XTA

I am a self payer. I had mine done in Mexico with Dr. Ortiz for the 4995k. Which is a great price. The surgeons are great. Some of the best in the world on weight loss surgeries. The surgical hospital was super nice, very clean, and everyone is so friendly. It was a great experiance. The problem is that now that I need a fill no one in my area will touch a band done in Mexico. (they act like we had it sdone in the back alley or something) Anyways, I will be traveling 3 hours to the next state to have my fills. I will be staying overnight in case I need some removed or something. So in the long run I may be paying as much or more for my surgery than the people in the states. Thanks Idaho for not doing my fill. Anyways explore your options and good luck to you. I do not regret my choice however. It has already changed my life, and I only had it done in Feb.

Here is a pretty decent comparison chart side by side. http://www.wlshelp.com/lap-band-vs-realize-band.html
I also have no idea which band at this point my surgeon is going to go with. I guess I'll find out as soon as I get a date.

my first fill is march 22. I am going back to mexico where i got my lap band to have it done by my docs ortiz and martinez. i'm not nervous about the procedure. after having a couple of kids and going through labor and delivery there is NO pain I can't tolerate. what i am anxious about is getting restriction. as it stands right now I have been "dieting" without the assistance of the band since mid january. I've lost 25 pounds, but its all been the old fashion white knuckle dieting I am so clever at. I am really getting tired of self restriction. My hope is this lapband is going to actually help me to restrict. Right now I can eat anything, drink anything, and screw around as much or as little as i would like to. some say it takes several fills to get it right....thats several more pilgramiges to mexico.. and i'm not looking forward to that at all... i hope this first fill helps to give me a kick start to this weight lose. Im tired of doing it alone and this is about the time i start to self sabotage...holding tight till march 22

These are all such "great" things, guys! I think that putting these out there is a great motivation for everyone to see what they want to change with the lapband.
And I agree, kids are very honest! But sometimes it works out to be the best. My five year old cousin Macy is the sweetest little girl in the world. She loves to just climb up in your lap and say nice things to you. She tells me all the time "You are so smart. You are so beautiful. I just love you." It melts my heart! Kids are often such self esteem boosters! ; )

I am hoping I get approved soon and I too am tired, tired of walking up the stairs and having to sit down cause I cant breath and I want to ride the rides at the amusement parks with my kids and be able to be comfortable in a plane seat I can relate best of luck hope you start to feel life living again ur so young ur life is a blank book ur in charge of ur furture write a beautiful story

I have had the same thoughts and sometimes feel depressed that eating will be completely different for me, but then again, that's what got me in this spot in the first place. And then I think of one of the main reasons I did this....my grandkids. When I see their faces I know I'd do anything for them, and if eating healthy is what keeps me around a little longer to watch them grow up, then so be it.

I was terrified of going under anesthesia. Terrified!!! But let me tell you, they set me up in my bed with my iv and I got to watch tv while I waited for the surgeon. While I waited, I was given warm blankets, and then met the anesthesiaologist. They gave me something in my iv and I felt like I drank a bottle of wine. They wheeled me in to the OR, and I got myself on the operating table, all while feeling quite calm. They told me they would take good care of me, and thats all I remember. Then I woke up, in recovery, and it was the most comfortable I have ever been!!! I went in and out of sleep, and was even able to get up and go to the bathroom after a few hrs of being in recovery, with some help from the nurses, who were wonderful. I had heard a few people here say, you just have to give yourself to the nurses the day of surgery, and dont stress just relax. I never thought I could do it, and i was a mess the day before thinking I was going to die from some horrible complications...but the day of surgery, a calm came over me and I felt so ready. I did like everyone said and just let the nurses care for me...it was actually enjoyable!

Good luck to all of you getting ready to go in for surgery in the weeks ahead! I had mine on Friday, and so far, so good...

jennxaz you are so right! This is a test for the rest of our lives. We can all do it, we all want to. And every pound lost is a pound we will never see again R.I.P. fat! Good luck Thursday. Mine is Friday! And mrsmeyers good luck to you on Wednesday. We can do it. We are strong capable women!! ( I am trying to set up this damn ticker, so if it doesn't wrk and something funky happens, sorry)

Yup its true!! I had to call the ins company to find out for myself and YES!! They did approve it! I LOVE EMPIRE BCBS !!! March 6th is my surgery date!!!

I only had to do one day of Clear liquids. But like so many I had to do the two shakes and then the meat and veggies for dinner thing pre op. Plus one day of clear liquids. I think it's probably because of your liver. Just hang in there. I'm three weeks post op and I have a hard time getting all my fluids/food down. I'm only eating one pureed meal a day at this point.
The worst thing you can do is sneak a bite of something. Because you know, for people like us, one bite is never enough.

I have the same problem with my best friend(since Kindergarten). She has always been overweight when we grew up and I was small. When I mentioned to her that I was going to have the surgery she was so negative and not suppotive at all. She said she'd have to be in the 'Fat club" all by herself? It's not like we have ever had a fat club I think she just doesn't want me to be thinner. I am doing this for my health. She said I am looking older since I ve started to lose weight. I told her I realize that might happen, but what I want is to be healthy so if I look older at least I will still be alive! Its kind of pointless otherwise! So I just take it with a grain of salt and stay away from the subject as much as possible. good luck!

I am thrilled with my band and hope you have as wonderful a time as I am having. I had surgery 9/7/11 and have lost 57 lbs. so far. I was nervous about surgery, too. However, it was a breeze and I went home after about 4 hours. I have a great doctor. I had a single incision and had an easy recovery. Not totally pain-free but not horrible either. I even lost some during the holidays.
I would recommend looking into therapy of some kind. That has been very important and helpful to me. I've had weight issues all my life and have lost 100+ lbs. twice. Once I kept if off for 5 years. I'm taking each day one at a time and am learning not to put all my feelings into food.
All the best with your journey!

yes i know, ive done tons of research i guess its just going through the surgery as i said i am terrified of being put under. But i know this is something i need to have done, i distinctly remember a day i think it was the summer before i went into highschool and i weighed my self and the scale said like 265 and i was like oh hell no...now several years later and 200 lbs heavier i just cant believe i let it get like this. Now is time for change and i just keep telling my self how great life will be. Another problem is i dont know what its like to be thin, ive been over weight forever so its not like i was some skinny person who lived a somewhat normal life and then just blew up, its been forever so i guess in a weird way that is also another fear, a fear of the unknown ( being thin, or thinner) but hey i would love to never have to goto Casual Male ( Store for larger sized clothing ) again for clothes! I plan on possibly doing a blog on my journey once i get things going in motion, maybe it will help someone else out who was as timid and afraid as i was.