prettysmart1913

I was told that you are normally born with hiatal hernia's. My sister and niece have one as well

Thank you and congrats to you all as well. I'm super excited that my journey has started

I was banded this AM. They found a very bad hiatal hernia during surgery. They repaired it and all is well, I'm just sore and EXHAUSTED!

I'm very excited!! Tomorrow is the big day! I'm so ready for this journey to becoming the best me I can be! Any last minute advice?

Every insurance company and surgeon requires something different. My insurance required 12 months but I was already 9 months in when I decided on a band. I didn't do the 9 to get the band. I also had to have 30 days of a dietician supervised diet and participation in UHC obesity counseling program that my company requires for reduced premiums. It sounds like a lot but it really was best because I did all of that just because I wanted to lose. I only decided on the band after a friend revealed that is how she lost all of her weight.

Thank you!! I am definitely ready to change my lifestyle and use the band as a tool not a crutch

Any last minute advice?

She kept getting fills and it wasnt lasting. The surgeon didn't future it out right away and she wasn't going right back. They finally had to just replace it.

Thank you. These are helpful. Keep them coming!

My doctor does 3-4ccs. As you can see it varies.

Any ideas or advice for post op? Im going to do my shopping this weekend. I need recommendations for the smooth liquids phase. I also need ideas for the best tasting protein supplements.

Lactaid pills make you very constipated!

I read a lot of posts complaining about 20lbs lost in 4 or 6 weeks. Pre-band 20lbs in a year seemed unreachable. Don't lose sight of your past completely or you will forget how far you've come. I made that mistake when I lost. 53lbs on WW. I gained it all back because I forgot to celebrate the wins.

To help pass food when stuck, my dietician actually recommended 1 tsp of meat tenderizer and 2 oz of water. I'm not banded yet but she has been spot on and the surgeon she works with is top notch so I trust her.

I have a friend who got her tubing punctured and they didn't figure it out for a year!

1. Wear stilettos for hours and not have my knees hurt 2. Zip up and comfortably wear my knee high boots 3. Have everything in Lane Bryant be too big 4. After I'm at goal, see every ex and person who called me fat 5. Wear a skirt above my knee 6. Take swimming lessons in a swim suit with no skirt or wrap and feel comfortable doing so 7. Show off my new body for my 38th birthday on an island 8/27/13) 8. Attend my 20th class reunion (6/2013) in the same size I wore in High School...a size 10.

I am SUPER excited about getting my band. I'm ready for Bandster hell. I had a breast reduction in April and everyone told me how awful it would be. It was uncomfortable but the week of discomfort was worth every sundress I got to wear this summer. I am looking forward to the same pain to reward ratio from the band

I have completed the process and will be banded by Dr Chua on 8/22.

I'm a little nervous too but I was also nervous about my breast reduction and everything went great. Everyone described that as excruciating pain and it was definitely uncomfortable but also like I hear about the lapband...WORTH IT! I didn't let the mental part freak me out about the physical pain and changes. Everyone is different and I look at things as either temporary or permanent change. I can handle temporary discomfort for long term gain or in this case loss. :-)

Oops yep 2013...lol Thanks everyone

I am so excited. They were able to move my surgery date up to 8/22 instead of 9/11. That may not seem like a big deal to everyone else but I am SUPER excited! My birthday is 8/27 and I want to be at goal by 8/27/12. I am 240 and I want to get to 140 by then. That is 2lbs a week on average. I am looking forward to buying a Spring and Summer wardrobe that doesn't come from Lane Bryant. My 20th class reunion is next summer and I planning to go wearing the size I wore when I graduated. I'm so ready for this!

Thank you for the replies everyone. I am expecting pain but I also had a breast reduction and the naysayers were out there too. I was uncomfortable but no pain no gain or loss in these cases. I expect it to be somewhat painful but it won't be the first pain I have experienced. My knees, feet and hips will be glad to share the pain with my shoulders. I'm 5'5" and 240lbs but I was underweight until college. I would take almost any level of pain for two days for a lifetime of better health and being freed of the life of an obese woman. I'm tired of hearing "you have such a pretty face" and spending twice as much on clothes in plus size stores. I want to buy my jeans from New York and Company and be able to wear heels without feeling like my knees will cave in.

I'm so excited! Anyone else being banded in Sept? Anyone else told they dont have to do a liquid diet pre-surgery? I love this forum because Ive learned so much. What were the things you wish someone told you but you had to find out the hard way?

Approved...and scheduled!! I am so excited. My surgery is scheduled for 9/11. I have work commitments so i have to wait two months but hey Im scheduled!

I would agree ask your own surgeon. I just set my date for September 11th. When I asked about the liquid diet my surgeon said that is an old practice and he does not use it.