Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

I attended a seminar last week and have decided to continue looking into it. I have my first appointment with my surgeon Nov. 18 and I meet with my PCP tomorrow to begin the supervised weight loss period. I'm mostly considering doing this because my health is in jeopardy while I won't object being able to wear smaller size and looking nice.

Hello everyone my name is terri. This is my first time with lapband talk I have a lot of questions. I want to have this surgery because of health reasons only. I have tried weight watchers, exserise, and even weightloss pills. I have lost and gaind back double what I have lost. I have gaind musle mass and water weight. I realized that I was a diabetic and this was scary to me. Outside of me being a diabedic I have high blood pressure, added weight on my frame causes me pain in my leggs, upper and lower back, and feet. I am on so many meds that cover all thesr elment when I realized that all of it is tied to my weight a least the most of it. I need a doctor that I can tru…

Good Morning , Just wanted to know when you got your band how long did you stay out of work? On my job i have the option to take a LOA or some vacation time. I really wanted to just to a couple of days off because no one knows at my job im doing this, but i really dont know how i would feel after surgery. :drool: And the funny thing is if i take a LAO ill be out for about 3weeks :laugh:can you imangine leavin work at one size and then returnin two sizes smaller..LMAO Any way if some one can give me some advisethat would be SUPER:wub: I sit all day so there's not that much movement, i dont see me hurtin my port. Well my paper work will go in next week some time after the …

I finally got my insurance approval today. I had a little bit of an ordeal. I started the process in July and found out 2 1/2 weeks later that nothing would be sent to my insurance co until Pysch eval. which I had been trying to get worked out through my mental health insurance. Made the mistake of going to a person who does not specialize in this and she took 3 appts and still did not have the eval filled out. I ended up getting an appt with someone else. Got that to my surgeon's asst. 3 1/2 weeks ago. She told me insurance could take 30 days to approve. I called her thurs - which was 3 weeks out from when it was supposed to go to the insurance co. She told me …

Hi I'm new here, I went to my PCP today and he suggested that see a dietician before I concider a lap band or RNY Surgery DianaT

Hello All, My name is Erin and I'm 23 years old. I'm currently almost 300lbs and I'm 5'5" ... About 2 years ago I was 180 lbs (after losing about 50 lbs through diet and exersize) then I met my soon to be husband...got married... and gained all my weight back, plus more! I've been considering weight-loss sugery for a long time, but I never thought anyone would take me seriously, or they would look at me as if I hadn't tried. I don't want to lie... I do not get to exersize but once a week anymore, nor do I eat as healthy as I used to. However, I am newly married, broke as a joke (healthy food is expensive!) and I was working 40 hours a week and going to school. Now, I…

Hey girls, I'm finally banded and just got home this moring. I'm very sore but otherwise feeling feel. FYI-I lost 34 lbs pre-op dieting! My surgeon said my liver was like a fillet. LOL!

WELL, FIRST I'M HAPPY I FOUND THIS SITE! I'M SCHELDULED FOR SURGERY ON MONDAY OCT 06.I'M TRYING NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT,BECAUSE WHEN I DO I FELL ANXIOUS:crying:,ANY ADVICE. I HAVE NEVER HAD SURGERY NEVER BEEN UNDER NOR HAD AN IV SO YOU CAN SAY I'M A VIRGIN LOL

I am a married man with two lovely kids but sick of being too big for normal sizes i had my surgery on the 29th sept 2008 already i feel different and positive about myself and my future i will keep you posted and keep track of how all of you are going

Hey Ya'll, Just wanted to say I'm really loving this forum. I have been reading posts for several months and finally had time to stop and register to be a member. I will be banded on October 6, 2008. I have done all my pre-work for the surgery. I am currently on my 2 week liquid pre-op diet which consists of 3 SlimFast Optima shakes a day; and all the sugar-free popsicles, Jello, tea, crystal light, and Water I can stand! Doesn't that sound YUMMY!! I've done pretty good, but I have cheated a few times with grilled chicken. This is starting my second week and I'm going to try hard not to cheat at all. I would really like to lose 25 lbs before surgery. I've lost 13 s…

Hello; all I was banded on July 10,08 I attended a six month nutrition class before and I lost 55 lbs and I questioned should I go ahead and have it done or take my chances on continued weight loss or gain ? well I didn't think my insurance would approve it but after 8 months they did.I and clad I had it done I have lost another 50 lbs since July I started at 350 lbs Dr. Tim Robarts of HMG in Huntington ,WV done my surgery at St. Marys excellent doctor and staff.:thumbdown:

Hi All, I just got banded yesterday, 9/29. It took me 4 months to get all my tests, and insurance approved, but now I'm on the road to a healther life. I am walking around today and don't have any unforseen complaints. My belly is sore, of course, but that is to be expected. The liquid diet is going well since I found a protein drink that I really like. I started it about a week before my surgery. My Doctor and his staff have been great. There are plenty of support groups to help keep me on track.

Hi everyone, After about a year of trying to decide on whether or not to get a lap-band, I have finally gone to a Gastric Band Institute seminar here in Chattanooga and chosen Dr. Ponce to do my surgery. My insurance (BCBSTX) will not pay anything on the lap-band, so my family is helping me pay for it. I'll be 54 next month with a BMI of 45, type II diabetic, hypertension and sleep apnea. My father died at 70 with congestive heart failure and his father died of a heart attack. My grandfather on my mother's side died of complications from diabetes. So the clock is ticking and I need to something soon to resolve my weight problem. I'm having an upper GI tomorrow and my …

I was banded April 2007 I weighed 260 and by April I weighed 180, then I scheduled a tummy tuck. I am 58 so I needed it. I got my band in Phx. AZ at St. Lukes by Dr. Fang. Insurance is health net.

Hi I am new to the site. I had my band placed on 9/25/08. I waited a long time to get it done. I made it through okay. I went home late that eveing. My only problem has been the awful gas. It is getting better. Still on stage one of the diet, which is clear liquids. Not to bad. I am looking forward to chatting with everyone as we take this journey:sleep:

Hello I am 1 week away from my surgery and alittle nevous can anyone help.

Hi Everybody! Glad to be here. I had my band put in over a year ago. Just had it adjusted again. Doing great. I love it. Dan :smile2:

Boy do I wish I had found this website right after my surgery, I might have been close to my ideal weight by now. I was banded in July of last year (I weighed in at 280) and now, one year later, I've lost only about 20 lbs. My ideal weight is anywhere between 150-140 lbs. So I have around 110 lbs. to lose. At first I did everything right and that's where my weight loss happened. I've had 5 fills to date. I don't eat a huge amount of food, not even platefuls and I don't eat high calorie/carb foods on a normal basis. But I'm not losing weight. I'm right at 260 and have been there for the past 8-9 months...I'm rather frustrated with myself. Anyhow, I'm looking forward to run…

My first thread. Hello all.:thumbdown: I am most interested in Mini Gastric Bypass surgery - I was referred by the Bariactric Group ISA for Tiajuana - specifically Dr. Mario Almanza and Dr. Andres Betancourt. I have not had any previous bands. Have made the decision on MGB for me. Any feedback on above topics is most welcome. Does anyone know this hospital for comments as well? Many Thanks, Brenda

Just saying hello to everyone! I am new to this site and find everyones threads very helpful and interesting. I have been through most of my steps leading up to surgery and I go today to see my Dr. to set my surgery date:thumbup:

I'm having surgery on 10-4-08 Im so excited, I can't barely contain my self.:biggrin:

Just wanted to introduce myself to everyone. My name is Ashlee and I am 25 years old. I am married to the military and we are currently stationed at Nellis AFB. I weighed 310 when I was banded and now 10 days later I am at 289 lbs. I am really looking forward to hearing about other peoples experiences. Any questions feel free to email me at ashlee_rp@yahoo.com.

Hey, My name is Katie and I am brand new to all of this. My doctor and I have been discussing lap banding this past summer and I have decided to go ahead with it. I am hoping to schedule my surgery in the middle of December. Honestly, I am terrified. It's a lot to deal with. But I have a genetic spinal disease that makes exercise hard and I have been struggling with my weight for most of my life. So this seems like the best chance I have to deal with my health issues and have the normal life I have always dreamed of. So yeah... that's me. I am glad I found you guys. :biggrin: Katie*

Hello! I am new here but I have been reading some of the threads. I am a 37 year old mother of three-twin daughters that are 14 and a 6 year old little boy..two of my kids have autism. I am on my way to getting approval from my insurance for the lap band. I have been told to start the pre-op diet to loose the "liver fat". I am excited and nervous at the same time to begin this life change! Dr.Avery in Mississippi will be doing my band--anyone use him?

Hello all I just found out about this site! Woooohoo! Anyways, I was banded in Aug 2006. My highest that I weighed was 262 I am 5'7.5 but I claim 5'8. I lost 40lbs in the 1st year.... yeah that's it.:biggrin: I honestly have not had any problems with my band medically it has been my compliance. I can not control my hunger and with my band being full (now..in the 1st year) I hardly ever feel full. I got really discouraged and embarrassed when I went to get my last fill..my Dr told me "This is the last fill because your band is full and you haven't even lost 50lbs yet in a year. I don't know what else to do with you." So after that last appointment I felt like a fail…

Hi there, In October 2006 I went to see my GP for a minor problem and he told me about the gastric banding operation and how it worked. He scheduled an appointment with the surgeon and I was booked a month later for the surgery. I weighed 187kg. I looked up everything I could on the internet and was fully informed by the time I entered the hospital for the operation. I had to undergo a series of tests to see if I was suitable to undergo the operation. Heart tests, blood tests and even a psychological assessment. Everything was fine and I was given the go-ahead. I would have to pay for the operation myself as my medicare considered this "vanity surgery". I had to take …

Hi there everyone, Im Jen, was banded only 6 days ago and already feel better about myself! :cool2: My Doctor was Terry Simpson, www.theweightlossdr.com, in Phx AZ. He was amazing, very personal, very kind and very straight forward. Ill post more later... Good Luck to everyone...

Hi. My husband is scheduled to be out of town on Sept 15th, which is the day I am scheduled to have my surgery. I would have to wait another month to have my surgery if I postponed it because I can only have my surgery at one specific facility for my insurance to pay for it (and the drs only do surgery there once a month). I really don't want to postpone my surgery. I have decided not to tell any other family and friends about the surgery so if my husband isn't available I don't have a ride from the hospital. I would like to see if anyone else in the DFW Texas area would like to link up and be each others surgery buddy. I could be your support person on the day of surg…

Hi everyone! I am being banded tomorrow! I just wanted to drop in for any last minute pointers, tips, advice, encouragement.........I am ready for this!! Keep me in your thoughts and prayers! Anyone else out there newly banded?? Chris : )

Surgery is set for this Thursday October 2nd. YIPPEE!!!! I can't believe it! It is finally MY turn to sit on the loser's bench!! :cool2:

HI. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME COMING TO THIS SITE. I STARTED IN FEB OF 08 AND HAVE YET TO HAVE IT DONE. I GOT HELD UP BECAUSE THE PRESSURE IN MY LUNGS WHERE 45 SO I HAD TO HAVE A STRESS TEST, SLEEP STUDY AND A BUBBLE STUDY. COME TO FIND OUT I HAVE A HOLE IN MY HEART. THE ECHO TESTING PEOPLE SAID THAT EVERYONE IS BORN WITH IT BUT IT CLOSES. BUT MINE DID NOT. SO IM STILL NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON TILL I GO BACK NEXT WEEK TO SEE THE HEART DR. DOES ANYONE HAVE OR KNOW SOMEONE THAT IS GOING THROUGH THE SAMETHING I AM? PLEASE LET ME KNOW!:cool2:

Hello, I have recently made the decison to have the lapband. I am looking for information from anyone who has used their secondary Insurance to pay for it. My primary insurance does not have coverage, however, my secondary throught my husbands retirement has the Obesity Ryder. They have stated because they are secondary they will not precertify me, because they are my secondary. Will a Doctor still perform the surgery without the approval of the insurance company. Please anyone who can give me some insite.:cool2:

I had the lap band surgery in April without any major complications. Frustrations about lack of weight loss has lead me to your site! I look forward to learning more from everyone and hopefully soon being one of the happier patients who have posted! I posted a thread in the fill sections about the issues/frustrations I am facing! Otherwise Lap band has been great and I give it praise for forcing me to slow down while I eat and actually enjoy my food. I have found that instead of being the first one finished I am now the last one. This has also forced my family to remain at the table longer so we can enjoy discussing the happenings of the day and world. The only thing…

Hi, I'm from Sydney Australia and I chose this forum because it looked to be the best. I am 33yrs old and I weigh 100kg, my BMI 38. I've decided to change my life and have Lap Band Surgery. Some support me and some don't. My best friend said to me that this is a drastic decision. I think getting to 40yrs old and weighing in at 120kg with more aches and pains than I have now is drastic. There a few things I know about myself and some really difficult truths. I'm lazy and do not like exercise, I love my food and don't need to be hungry to eat, usually at the end of a meal I'm thinking of the next. Love Mc Donalds and there is alot that I won't do, my weight does hol…

Hi IM Erikka. im from corvallis oregon. Im a single mother who has suffered wiht her weight all her life. I am currently 346 lbs.....lost a lb in a week woohoooo....about a year ago I looked into bariatric surgery but was leaning towards bypass... well I chickened out of sourse and stopped thinking about it. well a few months ago during my regular councling sessions I realized that i was finally emotionally ready to have bariatric surgery and change my life and eating habbits for good. so when i started looking into the types of surgery I really was scared of the bypass idea and leaning more towards the lap band. well on the 15th of september i went to an orentation for …

I had my first fill last Monday. I had the surgery August 22 and am down 15 pounds post-op. I had already lost 30 going into surgery--the liquid diet and all. I am noticing clothes fit better and am wearing jeans I wore six years ago. So, I am a third of the way to my goal and feeling pretty good about that. :thumbup: The woman who went in for a fill before I did had to go to X-Ray to find the port. I didn't have any problems except trying to "puff up" my belly for him. I couldn't stop laughing because I have been trying to "unpuff" the thing forever.

Hi all, it's been probably more than six months since I was last on. I haven't yet gotten banded but HAVE made the decision/commitment to do so. I've been to seminar's and chosen Dr Tiffany Jessee as my surgeon. I'm right now in the VERY beginning stages heading toward banding. Main thing is being sure to meet all the requirements for my insurance. My first question is, is this forum for all banded people or JUST those with the Lap-Band? I'm still not totally decided but have been leaning toward the Realize Band. My husband and I have started walking each morning for 30-40 minutes with our pack of 5 dog's. We do this six days a week, and also have started enjoyin…

My name is Melissa, I prefer to be called Lissa or Mewitt (but only but very good friends and family). I am a Social Worker and I really love what I do. I live in Augusta with my husband, 2 doggies and 2 kitties! I hope to have kids in the near future if god can grant me the opportunity. I have the greatest friends anyone could ask for- they know who they are. My husband and I have been together since August of 2002 and we were married in August in 2007. I am lucky to have found my soul-mate so young in life. My family is very important to me- my sister Jamie and brother in-law Ryan are everything to me. My friends Aaron and Jen are pretty much family at this point and ar…

Hi, My name is Terry and I live in Delmar, De. I would love to have the lapband surgery but my insurance company will not pay the 2,000 dollars for the seminar that is required through Delmarva Bariatric. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to pay the money myself as I am not working and we have no extra money. I have two small boys and I want to be around to raise them to men. Also, if I lost the weight I could help pull in some extra income. Does anyone know of any local practice or doctor that does not charge you a lot of money before you have the surgery. My husband has very good insurance and they will pay for the procedure. Any help anyone could give me…

Hello all, one week into my liquid diet...one day at a time is how i'm looking at it. I'm still hungry between the god awful protein drinks:thumbdown:..I drink 3 small cans of v-8/day and have a popsicle/fudgicle now and then...also chicken soup broth...it is really hard...i've never been hungry alot before..so this is new to me. I heard it's suppose to get easier...i hope so.My 1st dr's appt isn't till 10/15...no puree till then...sounds so far away. Moving around better, trying to go out into the world but i'm so irritable and find it hard to be around people, is this Something anyone else experiences? going to exercise more...maybe that will help...tire so easily t…

Hi, This is my first time to this website so I wanted to say Hi to everyone and tell you that I am very inspired by your weight loss. My question is I am a 43 year old woman with high cholestrol, sleep apnea and a borderline diabetic. I need to lose 60 lbs and have tried all the diets out there. Am I a candidate for adjustable lap band surgery? Also can anyone out there recommend any doctors in Westchester County or Manhattan? Thanks in advance for your responses. Judy

Hello. I just had my surgery one week ago, on 9/22. Everything has gone very well so far! I'm very excited, and very scared too. I'm having horrible pain in my left shoulder. It comes and goes now, but it was constant the first few days. I'm assuming this is gas pain, but please tell me it isn't going to last forever! Am I doing something wrong? It hurts a lot more than my belly ever did! Please share your wisdom!

Hi, I am a 58 y.o. retired music teacher (not) from Northern Michigan. I retired from Public School teaching 6 years ago, but am now teaching in a charter school 4 hours a day. I also am a church organist/choir director so I play for one church on Saturday evening and another on Sunday. So you can see why I said (not). Anyways, I have floated from 180 pounds in High School ( where I truly thought I was fat ) to 230 in college and down to 175 after college and over the next ten years I gained 100 pounds+ to 283. A few years back I got down to between 245 and 250 and kept it there or years. Last year (2007) between August and December I gained 20 pounds.........without…

Hey guys, I've been reading this forum in hopes of being banded in the relatively near future! Right now I am going through the process of jumping through all the hoops that my insurance company requires. It's kind of a frustrating time because I'm so scared that my insurance will deny my claim. Here's the run down, I'm about to be 24 years old. I've had a weight problem for most of my life and I've ALWAYS been very self-conscience. I've tried all kinda of crazy diets... with some success. But I always seemed to gain the weight back. Right now I am at my highest weight ever and it's really putting a strain on my life. My blood pressure is always high, I'm always tired, …

My first post and question. My surgery is scheduled for Oct 24. I was told at the pre-op class to eat low carbohydrates, high protein for two weeks prior to the surgery. On the posts I see that people talk about a liquid diet for two weeks before. Did I misunderstand? I thought the liquid diet was for after.

Hello, my name is Christina from cal. and today is my first posting. I hope I am doing this right. Was banded on 9/21/08... I'm a newbie!!! Please let me know where I can go to chat live for Q&A.:biggrin:

Hi, My name is Pat, and I am in northern Illinois. I have been on a gazillion diets, lost weight, put weight back on, you know the drill! :teeth_smile: I am thinking about getting the LapBand. I have one friend who has it, but she has had problems. I think that maybe some of her problems were caused by not eating properly after the banding, ie: living on coffee! I also have several friends who have had gastric bypass surgery, and some are great and some aren't. It's kind of a scary decision to make! I like the lapband, since it doesn't permanently alter your body inside, and if there is a problem, it can be reversed. My main reasons to have the banding is becau…

Hi! I am new to the board. I am scheduled to have the Lapband on 09/29. I am both excited and apprehensive. I joined this board hoping to find some support for the changes coming into my life as a result of the surgery. I in turn hope to be a support to those on this board also as my experience allows. Any advice and tips are appreciated. Just a few facts about me you may like to know..... I am the mother of 6 children ages range from 25-11 one girl (she's the oldest! and five boys) My highschool sweetheart and I have been married for 26 wonderful years I work full time as an Insurance Agent for a major Property and Casualty insurer I love quilting and spendin…

Hello from Colorado, I am currently in the process of getting banded. I've gotten the referral from my PCM, done the seminar and had my consultation with the surgeon. I have my nutrition classes scheduled and just have to make an appt for the psych eval. I hope I don't have to get another referral for that. I have Tricare and was referred to a non-military practice. My surgeon is ok with me getting the nutrition and psych eval done at the military hospital so that will save me some $$$$. I've been thinking about the lap-band for almost 2 years since I saw what success my sister-in-law had. I had to wait until Tricare started covering it. I've been lurking here…

Hello to all--I am so glad I found this site! I was banded on 9/15/08, after a pretty short process, since I was self pay. It hurt a little handing over all that money up front, but I feel it's well worth it. I have been waiting for so long to have this done and I finally thought, what the hell, just do it. I am excited that I've found this group as well, because I do not know of any support groups in my area. I feel that I need support right now, and I've been reading a lot of other people's threads, which have answered a lot of my questions. I just learned about PBs, which my doctor never told me about. Umm...I hope I never get those, it sounds disgusting, and the visua…