Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hi- I'm in the Hartford area- I'm on the pre-op liquid diet - having a very hard time.... my surgery is 3/24- counting the days!!

Guess I should start here, seems like as good a place as any.....LOL I'm Lisa a 39 year old mommy of 3, I have 2 sons ages almost 7 and 3.5, and one beautiful little girl who is 10.5 months old. I'm done having babies so it's time for me to do something for myself, I have been overweight most of my life, my highest weight was 389, I have been as low as 160 at one point. I have great success with diets but like most people I can't maintain, currently I'm at 350, but haven't been below 300 lbs since I got married 12 years ago. Everytime I hit just about 300 lbs I ended up pregnant.....LOL I'm registered for a Realizeband seminar on the 25th of this month and it can't …

I started my pre-op liquid diet yesterday. It was easy to follow in the morning, and while at work, but I really struggled last night when I was home from work. Today I'm doing a bit better. Last night I needed to feel something solid in my mouth, and I made some eggbeaters (no carb). No oil, butter, just the eggbeaters in a non-stick pan (1/2 cup). It really satisfied me. It only had 12 grams of Protein, so I supplemented it with a packet of protein wey, in V8 juice. Tomorrow I'm preparing for a colonoscopy (yuck) so being on the liquid diet already will make it go a little easier (I hope). :thumbup:

Hi had anyone here have surgery done by Dr. christine Ren @ NYU? Please let me know if you have i have a few questions? Thanks:biggrin:

Hey all, I'm a 22 year old female from Washington state just starting off on this wonderful and scary adventure. I have gone to my seminar and have all three of my surgeons consult, nurse consult and psych consult coming up here very soon. I will be seeing Dr. Montgomery at the Northwest Weight Loss Surgery. I have gotten the opportunity to chat with him for a while, and he really seems to know his stuff. Has anyone else gone here, and could they share their experience with me? Although I'm fairly young, I have already begun to experience some health related weight problems that have begun to scare me. The most common regret I have heard from talking with other patents…

So i have a small problem. I'm starting a new job this Monday (the 18th) and I'm really really excited about it. However, I want get the ball rolling when my health insurance kicks in October 1st with going to a consult for my band, appointments etc.. Do you guys think it's a good idea if I let my manager know of my plans into detail? I'm thinking at least one appointment I'm going to need to extend my lunch break on. (I'm going to go to my primary doctor during my one hour lunch break and it may be longer. Not to mention the fact that I'm going to have to at least take 5 days off for my surgery week. I'm thinking that I'm going to include the weekend as 2 of those day…

Hello everybody. I'm just starting out on this LapBand venture and am hoping for some help in where to get started. I'm also not familiar with forums, so please tell me if I should post something to the wrong area. Since this looks to be the introductions area, I'll start posting my questions next time I'm on...as soon as I figure out where to post them. In the meantime, hello. I've been reading through some posts and everybody just seems so nice and helpful, I just had to sign up and be a part of it. A brief bit about myself: I have at least 80 - 90 lbs to lose (I haven't weighed myself lately...the scale and I just don't see eye-to-eye sometimes). I am a compute…

Hi guys... i went to my GP tonight he gave me a referral to a surgeon... but he said the whole process with the testing can be about six months.. is that true>???? how long should it take??? :confused2:

HEY EVERYONE I AM REAL DEAL . THAT IS BECAUSE I AM A SHOOT FORM THE HEART PERSON WITH LOVE FOR ALL. IA MAM HAVING MY BANDING ON AUG. 20TH LITTLE NERVOUSE A LOT HAPPY CRAZY RIGHT BUTI LOOKING SO FOWARD TO THIS AND YET NOT KNOWING HOW HARD IT IS GOING BE TO FINSIH WHAT I HAVE STARTED. THIS DIET HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING THING SO SNE SHOUT OUT OK. I HAVE BEEN WITH MY HUSBAND FOR 33 YEARS WE HAVE 6 CHILDREN 4 GIRLS TWO BOYS ( ONE SON IS NOW DECEASED). MY HUSBAND HAS HAD LUNG CANCER WITHTHE REMOVAL OF HIS LEFT LUNG AND NOW HE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BRAIN CANCER THIS IS ONE BIG PART OF MY NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT TO BE ABLE TO GET AROUND AND CARE FOR HIM AND MY PERSONAL HEA…

I guess I've lurked our here long enough. My name is Marcia and I'm in my 60's. I started researching the lap band about a year ago when I ran into and old friend. I went to my first session in March of this year and so far I've complete my labs, EKG, psych test, consults with the nutritionist, psychologist, physical therapist, and am headed for the last of the sleep study tomorrow night. Hopefully it won't be much longer before I see my surgeon, Dr. Emma Patterson. This forum has been a wonderful support system for me. I have learned so much. I can hardly wait until I have a date for surgery.

Hi all! I have to say that I have been lurking all week and love this forum... A year and a half ago I was all set for surgery, approved and all and had to cancel it because I got sick and they couldnt do the surgery on me with a 103 fever....I went over to ObH boards and became terrified of all the horro stories over there... Over the last year, I have regretted that I didnt reschedule...I have rescheduled now...of course had to go through all of the insurance stuff again (WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY!!!) But I am scheduled again for Aug 26th....and unless insurance throws me a whammy in the next week...I am so set to go and very excited!!!! Here is to my jour…

Hi, My names Jess (Sylina's my online counterpart) and I'm getting ready to have my lapband surgery. I don't have a date yet, all I know is that it will be in January. I should have a date next week :biggrin2: My surgeon is Paul Dumbrell or the Victorian Obesity Clinic in Albury, and I'm having my surgery in Melbourne. I'm really excited and a little bit nervous. I wonder if anyone has heard of my surgeon good or bad and could tell me more about him. Anyway thats all I really have to say atm. Still trying to get used to all the stuff on here. Jess (Syl)

My name is Cathy. I'm still researching the possibility of doing lap band surgery. I've been doing some reading and it seems that many folks are going the way of doing a gastric sleeve. Does anyone know why?

Hi, I'm new. I've never been part on an online support group. I am not sure about it all. I've been banded 3 weeks and doing ok. :thumbup:

Today the doc's office called me with some last minute details. One of them was a 400.00 fee that has to be paid four days before my procedure.:):mad: And I am waiting to hear from the hospital to make sure all of my costs are covered. There is no way I will be able to add in 400.00 to my budget for this month. I did not plan for this and now I may have to push the date back. I have an appointment with the surgeon friday and I guess I will see what happens then.

Hello there! Just wanted to drop a note and say hi and introduce myself - my name is Alana and I live in Alberta. I'm being "banded" next Friday in Tijuana and I can't wait! I've struggled all my life with weight - with a few diets that I did really good on, but then gained it back and plus some .... so now, I want to do something about it! Anyway, I just wanted to say hi ..... Alana :thumbup:

Hey ladies! I just wanted to share the good news! In 12 days I will be banded on Aug 26!!! I can't wait. I am nervous & excited at the same time. :biggrin::w00t:

Let's get this party started! I'm Alexis, from the New Jersey shore, sharing my house with a 5 year old Great Dane and two cats. I'll be 31 next month (August 18th for those inclined to give gifts ) and have been banded since February 3, 2003. I was banded in NYC at Lenox Hill Hospital by Dr. Marina Kurian. The hospital was great, Dr. Kurian is amazing, and my surgery went off without a hitch. I'm a restaurant manager and just love my job, as tiring as it is! In October, I weighed 345lbs. Somehow managed to lose 25lbs before surgery, despite many, many last suppers at the likes of Wendy's and McDonald's. Yes, Virginia, I AM a fast food freak. Although, not so much a…

I have finally started talking to my close friends and a few of my family about my potential lap band procedure. I have been overweight all my life and I have major emotional issues about it. I struggled all through school as the bigger one in every group I was associated with. it wasn't until I was 22 and I began a Dr supervised weight loss medication program (yes the dreaded phenfen) and lost over 75 lbs that I saw what life could be like for thinner women. I was in size 8 clothes for the first time in my entire life. however, when those medications were stopped, all those pounds and about 100 more came back. After my dad's sudden death five years later, I dealt with th…

New to this site. Im in the DFW area. I found it while researching for the Lap Band Surgery. Im looking into having the operation. I have been overweight for most of my life & now with having 4 young boys(7yrs. & under) Im looking to make a lifestyle change. Any & all support/advice shall greatly be appreciated.:thumbup:

Hello! I am a newbie. I am a patient of Dr. Alan Geiss in Syosset. I live on Long Island, NY. I had my initial consult with the doctor on August 1, and I am almost finished with my pretesting. I am hoping to get my surgery date as soon as possible. I am grateful that this forum exists and I'm looking forward to getting to know you all. I would also appreciate whatever support you would be kind enough to provide. Thanks very much!

Hi everyone! Just joined today - had my lap band put in on August 6th at Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, IL by Dr. David Klem; CDH Bariatrics. I feel great; still on shakes & water, looking forward to my first post-surgical appointment on Tuesday, when hopefully he will advance me to pureed foods! Never thought that would sound good. lol Chewing - can't believe I miss chewing!! My postoperative experience as far as surgical pain hasn't been bad at all. First few days were a little rough with a terrible tearing sensation in the middle of my stomach and toward the right, but that faded after 4 days. I've had a little trouble "going," but without my daily coffee and O…

Hi all- I am Carrie a 31y/o mom of 2 beautiful kids ages 4 and 2. I have struggled with my weight, as most have, for most of my life. At my heaviest, in January of this year, I weighed 286. My pre-op weight was 256. I am new to the post op lap band journey. I had my surgery 7/31/2008. I guess I am in the baby stages right now and will have my first fill 9/8/2008. I am looking forward to it, but also a little nervous. Mostly though I am looking forward to the rest of my life and the prospect of releasing a 100+ pound burden that I have been carrying around for about 15 years. I can't wait to read the success stories of others and hopefully meet a few mentors and friends.

Hello All!! I will be banded on Aug. 11 in Everett, WA!! I'm looking for support as my husband and I are a long way from friends and family.

i had my surgery 7-21-08 everything went well.the 1st week i was on clear liquids.here i am on my 2nd week and the dr.told me to start phase 2 of my diet wich is liquids(48)oz. 60-70grams of protien shakes,mashed potatos........is there anything else i can have besides mashed patatos any suggestions......

I am new to the site and to NC. I just moved here from Germany in July and am now looking forward to beginning the process towards getting a lap band. I have made my appt. with my PCM in Sept. to get my referral and begin what all I need to do leading up to the surgery. I am hoping to find out about the support group and maybe anything I can do in advance before even seeing the dr. in the hopes of speeding things up a bit more so perhaps I can have the surgery this year instead of in January or later.

:thumbup:My name is Michelle. I am 23 almost 24 years old. I was recently banded on June 24 by Dr. Kureshi in Denison,Tx. I am loving my band so far. I dont have any complaints. I have lost 28 pounds so far. I have a goal to lose about 42 more pounds to be at my goal weight. I had the lap band because i was a 23 year old with major health problems being high blood pressure, borederline diabetic,and infertilty. I looked at the lap band as a tool to help me get healthy for my self, my husband, my family and future children that hopefully we wont have to do fertilty treatment to have. I am already seeing result form my surgery i dont have any more back pain, no knee pain , …

But always looking for new info, I found this site through an internet friend on another site. I am from northeastern PA and have been overweight all of my adult life. I started gaining in puberty and just basically never stopped. I have never been an extreme dieter, but have done all of the healthy, medically approved things and they have never worked for me. I have 2 children, a 4 year old girl (on the 27th) and an almost 2 year old boy. I nursed both - my daughter 21 months and my son is still nursing once a day. I enjoyed it thoroughly, BUT gained weight during both while nursing. I lost all pregnancy weight only to slowly put 20-25 lbs back on while nursing…

I meet with Dr Enochs July 8th, I've had my labs, EKG, UGI and chest x-ray. I meet with the Dietician July 8th and have the Psyc eval July 11th. I have BCBS of NC. My questions are; What kind of Pre-Op diet does Dr E put you on? How long does it take to get your approval and surgery date?

Hi everyone, I am scheduled for surgery August 15. I am very excited but also a bit jittery. Planning to be stoic about all this. I am looking forward to getting this extra weight off me. My doctor is John Debarros in Phoenix/Tempe Arizona. He specializes in both types of weight loss surgery. Bryn:smile2:

Hi everyone, my name is Renee. I was banded on July 25, 2008 in Houma, LA. I had complications from the anesthesia and had to stay overnight. I wasn't holding anything down except ice chips. I thought I was in hell those first few hours. As the next day went on I started feeling much much better. It helped to get up and walk around. I have lost a total of 12 pounds since surgery. I was on liquids for just a week post-op. I was weak and couldn't find the stregnth to do anything. Once I started the soft proteins the second week (which the bariatric nurse ok'd) I started having energy and getting around a whole lot better. I have been on the same protein diet for almost 2 …

:mellow:Hi every one I am new to the site and i am hoping to get a feel about the lapband I have been dieting most of my life and I have never been small in my life.

I am not been banded. I talked to my GP about it a while back and wondered if I could adopt the lifestyle changes needed. :thumbup: I plan to see my GP again for another discussion. My thinking is that even if I need to change my lifestyle to fit the dietary changes, the end result should be worth it. One of my main concerns was proper hydration during my outdoor activities here in Florida. I really tank up on Water. That would have to change to more of a sipping approach, I suspect. I need to do something. I thought getting into a good exercise pattern would do it for me but that's not the case. Knowing I need to change my diet isn't working. I need a more directi…

Ok, so I'm new to LapBandTalk. I live in Idaho, and I am planning on having lapband surgery sometime in September. I've finished all the requirements, and I am now waiting on the insurance company to do their thing. What was the HARDEST thing for you about the surgery? (before, during, after, etc?) I'm really nervous, and I have about talked myself out of it a million times. I guess I need people to tell me it's worth it and why! :tongue_smilie:

:tongue_smilie: Hi all~I'm new here. I am going to my first dietician appointment next Wed. (I have to do the 6 month diet before the surgery) and I have some questions. I am 5'5'', 30 years old and I weigh 370lbs. I'm supposed to go in and do blood work before my appointment. Just wondering what they are checking for? Anyone know? I'm assuming diabetes and just general health? THANKS!

Hi, I am currently undergoing the evaluation process for bariatric surgery at TuftsNEMC in Boston, MA. I want to have the lap-band done but the doctors and exercise physiologist keep pushing the Roux-NY-gastric bipass and I am totally confused now!!! My primary care physician recommended the lapband because I have fibromyalgia and it is the least invasive procedure. HELP.

I posted a hello earlier but was looking for anyone in the Central PA area, Looking for all experiences and expectations. Please reply. Best wishes Karen

I was just banded on monday and you don't really realize how much you eat until you are not eating. By now I would have had a Breakfast sandwich from some fastfood joint, a cup of tea, lunch from a local restaurant, some fruit, a soda,etc. But I have been sipping on this same Protein shake for over an hour now because I am full. I had some chicken broth and some crystal light that I have been drinking all morning which I am sure I will not finish since I mixed it with 20 ounces of Water. AND I AM SATISFIED....who would have thunk it. My procedure went well, Thanks Dr. B and staff, and I stayed overnight, thanks to all the nurses at Wise Regional Health Systems for takin…

This website is great! It is just loaded with information. :huh2: I know I don’t have as much to lose as most & hope to prevent getting to that point. Here’s my story: After high shool, …after moving out & starting to work, I started putting on weight. I think that is probably pretty common. No rules, you could eat what you wanted. I yo-yo’d from 125 to 135 –157 (back & fourth) - 182 at the end of my 1st marriage. I became a chronic insomniac & to this day need medication to sleep at night. I inherited migraines from my grama & have had pretty much one form of headache daily or another for the last 20 years. (That is a lot of Advil.) This…

Hello ALL, I am from Kansas and was banded May 20th and I have had 3 fills since. I have lost 18 lbs. I am still excited about this experience, but not doing well with exercising. I have a husband, 3 kids, a full time job and working on my masters. I don’t want to loose weight to fast, for I am going for the slow and stead approach, but was disappointed when did not loose any weight in between my last fill. While I am glad that i did not gain, it was slightly frustrating. My goal for next week is to try and at least get some type of exercise activity in. Wish me luck. PS – I was able to get a weight track, but do not know how to get it to post on the…

I weigh 258 and my ideal body weight is 131? So how do I figure out the percentage?

Anyone from New Braunfels, or San Antonio area. Dr. Wright at the Nix center will be doing my surgery and I was just wandering if there is anyone who had Dr. Wright as their Surgeon. Hope to have my surgery in September.

This is my first post. I live in VA. I have jumped through all the hoops. Did my three month diet and excersie, needed for Aetna. Lost 18 pounds. And have been lurking on this great site for many months. Today I got the call from surgeon and got approved. It only took about 1 week. I will see him soon to get all the final details. I am going to NY at the end of Sept. so I guess I will get it done in Oct. After that terrible 2 week pre-op diet. Thanks for all of your help. Anyone from Fredericksburg????

Hi everyone, I'm Christina. I'm 26 years old and will be banded in 2 weeks (Aug, 28th). I'm both excited and nervous about my new journey but am looking forward to this experience. I currently weigh 310lbs and have become this heavy due to lack of excersise because I have Degenerative Disc Disease. My back has affected me for almost 5 years now, and before being injured I was able to do anything. I was still considered overweight but I would be out and about, going dancing with friends, playing sports and keeping up with my very young sibilings at the time. I'm also married to my super supportive husband, he's been my everything going through all of this and I t…

Hi, My name is Mike or Big Mike to most people. I have been getting ready for the lap band procedure for the past six months. My banding date is on Aug. 26th I am very nervous. I have been on a 1200 calorie diet for the past month and I have lost 31 pounds so far I like it, but the thing that keeps popping through my mind is, if I can lose 31 pounds dieting is this the right thing for me? I have struggled with my weight my whole life. I have done all the diets... weight watchers, slim fast counting calories. you name it I've probably done it. I joined this forum to make sure I am doing the right thing, and also to talk to other people in the same situation. So if you…

Hi all, I am in Central Texas. I have been lurking around here for about a year and have decided to go ahead and take the plunge. I just talked to my insurance United Health Care, and I am covered for bariatric surgery. They said my doc just need to submit plans, and they will let me know what hoops I have to jump through (not exactly those words....lol) I have to be honest, the side effect of death has me kind of buggy. I have 4 children, 3 under 10, and I don't want to do something that will leave them without a Mom. This is the only thing keeping me on the fence. Any insight? Angie:eek:

Well, I had my Nutrition class yesterday (Aug 13th) and had all my pre-op done. Guess what, I started getting a bad headache and sore throat yesterday too. I wake up this morning and still have a sore throat but no headache. The N.P. at the surgeons office thinks that it is just my allergies and I sure hope she is right. If my throat isn't any better but this afternoon, I'm calling my family doctors office and making an appointment to make sure it is not anything other than my allergies.

I live in Flower Mound area. Used Dr. Marsden, he's a great doc. However, Marsden referred me to AIGB (American Institute of Gastric Banding) in Richardson for the processing and followup. It took me over a year and a half to finally get this going and I had to go thru 2 totally different approval processes due to the incompetence and foot-dragging from the AIGB office in Richardson. :tt2: They goofed around and strung me along for so long my insurance changed mid-stream, so I had to to thru 2 separate insurance processes -- Cigna, and Aetna. Then once I FINALLY got the surgery, June 9th, (when AIGB got the go ahead to schedule the surgery in early March!!!) I could neve…

Hello everyone, I am a new member, got my band on 7/31/08 and doing fine, 2 wks on liquid and just today started on creamy soups and cream of wheat. I started feeling hungry (not head) about 5 days post-op, after drinking protein shakes I felt fine. It helps to read about other banded people, thanks, later.

I am coming up on my 2 year anniversary. I started at 234 lbs before surgery and went down to 179lbs. I am now back up to 204 and am very distressed. I don't feel full, even after a fill. My Dr. has checked the band and he said it is in perfect condition. Has anyone else experienced this?