mom22

I'm also scheduled for surgery in November. Good luck to you - it would be nice to keep in touch throughout our journeys! I have my last class this month - then the paperwork will be submitted to insurance. I'm hoping for an early surgery date than 11/5 - I'm going to give it about a week after my last class - then I'm going to call my insurance company. I've heard that some people are approved in a few days after they receive paperwork - I don't know if it's possible, but if I'm approved, maybe my date can be moved up a few weeks? The only thing I haven't done is the cardiac workup - my surgeon wants that done within 30 days of surgery.

Hi Tamara - wow - 9/17 will be here before you know it! I'm a bit disappointed in the schedule I've been given from Dr. Boorse - I will attend my last group meeting in early Sept - then my paperwork will be put together and sent to insurance - I just got a surgery date of early November! I was really hoping to start this journey sooner - I'm hoping there's a chance I'll get a call that I'll get in earlier - but I don't know how realistic that would be. I guess knowing the weight loss will be slow in the beginning - until I get a few fills - and now not getting the surgery until November! I was really hoping to see a big change by the Christmas. I'd love to hear how your surgery went -please keep us informed! Kay

Congrats on your success! I just finished the 6-month program with Beth and Jerry - Dr. Boorse will do my surgery this fall-waiting for insurance approval. Would love to hear about your experience - did you feel any restriction after the surgery; how long till you received your first fill; what do you eat now; are you exercising; how many days till you felt like going out of house and driving (have two teenagers who I drive EVERYWHERE!); any problems or complications; how much weight do you lose per week on average Lots of questions - sorry - just very anxious to hear a success story to give me a boost. Continued good luck to you - I was at last week's group meeting at the hospital - do you go to these meetings? Thanks!! Kay

I think I've found my "twin"!!! Everything you wrote is my story - I, too, have just completed the 6-month pre-surgical program and am waiting for insurance approval. I have not lost an ounce; have not changed my habits at all; question myself everyday whether the band will work for me; questions whether bypass surgery would be the better option; start my diet "tomorrow" - but here it is 6 months later; have my very caring relatives tell me I can still gain weight - it's all up to me - have to work really hard, etc. I've been reading alot about the "gastric sleeve" where they remove part of your stomach, but do not "re-route" anything else - maybe this is the "mini-bypass"?? Sounds really perfect for me - but my insurance doesn't yet cover - still considered experimental. So I'm back with the band. I read the responses to your first message and they are all right on! I need to really look at why I'm not stepping up - I really think it's that I've spent so many years trying and failing; that I'm scared I won't succeed even a day or a week! So it's easier to not even try. Thank you for the post that basically said "get over it and just do it." You're right - my fear is that later today or tomorrow, I'll be back in the same old thinking game. UGH! Hope you're having success and have reached some inner peace with the surgery - any tips and success stories would be very much appreciated - as well as any "tough love" words - Have a great day!! Kay

Hi Tamara - just wondering what decision you've made regarding your surgery? I think I'm going with the lapband - but still have alot of mixed feelings about it - I'm concerned with not losing very quickly and going back to bad habits - let's face it, I didn't get to this point with alot of willpower and perserverence!! I've been reading alot about the gastric sleeve - but it's not yet covered by insurance. Love to hear from you!

Thanks for the pep talk! Your surgery is next week - congratulations!! I'll be looking forward to hearing how you're doing - good luck!!

:sad:Wow - you read my mind! I'm in month 4 of 6 of my pre-op program and I know this is the right decision for me - but I can't seem to get these old eating habits out of my system!!! I'm supposed to be eating three high Protein meals per day plus two healthy Snacks - well, I just keep telling myself that I'll start it tomorrow (same old excuse I've been using for the past 5 years!). I haven't lost any weight (haven't gain any either ). I do exercise sometimes - but everytime I get into the habit, my foot starts hurting (tendinitis) or my back hurts, or I just hurt. I can't stop thinking that I'll never be able to change over to a healthy way of eating and living - I wonder if the only people that are successful with the lapband are the ones that made significant changes PRIOR to surgery????? HELP

Hi - I would really love the support and guidance of an "experienced" lapbander! I am 49 years old and weight 250 pounds (wow - that was hard to type!!) - I am 5'3" and my goal weight is 130 pounds. I'm stay-at-home mom - which I know has contributed to my weight issues. I also have severe migraines and fibromyalgia - which make it very difficult to maintain a consistent workout program. My insurance requires a 6-month pre-surgery program, which I am currently going into my 4th month. Looks like surgery will be the end of September. It seems like such a long time away - but truthfully the program has really helped me understand what is ahead. It's so great to hear a success story such as yours - congratulations!! Looking forward to hearing from you! mom22

I can definitely relate to your misery! I have had two previous surgeries - with both of them, I got the WORST migraine of my life a few hours after surgery-the surgery was piece of cake - getting rid of the migraine was the real issue! I take preventative meds every day and still get numerous migraines throughout the month - a really bad one during "that time of the month." I'm really hoping that changing my eating habits will help the migraines - good luck to you. Looks like my surgery won't be untll September - when will you have surgery??

I'm so glad to hear you're doing well!! I am in the middle of the 6-month weight loss program (going into month 4) - looks like my banding will take place in September. I do agree that the program has been very educational and while I initially thought the 6 months was way too long - I know see how the program will help me be successful. Did you lose weight prior to surgery? I'm having hard time re-adjusting my diet to include more protein and less fat - it worries me that I can't get with it! I have two children at home - how long after surgery were you up and about? Did you spend one night in the hospital? I'm going to have Dr. Boorse do my surgery - is that who you had? Continued success to you and look forward to talking to you!

Hi - saw your post today and saw that you lost 123 pounds so far!!! WOW- I'm very excited to hear about your experience and your opinion on how the lapband helped you to achieve this great loss. I'm still deciding on lapband vs bypass - leaning toward lapband, but alot I've read on this site is on how hard it's been. While I know it's a "tool", I really need alot of help! Good luck reaching your goal weight - you're almost there!!! mom22

Yes - Dr.Holland - I've been to two of their seminars. He seems to be very, very personable and has a great team of women working with his clinic. I believe he only does gastric bypass - not any lap banding. If I were to have gastric bypass - I'd definitely go with him. I've decided on the band - I'm going with Dr. Boorse out of Lehigh Valley Hospital. I'm currently in the long-drawn out 6-month program - information is great, but why does it have to take 6 months??? Wish you luck...

Hi Nikki - wow - that's great! I'm so glad for you - I can't help but think that eating lots of protein and cutting out the breads and sugar has got to help the migraines. I am a little concerned about the time immediately after the surgery - the liquid part of the diet. Was this a migraine trigger time for you - I tend to eat when I have a migraine - not sure if it really helps - seems to some of the time. Concerned with NOT eating and the possibility of headaches because I'm not eating???

Sorry - forgot to mention that I also went to free seminar at Sacred Heart Hospital - Dr. Holland - he only does gastric bypass (not lap band). I really liked him and the support group was fantastic. I leaning towards lap band - so I couldn't go with Dr. Holland - but he has a great reputation and has done over 1000 bypasses. Only downside is where Sacred Heart is located - it scared me half to death just driving downtown Allentown - seems like the local paper reports a shooting there almost every day.

While I'm not approved yet, I too went to the free info meeting at LVH with Dr. Boorse. From there you call the Weight Management Center and schedule a physical. Then you'll be required to attend monthly meetings for 6 months, along with appts with their nutritionist and social worker. I was told I wouldn't even see Dr. Boorse for an appt until my 5th month - where they would submit everything to insurance (I also have Capital Blue Cross - PPO). I contacted Blue Cross three times until I finally got someone to email me the requirements for surgery. Their requirements are not as strict as the doctor's program. Good luck and let me know how you make out. While I know it's important to learn everything prior to surgery - 6 months seems so long! Mom22

I too suffer from migraines - big time!! I also suffer from fibromyalgia - between these two lovely monsters, I don't have too many days when I feel good - thus the lovely weight gain over the last 20 years. Topomax is not a good drug - felt pretty good on it, less the memory loss and balance issue - until I was diagnosed with glaucoma!!! My eye specialist said this is definitely a side effect possible from Topomax - please consider this when considering taking this drug! I have started the 6-month pre-op program for the lapband surgery - it seems so far away and I just want it now! This program is mandated by my doctor - I'm sure it's good to learn everything prior to surgery - but 6 months - ugh!!! I'm in month 2 - so I"m looking at about September - another summer in fat clothes!! Thanks for all the comments on this forum - it's so helpful and great to know we all have the same concerns and questions. Anyone else in a pre-op program and just waiting??? Mom22

Hi - just wondering how long it took from the free informational meeting until your appt with Dr. Boorse? I had my meeting with the bariatric doctor - now waiting until next group meeting. Just seems to be taking so long - could you explain exactly what appts are needed before everything is sent to my insurance company for approval and ultimately my surgery date? I have Capital Blue Cross - when I called and spoke to them, they gave me the impression that I only needed two group meetings/psyc consult/nutritionist before I would be considered - this doesn't sound like the 6 months I was told I needed??Very confused - thanks for your help - this site is wonderful!!

I just signed up with Dr. Boorse in Allentown - can I ask you what you meant by "certified with Allergan". Thanks!

Just had my first bariatric visit - my doctor has a great 6-month pre-surgery program that consists of seminars, dr visits, phys consults. Great reading on this website - I'm a binge eater and a sugar hound - and after reading some of the comments, I'm wondering if the lap band is right for me?? Once a binger, always a binger?? Will I just find more inventive ways to eat candy (melt it in my mouth) and will I eat mass quantities and hurt myself? I was told to eat 60 grams of Protein a day to lose belly fat - I'll get weight in next month. How do I know how much protein is in the foods I eat? If I actually start losing weight, will I nee the surgery? Lots of questions - scary and excited!! Thanks for any and all help!!:redface:

Hi - I also have fibro and it's not fun. I'm currently in the 6-month pre-surgery faze - meetings, doctor appts and they just told me to eat lots of protein and lose some of my belly fat prior to surgery. I'm nervous but excited - I know I feel alot better when I eat healthy - losing the weight, I'm convinced, will definitely help the fibro. Good luck!