Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

i have tried it all. i was placed on my first diet at the age of 8, kinda gives a child a complex if you ask me! but i have tried weight watchers, slim fast, exercise of all kinds, starving, all fruit, diet pills, basically you name it i tried it. but it never worked. in high school i was a runner on cross country. even running 5 miles daily and working out and eating well didn't change my weight problems. as i get older and become less and less excited with my body i finally decided to change the problem. i am tired of being the fat girl with a pretty face. my boyfriend sees nothing wrong with me, my friends say i'm not fat, my family critics my body all the time an…

Okay ya'll - if it is okay, I thought I'd start a new thread just for the Darton Walking Group. Are we still on for today? Jeannie? Bagweaver? ParaGirl? Hollybelles? Anyone else? Everyone is welcome to come...

yippie!!!!! i just talked to my insurance company and found out that my phys evaluation and my dietian consult and better yet my surgery is all covered 100% under my plan i have been saving because i just knew i was going to have some out of pocket expense for my surgery the only thing out of my pocket is my 10.00 co-payment for my office visits whew what a huge releif!!!!:thumbup::thumbup:

I got a really bad cold that continued with a cough I've had it for a few days and the cough was really bad. So, I am worried that if LB can slip? due to excessive coughing? It feels sore or light pain if I take a deep breath.:confused: I am feeling very tight right now so I am trying to take it easy with liquids only. So has anyone had a really bad cough related to a cold and had any issues..any info would be very helpful. I am new to this so I hope I did this right:redface:

hey everyone, my name is cindy and i am goin for my 1st consultation visit wit the bariatrics clinic in langhorne, pa. i am very excited and hope i can get some good advice from everyone here. how long usually does this whole process take?? hopefully i am not lookin at a long time i cant wait a couple of months but hopefully its nothin like the gastric bypass where u have to wait like 16 months...any advice or questions u think i should ask my doctor. thanx

Hello all, I have been banded now, for nearly 2 1/2 years by Dr. Yau and Dr. Joffe from the TLBC in Toronto, Canada. I now live in Glasgow, Scotland and went for a fill adjustment today as I suddenly became uncomfortably tight the past couple months. I learned today that I have now lost 105 pounds which I am thrilled about, and feel fantastic. Progress has been slow and steady for me, and my first year saw much less weight loss than I had originally hoped. Realizing today that I've lost over 100 pounds, I see that first year was important to go through, and that in the grand scheme of things doesn't really matter. I am now at a point where eating is in control and the e…

Hi, I got my band in Nov 2006. Surgeon was Jerome Manceau and procedure was carried out at the Advanced Cosmetic Clinic in Dublin, Ireland. No problems to date really other than the Clinic has sold out to a new company based in the UK and not allowed to practice in Ireland yet. This is a problem for me in realtion to getting the band filled. Waiting to see if I can get any information from you guys that might help me. I have managed to lose 56lbs so far. Started off at 303lbs, now weigh 247lbs and would like to get down to 154, so another 93lbs to go. Still am pretty bad in relation to junk food. Big problem with chocolate. Still so easy to eat with the band…

OK!!! I got my call, I have all my labs finished tomorrow, an appointment on Tuesday and Wednesday, SURGERY Friday the 12th. I am so excited. I started a 800 cal. a day diet to shrink my liver on the 4th.

I am anitaj from southeastern New Mexico. My twin 32 y/o daughters and I were all scheduled for banding in Monterrey, Mexico with Dr. Rumbaut in February. I developed pneumonia a week before surgery and was in the hospital when they went for theirs. I was worried and jealous and frightened. They had never been out of the US, spoke no spanish, were not well traveled...but they were 150-200# overweight and determined. They came back full of wonder and hope. After I recovered, I had mine done on April 17th. It was a very good experience. I am an RN and was prepared to nit-pick. There is nothing but positive to report. We have had absolutely no problems. One daught…

Hi, I am new to the site! I am having pre-op tomorrow (6/4/08) and Banding on Thursday (6/12/08). I had the thought that I would not have any hunger sensations. After reading some of the posts, I don't know about that! I may have a long road ahead of me. I need the site for constant support. I am glad you are here. I want to lose weight and extend my life so I will do what it takes to succeed. Please pray for me. I live in Aurora, CO and my doctor is Johnathan Shoen at the University of Colorado Hospital Bariatrics clinic. My entire family is behind me. I have about 135 lbs to lose.

Hello! I posted about a month ago, asking questions about banding. From there I prayed, and researched (more) and decided the band is exactly to tool I need to succeed with my weight loss goals. I've so confused about all the insurance stuff. I called member services and they said the surgery is coverage and gave me a link to the clinical policy bulletin which reads... Aetna considers open or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), open or laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) with or without duodenal switch (DS), or laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) medically necessary when the selection criteria listed below are met. Sele…

this is my first time on the forum and I am interested in having the procedure, however I am very scared and nervous. Is this prcedure really worth it? Will it feel like I am starving myself? I have a consultation appointment on july 1st. Can someone provide me with honest feelings regarding the procedure.

Hi, I'm Paula. I am 39 and ready and waiting for my lab band surgery. It's scheduled for 1/7/09. I began my journey in February, attending the seminar, and it took me until 6/3/08 to get up the nerve to call to schedule my appointment with Dr. Means (UPMC St. Margarets in Pittsburgh). So...they scheduled all my tests and even gave me the surgery date. Of course I have to complete the required 6 months weight counseling and the psychological evaluation as well. After reading several posts on here, I know that this is the right decision for me. I cannot wait to have this done and start living a healthier life. I am married with 3 children (3,5,7) so they keep me pretty…

Hi everyone, I am so glad to find this forum to be able to ask questions and learn more about the lapband. I have been wanting this for a long time now, but too undecided to get it done. I am 63 years old with numerous aging health problems that can be helped by having this surgery to help me remove some of this weight. .the main problem is, I have leg and foot problems which prevent me from walking very much (not at all right now, until an ulcer heals). I am presently in a wheelchair. Any suggestions on types of exercise I can do to help my weight reduction? I can't go swimming..Podiatrist nixed that idea. I am grateful to any and all suggestions. I must commend you all …

Hello Everyone, well a lil about me im a 24 year old hispanic singel mother of a wonderful 8 yr old lil man. I am new to this forum looking to get the lapband. I have been reading so much about it I think is my best resort since I am an active person so working out for me is not a mission is determination. I weight 266 lbs im 5'6 and BMI is 46. IS horrible im morbedly obese like the doctors say. I want to get my life back im yound and ready to do this!!! I Seen friends with great results im so ready!! on tuesday I go to see the gastroelogist to give my reasons why I want to get it . What will he ask??? thanks ! hope to meet great people here.

I am waiting to get a surgery date. I went to the seminar this weekend and have paid my money.I am waiting on insurance to give the final approval and hopefully then I can schedule the surgery. I am excited and scared at the same time.

My surgery date was 28APR08... I had my first fill on 27MAY08. Tomorrow will be one week from my fill date and everything thing I eat hurts like I am swallowing a golfball. Is this normal? I am taking small bites and eating slow, it took me at least an hour to drink a protien shake this morning.

Hello everyone I am waiting to lose the 25 lbs required for surgery with Kaiser in Richmond CA. I've lost about 5 lbs so far. I weigh in tomorrow at my Bariatric lifestle class. Would love to hear about other people journey. Any suggestions at losing the 25 for surgery? Hope to hear from someone Mary:smile2:

Hello all! I am 39 years old and so excited to get the lap band. I just decided yesterday to do it and told my family who is also excited for me. Now I have PPO and did not go through my doctor I went right to Dr. Oliak in Orange and have all these appt. set up and ready to go for end of August procedure. So, I went through Capital One for additional financing of $6K that I need and only $10K was paid through my insurance. I am being offered a 19.99% interest rate- they are crazy. I think this particular doctors office charges a lot of unecessary things that my insurance will not cover. So, my question is two fold: Have any of you had PPO insurance and went throug…

Let me first start out by saying that I've never been a big meat eater to begin with. chicken is just about the only meat I like. Ok, so yesterday I was on my way to the YMCA to work out, here in Moultrie. I was sitting at a red light and a Sanderson Farms Truck pulls up beside me. It's loaded with chickens. Well, the red light was soooo long and I was looking at these chickens and two things disturbed me. 1.) I knew these chickens were about to die! 2.) These chickens looked terrible! Most of them had no hair on their rears and just looked so unsightly. My parents have chickens (only for eating the eggs), so I know they peck at each other and that's why they had no hai…

Hi all, I had surgery April 14,2008. My surgeon is Dr. Bock in Bellevue and he was great! I lost 26lbs before surgery and 18 since surgery. (Only 4lbs in the past 2 weeks) I generally hang out on the OH website, but I heard about this one and decided to stop by and see what is up here!

I'm Mackie, a grandmother, I'm 58 years old and would love to keep up with my grandchildren. I'm not olded yet, I'm not ready to be put to the paster.I'm at 200 pds can't loss it, having diabetes I stay hungery all the time,night eating. I have my surg on June 25th 2008.I'm looking forward to it.I glad I found LapBandTalk. I'm a beginners. Thanks mackie:teeth_smile:

Hi everyone, I am new to this journey and I have a tons of questions. I was dead set on having gastric bypass until I went to an informational meeting at Hershey Medical Center. Now, I think I am leaning toward the band. I would love any opinions especially from people who have Diabetes. I learned today that the resolution/improvement for DM with the band is actually much higher than is being reported and that 5 years out, banders are even with bypass patients as far as weight loss. I'd love some opinions:sad_smile:

:tongue2:Can't believe its been almost 3 years since i've banded!! I know how much this boards forums helped me out so i just wanted to stop by and say thanks to everyone...we really need to stick together because we are the only ones that really know what one another are going through..So I hope to frequent the forums a little more and even comment a tad bit more...lol....

Hi all I am new here, I am pre-op for the lap-band and my doctor is Dr. Steve Clark from Indianapolis Indiana. I am also I member at OH.com. I am here to learn all I can from all over you..I want all the infomation I can get. Thank you, Holly

The sign in front of work today read 102...this is insane! We need a good rain and cold front. It is only June. What will it be like in late July, early August.... I'm still walking today at Darton. If you see me panting and wheezing from the heat bring me some icecubes and water!!!!

Hi All- I am excited and still apprehensive about my band. I was banded May 28th, and I am still trying to get over the discomfort to learn: what is healing, what is fullness, what is hunger, etc. It's all a bit surreal still. I am glad to have found this site. Other people's posts make me feel less alone. Cheers to all of us!

:eek: Potato chips are evil and must be destroyed! Okay - so Jeannie and I talked about this yesterday and I vowed I wasn't touching the Pringles when I got home yesterday. On occassion, yes, it is fine to have them. Unfortunately it is becoming a ritual. I do not buy Doritos anymore because they are king of the evil and too tempting. I used to sit down and eat an ENTIRE FAMILY bag in one day. I suppose 40 pounds of my excess weight is due to Doritos...so I don't buy them. I do buy Pringles for the kids (and only let them have them in moderation). I specifically didn't buy the Cheeze-Ums...AHHHH cheese ...Did I mention I love Cheese...I bought the Sour Cream An…

Just joined to learn more about what 'real' people are going through. I just received financing today and will attend a seminar on July 12th. I am anxious and hoping that your voices will soothe and encourage me during the next few months. I will be going to Dr. Oliak in Orange, CA with the blessing of my doctor. So, no going back now. I can say good bye to 70 pounds in no time.

does any1 know how to get all the extra things that show weight loss and when you had or have appointments or surgery dates i would really like to knw what link or how you get that downloaded thanks

Hello I'm a lapbander who just discovered this website. I've lost about 40-50 pounds to date as I've had trouble sticking with the eating changes and cheated quite a bit despite my band. However, I'm committed to get serious about this and use the tool i've been given to lose weight and hopefully improve the overall quality of my life. I'm glad to have found a place that has meal suggestions as that has been an issue and if I can somehow be of help to people thinking about having the surgery I'm glad to offer perspective. Also I'm one of the comparably few males who have had the surgery and I'm glad to see that I'm not alone in that regard. I look forwarded to chatti…

hi all...is there somewhere on this site that you can blog or keep a daily diary of yourself and your goals? Thanks

A little about me. I am 39, will be 40 in July. I have three kids ages 15,17, & 22. I have a wonderful fiance, that will be paying for my surgery. He knows I really want to get this done and although, he isn't too thrilled about it personally, he is excited for me because he knows the struggles I have had over the past 6 yrs we have been together. I am also a Registered Nurse (Pediatrics), so I need to practice what I preach in the way of promoting health. There are so many children afflicted with obesity and it is hard sometimes (for me anyway) to get on parents about their child or children's diet or activity when I don't practice good health habits myself. I h…

Hello Everyone. My name is Miranda and I am going into my consultation on June 12th. I have insurance with Kaiser in so cal. My doctor recommended me and I guess I will have to see how things go. I Hope I qualify. I'm not looking for the surgery and a way to improve my looks..and for me its not really about being skinny.. I would be happy at 250. (which was about how much I weighted at 15) I already feel confidant.For me it is mainly about health and being able to be more active. I love to dance and go out to clubs ect.. I want to be able to last longer without getting to tired. Im also not doing it to get in someones good graces.. Ive been with my boyfriend for 5 …

Hi my name is Nikki and I'm new here. I've been lurking since February when my primary care doc recomended Lap Band to me. I was shocked at first, didn't think I was even close to being a canidate for surgery for my weight, but I am! I have my first appointment with the surgeon today. I'm extremly nervous, but excited at the same time. I have my whole family and future husband's support, but I'm just very nervous. I'm not sure what to expect for the first meeting. I'm going to be seeing Dr. Roye through Rhode Island Hospital. Right now my weight is at 246, and I'm 5'4", so totally looking to get down to at least 160, I would be extremly happy with that. I miss being able …

Hello my name is Lisa. I am 33 years old. I have been considering lapband for a year now. I am alittle bit nervous about getting it done.I weight over 200+ and I am so tired of people making fun of me because of my size. I am married and my husband is very proud of me for doing this.I would like to get some informantion on the lapband.

While I'm a newbie to this site, I'm not new to the LapBand. I've been interested in LapBand for years ... have went to two separate bariatric groups and through all their hoops only to be denied because my insurance wouldn't cover the procedure :cursing: and I can't afford it otherwise. I found out about this website through BandstersInsurance Yahoo group and thought that I would check it out. Anyone know any part time jobs that has insurance that would cover LapBand? That might be the only way I can get this done.

Hello. I'm 16 years old and I am 6 ft. 4 inches tall. I have a body mass of over 45. Will I be able to find a doctor to operate on me?

i was banded on the 23rd of may. I haven't had any trouble, other than a terrible full body fiery red rash. found out that I'm allergic to the Protein Drink. Today, I've discovered I'm more hungry. Think my swelling has gone down in my stomach, thus being more hungry. Can't wait for the first fill. Still 2 weeks away. I'm still thrilled that I got this done. I've lost 17 pounds thus far. :biggrin2:

Today I had my consultation with the surgeon today. Things went well. He was telling me about both RNY and the lapband. He told me about everything it seemed. I really like him and totally trusted him. I have no idea how I can feel like I do after it though. I am so annoyed with myself that I've kept this weight on and now have to resort to surgery for help. I almost tried to talk myself into believing again that I could do it on my own. I've proven for the past 14 years that I CANT!!! I'm going through the process and will not stop this time. Just wondered if anyone else did this too?

Hello, I am new to not only lap band surgery scheduled for June 30th, but also to a forum. I am 326lbs and I am so excited to have the surgery. I do have a question that I am having a hard time finding out an answer too. I have PCOS and that makes it hard to lose weight, believe after months of following strict diets and only losing 3 or 4 lbs is very flustrating. Does anyone have PCOS and banded and how are you doing on the weight loss? Thank you for helping. I have learned alot already just reading other threads.

I am scheduled for banding on July 1st, 2008. Whooooopeeeeee!!!:cursing: Maestro is Dr. Woodman, concert hall is Methodist Germantown.

Hi everyone, I'm Jaime a 31 year old mother of 3 boys. I am at my breaking point after YEARS of yo yo dieting I NEED to do something before it is to late. I am currently at my heaviest 240 :scared2: and I am only 5' 3". My DH is in the Navy and I just recently found out that Tricare approved this surgery as long as you were double your healthy weight. Well I am. I have my first appointment on June 2nd. Hopefully they will get me scheduled for surgery by Fall. Wishfull thinking maybe, but we will see. I am sick and tired of being fat. I almost cant wear the seatbelts on the rides at Disney. I am so ashamed of myself. I don't want to be skinny, just normal. I…

Just wanted to come out of hiding and say hello to my soon-to-be fellow bandsters. My surgery date is set for June 20th. It didnt' take long (5 weeks) to meet with all the necessary requirements and got the ok from my insurance within 5 days! I am nervous but very anxious to have it done. I am dreading the 2 week pre op diet of Optifast, but hey, that's what this is all about. Good luck and best wishes to you all! I won't be "lurking" anymore, I'll actually be posting and looking forward to hearing from you!!

id be interested in hearing if any1 is able to drink pop after their surgery they say that the carbonation in it can cause gas and a feeling of uncomfortableness i dont drink alot of pop bt once in a while i have a craving for it can any1 let me know what your experience has been. thank you:smile2:

Hi! After some lurking, I figure I should introduce my self My name is Linda, I'm 21 years old and I live in Sweden. I started gaining weight as a teenager, and it seems to have just gone on. At the moment I'm around 310pounds :phanvan I've tried the normal things of dieting, eating healthier, exercising, but I seem to fail at these things. So after reading a lot about lapband I've started to seriously consider it as an option. I have to say this forum is very inspiring when it comes to that as well, especially the before and after thread was amazing! I'm going to check into what sort of options I have here in Sweden, if I can find a way to get help from t…

I am so excited. June 27th, I have the lap-band surgery. It's a great time of the year for me...with my work and all, this works out so well. Yipee.

Hello everyone, I am amazed at this web site and all of the different questions that i have read. I am getting banded on 6-12. Suppose to be on a high Protein, low fat diet for 2 weeks, which should be now and then Clear liquids the day before surgery. This is going to be really tough for me as i am always starving by lunch. Any Suggestions?????

Hi, My name is Tonya. I am in the middle of doing the footwork needed to get insurance approval for the lapband. I went to my first support meeting last night. I found the support meeting to be quite discouraging though. Has anyone else had this problem? By discouraging I mean that I heard all the cons instead of hearing the 'heppy' outcome. I realize that this is a life changing event and all that but shouldn't we be hearing the good things as well? Prepared is one thing - scared is another.

Hi everyone! May 8, 2008 lapband in SB, CA, Dr. Thoman. Wt 413, in/out same day of surgery, but unfortunately, developed Pulmonary Embolis (my 3rd hospitalization within 3 years. Lost 20 lb in the first two weeks, got dehydrated as well. The last two weeks, upon returning to work, incredible edema and no wt loss. I can tell my clothes are fitting looser, but discouraged about seeing no wt loss. Restriction is not as i expected, I am consuming up to a cup & a half. However, today experienced my first painful restrictive feeling. I ate 1/4c brocolli and 3oz fish pretty fast and the Protein bar i ate less than 2 hours, was still i am sure still around. So that…