Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

ok this went really fast...I talked to the office yesterday to see if they submitted my information to BC/BS and it was around 2pm. She told me she was just gathering everything and was going to fax it over. First thing this morning BANG!!!! a call your approved and your scheduled for Feb 11th @ 1:30.Liquid diet starts on the 4th.:smile2: So all of a sudden I'm scared and excited at the same time. I know I will be fine but god I've been working on this through 2 different insurance companies. So wish me luck..

Hello all.... My name is Michele. I've been heavy my WHOLE life. I came out of the womb and 10lbs 2oz and just kept getting fat from there! ) I'm 40 now and on WAY too many medications for my age. 3 BP meds, 4 Diabetes meds, 3 for depression/anxiety. That's just SICK!!!! I never looked at it in print until now... eek! Anyway, I've been afraid of getting WLS for a very long time. RNY scares the crap out of me, therefore the lapband. My mom had her's done 12/2008 and is now about 90lbs down!!! She's amazing. She did that mostly without exercise because she had a bad hip. She had a hip replacement in October and is now just sailing along. Guess I'm avoiding talking abo…

Hi all. Just joined. Two days post surgery...I'm excited on one hand, quietly optomistic and scared that this won't work - and this is the most extream thing that I could do to get my weight under control and get healthy.:biggrin:

Hi! Wanted to let you know about my TJ, Mexico experience. Disclaimer a) I have no allegiance to anyone in this company or its representatives and I have not been coerced, cajoled or otherwise persuaded to write this chronology of events; I write this because I know what it's like to need the surgery but be prevented from having it, for one reason or another. Saturday- Jan. 23: I've not been surprised about the surroundings or the people here. From the airport the driver and I drove directly to the lab to get my bloodwork done, which took about 10 minutes. By 1.00 p.m. we got to the clinic that yes, is among retail stores in a mall-type setting. A…

I am scheduled for my sleeve on the 18th of Feb, I have since noticed that my determination and rigourious acitvity of watching what I eat has come to a total hault. I don't want anyone to scorn me either, being a nurse I know what's right and wrong. So I am feeling insecure...and of all FAT. I hate the feeling of being fat Noone can understand how it feels, unless they have walked the path...my clothes are tight and I feel inadequate and unattractive right now, I don't see the sleeve as a simple fix at all. I am just having a rough time right now...maybe I am just stressed out. Is this normal? Will my feelings of being unattractive and insecure resolve once I lose weig…

I am here and the nerves have calmed down. My nausea has slowed down. I able to get enough bandwith to write a little blurb. I am in pain and it is uncomfortable with every move. My husband has been my savior and here for my every move. Well the nausea is starting to return. So I will post more later. Amy

I got sleeved on Dec 21, within 4 days my sugar levels were under control with half the original medication (Metformin). Now after 20 days, my sugar was in full control without any medication at all, the first time in 5 years. I am careful though and check it with my glucometer at least thrice a day. Of course, I do exercise and walk for about 3 miles every day. Getting rid of diabetes medication is the best thing that is happening post-sleeve as my weight loss is slow.:smile:

Howdy All, I have reading this forum for a few months and am now on my way to a sleeve on Feb. 10th. A few days ago, I had that infamous last meal and it was a learning experience. It interrupted a previous week of drinking Protein shakes and going low carb/no junk. Now, I did enjoy that Last Supper. It was yummy. But, afterwards, I felt sluggish and in a food coma. Coming off a week of losing weight and feeling more energetic, I realized that I didn't want mass amounts of junky foods like I thought I did. Now that I am on the official pre-op diet of 2 shakes and a sensible meal, it is a bit of a struggle but I am glad to be back to a healthier lifestyle. …

Hello my name is Dawn and this is my very first post. I had the sleeve done on January 21, 2010. So this has been a very hard and hectic week or so. I seem to cry every time my family eats foods that I would love to be eating. I know that it will get easier. I go to the doctor for my first visit and i'm scared to death. I really didnt tell many people I did this cause I didnt want to hear all the negativity. But I knew it was either this or the grave. I was never big in school, but after my daughter 13 yrs ago I just let myself go. When I weighed in before surgery I was 237. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can make it the 2nd week. I just got off the "Liqui…

Well, we made the trip to San Diego and then on to Mexicali. My flight was an hour late so I was so worried that the van would leave without me. Of course they waited for me. We did all our preop tests today. They actually weren't bad at all. They drew blood, did x rays and a ekg. We met with the anesthesiologist first and then Dr. Aceves. I loved them both. They were very detailed about what to expect and what is expected of us. Had lots of paperwork to fill out. We were allowed to go out to dinner tonight after a full day of fasting. Needless to say, I ate to much. I was starved by the time we had dinner around 6pm. The hotel is very nice and the restaurant…

So I have finally decided that the sleeve is for me and I have set a surgery date. I decided to go with Dr. Aceves instead of Dr. Alvarez. After alot of research, I just felt more comfortable with this decision. My surgery is scheduled for 3.8.10 and I am very excited!(Nervous as well). I am getting alot of static from my sister about having the surgery in Mexico but I am comfortable with my choice. I just don't know how to make her understand why I chose to do this in Mexico b/c she thinks its all about the money. She is an RN and even though she knows that the states don't offer any better care, she is extremely worried about the possibility of complications and m…

OK sooooo I am uber excited but also just the tiniest bit POed. I put my date out for April 20th. (a million years away) I have to pay cash so that is when it HAS to be. Well my father must have went and managed to tell the entire family one way or another, because today I logged on to my FB to find a sassy comment on my wall. "Dont go to Tijuana, Youll DIE down there, YOU ARE STUPID if you go, just go to the gym instead" I had no idea that anyone even knew, OR if I even wanted to tell the family until after. Plus posted on my FB, allowed the million people I know and go to school with to also get a glimsp of the decision I have made. I didnt want anyone to know, lik…

Hello my name is Sarah and this is my very first post, my very first forum really! I have been exploring WLS for some time now, not believing that could ever really be an option to me, I thought it was normal and a part of life to struggle with weight. I was initially researching the band and became very skepticalbecause of all the drawbacks from it. I then learned of the sleeve and here I am I have struggled with my weight ever since my preteens. During nursing school I managed to get down to my smallest, 160 lbs, but shortly after I had my amazing daughter plus 30 extra pounds. I managed to fluctuate like a yo-yo until I had my son. I have been on diets, with success b…

hi , i have just been approved through my insurance. It only took about 2 wks. i am so happy

Hi all, I've lurked on here for quite awhile and thought I'd finally post an intro. My name is Lori and I'm from Denver. I'm married and have 4 awesome kids (DD6, DD5, DS3, DD19 mo). I was banded last year by Dr. Michael Snyder. I started out at 258 lbs and at my fill today I was 205.8. Still waiting for that elusive ONEderland, but I know I'll get there. I've needed this fill since October and now that I have it, hopefully I'll get right back on track!

Hello everyone, I am have my 5 visit in my required 6 month dietician diet next Tuesday. While the time has really passed very quickly, I am anxious to get banded ! I think I'm going to start a modified "Slim-Fast" type diet while I wait. I have only lost about 2 lbs thus far (dietician did not want me to try and lose to much before approval). I figure I have a month left before approval process begins, so I want to get started! Losing weight has never been a problem, keeping it off is the issue. I am diabetic and anxious to get off the meds... Which leads me to a few questions.. My PCP is not in favor of the LapBand at all, I'd like to switch docs but hate going …

Hello everyone! I'm new to the site and WLS all together. After researching all the options I am liking VSG the most. I spoke with my insurance company today and was told that this procedure is covered (does that tell you just how new I am to this game? lol :ohmy:). I was super excited JUST to hear that. So now I'm off to start my journey to a new and possibly chub-free me (or at least a healthier me that's comfortable in the skin she's in)! I have the support of my doctor, now I just need to find a program/surgeon I like and get started. I've read horror stories about people not being approved, but according to my PCP I am a good candidate. I've been reading a lot …

Hey Well my name is lauren and i am in classes for six months to get my sleeve surgery i am really scared but i know this is right for me i mean i am only 27 years old and i am diabetic and high blood pressure . its a bad way to start off your young life i know its my fault i let it get this way but my friend just got the surgery done and is doin well so that makes me feel like i can do it to . theres just alot of a lifestyle change and part of me says i can do it and part of me says i cant..so i joined this site able to get some more information on the sleeve and:crying::crying: some support

I thought I'd seen on here a place to post your blog for others to find. Now that I've started one, I can't seem to find the place to post it. Help!

Hey Guys and Gals, this is me before surgery and after 35 lbs. and 20 inches lost.

Tomorrow is my one week mark of my surgery of the Lap Band. I've had a bit of a rough time but not doing too bad. My problem is that I have the familiar old mothers apron which doesn't make recovery easy and gravity is never kind. I've lost about 4 pounds since surgery but I know that a lot is bloating from the surgery. I had lost 57 pounds in the last year before surgery in preparation for the surgery and exercised about five days a week by walking approx 30 minutes each time. I believe this helped me so much in recovery of this procedure. I've had no problem with feeling full with the 2oz per meal and doing my best to keep all the fluids coming in. I had to lay of…

Hey everyone! I am new here and have been reading for 2 hours already at various stories of people getting the VSG, those who have had it, and those who are waiting to get it or considering it. I want to say, first of all, that I think this site is awesome and I look forward to communicating with as many of you as possible about your journey and share mine. So, here is mine is short. I an an American living in Norway. I married my Norwegian wife in the USA 5 years ago and we have 3 kids. I never thougth I would ever have kids this late in life and certainly never planned on being this heavy. I have had Type II Diabetes for the past 16 years - it kicked in when I…

I finally have a date for my VSG. It is scheduled for March 3, 2010. I am so excited, but also very nervous. I have received a lot of information about diet and exercise, so I am a little overwelmed. I start my diet Feb. 17th, and I am very nervous about that. I want to follow every rule so that I get the full effect of my surgery. I will keep everyone posted.

Just received clearance from the pulmonary dr. today, got the results from my sleep study and I have mild sleep apnea but he wasn't concerned he said when I lose the weight that will probably go away!!!!! SO EXCITED. Go to see PCP tomorrow to get clearance and then back to surgeon on the 5th so he can review all my results and hopefully from there comes the insurance approval!!!!!!! This has process so far has been so exhausting with all the tests and visits can't wait til its over!!!!!! Wish me luck tomorrow!!!

Hi Everyone! I am celebrating my bandiversary today and wanted to share some thoughts that I put together. I posted this on my blog (which is why there are people's names and backstories, etc)...but I wanted to share what my first year looked like! It's a little long! lol...sorry In the name of reflecting on a year gone by, I have been working on this Bandiversary post. It is a mumble jumble of some of my thoughts, tips, rules (non-rules), and lessons learned since Tina the Wonderband took up residence in my body. This year has flown by and brought me so many wonderful presents, people, and experiences. I don't have all the answers...and our journeys, while on para…

Hi everybody I'm schedule for surgery on 2/3/10, I will be traveling out of Florida, wanted to know if anybody else from the states is considering this surgery on this date. I will be traveling to San Diego for surgery at the Emmanuel Clinic. Also has anybody had their surgery at this clinic and what was your experience. Any info will be appreciated. :confused1:

I just got the phone call from Triwest! It was my second attempt as a year ago, I was denied. However, this time, I am approved! So now I'm just waiting to hear back from my surgeon's office to schedule a date!!! :wink:

I'm 30. i'm 5'5", 283 lbs, highest weight ever. I'm a mom and i've had problems with food and weight since I was 5. I am now to the point where I don't trust myself to even start on any more diets or eating right b/c I don't trust myself to stick with it. I exercise and some weeks I even go to the gym 3-4 x's but still I just can't get eating under control. I thought lap Band or surgery would be a cop out but now I just see it as the help I need. I have Aetna insurance and would take any amount of advice that anyone can offer so that I can apply for this surgery and get it. I don't have diabetes or high bp, just light sleep apnea and depression/anxiety. Any pointers? I gu…

I was banded just over a week ago (Sun 17th Jan) and just wanted to say hi to everyone on here and am looking forward to getting to know you all.

Hello, my name is Eric. Struggled with weight forever. Toyed with gastric bypass, but was scared. Lap band seems great. My wife has great insurance, and luckily they pay 100%. I had first Dr. appointment last week, and psych eval, nutrition appointment yesterday. I am scared, excited, not sleeping much, but am ready.

Hello everyone! I am new to posting, but not new to this forum. I have been reading the forum for a while now to do some research on the LAP-BAND®®. I am an Army Wife (hence the id) and am currently living in West Virginia while my husband does his recruiting stint. I have been MO for many years now. I have been there for my child, my husband, the military and I am last. It is now MY time. I am ready to get healthy. I have seen my PCM, and had initial consult with the surgeon. Since I have TPR, I only have to see the nutritionist, have a psych consult, and wait for approval. I am very excited about my decision and look forward to getting to know some of you be…

So, I was totally set on getting the lapband, but I had several reservations about it. Then, I found this surgery and overall it seems a lot more appropriate for me. However, I have a few concerns about this as well. I've done tons of research on both and I'll be meeting with my surgeon soon, but I really want to have a pretty good idea of my own decision before meeting with him. So, here are my concerns... Any thoughts on them would be great. 1. My insurance covers either procedure as long as I'm approved for wls. 2. At only 27 I am concerned that lapband is not permanent enough since I would have to rely on a foreign body lasting inside me for hopefully 60+ years…

Hello all! I'm new to this. My mom and I are planning on getting "banded" together. We've been through all the steps that Tricare requires. I'm from the Dallas area and we chose TLC Edge as our surgery center of choice with Dr. Daryl Stewart to perform the surgery. They've been great with one exception-their insurance case people were a horror. We met with their doctor,dietician,and director,got all of our bloodwork/psyc/PCP referral in by Dec. 28 and they just YESTERDAY sent in our information to Tricare with my mom and I hounding them. Tomorrow, we are going to our pre-op with the surgeon who was angry with TLC for dragging their feet. ANYWAY, the surgeon's office is …

I had surgery on 1/20/2010 and I started out at 247 on 1/7/10. The day I arrived at the hospital for surgery I was down to 240 lbs.lbs and I weighed myself this morning and I am down to 227 lbs. I am happy with the decision I have made but I will have to admit I am having a very tough time with getting adjusted to this new life style.

hey ya'll! newbie here!! my name is penny renee and i am a foodaholic....oops...wrong group...lol! :smile2: i am a mom, wife, school bus driver, college student, scrapbooker and lover of all things internet and chocolate {hence the large butt}. I am ready to take the control back over my body and i am hopeful that the lapband is for me. i have an appointment with the surgeon that will be doing my procedure this coming monday and i am geting excited and nervous all at the same time. i would love any information/tips or encouragement that you have floating around in your heads. i hope to be able to share my journey with you all and learn a little as well about the new p…

Hi, my name is Simon and I’m the creator of the ebook “How To Lose Weight And Feel Great”. I’m on the verge of bringing out a new ebook very soon and I’d like to get it reviewed by members of the community before publishing it. I am unable to provide payment for this, but I will allow you to keep your copy of the new ebook completely free of charge. There are currently 10 review copies available on a first come first served basis. If you want to help me out with this then please send an email across to FiveAlive2008@googlemail.com Thanks, Simon Bradley

hi ... i have been battling with my weight for the last 30 yrs ... now am frustrated .... went to my dietician when i was 11 yrs old ...have gone to numerous fat camps .... now am frustrated ... my BMI is 37 .. and am i have been doing my research on some sort of a weightloss surgery .... and i find the sleeve the most approriate ..i just have a few questions frm people who have got this procedure done 1. first of all how do i choose on a doctor to do this procedure .. i have been meeting people and they all seem good to me .. 2. do u have serious gas and acidity problem throughout and one keeps burping ? isnt tht embarassing ? 3. am due to get married in march this …

Tomorrow I start my 3-month diet required by my insurance... I just went shopping and bought a bunch of stuff that would fit in with my high protein/low carb diet! I just threw out everything bad that was in my fridge/freezer and filled it with healthy items! I am away at college and live in the dorms.. its going to be hard but its time for a change! Question for those that had to do a pre diet required for insurance, was it required to have proof of exercise, like proof that you went to a gym and how often? My dr didnt mention anything of this nature, are they just looking for a watched diet?

I am a 44 yr old Biker. I have 3 kids, 22, 18, and 13. My old man drives truck and is a pretty good guy most of the time. I have a bmi of 39.9 so insurance turned me down LOL you have to be a bmi of 40. I tried to tell them I would eat a box of donuts on the way to the dr, but they said no. So I am flying to mexico in march to have surgery. I broke my leg in November and decided that was it. I had had enough and was going to have this surgery. I welcome and advice, stories, or? I anly ask no religious, or political emails. I get enough of those from my mother in law.

Kind of scared and wondering how the pain will be post op, when I will be able to go back to work. Loosing weight on this liquid diet although its killing me reading all of the posts here is keeping me busy.:lol0:

Hi There... I am a 29 year old (ooohhh...almost 30! eek! :biggrin: haha...) who needs a change...and is really, really considering being banded. I'm not entirely sure how to go abou it...do I speak with my Primary Care physician first? Or do I have to research some surgeons who do the Lap Band? Anyone have any ideas in the Boston, MA area? I have seen lots of blogs with people's pics...which is super inspiring...and I hope to have this in the near future. What is the time line from when you decide to go ahead with the surgery to when you actually get it done? Any help would be fantastic!! ~Jen

I am pretty new to this forum. I've been doing a lot of reading but this is my first post! My surgery was tentatively scheduled for 3/23/10, but my insurance authorization came back very fast (like 8 days) so I got anxious about doing it sooner. Talked to my surgeons office this morning and it's scheduled for Friday 2/5! I am so ready and so excited. Like others on this site, I went to the dr and told him I wanted the Lap Band. He went through everything about the band, but also went into the sleeve and told me a lot of people are now choosing the sleeve, but left it totally up to me without trying to influence me either way. I found this site and made my decision withi…

I was banded last Thursday the 21st, I am sore but walking around as much as possible, clear liquids only. I weighed this morning .. a 4 lb loss, I know it's only water but I will take what ever I can get. Been a professional dieter since age 15, lost and regained weight many times over. If dieting worked and eating a balanced diet on maintainence worked I would have been successfull at weight loss many years ago. Became so tired of weight holding me back in so many areas of life. I fianallly made the decision to get the lapband. I am a little afraid of it.... drinking to fast, to much, or later getting something stuck in it. I hope the fear of ruining it will keep me on …

I am so excited. I have been approved for my surgery. A little background. I currently weigh 272 lbs and I have high blood pressure. All my life I have been on the thick side but not necessarily obese. After I had my daughter three years ago, I have been unable to lose weight and keep it off. I have played with the idea for the last year. However, when I started the process in May, I found out I was a pregnant. In July I had a miscarriage. My insurance (GEHA) at that time wanted me to do a doctors supervised diet for 6 months. The thing was, I figured that if that was so easy, I wld not be over weight in the first place. When open season rolled around, I did some res…

:crying:Hi my name is An'Gel and i had surgery on september 23, 2009 and i was 287 on surgery date now i am 265 good i know but.... i have been at that weight since the end of november and its january. i dont know what i am doing wrong. can some one give me adive or a lil pep talk something. Are there any other young people who had the surgery. i had it when i was 18 and i am now 19 some one please help i dont know what to do:confused::confused::frown::smile2:

:thumbup:So Feb. 11th is the day, I am so excited. Is there anybody else out there going about the same time, I'd love to compare progress with others.

My first post - a day which will go down in history, I'm sure! I decided several months ago to pursue the Lap Band, but after looking into it more convinced myself it wasn't for me. Instead, I found VSG - a procedure which seems to suit both me and my family much better. I am the type of person who researches everything out the wazoo. Before I purchase a new toothbrush I have to go online to see what type of bristles are best for my teeth, what angles suit my gums, how hard the bristles should be, the advantages of sonic vs hand-held, etc. - so you know I've done my homework on this. Here's the thing...so far I have yet to find anyone who regrets having it done. …

Hello to all. This is my first time ever posting to a fourm. A little about me: My name is Tracey aka shortstuff I am married to a wonderful man who I met 21 years ago at High School We have a 3 year old treasure of a girl (well, today at least she is a treasure) I weigh too much I have done just about every weight loss program out there I suffer from high blood pressure and bad Fluid retention AND I am booked to be banded on 25 February, 2010! I don't know if having more time in the lead up to the op is a good thing.... Cheers, Tracey:thumbup:

Does anyone know how long it takes once you finish all of your insurance & surgeon requirements would it take to get a surgery date?

I, too, have Kaiser in No. Cal. I am having my surgery in Fremont. I have 5 more lbs to loose before they will schedule my surgery. It seems like I should be able to take that off in a week, but it is taking every inch of the will power that I possess (which is not much). I will let you all know when I get my surgery date. I was having a terrible dilemma between the VSG or the RNY, but have decided that the best route for me is the VSG. Now that I've made up my mind (with all of your help), I'm anxious to get my surgery.:001_tongue: