Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

:drum:Hey August Banders.....become a Crazy Ate! Come join us in the monthly groups! We're waiting for you. There's no initiation and we don't even require shoes and a shirt!!!! :clap2: Join in the fun and sharing as we make our way to August! It's a place where you can be yourself, be someone else or maybe even *become* someone else! Heck, you can even bring your old Aunt Betsy if you want! Come to think of it, Uncle Fred is more than welcome too!!! :hippie: Be sure to bring along your smile, your sense of humor and please wear a *CRAZY HAT* when you come so we can recognize that you're ONE OF US!!!! :peace: We're making lots of plans so don't miss the fun!!!…

August 23--it's official--I'll be in Banderville! It's been a 5 month wait but, I am ready to begin! Anyone joining me that day?

Hi, I've been reading posts here for a while now, so I though it was about time to introduce myself. I'm 32 and live near Cincinnati, married and have 3 kids. I've fought with my weight for about the last 20 years or so. I remember being drug to my first Diet Workshop meeting when I was 11. My doctor actually tried to talk me into WLS last June. I immediatly shut him down, I had heard too many horror stories about gastric bypass and I wanted no part of that. I decided to go the route of yet another diet. This time an all liquid diet at a hospital. I starved myself for about 3 months (500 cal. a day) and took up running with my brother (who is in the Navy and training for…

I was told I couldn't eat salads. I'm 6 weeks out and have been scared to try. Does anyone who's 6 months or more out have problems or is it just another " some people do and some people don't". I felt being "stuck" last night for the first time and believe me I won't try anything that I knowingly know that could get me stuck. I also lost 26 lbs. in 3 1/2 weeks and am stuck. Has anyone gone on a "diet" after being banded? What's the trick to get the scale to move?

There Are Only 2 Hospitals In The US That I know Of That Have It Any Kids Who Had It Or That Are Going To Have It Please Feel Free To Submit Your Thoughts Im Having It Soon Please feel Free To Contact Me ill Be Checking Later

:clap2::clap2::clap2:Hi there! I am being banded tomorrow! I am so excited. I know 7 others are flying into San Diego to be banded by Dr. Juan A. Lopez-Corvala tomorrow as well, and just by chance is there anybody out there who falls in this catagory? It would be really cool to know somebody in cyber space that will be banded the same time as me! Anyway, wish me luck! I'll be back to tell my story on Friday!

I will admit that I cried when I found this site and read everyone's stories. My name is Savanna. I will be graduating from college in December and I will be a teacher. I actually start my student teaching tomorrow. I have been researching LapBand for about 3 years, and I have decided that it is the best option for me. The only thing is that my insurance doesn't cover it. I'm fine with that because I have been reading about a lot of financing options that are available. I can't work while I student teach but I plan on starting my journey as soon as I graduate and obtain a job (hopefully in Jan. or Feb.). Has anyone else been financed for the band? What is my first step? I…

I had surgery to remove two disk from my neck 1 1/2 years ago. It did not heal correctly and now my doctor wants to perform another surgery. I currently have a BMI of 37. I am looking in the Lap Band. I am hoping losing the weight will help my neck pain. Does anyone have experience with this? Will this qualify me for surgery?

I was all set to have the lap band on July 6th, and I let family talk me out of it. I work in a hospital that has a weight loss facility. Everything went wellgetting insurance approval,and the cost was going to be very reasonable due to me being an employee. My sister also works at this hospital as an RN, and harshly voiced her negative opinion against the dr performing the surgery, and also told everyone she knew (they also know me) in the hospital about the bad choice I was making. My husband also became extremely worried the night before my surgery due to friends influencing him. I therefore cancelled. Has anyone had such problems getting support from the people …

Hi, all. I signed up to participate on this board last August, but things happen and I just did not get to it. Now that my life has kind of settled down, I am looking forward to being active and post as much as possible, I would like to know if any of you were banded in Mexico? I was banded on May 27, 2005, in Tijuana, Mexico, by Dr. Kuri and I would do it all over again if I had to. I began this journey @ 270 lbs and as of yesterday I weigh 168.5 lbs... a loss of 101.5 lbs....gone forever! :clap2: I am a 53-year-old woman, married for 32 years to the same, loving husband who has supported me through this entire process. We have three grown children and 2 1/…

was looking for people in Texas who have also been banded in August to sorta compare and support each other......I was banded on 8~17~07 and my starting weight was 253 and my goal weight is 159.....Still on my liquids until Friday then i move to mushies !!! YAY........

I am beginning my journey tonight. I feel physically lousy all the time! At this moment my ankles and knees hurt so bad I want to scream. I have type II diabetes, high blood pressure, high choleterol and arthritis in my knees and probably ankles. I take meds for all of these conditions.I carry a great deal of weight around my midsection and have lower back trouble. My mobility is decreasing with each passing day. I have difficulty finding a comfortable position that enables me to fall asleep and stay asleep. I was always an athletic tomboy, but still fat. I have tried liquid diets, Quick Weightloss, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, and low carb/high protein diet…

I'm very excited to have found this site! I'm starting the process of getting a Lap-Band. My informational session is on September 7th. I'm hoping that after that session I can have a surgery date within a month. I hope that's realistic! Is there a website that offers reviews of surgeons? The surgeon I'll probably be using is Dr. Macquire in Dayton, Ohio.

Hi, how is everyone doing? This is my first thread! I was banded on August 16, 2007 by Dr. Seger in San Antonio, Texas. It has been a little over a week since my surgery and I have lost 12lbs. I have my post-op apppointment on Aug. 30! I have been doing okay on liquids, but I do get hungry (especially in the evenings)! How long did you have to wait to get your first fill? :huggie: I am worried that once I start eating, I will eat too much because I don't feel restricition yet. Did this happen to any of you?

Hello fellow banders: I just had my band installed on 8/13/07. I'm curious as to why we have to be on liquids for 3 weeks. I was recently in a situation where I had been out of the house all day at a function and didn't have any of my Protein liquids with me. I opted to have a few tablespoons of tuna fish at that point, just to get something in my system. I had no problem digesting it. So why do I have to be on liquids if I can tolerate food? :help:

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited! I had my consultation today with Dr. Malley in Kansas and I am scheduled for surgery on Oct. 2!!!! YAY!!!! Can you tell I am excited?!?!?!

Hello everyone I am due to be banded on Sept 24th and wanted to know if there are any tips I should know going into this?

Hello everyone! My name is Bente and I'm just beginning this journey. I am 29 years old, a mother of three, a wife of a soldier, and a registered nurse. I am not morbidly obese...I am just obese *enough* to not qualify for most surgical centers here in the US. Even if I did qualify, my insurance does not cover lap-band (tricare). My current weight is 226--my highest ever not being pregnant. I am 5'8". I know that doesn't seem like much but on me it is a different story. I have been heavy MY ENTIRE LIFE. I was a fat kid, a fat teenager, a fat young adult. As I get older, I'm finding it's getting harder on my body. My hips ache, my knees hurt, my asthma…

Hello all. I am new here. I have never posted on a board, but I figure now is a good time to try. I am awaiting approval for my band. I go for all the DIagnostics tomorrow and I am nervous. There are not many people I am willing to tell, so I don't have many people to talk to about this. You all seem so nice. Someone please wish me luck, this surgery would change my life. Thanks! Melissa300 Not Banded Waiting on Insurance approval 306/300/150ish:rain: Ps: why is it raining all the time. I feel like I am drowning in Texas

I am going for my surgery on 8/22/07 and felling great.

Hello everyone, I'm Chris from Kansas City. I just met with my nurses today at the Weight Loss Surgical Center in Overland Park, KS. Not sure who my doctor would be. Still not 100% on getting the surgery. The wife is VERY on the fence about it. I'm about 95% for. I lost about 60 pounds about 18 months ago and put back all of it PLUS 20 more. I'm at 342 as of this morning with a BMI of 44.2. That's bad, right? Can't be good. I'm a fast food fatty. I can't drive by one of them places without stopping in. If I told you how often I ate there you'd flip your lid. My wife wants me to try "everything else but that" including acupuncture and hypnosis before agreein…

I am very new to all this. I am having my 1st Dr appt with my GP to discuss the possibility of getting a Lap-Band. I am just wondering if anyone has had it done in my area and if anyone has any input that can help me along in this process. Thanks- Nichole

Hi. I was banded on 7/26. Things are going pretty good. I've had some issues with solid foods, but I keep on trying. I had to laugh when I was reading about "slime". You don't know what this is about until it happens to you. What does PB mean? :confused:I'm guessing it means to throw up, but I'm not really sure. Can someone please help this newbie so that I can understand the lingo? Has anyone out there had issues with shoulder and neck pain? Even though I'm almost four weeks out from surgery I've recently started having shoulder and neck pain. The pain is almost like the pain after anesthesia, but goes up to my neck too. I think it might be from hurling so much sinc…

Ok here I am, new to this site and newly banded. I've been banded since 7/31/07, not a month yet. Eating chopped food I have to say you can call me toddler as I'm hanging out with my great nephew who turned 2 yesterday and I think he eats more than me. I've been on OH since the beginning of my journey but I'm looking for a support group in the middlesex/essex area. So I'm searching.

Hello, Not sure if I am in the right place for introductions. I was 62 in may this year. I weigh 124Kilos. I live in New South Wales, Australia. I truly thought I was too old to be banded untill I saw the ages of some of the members on this forum. I have tried many diets over the years with no luck. I always go back to my old habbits. I admit I comfort eat but am really scared now as 2 weeks ago I needed to be put on medication for diabetes. My ankles swell terribly which makes my getting around almost impossible. As for excercise my feet and ankles hurt too much to walk any distance. Because of my inactivity I am scared of putting on more weight. Does anyone know i…

Hi I am new to the forum. I am looking into getting the lapband but so far things arent lookin good. I am tryin to get insurance to pay for it.

Hello, I am a 61 year old grandmother of 5 from Connecticut. I am going to the seminar on Friday. My hubby will be coming with me. I'm wondering if after all the years of eating anything and everything I will be able to do fluids, soft foods etc. Have any of you had experience with this? I am 130 pounds overweight with diabetes II, osteoarthritis of the knees, and psoriatic arthritis which affects my hands and lower back. I really need help to get this weight off! Bea:help:

Hello new to this. Just got my approval to see the surgeon. I have my first appt on 09/20/07 I really nervous about this whole process, I have had surgery twice for c-sections but never been put to sleep, and I have read in other post not on this web site that people have problems with blot clots is there anyone out there that had this problem. Look forward to meeting new friends have a great day:nervous

Hello all, My name is Crystal Miller and I was banded June 26, 2007 and have lost 13 lbs. I just went for my second fill today and am having a little bit of adjusting compared to the first fill. I have a three year old daughter named Jade who started school Aug. 13. I am divorced time two. However, have survived a my ex-husband leaving me for a man, cancer and obesity. However, I am strong.... I am currently finishing my Doctorate in Healthcare Administration which will be my 7th degree. I am a Mensan. So, despite several hills I have several others things going for me that lessen the blow. I am proud of my scars and my lapband. Before surgery, I weighed 240lb at …

well... I'm actually in the very first stages of deciding whether i'm going to do this. I'm not nervous at all, which is odd i think considering what i'm thinking about doing. i hate doing these introductions I never know what to write lol. I hate throwing up, so that's really and honestly my only issue with the whole thing. i'm 21, 22 in a few weeks actually. I've always been pretty heavy, my doctor says "i carry it well." w/e that's supposed to mean... i guess it means that it's spread out evenly lol i'll go with that. i'm about 5'7 and come in about 267. I checked my BMI in a few places and i got anywhere from 40 -41.5. *shrug* idk what made the difference. i'v…

Hello Everyone! I am so excited! Tomorrow is my consultation with Dr. Malley in Kansas and I couldn't be more ready!!! I have a 3 hour drive to get there... but after doing my research the drive made sense. I recently moved from the Kansas City area... and returning for surgery was the best option for me! So... wish me luck!

Hello, I'm a 27 year old single mother of two. I am currently 5'1/ 240. The biggest I have EVER been, and not willing to get any bigger than this. When I saw that my weight and my BMI made me fall into the morbidly obese category, I KNEW I had to do something. I've been researching the lapband for half a year now and I think I am ready to schedule my consult. How has this process gone for those of you who have already been banded? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. THANKS AND GOD BLESS. :help::rolleyes:rolleyes::clap2:

Hello to All! I've been doing some voracious LBT reading for the past few days and I'm cruising through the pre-op process rather quickly. I am a patient of Dr. Oh in Federal Way, WA, and I have a surgery date of Sept. 27 scheduled. So far I've had no problems re: insurance, a topic I see gets a lot of discussion. I live in Gig Harbor, WA, and I'm a working co-parent to three young boys. I've finally decided to DO SOMETHING about all this extra weight, and I guess now is the time! I don't want to be held back in participating with my boys as they grow up and do all those fun, active things...I gotta keep up! And, I'd love to live to see them all grow old as well…

:clap2:Hello fellow bandsters! Just banded on 8/16/07 by Dr. Adam Smith of Ft Worth. Surgery went awesome and I feel really great. Still a little sore at times if I have been going all day, but otherwise, doing good! Can't "weight" to get this weight off and live like a real human being again!!!

I finally got the nerve up to call back the people from the WLSC... I had signed up for a seminar, taken an online survey, and asked for more info.. several times, but always chickened out when they called me..... Well yesterday I called them back and tomorrow I have a consult appointment, they faxed a boatload of paperwork to me to fill out and have ready. I will then have the road to insurance approval. Even if I don't have insurance approval, they offer a self pay price of 17,500 for EVERYTHING including the consult and a year of unlimited fills......... I am nervous about having foreign objects in my body, but I don't want to go the gastric bypass route. I hav…

I am new to this website and wanted to jump right in and say hi to everyone! I was banded on June 27, 2007. Looking forward to getting to know you, finding help along the way, and giving my newbie two cents where appropriate.

Hello again! Well, I told my cardiologist this morning that I would like to go ahead with the lap band surgery. He will be finding me a surgeon and scheduling my initial visit. Now that I have made the decision, I would like to know, how long (approx) between the time you first met with your surgeon until you had your procedure done? (anxious much...lol) I am very excited and scared/nervous, but I do believe this is the right decision for me personally!! Thanks for listening Rae

Hi, I just got banded yesterday. So far, so good... Lots of swelling and bloating, and a fair amount of general discomfort. But my surgeon says that it will all go away soon. I'm looking forward to learning a lot from this Discussion group. Warmest Regards, Everyone! TheBear

well, i went home and found my bcbs benefit book and found out what the customer service rep. told me was true. #20 states...the plan covers and will not pay services intended to treat obesity, such as gastric bypasses and balloons, stomach stapling and jaw wiring. i just knew that couldn't be true. but it's in black and white. so, is that that? can i appeal? am i able to appeal? or do i just give up the idea of getting this procedure through my insurance carrier. i'm hoping with my medical problems that i explained in my introduction earlier today, and maybe with the help of a concerned doctor/doctors i might be able to get it. what do you all think. is this ir…

What if you get a stomach virus with the band? I know the doctor does not want anybody with a band repeatedly vomiting - do you go to the emergency room for an anti-nausea vaccine? I'm not banded yet but very concerned since I have a child in school and he brings home every sickness known to man and I have had the stomach thing numerous times and it's BAD and I'm assuming not so good for the band - any suggestions if this happens? Maria

Hello Everyone, I am thinking about getting the Lap Band Procedure done, and I found this site while doing research. I have read through some posts and felt this would be a great place to join while going through these decisions and eventually (hopefully) the Procedure. I am 34 years old and weigh 294!!!! OUTRAGEOUS!!! I also have a pacemaker due to a genital heart condition. I am nervous about the procedure, and also very hopeful. I have been overweight since I was 18 and had my first child. However, this is the heaviest I have ever been. I really want to get healthy again for me and my family!!! I look forward to "meeting" everyone! Rae

I recently went for an Endoscopy as part of the pre-op testing. The test showed I had a hernia. The surgeon told my MSO that he would rather I have the gastric bypass surgery instead of the band because of the hernia repair. Anyone ever experience this or hear of it? I have an appointment with the surgeon on 8-20-07 and hope to ask some questions then. (I was out of it when he talked to my fiance). I'm really bummed and want the band not GBS. So I'm hopeful. Lap it Up Lansing Michigan

One hurdle reached. Lots more to go. I still have over a month until my info seminar. I wish there was a way to expedite things. What kind of stuff do they want to know in the psycological exam? How soon after the seminar can you get scheduled for surgery? Sorry about the questions, I'm getting anxious now. Talk soon, Cherie

After resisting my Doctor's gentle persuasions for the last 5 years, I finally told him "Yes" a couple of weeks ago. I thought he was going to cry! Poor man. I've got at least 150 pounds to lose, sleep apnea, pre-diabetes, cholesterol, poor circulation in the legs, achy knees, asthma, and a few other issues going on... so it's time. Especially because I've had three bronchitis attacks since Christmas...no fun!:sick So far, I've filled out their questionaire, returned it, and spoken with my insurance company. Now starts the waiting game.:bored I know it's not going to be easy, but I have the support of my husband, daughter (who lives in NY), and some good friends. …

Hi all!! My name is Jackie. I am from PA. I was banded 8/14. Went for my week checkup today and lost 11.5lbs :clap2:. I'm feeling pretty good...hope that keeps up. Anyway, thanks, just wanted to introduce myself. Hope to meet a lot of new people/friends here. :whoo:

Hello everyone......have been reading here for a while, and feel i have found a place of rest!!! It appears that we are all in this together, im not alone, and i have my comrades here for me.....Im going to the surgeon at 4 today(chicago time!!!) to schedule , hopefully, my surgery.. I have been jumping through the hoops for a year( HMO) and now its time....i currently weight 267, 5 5, and i hate myself!!! (I have such a pretty face) (if i ever hear that again will be too soon.....im raising a teenage girl(17) and 2 grandsons 4, 5, and i need the energy, which i dont have. My feet hurt all the time, and i cant climb stairs, Im in good health other then slight blood press…

I am 59 years old and 3 days post-Op and feeling great so far. I expected this surgery to really take a toll on my body, but so far my recovery has been without pain or complications. I had my surgery in Tijauna Mexico on Saturday, Aug 18th and everything went smoothly. I thought I would have a problem adjusting to my new way of eating but so far I am sticking to the plan my doctor gave me. I must admit though, the first day of jello and apple juice did get to me, all I could think about was solid food. But I promised myself that I could do this and I know with a little determination I will. :mad: deej

Saw the Doc today 13 days post surgery and I lost 10.5 pounds. however he is very conservative and wont allow me a first fill for a total 6 weeks from surgery. Sadly he is on vacation that week so I have to wait a total of 7 weeks from surgery. This sucks because in the last couple of days I have completely regained my appetite. I know this is normal but it sucks anyway. I really want the full feeling back that I had last week. Will Angels fly because they take themselves lightly

Hi everyone. My name is Shelbie and I am from Maine. I have been banded and I am one week out right now. I was banded in Bangor and my surgeon was Dr Toder. I have some weight loss so far, but some of it is most likely fluids that they put into me in the hospital. I don't have my own LapBand site and I've been searching a while to find a site like this one here.

I am once again considering the Lap Band and would like to know if anyone is from WA that has been banded?