Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

I joined this site awhile ago, but for some reason when I logged in the other day, it didn't remember me!! And I couldn't remember my password, so needless to say, I had to start all over. I am still Jacobsgram! I go on Monday, November 10th to get banded. I have been on the liquid diet since October 27th. unjury, which is a Protein drink, yogurt, sugar free pudding, sugar free applesauce and low fat cream Soups. Then 2 weeks after surgery is clear liquids!! I am getting a little nervous about Monday, but know what to expect since my husband had it done on September 29th and he is doing great, lost a total of 54 lbs since his journey started. He gets his first…

Can anyone tell me how to add the ticker I made on tickerfactory.com? I assumed I just copy and paste the bbcode and put it in the "upload from another site" option on the signature page but I keep getting an "invalid file" message and it's not working. Am I doing it wrong? I c alot of u have them and was wondering if one of u could help me. Thanx:smile:

Over a year ago I went for my first seminar and have been reading and studying everything I can get my hands on. Went to more than one seminar before deciding on a surgeon to use and I've been spending lots of time trying to meet all the insurance requirements. One more doctor to see today before the insurance package will be ready to submit for approval. I'm being told that everything so far looks good but time will tell. Currently targeting a November 20th surgery date. Been reading this site for a little while now and figured it was time to say hi. I used to be an avid walker and look forward to getting back to it. Started with the treadmill last week so I'm hope…

Hello Everyone! I feel like I hit the jackpot finding this Forum! It's been eight days since my banding and I'm still on full liquids and Protein shakes, but am really finding the psychological part of wanting the "taste" of heartier foods a little tough. I saw my Dr yesterday and he is allowing me to puree cream Soups (water only added) and having a bit of that every day, so it's helping a bit. I've been at it since March (all the pre-op, insurance approval stuff) and am so glad I did this, but am looking forward to getting to the 6 week mark when I can incorporate some solids into my diet! I read through the "mushies" and "solids" threads and cannot wait to try …

Hi all. I have a major problem. I had a LapBand about two years ago. I developed complications and had to have the port removed because it was coming to the surface and becoming infected. Is this normal? I had the port removed a few weeks ago and am scheduled to have a new one put in later this month. The problem is that the insurance changed rules and I have to pay a $250 copay up front at the surgery center. Unfortunately, I don’t have the $250 for this surgery. I can’t get it from anyone and the surgery center must have it for me to have the surgery. I need to know what danger I am in if I wait about three months to put the port back in. The surgeon has a…

finally did it. have got the t shirt and am now sitting in my lounge thinking - will i ever feel normal again? Sore belly lots of gas and general yuckyness three days post op. Doe this sound fairly normal?

Hi my name is Pepper and I am considering doing the lap-band surgery.:rolleyes2:

Hello, I have made my first visit to the lap band surgeon and am waiting on insurance approval. Most of the folks who have the same insurance have gotten approved so I'm confident I will be too. I have decided to get an early start and begin the pre op diet tomorrow. I have been an overeater all my life so wish me strength and courage!:thumbup::scared2:

Hi, I'm new to viewing and posting on web sites. I am leaving tomorrow for Fresno, California for my pre-op visit before I get my lap-band on Friday 11/07/08. I am very nervous. I have a real pain/surgery phobia and I researched this for many, many months before deciding to go ahead with this procedure. I actually backed out of Gastric Bypass surgery 3 years ago because of my intense fear of pain and vomiting which goes along with the surgery (I'm told):smile2: Anyway, I have severe arthritis and I have had increased pain in my right knee for quite some time. It is definitely related to my weight, but I need a knee replacement and the surgeons want to wait until I …

Is is common to become depressed or get the blues after the sugery? I had my sugery back in April and I have been experinceing the out of the norm blah's. :thumbup:

I haven't checked this Lapband site for a couple of days, whats with the new design. I really liked the old one much better!!:rolleyes2:

Hello Ladies, Please keep me in your prayers..........I am at a lost for words ............they had to remove my band yesterday because my body started rejecting it. I haven't eaten since last week and my first time having liquids was this morning since wednesday..........:embaressed_smile:! I can't believe it and I am still in shock! My doc wants me to look into other procedures because he said the lapband is not for me...........I don't really know what to do..........Father it's me again standing in the need of prayer!!

Hi, Just made the decision to get banded. 57 years old and fat for most of them. Have an appointment with Dr. Copp for 4th December. At this stage it looks like I'll have to wait until February or March as I have heard the APRA are taking 8 weeks to approve super payments now.

Hi, I started this process at the end of July! I thought I had dotted all my "i's" and crossed all my "t't" BUT I still got denied. I am 48, 5'6", 247 pound, high blood pressure and colestral(400+) on meds for both, and have been recommended for back surgery because I have degenrative whatever! I was turned down in a matter of days by the people in Arizona. I got my paper work back and sent it to Colorado - after they had my package for 2 weeks they finally sent me a letter stating that it was on someones desk. Now that has been over 2 months! So I figure I have 30 more days to wait to get my - third deniel!! C

Hello! This is my very first post. I've been working to get insurance approval for gastric banding surgey since February '08. Had to do a six month physcian directed weight loss attempt and then appeal two denials. I got the call today from my doctor...INSURANCE APPROVED! Scheduled my pre-op appointment for November 17th; surgery November 21st. I am so absolutely ready for this day I can't stand it! I live near Cincinnati and will be having surgery with Cincinnati Weight Loss Center.

Hello! My name is Shelly and I am scheduled for banding on December 3, 2008. My doctor is Dr. Olson with Trinity Medical Center in Moline, IL. I am very excited to have my surgery.:smile2: I am wanting to know... how long did people stay home from work after surgery? Was there a lot of down time? Thank you.

Well I was banded yesterday and today I have the hiccups and hope that is not indicative of bad things to come. Besides that I am belching tonight as well. I couldn't take in much fluids today as well. Please tell me it gets better/easier.

Hello everyone, My name is Amanda - 30 years old from Pennsylvania. I'm about 30 miles south of Pittsburgh and have high hopes to get the lap-band at Magee Hospital. I've been overweight for as long as I can remember, I've gained about 60 pounds since I got married in 2001. I've tried the diets, tried the whole "not eating" and every time I lose the weight comes back. I did try WW in 2006 and lost 28lbs over 3 months which I managed to keep off but I'm still unhappy with myself. I recently turned 30 in July and I realized how uncontrollable my weight has gotten, things are hurting that never hurt before and my energy levels are decreasing. I have a 4 year old daug…

Hi guys i was banded on 10/22/08 i am excited to report that i have lost 12 lbs so far i hope the weight keeps falling off did i mention that i feel great.

Hello everyone I am a small town girl from West Texas. I am still pre-opt but am on the way to getting banded! I am so excited and this has been a great place for me to learn so much. Thanks!

I have a question about clothing. I started out at size 24, and now I wear 20's and some 18's. The thing is I have been a terrible clothing horse, and now I find myself not looing as tailored and fashionable as I was as a bigger girl. Should I go on a shopping spree although I am a ways from goal weight or just rough it out. There are some things that I just had to get rid of? It may sound a little superficial but I'm almost down to nothing.:smile2:

Hi all, I was banded on 9/30/2008. Just had my first fill. I've lost 20 pounds since surgery and 33 altogether. Still learning and looking forward to living better.

So I was asleep this morning but my mum got a call from the dietician at the hospital and she said that I've been approved to be the first person at the pa here in brisbane to get the band in the public system - yay- I've been waiting since may and it's only on tuesday that I started to get depressed wondering if this was actually going to happen so really it's the best time ever to get the news, I was told in may I'd be on a category 2 list which is 3-6 months but the letter the dietician got is more like early December which is fine, the only thing I'm gonna be peeved about is I'm gonna be on mushies for christmas and cuz christmas is soooo hot here I really don't feel …

Hi everyone, I've just joined this site and looking for info. about my upcoming banding on 11/14/08. I'm also in West Virginia, so it's good to see other Moutaineers here! If anyone has time, I'm specifically interested in whether you had a throat scope done prior and what to expect. Also, recovery times as far as returning to work. I know it's probably different for everyone, but any input would be appreciated. Thanks! Ally

Hello everyone! I'm new to this site, but not new to the dream of gaining control of my life (with my weight being a huge hurdle - no pun intended!).:smile2: My screen name is Georgy_girl, if anyone remembers the movie from the 60's and the song from The Seekers, you will see how poignant that song can be ("...Dreamin' of the someone you could be. Life is a reality, you can't always run away. Don't be so scared of changing and rearranging yourself..."). So, I guess I'm going to face reality. And take my wonderful husband along for the ride. :tongue2: I'm hoping to get banded next month with Dr. Paul Cirangle. I will have to fly out to San Francisco from Oahu, but I re…

Hi my name is Kelly and I am 26 years old. I live in Simi Valley, CA and I have been trying to get approved for the Lap Band for almost a year. I have been denied three times with my HMO so I just switched at open enrollment to a PPO. I am not sure what my next steps should be once Anthem Blue Cross switches me over to PPO. My doctor said that as soon as I get the PPO to call her and she will write me a prescription. It is that easy with the PPO. I am wondering though because I have heard stories that it is still difficult to find a doctor. Anyone know of any near where I am at that accept Anthem Blue Cross? What should I do next and how much out of pocket is i…

hey guys i had surgery on july 14th i have a 10cc band placed i have 6cc so far in my band ive lost a total of 40 lbs but im still hungry granted i do eat less but not much im wondering how long did it take anyone with a 10c band to feel the sweet spot im losing app 5lbs a month my Dr. said thats good she says its take awhile b4 u really feel full quickly any advice out there im feeling a little sad i know its only been a little over 3 months but i feeling like i should have lost more then that any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks!:smile2:

Hello fellow Lapbanders! I am new to the site but have had my lapband since April 2007.

Hello everyone... I am so excited, tomorrow I have my first fill and I can't wait...I hope it helps as I have been very hungry for a while now.:smile2:

Hello everyone! My screen name is supergirl_nc (don't ask!) I am a 29 year old single mom. My surgery is scheduled for 11/18/08 and I am ecstatic! My journey has went fairly smoothly thus far. I have BCBS of NC and the local hospital is a BCBS Center of Excellence, which means my surgery did not have to get precertified......so fortunately no insurance hurdles here. I look foward to sharing my progress and reading about everyone else's.

Hi, my name is Diana I was banded in August 2008 by Dr. Geiss at Syosset Hospital in Syosset, New York. I had a bump in the road, where they had to get all the liquid out of my band and they did an endoscopy to remove a lot of food that was stucked in my esophagus, I am better now but after the surgery they only put 1 1/2 cc of fill in my band and I feel like I am always hungry specially late afternoons. Can anybody suggest anything about hunger in the afternoons. Thank you.:smile2:

THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR ME, I WILL BE GETTING BANDED ON THIS DAY. IF ANY ONE ELSE IS GETTING BANDED ON NOVEMBER 14TH I WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS ON YOUR JOURNEY. AND HOPE YOU FULL FILL ALL YOUR DREAMS AS HEALTY AND SMALLER PERSON. MUCH LOVE DAWN:wub::biggrin:

Help!! I was doing fine. Lost 15# in my pre-surgery (1 week) liquid diet and post banding. I went from liquids to mushys and now I've gained 3#! I must be doing something wrong. I've written down my food and I'm eating somewhere between 700-900 calories. I seem to be able to eat a lot more than the 1/2 cup my doctor's office says I should be eating at one sitting. Anyone have any ideas?

:biggrin: Hi. My name is Shine and I will b 5 weeks post-op on the Nov. 8th. The 1st week and a 1/2 was a little tough with weakness and those horrible gas pains. Thankfully that all passed. The 1st 5 days I dropped 11lbs which is a lot. The 2nd week I didn't lose anything. 1/2way into the 3rd week I lost another 3lbs. Week 4 another 1. I was hoping 2 have lost more. Especially wher the 2nd week I didn't loose anything. I feel I'm behind. 15 lbs is great but I was hoping for at least 20 by now. I even went over my menu with my old weight watchers point chart and I've actually been way under than what they require u 2 have point wise and usually the weight loss is more con…

I am just starting the LAPBAND journey and googled this site. It looks like it would a great resource for folks like me who are looking for answers from the veterans :-). Hope to hear from you!

I am just starting the process to have lapband surgery. I am a little nervous but excited at the same time. I have struggled with my weight for a long time. Finally, decided to do something about it. I have Tri-care insurance and they just started paying for the surgery. :smile2:

Hi everyone I am from the UK and had my lap-band fitted in Belgium - it has been 4 weeks since my op and I have lost 12 lb since I had this fitted - this includes the week of low fat yogs before the op - so 5 weeks in total which is really good - however for the past two weeks I have stayed the same and have been able to eat a little more so that does explain why - but just wondered if the first fill will help? Can anyone help me please? Thanks Yoko xx:thumbup:

And all I can think of is food. I'm sometimes very hungry and other times I just want to eat. I go to the doctor on MOnday and I think I'll be on one meal a day. Anyone else have to wait this long to eat???

Hi, I'm Denise from NJ. Just got my surgery date Jan 5 09. I am really excited. I have a question though. I had my upper endoscopy done on mon. My Gastro says I have reflux and he doesn't think the band is right for me. I have never met this guy up until then. Don't many of us banding patients have reflux?:biggrin:

hey guys i had surgery on july 14th i have a 10cc band placed i have 6cc so far in my band ive lost a total of 40 lbs but im still hungry granted i do eat less but not much im wondering how long did it take anyone with a 10c band to feel the sweet spot im losing app 5lbs a month my Dr. said thats good she says its take awhile b4 u really feel full quickly any advice out there im feeling a little sad i know its only been a little over 3 months but i feeling like i should have lost more then that any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks!:biggrin:

:confused_smile:Hello-- I am very new to this. I am about 3 1/2 weeks out and not scheduled for my fill until 10/30. My husband had surgery 1 week before I did. He's doing GREAT!! No problems. No nausea. No vomiting. He's lost about 30 pounds so far. I've lost about 23, but have had more issues. Haven't thrown up any, but still having some in my upper abdomen (not sharp pain, more discomfort) and having episodes of nausea, and the gas is HORRIBLE. I just thought maybe I could chat with some normal people and not just my husband who appears to be superman! Somebody please just tell me this gets better. I'm kinda scared of my first fill if it gets worse than this…

THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR ME, I WILL BE GETTING BANDED ON THIS DAY. IF ANY ONE ELSE IS GETTING BANDED ON NOVEMBER 14TH I WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS ON YOUR JOURNEY. AND HOPE YOU FULL FILL ALL YOUR DREAMS AS HEALTY AND SMALLER PERSON. MUCH LOVE DAWN:wub::biggrin:

I have had all my tests (borderline diabetes, sleep apnea and high cholestrol), seen the psychologist and I am just waiting for all my paperwork to come in. I have to wait 6 months to have the surgery and be under a Dr's care for weight loss (a requirement for my insurance), I have 2 months of that down. I am thinking that my surgery will be end of January 2009 and I am the most impatient person alive! Any words of wisdom or pointers? Thanks Tracey

:w00t:HEY OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER BANDSTERS. HOW MUCH WEIGHT DID YOU LOSS DURING PRE-OP?

Hi everyone! I have been browsing on this site for a very long time. I figured it was time to speak! I am three weeks post op today! I am very excited to start the mushies stage, I have been on liquids for almost a month. Every doctors plan is different it seems. Everyone on this site has great stories and ideas for recipes, hopefully I will be able to add my own at some point along my journey. My surgery couldn't have been better! I never had much pain and I am moving along just fine. Friends and family are surprised I am doing so well, I have to remind them that I am young and seem to have a pretty good pain tolerance. I have struggled most of my life with weight and l…

Hi everyone! My surgery is scheduled for November 10. I have a red dress hanging in my closet that I am dying to wear. I have chosen Lap-band Surgery to help me get in that dress.:thumbup: I look forward to chatting with those of you who are on this journey too.

Barack Obama is the first Black President of the USA! Someone e-mailed this to me: After watching the final debate the other night, it dawned on me that Obama could actually win this thing. If that happens, there will be a lot of people (some of our co-workers included) who will be afraid that an Obama presidency will usher in the end of days. They'll be watching us on November 5th (the day after the election) for signs of the end times.To keep the peace and keep a lot of folks from getting nervous, I think we should develop a list of acceptable celebrations and behaviors we should probably avoid - at least for the first few days: 1. No crying, hugging or …

HI, I am new to this site as well. I had my lapband surgery May 14th and have only lost 23 pounds. I guess I was expecting to lose the weight faster..? I am slipping into my old habits and starting to "graze" again. Can anyone give me some ideas of what a typical day for you is....as far as what you eat, how much etc. I have a 10cc band and I think I have about 7 1/2 cc's now...I think that I am at the right fill as some things don't go down very well, and sometimes gets stuck, so you know what that means...:thumbs_down:to the ol' bathroom. In the mornings food tends to get stuck easier than later on in the day. As far as eating how much is the norm that you shoul…

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum and will be having the LapBand in the next month. I saw my doctor at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego yesterday, and I really like him. He is prepared to do the surgery anytime, but I need to do a few things first. My next step is the psych evaluation and also the seminar that I need to attend. I have made appointments for both already. I have alot of questions and would love to get any information from anyone who is either pre-op or post-op and their experiences with the LapBand. One question I have been thinking about is because my insurance is medicare and I I know they will cover the banding, when I lose a large amount of weight …

Hi eveybody, I am new to this site and considering banding. Does anyone know of a great doctor in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Thanks, Grace :thumbup: