Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hello Everyone...My name is Amanda and I am getting banded on December 2nd 2009. I am so excited and so nervous. Any advice out there? :Yawn:

My Band was too tight, had it unfilled and over the last 5 months have gained 28 lbs back. It's either too tight or too loose. How often can I ask my doc to try again for a better fit? Support and words of wisdom needed!

Hi everyone, I had my surgery one week ago. It took a little longer to get my strenght back then I thought it would but I am finally feeling normal. I am starting on soft foods today. You would think that would be exciting but at this point food is not important at all,(HOW COOL IS THAT).:blushing: I'm glad I found this website, I look forward to meeting lots of new friends. Lisa

Hello all! I am very excited to join this talk group and to get to know more people like me. I am going for my pre-op visit tomorrow and have a surgery date of Dec 28th to be banded. I am nervous and excited. I would like to familiarize myself with the post surgery outcomes and what to expect. I am excited to start my "new life" as a band patient and pray for great success.

And I am so nervous, and excited, and nervous, and a little more nervous. I am 33 y/o and have three little ones. Which makes the situation more nerve racking for me. I am completey rocking the pre-op diet. Since Thursday morning I have only had Protein shakes, juice, broth, Water and 2 popsicles. Today I start my all Clear liquids, so I will be having juice, Jello, broth, and water. On Saturday we hosted a family Christmas party and I was completely in awe of my willpower to not touch one bite of food. I feel very hungry and could use some more energy (especially with getting all the Christmas stuff together!) but I am managing just fine. I still have so many questi…

I am still pre-op but I have finished my Kaiser Options Classes. As of 12/17/2009 I have lost 44.6 pounds with my classes, and I still waiting on my date. I would like to still drop 23.4 pounds before surgery its my personal goal to be only 100 pounds away from my final goal before surgery. If I make it I will be thrilled, if I dont well I tried darn hard!!! LOL I am hoping for a surgery soon, but I figure I have waited this long whats a few more months right? (HA!)

The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It's your mind and motivation you have to convince. You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be. Let that person who is inside come out and see the world. Take it one day at a time. Happy Holidays. PS: Update me on your progress:thumbup:

Hi Guys, My name is Alanna and im getting banded on the 23rd at kaiser in south san francisco, I am so excited but yet scared at the same time! I got approved for this surgery in September and I have lost 80 lbs since July. Wish me luck guys!

HELLO ALL - I will be seeing my future bariactric doctor for the 1st time on Jan. 8th - 1 of my many questions is has anyone had sleep apnea (which i was just recently diagnosed with) and typeII diabete's? - comments, advice, etc. is appreciated!!!

Hello everyone I live in Texas and thought that if would be fun to see how many people living in Texas are banded or going to be banded. So I started a group called Texans Banddters. If you live in or around Texas please join the group. :lol:Good luck.

I had my LAP-BAND® installed on Oct. 20th and I just had my first fill Thursday (Dec. 17th), it was delayed due to scheduling problems. I didn't have any restriction until the fill. I have lost 18 lbs from the first appointment. In my mind, I was just always hungry. I thought that when I had my LAP-BAND® surgery that I would eat less and I would no longer be physically hungry then I would be satisfied. But I have found, that after I had my first fill, I eat the super small portion and I am physically full, then I am mad because I was enjoying the food and I want to keep eating for the pleasure of eating. I had no idea that I had this relationship with food. I guess thi…

I am 5 days after surgery and everything is going great! Went to lunch with old friends after church and had a great time (I just had my drink and was fine with that). I was wondering, however, what I will be able to eat after the first two week liquid diet?

I have been really excited about doing this on the 29th of December. Until today. I was reading through the fatty liver thing and got really nervous. It is Christmas and I have been baking. I have not followed this diet really well. Anyway, now I am nervous. I also have a question. I am going into Juarez to do this surgery and my doctor is Dr. Jose Rodriguez. Has anyone had Dr. Rodriguez performed their VSG? I am nervous not to really know my doctor and facility until the day of surgery. Is this normal? Has anyone had their surgery at the new facility in Juarez? Just thinking and I am really nervous. I am going alone, because I have little kids and …

I got approved by my insurance for the surgery and have scheduled it for January 22nd 2010. I must have a good plan because it was not hard at all to be approved. I am going through True Results in Scottsdale AZ and so far they have been great and right on the ball with everything and pretty much have took care of all my paperwork to submit to my insurance. Dr. Nirmul will be doing my surgery. I am nervous but cannot wait to have the surgery..Anyone else in AZ who wouldn't mind making a new friend?

First visit to this site. Just introducing myself. :biggrin:

I am really new to this but I know that I need to change my life in certain ways so getting online and getting apart of support groups will help. I just recently had realize band done (12/12/09). So far I am sore, tired and I have a real bad cough which I don’t think its normal ( I have to pick up an antibiotic tomorrow). But I don’t feel as hungry and I am so excited to see my progress and the progress of the other people who decided to take the step. Is it normal to be itchy and I am still so sore? New day Things are getting a little better, I am still really sick. My stomach hurts really bad and I coughing a lot but I think its because of the medication I am on…

Hi! I just wanted to introduce myself, everyone calls me flea, I am from texas and as of January 1st my husbands insurance will change to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas PPO. (My current insurance is a no go with ANY type of weight loss procedures) I am 5'5 and weigh in at 260. My BMI is 43 and yes along with this joyous weight I have health issues. I have high blood pressure, hypothyroidbism, and undiagnosed sleep apnea. I am miserable. Its a pain to be out of breath from just walking down the hall of my house. 4 years ago I went to my Dr. to ask for a specialized diet or at least the number to a good nutrionist and well he simply laughed and gave me a referral t…

I have been overweight most of my life. this is all i know. Everyone has told me how pretty I am and how much prettier I'd be if i lost weight. What if I lose the weight and it turns out that I am really not that pretty? Being fat, I alway have my face to make me feel good about myself (I am not trying to be conceited in any way). How will I be? Will I have the same personality? will the people who like me today feel the same way about me 10 months down the road? I hope this doesnt sound silly but the prospect of such a drastic weight loss as a result of vsg really has my head spinning. I want to lose the weight more than anything in this world but what will i…

Ok, I'm already stalled. I'm 12 days out, and the scale won't move. What do I do? I've only lost 11 lbs on 12 days. And all of that was the first week. 2nd week nothing. I will admit I haven't stuck completely to the post op diet, but I've not wandered that far. Yestrday I ate 1 egg for breakfast, 7 shrimp (sauted) for lunch, and tuna salad for dinner, along with my juices and shake and pudding across the day. I never eat more than 3 onces of anything. What am I doing wrong? I do water down apple juice (simply apple) half & half. And drink that all day, is that too many calories? Oh yeah and I did, eat a tiny bit of party food Friday night. Cheese, egg nog, gr…

Hey all, I have been posting here for a few weeks...(I tend to jump right into forums like these). I figured with my surgery date less than 2 weeks away I better tell my story now. I work as a private duty in the home caregiver for an alzheimer's patient. I am the case manager and senior caregiver, working 48 hours a week on average. I handle all his doctor visits, liason between the doctors and the family, and manage the scheduling, payroll and household staff. I had a lapband placed in Sept 2006. At one point I was up to 1.75 cc in a 4 cc band and life was good. I was managing my portions, losing weight, feeling good. That all changed when I took my first…

I am one week in and I couldn't help it! I have been sick and I just caved in. I had 9 pretzels. I am really upset I guess its because of the stage one diet and I am just really hungry still. Is this going to wreck my band? Its been a week since I have been banded.! I am so weak!

Hey guys, I'm currently a sophomore in college and planning on getting banded on March 10th, 2010 (during spring break). I was just wondering what the experience of being banded was like during college. What were your experiences with meal plans or continuously eating with friends? Also, my intended date of surgery is on a Wednesday and I start class again on Monday, what were your experiences post-op? thanks :smile2:

has any one ever been approved for surgery by their ins w/o other issues . my BMI is 44 but i dont have any other health issues the Dr says there shouldnt be a problem because a bmi of 44 is extreme obesity. i was just wondering

Hello. I'm Karla and I am 19 years old. I had my LAP-BAND®®®®®® surgery on December 16th. If anyone has any suggestions or thoughts on how to reach my goal weight that would be great:) I was working out 5-6 times per week post surgery, swimming and jazzersize (with grandma) and plan on getting back into that regiment soon after the soreness goes away. Pre-op I weighed 323, Post-op I weigh 307. My goal weight is 130:) Hopefully I can get down to my goal weight in a year and a half. Sooner would be better of course but if you have any suggestions please post them.

I am going for it...Yeah. I have gotten so heavy that I have a hard time walking the mall, much less any walking in my neighborhood or hiking, which I love. Its gotten so bad that I don't want to see anyone or do anything except stay home in my sloppy, baggy clothes. I am secretly happy that we are staying home alone for the holidays. Just me and the hubby and the two dogs. All I have left to do towards getting the paperwork in order for the insurance is to have my EGD, which has not been scheduled yet. That and make copies of my medical records from my previous Dr in a different state. I think the insurance will not be too much of a problem. My husbands…

Hey everyone! I had my surgery almost 2 weeks ago. I should feel great, but for some unknown reason, I'm sad. I'm not sure why. I guess I didnt know how much I'd miss food. Nothing sounds fun if I cant eat. Thats so pathetic. Another thing pissing me off is the way everyone close to me scrutinizes what I put in my mouth. Its like theyre waiting for me to screw up. I saw my sister for the first time and was expecting her to comment on my 15lb weight loss. When she didnt, I asked her about it and she said the whole thing really weirds her out! By the way this is my sister that has always been thin. I feel alone.

Hi! My name is Donna, and I started the 6 month process to be banded! I weigh 350, am 41, and am tired of not being able to be the person I am. I have Crohns disease, and while that in itself may have complications due to the band, the docs all agree that at this point, the weight I carry is more of a threat than the complications that Crohns and Banding can do. I have been heavy all of my life. I can remember being 160 pounds when I was 14. By the time I was 25 I was 220. When I had my first child at 30, I weighed 280. And, thanks to 2+ long years of high doses of prednisone (thank you Crohns!), I am now 350. I miss my old life. I may have been big, but I still got …

Hello everybody! I am brand new to this site and have just started the process for the Lap band procedure. I brougt it up to my doctor and he said he thinks I should be able to do it on my own but is backing me and started me on my six month diet. My concern is that right now I am 5'3'' and I weigh 237 which gives me a BMI of 42 which qualifies me for the procedure but my doctor would like to see me lose 20 lbs in my six month diet, which would drop my BMI to 38. A BMI of 40 is needed to get the Lap Band or 35 and above with comorbidities which I do not have. Has anyone ever dropped below the BMI of 40 and still get approval? I have Blue Care Network and live in Michigan …

My name is Marissa. I have been struggling with my weight since around the age of thirteen. Its safe to say I was an emotional/large volume/binge eater. I loved to eat food. I would go on various diets, lose a ton of weight and slowly gain it back. Two years ago after having a tummy tuck done, I went to a nutritionist who had had a vertical gastrectomy done by Dr. Paul Cirangle. She said it was the only thing that had worked for her in keeping the weight off. At that point I was at a lower weight and was confident that I would not get back above 250lbs. Then the weight slowly crept back on. I was naturally frustrated and revisited the idea of a weight loss prodcedure. I l…

I am new to this site. I just went to my seminar at Portsmouth Naval Hospital yesterday and I am looking for others who are getting started on there journey here in Hampton Roads. And I would really love any feed back from others that have already had the lapband.:biggrin:

Hi everyone. Yesterday I met with my weight management doctor and he said I am right on track and I can look to having surgery sometime in February. I made an appointment with the surgeon for Tuesday 12/22. I also have an orientation meeting at the hospital on Monday 12/21. Things are moving right along. I'm getting excited now. I also met with a Psychologist yesterday and she talked about the results of a test I took to determine my state of mind. She said I was more depressed than 90% of the people that come in. I told her I thought all people who were struggling with being overweight were depressed. She said yes, to an extent but with my stats she said that it looked…

I am as nervous as a cat about having my surgery tomorrow. The clear liquid diet I have been on for the last two days is killing me. Any hints about how to settle my nerves?

I had surgery in January, and have not lost alot of weight....I have had three fills, and am finding it hard to find anything that I can eat. I think I wait too long to eat, and when I do, Im starving so I cram it in my mouth very quickly, which results in visiting the bathroom. I also think I am vitamin deficient, because I am constantly sick. I dont think I am getting enough protein....I am sick of protein shakes, and yogurt!!! And on top of all of that I still drink sodas, cant seem to quit...and I have lost my will to exercise...has someone been there?

I went to my doctor tonight to talk about the lap band and she was all for it. She meantioned the word death (as in any surgery there are risks) but it just really freaked me out. She said the chances are very minimal but it still makes me nervous. Is it worth it? Does anyone have any good advice to give me?

Hi, I was sleeved last Tuesday, so I am new to this site. I have been reading articles online and I am just worried that my sleeve is going to stretch. Does anyone know the probability of a sleeve stretching? Thanks, Caroline

Hi! My name is Janet and I am new here. I am 3 and 1/2 months into my 7 monthly consults with my PCP for insurance purposes. I just found out this week that I have sleep apnea, yea me. So that goes on my list of co-morbidities, along with hypertension. At the rate I'm going I need to hurry up and have my surgery before they find anything else wrong with me! I am very excited about getting banded even though I still have a bit longer to wait. I am trying to incorporate healthier ways of eating now... but this is not the time of the year to be eating healthy. Well, that's my story and here I am.:rolleyes2:

Does anyone else have pain in their shoulder and upper chest? I was banded 2 years ago and lost 100 pounds before getting pregnant. Unfortunately, I gained 40 back when my band was let out for the pregnancy and now have it nice and snug again. I don't remember this pain when it was tight last time. I know it's not a heart attack because it's been happening daily since my last fill. Anyone else have this and if so, do you know why it happens?

Hi, I have recently decided I wanted to become banded after researching the procedure, risks, and benefits in depth. I'm 24 years old, have been overweight all my life and seem to be in a state of digression. I am 5'2/5'3 and at my top weighed 275 in high school, I lost almost a hundred pounds through exercise and diet right after high school. In the last year I went from 185 to 235 and after seeming to not be able to stop gaining weight no matter what I do, it looks like I've plateaued! I've tried diet and exercise, it's so discouraging to feel like I'm never going to reach my goal weight of 120 lb.. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in high school and it kinda fixed…

Greetings all. I just found this site by Google searching. Just what I was looking for since chatting with fellow people who have something in common with you is probably the best way to find out information that perhaps the docs don't tell ya. I'm a wee bit nervous for my surgery is this coming Monday. My pre-op is tomorrow. I had to postpone the surgery due to catching a nasty cold earlier this month. All I have left is a dry cough I get only when I talk. Hoping this dry cough won't postpone my surgery again. My insurance changes in January so I need to get this surgery done this year and Monday was the last date the doc had available.

HERE'S MY CARD TO ALL OF YOU --- http://www.lapbandtalk.com/members/4...cture28446.jpg I'm almost in week 5 of my surgery. I've lost 19 pounds so far. I had my fill yesterday. They put 2cc's in. I'm so glad I did.

I had VSG in February. I've never really struggled at getting in my protein, but lately it has been a challenge. Any advice out there?

hello friends i went to my 1st consultation yesterday. i havent booked the date of the procedure yet, but im aiming for mid January 2010. i learned about the procedure and the diet before and after, so i decided to wait until after the holidays (my birthday aswell) to start the pre diet (new years res). but i have a few questions....... im 28 years old, no kids, and like to go out and have fun....... can anyone who has had the band for a while, tell me what its like to go out and drink alcohol (im not talking about often, or black out drunk or anything like that) night out with the girls???? also any smokers out there....they say no smoking for 2 weeks before …

Hi everybody I've been feeling GREAT the last two weeks, but this week has started on a down note. I woke up nauseated, weak, with no energy. I was up in the middle of the night with watery bowel movements and some intestinal pain (just gotta go pains). I've been doing this all day. It's now 3:39pm and I've not eaten much because I just don't feel well. I took a nausea pill, and that helped. Could it be my water/liquid intake. It's been real low. Only about 30 oz's. This is the first time I've felt bad. What should I do? thanks Judy

It is nice to see all of the support here. I am obsessed with checking this page all day because i am going crazy with hunger on my 2 week clear liquid pre-op diet. I will be banded on Christmas Eve this year! I would be excited, but mostly I am just scared and hungry. I don't know anyone that has had this surgery personally. I hope that this will be a great support for answering any questions and just general encouragement. Thanks :thumbup:

So.....I'm new! I am really excited about being banded, but I'm also really scared. You see I'm having a hysterectomy on December 30th, and I am afraid it will cause me to not be able to do all the things I'm supposed to be doing with the band. My out of pocket was met for the year with my insurance and my doctors said I could have both procedures done. I know that with the second operation I won't be able to exercise at all for about 6 weeks! The thing is, the state may be cutting my job out of our schools and then I wouldn't have insurance at all, let alone a job. So, you see I'm afraid I will become depressed, and not be able to do what I'm supposed to. I want to …

Ive been sitting here looking at veryones before and after pics and i really feel like im failing even with my band.i was banded feb 25,2009 and im only down 55 pounds if im lucky,the scale seems to go up and down just like it did before my band.its like im back on my yoyo diets.its real frustrating knowing im not eating anything like i used to and its just not coming off very fast at all.I see all these people that got their band the same time i id or even after and have lost a lot more weight than i can even think about losing.Im failing my band. I dont know what else to do.its been a long slow fight to get off what weight i have lost.but im still losing my battle jus…

Hey everyone! I was hoping someone could help me out- the layout of this site is a little confusing, so I need some help... How do I join a group? I've (kind of) figured out how to join a thread, but joining a group seems to elude me. Also- posting new posts is enormously confusing to me. I have to basically search the site for like 10 minutes until I can find a link to post a new thread! Any suggestions or step-by-step instructions would totally help. Thanks in advance!:willy_nilly: __________________

Hey everyone, I'm Angela. I'm a 31 year old nurse (You'd think I'd know better then to let this happen to me...). I've been overweight now for the last 12 years. Basically since I got married. The interesting part is that I lost the husband, but not the weight LOL. Too bad it didn't go WITH him. I'm 5'4'' and 250. My heaviest was 275, and about 4 months ago, I busted my ass at the gym, along with a diet (shake and whole foods plan) and got down to 221. I've since, gained it back. I had a consultation with Dr Paul Cirangle in San Francisco and it went well, I'm just not sold on the Band. It's invasive, it's surgery (although smaller then any other option out ther…

Just wanted to introduce myself, my name is Sandra and I had my surgery 11-14-2009 and my sisters as well. We did it together because we are all big. I got the band because I want to just lose weight to be happy and to be healthy! I think this is the best thing I ever did even though all my friends are against what I did. I am glad at least I can find encouragement from this forum! :eek:

This is my first post here. I'm 29, 5'1" (and 3/4"!) and weigh about 230 pounds. My husband is in the US Army and we're currently stationed in Germany. I've been researching the Lap-Band® since July, when my PCM told me that I have type 2 diabetes and at the same appointment suggested that I consider a band. Since then, we've moved overseas and I have a new PCM. I have an appointment next Monday for another reason and I want to ask her for a referral so that I can go through with this procedure. I'm a bit concerned about bringing it up at another appointment, but it's not as though I'm going to make an appointment with my PCM solely to discuss weight loss. I'm pre…