on my pre op diet which sucks. I am craving cheese like you would not believe and to make matters worse my hubby came back from military training with a bunch of macadamia nut white chocolate cookies. I just hope things will get better once the band is on.

Well I just got the lap band put in on the 22nd of March. I am just wanting to know what everyone went threw the first few days and weeks...I am excited about this but wondering whats next? I am still really sore from surgery and I am sticking to what I am suppose to be eating which is stage 2. But yesterday and today it seems I am burping alot and feeling that hungar feeling. I usually get my protient shake in fear of over eating and feeling sick. Can I just get some feed back from everyone. I am excited about this site and hopefully can relate to most of you. Thank you Sallie )

Hi Everyone, After having an initial lap band consultation in 02/08 I decided to wait and instead went on WW and lost 54 lbs. I have since gained half of that back and realized that I can't do this by myself. I had another consultation with True Results on 03/02/11 and I was over the 300 mark again. I have toiled with the idea of surgery for a while and I think it is the best thing for me. I am not nervous about the procedure itself but the thought of doing something so permanent. I am scheduled for lab work this week and the actual surgery on 03/31/11. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.........I am so anxious. I have only told a few people because I do not w…

I was banded on Nov 10, 06 with a 4cc band. I have done very well with it, I went for my first fluro fill on Mon and I had 3 and half CC's in and was able to eat pretty much anything. Well he added half cc so now i have 4 cc in a 4cc band. He said it was fine but just not really sure if this is normal?

I will be banded in July, any advice?

HI EVERYONE, MY LAP-BAND SURGEON WAS DR. SNYDER FROM COLORADO. I got banded about a week ago and it has been hell. it sucks to drink just liquids if I had other liquids to drink then it might be easier but Water and Isopure and chicken broth isn't all that great. Never really been on a discussion forum but I figured I might as well try it cause this is one hard thing to go on your own if no one knows what you're going through. I was always a big girl, almost everyday in kindergarten we went to Mac Donald's and that was the killer i always went outside to play but guess that wasn't enough. So if anyone has any tips they can s…

Hi There, My name is Kim and I'm a 36 yr old man from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I am 6.1 and my weight is 341. After years of trying to convince myself that I was happy "just the way I was" my weight gain seemed unstoppable. Just like most of you I am very familiar with the "Fat is back with a vengeance" story. Sometimes my wife would tell me that I stopped breathing in my sleep, I thought she was nuts. Maybe she didn't listen good enough... I surely didn't think there was anything wrong. Ok, I lack energy and have been fighting panic/anxiety attacks for a few years. But I guessed that the low energy had to do with being morbidly obese. But my wife kept pushing t…

Just wanted to say hello and introduce myself to everyone. I imagine I'll spend lots of time on here during the two weeks post-surgery that I'll be bored and at home! I just got approval from insurance yesterday (HOOORAY!) after 4 long months of the long process I'm sure you're all familiar with. I go to see my surgeon, Dr. Papasavas (in CT), on April 6th for my pre-op appointment and to find out my surgery date. So excited, hoping they have one available very soon!! I've been reading about the surgery alot, and over the past 4 months, everything has sunk in and I feel like I'm making the right choice for me. The only think I'm really nervous about is being cra…

Hi-- I had a 7am meeting this morning so I knew I would haave to eat in my meeting in front of everybody. It isn't a big deal to eat in ameeting because everyone is so busy - it happens all the time. But, today was the first day I ate in public. So, I had my rolled up deli turkey with some cream cheese in it. I had a bite, talked for a while, had another bite, etc. It went down great and the conversation of the meeting seemed to help me eat slower. As my day goes on, I am busy (which is great!) and doing what I have to do. I notice that I am walking around more and my energy is better. In short, I almost feel 100% normal - like I never had any surgery at all. …

Well I had a long day today and it was emotional too. I started this journey in Oct 2010. Starting and scheduling all the Pre-op surgery appt. My doctor requested that I see a Cardiology; Neurology; Pulmonary; Ultrasound; Psychological; Nutritional Consultation and Lab test. Then I was told that may need a 6 month diet for insurance. First got upset when I found out I did not need it and because no one told me this I decided to wait to schedule my appts. Well I got mad and started to call and schedule for appts. I was lucky in getting all my appts. by March 28, 2011 I was so happy. Today I got a hard blow again when I was told that it may take another three month because…

I have a 12cc band on and currently have 9cc's in it. BTW- I'm a FEMALE!!!!!! This is really alot of Fluid from what I've been told! I ride a stationary bike for 30 mins 3x per week, my food intake is certainly less, but here I am almost a year post-op having lost a mere 15# AND I seem to like to gain 5, lose 5, gain 5 lose 5. I drink the 64oz. of Water required by my doctor, my food choices are healthy, I take my Protein shakes (90mg protein for my build per my nutritionist), my Vitamins, etc. I am feeling like this just isn't working for me. Does anyone have any thoughts on why I haven't lost hardly anything? I am due for another adjustment in about 2 weeks and I wo…

Hello all! Just wanted to introduce myself, joined the board in January when I came across it after looking for how long different insurances generally take to approve. Getting my band on April 6th! Nice to meet everyone

Hi, i currently weigh 100kgs and am 168cms. All of my life i have battled with my weight and have tried everything from regular diet & exercise, meal replacement shakes, Bulimia, Pilates, Bikram Yoga and even Diet pills. No matter what i do the weight never gets below 85kgs and it always comes back on plus a few extra after some months. My doctor has recommended i have lap Band surgery. I am considering it at this point. I just switched health insurance packages and have been advised that i will have to wait for a year before i can be covered for the procedure. This was extremely frustrating for me and i don't know if i can wait that long. I have been advised t…

I am a self pay and plan on getting reimbursed for some of my out of pocket expenses. Please talk about any of your experiences with regard to reimbursement.

Check out my website at http://www.reshapingruben.webs.com/

Hi, I am so excited about being banded. My surgery date is 4/1/2011. I bought all my vitamins and liquids foods for the first week. My boyfriend does not support this, but this is for me. I don't think my mother fully supports me as well, but this is my life. I have chronic back pain, and GERD that I have to deal with on a daily basis. None of them feels the pain like I do. Will keep you posted on my journey.

Does anyone know if there are any hospitals in Florida that will finance the surgery. I have been through two insurance companies and my insurance will not pay for it. I have been trying to get this done for over 6 months now. Does anyone have any ideas PLEASE HELP!!

Hi All, I am newly sleeved on 3/24! I am excited for the journey! Sherri

I've jumped through all the hoops (and a few extra) and my date is Monday April 4th! I'm excited and scared. And there is a possibility I won't get my sleeve with this op; my lapband has to be removed and depending on the amount of damage it has done in the last 4.5 years I may have to wait 6-12 weeks to get sleeved. I'm really hoping and praying for everything to be done in one surgery. I wasn't given a pre-op diet so I'm doing my own quasi pre-op with shakes and Protein. I'm interested to know if anyone else has gone through a similar experience. Of course I've been driving myself crazy thinking about all the things that could go wrong but I try to remind myself t…