Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hello, I would like to introduce myself. I was banded at NYU by Dr. Marina Kurian on 3/26/09-woohoo!

Hi There, I am going to a newbee a seek from today!!! Excited and a little nervous! Wasn't to nervous until i started reading some of these blogs and stories!!! But i always believe positively and that I go into this with my eyes wide open.I am on my solid liquid diet(pre-op) and so far it hasn't bothered me too much. I did start my diet early cause i know i needed to adjust my body and boy i am glad i did. I had some of the awfulest headaches from carb withdrawal and sweets you can imagine!!!! i am very excited cause the people that i know that have had this done have had such great results and i only hope i can too! any suggestions on the post op liquids? do we still do…

Banded on 12/9/09. Was doing great then I hit a wall. Haven't lost any in about a month.

I was banded on 28 June 2007, I weighed 237lbs I weigh 173lbs today. I was down to 147lbs before Christmas but lost control over the season. I am trying to lose now but am having trouble. I am waiting for BC/BS approval to get filled again. I have only been filled 3 times and have 2cc in the band but was told today that BC/BS must approval before I get filled again.

Hi everyone! I'm new to the website, but I was banded last year. What prompted me to join the site is that I've just had my second fill, and I'm having a little difficulty now. Actually, a lot of difficulty. Eating has now become painful. Hopefully, it's just swelling, and it will go down soon.

Hello everyone! I am new on here but have been reading lots of posts and they have great information in them! I was hoping I could get some advice as to how to begin the journey to get banded. The only things I have done so far is a lot of research and spoke with my insurance carrier(BCBS) to see if it was covered and it is!!! They said I need a referral and to see a dietician and pyschologist, do i just see my regular family dr to get these referrals? Any info to point me in the right direction would be great! THANKS!!

Hi everyone, Just found your site. Had my band fitted in May 2006 and lost the first 35lb really easily. Then managed to maintain that weight for 2.5 years (nothing short of a miracle for someone who has been yo yo dieting for 30 years) and am now committed to losing the last 35lb which I am finding a bit harder. Not helped by a back injury that has had me having to use a wheelchair for the last 18 months but I'm getting there and have lost 15lb since Christmas. Not quite the miracle some of the magazine articles I read would have you believe but it has been a fantastic tool in my lifelong fight with my weight. Goodness knows how much I would weight by now if I hadn'…

Just dropping by to introduce myself I've been browsing this site for a couple of months now pre-op and you have all been so helpful with a lot of questions and concerns I had. I had my surgery 3/14/09 and I feel great a little soreness a few days after surgery but it was expected and very tolerable. I was banded with the Realize C band and have had no complications at all. Right now I'm so ready to get off the liquids and moving onto the soft foods can't wait!

Hi All, I am in the proces of learning more about the band and have been to two seminars at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak MI. I am afraid to commit to it, but feel I really have no other choice. I have been dieting all my life from age 12! And I am once again at my all time high of 265! So really I see no other option and that is why I am here. So any words of advise you have would be greatly appreciated! Good luck to you all and if you have any encouragement for me to get over the fear please help me out. Linda

Hello I'am one more newbie Yesterday I found out that I was approved for my surgery. :ohmy: My appointment to see the doctor for my pre-op is on the 9th of April 2009, I start my liquid diet on the 10th of April 2009, and my surgery on the 22nd of April 2009. All of the dates are tentative, on the out come of the cardiologist. So my journey begins. :tongue_smilie:

Hello, just signed up. Should have did this months ago. I am having my band done May 14. Excited but nervous about the "recovery". I don't do well with taste changes and I hear the protein shakes aren't that great. Can anyone recommend any. What about this puree phase. Not appealing either. But I guess thats what I get for putting on all this weight. Hey, question. Several of you have goal weight numbers. My Dr. didn't tell me what my "ideal" wieght is that I should get to. How did you figure yours out?? Take Care everyone:biggrin:

Just want to get a big HELLO out there to the community. I have used your posts as research prior to my surgery and plan to join the crowd and share my journey with each of you. Thanks to all that have came before me. YOur thoughts, words, support and encouragement are tremendous. All the best, Wendy

Hi,I was banded 12-05-07,my name is Joan

I am a new member to this forum and am scheduled to be banded April 24, 2009. I am scared to death. I have a lot of medical phobias but it has taken me over three years to get insurance approval so I cannot back out now! I am ready for this change.

HELLO ALL...i AM NEW TO THIS SITE...I AM SCHEDULED FOR 4-22 AND AM SCARED!!!!

:smile2:Hi, I'm a lapband virgin at this time,but going through pre-op testing at this time. Surgery date not set yet. Just soaking up all the info I can. I,m also type II diabetic suffering from knee and hip pain. The liquid diets before and after make me nervous but living with this pain and diabetes really scare me. I really want to get this show on the road.

Hi! I'm getting banded May 8th! I'm so excited! Can't wait to look around the site a bit and get acquainted.

Hi everyone! I'm getting banded on March 27th. I'm around 205 lbs, and my goal weight is 125-130. I'm counting on the online community for support and information, and i hope to be able to share some successes with you. thanks!:tongue_smilie:

hi, i am new to the forum and have started on the the road to be half of me. i have done the sleep study (i have to go in to discuss the outcome on the 31st), the awful blood gas test and more. i will be scheduling my second appointment with the doctor as soon as i have the sleep study outcome. this is the second time i am doing this; the timing was off when i tried to do this two years ago. ever since i heard about this procedure, i have had high hopes to be less than i am now. i hope to be giving all of you wonderful news that i am losing like you are; i will talk to you again later. aloha til the next time i am here.

My name is Ben and I had my Lap-Band surgery on 03/25/09. I'm here for support, resource and guidance. I hope to participate as much as I can and look forward to learning from the experiences of others who have had this mutual procedure. thanks, Ben

Hi everyone. I am one week post-op. My band was placed last Monday, but this is the first chance I've had to look into any kind of on-line communication about lap-band. I look forward to meeting many new great and interesting people!

I would like to say hello and I am looking forward to hear what you have to say and the suggestions you have. The doctor will submit my paper work to the insurance company next month. I am in the being stage and so I am waiting to hear what they have to say.

Hello, I am very excited and nervous about my new journey. I just got my lap band 3 days ago, March 27th. I welcome all advise on getting through the first month of this diet and descent tasting protein.

I'm so excited. I got a letter from my insurance company saying I was approved. Just waiting on the care coordinators to give me a call to setup an appointment.

Hello everyone, I just found out that the wait is over! I got approved through Tricare for the Lap Band and my surgery is scheduled for April 9th. My surgeon will be Dr. Cywes with Jacksonville Weight Loss in Jacksonville, Florida. I am so excited. When I think of all the hoops I had to jump through and lectures I had to sit through..,OMG! I did everything thing my doctor told me too do though and even a few extra things like obtaining letters of medical neccesity from my doctors and even writing a personal letter. I still cant believe it!!! Limited and Ann Taylor here I come!!:scared2:

Hello, I am Katie Jenkins and I am scheduled for lap band procedure on April 24th. I am a little nervous as I am having this procedure done in Mexico due to the reduced cost there. I feel like I need to be in contact with others who have done this so - here I am. I weigh 200 pounds and am 5'5" so I would like to lose about 70 pounds. I do not know what to expect but I have been unable to lose weight on my on. Hope this works for me.

Hello! My name is Jen and I've recently begun this process. I'm in month two of the Dr. supervised weight loss program...annoying thing is that I can't actually lose too much weight or I'll dip below the BMI threshold. I'm 36 years old, 5'7 1/2 and 271 pounds. I'm not nervous about surgery at all, wish I could have it tomorrow! Frustrating that I have to postpone any weight loss in order to get insured. I have CIGNA PPO and I've heard they're tough on insuring, so I don't want to cut any corners. Like many people on here, I've been overweight since I was a child and am looking forward to the day I have a normal BMI!

Hello all, I wanted to join a support group of some kind for my new lap band journey. I will be banded in about 2 weeks, I start my liquid diet next tuesday and I am not looking forward to it. :confused: I have been overweight for mostly all my life, I am at my highest now, 255 lbs and am 31 years old. It's time for a change, it's time for me to start living my life with joy and good health. It's just time. I am feeling a lot of different emotions, such as excitement, sadness, anxious, depressed, all kinds of emotions. I am scared of how all the changes will effect me mentally. I'm so emotional. Anyways, nice to meet ya all.

Hey all!! My name is Samantha and me & my family are air force and stationed out in florida right now. I have chosen to get the lap band surgery done. I have tricare so it is going really fast. I had my first evaluation yesterday and they told me i will have my surgery date by friday. And they are scheduling 4 weeks out right now so they told me to expect mid-april. Now I just need to go get my psy evaluation, diet eval, esophogram and gallbladder ultrasound. A little about me...I have a wonderful husband and 3 great kids. My kids are ages 3 yrs, 2 yrs, and 6 months (this is why i'm overweight cause i didn't lose it in between kids lol) I'm very exci…

Hi everyone! I am beginning to think about getting the lap band. I'm frustrated with being overweight and want to be "normal". I plan on going to an information session this Wed. 4/1/09 with a local doctor. What types of questions should I ask? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!

Finally!! After six weeks of waiting I am approved!!! I was beginning to doubt whether it would happen. Six weeks ago today the paperwork was first submitted and I got notice that the insurance needed two recent blood pressure readings, the results of the sleep study I had done 6 1/2 years ago and they needed the doctor doing the surgery to resubmit the letter to insurance with "his" signature no someone in his office. Got the BP readings immediately to them. I explained that the doctor who ordered the sleep study passed away from cancer and his office closed and the place I had the sleep study done at was now closed and I had no records to give them. My DH offered…

Hi All! I'm Laurie. I'm 46 years old and have been morbidly obese since 1995. I wanted to be banded six years ago, but let my family talk me out of it. This time I'm telling no one! When I said I wanted to be banded and would be having surgery in Mexico, my husband said "I'll drive!". So I'm scheduled for April 24th with Dr. Pedro Kuri in Tijuana. Woo hoo!!!

Hi everyone, I am new here, I am getting my Lap Band on April 24, I am very nervous and hoping that I made the right decision!..any advice

I finally got my approval and a surgery date I am so happy and I could not believe it. My surgery is April 9 and I am on the pre op diet already. I cannot wait. Even looking forward to the pain so that I know it is finally done !!!!!!

Hey Everyone, My friend GeorgiaGirl referred me to this website. Thanks...GeorgiaGirl! I will be having my lapband surgery April 9th, less than two weeks away and I'm soooooo looking forward to living a happier and healthier life with my husband and 3 yr old daughter and to be a better, more energetic massage therapist. I look forward to reading your posts and hopefully talking to some of you! gamassagegirl

hi everyone, i am a new soon to be lapbander! i have mine done april 7th and very excited. my question to you is on the soft food diet that we will be on, the chicken,tuna,egg, salads what all do we put in them? i have tried to reach my nutritoniest for a week to ask her but she been out and i wanted to join an on line lapbander group to post and hear what everyone else has to say. i have read and i am so afraid of getting sick and something happening to the lap band that i am almost aprehensive about it!! but i know it is a wonderful thing,

Hi I am new here, Is there a group for virginia LapBand users? Does anyone know or have experience with Martha Jefferson Hospital and Dr. Michael Trahan? I made the final decision between the Lapband AP and the Realize band yesterday and I am going with the Lapband. My pre-op is done and surgery will be on 04/14 and I am more than a little nervous. Second thoughts are continuous and my choice to not use one of the larger hospital programs; however, I am desperate to do something about my weight. thanks,

Hello everyone, this is my first post. Though I visit often I've never chimed in. I've been preparing for the procedure since Oct., pre-op stuff, I just started my pre-op liquid diet a couple of days ago,not too bad until I come home from work,then I'm pretty hungry! My surgery is set for April 8th,I'm anxious and a little nervous,but I'm ready for a change and theres alot of inspiration on here. So "Hey Everybody"!!! SLIL

I live in the Bay Area and I'm having my surgery April 22. I really love how everyone in this chat-room is so positive about their experience. I'm not nervous, I just want to start my new life now! This is my first time here, so I'll be talking to you all soon! :tongue_smilie:

Hi My name is Kim I am in the process of getting Banded. The weight loss center is sending my paper work to my Insurance company. I am very excited! The wait is going to be hard. I wish I would have started the process along time ago. I hope it doesn't take too long. I have tried all kinds of diets and failed. I did do weight watchers and lost 20 lbs in 5 months, but also gained it back. I am ready to get skinny. I know the wait will be worth it though.

Hi!. I got a gastric bypass in 2002 but it's failing so I'm trying to get a lapband to make my stoma small again. This is not easy to get insurance coverage for. I have been denied by Aetna and Cigna. Still working on appeal from Cigna. Anybody else in same situation?:thumbup:

I discovered this site last evening while reading about Lap Band surgery. I have started the journey and hope to be banded in mid July. I have appts. with nutritionist, psychologist and surgeon in April. I am very nervous but find that this is a common emotion. Alot of people on the site have faced the same thing. I look forward to exchanging ideas on this site. One question....what is sliming?

Hello, My name is allison and I am currently in the planning stages of lap band. I am half way through the insurance requirements and hope to have surgery mid summer. I see this site as very helpful to me and hope to learn much from others!!

Just had my lap band surgery this past week (3/24) and I feel great! :thumbup:

Hi all, Well, a wee bit of history ... I'm 35, I've lost over 100 lbs twice before, and of course, gained it back. Always had a weight problem. I was anorexic in high school. Do NOT wanna go that route, again. I had a complete hyst due to endometriosis when I was 26. The slam in to menopause did not help my weight struggle. Around 30, I was diagnosed w/fibromyalgia. :bored: I went vegetarian 27 Dec 2008. Lost 2 whopping pounds, since! :eek: I'm not vegan ... I've thought about going vegan, but I live in a small town, outside of New Orleans. Going vegetarian is hard enough in this area! I work full-time and am a full-time student. I really don't have the time…

I was banded in December 2008 and have had left shoulder, neck, chest and rib pain ever since. I am going for a CT scan soon to see what might be going on. I do notice that the pain is worse after a fill. :tongue_smilie: I am disappointed that I have only lost 15 pounds since surgery. I have had 3 fills and only the first couple of days afterward do I feel any restriction......after that I can eat anything and just about any amount including bread, salad and carbonated drinks. I thought I would have lost alot more weight by now. I haven't exercised at all because of this pain...........has anyone else had this small of weight loss and if so, what do you make of it…

Hi All, I am starting my investigation/research on whether to head on down to TJ (Dr. Kuri or Dr. Ortiz) or try to find someone near me in Cali (Inland Empire). The reason I had considered Mexico was for 2 reasons: 1. I have met 2 clients, one of each Dr. in Mexico, who both HIGHLY recommend their Dr. Their experiences were GREAT and they have NO regrets! 2. COST!! For obvious reasons. My insurance WILL not cover any kind of weight loss surgery. Per them, I don't qualify. So due to that, I am left to pay cash. I have financial backing of up to 10k. But I don't know if that would be sufficient here in California. So I ask you fellow bandsters....... do you…

Hello everyone..I just had lap band surgery on March 26,2009 by Dr.Felix Spiegel. This is all new to me and I have no idea what to expect. Any and all advise would be greatly apprectiated. Thanks.

Hi I haven't been banded yet. My appointment with the Doctor is on April 9th. I've been reading the posts here for most of the day. And they have been informative. I had the Dr's office check to see if my insurance covers the lap band and Yea! they do. Now I just have to get them to approve me for it. Has anyone used Cigna open access plan? If so how hard was it to get approved?

Hi, everyone I just wanted to say hello to all on here. I am new to all of this so bear with me.