Judy_AL

well you are on the right track then - and yes for most banded people it does take about a year - if you read all the articles about it - I have to many friends that have done the gastric way - and they all wish they had done the band. One fact being that it would be slower. I still say speak to your dietician and let them know what you eat and the order you eat. At the last support meeting she told one girl to eat a couple of things first before she ate another thing - and that kicked her into losing again.

Are you keeping a journal of what you eating and how much and the times? I know it sounds silly but a journal is a great tool alone with the band. If you are I would talk with your dietician and let him/her review your journal and they might make suggestions as what to change in your diet. I know the dietician in my support group will do that - and it is a great help.

I am one week today after surgery. I am on full liquids for two weeks and then move up the diet process chain. And on a full liquid you can have the cream of soups - check with your dietian that you met with they should be able to help you with more choices too.

Hey congrats! It is exciting - I am banded one week today! wahoooooooooo and I so far so good - no troubles at all. I would talk with your Dr. make it very clear that this is what you want and see what his reasons are for him suggesting the other. Important get all the facts. Then if you still dont agree with him - then it might be good to select another Dr. Good luck!

I was banded Sept 24, 2008 - yep just last Wednesday! I did not have have the gas pain and I was like when are they are going to start up! lol I started walking as soon as it was clear and knew I have survived everything. I was very shocked and I'm not one to sit around and hurt and not ask for med's - but it ended up that I did not have to take med's for pain while I was in the hosptial for this. Believe me I was totally shocked by it! lol And I know everyone is not the same. I really was dreading the gas pains - but it never happened. So the best advise I can give is dont worry about things until they happen - cause then you have wasted that time worrying about something that did not even happen. Oh and another big thing for me - I prayed about it all and left it in HIS hands and that was the true medicine for me! Good luck! :thumbdown:

Hey! Let your dr know about your concerns and my BMI was 53 - I was banded on September 24th 2008 - yes just about a week ago - my doctor did suggest that I go on the Full liquid diet before hand which I did 9 days out from my surgery date - and I lost 17 lbs just doing that and drinking Water. I like you had looked into the other - but I am soooooooooo glad I got banded. It could be you need to see another Dr. that does not feel the same way. I did great - I did not have any pain medication after the surgery or anything for pain while in the hosptial for 23 hours. I was like wow something is wrong here! lol But all is well - still following my full liquid diet program and go for my check up this Thursday - so I'm on a roll. Good luck!:thumbdown:

Hi! I'm in Tuscaloosa and going to be banded this Wednesday (09/24/08) by Dr. Bilton at DCH in Tuscaloosa - and very excited! Any advice from the experts here in Alabama that have been banded? I have really enjoyed LapBandTalk - wish they had told us about this in all the classes/support groups that I attend. To get ready for this new experience. It has been so far a really good journey - believe it or even the full liquid diet I have been doing for the past 10 days! lol Thanks for starting the "Banded In Alabama" looking forward to getting to know everyone! :girl_hug:

Wow I hear/read so many stories on her about waiting on the doctor for a date - I'm not in a really small town - my doctor's office submitted all my paper work to my insurance company on 9/09/08 and I was approved on that same day. I was shocked - but thrilled about it for sure! Just hang with it - not sure if you are a believer or not - but this is one of those dark valleys we are going through - but HE (the big man upstairs!) is holding us up the entire way! And to be honest this is how I have been getting through this pre-op diet.

Pradice 73 - well i have been doing full liquids since Saturday (9/16/08) and went by my doctors office this morning before my pre admission apt and I had lost 17 lbs! I was so excited about that - and to be honest it has not been that bad - I have done the protein shakes for breakfast and then v8 juice (heated is like tomato soup) and then I have had ton's of water - but I feel good and I dont feel hungry like I thought i would. my surgery is Wednesday (9/24) wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! So keep going we can do this - this is part of the process to a new you and a new me!

Well I am having my surgery in Tuscaloosa, AL (Dr. Bilton) and at the seminar that he does - his nurse Beverly (who is wonderful) lead the class - explained all the documents that a person will need to be approved by a insurance company - she was very well versed on all of that - we had like 50+ people in the room - then Dr. Bilton - did a presentation on the gastric and lapband - lots of information. After approved by the insurance company - I attended another class that explained the surgery again - went over the things that I would need to do to prepare for surgery - then we talked with a dietian that explained the 5 stages of diet plans you will go through after surgery. Also, attend a support group - lots of information is given at those - or at least the one I attend does. Good luck! My surgery date is 9/24/08! Very excited!

Hello everyone! I'm very excited 7 days from today I will be banded! Looking forward working on the new me! So I have counted down the 7 months of doctor visit's - I have counted down the attending support group meetings (which I have enjoyed very much!) and counted down the days to wait on approval from my insurance comany - which ended up being one day! Glory!!!!! So now just waiting on my surgery day and getting started. I am using Dr. Bilton (Tuscaloosa AL) - have been working with his nurse Beverly who is just wonderful. Looking forward to meeting others on LapBandTalk.com and seeing others success and issues and how they to have overcome and moved forward. Have a wonderful day!

Thanks - it's like Christmas! lol Just waiting to open the big present under the tree. Lois good luck with your process - it will happen - and before you know you will be where I am today!

Do you attend a support group Geena? That is so very helpful and much needed for anyone making this life change.