Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

I just got my approval from my insurance company today that they will pay for the surgery. I am excited and scared, as i am afraid i wont be able to control my eating and i will not be successful. I just started going to overeaters anonymous and they all think i shouldnt do the surgery, just stick with OA. so now i am having second thoughts that i should give OA more of a chance before I have such life changing surgery. I NEED SOME ADVICE!! any people who go to OA out there?

:thumbup: Ok so the question is has anyone lost friends because they were going through the procedure? My best friend since 7th grade (14 years) is no longer talking to me because I have decided to have the lap band done. She says that I don’t need it done because she doesn’t think I eat a lot as it is. I think it’s mainly jealousy because she has gained 100lbs since high school. I have tried telling her that I am not doing this for anyone else but myself and my 5 year old son. I have been over weight my entire life but in the last 6 months I have started having high blood pressure, Sleep Apnea, Fatty liver, high cholesterol, and PCOS. It’s sad that it has come to …

I just had the surgery last week and weighed 388 the week before that. I was placed on a pre opt diet and weighed in on the day of surgery at 375. Since the surgery my weight has stayed around 358-360. I'm working out twice a day for 30 minutes and drinking shakes, I made a mistake last night and ate a blueberry muffin, I finally cleaned out my refrigerator and pantry with anything that would tempt me further. I learned last night that this mental and I need to be strong, going to look at different shakes and protein today. I need to be able to mix fruit or bananas into those shakes it's getting old.

Hi all. I'm new to this site and would like to chat to people in and around Brisbane Australia, Please I need some "band"buddies:lol: All other people are welcome too.

I've set the date. I will be banded on June 30th. Anyone here from South Jersey?:thumbup:

Hi everyone I'm just starting this process and hopefully I can get some where with it! I'm going to the dr next week and I pray he will at least submit a referral to talk to a surgeon. I'm 5'5, 5'6 I weigh about 240 dpending on the time of day I have back problems and depression from it but I don't know about anything else. I've been over weight since I was like 5 years old and have never been able to get my weight down for very long. I have a terrible family history of Diabetes, Stroke, Heart Attacks, Congestive Heart Failure, Sleep Apnea so I'm hoping maybe that will have some impact on there decision. I think my BMI is 38.7. Any advice or anyone have a similar situatio…

Banded on May 28, 2010. So far, no real problems except the dreadful gas pains. Trying Gas X today...hope some relief. Since pre-surgery diet..down 20lbs:thumbup:. Looking foward to 'mushies"...cannot wait!

Hello everyone! I was banded yesterday, June 4, 2010 and so far, so good! My shoulder hurts quite a bit but I am following the post surgery instructions and am actually feeling pretty good! I currently have diabetes, high BP and 70 lbs to lose but for the first time, I feel that can actually succeed at losing the weight and living a longer, healthier life. I have been reading lots of the posts on here and am so relieved to see I am not alone. There are so many people that share the same feelings I do and the same struggles. I look forward to getting to know some of you better!

My bathroom scale is broken, so it was with trepidation that I went to my 2nd Post op (surgery 20 May 2010) appointment. After slowly getting on the scale (I think getting on slowly decreases the momentum of the scale), I was astonished to see I had lost a total of 20 lbs. Only having a one day pre-op diet, that wasn't too bad for 12 days. I jumped off the scales (I no longer cared about momentum). The best things (2) were:I got the staples out of my bellybutton and he has moved me to more solid foods, ie meatloaf, tuna, stuff like that. I will not miss all the Protein shakes. Damn, just when I thought I could tolerate them better. Keep on losing everybody.:cryi…

I am so excited!! My surgery is scheduled for August 2nd :tongue_smilie:. Just a few more pre-op tests to go! Wish me luck! Diann

Hello all~ I'm not banded yet, but I have a surgery date! I was really hoping to be banded by june 22 but my surgeon was soo booked up so I have to wait til July 13th.. :-( He had told me I could do it the 22nd so I was pretty set on that, and now I'm kinda bummed that it wont be happening til the middle of July. I went to my first pre-op class tonight and everyone there has their surgery for June 22nd...I was just thinking oh come on! seriously. I've been thinking about surgery for about 8 months now, and just this last month or so I've been getting everything ready for it. It's not close enough to the date that I'm nevous yet, but I am excited but like I said bummed…

I had my surgery on 4/2/2010 and have had two adjustments. To date I have lost 37 lbs. My surgeons office is very supportive and willing to answer any questions that I have. I hope that I can find good and helpful information from this community. :thumbup:

Hi guys! I just had my band put in June 1 and I'm super excited and a little scared. I live in Minnesota and had the surgery done by Dr. Sayeed Ikramuddin. He was great and the surgery went well. I am starting at a really high weight, 345 pounds, and I'm worried I will never get down to were I want to be. I know it's possible I just have to keep going. I'm wondering if anyone would be interested in being a pen pal of sorts. I could really use a buddy in all of this. Thanks! Tanya

Hi everyone! I posted a tiny bit here before back in Feb. Unfortunately, I am one of those people who join forums post a bit, then forget to come back..and when I do come back, I lurk. Lol. I am going to try my best to come back and post tho because since feb I have started the road to lapband surgery =) I met my surgeon and he is amazing. He has a sense of humor and I honestly love that. I dislike doctors who are too uptight and he literally walked into the room with a great attitude and started making a few jokes here and there. He made me feel very comfortable. That was in March. I did my white light scan which was interesting... and I went to my preop diet a…

Hello everyone, I am new and just wanted to say hi. My weight is 175 and I am 4ft 9in and I have been a diabetic for 15 years. I have an appt with my primary care doctor in 2 weeks to get regular blood work done and to also get a referral to a lap band surgeon. I hope to have the surgery in a couple of months. Does anyone have Tricare Prime? If so , how long did it take to get approved?

Hi all! Well as some of you know, yesterday was my hubby Ian's surgery day. He still hasn't joined this site so I will just pop on here and talk about it for him hehe. He did so great. When they brought him up to his room after surgery he was already awake and alert... he didn't even doze off or rest until HOURS later. Unlike me who was totally out of it the first few hours LOL. He also didn't feel much pain... that is until the anesthesia wore off. :-/ He has a higher pain tolerance than I do but he still is pretty uncomfortable and sore right now. But he is in great spirits!! He has had zero hunger (unlike me who is still hungry all the time) so I am very very happ…

Hi fellow Banders and about to be Banders. I was banded on 4/21/10 and have lost 27 pounds to date. Had my second fill 6/2/10 3 cc each time. I do not feel much restriction at this time. Sometimes it does feel like some foods get stuck and I have to stop eating. My surgeon was great, but I sort of feel that I was left in the dust. The only things that I have gained from MD support is to really chew the food and dont drink while eating. Not drinking while eating is actually the hardest habit to break since the banding. Has anyone else found not being able to drink while eating a difficult task?? I do at times get down on myself as I think I am still eating too much. It was…

Hi, I am Rose and am new to your site. I had VSG on 4/26/10 performed by Dr. David Treen at WJMC. I am a nurse on an ICU stepdown unit at another hospital and my weight has taken it's toll on my knees. I had a right knee replacement 2 years ago and my left knee needs to be replaced. I am hoping that loosing my weight will prolong the inivitable. It had taken me over a year to get approval from Gilsbar Insurance. I have no co-morbidities other than bad joints, arthritis and being fat. After consulting with Dr. Treens assistant Karen, she recommended that I have a sleep study test, which I failed. Didn't know that I had apnea. But it bought my ticket to my sleeve. I the…

Well first let me say hello and thanks for all the great things I have read so far. My surgery is only 10 hours away and I am very excited. Lost almost 20lbs on the last two weeks of liquids (with the occasional cheat) and that has me feeling great. Got alot to lose but a huge support system around me so lets get this party started !!! My biggest fear/frustration is the next few weeks of more liquids but all in the name of a better me I say. Got 3 beautiful kids that need daddy to get healthy and help them grow and a wife who is my entire world who deserves more than I could ever give her. Figure a healthy husband is a good start. Well anyway thanks for reading all this a…

Hello, my name is Chris. I'm seriously considering getting the Lap Band surgery done. I'm 5'10 320lbs at 21 almost 22 years of age. I've tried every diet, every work out routine, and every thing else you could possibly think of to lose weight. I want to get down to 240lbs. My mother had the surgery in 03 and lost 180 lbs. She was also the first person to get pregnant after getting the surgery (which went fine). We both believe this would be my best bet, and would change my life dramatically for the better. I'm trying to get the same doctor she had, Dr Vafa Shayani. I'm not sure how to go about setting this up with him though, any thoughts? Oh also, is there any possi…

Would anyone recommend a good dr in Dallas/Fort Worth area? There are so many...how do you choose the right one? Interested in the Lap band procedure.

Okay...so I am EXTREMELY nervous. I've always been against any kind of weight loss surgery...but this past year...not sure what has changed my mind...but it has. I am a month away from surgery and although I've tried to read all details about it and listen to others...I'm STILL nervous. I am 32 years old and I have reached the heaviest I've ever been at 320 lbs. People say I carry my weight well...but I'm sick of hearing that. I want to be happy. One of my greatest concerns is that I am a vocalist. I do alot of performing and I don't know how my voice is going to be affected (if at all) after surgery. I surely don't want to lose it of course, because it is my source of in…

Hi!!! I just joined this site today and what a great resource this is!! I am 31 years old and live in NYC. I am being banded on June 9th- a week from today!! I started the pre-op liquid diet on Monday and I am having such a hard time with it--Im so hungry lol. Anyway, I thought I would see if there was anyone out there who is being banded around the same time that would want to be email buddies. It would be great to have a friend who is going through the same thing and we could be a good support system for each other. Also--is anyone in the NYC area and being banded in the future or have been banded recently? Hope to hear from you all soon:) Danielle

Hi Everyone out there! I am in the pre-op stage and am anxious and excited for my surgery scheduled on June 30th here in New Jersey. I've lost 23 lbs so far in a month and a half but I feel like I' ve hit a wall. I struggle with the emotional aspect of eating, I've always used it as a reward and instant gratification and I struggle with that. Would love to have band buddies. My surgery date is June 30th, 2010. Any suggestions would be great.

Hello All! My name is Rhonda Bryan, I am thirty-four years old and had my surgery one week ago today! I now say that May 11, 2010 is my new birthday, as it has started a completely new life for me. I have struggled with being overweight since the age of twenty. I had twin girls in 2000 and weighed 210lbs after I gave birth to them. In 2009, I had a baby boy, my starting weight was 308 and by the end of my pregnancy, I was at 318lbs. After having Kaiden, I lost 60lbs and thought that I would be able to keep losing, but then I went back to work, sitting all day, no longer breastfeeding and of course food days every other day. I gained the 60lbs back and continued going. …

My name is Mark and I live in Central New Jersey. I'm 46, married to a woman who will be having the gastric band surgery in two weeks also. We’re doing this together to help support each other and hopefully life and grow old together. We both weigh about the same. I weighed 339lbs before my surgery. I am an accountant, so I work at a desk everyday. I have had a weight problem since I was a young boy. Eventually I found myself wearing size 58 suits and topping the scale at 339 pounds. It got to the point that I needed to change my life or soon my life would be over. I met with my doctor and we talked about my options and at that time I made my decision to go wit…

Hello everyone! I am Jessica, 22, and from Florida. I just started this journey although have been wanting to for a year or so. I am currently setting up all my plans for getting the band in Mexico with Dr.Aceves. Very nervous and excited at the same time. The process is going so fast! We are in the process of getting financing and I am trying to set a date for early July depending on a few variables. Would LOVE to have a band buddy if anyone else is in a similar position :confused: Also, I am not sure how to check messages on here but I am working on it hehe.

I am new to this site and usually just read forums for the information. Never really posted on them. I was banded January 23, 2009. Dr. Groves in Albertville, AL done my surgery. I have lost 110 lbs so far. I still have 47 more pounds to loose till goal. I have been at a stand still for about four months now. I was filled again yesterday so I am hoping to finish loosing the rest of my weight. My question now is does anyone use the protein powder to get in all the protein we are supposed to have each day? If so, what kind and how do you use it? I am looking for ideas. I have tried a couple of ways but not stuck to them. I am needing to get serious with it so I can meet goa…

Just wondering is there anyone out there from NZ??? I have questions about the op that they action here!!!:thumbup:

New to the group, I had my LAP-BAND® done February 24, 2009. My starting weight was 239, I've lost a total of 30 pounds as of today. My surgery was great, I had very little pain, however I did have to stay in the hospital 1 extra day because of a allergic reaction to the pain medication "delotid". In the beginning I was not getting enough protein but that has gotten much better. I feel great and can't wait to lose more weight.:smile2:

Hello All, Newbie to the boards here. I am super excited to be moving forward with these changes in my life. After my last round of losing weight a couple of years ago, my weight has done nothing but continue to rise at a steady rate. Haven't been more miserable with myself in a very long time. So, after much research I determined that the LAP-BAND® was the right path for me. I attended a information seminar on January 16th and from that point on...I knew this would be for me. I'm not looking for a miracle here, all I want is a little help in the right direction. I have since completed: gathering my weight history from various Doctors, meeting with the Psycholo…

Hi! I am planning my lap band surgery for June 24th. Any helpful advice?

Hi, I just found this forum after making my initial appointment with my surgeon's office. I am very nervous, but excited. I keep reading articles on the internet and really do not know what to expect. I am hoping to make some connections here and find out what others have experienced. I am from Loveland, Colorado. I currently weigh 346 lbs. and I need to lose approximately 180 lbs. That just seems impossible. Thank you for having this forum.

Finally the op is next week, and i 'm wondering if i really have to stick to the liquid diet? :biggrin:

Hi all, First time posting for me. Well this is it. I am having surgery tomorrow. I am excited yet a little scared... Any last minute advice?

Just want to say hello to everyone. I got banded 5 days ago. The first two days were a bit rough mostly due to gas pain. After that every day has been a bit better. I have lost 11 pounds in just 5 days and can't believe it. I know the weight loss will probably slow down but still, wow! I have been reading many posts and can't wait to share my journey with all of you!!!! :confused:

this is my first post, i am 38, mother of 5, 1 grandaughter. I have been overwieght most of my life and i am ready to make a change! i have been trying to get banded for over a year but my insurance will not cover it, and i can't seem to get financing, so i am still trying to find a way to make this happen. i am now looking into going to Mexico to ahve it done since i have heard it is a fraction of the cost here in the states. does anyone know if this is accurate info? i guess i need some direction as to where to find out how much it costs and what you need to do to have it done in Mexico. any help would be appreciated! :confused:

Hi everyone, I am new to lapbandtalk.com. I am 30 yrs old, a mother of two (ages 3 and 1). I live in Norway but was banded in the UK on Monday the 24th of May. I started off at 218 pounds and lost 13 pounds so far since surgery.I am happy to have found this forum and looking forward to getting to know ppl. Deep inside me i feel i am going to do it,i have to do it, but when i see my favourite foods and start getting emotionally hungry i get bad thoughts like "why did i ever do this":blush: but the good part of me quickly replies and reminds me that this is the best thing i did for me coz look at me on liquids only and don't feel any physicall hunger and feel so in contrr…

Hi, I am 27 and weigh about 320. I am nervous, a little scared and also feeling a bit ashamed that so young in life i need surgery to loose weight. I had my surgical consult today and have my surgery date set for July 12th (still waiting on financing. If anyone has any advice or wisdom it would be very welcome. Thanks

Wow. I didn't realize how widespread this surgery is. Just found this site tonight. :biggrin: I'm 41 and had my surgery on April 24, 2010. I'm down 55 lbs and am driving my wife crazy with all the extra energy I have. We have a monthly support group that meets here and I think it's great -- I just need more! Cheers!

Hi, I am booked in for surgery next Monday 7th June. My doctor has put me on Optislim diet for only one week. Most people seem to be on it for at least two. Hopefully one week is enough to reverse some of the damage I've done, hope he knows what he's doing so far lol. I have had many different shakes while trying to loose weight and Optifast is absolutely the worst one I've had. It's my second day and I'm already dreading drinking the stuff. Every flavour is revolting, tastes like playdough (not that I've tasted that). So it's Optislim, Water and 1 cup of green vegies and that's it. Is this right, is there anything else you can have during pre op? I know I have a lon…

Hello everyone.. I'm new here but been lurking the forums for a few months. I was banded on 5-28-10. Happy and excited for all of us. I'm looking for some Montana band buddies. *Billings* anyone? Be well~:confused:

I am talking with BeLiteWeight.com right now about getting the “Super Sleevectomy” at a Mexico facilities (Star Medica Hospital, 15 mins across the border from El Paso, Texas in Juarez, Mexico at the cost of $6,200. Has anyone already gotten this done or heard anything about it? Has anyone had Dr. Jose Rodriguez before? HERE IS THE INFO THEY SENT ME: What is super sleeve? Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is not as simple as any other gastrectomy. Gastric tube size influences both the degree of weight loss and weight stability. A large sleeve predisposes to gastric dilatation (stretching) and weight regain. Inexperienced surgeons tend to create large tubes (:conf…

I got my date today...surgery is on June 15th! I'm getting it done here in Atlanta at the Emory Clinic with Dr. Davis. Now comes the pre-op diet and all the 2nd thoughts!

My Story. Had the band (dr. ortiz) in Mexico 3 years ago. Problems of slippage, and was removed 4 months ago. Supposed to be rebanded in FIVE days, but with all my searching around for support, came across the sleeve people and now I think I really want that. I never thought I could be 'that extreme' but sounds like it may not be too bad. Don't know how much more it costs, even, until I can call on Monday. Sure could use some advice from some of you who have been through what I've been through. I'd hate to think I could fail again with the band...already spend $8500 band, $3500 removal, and then next surgery $6,000 for rebanding. Going back to Dr. Ortiz. I'm on a cru…

I am being sleeved today with Dr. Nick! I am so nervous and excited. My surgery is scheduled for 11:30am but surgeries always run late so we shall see when I actually go in. AHHHH This is all so unreal. Talk to you guys on the other side! Lori:tongue_smilie:

I am from England and had a band fitted on 29TH May. My big problem is taking my medication for diabetes. I can not get it in liquid form so have to crush it and mix it with milk or yoghourt but it tastes so bad I keep heaving and I worried I will be sick or i might dislodge the band. Anyone else had this problem and can offer me any ideasplease !

20 days and counting!!! WOOHOO!! Anybody else scheduled for the same date??

Hi Everyone~ March 3, 2008 was to be the beginning of my amazing lapband journey. But unfortunately, I'm still far from goal. I had no complications, but somehow I've lost my focus, direction and fire. I haven't had a fill in over a year! Guess I'm a little embarrassed at making so little progress. I desperately want to find my way back to losing weight and making this lapband work for me! That's why I'm here. Any suggestions and/or pearls of wisdom would be GREATLY appreciated and taken to heart! :confused: Colleen p.s. I live in McKinney, TX and am the proud mom of two boys. I've been married 8 years to the love of my life who remains incredibly supporti…

Emailed the surgeon today to let him know that I do want to proceed with the band to sleeve revision :crying: Now, time to wait and second guess myself:huh0: Thanks for all of your help and time answering questions. I really do appreciate it!