Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

I am JUST beginning my journey... and very fearful of going through all these hoops and then having my insurance DENY! I just picked up my sleep Apnea "machine" and have many more hoops to go. Is there anything I can say/do to increase my chances of being accepted for this surgery? ADVICE ADVICE.. ...... I truly love who I am, but not WHAT I am becoming.. embarrassed for my family, avoiding pictures, reunions, AND summer- .... :help: :think

Hi Everyone, Im New To The Forums, Was Banded 1.5 Yrs. Ago, 2005. Recently, I Started Having Problems While I Was Eating I Started Vomiting, It Feels As If Something Is Stuck, I Can Still Eat And Drink But In Very Very Minimal Amounts, And That Stuck Feeling Is Still There. Does Anybody Have Any Suggestions As To What I Can Do At Home Before Going To The Doctor.

I'm new here, this is my first post. I was banded Jan19, 2007 in Little Rock. My doc was Dr. Clay Wellborn. I am excited already about my weight loss. I went in for my pre-op a few days before surgery weighing in at 298. I weighed this morning and I am at 287. Nice start, huh? I'm sure it will slow down, but that OK. I am still really sore from the surgery. Does anyone have any tips on what I can eat during my liquid phase besides broth and smoothies? :help: I am so glad to find this site, I hope to make lots of new friends:p

Hello! I am new at this. I am waiting to hear from Dr. Fegelman in Cincinnati. All my paperwork is finished and now I am waiting for insurance confirmation and a surgery date. I am very excited and have been reading all that I can about lap band surgery. I have had weight issues most of my life and am looking forward to doing all the things that my weight has kept me from doing. I know it will not be easy but I am up to the challenge! Jane

MY NAME IS JILL. I AM A MARRIED MOM OF 2 AND AN RN. I HAVE BEEN OVERWEIGHT SINCE I CAN REMEMBER..AND AM AT AN ALL TIME HIGH RIGHT NOW. I AM SCHEDULED TO HAVE SURGERY NEXT WEDNESDAY WITH DR. RANDALL AT LAWRENCE MEMORIAL. I AM EXCITED AND PETRIFIED AT THE SAME TIME. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME STICKING TO THE PRE OP DIET AND I'M TERRIFIED THAT I WONT DO WELL AFTER SURGERY!:cry I HAVE HAD SUCH A DYSFUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD ALL MY LIFE AND I HOPE THIS WILL HELP CHANGE IT. BUT I AM WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE THIS WORK. ANYONE ELSE HAVE A HARD TIME LIKE ME..I HAVE LOTS OF SUPPORT BUT NOT MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN IDENTIFY WITH ME.

Hello, My name is Annette Leyba. I am from Midland, Texas and I was reading your messages. I feel for everyone of you. I seem to have alot in common with Kat the lady with the hypothyroid. I have had Hoshimotos now for 17 years. Yes, I started to gain weight and at first it was welcome. The first 10lbs. were good in all the right places. However I now weigh 260lbs. and I haven't grown any taller. I am 44 yrs. old a mother of 3 and I amvery depressed. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield through my employer and i was told the weight loss surgery is absolutley not covered. I also have Tricare Standard since my husband is retired military. I don't knowwhether it covers the sur…

This is my first time posting here. I had my first appointment with my surgeon (Dr. Benjamin Hung) in November 0f 2006, I was told that my insurance would not cover the lap band surgery, so I told myself to take a month and think about if I really truely wanted to do this. A month later I called the surgeons nurse and said let's proceed, I am ready to invest $14,000 in myself, my future and my health. I have already had my Psych eval, and meet with the dietician and passed both with flying colors, I went to a pre-op support group, and I have my final appointment with the pulmonologist (sp?) this Tuesday and if I have her okay I will get a surgery date (which I have bee…

I'm a mom of two, nurse, overweight and tired of it. Overwhelmed with my present weight. Lost 30lbs last year gained about twenty of it back in the past 3 months. So over it all!!!!! I have been researching the lap band, impressed with the fact it is not too invasive. I realize its a real change of life, I am ready for it. I am researching the docs in the Tulsa,OK area, and costs. I will have to self pay since HMO will not pay. Appreciate all the advise I can get. I am very self-controled and disciplined in pretty much every area of my life but this and usually when I want something I go after it until I get it. My husband doesn't understand why I can't do the s…

My surgery is 2/5/07. I'm a little nervous about the first couple of days. For example, do I drink a protein drink 3 times a day or what?

I am a new member here. I was banded on December 26th. It was my 40th b-day present to myself. Since December 17th I have lost 37 pounds. I have many questions regarding menus for this new lifestyle of mine and would greatly appreciate any help that you are willing to give.

Hello I am new to to this site and have enjoyed reading many of the postings. I was banded in September at a starting weight of 263 lbs and have lost a total of 44 lbs. I started back at the gym right after Christmas. I am confused about the lack of weight loss after starting to work out. I work out about 4 times a week I am doing the elliptical for 30 minutes and the treadmill for another 30 minutes. I am averaging over 600 calories burned in the hour that I am there. I have lost NOTHING since going to the gym. Is anyone else experiencing this? My calorie intake is only around 1000-1200 calories a day. I teach first grade so I am very active during the day keepi…

I am very happy to have found you guys. I saw a comercial this morning for the Lap band and I have been looking for info since. I found a doctor here and on January 27th I will be attending the seminar. The one issue I have is the money so as soon as I know the price I guess I will be hitting my bank for a loan, hopefully low inerest. I am 31 yrs old and 210 lbs. I hope I am not intruding since I have not had the procedure.

Hi All, 7 days past banding and feeling sooo much better today. yesterday was my first day "out and about" and was really tired. But ready to go today. I am so excited and feeling positive that I made the right decision for me. Good luck to all those concidering the band, I say GO FOR IT!

Hi Everyone! I joined the forum just today and am so excited to say that I am scheduled for LapBand Surgery this Thursday!! I could not be happier with the choice that I have made. I am 29 years old and will be 30 in March. What better birthday present could I give myself, right?! I have been married to my wonderful husband for almost 2 years. He is in Law School and I work for a bank in Oxford, MS. We have 2 four legged babies, Chester and Max. We had looked into the Lapband well over a year ago and it took me till November 2006 to fully decide to make this life change. I hope to talk to as many people and learn even more than I already have about this procedure…

:clap2: Well, they just confirmed my surgery time. I am so excited and nervous! Last minute jitters about the money I'm spending on this. Just found out this morning that there's a tiny possibilty my horrible insurance would pay for it, (after months of being told there is no way they would pay for it). But I'm going ahead and self-pay. What's $15 grand compared to my health and well-being not to mention my sanity!!?? Will be back as soon as I feel up to posting. Thanks for the welcome and support!

Hello! I am new to this site. I was banded on 6/12/06 in Pompton Plains, NJ. My surgeon is Vadim Gritsus. As of today, I have lost 75 pounds! I have had 1 complication resulting in a total unfill 2 weeks ago. I had a fill of 2cc in September and then another fill of 1cc in early October in my 4cc band. After the second fill, I had repeated problems with keeping anything down. I returned to the doctor in early November regarding this issue and was advised to give it time and go to a liquid diet for a couple of days and then resume the solid diet. I had good days when I had no problems in keeping small amounts of solids down but other days when nothing solid would stay …

Hi I am newly banded. Just banded on January 16, 2007 in Mexico by Dr. de la Garza. It was a great experience going through him I am just learning to adapt to this stage of liquid eating and its difficult sometimes. I haVe 3 children who all need to eat and its so tempting to want to eat something solid when your still on liquids. My next step is finding someone here in Florida that I want to do my fill. I live in north Florida so if anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them. Aside from the smells of solid foods everyone else is eating and the itching from my incisions, so far all is well. Donna:hippie:

I too am from MI. I live in Detroit now, but I was banded at St John's Grosse Pointe by Dr. Hawassli. I had written some negative things about the procedure and him here, but I had a very pleasant experience today (aside from not being able to be filled, gotta have a fluroscope) and there for the whole staff gets a gold star. Anyhow, I was banded in September of 04. I've lost about 106 lbs, I'll have a more accurate number tomorrow when I go for my fill. Look forward to maybe meeting some people more my age who have had this surgery. I'm 23.

Hey all~ New here! I was banded on 11-28-06 by Dr. Schramm in Ypsilanti. I've lost over 30 lbs so far, and am scheduled for my first fill on 1-18.

Hi Everyone! Been reading for a while, decided to say hello. I have had my first appointment, now have lots of tests scheduled. My BMI is 37 and am hoping for sleep apnea as I need a comorbidity! What a crazy system!:phanvan Isn't being 59 and overweight all your life enough? Bonnie

Just want to say hello to everyone...I am excited to have found this site. I had lap band surgery in 2005 and have lost a little over 100 lbs. Although I am happy with the results, I still need to loose about 35 pounds more and the scale has just frozen. Has anyone else experienced a slow-down after a couple of years, or is it just me? If you have any advice, please share it with me. Thanks

New to group and looking for support and information. I submitted all my paperwork to surgeons's office this week and am awaitng the "decision". My Dr. is Barry Greene in Rockville, Maryland and from what I hear about him he is one of the best. I am now driking one protein shake per day and would like to hear what other folks recommend. I had some packets left over from a medical weight-loss program. I really like the chicken soup. It feels more like a real meal than a chocolate shake. Any suggestions ?

I am so excited someone in my pre-op group turned me on to this site! I have learned so much from so many of your entries and it's taken a little bit of my nervous edge off. My surgery is Febuary 5th and it is reassuring to have a ventue like this to express my concerns and hear about so many experiences. I look forward to sharing my progress with you and hearing all about yours.

:help:Hello everyone, I am 11 days post op and today I am experiencing a sharp pain on my left side. I think it is where my port is located. Is this normal or should I be worried? It has been there all day today. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Worried :help:

Hi, does anyone know of any UK forums? Thanks

Hi everyone, I am new to the group. Not yet banded, but going thru all the post op testing & appointments. It is kind of frustrating, but I know I have to learn to be more patient with this whole process. I am 54 old and have been overweight since childhood. I am excited to get the lapband done--I know it will work. Live in southeast Michigan, my doctor is Zoe Deol. She seems quite knowledgeable as lapband surgery is all that she does. Glad to be here. Cheryl

My doctor refered me to a nutritionist. He said I have to see an nutritionist for 6 months, go to a physical therapist, and then to a psyc doc. What is going to happen at this nutrition apt? I'm I required to lose weight?:help: Kitty

Hi everyone! I am in the middle of the process now, all the preop appointments. My surgery is scheduled for 4-2-07 and I can't wait. I had to plan it around spring break at work. I am nervous, but looking forward to turning 40 this summer, with a new lease on life. :clap2: I am hoping to hear from people who have had the surgery. So far, in the support group, it was all gastric bypass people. Thanks and I look forward to more talk!

Hi All, Im Andy and I was banded Aug. 9th 2006, so far I have lost 79lbs and about 16 inches off my waist. With the exception of deciding to have my daughter, its the best decission ive ever made. The way I look at the band is, its a safety net for me, I have been eating right and exercizing like I would with any other weight loss program I was on, except now, when I fall off the wagon, its still there carrying me through the times when I would normally say screw it, and be off the diet. Without the guidenance, help, and support I get from my surgery center and surgeon I think I would not have half the loss that I have. For those of you who are thinking of doing this,…

Ok...so I first heard about the Lapband about a week ago and I can't get my mind off of it. I have been doing some research on the web. I am from Montreal, Canada. I am reading and seeing how many people did this and think to myself can I...should I...but it also comes down to how much does this cost. I haven't seen cost anywhere...can someone tell me how much it costs....how do we do payments and where do you recommend it is best do do thid procedure. Thanks a million

Hi everyone! I have been researching the band for over a year ( and lurking here:) ). I made my first appointment with Dr. Curry for February 5. I am at 270 lbs. I am 5'6" with co-morbidities of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and sleep apnea. I know what u are thinking. Why did she wait so looong?:faint: Well, I am excited about this journey and look forward to speaking with you all in the near future.

Hello all! This is my first post and yesterday (January 18th) my husband and I were both banded. We are a little sore, he more than I, but feel good. I am very excited to begin my NEW life!

Hello all, I started attending seminars/classes for the LapBand procedure in August 2006. I went through four months of insurance red tape and was finally approved this week. (I think they were waiting for January to roll around, so I would have to pay a new deductible. ) My surgery is scheduled for February 1, 2007. Aaaack! Only two weeks away. :omg: I start the "liver shrinking diet" tomorrow. :rose: I was so excited about this procedure. When I found out I was approved, I became hysterical. I am so afraid of bad side effects and failing. I am afraid of the adjustments it will make for myself and my family. I am ready to back out. I am so addicted to food. :hun…

Hi all, Just joined up and wanted to introduce myself. I'm being banded tomorrow (13/01/2007) and can't wait. I have been looking forward to having it done for so long now and cant believe its only 7 hours away! I find these sites so informative and helpful...and will endevour to track my progress on here if thats ok. Anyhow,until next time...when I'm a true bandster....Debby:)

I had lap band 8-31-06 in greeley colorado so far I have shed 27 pounds since sugery, its been a difficult adjustment but doing well. Dr. Michael Johnell preformed the sugery no complications so far, Insurance what a joke, paid cash 13G's so far worth every penny.

Hello everyone I am new to the board. I had the surgery done in Nov. 2006. As of today I have lost 25lbs. I went for my first fill on Dec 26th. I am amazed by how much better I feel since the weight loss. I do have questions about what everyone eats to help with the weight loss. I am stuck and cant figure out what would be best to eat. I live in Texas and had my surgery in Dallas by Dr. Benevidas, everyone there has been great so far. I look forward to talking to all soon

I live in England and cannot afford the prices here so am looking at going over to Belgium, much cheaper at 4,500 euros. I would really appreciate any recommendations. I also want to check the minimum pre-op tests I should be expecting to have, it seems every company offers different things. Thanks, Tazzamaraz

Hi, I have been lurking for quite a while now. This site is great and you all seem so helpful! I have my first consult on the 23rd. I will be going to Baystate Medical Center, in MA. Anyone had their surgery done there? I'm getting so excited, but I know it will be a long time until they actual surgery, unless my insurance is very cooperative. I did request they send a copy of the criteria to me so hopefully I'll have that tomorrow or Friday. Does anyone have experience with BCBS of NH/Anthem PPO? Anyway, just wanted to intoduce myself. Thanks for listening, lol. Lisa

I have my first informational meeting on the lap band process on Monday 1/22. Just wondering what I can expect. Thank you....

I have finally gotten insurance approval for my surgery after fighting for it for more than three years. I've read up on the procedure, as well as what I can expect physically after surgery, but maybe I'll feel better about it after hearing stories from those who have "gone through it." The people who give testimonials at the doctor's seminars are all very nice, but I want to be prepared for reality, rather than be told only success stories.

Well..after waiting what seemed like forever, I had my consultation yesterday and he scheduled me for surgery Jan 30th. Woohoo!!:clap2: I can't believe it! I'm on my first day of 13 days of Optifast. So far so good, but I just know it's going to get worse as the day goes by. I will do it though. I was surprised he started me on Optifast and schedule me so soon!! No last meal for me..I guess my last meal was cheese and crackers. LOL!!! Jeez...I would have never picked that!! I can deal with it though..I've had 38 years to eat whatever I've wanted...now it's time to stop all those bad habits!! I'm ready to start playing with my kids for a change. I love this board and look…

I have been on the pre-op diet for one week. I went to the Dr. today and was blown away. I have lost 17.5lbs in 7 days. The count down is on surgery is on the 24th. Later, Joe

I'm new to this site, my name is Dixie and I am trying to find out all I can about the gastric banding procedure. I weigh 216 (5'2"). I have high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes (I take Lantus and Novolog insulin) numerous back problems (bulging disc, herniated disc and and one "blown out"disc). I know that if I could have this procedure done, it would practically eliminate most of my medical problems (the diabetes and high B/P) and would improve my back a great deal also. I'm here to find out what everyone is going through and to find someone to ask questions to, also. I talked with my insurance co. today (CIGNA) and it sounds pretty promising. My family dr thinks I wou…

Hi Everyone I am seriously considering havinga lapband put in but I have a few issues to sort out, the first being the financial side of things. I have always assumed that it would be difficult to get this op done on the NHS as I have read a couple of stories in the local newspaper about people bigger than me being turned down. Just recently a friend of mine told me about her friends sister being banded on the NHS and I am wondering now if it's worth a shot as I cannot really afford to pay for it myself. Could someone could give me an idea of the process I would have to go through here in the UK and how long it would all take? I really, really want this done this…

Hello ! I am new to the group and am interested in speaking with anyone who has had the surgery to get some more information. I finally after 3 months received my insurance approval today and my surgery is scheduled for Feb 12, 2007. I am excited, nervous, scared, hopeful and all of the above ! I have been doing some research and kind of know what to expect, but would still like to hear from someone who has already had the surgery. Thanks Myrtle in WV

hello! well, my aunt had it done a few months ago and looks great!! I'd REALLY love to hear about the details from women in mid/late 20's - early 30's and how it's affected your life. It's amazing how GREAT everyone looks on here!!! I *believe* this will show a way to email me - if not, please send a message or respond. I'm in the Seattle area, so I would also love to hear from anyone in the area and which doctor you went to. thanks!

I would say Hi from Sunny Los Angeles...but, it's freaking cold and cloudy here. I will be banded on January 23....if I clear up my head cold. Gee, talk about timing. And then, it's up to the anethesiologist if he wants to do it because I've been on prednisone. Anyways, if I have to postpone a week I will. I'm so excited to be part of this community. I have looked at all the pictures and y'all are so beautiful!! I can't wait to join in the ranks. This is a new year and will be a new me!! Whaoohoooo!! Now, where's that protien drink I just sat down? I'm looking forward to meeting everybody. Charlotte

Hello everyone. My name is Kara. I came upon your discussion group while researching the lap band proceedure. I am trying to find a place that accepts medicaid in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. This is most informative. Although it seems worthwhile, it does not seem as easy as they make it out to be on the tv commercials. I am going to read everything. I have been to one seminar which featured testimonials and a movie of the surgery.

Hi all, Just joined this group. I was banded 11/01/06 by Dr Srikanth in Federal Way, WA. I am part of the public relations team for the Seattle Bandster Bash that is happening Feb 16-18. I am going to try to attach the flyer for all to download. Seattle Splash 2007.pdf

My name is Samantha. I was banded on 10-24-06. I have lost 25-30lbs. My surgery was by Dr Miles at MCE in Birmingham, Alabama. I have a 4cc band. I have had two fills. 1st .5 2nd 1 - I couldn't even get liquids down for two days. Then I read that a band that is too tight can cause slippage. So I decided my original idea of waiting it out may not be my brightest. So I call the office that Friday and they said to come in right then. They said it would take to long to losen up. I would have dehydrated. I had a .5 unfill. So now my restriction isn't the tightest. I wish some one might have some advise on how to satisfy a sweet tooth with out destroying all th…