Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hi everybody, Long time lurker, first time poster. I've found this site to be invaluable! I've learned so much and I can't wait to get my band - I'm looking at getting mine done in TJ since my HMO's idea of WLS is duct tape! Just waiting for someone to pay back a loan and then I'm SO there! Time to get off the yo-yo dieting roller-coaster caused by my seeming ability to un-hinge my jaw like a giant anaconda and consume the entire contents of my fridge in one fell swoop. Also gonna get a treadmill and walk while watching TV instead of methodically eating non-stop while watching The Simpsons or whatever's on HBO. Not to mention the added perk of being able to exerci…

Hi everyone, I'm Bren, female, age 50 and reside in the Chattanooga Tennessee area. Banded 6/23/03 by Dr. Jaime Ponce in Dalton, Georgia. Had my first fill August 12. Have had no problems with the surgery, lifestyle adjustment, or with the fill process! I would especially love to hear from bandsters from my area. Have a great day you'all! Bren

I am looking for anyone who has used Dr. Sewell in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area in Texas. Or, if you can refer another doctor, that would be great. If so, please tell me what you liked about your doctor in this area, and what the pre and post care involved. I have heard that the post care varies a lot and is important. I am just beginning the process and about the tackle the insurance approval. Thanks! Deby

Hello, My Name Is Dionne And I Will Be Banded On 03/21/05. I Am Excited To Be Starting A New Journey, But I Am Also A Little Nervous Of What Is To Come. I Hope This Will Be A Very Productive, Learning Experience For Me And That I Will Be Happy With My Decision. Thanks For Listening And I Will Talk Back To You All After I Am Banded. Waiting In Louisiana, Dionne

hi there folks, My name's salena, I'm from the uk. I'm waiting for a surgery date, hopefully in the next 6 weeks. I'd like to get in touch with peeps in the same boat, so we can travel along this road in good company. Hope to hear from you soon....x:banana

...begins the new me. Right now I currently weigh 425 pounds. I have tried and tried to lose the weight but I gain it back plus I pick up what others have lost! On my last dieting adventure I went from 400 to 337 but gained it all back plus 25 pounds. Along with message boards like this I have family and friends that have had this procedure that can help me along. For both I am extremely greatful. It is going to be a challenge and I thank all of you for sharing your experiences! Maybe I should explain my avatar before people think I am just crazy I am part of a group that dances for the Dallas Mavericks. We're called the Mavs ManiAACs(http://www.nba.com/mavericks/e…

lol...I didn't see this forum until just now. I already posted here http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=5342 I'm just starting the research into this...and I found this site...what a wonderful place you guys have built here!! Lots of information..I'll be reading for a while...lol Thanks for having me!!

Hello. I have lots of questions of course but I wanna start with this one. Maybe someone here can help me. I was banded 11 days ago, so of course I still have glue on my inscissions and stuff.... I have a pain about an inch under my Big inscission. Its a pain thats about 4 inches in circumfrence. I have no pain in any actual inscission. The pain gets worse daily, not better. I didnt feel any of this pain before I flew home (though I WAS heavily medicated with Morphine the whole time) I cant lay on my left side as I sleep. Sometimes in the middle of the night, I will go to toss to that side and OMG, the pain is really bad then. The pain also gets bad when I wa…

My name is Kristi. I live in Omaha, NE. I had my Lap-Band Surgery on Jan.24. So far I have lost 25 pounds. I would like to chat with some other lap-band patients.

Just baned a week ago. Started liquids 2 weeks prior. Down 20 lbs. Getting my 1st fill 3/10/05

Hey everyone! Before joining your fabulous site, I did a little exploring and saw some of you ladies' before and after pics. You guys look sensational and you should all be so proud and overjoyed of what you have accomplished. Kudos!!! I have already selected a surgeon. I will be using Dr. Keith Chung in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Although I do live in Texas, it's just a hop, skip and a jump across the Sabine River to Louisiana (about 35 miles). Right now, I'm doing most of the leg work trying to get one doctor's information to the other. I am very lucky because this surgery is going to be close to my 28th birthday and it will be my parent's gift to me. Wow! What a presen…

Hi guys! I've been researching this alot and I am thinking it is a good choice for me. I am rather intimidated though because I have notice that most of the people in here are bout in their 30's or 40's..I am only 19. I have been overweight almost all of my life. Vanity wise I am happy with myself, but I dont want to do it for vanity. In order to fullfill my dreams I need to lose weight and i've tried so many diets, nothing seems to work. In about 2 years or so i would like to join the United States Navy and to do so I need to lose about 100 or so pounds. Do you guys think I am too young for the surgery? Will I be able to have kids after the surgery? right now I weigh aro…

Hi! I'm brand new and I'm seeing Dr. Carter in Arlington, Texas. I was wondering if anyone else has used him and what you thought. I've filled out my paperwork and it's currently being reviewed. I have UHC EPO and I know my plan does not have any exclusions so I feel pretty good about the outcome. I certainly qualify and I'm MO and have been since being a teenager. I've figured out in 25 years I've lost over 300 pounds with yo-yo dieting. I've been researching the band since November 04 and I made my final decision last month. However, I am a little un-nerved about having something foreign in my body and I was wondering if anyone else has felt like that in the beg…

Hi there, my name is Sylvia and I was banded by Dr. Kuri in Tijunana MX on Dec 10th 2001. So far I have lost approx 125 lbs and would like to lose about 30 or 40 more, if I do, I will be at a weight I have not been since high school, and that would have been almost unreachable a few years ago, but I have faith that I can and will do it with the help of my band! I am also the organizer of the 3rd Annual Vegas Bandster Ball to be held at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino (on the Las Vegas Strip) Sunday May 29th/Monday 30th (memorial day)/Tuesday 31st 2005. Registration is now open and early bird registration is only $70 per person, please go here for more information www.g…

I've been banded since December but haven't visited this site before. I think I've met some others on other site(s), like La Madam. I started @ 232 lbs. the week before banding & am now @ 203. It's been hard lately, I went back to TJ for my 1st fill & was super anxious to get it cause I was leaving on vacation a few days later & had not experienced any restriction. Not the best move I ever made! Last week I went to the nurse practitioner here on Long Island & she had to take out .4cc's from a 1.4cc fill. I had been spitting up, not holding very much food at all & it had become a vicious cycle. I guess I didn't really know I was supposed to go on liq…

My husband was banded on Feb 23. I will be banded on march 14th. I am a little nervous because of some of the issues that my husband has had with hunger that we are still working on but above all i am so excited to finally have this done.

Just 3 days BEFORE Thanksgiving, and I am thankful for my band, My insurance paid for the surgery, I have Tenn Care select, very easy to get approved, if you have your eggs in a roll. I had my first fill Jan 17th worked well for about 3 weeks, even tho I still lost, I could eat more then my dr wanted so I was filled again on the 24th, at that time she found that she could only pull out 1 cc of the 2 that she put in, but she didn't seem to concerned about it, she said that some times absorption happens. I have lost nearly 45 lbs already and like 6 inches, my height is 5ft 4 inches, I started out at 280lb and I am now 234lb. My personal goal is 160ish. My surgery was don…

Hello I'm Roxanna, I'm a nurse from Central Florida. After two and a half years of research and studying all the options for weight loss surgery, I have finally decided on the solution that is best for me. I am going to get the Lap-Band!!! About a year ago I almost had the gastric bypass surgery mainly because I was at my witts end, and that was the only thing that my insurance would pay for. I went through the entire process and was just awaiting to be given a surgery date. Suddenly, I realized that I was actually being pressured into having the gastric bypass only because of my insurance. All my medical knowledge, and common sense told me to get the Hell out of t…

Hi, I’m new to the group. Before I introduce myself, I want to really thank all of the members that post and share your experiences and emotional feelings on the board. Reading all of the posts over the past several weeks really helped me finally decide on moving forward with the surgery and to set realistic expectations. My name is Michael. I’m 32 and live in NYC. Being 6’2” and weighing 330lbs, I've finally decided to pull the trigger and schedule band surgery with Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey, Mexico. I was (and still am I have to admit) a little weary of going to Mexico to have the surgery, but because my insurance company will not cover lap-band surgery in a…

Hello, my name is Gwen. I was banded on 1/13/05 and so far I have lost 25lbs since that date. I would like to know about taking vitamins and supplements. For instance, do you have to find vitamins that are chewable only or can you just swallow regular ones as well?

I think the only annoying thing is the gas (does this ever go away?) bloat and tension where the stitches are - but beyond that everything is going fine. I went for a nice walk with my dog today and tried to be active at least once an hour. Otherwise I'm psyched - and waiting for the weight to start rolling off!

Hi all, I am a 24 year old wife and mother of 1. I am to be banded tomorrow, 22 feb. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone. Sam.

Hi i'm new here i am going to have lapband surgery in three weeks and one minute i'm excited and then sometimes i feel like cancelling. Please could you let me know if you ever felt like that. I'm really scared about the surgery.

I was wondering is anyone having problems meeting their water intake goal? I am 12 days out and I am suppose to drink at min. 32 ozs. a day but within the limits of 1/4 cups every 15 min. I am sipping water all and I mean all day long and I can bearly meet that 32 oz mark let alone the 64 oz they want us at. I also am now into the mush stage so I can't drink 30 min. before a meal and 1 hour after a meal....taking another 6 hours out of my drinking time (assumeing 3 meals are eating). Any tips from you all? Take Care!! Angela

Hi Everybody, Well, all I can say is that none of this has been as I expected, and it's all for the better. I feel more energetic than I did before the surgery, and I know it can't be from much weight loss - I'm sure It's the chinese herbalist I've been seeing. I've been eating things like olives, crackers, grapes, cheese and eggs, in very small amounts, with no problem. I have my first fill on the 2nd March - do you think this will change the food I can eat? I hope you are all keeping well, Take care, Rachel.

Hello. I am concidering a lap-band. I live in Gainesville Ga. (just out-side of Atlanta) I am wondering if anyone can suggest a doctor in my area who will do after care. I need to go to Mexico to get the procedure done ($) I am self-paying. Any help would be great. Any other suggestions about the whole process would also be great.

well i had my lapband done on feb. 17, 2005 at the molding clinic in tijuana, it was the best expereince one could have. i am from california and i was very nervous about the procedure being done so far from home, but when the patient cooridnator(andres betencourt) made contact with me he made me feel like he knew me for years. i asked for references and they were given to me with no hesitation. the molding clinic is a very ,very clean hospital, and the doctors are very profesional and have an excellant bedside manner. dr. huacuz is the surgeon at the molding clinic. they actually have a team of doctors that work on each patient, everyone of them with their own specialty…

Hi all. My name is Tina and I live in S.Florida. S.Florida summers are hard on us heavy girls. I want to shed some of this :tired unwanted insulation. I've been lurking and I really like everyones down to earth attitude. It's very refreshing. I have a plan of action, it goes like this: Get money, go to Mexico, get banded, loss weight. thats it. Sounds good to me.:banana Tina

I was banded on 12/21/04 by Dr. Alex. Apkin. Top weight was 269 in 1993. Weight at banding was 229, now at 204. Current goal is 150. First fill on 2/10/05--2 cc.

Hello everyone, I got banded on November 11, 2004 and have lost at least 30 lbs. It is going great, except for getting used to the fills. This is hard to figure this out. I just had my 2nd fill on Wed. the 9th of Feb. I can't even drink water without it hurting. Is this normal?? When I had my first fill it did the same thing and I had to go get some taken out. But then I only lost 2 lbs over a three week process. My first fill was 1.2cc and one week later he removed .2cc and last Wednesday he added 1.6 cc, so I am at a total of 2.6 cc on a 10cc band. He did my fill through the e-ray machine and showed me that I still have a flow going on but it sure doesn't feel like it. …

Hello.... Anybody out there, I'm new to posting on here but I just wanted someone to know that I got my band on 2/18/05 in Monterrey MX. With DR.DEL LA GARZA, and it went better then I could ever hoped for.. I had to go alone that was the hard part but, I'm home and as of yesterday afternoon off of the pain meds and onto a new life... Something funny happend to me today I herd My stomic growl... I think it's been years since I heard that!!! Funny, I welcomed it as if I'm in controll not you!!!!!! Thank you for all your old posts you will never know how helpful they have been to me!!!

Hi, I have enjoyed seeing your posts, Today is my one month anniversary!! So far so good, only one small set back with a port infection. All is well now. My pre-op weight 297lbs. Four weeks post-op 275lbs. I have just started eating soft foods this week. I am starting to feel a little more hungry these days, scheduled for my first fill on March 7. Kimberly

Hi. I am new here. I am scheduled for a lapband placement March 10, 2005 in Kirkland, WA. After a year of fighting Group Health for the WLS coverage (which I had) they finally approved me the very week my COBRA expired. I had to switch to an individual plan with - that's right - no obesity benefits. (That sounds like they don't give out enough free ice cream in the cafeteria or something...) That was a serious setback but the more I thought about it, the more I realized nothing else in my life was more important than getting off the excess 100lbs. That was only the beginning of setbacks... experience at the WISH Center was a nightmare, and they turned me down at the end o…

I am scheduled to have surgery on March 7th at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. I have completed all of the necessary prerequisites: psych eval, orientation meeting, sleep study, meeting with nutritionist. I will have a final meeting with Dr. Lautz on the 24th and will then start liquids. I have been overweight for many years but have always felt good. In the last eighteen months or so, I don't feel good. I am clumsy, lathargic and depressed...time to intervene in my own life. Looking forward to joining you bandsters. Jane

Hi Everyone, I have decided to get banded. I am getting banded on Wed Feb 16. I am 5'6'' and 195 pounds. I have decided to have Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana do it. I have decided that this is my limit. The last time I weighed this amount was in my 9th month of pregnancy. I just told my primary doctor that I am getting banded. He said that if I had the discipline to save 9500.00 that I should have the discipline to get a trainer. He also asked me what would I do if anything happens down in Mexico. So if anyone can help me answer these questions I would be grateful. He suggested that I try phentaramine. I told him that it makes me agitated and jittery. He said that the dose…

Hello everyone, After 9 months and trying to get in to 2 different docs, my surgery will be in Dallas on 3/29. I am so excited. I have belonged to this forum for several months and I can't thank all of you enough for your suggestions and support. Keep it coming. I have BC/BS and once I finally got a Dr. to send in all of my paperwork, I was approved in less than a week! Thanks to all of those who have given me tidbits, I was well prepared. Like some of you, I am going to be a closet bandster. My family just can't take the added stress right now. :banana I can't wait! TB

Hi, I'm new to LBT and welcome all the insights from everyone. I'm considering lap-band and have a couple of questions. I've read many, many threads so far and have gotten alot of questions answered. Here a few lingering ones: 1) When you get banded, what happens to the "bigger" part of your stomach? Don't you still get "hunger pains" from the bigger part that isn't full anymore? 2) I'm still seeing people talking about eating what I consider alot of food even with banding. How is that possible if your stomach is so small? 3) My BMI is 34.5, not considered "morbidly obese" (that makes me feel SO MUCH better, not!) but I've struggled with this for most of my adu…

I have found this site in my efforts to research the Lap-band. I currently do not have insurance coverage, and so whatever I choose will be paid out-of-pocket. Since I am not relying on an insurance company to "tell me" what I am allowed to have, I want to find the best option for myself and my family. I would love to hear "details" from anyone that is willing to share with me regarding their experience, including physician name and any side-effects that you might have had. I know many people that have had standard bypass surgery, and while they seem very happy with their results, I dont' know anyone who has had the procedure for more than 3 or 4o years. I have no long…

hi everyone! This site is so helpful! I want to thank everyone for talking here. It really helps me to research the band and all related questions. My name is Kathy and I live in NC, just outside of Charlotte. I am considering banding in Mexico (insurance doesn't pay for bands, only gastric bypass, which I don't want to do). So off I will go, hopefully in March 2005, to see Dr. Kuri. I have 2 young children, ages 5 and (almost) 2. My husband is supportive but very nervous about 1) me be-bopping off to TJ for major surgery and 2)incurring a bit of temporary debt until I can go back to work and pay this off. But he feels like this is a good solution for my strug…

I have been having a lot of problems getting to andstaying asleep. Anybody else experiencing this. I was banded Jan 18 and have lost 21lbs to date so all is going well except this one area.

Hi all, my name is Sharon. I'm 36 years old, 5'6.5" and 260ish pounds. I have finally recognized the need to fight my weight battle - so here I am. I'm married with two children (5 & 7) and couldn't bring myself to face the risks of RNY so after quite a bit of research, I've decided the band is a good choice. I have Anthem PPO insurance, which is self-insured. So far I haven't heard a definitive "no" on the banding, but not a yes either. The thing about self-insured plans is that the employer has the final say on coverage. I work for a very large company, but I do work in HR - so if I have to, I'm prepared to go up the company chain to get them to cover me. …

Evening all, I've posted recently regarding having surgery on the 11th (tomorrow), then it looked like it wasn't going to happen because of a nasty bout of conjunctivitis but now it's back on. I have to front at the hospital at 9am. Shall keep you all posted. Take care, Rachel.

Hey-all-I just found this site yesterday after finding a few on yahoo-didn't really care for the one that has the most action on it, but some info was helpful. My husband was banded on 12/7/04 and I was on 12/28/04, so we are doing this journey together, but he is computer illiterate and isn't much of a talker. This is a private thing for him and the more that knows about me the better my support system I figure. SO far things are going good. Down 15 pounds in 6 weeks and had my first fill on 2/1/05 of 1cc. some things are okay to eat and some I have major restriction. Thats okay though. I am learning what I tolerate and what doesnt. I had a hard time with vitamins until …

Hi everyone, My name is Terri and I live in a SMALL mountian town in Arizona. I was banded on 11/19/04 I have lost about 35lba. I had my first fill of 3.0cc's on 12/22/04. I felt a little restriction a first but not much. Now I feel NO restriction at all. I am going in for another fill on Tuesday 5th. I haven't gone in sooner because it is a 3 hr drive to get there and the last time I had a fill I got a stress fracture in my foot from standing so long (15 min) in the flo scope. Let me explain why that was tough on me. I have a spinal disease called H.S.P. and I walk with crutches or a walker. My Dr. (Robert Berger) ask me if I though I could stand that long and I said I w…

Hi, I was banded four months ago. I'm having some struggles being too tight, but won't go into it more until I get acquainted and read some posts here. I'm doing well with the weight loss...and am down fifty pounds. It's no easy ride though.

Evening, or morning, all - depending on where you are reading this from, My name is Rachel and I'm in Perth, Western Australia - pop. 1.2 million. As you can tell from the title, I'm scheduled to have my surgery on Friday 11th. I've been given one weeks notice to get my head around the reality of it. I started the process 18 months ago. As this is covered by the public health care system ( if you are considered morbidly obese ) I have had to have interviews with the surgeon, a psychologist , a dietician and an endocronologist. Now the time has come and I have to admit to being a bit scared. Since I had my baby two years ago I don't take as many risks, so this has made…

Hello everyone, my name is Terrie and I am one month away from having the Lap-Band Procedure performed. I am scheduled with Dr. Jason Brodsky here in the District of Columbia. I decided to have the procedure performed after my last appointment with my endocrine specialist. My doctor suggested that I consider surgical procedures to aid in my weight loss in an effort to get my thyroid gland functioning normally. I have a condition known to many as hypothyroidism, it is complicated by the fact that despite continued symtoms my blood work routinely fluctuates from hyper to normal to hypo. My thyroid gland is currently twice the normal size. Over a four year period up to 4/200…

Hi, my name is Sharon. Ive been banded for one year & started at 230 pounds & am now 148! I love my band so much! I have been lurking for awhile & you are a fantastic group of guys here! My fill was rescently made looser because it was so tight that I was getting sick from not eatting enough healthy stuff. I really miss my tight fill as it made loosing weight super easy. Now I am finding it hard! My doc was Professor O`Brien, one of the band pioneers. Hes so cool about stuff. We dont seem to have to do as much as other doctors make their patients OS. eg we dont have to go on liquids after or before a fill, and I didnt have to go on clear fluids after the…

Wow! Great site. Hi I'm Jim from Chicago area not sure if I'll ever be "banded" as you say but starting to look around I think my BMI is 36-37 I'm 6'0 6'1 appx 265-275 lbs. I am in the process to see if I qualify with Ins. I have Blue Cross and had heart surgery when I was age 5 I'm now 36. I'm a non-smoker and light drinker 1-2 drinks per month and have struggled with weight since age 6. My heaviest is right now. I was down to 172 when I was 23 for about 2 yrs but ended up at 225-230 for most of my 20's and early 30's. Now I'm moving towards 40 and weight 270=275 yikes! I emailed a few places today in Illinois to get information and schedule a meeting. My first q…

Hello every one. I am interested in having the lap band procedure and have been researching for some time now. I have known for a while now that my current insurance carrier has an exclusion against it. While researching, I found out that one of the area hospitals associated with this insurance has a doctor that specializes in bariactric procedures!! I find that very odd!! So as of now I am currently trying to find a new insurance carrier. What should I look for in the policy? Is there a special wording? Or should I look for exclusions to weight loss? I need help! Please feel free to e-mail me directly. Sincerely, Searching in STL