I just started my journey. I am still in the qualification stages with my insurance company. I have a scheduled call with a RN on 9/8 to go over everything, I have all my literature and have done a ton of research. I am scared to death as my sister-in-law had it done and was not pleased with her results at all. I tried to tell myself everyone is different and hopefully my experience will be different. HOPEFULLY.

Any info anyone can provide me I would greatly appreciate it. The ups the downs, the pros and the cons. Let me know it all.

I am just starting, too. It is a process to get things done. I know my insurance covers it and all the tests. I know I need an Upper GI series, Cardiology Consult, Pulmonary Consult, Nutritionist, Diet History and Psych Eval. I lucked out in that I don't need a 6 month diet. Each insurance and bariatric doctor is different in the what they ask for.

I have heard plenty of success stories and plenty of failures. Failures tend to fall into two categories. Those who cannot or will not adhere to the Lap Band dietary guidelines for various reasons usually associated with food addictions or emotional eating. The other group of failures are usually from complications from the band itself or medical situations.

Forums are often full of complaints as those pleased usually go on with life and fall off the forums.

Remember, each person's experience with the band is unique with very few generalities across the board.

Research is your best tool.

Good luck!

I have to go through the 6 month diet before I can get my surgery. This is a huge disappointment for me as I really want to get the surgery done. My biggest issue is that my 5 foot frame cannot support my body weight and I am literally crushing my own spine. I am not sure how this even ever happened, I have been large my whole life and when I hit thirty I have not been able no matter how hard I try to drop the weight.

I want this to work. I am happy to have met someone going through this process as well.

I am 5'4" and 260 lbs. I have been heavy all my life, too. I grew up poor in Louisiana. Food was typical Cajun food as it is cheap and plentiful ie. meat, rice, gravy, fried foods, etc. On top of this, my mother had absolutely no idea of portion sizes for a child. She gave us adult portions and were made to eat it all. Furthermore, she had this paranoid delusion that somehow we were going to be hungry going to bed so we had a bowl of cereal and milk to go to bed on, nevermind we could roll faster than we could walk. On top of that the household was abusive and neglectful. As a result myself and two siblings suffer with weight issues due to overeating and emotional eating. I was also diagnosed with PCOS 10 years ago. My weight has been a constant struggle.