Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hey everyone! I'm new to the site and really excited about this site! It seems like an amazing support group. I have two more months to go before my insurance will officially ok the surgery, and I can't wait. Looking to make some friends in the area who have had or are planning to have the surgery. I currently live in Amarillo, Texas, but travel all over. If there's anyone out there who would like a weight loss partner, let me know!

I was very interested in the band when I first heard of it, but when I read about issues that people had with it, (pain and throwing up), I put it out of my mind. I have had my share of gastro problems and was not in the market for more. Besides, at the time, insurance did not cover any weight loss procedure. Then in January, I met someone that had the band, and had lost 40 pounds in 3 months and was doing very well. So, I began considering it again, especially since insurance now covers it. I knew I did not want bypass because of the nutritional problems, etc. I contacted Bariatric Resources right away to get the ball rolling, even though I was not totally convinced that…

Hi Everyone! I'm new to the site. Waiting for Insurance approval, and I'm so Excited. Been trying to get my Chewables and Protein powders figured out, there are so many options. Been looking for support groups in Vegas and can't find any, so if anyone knows of any please reply. Lastly if anyone has any tips for pre-op and post-op that would be helpful, please share with me :thumbup:

My name is Terri and I have been reading this forum daily since I discovered it! This is exactly what I needed to comfort the unknown and give me the support needed to proceed. I have met with the surgeon, dietician and the psychologist. I need to call the surgeon tomorrow and see how the insurance coverage is going. I feel very confident in my surgeon and his team which is really important when having surgery. I am seeing Dr. Bhoyrul, at Scripps in La Jolla, CA. I wanted the best surgeon and hospital within my vicinity. I am so looking forward to looking great again! :thumbup: It has been a L-O-N-G time. My best to all the Bandsters on this forum and all their hard wo…

Hello everyone my name is Chaval and I'm pretty new to this site. I am in the waiting process and it's killing me, after all the pre-op testing this is the hardest part. I try not to think about it so much but I can't help it. My surgeons office called on Tuesday and told me all of my paper work was faxed to my insurance company and that it usually takes 2 to 3 weeks hopefully it wont take that long. I pray I get approved because I reallly want this to happen,:biggrin:

I'm very excited to start my journey but reading through all these great reviews about this procedure, I'm a bit nervous as I have read nothing about bad experiences. Please let me know if anyone has had some issues as I want to know the good as well as the bad. Thanks to all my soon to be bandster family members.

Folks, I am going for the initial consult on the 19th. I am excited about FIANLLY being able to get a handle on this. I'm 6'3 and 305. I can carry the weight OK, but WHY? Guess my biggest question is after the initial surgery, how often do you get stuck for and adjustment? I'm a coward when it comes to needles:eek:

Hi everyone! i am a newbie as they say. i have just been given my first appt with my Surgeon - Mr Pring from Gatwick Spire Hospital - on the 12.03.10. i am having to go private as my NHS surgeon politly told me that i was one of his smallest people and i would have to wait another year before i have my surgery. i have already been waiting since May last year. Plus the NHS hospital is in London which is an hour train ride to get too plus the £20 train ticket each time i go. i was just wondering if anyone who has gone private in the uk can answer some questions for me? Please message me. thanks a bunch:)

Hello all! I am new to this site. I was banded December 21, 2009. I recieved my first fill on Feb. 10, 2010. I went in for my second fill today, March 10, 2010, but the doctor couldn't find the right spot. I'm excited to see the changes in myself!

Hello All! I am new to this site! I recently had the Lap Band Surgery on 3-4-10. I endured the wonderful liver diet before surgery and that made me really believe in myself. If I can do that, then I can do this. I would love to hear any suggestions or just anything that would help me with my journey. I will be happy to anwser any questions about what I have been through so far. :sad:

Well it is official....I am taking the most important step of my life and I am extremely nervous and excited. I have mentally been on this weight journey for 20 years, trying everything. I have had some success and definitely some disappointments. Finally made the decision to take care of me, especially since I took the BPI profile and it labeled me "morbid obese". Seriously!!! :smile:. I knew I was heavy, but never really consider me truly fat because I have always been extremely health (at least for now):w00t:. Does that sound crazy? Anyway, I have been good all my life to everybody, but I forgot about my star player - me!!. That is why I am so excited and ready to see …

its life changing if you have tried diets and faild then this is for you it has worked for me and might i add weight loss is very rapid half my goal in less than 2 months so its thumbs up from me :001_unsure:.

My mother who had was banded a couple years ago in mexico, is gracious enough to say that she will pay for my surgery. The only thing that scares me is the 2 week postop liquid diet. :sad: But I'm willing to push forward and do what I NEED to do to become healthier.

Hello, Where do I start. I was skinny thru school, got married, had 2 children, gained alot of weight. I now have 2 beautiful granddaughter's. I'm considering the vsg. I'm thinking of going to Mexico & using Dr Almanza. I've read alot of good things about him from all the postings. Two factors for me are safety & price. I'm scared of the unknown, going to a foreign country & being put under. I've been put to sleep before, but still get nervous, My insurance won't pay the surgery. I have high blood pressure, stress incontinence, bad knees, sleep apnea & diabetes runs in my family. I can't even remember what I used to look or feel like. Know that I have t…

I am a few weeks out from surgery now and getting very anxious. I have a support group tomorrow nite. Hopefully, things will keep rolling quickly so I can get started on my new life.:sad:

I am two weeks post op today! Overall I am doing pretty good BUT am so darn fatigue. I am tired all the time and struggle during the day. I know it is normal to an extent, but for how long and how bad does it get? I work 12 hour shifts, of course the kids and husband, and school. I've been taking things very easy, and th bulk of work my hunny is stuck with :sad0: But I just want to know if anyone else experienced this. Yes I am taking in my Protein, drinking my fluids, and get 8-10 hours of sleep a night (I never slept that much before). I am just struggling and need some help, I have got to get better in this department, my life simply doesn't allow for me to be tired…

:thumbup: I am so excited to finally say that I have a date and it's been approved by insurance. My date is 04/05/2010. I can't wait to begin my new life. I started today making little changes. I am ready!

I asked my doctor's office if I can add a banana to my protein shake and they said it was ok. Did anyone add anything to their protein shake without adding too many calories? I start on the liquid diet tomorrow any suggestions are welcome.

I'm a newbie and looking for all the information I can. I'm reading, reading, reading! There's always a part of me that is skeptical because I've tried so many times to lose weight in the last 20 years but keep regaining what I lose and more...I've dieted myself to 260lbs at 5'6" with a BMI of 41. There are so many people here who are like me and have had success. I have to trust the process and do as I'm told. I'm so ready. Just waiting for insurance approval at this point......I'm learning patience with this process :-)

Hello all - my name is Kristi, I'm 33 and was banded in February of 2007. My starting weight was 245. About the time I dropped between twenty and thirty lbs, I found out I was pregnant with my first child. He was born in January of 2008. After he was born, I started to get back on track with my band. Had a few fills, started to lose the weight again, and then, guess what??? Yep, pregnant with child #2! Talk about a roller coaster ride!!! My second son was born in November of 2009. Sooo, this week I'm starting fresh (again). I've had my first fill and am DETERMINED to make it work this time (minus any children for a while)!!! The problem I'm having at this point is that …

My insurance company requires a 3 month lag time for all of the hoop-jumping & such in order to approve the surgery. What is the exact process, and how long should it take? (I was already told by my surgical group, but I'm curious to hear from real life bandsters who have been thru it) Thanks in advance

Hello Everyone. I've just joined the site I have really enjoyed reading all the information. What a great resource. I'm getting banded this Friday! What a range of emotions. Excited on one hand and then so nervous on the other. Wish me luck!

Hi everyone. I made it! I was anxious for nothing the surgery was a breeze. I did come home the first day and sleeeeeep. When I woke I wondered why i did this< did I make the right choice. I feel better today. I actually made it upstairs and showered. SO difficult to eat or get in all my protien I just dont want any food. Its a new feeling for me. I hope this will improve as the swelling goes down. I will say my five inscisions only one feels sore and its not intolerable. I havent even had pain meds since 10am Thursday morning. I will post my success and I am not part ofthe team to help through any newbies. Thanks all. Sleeved 2/23 Dr Chengalis Royal Ia…

Hi All, I've been lurking for awhile and just wanted to say hello. I'll officially join the ranks of sleevers tomorrow. As a sufferer of fibro my surgeon thinks that the sleeve and weight loss could help alleviate a lot of the pain I have on a daily basis and prevent my weight from climbing which it has done steadily since my diagnosis. I am super excited and can't wait.

How do I set up my signature with the fancy tracking ticklers, etc?

I was originally part of March bandsters, but due to additional testing, work schedules, Easter Holiday (Family coming in) and anything else you can think of the date has now been pushed out to 4/22/10. Im hoping to connect with others that are currently scheduled for April (only) for surgery, for support, advice, education, and encouragement. Let's get together and share this journey together! So if possible, let's all post our surgery date and where you are having it done and let's track everyone's process! Surgery Date: 4/22/10 Hospital - Carle Hospital, Urbana IL Doctor: Dr. Oliphant Who did you tell you are having surgery? Husband Only

My dear sweet father died at 46 years old. He was overweight, smoked like a frieght train, had high blood pressure, stress out the wah-zoo and loved to eat. He was a good man and I miss him so very much. Fast forward 20 years later, his baby daugther, now 37 years old is overweight, has high blood pressure, stress out the wah-zoo and LOVES to eat. More than anything, I dont want my children to miss me like I miss my Dad. THAT is my reason for WLS. As a child and teen, I was grossly skinny, could eat whatever I wanted. It was a good life! I was called "skinny minny", "string bean" and later as a teen by other girls "bitch" :blushing:. I was athletic and pretty darn cute…

Hi everybody! I live in Southeast Idaho and have been lurking around here for the past couple weeks. I am 39, married, and have a 2 boys (19 & 12) and a stepson that is 8 (every-other weekend). I have attended the seminar and have an appt with the surgeon on the 24th. I have Triwest insurance and from what the website says and if the cust service rep is correct then I should have no problem getting approved. There's a lot more to talk about but I will save that for later. I'm so glad I found this place, it has helped me SOOO much. And I have to admit I have become a bit of a btrieger stalker LOL. Sorry, but you are so inspirational and so positive, I have act…

Hello, I just had my first consult with the surgeon I've chosen to due my VSG surgery. He was very encouraging and staff were very kind. I'm still a little scared to have surgery again, but I'm 38 with a 10 year old daughter and I need to set a great example for her. I've been over weight most of my life, I lost 115 lbs when I was 20 yrs old due to a eating disorder, after years of therapy I now have a handle on food for the most part. My story became crazy when I found out while pregnant that I had Thyroid disease I refused to take any medication until my daughter was born it took me six years to get pregnant and I was not taking any chances. After her birth I wei…

Hello I am Robin. I finally got my insurance approval last Friday. Found out today my surgery date is set for Mon April 12. I am excited and wasn't a bit nervous until I opened that letter :thumbup: Now I guess I need to find others out there who are "walking their talk" and doing it with grace. That is what we all need from each other right? So I am looking for some friendly words of advice, shake tips and overall strength and survival techniques! Yes, I am feeling a bit of a lump in my throat. But I am so ready to begin the journey of finding ME again....

Hi everyone. :thumbup: I am Julianne and I am heavier than I've ever been. I will be 36 next month and am really feeling that I'm less mobile than ever. It's very subtle, but walking hurts my feet and lower back with the extra weight I'm carrying. I have PCOS and UARS which is a form of sleep apnea. My A1C was a little elevated at my last dr appt and he sent me to a really skinny dietician that told me to balance my carbs. :biggrin: The only diet that has really worked for me was Atkins, but I think that was a stinky and unhealthy diet. Here's my thing, though. I mentioned the Lap Band to my doctor a few months ago (at the appt that he gave me to the diet…

I have completed my 6 months of evaluation, diet, testing and nutritional counseling and just got word that my insurance has approved my surgery!! I am beyond excited! I am waiting on a phone call from the surgeon's office, Dr. Hollis, to call me and set up an appointment. I am wondering if I go ahead and start my preop diet now will I still have to wait 2 weeks AFTER I meet with him to get my surgery? I am ready to move this along!! Also, if anyone has any advice I would love to hear it! Thanks, Rita

Im still a newbie - and curious as to how many DC area Bandsters (newly or awaiting) there are around these parts. Thinking of starting a social group. Thoughts? Bueller? Bueller? *lol*

5 days out, just wondering how your feeling/doing?

Hello Everyone, I'm new here. I'm just in the beginning process of attending seminars at 2 or 3 locations. I've been to one and will be attending my 2nd tomorrow night. The one I think I'm going to like the best is the 3rd one but it's about 1 to 1.5 hrs away. Has anyone traveled that far for the surgery and all the followup appts? Did you find that it worked out OK or is it best to stay closer to home? Looking forward to my membership here. Thanks

Sorry I am starting to get nervous/excited/obsessed! I am going to Dr. Aceves on my own to get sleeved on March 24th. Will anyone else be there during that time????

Hello All, Excuse my bad English, I am consider doing the Gastric sleeve very soon, but some Drs warn me that my stomach within 5 years will increase its size naturally as its nothing but a muscle, and I will end up having a big stomach "Not as big as my original one" but big enough to let me gain all the wait that I have lost. So they keep advice me to do the Bybass which is something really I don't want to do, the confusing thing that other doctors deny this and keep saying that what actually happening that people start eating more frequent meals after few years and so they gain weight. I don't know who to believe .. so I thought to come and Ask you guys, does an…

I'm drinking the Special K shakes and they are disgusting! Any alternatives out there?

I was one of those kids that started out big. I graduated from high school just shy of 200 lbs. My freshman 15 was actually a freshman 50! Tried a bunch of diets and failed every one due to depression and cravings. I am currently 433 lbs, just inching into pre-diabetes and have suffered with sleep apnea and hypothyroism for years. Found out recently that I have PCOS, which at least tells me why I had so much trouble maintaining a healthy weight as a kid, especially as active as I was (Taekwon do, basketball, walking 2-3 miles daily). No matter what I just kept gaining! 5years ago I started the journey towards getting banded. Finances and uncooperative insurance kept m…

Hidey Ho! I joined here... 2 nights ago? I was researching and joined up to read more about what people who'd had the surgery thought of it. I suppose I'll introduce myself, now. I'm Melissa. I live in Mobile, Alabama and have been contemplating having WLS for quite a while-- at LEAST since the birth of my daugher back in '07. When I started looking into it a little more seriously... Lo and behold, I found out I was pregnant with our second baby (born in Sept of last year). I've struggled with being overweight all of my adult life... I thought I was overweight as a teen, but really, I was tiny. Weird how our brains work as teenagers. :smile2: At the moment, I've no…

:confused: Hi I just had my lapband surgery with Dr. Nazarian on Monday.

My name is Belinda (as you can tell). I'm new to this site and am finally ready to do something about my weight. For years I have watched my friends lose with due to gastic bypass and lap band and finally - the light bulb went off. I got the name of a great surgeon and had my first consult last week. He told me that because my bmi is 40, I am morbidly obese...and finally, it sunk in. I am really obese. It's funny how my mind told me for years that I"m not that big. Despite the pictures and the rolls, that say otherwise. Well anyway, enough about that. Dr. told me that I had to fulfill all these other consults and it will be about 3 months. I was so lost at the appointm…

I am so excited for this coming week. Since deciding that I want to take the plunge and get a lap band ( after four years of trying to decide) I have importnant appointments this week. On 3/10 I have the first of 6 months of phone calls with my dietician. On 3/11 I will attend the seminar my surggeon has. And on 3/17 I have an appointment with the surgeon. Talk about excited. I can hardly sleep. Im just happy to finally start the journey to get my new tool. The one that will help me lose 120 extra, life sucking pounds. :-)

I leave today and will be in San Diego tonight. Tomorrow is my surgery. It seems so surreal as it hasn't quite sunk in yet. Its difficult for me to think about being skinny again and thinking that it is going to happen. That this summer I could be wearing a bikini! I currently weigh 230 and I still haven't fully decided on my goal weight. I was at 145 4 years ago. I had lost the weight with Herbal Magic. I loved how I felt and looked when I was there. I am thinking that anywhere from 135 - 145 I would be happy with. I guess I will see when I get there and how I feel when close to my goal. Cheers!! :001_tt2:

Hi!! I'm new to the forum but I am an "oldie" bandster (meaning I've been banded for a long time :smile2: ). I was banded 9/11/07 by Dr Robert Richard. I have lost 173lbs with about 50 more to go. I walked my first half-marathon last November and I'm planning on 2 more this fall. My surgeon and my MD are both more than pleased with my results. I've never been happier. I freaking love being able to buy clothes in a "normal" store!! I would love to hear from any "oldie" bandsters!

Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Dawn and I just had lapband surgery done on 3/1/2010. My lapband surgeon was Isaias Irgau with Chrias (Christiana Institute of Advanced Surgery). Hi everyone!:smile2:

I am new to the forum. I have just completed a class required by my insurance and have seen my surgeon once. Hopefully my band will be placed the last week of April:thumbup:

I had the original jejunoilleal bypass thirty-five years ago. They told me at the gastric bypass seminar that most people had either died from them or had them reversed. I had mine reversed and they did a gastric sleve at the same time. I'm now almost nine months out and have lost 62 pounds. I'm happy with my loss but I need to lose more and I have been bouncing back and forth from 60 to 64 pounds for two months. Any suggestions?

Hi all... I am a 30 year old female and I have been overweight ALL my life. I have a friend that had a gastric bypass and she has been hounding me to have one done (guess she is gonna pay for it? lol) but I just don't like the invasiveness of the gastric bypass surgery so I am looking into having the Lapband done. I am just in the very beginning stages of research though. I am 5'10 and 469lbs (wow I can actually say that now). I have a pretty normal life and no major health problems due to weight as of right now...just constant back pain that hinders me doing things I like and leg pain. What would you tell a beginner about the LapBand? Pros and cons?

Just had my surgery yesterday and ready to start the rest of my life. Surgery was much easier than I expected!:smile2: