SO.....I WENT TO INITIAL ASSESSMENT APPT. TODAY, AND FOUND OUT INDEED MY BMI WAS TOO HIGH TO DO THE SURGERY RIGHT NOW...I HAVE TO LOSE ABOUT 45 LBS BEFORE THEY WILL EVEN CONSIDER ME FOR THE SURGERY...I HAVE TO BE HONEST WHEN I SAY THAT I AM A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED...I EXPECTED THEM TO SAY MAYBE LIKE 20 OR 25 LBS, BUT 45 IS A BIT MUCH...I KNOW THE WEIGHT WAS GOING TO HAVE TO COME OFF ANYWAY BUT IT PROLONGS MY PROCESS OF GETTING BANDED...BUT I'M NOT GOING TO JUST GIVE UP... I AM GOING TO JUST HAVE TO LOSE THE WEIGHT, AND I PLAN ON SUCCEEDING...ANYHOO, I WILL BE POSTING A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE ABOUT MY JOURNEY AND PROCESS AS I GO ALONG...I'LL ACTUALLY BE POSTING THE FIRST ONE TONIGHT...I WANT PEOPLE TO GET A CHANCE TO KNOW ME, UNDERSTAND MY STRUGGLE, LEARN FROM MY STRUGGLE, AND HOPEFULLY THRU YOUTUBE I WILL GIVE AND GET SUPPORT...MY YOUTUBE NAME IS LULULAPBAND...AND I HOPE YOU GUYS WILL CHECK IT OUT...I DO WANT TO KNOW: HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS SITUATION HAPPEN TO THEM??? IF SO, WHAT DID YOU DO??? WHAT WEIGHT LOSS METHODS WORKED FOR YOU??? ETC?? SHARE YOUR STORY WITH ME PLZ!!! TAKE CARE GUYS....

LuLu u have come this far even a YouTube video(my daughter suggested I do one but I was too embarrassed) that tells me that you are determined.my Bmi was 54 and they told me I had to lose 25 lbs.before they would operate.but in a one on one conversation with my dr.he said I just need to follow his liquid diet for 2 weeks,don't worry about the number of pounds.his goal was to shrink my liver before surgery.so I did the diet religiously ,at the end of two weeks I had list 14 lbs not the 25 they still operated.dr said my liver was half the size from the ultrasound a month earlier.my prayers are wit you.You got this.the hardest part was making the decision to change ur life.:-)

thanks for your supportive words and words of motivation...i am going to do my best at making everything work for me, and take one day at a time...but please continue to follow me on youtube, and comment any time you like...and thanks again... :-)

Hey LuLu. I watched your video and I wish you the best on having your surgery. You seem very motivated and will do well losing weight. I'm here if you just need some encouragement or an ear to vent. Good luck on your journey

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THANKS FOR WATCHING AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO SO...I UPLOAD MY NEW ONE TOMORROW...BUT I AM READY TO VENT...LOLBVS...SO NOW I HAVE THIS DR IN MY EAR TALKING ABOUT CONSIDERING THE SLEEVE INSTEAD OF LAPBAND...AND NOW I AM TOTALLY CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO DO...I JUST DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE IS BETTER FOR ME, I JUST DON'T KNOW PERIOD...DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE SLEEVE OR HAVE ANY THOUGHTS??

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO SO...I UPLOAD MY NEW ONE TOMORROW...BUT I AM READY TO VENT...LOLBVS...SO NOW I HAVE THIS DR IN MY EAR TALKING ABOUT CONSIDERING THE SLEEVE INSTEAD OF LAPBAND...AND NOW I AM TOTALLY CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO DO...I JUST DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE IS BETTER FOR ME, I JUST DON'T KNOW PERIOD...DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE SLEEVE OR HAVE ANY THOUGHTS??

My personal thought about the sleeve is tho its not quite as drastic as the bypass...they still have to remove a portion of your actual stomach..1..that makes it more evasive and longer recovery, 2...if you have complications, the procedure cant be removed like the band can 3. your BMI is not an automatic no for having the LB..my BMI is 65 and they never once suggested it couldnt be done. The first two reasons are the key reasons i never even considedered the sleeve.

someone said in a earlier comment on this thread, that they had 3 docs before they got someone to do what they wanted ... the band. So yes its a hassle changing docs..but check around..you WILL find someone that will do it...

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO SO...I UPLOAD MY NEW ONE TOMORROW...BUT I AM READY TO VENT...LOLBVS...SO NOW I HAVE THIS DR IN MY EAR TALKING ABOUT CONSIDERING THE SLEEVE INSTEAD OF LAPBAND...AND NOW I AM TOTALLY CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO DO...I JUST DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE IS BETTER FOR ME' date=' I JUST DON'T KNOW PERIOD...DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE SLEEVE OR HAVE ANY THOUGHTS??[/quote']

A friend of mine had the sleeve on April 5th. She was smaller than me but she didn't want the band. She seems happy with her decision. She spent a lot of time looking on utube at the videos with people having the sleeve. She spent 2 days in the hospital and is doing fine.

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I know that must be discouraging but you can totally do this. I started out at 326 but lost 36 lbs during my 6 month diet. It is hard but a nutritionist can help you make a plan and stay accountable each month. What I did was cut out pop entirely and start preparing my own meals instead of going out for dinner every night as I used to. I also joined a gym (was always too embarrassed in the past but forced myself) and worked out 5-6 days a week. If financially possible get a trainer. I think exercise is what will make a HUGE impact in a short amount of time, especially if you have not been active in the past.

We are all rooting for you!!! You got this!

I know that must be discouraging but you can totally do this. I started out at 326 but lost 36 lbs during my 6 month diet. It is hard but a nutritionist can help you make a plan and stay accountable each month. What I did was cut out pop entirely and start preparing my own meals instead of going out for dinner every night as I used to. I also joined a gym (was always too embarrassed in the past but forced myself) and worked out 5-6 days a week. If financially possible get a trainer. I think exercise is what will make a HUGE impact in a short amount of time, especially if you have not been active in the past.

We are all rooting for you!!! You got this!

THANKS!!! I'M NOT TOO DISCOURAGED BUT MORE SO IMPATIENT...JUST FOUND OUT 2DAY I HAVE 14.9 LBS...NEARLY 15 LBS IN 2 WEEKS...SO THINGS ARE GOING WELL...BUT TRUTHFULLY I'M THINKING ABOUT DOING THE VERTICAL SLEEVE NOW...IDK...BUT IMMA TALK ABOUT IT IN MY YOUTUBE VIDEO WHICH I'M ABOUT TO DO NOW...

THANKS!!! I'M NOT TOO DISCOURAGED BUT MORE SO IMPATIENT...JUST FOUND OUT 2DAY I HAVE 14.9 LBS...NEARLY 15 LBS IN 2 WEEKS...SO THINGS ARE GOING WELL...BUT TRUTHFULLY I'M THINKING ABOUT DOING THE VERTICAL SLEEVE NOW...IDK...BUT IMMA TALK ABOUT IT IN MY YOUTUBE VIDEO WHICH I'M ABOUT TO DO NOW...

whatever you decide..only YOU know what is right for YOU...you have my support either way. Good luck

Wow, a 15lb loss is awesome! Whatever root you choose I know you will do great.

Wow, a 15lb loss is awesome! Whatever root you choose I know you will do great.

thanks!!!

whatever you decide..only YOU know what is right for YOU...you have my support either way. Good luck

Thanks Becca!!!

I will keep up with you.whatever u decide.WLS is a very difficult decision and choosing which one is right for u is even harder.I really like that lapbanders can say why they chose Lapband without being overly negative about other surgeries.I've talked to sleevers and been to the support site they are really mean and talk crap about lap band.and throw out a lot of misinformation to bash the band and defend their decisionto get sleeved.here is a pretty non biased chart that I hope is helpful.if u can't see it go to trueresults.com.they have the pro and con for both surgeries.they perform both.

I chose Lapband because it's removable reversible,I didn't like the idea of having 80% of my stomach taken out,or that i could re stretch it or that my choice if it fails or I stop losing was bypass.my friend is choosing sleeve cuz she wants the quicker weightloss and apparently low maintenance(no fills) and Sha doesn't want the foreign object in her body so to each his own.Just get the weight down.be healthy for you and ur children !! :-)

Sooo doesnt look like the chart posted right on my phone but go to trueresults.com to see it

Lap Band Procedure

Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Silicone band placed around the upper part of stomach

No cutting or re-routing your digestive tract

Adjustable and reversible

Gastric Sleeve Surgery permanently removes about 3/4 of stomach to create a small sleeve shaped stomach, about the size of a banana

Requires staple line to fasten remaining part of stomach

Gastric Bypass Surgery permanently cuts off top of stomach and connects it directly to your digestive tract

Requires multiple staple lines

Mal-absorptive procedure

Same-day, outpatient procedure

Can be performed as same-day, outpatient or in-patient hospital procedure

Requires in-patient hospital procedure

Lap Band can be adjusted for controlled weight loss

Aftercare program to support you and keep you on track with your weight loss goals

The smaller stomach size facilitates rapid, early weight loss

Aftercare is recommended for dietary advice, counseling, support and accountability

The smaller stomach pouch facilitates rapid weight loss

Doctor visits to monitor your weight and health

Requires routine Vitamin shot

Complication Rate = 6%

Complications may include:

Nausea and vomiting

Band slippage

Stoma obstruction

Complication Rate = 18%

(3x greater than Lap Band)

Complications may include:

Nausea and vomiting

Staple line bleeding and leakages

Gastric strictures

Renal failure

Complication Rate = 24%

(4x greater than Lap Band)

Complications may include:

Nausea and vomiting

Internal bleeding

Uncontrollable dumping

Severe bowel obstructions

Vitamin deficiencies and hair loss

**The BOLD1 Facts About Weight Loss Surgery Total Complication Rates2 In Year 1

1 The Bariatric Outcomes Longitudinal DatabaseSM (BOLDSM) was developed to help ensure ongoing compliance with the center of excellence (COE) programs it administers and develop general knowledge about optimal bariatric surgery practices. BOLD is now the largest and most comprehensive repository of clinical bariatric surgery patient information.

One more thing ,Lululapband is very catchy.lulu verticalsleeve not so much LoL ! Just kidding !! Do ur research let us know what u decide.:-)

Ok last post i think this is the link to the charts.

http://www.trueresults.com/weight-loss-surgeries

You can do it lady! I know it seems a daunting task at first, but once you get into it and it seems like you are already super motivated, you will do great! I believe in you

Thanks Becca!!!

LOL I just have to say i love you called me Becca...my family and childhood friends are the only ones that call me that, i insisted on Becky once i hit High School...now as an adult, it doesnt matter either way..but thought it was cool you did that .. and even spelled it like I do lol.