Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hi! My names is Jeanine and I am three weeks post-op today. I've lost 25 lbs so far. I've been lurking on this site since about a week before my surgery. Everyone here seems so educated and caring! I have been married to the sweetest, kindest man in the world for 30 years. We never had children due to unknown infertility problems. We do, however, had three beautiful and quite spoiled Shih Tzu -- Stuart, Bentley and Isabel. When we married, I weighed about 125 lbs. When I graduated from high school (a million years ago), I weighed 115 lbs. Over the years, I put on 10 lbs here and 10 lbs there, and couldn't stop. I've tried every diet out there -- Weight Watche…

Well my surgery is tomorrow and now i'm scared. I wasnt scared at first but now that the day is tomorrow I am really scared can someone help me lol.

iM being banded tomorrow/today/Monday that is. At 7:30 AM. This will be a band revision due to several prooblems I had wth the first band. We are going with the Realize band this go around. Pleae pray for my body, and the surgeonm he says there will be some scar tissue this time he will have to deal with. UGH! But I will thankfully be back to being banded onc3 again, Blessings everyone:lol:

I'm writing to introduce myself since I just joined this forum... my name is Anna and I'm 24 years old. I'm originally from San Francisco but currently in law school in New Orleans. I'm having my surgery one month from tomorrow with Dr. Rabkin in San Francisco. My husband is in Medical School... we got married on July 5th, 2009. The reason I'm getting my surgery done in San Francisco is because that's where my parents live, so they will be able to take care of me for a month or so after my surgery, then I'll come back to New Orleans where I'll be working for the summer. Last week I finished having all my pre-op requirements fulfilled: I had my last round of blo…

I am sitting here about to freak out, and just need some help please! Last week i had a physical, and my doc "mentioned" lap band procedure. I go to William Beaumont @ Fort Bliss (my hubby is active duty army) and he looked at my weight, and height and mentioned that WB now does the lapbands. I have been "thinking" about WLS for about 6 years now, and when he said that, I decided that it is now time, im not getting any younger Anyway, i have RESEARCHED and researched tricare primes policys, and all i can find is that they require you to be 100 lbs over weight (no BMI requirements) AND have a co-morbid. Well I do have high blood pressure, and Im going to find out if i ha…

Looking for fellow patients in the Dayton area - want to hear your experiences with the hospitals and if you have used Dr. Clarey. Thanks :clap2:

My name is Rachel - I'm 35, 5'1 and 233lbs. After years of going up and down the scale, I've hit my all time high weight. I am heavier now than when I was 9 months pregnant with my 2nd child! I think I've been on every diet there is, minimal success.. only to gain back 3-fold. I've been researching the lap band for some time, and I feel that this will be a wonderful tool for me, and a step in the right direction. My PCP scheduled a sleep study for me this Monday (checking for apnea) - along with some Pulmonary Function Tests. I already have High Blood Pressure, Depression and a lot of aches and pains, including arthritic knees... and I'm only 35... I meet with the nu…

I am starting the appeal process to UHC who denied my first request for the LAP-BAND®® because I was missing one year of medical records for my five year requirement. I dont have a record for that year because I was unemployed and had no insurance to cover me medically. Other than that I had all my other requirements taken care of. Is there a template I should use for writing this appeal. Please help cause I'm highly frustrated sitting in my office crying cause I really dont know what to about this. Thanks so much

Hello :thumbup: I'm Ryan, and I reside in the Seattle, WA area. I'm on the journey towards getting the LAP-BAND® later this year. I need to jump through a couple of hoops with the insurance folks, but it'll be worth it. I look forward to being an active part of this community. I've studied the lapvband procedure off and on for the past couple of years, and I feel this is the right way to go. I've been hospitalized four times due to diabetic complications (the most recent involving my big left toe being amputated). Needless to say, at age 33, this is a massive wake up call that I'm all to happy to embrace for the rest of my life.

In 4 hours, I will be banded. I was very surprised. On Friday the Dr's office called and rescheduled me from Wednesday 04/14 to today. I was unable to sleep last night. It seemd like i was unprepared, but I'm sure wil make it through to my new life. Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!

I am only 25 and my health is terrible. I want to get a surgery. I have no job no health insurance nothing. What should I do?

Hello. I hope I am posting this correctly this is my first time on this board. I will be going to my first seminar to hear about the lap-band procedure on 4/20 with my best friend and hopefully we can start this journey together to support each other. I am nervous and excited. I have been overweight all my life and now I need a medical intervention. I

I was approved guys. I'm nervous and anxious and scared...I don't know. I honestly didn't think it would be approved so soon. What should I expect?

Hello Sleever Family, Well, tomorrow is my day to be sleeved and im so excited to start a new life. I would like to thank all of you who encouraged me and responded to my post. Just to give u a heads up about my husband, he took a week off work to be with me and he"s coming around and being more supportive. Today im on liquids and im not really hungry so that's a plus. I covet your prayers.

Hello all! I send greetings from Raleigh, NC. I was recently banded on April 9, 2010. I am looking forward to sharing and receiving information here as we all travel on this journey to weight loss! Sincerely, Still Sore :confused:

Hello everyone, I have been reading this forum for several months and I would like to thank everyone for sharing a lot of good information. I got my sleeve on April 9th and came home today. I used Dr. Alvarez in Piedras Negras, Mexico and couldn't be happier with my choice. I spent many hours researching here and on other areas. Dr. Alvarez is everything that I could have expected and even more. I am very excited to have this new lease on life.:thumbup:

Hey everyone!!! Im a newbie too. 2 weeks post op. :confused:

I am seriously considering having lap band. I have struggled with my wieght my whole life and I feel like it is out of control now. I want to know anything about this process that anyone can tell me. I am located in the Katy, Texas area so if anyone knows a good doctor that would be great too. I don't know anyone who has had this procedure for a referral to a doctor. Thanks in advance for any info!:confused:

Hello all, I hope I am doing this forum thing right!! I have never joined one of these, but I am wanting to because I'm gearing up for sleeve surgery, and am wanting to meet people who have done it, or who are getting ready for it as well. I am a 34 year old single mom, and my bmi is 58. I'm waiting for the call from the surgeon to get my sleeve scheduled. I have done all the pre-op, and have been told it will be within the next couple of weeks. I'm having it done fairly locally (3 hours away), and I'm getting really excited and nervous!! Please share your stories, and advise, I would love to meet you!!

Hi! I'm Abbie and am from northwestern Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville. I'm getting banded on April 21st and am just so excited! I'm on my fifth day of full liquids (have to do that for 14 days prior to surgery!) and it hasn't really been that bad. I'm staying busy in the garden and that has helped. Do you all have names for your bands? My husband and I brainstormed last night and came up with several: -Lappy Gilmore -Tracy Chapband (which would be good, as then we can make up new words to "Fast Car" as if the band is singing to me...like "Abbie's gonna throw up, ate too fast and I can't control it" to the tune of "You got a fast car, I…

Hey all I still haven't gotten banded but here is the problem after my last post I changed docs and had to start over again. Never change docs if your in the kaiser program no matter how bad your doctor is. Well I am back on the trail and now kaiser wants to do the gastric bypass sleeve. Saying the lap band will only lose 10-20% of your weight. LIES!! I know for a fact that's not true I got a few friends who have been banded and lost 200lbs. The problem is my weight loss has slowed and now I am starting to have problems with health from being overweight. Thus causing a major problem. I am really thinking of saying screw it and go to Mexico. But I am scared if I do th…

Hey all, My name is sal B. from south nj. I started this project in october of last year and got my band Friday of last week. Pre-op diet was a little difficult, substituted a couple eggs and some tuna with my prescribed salads and according to my surgeon (Dr. Reich out of SOCH ) my liver was the right size and the surgery went ok. The first two days were tough, some pain, but DEFINITELY bearable. Today, I feel pretty good !! I'm home and starting my old routine without one thing that ruled my life...FOOD !! Not even thinking about eating, which is all I EVER thought about. A 12oz coffee isn't a beverage...it's a meal !! I'm doing the ice pops and some shakes and althou…

I finally booked my surgery last week! My husband and I will be flying into San Diego and then on to Mexicali for Vertical Sleeve Surgery April 27th. I am scared and excited all at the same time! :thumbup1:

Hi everyone, after waiting for about 3 months I had my sleeve done last Saturday. I was really lucky as I did not have a long time to wait and I was given a cancellation. To be honest I was not sure what I was getting into as originally I was looking at having the band done but my surgeon thought I would be better suited to the sleeve. I was in hospital for 4 days and was in so much pain. Thankfully since coming home the pain has reduced but I am just unable to tolerate anything more than a few sips of juice a day. On a really good day I can just about have 6 - 8 tea spoons of Soup. Is this normal ?? I am from London, England and we do not have any websites set up th…

I was banded in 05 and have seen very little progress as I fell into the 40% of people who have little or no success with the band. I am going to get sleeved on MAY 12 and I am so excited to get the band out and very nervous/excited for the Sleeve. The idea of losing 80% of my stomach sounds so bizarre. LOL, I am looking forward to the new life and weight loss finally. For years I felt so depressed because I felt like the band never worked as hard as I did. Every time I went for a fill I would throw up so much they had to loosen it. GRRR. Anyways I just wanted to say HI and I hope to get to know and share things with all of you. IF anyone is from CEN CAL drop me a li…

Hi everyone- I had my surgery three years ago (2007) and then a year later I had to have a revision b/c my band slipped b/c I was not being honest with my doc. about how much I was throwing up. Since then things have been ok. I take heartburn meds everyday b/c I suffer from that, but even so, I am happy that I made the decision to complete this process. My surgeon was Dr. Guske with Suburban Surgical Care and I have lost about 70-80lbs. My main issue now and has been is making good food choices b/c I seem to always eat junkfood and I have not found my niche for exercising so the inches are creeping back and I am really struggling with this. Anyone have any advice f…

I just finished chemo and my hair was just growning back, I think this is at my very highest Okay I got it! Not the picture I started with, but it will work.

Can't believe it's been 4 weeks already. I'm feeling good, with the exception of a cold or allergies. (can't tell which one it is...maybe both)but the great news is that I'm down 19.5/20 lbs since surgery (50 lbs total) and I am so grateful for this. I haven't felt this good in years...The sleeve is definately the tool that gives one a new lease on life when used properly. With a very slow metabolism,(almost backwards, as my primary care Dr. stated) I'm looking at a slower, but steady progressive downward slope, which is just fine with me It's exciting :thumbup:to be back participating in life once again, rather than just exsisting in it!!!:biggrin0: Here's wishing ever…

I'm an Aussie- living in Wollongong, NSW and I'm just wondering if there's anyone else out there that I could correspond with and share stories. My op is scheduled for 5th May.

Hello Everyone! Haven't posted anything till now, just reading and taking in everything everyone is saying. Been a member and reading for the last 5-6 months - this seemed to take forever to reach this point. Everything seemed to be set a month apart. I go tomorrow for an extended 3 hour pre-surgical nutrition then pre-admission tests after that. My surgery date is 4/21 lots of emotions all at once, but after 45 years of being overweight. Chubby uniforms, bigger sizes, just seeing and hearing the people at the support group meetings is Awesome! It'll be great to just not carrying all this weight around! Lots of effort to put forward, but I can see that light now. G…

Hi!! I am SOOO happy to have come across this forum! Its hard being overweight and its even harder when you dont "fit in". On top of everything else, I unfortunatley have PCOS (polysistic ovarion syndrome). I have tried everything in the book to try and loose the weight and I am at the end of my rope. I finally started thinking about weight loss surgery after we had three failed attempts at fertility treatments. We found out the day before thanksgiving that our third round had failed and that was it for me. Its hard, with all the hormones, needles, ultrasounds, and all that other stuff. So anyways, I originally wanted to do the RNY and thats what I have been kind of se…

I am considering this procedure at Jewish Hospital, has anyone had their surgery there? What surgeon did you use? Are you happy with the results?:thumbup:

Hi newbie here. getting banded on 4-12 . my first couple days were horrible . I lost 10 pounds as of yesterday. they didn't tell me what i can eat post op yet but i really need some food. what do people usually have to eat post op . man i would really like a sandwich.:thumbup:

Hello Fellow Banders, I am almost 2 months post op and I have lost a little over 30 lbs. I'm sure it would have been more, but I have still been struggling with getting a grip on life long eating issues. I am still an overeater/binger and I realize I can't break these bad behaviors overnight. I also struggle with depression and anxiety for which I am taking perscription medication. I am also seeing a psycologist to discuss and work on improving my eating habits. Most days I feel like all of this helps, but I still have those days where I fall off the wagon, then beat myself up mentally and emotionally. But, at least now I've been going out for walks when I am feeli…

Hi, My name is Cindy Vogel, I had my sleeve on 1/20/10 in Jacksonville, Fl By Dr. Steven Webb, out of Memorial Hospital. I have lost right at 40 lbs. My starting weight the day of surgery was 240 and today I am at 190 WOW.. I have so many questions and could not beleive it when I came accross this web site. If anyone could help it would be wonderful. 1) Heartburn how long does it last and how do you get it in control? 2) I can only get in about 30 oz of Liquid in a day is this normal and how do you get more in on top of the food? 3) I can only eat about 3 oz at any given time. But Rice, Pasta Bread are a NO for me I get so Sick and now cream soups and any Sugar get m…

hello. i used to come here a lot when i was considering the LAP-BAND®. but after 5 month of dr visits, check up,inital visit , i chickened out . so.... not sure if im going to do it still but i just started back on the pre op-ish diet i was on before ( with dr approval ) sugar free Jello cups,popcicles,slimfast shakes,greensalads (no dressing or i use SMALL amount of white vinegar ) ,hot tea w/ splenda, sugar free mixes to add to Water...LOTS of water , low fat yogurt also :smile2: i started this monday April 5th 2010 , i am down 6.1 lbs so far !! so , i guess while i am "deciding" i can get the feel of it & lose weight. oh, i am also using my Wii at h…

:thumbup:Well, I figured since I have been lurking, and posting to a few,I would formally introduce myself. I am Kelly. A 36yr old SAHM/full time student. I have been married to my gorgeous husband for 12 yrs (although we have been together for 17.5) and have two beautiful boys,5 & 9. I have been overweight all of my adult life, and have not weighed less than 200lbs for the last 11 yrs. I have co morbidity problems of HBP and high cholesterol. I also think I have sleep apnea (although I have not had it diagnosed.) I am finished with the referral, seminar, first consult and WAHOOOOOOOOOO I just got my approval yesterday. A little bummed because they gave my dat…

I had he sleeve gastrectomy 3 days ago and this is the first day I am feeling half human. I am wondering if anyone else has been feeling the same way. Everytime I take a sip of clear liquid I feel like it begins to bubble around and push up. I feel like I need to burp and sometimes it is very uncomfortable and painful. Any Hints?:crying:

Hello Everybody! I am new to this forum thingy so please bare with me on this. This has been a long time coming, over two years to be exact, I was unsure if I was doing the right thing at first, but when I finally made my mind up, I had insurance issues. Finally, I'm so excited to say my surgery date is April 19th. I am so nervous, but I know it's for the best. Dr. Trace Curry in Cincinnati, Ohio is performing my surgery. Best Wishes to Everyone!

Hi, I'm Trinity and I had my first consult with the surgeon yesterday (4/7). After being overweight my entire life, I've finally decided to make the call and take action. I have two beautiful daughters and I'm doing this for them, only slightly less than for myself. I have an amazing DH who is very supportive of my goals. I'm 34yo and my BMI is 48.2. I know if I carry on like this, I might not make it to 40. I'm fortunate that my insurance will probably cover most of my surgery, but right now I'm already scheduled for the dietician visit and my pysch eval (to find out how crazy I really am! haha). I'm probably looking at a May-June surgery date. I need to do the sleep …

my very 1st doc appointment is on may 18th. im not really nervous about the journey, just excited. im so ready to start my life off with a new body and new energy. i have so much i want to do and im tired of weight related issues. i cant wait to get started. would love to talk to other people who have already begun their journey. just trying to figure out what to expect. :smile2:

Hi My name is Sophie. I am from Birmingham, UK My Aunt had a gastric band in December 2009. She's doing really well. I went to see my doctor in January 2010. He referred me to the dietician at the hospital. You have to see them to be able to see the weight loss Surgeon. I went to see him 1st March. I am booked now to see the dietician and the surgeon in June. I need to be 7lbs down from what I was at the hospital in March. I've been building up my own business and let things go and gained some more weight. I feel really down about this. From today I am back on the ball. I have joined this forum to get my focus back and to talk to others who are also waiting f…

i had my surgery on 2-26-10. i am so happy to feel a freedom of the shackles food had over my life. i am noticing other behaviors in my life that werent really an issue before becoming addictive behaviors... especially since my first fill and i CANNOT overeat or use food as a comfort or drug. i dont want to get into these addictions because they are unhealthy to say the least. i wanted to see if anyone else have had this problem and what i can do to not allow these behaviors to continue? :thumbdown:

Hi Im Johny from Consett, England. Currently working in Azerbaijan and 11 months post Band Op. I stumbled across this site looking for simmilar questions Ive thought about and have answered. Started @ 124KG and Im currently about 94kg so things seem to be working ok. Looking to get down to 82kg.

Im new here and new to this lap band idea. I had a class with the doc last night and I have my physical scheduled with my family doc. Waiting to hear when I have pre op appointment with surgeon. Dh is nervous for me and isn't sure it will help. I feel like I need to do this.

I was finally approved by my PCP to get weight loss surgery! I've had my psych eval and 8 months of nutrition classes. So on April 19 I attend the UIC nutrition seminar. Has anyone else gone to the UIC? What comes next? How long did it take to get a surgery date? I am so excited I can hardly stand it and it is taking FOREVER to get here....:thumbup:

Add me to the newbie list. My name is Melissa and I'm a 35y/o working Mom and wife. Last year I started looking into the lab band procedure and earlier this year I took the first official steps. I'm fortunate enough to have been given a surgery date of 05May10. Hopefully all goes well with the insurance (I don't think they're going to submit until 20Apr10). I look forward to losing weight with all of you. Take care, Melissa

Hi there- my name is Marianne, I live in Wollongong and I'm scheduled for surgery on 5th May. I've enjoyed reading your posts and hope that I can join in and learn from you all. I'm seeing the dietician this morning so will probably be starting the Optifast this weekend.:thumbup:

Hi. I have been lurking on here for a while, but now that my Lap-Band surgery is becoming a reality in a very short time, I have decided that I need to reach out for support. I am very overwhelmed right now. I hear this is normal, but I have been on a roller-coaster of emotions over the past months. I have gone from excited to ashamed to frustrated to disgust to hopeful within hours! I am finishing up my insurance requirements in the next 5 weeks, and then I will be getting a surgery date hopefully in early May. I have tried not to read too much as I get overwhelmed with all of the bad that I have read. I truly do not know what to expect. I joined this grou…

Hello! My name is Crystal and I have been approved for the surgery and will complete all the pre-op appts during the next 2 weeks or so. I am a little nervous about chosing the lap band over the by-pass...will it be as effective?? Did I choose the right one?? I am at a 36 bmi and was a candidate because of sleep apnea, high cholesterol, etc. The band was my initial choice b/c it is less invasive. I guess everyone second guesses big decisions! Anyway, if anyone has any tips or wants to be an on-line buddy as we go through this process, I am sure to need one! :thumbup: