Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

I am new to this website, and have questions about the LapBand. I have read that people have their port in different places in their abdoman, I wanted to know how this affects physical activity. I have a very physical job as a paramedic, so how will this affect me if lets say i have to lay on my stomach on the ground or carry someone? what about even sleeping on your stomache? I also wanted to know if there are any other websites for research other than lap-band.com. once the band is installed and you have the right "fill" is there a way to get around the band? (i.e. eat slower and more?) for those who lost all or almost all of the weight they need to loose, is…

obviously i havent had this happen yet and from what i am reading dont want to.. but i really dont even know what it is..somebody please!!!

Hi there! My name is Nikkee and my lapband surgery is set for May 13th, 2005 (Yuck friday the 13th!). Dr. Hilario Juarez will be performing my surgery in Phoenix, AZ. I am grateful for this forum because you all have given me the insight that I need to know before and after surgery and what to expect over time. I'm kinda nervous, but all and all I am very excited and ready to start my life anew.

Hello again, I was so nervous when I did my first post I failed to see this location for newbies. Anyway, I'll be banded the end of June. I'm excitied, anxious and nervous. I've told only a very few people. I'm not telling any of my family that lives out of town, so that includes my mother. Since I'm seeing her in June, before the surgery I probably won't see her again for another year. I would love to send her a picture of a smaller me next Christman or Mother's Day. I can't think of a better present I could give her. One month from tomorrow I'll start my pre-op meal plan. Yeah!!! Thank you for all the information ya'll share everyday.

I have been reading so much on this web site. It has taught me so much. Today, I met with my dietition and also had my psych eval. Both went well. My surgery consultation is on May 23. I am so excited. I am 28, from Boston and cannot wait to hear if my doc will say yes. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I find everthing on this site so helpful, from the support to the recipes. You guys are all great. I look forward to posting more and hopefully , I will have your support if and when I do have surgury.

My name is Aileena, I have my surgery schedule on the 26th of this month...It happened really fast I'm not sure exactly what to think about it. I am very excited! I feel like finally will not have to fight with my body all the time...Maybe this can help me become more normal...Did you feel this way?

I am 5'1 and 245 lbs and I am interested in the lap band procedure. I am a little afraid, but I would rather have a lap band in place than have my organs cut up. I have started the preliminaries, I am going to an seminar held by some of the docs today. However, when I talked to another doctors office yesterday, they told me that CIGNA did not cover the lap band because it was too new. I talked to CIGNA and they said they would approve an WLS that was deemed medically necessary. So I'm a little confused. I have been under at least 2 doctor supervised programs, the first time I lost 50 lbs but I gained 80 back. I have seen a nutritionist, a psychiatrist, and a psyschologist…

As everyday passes I'm getting more and more excited. I think when I was first approved I almost didn't believe it...It was as if I was affraid they would say that they were mistaken and my insurance would not pay for it. I really just want to take of this part of me...I've been struggling so long with my weight. I love the idea of feeling full... and being normal

Hi everyone, I am in the process of starting the lap band procedure. I had my first appt today. I have a BMI of 41. I managed to work my way up from a BMI of 36 without even trying over the last year, so I decided I had better do something about it before it gets worse. The process to get insurance approval is way stream lined now. 2 appts 4 hours each and a sleep study. Thats it!! Nice, huh? I waivered and waivered on whether to do bypass or banding. Banding seems so much safer. I am a nurse and I have seen people die from bypass; its not pretty. But then I did research on banding today and totally freaked out, what if I don't lose the weight? Then I found you guys, t…

Hi everyone, I was banded on 4/18/05. Lost 41 pounds to date from 373 on 4/8/05. David

hi My name is "Desertmom" and I am petrified at the moment.... I live in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.It is a wonderful place to be.Yes, it is the middle east but we all get along just fine here.I am from South Africa and well, it is not to safe there at the moment..(saying that with all that's going on in this region sounds so...crazy)It is a bit like "pleasantville".People are mostly happily married.fortunate to have enough money...can belong to a beach club...camping,traveling..wonderful life....it is all short term..4-6 years at most (mostly 3 years..) Except of course me.I have been dieting, not traveling...(to uncomfortable)no beach for me...camping with …

Hello to everyone, I'm new here although I've been in the background for a month or so. I've been researching the lap-band and by now I'm very certain that I will get it done. I've been calling doctors in Mexico to get quotes on package prices. My only problem is that I don't like to fly, therefore my only option is to go Greyhound(takes almost 3 days). I also checked the prices here in Tampa Florida, and they are almost three times what they are quoting me in Mexico. You see i'm selfpay and every penny counts. It may sound very crazy to go this way and by myself but its the only option that I have. I just recently moved to Tampa from the Virgin Islands(St. Croix). My hus…

Hello all! I'm very new to this site, I found it while doing research online. I'm scheduled to have my band put in on June 21 although I believe I'll have that date moved to the 23rd so my sister can be here with me. I live alone and have no family nearby so I think having someone to help take care of me is a good idea. I'm scared but excited too. I love reading ya'lls posts. So informative, I'm learning a ton. I'm scared, but mostly about the unknown, the "how much will my life change" aspect. I am a strong person so I know I can do this. Any "words of wisdom" to think about as I wait about a month and a half to have this done? I'm crazy impatient and so re…

I just jumped right into stuff and never really said who I was-oops. Im 35 and have 1 daughter who is 17.I am engaged to be married in November-we have been together for 6 years and before that i was single since my daughter was 2.I am currently trying to figure out what i want to do when I grow up-lol.I am a supervisor for a major grocery chain and although I like the basics of the job Im not keen on the drama and constant need to make money over customer service-actually this frustration is what a huge part of my weight gain over the last few years.Anywho...I love this board and feel like it has alot of great people who will nurture its members and be a great place fo…

Hello. My name is Heather. I was banded on 4/21/05 in Tijuana by Dr. Lopez Corvala. It was a scary experience...I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz...I was acutely aware that I wasn't in the USA. Everything went well though and since I only live approx. 7 miles from the US/Mexico Border and the all inclusive price was only $8800, it was the best choice for me. My mother-in-law was banded by the same surgeon in Nov. 2004, so she went with me. So, I am sixteen days out (as of 5/8) and have lost sixteen pounds. I worry that I am not eating enough but I also worry about eating too much. I am in the midst of week 3 post-op which is soft foods according to my surgeon, s…

Hi all, My name is Cathy, I am 44 years old and had my banding done 09/23/04. I initially lost about 50# but have gained at least half of that back. It feels like I am all alone out here, I live an hour and a half drive from the closest support group. I am praying that I have found some help with you all. I went in for a fill (3rd) last Friday and Cameron the surgical asst to my Doc told be about this site. Both Cameron and Dr Smith are very supportive but, again, they are an hour & 1/2 drive away from me. I am hoping this fill will help to keep me from over eating and start the loss again. I am able to eat about 1/2 a sandwich with this fill before I start to feel fu…

Hello All! I am considering the Lap Band for WLS and wondered if anyone could tell me approx. how much weight loss to expect each month? Thanks! Pamela.

I've just scheduled my banding for May 2 with Dr .Fielding in NYC. They scheduled me w/o approval from UHC and scheduled me in less than 2 weeks. I'm confused. I've done lots of studying up on this surgery but it seems like they've just blindly scheduled the surgery and now will keep pushing it back until I'm either approved or disapproved and decide to pay myself. In the meantime I've started liquids but am finding it difficult, as in my mind the May 2 date isn't very realistic. Has anyone else experienced something similar?

Hi I just wanted to introduce myself. I was banded 4th April in NSW Australia. I stayed in hospital overnight and went home the next day. I went through some depression the next few days wondering what I had done to myself but soon got over that. I also gave up smoking the day I went in for surgery, so that has been hard also. After about a week I woke one morning and felt really hungry, from then I have had no restriction. I have really had to control myself to not totally binge. I am going to see my DR on Thursday for a fill, i really hope it helps me a bit in keeping the food demons at bay. Anyway I hope to see you all around more, I love this forum and wish I had …

Hello, im new to the group. just banded 4 weeks ago. ive been reading thru and just love the "weight ticker tape" how can i set up one?

Hi All, I am new to this message board. I was banded on 4/8/05. Will be starting my week 4 purreed diet tomorrow - a big whooohoo to that! I am 41, married and have two cats. Glad to be banded. J.S.:banana

Hello all, I thought that I would introduce myself. My name is Natalie and I have been investigating the lap band surgery for almost a year now. I made up my mind in December of last year that this was the surgery that I wanted for myself. I lost my job the beginning of January thus the loss of the medical insurance. My new job started in January, but my insurance did not kick in until May 1st. I am currently starting over the process of the pre-approvals, etc., and hope to have my procedure done by the end of this year. I am a single mother to a beautiful 18 month old daughter that is my pride and joy. I want to have this surgery so that I may live to see her g…

I am having my first consultation on May 11, 2005 I an happy, nervous , scared, anxious etc. How long does the process take before you actually get to surgery? I am from Michigan, I have been fat all of my adult life, the last time I weighed a normal weight was in high school. I have a grandson, 8 1/2 who has muscular dystrophy (Friedrich's Ataxia) which will cripple him to a wheelchair by junior high. He will need lots of care and it is important to me to be healthy so I can help with him. My biggest new learning will be how to be thin. I have never been thin, so I don't know how it is.

Hi, I new to the site. I found it in my surgery reference binder. I had my banding on Monday, April 25, 2005. I'm still trying to get over the hunger. My doctor has me on a food plan that says I should eat my 3 meals. (i.e., 2 oz. Protein drink) and then drink Water or other non-calorie liquids between meals. Everything went well for surgery, I did have a hard time with the pain. Loratab just didn't touch it! However, it's better every day. I had my surgery in Neenah Wisconsin at Theda Clark Medical Center. Dr. Wasco with the Midwest Bariatric Center is the surgeon. Anyway, just saying hi and hope to learn a lot from everyones' experience.

Hello all I'm from Texas and glad to be banded (3-14-05). I have lost 21#'s in 6wks. I am happy with that. I am however going to scotland in June and would like to be as thin as I safely can. I just wanted to say hi and introduce my self. I just found you all. Chris

Hey all my name is Kristen and i am from NY, I just attended a lap-band seminar 4/28 with Dr kwon and i very excited! Most of my pre-op appts are for may and some into june. I hope i can have surgery by the end of june or beginning of july. I have been heavy since i was born (literally) I weight 334.00 and have about 180lbs to loose.. I know its alot and people are like why don't you go for gastric, FIRST of all i can't see anyone rearrangeing my insides *yuck* and i need something that can guide me for the rest of my life. Hope to meet everyone. Thanks Kristen

Hi, I am new to this. I am having surgery on Monday May 2 in Salt Lake City Utah. Dr. Christina Richards is doing the surgery. I am excited but a little scared. I will let you know how I do.

I would like to start out my membership on this discussion board to tell everyone my history. I am 17 years old and am awaiting approval from my insurance this week in order to have lap-band surgery in the beginning of May. All my life I have been way way overweight and my mother had me on my first diet when I was probably 2 or 3. My mother has always been heavy-set and so was the rest of my family, basically I thought I was normal until I started daycare. I soon realized that the other kids were thin and had absolutely nothing in common with me. I liked to watch t.v. and suprisingly I did not eat very much, but when I did it was always something very unhealthy and fried,…

Hi... I've been on the site before my surgery and now that I'm "banded" I want to visit more often... I'm having trouble setting up my information. How do you get the information about your doctor, your goals, your weight and the chart entered? And what does PB stand for?

Hello Everyone- I just found this site yesterday, and it so fun and informative. Still trying to learn how to navigate it. I went for my follow up Dr. Visit today lost 10-lbs. That was shocking, but I am still on the liquid stage or should I say THE HARDEST PART STAGE (for me). They said I can start having creamier substances (soup) just looking for something different. Any, suggestions?? I am still pretty sore around my port, and still pretty gassy not sure how to relief that besides walking around and Gas-X it can really be painful. Need all the help and suggestions that you can give me. Thanks So Much for your time God Bless You All Teresa

Hi everyone I needed somewhere that I could express my concerns but also my joy over having the surgery - surgery date is Thursday 4/28/05 and I am scared and worried - know this is the right thing for me -will change my life but wonder about the side effects etc. have read some notes on the board about the gas pain and the pain in general - know that its surgery of course pain- and have been able to handle pain all my life -but for some reason worried about it now - hope the surgery will do as planned - but i seem to be most worried about the food intake or more like the not food intake - having to change my whole life to accuire what i want - silly i know that's what it…

Hi y'all, I'm Karen and live in Texas. I was banded on 3/21/05 and have lost about 15lbs so far. I told my doctor that I wanted to go to bed tonight and wake up skinny tomorrow. Of course I realize that isn't possible however a girl can dream. I have about 70-80lbs to lose. My goal is to wear a size 10. I haven't done that in 8-10 years. I look foward to being a part of this group and hearing how everyone is getting along. Talk to y'all later. Karen

Hi all, I am a wanna bandster!!! I have considered WLS for about 2 years off and on. I am just learning about the lap band and getting informed... I have been spending all my free time on this website and several others plus reading books about WLS. Wednesday I see Dr. Prewitt in Menomonee Falls, WI for my first consultation. I am so excited I can barely stand it. I plan on interviewing at least two more doctors in the Milwaukee area....does anyone out there have any suggestions for an excellent lap-band surgeons in the Milwaukee area? Also, what is the one most important question to ask your doctor about being banded? Finally, I had a nice "chat" with bandit…

I just got my surgery date, it June 1st. It has not been approved by my health insurance but the Dr. told me they have not turned anyone down yet. I am having the surgery at Columbia Memorial in Hudson, NY by Dr. Jacome. Anyone know him? What advice can you give me? I'm getting nervous and I'm excited. Gram

After two and 1/2 years of waking up at 4:15 5 mornings a week to work out, I have some much needed and much deserved help in my weight battle. My date will be April 2nd. Boy am I nervous. I've been reading posts for about 3 weeks and I've finally decided to join. I am just wondering, after my surgery, how long will it take before I know it was a good idea?

I am so scared I did the wrong thing. Will this get better? I was so confident throughout the entire process. I would normally freak out at the littlest thing. But this I was totally committed too. I was banded 4/21. I am sore and sick. I am terrified to eat the wrong thing. I have stuck to the diet 1000%, but I have gained 3 lbs since before the surgery. Tell me everything will get better, please. I need to here that now. What can I expect in the next couple of weeks.

Hi All, I have been lurking in the shadows for some time now and thought I should introduce myself. I also wanted to thank all of those that participate in this support group because you are such a guiding light and wealth of information. After 2 years of research and saving , I am finally going to get my band on Monday April 25th. I'm excited and scared all at once. I know though that this is the right choice for me. Anyway, I'm glad to be here and wanted to just say HI!

I'm going to get my band at the end of the summer, because I'll be in TX during the summer for grad school. I've done everything else, except the counseling for emotional eating, which I start next week. My doctor seems to have a really strict protocol. Anyway, I'm a 38-yr old married Southern girl with 3 kids. My oldest girl is 4 yrs, and I have twin six month old babies - a boy and a girl. My primary occupation is grad student, and I teach part-time at the local university. I live in Raleigh, August - May, and in Austin, TX, in June and July.

I should have come here yesterday as thats when I joined, but.. needless to say I just found this forum. Anyways Hi Im Dawn! Ive had a band for 20 months now I have lost 130 pounds and still going down

Hi All, Just joined the site today and someone mentioned I should post an intro here. I was just banded last Friday, 4/15 in Tijuana by Dr. Ortiz. Everything went great and I am already back at work, just from home since I normally travel every week (lifting a suitcase would be a little tough :cross-eye ). I look forward to chatting with many of you and following all the great support I have seen on this site to get me through the next few weeks of liquid "hell". KH:)

Hello everyone. Since I started posting threads a few days ago, I thought I'd introduce. I am starting my consultations visits on May 2. According to the nurse, since I am a self-pay, I should be in around the 1st of June. One question I have is whether you got weak (from lack of food) and for how long? I live in North Dakota but love to travel. In the summer, I ride motorcycle - alot. My last four motorcycles have been HD Road Kings - hence my screen name. Did anyone plan anything special for themselves during the process? Like when my tax refund comes in 2006, maybe I should visit Viet Nam or rent a motorcycle in New Zealand to reward myself. I'm apprec…

I have been up all night going to the bathroom with loose bowls is this normal? I also can feel hunger pains now and they come about every 2 hours, am I doing something wrong should I be feeling this way?

I'm doing great. I'm a little miserable as far as the bloating and the pain from the actual incisions. Otherwise, I'm doing so much better. I was re-opened so that the band could be pushed up a bit. In a week and a half I had lost 30 lbs. About 6 lbs of that was due to dehydration for which I was hospitalized twice. Now, I'm at 247lbs. I figure that's not too bad considering that I was unable to eat or drink for 11 days. I've passed my one week of liquids and now I get to find out for myself what kinds of foods (besides beef) I am able to tolerate. I'm in a weird place in the mushy phase because I was banded about 3 weeks ago but was adjusted a little over a week ago. A…

I was on vacation in Beirut Lebanon on September of 2004 when I had my surgery, I met a few people that had the lap band done and they looked great. My 3rd day there I visited with Dr. Biagini, 9th day I got the lap band installed I was his 876th patient by 10 am surgery day. 3 more people were scheduled For surgery that day also. I didn’t even know what lap band was until I went to Lebanon and met those who had it done. I was out of the hospital the next morning and it took me 3 days to recover. I got my first fill 10 days after surgery; 1 day befor leaving to the states. I was suppose to go back in February 2005 for my 2nd fill but things got shaky, the former …

Hello everyone! I have been reading posts for awhile. Love this site. I am looking at banding in about 6 weeks by Dr. Srikanth in Tacoma. I am going through all the tests now. I need to lose about 110 lbs. Keep up all the good information. Oh guess I better let you know my name is Rae.

Well I have not heard to much about Lite"n"Free in Monterrey,Mexico.I was wondering how do you check the Medical Board for certified surgeons in Mexico. Has anyone been or heard anything about Lite"n"Free? The procedure take place in a full service hospital,anyway I have a schduled appointment May 28 th. Please help me out.

There are so many new faces introducing themselves I couldn't possibly greet each of you individually. For those of you that have recently gotten your band CONGRATULATIONS!!! I know its tough the first few weeks but hopefully it gets smoother as time goes on. I am almost 1 year post op and absolutely love my band. For those of you researching, keep it up, bug your insurance company, save your pennies if you have to go out of country...whatever. I can't tell you how much I appreciate my band. There is a learning curve and there are moments I don't love it so much but overall I am 100% satisfied with the results as I approach my first bandiversary. I can only hope and pray …

My sister-in-law "Bandmesoon" referred me to this site. I too hope to be banded soon!!! However I desperatley need some info on a few things. 1. Does anyone know if I can do this surgery if I was diagnosed with esophagus ulcers 9 months ago? I took medicine for 1 week to heal them and have not been on medicine since, and have not had a problem. 2. I had my thyroid burned with Radioactive Iodine a year ago. I currently take Synthroid, should this be a problem? Thank you so much, hefftynetty

Hi everyone... I suppose I will introduce myself. I am 28 and my surgery is scheduled for next Friday, April 15th. I start my liquid diet tomorrow... bummed out about that one.. but I will suffer through it. I have finally decided to take charge here.. My 29th birthday is next month, and I am giving myself this birthday gift that will last a lifetime.. i hope. I am 5 foot 2 and weigh in at a staggering 224 pounds... My goal weight is 130.. My doc is Dr. Barker from Mesquite, TX... sooo nice.. i almost choked on air when he said, "I think we will stop when you get to 130"... just the thought that 130 is a stopping point... that 130 is even attainable.. wow. I also hav…

I have a surgery date: April 20th. I am very excited and ready to for my new life.