Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hello there. Like many people, I have been browsing this forum for a while. It's seems kind of silly, but as I was going through the battery of tests, blood work, etc., I didn't want to "jinx" myself by posting before I was approved. :smile2: So, here I am approved and ready to have the surgery! My date is Oct 30th:lol: I am a military wife and I was approved by Tricare. I was denied initially because I was 4 pounds under the "100 pounds over ideal weight" rule, but another dr visit to weigh in took care of that :biggrin: I have enjoyed reading all the posts and have learned a lot from them. I look forward to sharing and exchaning information with everyone!!

I am on here trying to find info about the surgery and they after life and any problems or success people have had with their surgery and after care. Trying to decide if I should do this.

Hi Everyone! I've been lurking around here for awhile and I thought I would finally introduce myself. I've known about gastric banding for a long time and I've always thought it was a great option as far as WLS goes, but I've never considered it personally until a couple of months ago. Obesity runs in my family and I've been overweight my entire life. My highest weight as an adult was 236 lbs and my lowest adult weight was 179 lbs. Right now I weigh 210 lbs (I'm 5'3). In 2007 at age 21 I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer - I had surgery to remove one lobe of my thyroid that had a "suspicious" (biopsies had been inconclusive) tumor on it, then after they verified …

I'm am still in the process of deciding which procedure is right for me and I need help! Is there anyone out there who has had the band for 5 years or more? I am really interested in learning what the long-term effects and results are.

I'm Bob and I live in beautiful Keller, Texas. I started packing on the pounds the minute I got out of the military at 25 years old (1989). I guess I was rebelling against the man for making me exercise every day. Unfortunately I was the man. I was about to get in the shower in a hotel about 4 years later and it was the first time I had seen my naked body in a full length mirror. I was repulsed. As I gained over 100 pounds, in my head I thought, "so what, I have a beer belly." When in fact I had a huge keg belly that came out about a foot and hung down just as far. On top of that, I had just received my ten year high school reunion invitation and was already …

I completed all required tests, went to every appointment, information was sent to ins company and approved....I got a date for Monday and may have to cancel it.....I got a insurance policy that does not require referrals, so I rarely see my pcp....I got a letter from my surgeon's office stating the hospital needs medical clearance from pcp, I knew that was going to be a problem....I went to see them yesterday and said they won't clear me without labwork and if they send me for it, it takes a week to come back......way beyond pissed.....I already got the time off from work.....I'm calling the surgeon this morning and seeing if its really necessary, they got everything els…

Hello we are new to forum, my husband D is wanting to have the surgery since his Dr. said he is a great canidate at 6'6" and 475 lbs. He has a host of additional problems that are a result of his weight, like diabetes, sleep apnea, joint pain, or the they could be a result of each other? whatever the case, we have Providence as our Ins. but are thinking of switching to Kaiser P. when I can. We will welcome any adivce. Thank YOu-D's Wife

I have been overweight for as long as I can remember. Though I have lost weight before by dieting and doing some exercising, I have always regained all of the weight plus some. Most of you I'm sure are reading this and saying "yeah, me too" and truthfully, who hasn't? However, I know for certain that this is going to be the time I make the change for the rest of my life. The big differences between my previous attempts and this one is that I'm not just on a diet. I know that I need to be fixed in my stomach, but also in my head. I'm seeing a counsellor once a week and she specializes in overweight people. My number one rule is to be honest with myself and those around me …

Hi, It's official. I get to become a sleeve sister with Dr. Aceves' assistance on Oct 30. Yes, I will be out of the Fat girl costume by the following halloween. Maybe next year I can go as Lady Godiva! I am so excited. My friend, Linda, a cardiac nurse is going with me. She is my support system. Although her husband Pete is not too sure about the two of us going to Mexico, he supports my decision to have the surgery. I have no fears. Been researching this for years, so it is so thrilling to have everything falling into place finally.:tongue2:

Hello all! I get the Band on at 9AM, looking forward to starting my journey. I have lost 31 pounds already in the last 7 weeks trying to get ready for surgery. Any words of advice for someone starting out?

My insurance company said "yes, it's covered." Then another person said, "No, not covered." Then a different person said, "Yes, that last person was wrong." Then another person said, "No...absolutely NOT covered." I finally got ahold of the huge book of coverage and read through it. NOT covered. I'm really sad. It has to be out of pocket... but they are having a "sale" right now. ONLY $11,400.

i am going to share what i posted in my profile. i think that my lapband story is similar to others. i have been overweight all of my life. always the chubby girl in class, the last one to get a date for the dance, etc. i have had periods of time where i was thinner, but i believe now i am at top weight. i cannot be certain because there were long periods of time i did not get near the scale. i have been researching and trying to get the surgery since 2002. i have been to a total of 3 surgeons (in different cities) and i finally have an insurance that will cover it, even though i am buying it through cobra. i feel like i have not chosen to do some things in life be…

I am scheduled to have lap band in October by Dr. Rumbaut in Mexico. I am nervous, as I have never been out of the country or had surgery. I have been reading a lot on here and after seeing how many things can go wrong and how slowly you lose weight, IF you lose weight, I am thinking of having a gastric bypass. With 4 young children, I have so much to live for, that surgery scares me to death. Sorry for the long post, praying for wisdom, Tonya B SC:confused:

Hello, everyone. I had surgery on 8/10/09:thumbup: it was my mother's birthday, and I like to think of it as being mines, now as well. On 9/18/09 I had my first fill. I'm doing fine adjusting to my new lifestyle. I look forward towards chating during this life change with all of you.

Today I had a voice message on my home phone from a registered nurse from my insurance company, inviting me to call to participate in a health education program. I was curious to see what had prompted the phone call. When I returned the call, the nurse I spoke with said it was due to a recent diagnosis that was received from one of my doctors - obesity. This was from when I had my annual exam with my GYN and talked to him about WLS. So in talking with the RN, I asked her if she could tell me anything about my actual insurance plan and she said no, I'd have to call customer service (which I knew anyway). So when I did call CS, I asked if they cover WLS and they said…

Hi everyone! Looks like I'm the first one here. So let me be the first to welcome you all and invite any questions or comments you may have. Here is my story, in all it's revolting detail: I was banded (Realize) in June 2008 and received my first fill in July. (3cc's). I followed my post-op diet to the letter, but began vomiting shortly after my fill. *I thought it was my fault for overeating/under-chewing, etc. I tried to change my eating habits & put up with the vomiting. I was always hungry, and never had that "early and prolonged feeling of satiety" that I was promised. When I tried to eat anything it didn't matter how slowly and carefully I chewed, I we…

Everyone has cute graphs at the bottom of their posts; where do I find them and how do I add them to my post?

Hello everyone, I have been browsing these parts for some time now and I am learning so much about this process each day. I am 29/m 6'0 280lbs and I have been dieting for years losing weight only to slowly gain it all back and more. And I have spent more money than I care to admit on diets and medifast, and HMR and I am no longer interested in dieting anymore. I have decided that lap-band is the right thing for me after talking to some people about it. I like the fact that it a a tool that works with me, and I am not interested in changing the inner workings of my body, gastric bypass and such. I am scheduled to see my PCP on Monday morning and I have not discussed…

I was thinking this morning about the correlation between those who paid for the lapband themselves versus those whose insurance paid, and how well they followed the "rules." Do you think, if you were self-pay, that you were more aware of what you had to do and you followed the guidelines more closely? Conversely, if your insurance paid, were you more lax in following the guidelines? I'm just curious about the results. Thanks for your feedback!

Hello, I am having my surgery october 27th,may I get someones opinion on how the surgery goes does it hurt real bad? How fast does the weight come off if you go to your fill visits? Jewel

HATE THE LIQUID PRE-OPT DIET....:biggrin:

good Day! I have just been banded two days ago and am looking for general experiences of people in their early days of post surgery.:biggrin:

With a long history of diets and yo-yo loss/weight gains, now BCBS wants me to do it again for 6 months by their stringent rules. Then if you succeed, and I know I will, to fall below the qualifying BMI, you do not get approval. You repeat the same cycle gaining it back later on. A person would be better off to fail at the diet for 6 months. BCBS would rather pay years and ultimately high amounts towards claims related to the serious consequences of obesity than help a customer with a courageous decision to seek a surgical weight loss alternative. That doesn’t even make good business sense. Of course it does if you die - they win.

I am introducing myself-- my name is Vanessa, and I am going to have the lap band on 9/28/09 at NYU with Dr. Christine Ren. Things happened pretty quick for me b/c I'm a bit of an insider (work at NYU)-- so I just saw everyone today in the office, start the liquid diet tomorrow and a week from Monday-- surgery. I've been doing my research and am very excited and positive about the band, but still have some reservations-- who wouldn't it is surgery, right? I am very motivated and excited to finally get my weight under control after so many years. I am 5'4 (though they measured me at 5'3, if I stand up tall, I am 5'4 to 5'4.5 !) and 193.6 pounds-- which puts me at a B…

Hi - just wondering if there is anyone else here from IL ??? i have completed all of the prereqs..... and it has been submitted to BCBS of IL and i am in the waiting game. I have to say that i am very concerned now because i have read some of the posts,, and it doesnt look like BCBS IL is good at approving this surgery. Can anyone help reassure me ??? i am really hoping to have surgery mid October ...:tt1: thanks

Up until about two months ago i had every intension on getting a lap band. i was saving up every dollar i had for this $6000 lap band. i almost saved all the money i needed and if everything went perfectly i would have had my lap band surgery in JULY. BUT everything didn't go perfectly. I lost my job and with bills, food , and haveing to find a new apartment i ended up spending all the money i saved up for the lap band. At that time i was VERY depressed about it. I have been looking foward to that band forever and just like that- i couldn't afford it anymore.... Fastfoward to now i have done a lot more reaserch about the band and i found out how many people reallly wer…

HI all. I'm a new bandster from MN. Any other Minnesotan's out there?

Well it has almost been an entire year since i have been banded and i am down 70lbs wow it's strange how fast life has flown by. I still have more i want to lose but this is the start to a beautiful life ahead..Nice you meet you btw

im not banded and am just starting the process to get my insurance. I presently go to SoCal Kaiser and spoke with my primary doc yesterday. He said the lapband is not done by Kaiser, and when i disagreed, he told me the same thing again, saying I will need to get the bariatric surgery if im a good candidate. Presently im at 53 BMI. Ive tried many diets over and over again. I get tired walking down the hall. I have trouble climbing the stairs at work without heavy breathing afterwards and I have some back pain issues. Should I just start with this, go to the appt for Orientation for Bariatric Surgery and the Orientation Weight Management? Should I get another primary? Ple…

Hi everyone I had my lapband surgery August 4, 2009. It's been 6wks Tuesday. I've lost 30lbs so far. I am inviting you to join me on my journey. I have a blog and I need some supporters and encouragements. www.myra-smith.blogspot.com. Will you come along and follow me on My journey. Please sign up on the right as my follower so that you will follow my progress and feel free to comment. I would love to here from you. Thank you for your support.:thumbup:

Just went to my first Lap Band Support Group. It was pretty awesome meeting people like in different stages of the Lap Band. It feels great knowing I'm not alone. See ya next month Group. :tt1:

Hey everyone, I'm 4 days away from surgery and currently on my liquid diet. Not easy at all, but making it through. I'm loving Muscle Milk Light and the sugar free pudding oddly enough. I do get hunger headaches and I tried to workout and sleep to try not to think about food. My surgeon makes his patients go to a required seminar for the lapband and I met a girl who shared an amazing youtube channel with me and her results are insipiring she lost over 100 pounds and her surgery was in jan 09, so I wanted to share her youtube with everyone Skymoon1982. Also, I got my insurance approval the same day it was submitted. I still can't believe this is really happening, it's s…

I'm in the process of researching lapband. I'm going to a seminar Sept 26th. I would love to talk to anyone in GA that has had it done or thinking about having it done. Jenn

:thumbup:Hi all. I just signed up for the site with the recommendation of my Dr. I had my surgery a week and a half ago and i can not believe how well i am doing. I am down 16 pounds. I have this mushy foods week down OK but i am nervous to start week 3. does anyone have any suggestions on what foods i should start with for my next step.

This is my introduction although I've been lurking here for quite some time. I am a SAHM to 4 boys ages 13, 11, 8 and 3. I've always been heavy but was never obese until my 20's. Right now my BMI is 41 and I've obviously chosen the lapband as my tool of choice. I have to go this Monday, March 3rd for my last nutrition weigh in, March 10th is my ultrasound, March 11th is my psych eval and then within the following two weeks I will be able to meet with my surgeon to set a date and get my approval from Cigna, hopefully. My surgeon is Dr. Thaddeus Trus and I love him so far, my surgery will take place at Highland Hospital which is a Bariatric Center of Excellence, so hop…

Thanks to all of you for your words of advice and encouragement. Yes you do understand and that is a comfort to me. Being like this is an emotional slice of hell anyway and I think I will reach out to anyone who throws a lifeline to get through it. Again – thank you. Does anyone have any information on affordable (self-pay) lap band surgeons in the U.S.? There is a reputable one in San Antonio, Texas who quotes about $12k. It is so frustrating dealing with BCBS. Mainly the hoops and that 6-month diet thing. They treat you like you are less than human and stupid. My frustration is that I have been dieting and exercising for 4 months waiting to visit a new doctor. …

How frustrating! My surgeon's office submitted everything to ins except my recent psych report. We've waited 2 weeks & psych said he's working on my report. Finally today he admits he has lost the report I filled out so I have to fill out a 2nd one. He says once he gets my report it will be another 2 weeks before having any result to send to ins. As stated earlier, I"m trying to speed this up due to my husband losing his job in October. I'd like to wring someones neck......can I put THAT in the report?? lol

Hi - ok first and foremost i really like this site because it does answer alot of questions ... but within reading this i am now getting anxious becaue i am reading so many people get denied initially for the sx. Plus i can not call the surgery scheduler at my surgeons office because she is on vacation this week :thumbup: i have finished my 6 months , had all of my consultations, phsyical , labs ect...here is my concern , my BMI is 38.7 per my surgeons calculaitons.... has any oen else been in my shoes ... for those of you that are going to tell me to be happy that my BMI is only 38.7 - please i am in the same boat as you , plus a very long history of obesity .... and a…

Hello everyone, I would like to know whats the key to actually losing the weight, after surgery. I have heard alot of people say it did nothing for them, but I know that couldn't be true unless they didn't try. Also, is it true that the tighter the band the faster you lose????

I've had my lab band approximately 2 years. I went from a 1x to a size 10. My goal was to be in a size 8. When I went for my adjustment I was informed that my band had dilated and needed to be repaired. He deflated my band and I've gained 13 pounds since my last visit. I'm devestated! I will be consulting with my Doctor on the September 25th. During the last visit he mentioned gastric bypass or repairing the lap band. I'm very upset over this. I'm also a bit concerned. The gastric bypass seem so drastic with the cutting and re-routing of this and that. On the other hand I must admit that several co-workers had the gastric bypass, and they lost weight fast and look g…

I've lost approx. 20lbs since last Nov. Any ideas on why or advice?

Hi everyone! My name is Tania and I just had my sleeve done on Tuesday. I am fairly active on the OH website and just found a link to this forum. I decided to have WLS after spending many of my adult years battling my weight. I have always fought my weight, but with the sleeve I think I can finally be successful. I am a very busy mom to 5 great kids. Aric (15), Chris, (10), Marissa (4~the only girl), Aiden (3) and little Ian (1). My husband is in the army and is stationed at Fort Lewis, WA. I have a lot of interests. I love to write stories and poems, have had one of my poems published, which makes me proud. I also like to shop, hang out with my hubby and…

I am very nervous but excited. My dr did not put me on a liquid diet ahead of time, but ask me to eat low carb a few days before. I am glad I found this forum, I think I am going to need a lot of support. I am a big baby.

I had my sleeve done on 9-2-09. I'm very excited about the future, but very concerned about getting enough protein in. I'd like any suggestions. I started out at 280 the day of my surgery and this morning was at 264.2. I love losing the weight, but do not want to lose the hair. Help please.:lol0:

Well I went to my family Dr yesterday to talk to him about this procedure and to see if he recommended anyone in Waco. We then as we wer talking about other issues he thought I might have the beginning stages of diabetes... well so i got some blood work today and we will see tomorrow... and i went to set up appt with the Dr in Waco and sooo now instead for going for my first appt on monday I now have to wait until oct 19 to go to the Seminar... I dont want to go the seminar I just want to get on with it... I am 110% sure I want to do this... so why do I have to wait another month before they will even set up my appt???!!! I guess i just need to be patient but I dont want …

Hello everyone this is my first post,I was banded8-10-09 I lost almost 20lbs on the 2 week post-op diet but have gained about 6lbs back after starting soft diet but will get my first fill this week 9-17 Dr. says don't get excited anybody else have the same problem? Steve

I'm new to this site which I find so inspirational. I was banded one week ago today and am doing pretty well. I lost 10lbs on my pre-op diet, but only 1lb since I have had the band on (one week). I thought living on chicken broth, water and protein drinks would have merited a greater loss, but not so. :sneaky:

today i'm going to the seminar. just wondering how much do you have to weigh and what are the steps after the seminar?

Hi! I'm 18 yrs. old and was banded by Dr. Viallo on 8/6/09. I haven't had any fills yet 'cause I go to college in VA and my surgeon is back in MA. I've only lost 15lbs. without a fill, but am excited to see better results with the fill. I'm excited to have found this site:)

Hi! My name is Tanya and I have Tricare. I was wondering if anyone knew if I would be approved. I am 5'3 and weigh 242. I had spinal fusion surgery 2 yrs and have arthritis in my lower back. Does anyone know if it sounds like I qualify. I am really nervous because I want this soooo bad. I got my referral from my pcm today but she didn't think I would qualify. Help please. Thank you!