Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hi ive been really considering getting the lap-band done i havent seen a physican yet about this disscion i was hoping someone can fill me in on the process. Ive been struggling with weight issues all my life and ive tryed so many diets nothing seems to work. Hopefully someone can give me a little insight on the lap-band system.

Hi everybody! I just joined and wanted to say hello. I'm a nurse in alabama and just started my long journey to get healthy. I received my lap band on June 2nd, 2008 in Huntsville, Al by Dr. Ravindra Mailapur. He is an excellent surgeon and i went home the same day. I have BCBS ins, and it covered my surgery. In the past, it was not covered. I have lost 42 pounds total. 15 pounds of that was lost in the 2 weeks before surgery on the preop diet. I already feel so much better. I am having a lot of hunger at this point. I get my first "fill" on August 19. I am so ready because I am HUNGRY!! This surgeon doesn't tighten the band until 12 weeks post op. I am really focusin…

Hi, My name is kathy and I just got banded on the 23rd of July. Right now I am still sore and learning how to eat and drink without hurting myself. Trying to get set up on here for company and answers and finding that harder to do than I thought. I am in what they call stage two diet here for the first 2 weeks, which is mushy foods. Not sure how you are to eat only 3 meals with so little going or staying in as its all close to liquid. Any help or guidance would be great.

hi everyone just wandered if anyone out there has hypothyroidism, and if so what is your weight loss been like thanks tammy

Hi all, i signed up to the site about a week ago and have been addicted since!! Im still doing my info gathering about banding and know that it is definatly for me. Hopefully in the next three months i should be banded!! Im 5'10 and 392lbs:ohmy: so have a lot to loose, it wont be easy, but it CAN be done!! Would love to hear about all of your experiences, especialy from those who have lost 200lbs+. Am also looking for some msn band buddys......? If anyone is up for it, pls email your msn messenger address n i will add you. hope to hear from you soon. Harriet xx

Last week was a whirlwind of a week. I took myself to the hospital for the next step to a healthy life. The surgery area does not hurt; however, my shoulders are putting up a fuss. I guess that is from the gas used during surgery. I look forward to learning from this forum and blog.

New here and this is my first post. I have been reading and learning a lot from the other posts about every aspect I can think of concerning the lap band surgery. I have just pulled together the money for my surgery. I have insurance, but it doesn't cover. I plan to have my pre-op consult sometime in the next month and schedule the surgery shortly after that. I will be using Great Lakes Weight Loss in Michigan. The price is right! Hope to be thinner by next summer:biggrin2:

Hello--my name is LaDonna. I am 29 and will be having my lap band on July 8th with Dr Schuster here in Louisville. I had my pro-op testing done today and met someone who told me about this site...thought I would check it out.

Hi everyone, my screenname is DiverJewel...I used to post on here alot! I live in Indiana. I have had the Band for 3 years August. I lost 100 lbs. 1 year ago, I became really sick with a Blood disorder I had and had to be on Steriods and have the band completely reversed. ( I am only 35) well.....I have gained back 35 lbs (I dont think that bad, I have heard of worse, right>?) but after 1 year finally my oncologist has given me the greenlight to have liquid put back into my band. I know now that I can not do this without the support of other "banders" no one I know understands. so I am back. looking forward to hearing all your stories....by the way after you give up …

Hello, Everyone!!! I have had my lapband for a week, and I have some questions!!!!! Ok, here is the deal... I have tried to drink the protein but I just can not get it down!!!!!!! I am eating yogurt and drinking the light yogurt smoothies.. If I get around 20 to 25 grams of protein from this will that be enough?? Does anyone have any ideas????? WORRIED!!!!!:teeth_smile:

Hello to all, My name is Lela and I had lapband surgery on June 17 of this year. I started off great losing 18 pounds before my first fill. Right before my first fill, approximately one week before, I went to DC for a convention. I tried really hard to monitor my food intake and thought I did a pretty good job of it. Well, when I returned home I had gained 8 of the 18 pounds that I had lost. I now feel like I have failed at this and cannot seem to get back on track. I feel depressed because this is typical in my history of weight loss trials and tribulations. I was motivated and had started walking (more than I ever have!) and now that I am in this state, I can't get mot…

Hello everyone!! Wow this is a great community! I cant believe how much unbiased info there is on here..that is great! Anyway, I am 29 years old and have been playing this weight game ever since I can remember. I have tried all the diets out there at least twice, only to find myself and my highest weight of about 260. I have not been banded yet, but am seriously starting to look into it. I am attending a seminar next week to find out more also. Any tips? Also, I already checked and my insurance doesnt pay for it...now what? Anyway, I have tons and tons of questions, but I will read as much as i can on these boards before asking! looking forward to getting to k…

Hi, My name is Elizabeth, and I was banded in Richardon, Texas by Dr. Benevides on July 24th. The first 2 days were awful. Pain, gas, soreness, and I was so swollen that I looked bigger than I have ever been. I was really having 2nd thoughts. Today is Sunday. I feel alot better, there is still some soreness and gas, but I feel alot better. There is still some swelling. But at least I don't look deformed. I have had some visitors that told me they can already tell I am losing. It is good to hear something positive after all the negative that I have felt over the last couple of days. I know that it will be worth all the bad in the end. I haven't had any nausea yet, I…

Hi All, I've just joined and I'm looking forward to learning more about living life with a band. A little bit about me. I've been dealing with morbid obesity since early childhood. I have tried just about everything to lose weight, but nothing seems to work. I feel like I have lived my life for food. I had my lap-band surgery last wed (jul 23) and am feeling okay. The shoulder pain yesterday was terrible, but today its much better. My biggest concern is learning to use new ways of dealing with emotions. I have used food as an emotional crutch for years. I didn't realise how much I use it for R&R until I started the pre-op VLCD. However I truly believe that th…

I'm already planning my last supper before I start any pre-op diet. I'm planning to make a HUGE batch of Sangria with lots of fruit, and have a Mexican Fiesta! Tamales, Queso dip, 7 layer salad, green chili...you know. and Tres Leches cake for dessert! I'm also going to invite all of my prayer partners over to pray with me, and play a little Bid Whist to boot! I see the surgeon next Thursday, the 30th and I want to impress upon him that I need to be banded soon - at least by Labor Day. Anyhoo- what did you have for your last supper?

Hello Everyone: I'm 37 years old, from Buffalo, NY, and I was just banded on 7-17-08 in Mexico. I'm pleased with my decision to go to Mexico, I'm just wondering if anybody else has suffered from shingles following the surgery? I'm praying that this is not an indication that my body is rejecting the band. I'm responsive to the medication, but it seems to be taking forever and I'm itching like crazy... Here is another question I have been wondering about: at what point have fellow lapband recipients resumed excercise activities? I started walking almost immediately, but I'm hesitant to head out to the health club. My doctor indicated that I was fine to do the t…

Down 65 lbs so far since 5 Jan 06

Hello, I am 6 months into my band and I love it but still have some "issues" when it comes to eating right sometimes and getting in Proteins. But, I love my tool. Hello to everybody I am glad 2 be here!:teeth_smile:

I will have my surgery on 9/9 and my wife will have her's done on 9/10. We are excited to get this going. My sister and brother-in-law had this done in Florida and just love it. My BMI is 38. Dr. Hall in Lubbock is doing our procedures. He has a great reputation. Wish us luck.:teeth_smile:

Hi Everyone. I was banded on July 21st. After almost a year of waiting for insurance to approve, it was finally done! I can't believe all the emotions that I have been feeling since. I only had to do Clear liquids the weekend prior to surgery. Lost 10 lbs! Amazed, I remember thinking in pre-op that you know I never really tried that hard to lose any weight. Me, I am always looking for an easy way out of things. Well, these first 6 days have been the hardest days of my life. I wished that I have never done this. I guess I didn't research as much as I should have I wish I knew of this website. I didn't even have that much pain or gas, just the soreness from the…

Hi everyone, I am a SAHM to 3 girls and 1 great dh, and am tired of being fat. Last year my kids said they would support me going on "biggest loser" :seeya: I know they were meaning it out of love (want me healthy), but I can't pretend it didn't hurt- and that was when I was 30+ lbs LESS!!! I have Fibromyalgia and have tried for the last few years to exercise from time to time, but it causes a 3 day flare every time :ihih: July we went on a 2 week trip, one place we went was a theme park. I couldn't fit into every ride and just being up on my feet for 10+ hrs and not doing much physically, I was wiped for 2-3 days after. I got on lyrica about 6 mo ago and it wo…

Hello everyone, I'm day 3 post surgery. I'm feeling great. I couldn't be happier knowing I'm on my way. FINALLY! :thumbup:

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I am looking into getting banded but have my reservations about doing it right now. My husband and I want to have a baby soon but I am not sure how safe or unsafe it is to become pregnant soon after getting banded. I have read that you should wait at least a year but has anyone gotten pregnant soon after getting their band? If so, how did your pregnancy go? I appreciate any help I can get!:smile2:

I will be banded on Tuesday. I am feeling a strange sense of calm, but I am sure I will get nervous again. All sorts of silly questions to ask and I am sure the doctor has the answers to most, for example: How long until I can take the dog for a walk? (This involves picking up poop). I am hoping my husband believes when I tell him I cannot walk the dog for 6 months. I want to publicly thank MrsJJ on this forum who will be coming with me to Brussels. She is a real friend. I am trying to find a doctor in southern Sweden (Skåne) that I can see for aftercare so I do not have to make the trip to London or Brussels. Does anybody know someone?

Hi everyone. I was banded back on Feb 1,2006. My surgeon was fired shortly after my surgery and I have had no one following me since then. I lost 45 lbs on my own but have gained 10 back in the past year. I work for a great hospital (UT Southwestern Medical Center) and a doctor agreed to see me. He took half of my fill out on Friday and has put me on a liquid diet for a week. I can have Water and High Fiber Slim Fast and that's it. I was throwing up a lot and not losing weight, seems I couldn't eat anything. I had pretty much given up on the lap band working, but this dcotor has given me renewed hope. He said my stomach had stretched slightly above the band and that the l…

Hi! I'm looking to find fellow Banders in Tampa. I'm scheduled for surgery at the end of August as I found out that I have H. Pylori and am taking 30 days of antibiotics prior to surgery. I'm 33 and have a 7 month old. I'm looking for some support people who are local and maybe around my age or that have kids (although I'll take anyone. I'm not too picky). I'm married, and although my husband supports my decision to have surgery, he doesn't understand being heavy. He's 6'5" and 190lbs so he thinks you should just have will power to control weight. However, he has a super fast metabolism so he's never used will power for anything! I'm new to the area. Just mov…

Just wanted to drop a line and say hello. I got my band on June 23rd. Things are going great so far... Get my first fill in two weeks. Looking forward to it. this is my first post, but I have read the forums for a long time and I learned much before my surgery. I hope to be able to help others as you all have helped me. Have a Great day!!

Hi-- After many years of being overweight (all my adult life), I had heard about the lap-band and thought it seemed like a viable possibility IF insurance covered it. When I checked a couple of years ago, my BMI was less than 40 and I did not have any co-morbities--yet. I feel fortunate that my BP, blood sugar levels, cholesterol, etc... are still good but NOW my BMI is 42 and I have had a reoccurrence of rheumatoid arthritis (I am only 40). Needless to say, the extra weight is not helping my joints. I have been pleased to find that this may not be such a huge problem to get approval. This forum has helped so much. I have spoke with my PCP and she seems quite willi…

Hello Everyone, I've lost 18lbs since my surgery. However, now I am at a stand still. My first fill is on August 15th. It seems like I can eat more than I should. Any advice?:tt2:

Hi Everyone, Just wanted to introduce myself, I am new to this forum and hope to be banded very soon... still jumping through the insurance hoops-I have BlueShield/Blue Cross. Anyone have any experience with that insurance? My husband will be banded this Tuesday the 29th (Dr. Turnquest)and hopefully I will be soon after. DebbieD:wink2:

Hello all! My name is Alicia, I am in Richmond, VA and I was banded at St. Mary's Hospital on July 15 by Dr. David Elliott who is a doctor in the Richmond Surgical Group. I weighed 300 lbs going into this thing and I hope to drop at least 100 lbs. I am 5'10'' so I'm fairly tall, but just weigh too much. Now that all of that is out of the way, I must say that the worse part of this is the gas. I mean I can hear the gas rumbling through my stomach and it is quite unnerving. Im new to this whole forum thing but I have alot of questions.:confused2:

Hi, I am new and will have surgery on the 14th of August. I was thin until the age of thirty and gained and lost weight many times over the years. I can't lose the weight without help and I am ready. I want my life back and I don't want to suffer with the health problems associated with obesity. It is time. I look forward to meeting others. Debbie:biggrin2:

Hi - Have just begun the process leading to surgery. Bloodwork done; Nutrition Appmnt next week; Psychologist appointment in approximately 3 weeks and then -------Who knows for sure? What I do know is that I need to do something soon to help myself get some control over my eating habits after over forty of my 62 years being spent going up and down in weight and feeling like such a failure. Have been reading as much as I can to try to understand just what I might be getting myself into but don't see too much out there written by people in their sixties who have taken the lapband plunge. I want to be excited and positive about it but would really like to hear from "baby-…

Hi. nice to meet you guys. I'm Sam. *waves* I live between Denver and Boulder in Colorado. I've been thinking about surgery for a few years and my doc has been encouraging me to get it for at least 1.5 years now, and since the beginning of this year, I've been thinking more and more seriously about it and now I'm very serious. I'm looking at Dr. K. and Dr. Johnell as potential surgeons. I keep hearing things about stomach erosion and people who end up having to gastric bypasses anyway because of the damage caused by Lap-Band and well, I've heard enough negative things that I'm a little nervous. But I still want to go for it. I have so many health issues and I'm mor…

Hey just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Heather and I live in Gig Harbor, WA. After going round and round with the military insurance and all of the paperwork shuffle, I will be banded on August 15th!!! I cannot wait!!

Hi. I am new to the forum. I am scheduled to have my lap band surgery next week, Wednesday July 30th. I am excited and a bit scared. I am having the surgery at Magee.

Hey Ladies: My banding surgeon told me to lose about 25 lbs, before he will schedule my surgery. He didn't give me any real directions. :wub: For those who have done a Pre-op diet, any suggestions? So far I have lost about 7lbs. I am also going to check with my PCP, once she back from her vacation. I assume some kind of high Protein with liquids should do.

Okay ya'll it is 5:52 am and I am about to head to the hospital to get banded. Please keep me in your prayers. And when I get back I will tell you guys all about it. Thanks again for all the support.......Here I go, Later Ya'll!!!! Yettia:thumbup::thumbup:

Not quite sure if I am posting in the right place...sorry just learning about how to post etc. I just got banded by Dr. Jose Rodriguez in Juarez Mexico. It was outstanding! I think the U.S. could learn a lot from the Mexico doctors. Dr. Rodriguez was compassionate and so knowledgable. The hospital was gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. (and believe me I was very skeptical) Everything went so smoothly and mostly because of my patient Facilitator Jessica. She walked me through the whole process. Answered all of my hundreds of questions , got me scheduled and continues to take my calls with more questions. I would recommend anyone call her because she is a band patient…

I'm in the process of approval. My surgeon requires: pulminary, psycologist, cardiologist and classes. I'm half way there. I'm ready now to get this done and live healthier.

Hi All! I just had by Lap Band Placement thru Kaiser Richmond, CA on 7/8/08. I am so glad to be done with the procedure and looking forward to many positive changes moving forward. I am not having any bad issues and wanted to join up to hopefully offer any advice/motivation/support to anyone that needs it. I am sure that things will come up for me and will equally appreciate any advice from those of you that have already been thru it! Overall...just looking forward to a great, happy, healthy life ahead!!!:frown:

Hi...I am thinking about having Lap Band and have been reading posts at this forum and another one (but that one has a lot more Gastric Bypass posts than Lap Band) to better educate myself. A little about myself...I'm 5' 6" and 248. I just am in that 40 BMI and I have no comorbities but I am sure that continuing with this much weight I will most likely develop them. I am probably like most of you, Weight Watchers for what seems like forever, I was a pretty thin kid and I remember when I was around 17-18, I weighed 155 and I was pretty happy with the way I looked. Then came college, then I put on about 30-40lbs and right before marriage in 1989, I had joined WW and lost …

Hi everyone, I have started the process for my band, and have a few questions. I have Anthem BCBS of SC, and was wondering if there approval time is fast or slow? I have had my Nutritionist and Psycologist appt, I've received my referral from my primary physician, and now am waiting for insurance approval. Anybody know. I am very excited to start this journey after many years of diet pills and yo yo dieting. I am a 33 year old married mother of two and look forward to my new life, with the full support of my husband, children, family and my whole church family. Thanks for reading my post and look forward to receiving some answers. Thanks!:thumbup:

My name is Diana and I am thinking about being banded. I have been thinking about it for a year. I have read books, read forums, and am talking with my family about it. Just wanted to introduce myself.

I was banded June 6, 2008 and I have lost 21 lbs. My starting weight was 318 pounds. I haven't had a fill yet mostly because I'm a little apprehensive about it. I chew and eat slowly with no liquids and listen to my band. I feel that a fill will make it really uncomforatable for me. I feel I also need to lose more, and I intend to by limiting what I eat. Thanks!!

Has anyone with insurance been denied because of an obesity clause "bcbsok" and still get the insurance to pay for it. bcbsok has one but I meet all the bad criteria. I am 35 and would love to live. It is like I can't shake this 100lbs and its causing havoc on me. My primary doesn't believe in the procedure but reading these posts and meeting people I believe in it. Sleep apnea, high blood pressure, type 2 onset diabetes, and joint pain. You name it I have it.

I'm new here and am in the process of trying to learn as much as possible about lapband surgery. I have scheduled my seminar for 08/04/08 but I wanted to inform myself as much as possible before then and this looks like the best place to be. I'm trying to find out what medical conditions may make you ineligilble for the surgery but I'm not having the best luck. Can anyone point me in the right direction or let me know if such a lisy even exists. I'm fairly healthy, except being very overweight (259.6 yesterday morning), but I have had a few medical problems pop up in the last few years. I would appreciate any help. Thanks, Pam

Name Kenny Location Tallahassee, FL Age 29 Height 5'9" Weight 264 READY TO BEGIN!

Hey peeps. Does anyone know what is likely to happen to the excess skin once you have lost your weight- I am 25 so i guess i have age on my side & want to lose about 80lb's & just wondering if anyone has any idea's or 1st hand experiences??