Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hi, I'm Selena, I have had my band exactly 3 years this week. I have had several fills and unfills. I sometimes wish I had gone with the bypass surgery since those people seem to lose all their weight and not struggle like me. I started at about 285 lbs. I have gotten down to around 235, but Ib know it is my own fault I haven't made my goal of 183. I don't eat right, but I have enlisted some new buddies and goal systems to finally move forward. I joined CURVES in May and have lost over 10 inches and 10 lbs. I just started their 6 week challenge to boost metabolism, do more exercise and have both group and leader support. My discouraging thoughts come in when one woman wh…

Hello, I am a 34 year old male, living in Katy, Texas. I was banded on 5/23/06, by Dr. Richard Wilkenfeld. When I started my pre-op diet, I weighed in at 310 Ibs. Today, I weighed in at 229 Ibs. and I feel GREAT:) My goal weight is 190 Ibs. I have started working out (resistance weight training and cardio). I have more energy, and can actually play with my two kids without having to take a break every five minutes, to catch my breath. People that have not seen me in a while, FREAK-OUT, and I love it. thanks for letting me share, Joe

Hi everyone. I will be banded on Sep 25th. This is the last of three weeks of Optifast...I can barely choke any more down! Will be nice to eventually eat more normal food again (though much less of it)! Mama Mac from Michigan

Hi there everyone! I'm anxiously awaiting surgery. Dr. Robin Blackstone of Scottsdale Healthcare is great and she will perform my surgery.

Hey all, I've been lurking for a few weeks now. Decided to register. I am not yet banded. Seriously thinking of Oftiz in TJ due to posts I've read here. Still some insurance hurdles and life situations to take care of. I am so appreciative of this forum and all I have learned. I would love to hear from any other Idahoans. jenna

Hello! I am brand new to your site and was just banded on 9/15/06. I was feeling pretty excited and was expecting all of the early discomforts following surgery. Now however, I made the mistake of reading your forum page on complications. I am starting to get nervous. I had the surgery to begin to feel better, loose weight, get fit,have more energy and overall be healthier for my kids. After reading last night I am worried. So many posts about feeling :sick yucky and sick all of the time, even a year after banding. It sounds like some people are feeling sick every time they eat. So much bad news! It was so different from what my clinic told me(everyone loves their…

Hi. I was just banded one week ago, and I think I am doing OK. Not sure. I do have a few questions that maybe some of the verterans can help me with. I was banded on 9/11/06. When will I feel back to normal? Right now the site where I think the port is is pretty sore when I move. And my insides feel as if they are mildly spasming (or grabbing or clenching). It's pretty annoying. If I had to describe the feeling it is like I feel when I am stressed or afraid; or maybe a bit like an upset stomach. And when I drink liquids, (which is all the time for the next week or so), I can feel an uncomfortable quivering inside. I am not in a lot of pain, but I am experiencing some unco…

Hi everyone. I've been visiting this site for a few weeks and thought I would say hello. I was banded on 9/11, had a few issues but by 9/14 felt almost back to normal. I look forward to talking with all my fellow bandsters.

Hello everyone.. Tomorrow is the big day for me... i am so happy this day has come. I been waiting for almost 2 years to get my insurance company to approve this and they never would damn blue cross lol.....So now I got the money together and paid it myself.. yes alot of money but in the long run I think well worth it. I been reading alot of post on here.Thanks for all that info.. it will help me as i start my new life.. Wish me luck tomorrow.. Your TexasBr@t:clap2:

I have just began to think about having a lap band. I am trying to look at all the sides of it-so far I haven't found to many down sides. I will be a self pay. I know I don't weigh as much as most people who make this choice but I am just going up since I turned 50. I have always been able to control it. I now have high blood pressure and high trig.--I am on 9 medications and think I could get rid of 5 if I just lost 50 lbs Has any one had surgery in Mexico. It is so much cheaper and I will have to pay myself. Appreciate any help! Merridy

Mike & I have been together 30 years & in that time, we've gained a 3rd person -- in weight. (no kids, just fat) We are 3 weeks post-op and down a total of 40 pounds.:clap2:

Hi everyone, my name is Cory and I live in the Houston area. I going in to have my surgery on friday. I'm a little nervous but very excited. I found this site through a google search. Looks like there's a lot of helpful information.

:puke: Good Morning All, My name is Larry and I live in Chattanooga TN I am 36 years old and I have not been banded. My surgery is Septmeber 29th at Memorial Hospital by Dr. Walter Rose. My first day on the preop plan was not to bad some of it is a mind thing I even did the shopping for my partner and got the things I need. I am excited and nervous at the same time never had surgery before but have a male trainer at work who had the surgery and he has done very well. :clap2: I know this is the time in my life and ready to make those life style changes and committments. I lost my mom in May and she made me look small as she gave up on life and finally her hea…

Hi my name is mary and I'm 29 years from Melbourne Australia.. Last week 09/09/06 I have my lapband done. I still feel abit sore and I have the gas pains. I'm just thinking it will all be worth it in the end. I still can't sit at the computer for long periods.. I'm so happy I found this forum..Looking forward to sharing in everyones stories. hugs mary 7kgs lost and 106kgs to go!!

I will joining the ranks soon. I have been reading posts on this site for about 2 weeks now and i have to say it has helped me understand some things. I am nervous and excited at the same time. but.....I"M READY!!!!!!

Hi there! My name is lauren and I reside near nashville, tn. I just joined up here yesterday. I have my surgery slated for october 23rd 2006 at Southern Hills by Dr. Morton. and I am very excited! My bestfriend had it done about a yr and a half ago, so I was there from the beginning with her and kinda know what to expect. However, it is very different at the same time because it is actually happening to me! Any information/guidance would be very welcome. Be seeing ya'll around!

Hi I had my surgery on July 28, 2006. So far I am quite happy with the way it is going and can already see and feel different. Aug. 31 (5 weeks) after the surgery I had my first fill and have lost 20 lbs. :clap2: Yeah!!!!!! I was so excited I wanted to go out and have some mexican food. WRONG! I have learned that if I am having a craving do it before the fill. I did not go out because they told me I had to go back to the soft diet for 24 hours. I was good and did what they told me. In these last 2 weeks weeks, I have been able to satisfy some of the cravings but the great part is that I can't eat all of it and it feels great to be abvle to leave it and have it a…

Hi, I am new here. I have a question. I have had four fills, and I thought four was what I needed because I finally started feeling some restriction. It seems like I felt more restriction the two weeks immediately after the fill than I do now. I wonder if I need another. I felt restriction at first, but now, not so much. Anyone have any comments? Thanks

Has anyone had lapband done in Huacuz Center?How was the experience, and the hospital and the staff? Thinking of getting banded in Nov.

Hello!! My name is Julie, I am 21years old. I am married to an awesome man, Brandon. We have 2 gorgeous little girls. Kaylee is 2, and Venissia is almost 7 months. We live in Johnson Valley, California, the nearest big city is Palm Springs. I am on my pre op diet for the lap band surgery. I should be getting it done sometime next week. We are shooting for 9-21. MY surgeon is Douglas Krahn from San Bernardino. I am having 3 protein shakes a day and nothing else. It is super hard, but I need to shrink my liver, and I reallly want this surgery. Thanks for reading! Catch you on the boards!!!

Hello to everyone,I just found this site, and I am so happy. I am a single mother of 4 small children, so I am so glad to find a support group to help me through this. My husband left me 3 days before I found out I was approved for surgery, we were to go through this together, but I am better off now... I was origianlly going to get the RNY, but had heard a lot of negative tings about that procedure. So I decided to go the route that would best fit me. I have to be sane to take care of my children, So I went with the one that had less recovery time. Also I have had 4 c-sections and was not too keen on the idea of being put under for 2 hours... anyway just wanted to introd…

Hello and good morning to all! My name is Lori and I joined the forum yesterday. I just wanted to take a minute to introduce myself. I am scheduled to have my lap band done on my birthday, Oct. 16 :biggrin1: I go tomorrow for my pre-surg consult and testing. I am extremely excited and just so ready to make a lifestyle change. I can't wait to be able to play with my kids more and have more stamina and energy for my busy life :clap2: If anyone has any advice or comments for a future bander, I would appreciate it greatly!

Well I'm home from Mexico and offically banded. I was banded on Friday and got back to DFW last night. I won't be all the way home till I drive back to the little town where I live. I'm sore and brused and not sure if the rumbling in my tummy is because I need to eat something or just post surgery gas. I feel lots better than I did yesterday with all the flying and the tijuana taxi ride (two hours at the border). My left side (port side) is swollen and brusing and I look kinda pregnant, but my twin says all the incisions look great and the rest is normal. So away I go. Candy banded 8-25-06 Bajanor Clinic/TJ 360/?/299 (first goal)

Hello, my name is Jaclyn and I'm fairly new to this website. I'm nineteen years old, living in Colorado. I got the lap-band surgery done two years ago and I've already lost 217 pounds, and still have more to lose. I would post pictures up, but I don't know how to, so if anyone would be interested in telling me how to do so, I'd be more than happy to show you all. Have a wonderful evening and God bless! -Jaclyn

Name is Phil. 250lbs. Should be 150lbs. 5'7". 51 years old. I am scheduled for Oct 9. I am so fearful of my loss of food and if I can really survive without food in the form it now takes in my life. I'm sure this is NOT a new thread, but I just joined today and am not really sure how this forum works. The great news is that I just received clearance form my insurance Co.. So here we go. I will start the liquid diet in 2 weeks. I find that for the last 2 months, my eating is simply uncontrolled. One would think that I would begin a practical system for taking in less calories, right? I am hopeful that by not being hungry, my fears will be a moot point. Any positive ex…

Zzzzzzzzzz

Just seeing how to work this first.

testing testing testing

I decided to quit lurking and say "HELLO!". I must say that I am partially in shock. I have been approved for my band! It all happened so fast, that is hasn't really sunk in yet. I got my approval in 1 week! My surgery is scheduled for Oct. 4th. I am as excited as can be then my brain goes OMG! Life will never be the same, not that that's bad, but it's kinda spooky. Dr. Richard Carter is doing my surgery. I have so many different things running through my head that I don't know where to start. Thank goodness I found this forum. Everyone seems so helpful. Thank you all for sharing your stories. For those of you who do....say a quick one for me. Thanks and continued succes…

Zzzzzzzzzz

I'm Monica and my husband Bobby and I had lapband surgery on 8/8/06 I have been on another lap band message board for a few weeks and I have used some of the recipes off of this one so I figured I would join officially!!!

A great big hello from the UK. My name is Kim and I live in a little village in the UK called Pinchbeck, used to live near London, but the smog was choking me! I am due to be banded some time during October and am just waiting for confirmation of my date. It is being done in Derby via the NHS and I am starting to get nervous and excited and apprehensive and all sort of emotions I expect most of you have been through. But what I am looking forward to is starting my journey with my new best friend, my band, which will be holding my hand every step of the way. Normally the NHS won't consider anyone that has a BMI under 40 (mine is around 37/38) but I have so many medical…

I just registered today after sneaking around as a guest. I have to say I'm impressed so far. I am scheduled for banding Monday morning (9-11-06), and I must admit I am very nervous! I hope everything goes okay (Please God) and I hope I've made the right decision by having this done.

I first thought about getting banded back in April 2005 but thought I had not tried everything I could to lose the weight. Unfortunately by the end of 2005 I had been diagnosed with sleep apnea and type II diabetes. My blood pressure was also on the rise - I was a prime candidate for the surgery. After working on getting all the documentation needed and getting my mind set to have the surgery done I was approved on September 1st by the insurance company and had the surgery on September 6, 2006. I have quite a way to go but I think I can do it. My doctor was Felix Spiegel in Houston and I had the surgery done at the Twelve Oaks Medical Center.

Hi everyone I am from country Victoria Australia and am about to embark on this journey into lapband world D.O.B 22/9/06 I am currently 304pds 140kgs 5ft 2inc I am hoping that this works as it i my last resort I love being able to read all your threads and learn from your experiences either good or bad. kellie:clap2:

Hi fellow lap-banders! My name is Brian, I'm 31 and from central Oregon. Just had mine done on Sept. 5th and all is going well.(well....with the exception of one small thing, but that's for another thread! Just wanted to say hey, and hope to learn and share from our bariatric experiences.

Hello, I just registered myself and this is my first post. I felt I should share this information with all Bandsters and all considering doing it. I had my surgery done in Tijuana, Mexico on August 11, 2006. My doctor is Dr. Ariel Ortiz. I felt GREAT after my surgery; didn't even felt like I had it. Four days later (Aug. 15), I made the horrible mistake of eating a small piece of chicken because I was so tempted. It was a VERY BAD mistake. I felt very sick and had cold chills - the food had gotten stuck. I then started to vomit everything (even liquid Tylenol for my fever) and felt as if someone was squeezing my chest. I went to see my doctor the next day. He checked my …

Hi, I have not had my surgery yet. It is scheduled for 9/22. I am very nervous too. I will be having it at St Mary's Hospital in Richmand,Va. All the Dr's and nurses have been wonderful. I'll give you more of an update later. I go for pre-op 9/12. So far even though it has taken alittle over 6mo's to get through all the requirements, it has been a pretty good exprerience. Except the drive to Richmond each time. I'm sure it will be worth it. Everyone take care.

I have decided to go ahead and have the surgery. I have had the psych exam and consult all my papers sent to the insurance company. I have been waiting about a wk if I am not approved I will appeal twice but after that I am taking out a loan. The surgery would be 14,000 self pay in Nashville,TN so I will do it. I need this tool to change my life,because I have been on diet pills for the last 3 yrs I would lose 70 lbs gain 90 back but they have trapped me. If I go off of them for a wk or more I gain weight like crazy the thing that ticks me about the diet pills is it has been doc supervised and he let this happen.I feel let down because he told me at my last visit I need …

Hello all...I am new to the site and thought I would post for the first time. I am in the process of getting my surgery scheduled. I continually run into something else I have to accomplish prior to my surgery but I know it will all be worth it in the end. My insurance will cover the surgery:clap2: ....so no complaints here...I guess I would run a race if I thought I wouldn't have a stroke to get this done....Just wanted to say thank you to all of the inspirational stories on this site...it really helps to see what other people are going through. It makes my decision to have the band surgery easier. .. Thanks again.

hello, today is my first time posting. I have been visiting obesityhelp.com since June and just found out about lap band talk. I have done most of my pre surgery test and I can't wait for my date. I have learned alot on obesityhelp from the bandters and I hope to l learn and enjoy the bandters on Lap Band Talk. 236-240lbs now gool 127lbs.

Hello All, I have been looking into banding for the past 6 months and think I'm ready to make an appointment. I have yo-yo dieted for years and the weight always comes back on. Now I have developed high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. In the past 3 months I've started an exercise regimen with a personal trainer and am firming up, but not losing the weight, so have decided that doing the banding and working out will both benefit me. Our insurance company is BCBS but they have an exclusion in our policy, so don't think I'll be able to get them to pay for it, looks like self pay :cry My husband is concerned for my health, as am I, but he's not being…

Hello everyone! I've been reading and gathering info for so long now, I thought it was finally time to join on and say hello. This forum has been amazingly helpful, and you all seem so wonderful, I'm really happy to have found my way here :couch2: I'm Ann, 22, from Northern California (Windsor to be exact). I'm scheduled for banding with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana on Sept. 28, 2006... Only 3 weeks to go! It's still conditional on my funding coming through 100%, so feel free to cross your fingers for me I am beyond excited, I can't even express it. Like many of you I'm sure, I've tried EVERYTHING to try and lose weight for the past 10 years. I've had some success, but appa…

Hi my name is Misty. I will be having my lap band done on 09/21/06 and im so nervous. I figured this would be a good place to meet a few people that are in or have been in my shoes.

Hi my name is Fred. My wife (Kim, Married 18 years) decided to explore banding last May, Kim said you do all the research and I'll make all the appointments. I found this site and it was an incredible help to me in understanding what to expect and ask the right questions. She was banded on 8/30 and is having a rough start. I wasn't taken by surprise due to months of reading everything I could get my hands on, but I am still concerned, since I also have learned everybody reacts differently. Thanks for all the help over the last months, Fred

Hi My name is Daniel and I am from Nevada. I just bad my old VG band replaced because it leaked. My initial band was put on Aug 2004. I lost close to 60 lbs but put it all back on. I just had my replacement band put on 2 weeks ago and lost 18 lbs. I have my fingers crossed this time.

I am just getting started. Sometimes I think I should be able to do this on my own. In 10 years I have lost and gained 50 lbs about 3 times and I'm sick of it. I'm excited and scared at the same time. My question is, if any of you had it to do over, would you still get the lap band??

I am a future bandster. I go for my seminar tomorrow. My GI doctor has told me that I must have this surgery. I have fought my weight all of my life and look forward to the day when it will not be an issue. I am prepared to self-pay and get this done ASAP! DH and I already know that insurance won't pay so we are realistic. After years of self-paying for fertility treatments, we are ready to pay for this last procedure.

:usa2: Hello all, I have been looking into the band for months now, and have gotten all the paperwork fiiled out ready to submit. Its taken me a while because I've had some reservations. Those being recovery, pain, food choices, "slippage" etc...I have gotten wonderful support from another site, so that has made me move forward. I came across this site looking for people to chat with in the Sacramento Ca. area. Iam just beginning this journey, looking forward to a new road!

Hello, :help: I'm new to the forum , have been lurking for about a month and I am due to have lapband surgery this Friday (9/8) at 10AM. I am a little nervous. I do not know how to use the forum so please forgive me if you want a reply and don't get it. I'm not sure of what I am doing. You all have been so helpful that I am so relaxed going into the surgery. I was a nervous wreck before I found you. You all are so very imformative. Now my friend told me about the lapband approx 1 month ago and I decided that was the way to go. My insurance will not pay for the lap band only the bi-pass andthat is not an option. My husband won't allow that one. I am a self pay and I fi…