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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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