Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

I find hundreds of post but most all of from newly banded folks. Where can I find comments from those with a year or mores experience.

:smile2:I'm new to this site and am just beginning the whole lap band process. I have PCOS and was wanting to chat with anyone else who has been banded with it also. Thanks so much

Greetings from Southwest Florida. I've been reading here for awhile and now I'm pleased to be part of the group. I'm 4 1/2 months into my 6 month diet and am running into a few bumps in the road - hopefully nothing I can't work around. I'm 59 years and 11 months old and holding. Looking forward to getting to know you. :thumbup:

Hi everyone. I am a U.S. Citizen married to a U.S. Army soldier and we are stationed in Germany. I am wanting to have the Lap Band procedure done, but need to find the cheapest place to do it, but still receive quality care. I have heard about places in Mexico and figure that may be my best bet since I am paying out of pocket for the procedure. If any of you have any advice or knowledge of where to go, I would be appreciative. I'm looking forward to learning all about the procedure and making new friends on this board.

Please pray that the doctor will accept me. I attend the lecture on November 5th. I am so ready to change my life. I am 58 years old and would like to enjoy the rest of my life instead of being in pain every day due to my weight. So please join my friends and family in our prayers. Thanks!

Hi everyone just though i would say hiiii to all u wonderful people .WOW im juust shocked at all these stories I'am seeing here and the results everyone in here is a role model espcially for me .. I'am 24 years old and basically my life is hell and i need this lapband more then ever. Been thinking about it for a while but always held back so i finally decided im goin to do it .. Ive done the gi and abdominal ultrasound and everything is good.. All im waiting for now is my insurance to approve it.. Worst part ever knowing that u cant really do anything but Waitt .. I get scared sometimes because i dunno it is surgury and i hope nothin goes wrong im only 24 i have soo many …

Hello out there!! I have three pounds to go before I can schedule my date cannot wait. Next Wed I weigh in...yes i am nervous. Will it be right for me? Will I be able to tolerate the side effects? all those questions going through my mind. But I have been working on this since April and have all my ducks in a row and am ready to go>>>> I think:unsure:

My name is Lisa and I stumbled upon this sight as I was reading up for my lap band surgery. I just got my approval letter and will be scheduling my surgery in the morning, but it looks like it should be around November 10th. I'm excited and nervous at the same time and am very happy to find a forum filled with others who have been there before or are just starting the journey like me! :grouphug:

Hi, I am new on here. Today my doctor called and I will be banded 11/10. Monday I start on a shrink your liver diet. I am really excited to have this done. :sad_smile:

Hey all I don’t know if any one is lookin to buy a imitation magic bullet but if any one lives near a J.C. Penny they have something one sale call the 5-in-1 Power Blender with attachments and its on sale for $19.98 and you can also buy it on line. I hear so many people say this helped them in there puree stages but the real bullet cost around $100.00. I just thought I could save us some money. But if any one has this and can give some insight that would be great. I would hate to but a piece of junk.

Hi everyone, I am to posting on this website but certainly not new to reading it. I have my surgery date of Nov. 11th but have been reading this site since the beginning of the year. I am just too excited. Glad to be part of this support and will be glad to give support.

ok i dont know what happend but the last 3 weeks i wanna eat , not move and nibble on junk im eating just because i know its there whats going on??? i need a shock to the brain?? no supprot here in calif ,not from kids , family i know i need to do this for my self but what happend?:thumbup:

hello, i'm a 50 yr. old male 5 yrs ago I weighed 220 lbs @6' 4". a vehicle accident left me with a perroneal neuropathy in my left leg ,trauma to left achilles tendon , and back problems. pain 24/7 .cant walk or stand long have went from cant pinch an in to ya can grab a slab I now weigh 389..developed severe sleep apnea ..i hate night time.... mostly lethargic now ..all joints beginning to hurt. this may be my final hope .I need true sincere suggestions ..by you who have had this procedure

Hello, I'm 35yr. female in Los Angeles. I have diabetes and I have gone from 115 to 210 in the past few years. The weight is just stopping me from living my life Im so ready for a change. My doctor and surgeon is strongly suggesting Gastric Bypass because of my diabetes. But I've been reading up on it and it seems very extreme. I'm nervous about Dumping, feeling sick all the time, hair loss and realizing I made a mistake and can't reverse it. So Here it is I have so many questions. What can I say I'm confused So my main concern is 1.) I would not loose as much with the band as oppose to gastric. 2.) I don't want to spend the rest of my life sic…

Hello and I bring you greetings from Houston. I was surfing the web and decided to join this site, for support and discussion. I am scheduled to have the LAP BAND on Monday, October 27th. So, any feedback would be appreciated. Dr. Scarbrough will be my surgeon and I am looking forward to lifestyle changes.:biggrin:

I am new here but not to the band. I need a support group which I don't have in my area. I originally had the band in 2005 and it slipped in 2006. I had it redone may of 2006 and I was within 10 pounds of my goal weight and got pregnant in october of 2006. I had the worst pregnancy ever and new something was different with the band. I have had 5 fills and no restriction and the dr. finally said I probably have a broken port. Nothing showed in the xray and now I am having an endoscopy on Monday. Has someone had anything similar happen? Thanks for taking the time to read this

Hello, I just joined this group, so I'm not sure i'm doing this right!! My husband and I are doing Lap Band together. We went to our first information night in June, he sent his paperwork right in and had his first appointment the beginning of July. He had his surgery on Monday, September 29, 2008. He lost 29 lbs before surgery. I didn't send my information in until the middle of July. I have done everything that has been required so far, meet with the surgeon, the dietitian and the psychiatrist and was on the list to be reviewed in September, but the psychiatrist was not at the meeting, so I'm on the list for October! We didn't want our surgeries the same week…

Hey everyone longtime no chat lol !!! The reason I have not been on for a while is because my Doctor told me I needed the gastrix bypass insted of the lapband :smile: cause my liver function level was hi and he felt that bypass would be best for me cause the weight would come down quicker and my liver function level would drop back to normal. Plus I looked for a gastix bypass forum and didn't find one worth a dang. So I decided to go with the doctors reconmendation and get the gastrix bypass. How ever those who remember me knows how long it's been since I was supposed to get banded now I finially got my surgery date :thumbup: Nov. 20th surgery is at 9:30 :cool2: …

Hi everyone, My name is Christina, from Sunny San Diego / Tijuana, Mex. Scheduled for 10/29/08. Weight is 236 Lbs goal is 128 Lbs. this is my first forum ever, so don't really know what to add.

Hello Everyone, It has taken me a whole year to make up my mind to be banded. After having other GI problems, losing some weight on my own and gaining it back, I decided that it was time to take control of my life. I was banded on 10/21/08. I also had a hiatal hernia repair-this was part of my problem with acid reflux. Today, I am sore in my abdominal area, but overall, I feel good. And I am ready to begin my new journey in weight loss!!!! pre-op I weighed 297lbs. Today, I'm at 290.3lbs.:smile:

I have been reading other peoples messages on this website and decided to join today. I was banded on 9-9-08 in Des Moines by Dr. Cahalon. I was really surprised how much pain I was in after surgery. It took me a week and five days to actually feel better and I was able to take a walk. I had my first fill on Monday October 20th and my doctor put in 3ccs. We had to go down to x-ray b/c he wanted to be sure he was hitting the port(this was after sticking me with the needle two times). I still feel no restriction and am HUNGRY!!!!! I am working out 40 minutes a day and following the four goldren rules but feel that I am at a plateau as far as my weight loss goes. Any…

Hello all. So, today was my first appointment with the doctor to get banded. In order for my insurance to approve the surgery I must complete 6 months of a followed diet with my doctor. After that they will approve it and I will be scheduled for surgery. I am looking at about 9 months before I can get surgery... that seems so long but when I think about it, I have been over weight my whole life so what is 9 months going to do! I am ready for this change, I NEED this change. I am 150lbs over weight. I do not have the quality of life that I should at my age. Ahhhh I am starting this journey, glad you are all here with me!!

Is there anyone located in my area that has been banded or is going to be banded???Looking for a buddy. I am going through Dr. Jesse Lopez.

Hi everybody. I had my surgery June 10, 08 by Dr. Zubin Bhesania at Port Huron Hospital. I went in at a whopping 324 pounds. (I have a hard time believing that I did that to myself.) Well here it is slightly more than 4 months later and I'm down 59 pounds at a "svelt" 265 and losing. I was wearing a 28-30 pants, today I squeezed my fanny into a 22! I wouldn't trade my lapband for anything!! I went for a fill today. I'm up to 5.5cc in a 10cc band.

:girl_hug:I am doing good with my lapband. I would do it over again.

hello everyone-I'm 63 years old and only 4 feet 11 inches tall and am 100 lbs overweight. I'm trying to decide between gastric bypass and lap band and am wondering if there is anyone out there in my situation who cocwcould tell me how much they lost over time. I'm really torn about which surgery to have. thanks, ritasu

Hi everyone! I just went yesterday for consult. I have to go for psy. eval, blood work, & sleep test & then I have to wait & see if I am a candidate. Is this how you started? I am 5/3 @200lbs, my bmi is 35, anyone have same numbers as me & been approved? Dr. said I am low end. Also wondering what the recop. time is like? I have a 2yo & wondering how much helpo I would need with her - I am sahm. Any advice would be great!! Thanks so much!

Hello Everyone!!! I have been banded for about 4 weeks now and I am down about 20lbs. Good to be here to answer any questions for pre-op if there are any

Hello Everyone, It has taken me a whole year to make up my mind to be banded. After having other GI problems, losing some weight on my own and gaining it back, I decided that it was time to take control of my life. I was banded on 10/21/08. I also had a hiatal hernia repair-this was part of my problem with acid reflux. Today, I am sore in my abdominal area, but overall, I feel good. And I am ready to begin my new journey in weight loss!!!! pre-op I weighed 297lbs. Today, I'm at 290.3lbs.:smile:

Yes I'm in both lol, what a paradox o.O I haven't gotten the procedure yet and am on the ...long...procedure to hopefully getting it. I'm slightly discouraged because even though I've been trying to lose the weight on my own and have made the hard decision that it would be better to just get the band, I'm still being jerked around by insurance companies. Very very frustrated actually now that I think about it. :/ Hopefully it will get better.

was sent to the RN 30 minutes ago...I am soo excited!!! I wonder how long it takes from the RN. Does anyone remember how long it took from the RN to get an answer. I am soo excited!!!:wub::biggrin:

hello everyone, I was banded 6 days ago. I lost 25 pounds so far. I want to know how long I will feel soso after the operation. I feel dizzy and weak off and on and I am on soft foods which do give me some indigestion. Is this all normal? I'm in Tucson AZ. Dr. Schwartz did my band. Glad you are all here.:smile:

I was banded on Sept.25th,I have lost around 30lbs so far,just wanted to post and say hello.

I am just starting. I want this so bad. My Docter called today and said my blood test came back and my thyroid is not working so he put me on Levothyroxin. He is supposed to make me an appointment with a dietition. He said I have to have a medically supervised diet for 3 moths before they will do anything else. It seems like it will take forever. What will happen if I lose weight will I be covered? or what if I don't? I am so worried. I need this so bad.

I have a question...I understand Highmark will make me go through a 6-month pre-op diet. I started on xenical in September and it did NOTHING for me. Well, except for what xenical typically does which I couldn't deal with. Anyway, would this count as the start of my 6 month supervised diet? I saw my doctor in late August and couldn't get another appt until November! :smile: I plan to go to my seminar on Nov. 5 and am also afraid my PCP will not be as enthusiastic about this as I am. Does Magee do the pre-stuff and is it covered by Highmark? TIA!

After weeks of reading and researching, I have finally decided to join lapbandtalk.com. I am very impressed with this on-line forum and all of of the wonderful information I received so far. I am super excited about beginning my lapband journey.

Well ladies this is it my paper work went in Monday!!! :thumbup: I have started my journey since November 15th 2007 and it is now October 22, 2008. The Doctors Medical Assistant gave me a date of November 14th :wub::wub:can you believe it’s almost year to date from when I started. But I just wanted everyone to keep there fingers and toes crossed because she said I should here back from her on Monday.:thumbs_up: I gone on so many web sites and read so much that I’m getting nervous if this really happens. :smile2: I really want to post a success story with all my goals that I have accomplished. And my first mini goal is to run on the treadmill for at least 15 minutes str…

Hello. I just joined this site today. I am nearing the end of my 6 month medically supervised program. I will have my psych evaluation next week and meet with my surgeon mid November and hopefully have the surgery early December sometime. I am very excited about it all and can't wait to get approval from insurance so that I know I really am gonna have it! :sad_smile:

Hi...I am new to this site but have found it very interesting and usefull. I have a consultation with the dr next thursday 30th of october. I am looking forward to receiving more info on the band. This is a new clinic opening and I should be banded begining 09. I am very very nervous for the surgery....but look forward to loosing the weight for good this time :smile:....

Hi there ! My name is Amy ! My "band day" is this Friday, the 24th ! I am hoping to make some new friends here ! Just looking for support from all you that have already been there and done that ! Talk later !!! Amy:biggrin: I am having my procedure done by Dr. George Merriman in Shreveport, LA !

I GOT UP THIS MORNING ALL EXCITED ABOUT MY POST OP CHECK UP. WHEN I SAW MY DOCTOR HE SEEN THE :cool2: THAT I HAD ON MY FACE AND HE EVEN GAVE ME A COMPLIMENT WHICH MADE ME :w00t: EVEN MORE. MY DOCTOR TOLD ME EVERYTHING IS GOING GREAT WITH MY RECOVERY, HE SAID I CAN START EXERCISING AS OF NEXT WEEK:thumbup: STARTING OFF WITH WALKING ABOUT 1 TO 2 MILES A DAY, WHICH I LOVE TO WALK. :smile: WHEN THE DOCTOR TOLD ME TO STEP ON THE SCALE I DIDN'T WALK I RAN TO THE SCALE AND GUESS WHAT MY WEIGHT LOST WAS, JUST REMEMBER TWO WEEKS BEFORE MY SURGERY I WAS 249 LBS., AND AS OF TODAY I WEIGHT 225 LBS.:thumbup::thumbup: HOORAY FOR THE LAP BAND!!!!!!!!!! IF I HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAI…

Hi! I am new to the forums and thought I would post a quick introduction. I just had my surgery on Thursday, October 16, 2008 of last week, and am in the healing process. Never in the world did I think I would be as looking forward to eating pureed food as I am right now! I began looking into both the bypass and the lap-band surgeries last year, and decided to opt for the lap-band. Now, I've got the surgery almost a week behind me, and am feeling better by the day. Well, that's a bit about me. Looking forward to meeting you all. :biggrin: Tara

Hello my fellow lap banders! This is my first time posting here. I just found out about this website from a woman I met in my doctor's waiting room last week. Let me introduce myself: I had surgery on 13 June 2007 at 8 a.m. (first surgery of the day). My surgery took place in Potomac Hospital in Woodbridge, VA. I only mention it to let you know how wonderful the experience was. Potomac Hospital recently renovated their surgical floor and all the rooms are private. What a luxury not having to listen to all the chatter from a roommate and her family and friends. The room included a huge bathroom and a sofa sleeper in case you wanted someone staying overnig…

Just found this site. Had the surgery 7/17/08. Lost about 60 pounds in the 8 months prior to surgery. Have lost another 40 pounds during and after recovery. Had 2nd fill other day. As for the surgery. You know where they always say the 1 in a 1,000 chances of something happening. Well that was me-as per my luck usually goes. Surgery was supposed to be laprosopic. But during surgery they knicked a major blood vessel. To make a really long store short. Had to open me wide open to fix stuff. Then added 2 pints blood while on the table yet then another 2 pints in recovery. Sometime in there remmber starting to come to and wanting to scream my head off except still had hos…

Hi guys. I'm new to this site and just wanted to say HI. I was banded on Oct. 2, 2007 by Dr. Wilkenfeld and I love my band!!!! Again, I just wanted to say HI!!!!

Just found the website and what a Godsend!!! I am waiting for insurance approval - MD said it may be as soon as this Wednesday. I am very excited to begin this journey and make some new friends along the way. Best wishes to all you!!!

Hello Everyone, It has taken me a whole year to make up my mind to be banded. After having other GI problems, losing some weight on my own and gaining it back, I decided that it was time to take control of my life. I was banded on 10/21/08. I also had a hiatal hernia repair-this was part of my problem with acid reflux. Today, I am sore in my abdominal area, but overall, I feel good. And I am ready to begin my new journey in weight loss!!!! pre-op I weighed 297lbs. Today, I'm at 290.3lbs.:smile:

Hi my name is Megan 32 years old, 5'8" and 270 lbs. I live in Denver and am considering LapBand. I haven't been fat my entire life - I was actually quite an active teen. I really loved playing sports in Jr. High and High School. I really want that feeling back - I used to get runners high and loved biking and swimming! I really want to get back to my 'old self' or some form of who I see hiding behind all of this. I haven't exactly made up my mind about LAPBand yet. I have tried many of scams and gimmicks and spent quite a bit of money to hop myself up on too much caffiene which has led to anxiety, headaches and many sleepless nights! My first serious try was …

HI! I am Krista - I am 29 3/4 years old, fat my entire life, and just today called my new insurance and found out they have a morbid obesity clause. Yay! I have been researching the Band for 3 years, and i think I am as prepared as i can get without knowing the results post-op. I am running into a "schroedinger's cat" wall. :thumbup: So i am at the very beginning. i have, as we all have, dieted and exercised in the past. I was diagnosed with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome when I was 16 after starting puberty, gaining a ton of weight (without eating more), periods that would not stop and having severe pain. When I was 19 a dermoid cyst ruptured and I felt as though…

Hello, I thought that I'd finally write and introduce myself. My name is BrieAnna and im 26 and as you know live in SD. I've been married for almost 6 yrs now and back in march just had beauitful TWIN girls. Life has been a whirlwind these last 5 years in trying to get pregnant and just all the stress of it.I guess thats mainly where all my weight came from. I was never really a BIG person until all the issues started to come out with my pcos(polycystic ovarian syndrome). When I first meet my husband I was about 150-160 and felt good and confident at that weight. However got into the flow of not excersing enough and then the five yrs on fertility medicine and stress my…