Shannon28

Thank you Mck for the response! You made me feel a lot better about getting it done especially since I thought it would take a long time. I should be fine as long as I can hold it down! lol

I'm finally starting to get everything going again on my lap band journey. I was going to have it back in October but some things came up and postponed it. So now I'm back and got a few tests scheduled. My first test is coming up on the 27th and I was told it was an Upper GI. In all my excitement over the phone making the appointment (and my kids yelling in the background) I didn't think to ask any questions. But is an Upper GI where you swallow the barium or is it the endoscopy? At first I was thinking it was where they used the endoscopy because at my seminar I was told I would have one but the more I research and google it a whole bunch of topics come up about Upper GI's and barium. Im happy to do either one because I need this surgery but just wanted to be prepared for what I'm going to have to go through. And if it is an endoscopy, are you asleep during it? Thanks!

Thanks for the reply! Its nice seeing someone else going to the same doctor. I had my consultation and I'm not required to have the 6 month pre-op diet, just the 2 week diet. Right now I'm waiting on my primary care doctor to send the letter and then I can proceed with the tests required. I'm having mine done at Hamilton so our insurance will pay more. If all goes as planned I can have the surgery at the end of October. But since its taking a long time for my primary care doctor to send in the letter I'm afraid its going to delay it. Either way, I'm still super excited about this lol. Good luck to you and wish you lots of success with the band!

Thats awesome! Congrats! : )

Heres my list.. 1. Start shopping for cuter clothes 2. Be able to walk long distances without my thighs chaffing 3. Not being afraid to sit in a booth (I think I have a phobia of boothes now lol) 4. Being able to see my feet when I look down 5. Stop avoiding fun places like amusement park 6. And most importantly...Being able to run after my kids without feeling like it's going to be the death of me!

I see what you mean by band bashers now. I went in for my first consultation today (YAY!!!!) lol, anyways, when I sat down in the waiting area another woman was in there talking about her surgery. She had the sleeve recently and was talking about her very bad experience with the Band. She was talking to another man there about how the sleeve is the only way to go, and how horrible the Lap Band was. I was sitting there minding my own business hoping she would just stop talking eventually lol. Then she asks me if I had surgery already. I told her no and then she asked what I was having done. I told her I was going to get the Band. And oh boy did she not like that. She kept trying to talk me out of it. I repeatedly told her that I thought this was right for me but she was acting like I was stupid for choosing the Band. Then she was like "Well, it looks like you made up your mind". She was very rude about it and had some nerve trying to change other peoples decisions. Luckily I don't care about what people like that say and not easily talked into something. When I have made up my mind no one can change it. Other than that woman in the waiting area my consultation went GREAT! I loved the Doctor and the staff is amazing. I feel extremely comfortable with my decision for the Lap Band and the Doctors/Nurses that are going to be working with me.

I went to the doctor 2 years ago after finding a lump in my arm and underarm, I was scared to death but was told they are only lipomas and they aren't life threatening. Only the one under my arm hurts but nothing major so I'm not having them removed. My question is.. Do any of you have them and if so when you started losing weight were they easily visible? You can't see mine but I'm assuming it's because I'm overweight but I have seen them on thinner people. It's not a huge concern of mine because I just want to lose weight and get healthy but it got me thinking because I was told I probably have more than those two.

I'm still in the process of getting approved but the band is the only way I'm willing to go. Like you I don't want any re-routing or cutting done. I think a lot of people are negative towards the band because you lose weight more slowly, which I always heard that losing weight slowly is the healthiest way anyways. Also I hear a lot about about people who get banded gain a lot back but I don't "personally" know anyone that that has happened to. I know it "can" happen but its not the majority of bandsters. You will know in your heart which is best for you.

I hope it gets rid of my heartburn also. I have had constant heartburn since the birth of my second child and sometimes it's unbearable. Can't wait to get this surgery to start feeling better. I need to lose weight to fix my joint problems, if it got rid of my heartburn also it would definitely be an added bonus!

I haven't been banded yet but I've thought about this also. I have a 3 year old and a 12 month old (boys) and both are very active and like to jump on mommy. I'm a stay at home mom and my husband will only be able to take the actual surgery date off. I keep imagining my kids jumping on me one day after the surgery and busting my stitches. The day I had my second son (c-section) the first thing my oldest son did was push on my stomach while getting up and it was the worst pain I have ever felt, I kept checking my stitches to make sure he didn't do any damage lol.

Hi Crissy! I hope everything goes smoothly for you and you get approved quickly. I'm sorry about it having to be put on hold but I'm glad your able to get back to it. I wanted this surgery back when I turned 21, I was (and still is) severely overweight. I did a lot of research back then but wasn't ready emotionally plus I wanted to have kids first. Im now 27 (after having two kids) and feel emotionally and physically ready. I don't know how much more research I can possibly do lol. I wish you luck with your primary care visit and your tests and hope that your insurance will be good to you.

I would be excited too! Congrats on getting approved! That's the thing I'm worried about the most, the thought of surgery isn't bothering me at all but not knowing if I will get approved is driving me nuts lol. My seminar isn't even until the 8th so it seems like forever, but it's mandatory so I will do everything that needs to be done. Congrats again on your surgery. You will do great! Do you have a date scheduled yet?

After a lot of research I have decided to go to Dr. Jaime Ponce for my first consultation, I haven't found a single bad thing about him and he is very experienced. I was wondering for those of you that had him as your doctor did you have to have the 6 month supervised diet? Did he require the 2 week pre-op liquid diet? I don't see him until the middle of next month but I'm trying to find out what to expect. What was your experience with Dr. Jaime Ponce? (Not to be confused with Dr. Ponce De Leon)

I'm waiting to tell my in-laws until after I get the surgery and lose some weight. I don't need any negativity right now and although most of my husbands family would understand there are always those couple of people that have nothing better to do than put me down. As for my family, I told everyone I could possibly tell and they are excited for me. I have a very supportive family and know they will be with me 100% even if I don't lose the weight. It is a personal choice and everyones situation is different. But for me, I'm telling the supportive people in my life and will let the less supportive know later down the road. (if at all lol)

I am so glad you asked this question because I was also curious about this. I'm a stay at home mom to two boys and we only have 1 car between my husband and I. We do have stairs but it's hard for me to go up and down them because of my knee problems so I'm trying to think of other things I can do. I might give in and get a treadmill, and I would love to try hip hop abs. I always see it advertised on TV and think that it looks fun.

Hi Lovinmeagain! I wish you all the luck and hope you are able to get your surgery! I am just starting out, I have the seminar to go to in September. And I have no idea if I will have to be on a monitored diet yet. My insurance just goes by what the doctor recommends, which I'm hoping he thinks I qualify. My BMI is 51 and like you I feel like Im falling apart. Im only 27 and can't get around good. My knees literally make a crunching noise when I walk up and down stairs. I have heard the changes you have to go through after surgery aren't easy but well worth it especially for your health. Good luck to you and your journey. Keep us updated!

Im new to this site as well and have already found out a lot of answers that I had questions for. I haven't had surgery yet (just starting out), but I have to go to a mandatory seminar for my first step towards getting approved which is September 8th and Im looking forward to it. I hope to get approved! Good luck to you and I hope you are able to get your surgery as well.

Thank you Bobrocky! Congrats on getting banded, I hope you have a very speedy recovery and have great results! I too did the grapefruit diet, I'd have to say that was the worst diet for me EVER.. not much of a grapefruit fan lol. I also did the diet for heart patients (my dad was a heart patient so I used his diet) and actually lost a little over 30 lbs but gained it all back plus more. Pretty much the only thing Im worried about right now is not getting approved but I understand a lot have the same worry. So I just have to stay positive and trust that if its meant to happen it will.

I have had joint problems for a little over 5 years but the past 7-8 months have been extremely rough, I avoid steps and hills as much as I can because my knees feel like they are going to give out. I also have back pains. I do have a little urinary incontinence but was told it was likely due to having children. I did not know it could be caused by being overweight but it definitely makes sense, thank you for letting me know because I will definitely bring that up! Thank you for the Welcome, I am really glad I found this forum!

Hi Calsmom! Thank you very much for the welcome! I haven't been to a seminar yet but Im looking forward to it definitely. I know a woman that has had the surgery a little over a year ago and she looks amazing but most importantly she says she feels so much better. I have thought about this surgery for years but I didn't feel ready until now. I even watched a lap band surgery that was performed on Youtube. I don't get easily sick so I wanted to know exactly what was going to happen and what was going to be put in my body( if I am lucky enough to get approved). I also watched a video of a "fill" and it wasn't bad at all and thank goodness I have no problems with needles lol. Luckily my insurance covers most of this surgery (80%) but I am worried about being approved because other than a diabetic diet when I was pregnant there are no other documented supervised diets. I was always told to go on a diet (which I did) but it wasn't supervised. I'm making the call tomorrow to see what all my insurance requires to be approved. I know I meet the BMI requirement and I do have some obesity related issues which are documented. I really hope your insurance will cover your surgery or you will be able to get it somehow because you are definitely right about your health being worth it! I also have young kids, a 3 year old and a 1 year old. It absolutely breaks my heart that I am not able to play with them as much as they need me to. I hope everything turns out great for you as well as everyone else starting this journey!

Hi, my name is Shannon and I'm 27, married, and have two wonderful kids! I haven't had surgery yet but have done a lot of research on this surgery and feel like it is right for me. Monday I am making the call for my first consultation to see if I can get approved. I understand it's somewhat a long process so I'm not expecting to actually get the surgery immediately but I hope to get approved because it's something I have thought about a very long time. I have tried several diets myself with little to no weight loss and it's getting to the point to where its painful for me to just get around. I have been overweight since I was a kid but I am at my highest weight now and have painful joint problems so it's hard to exercise or even to just get the mail. The last time I was weighed I was 319 so that makes my BMI 51. (I'm very open about my weight). I am not looking to get "skinny", I just want to feel healthier and know that I will be here for my children for many many years. I am very lucky to have my husband because he is very supportive as well as the rest of my family. I came across this site a few nights ago when doing research on the surgery and I have to say I have already fell in love. I have found so many answers to the questions I had and I'm looking forward to interacting with others going through the same thing.