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Excited, not excited, excited, not excited



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Hi everyone, my name is Alicia. I am 37 years old and have about 230lbs to lose to meet my goal weight. I have 2 boys, 6 yr old and a 10 month old. I have been wanting a Bariatric surgery for a long time but insurance always denies it. The company I work for has decided to help me out with the financial part of it. I was told the best surgery form me would be the gastric bypass but that is COMPLETELY out of the question because of the cost. I am so afraid I will get the lapband and won't lose very much. I have diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, hypothyroidism, you name it. I hope I will hear back from people that will make me feel like this is still a good decision and not a waste of 14k.

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Welcome. There are many people who have lost over 200 lbs. with the Band. It is very nice of your company to help with the cost. Most insurance companies pay if you have a lot of health issues. Go to the local hospital that has a free seminar. The hospital where I go, near Boston, they talked about all the options.

Good luck.

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You will do fine if you listen to your surgeon, follow his plan and not sway from his plan. Good luck.

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Best $14,000 I have ever spent! People think nothing of spending $30-40,000 on a car but have a harder time when it comes to paying for weightloss surgery. But that's just me......skinnier and driving around a 2001! :)

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Best $14,000 I have ever spent! People think nothing of spending $30-40,000 on a car but have a harder time when it comes to paying for weightloss surgery. But that's just me......skinnier and driving around a 2001! :)

That's so funny, I've often thought of the same analogy. $10K-$14K to live longer, live with less pain, more activities and more self respect is such a bargain. I'd throw it all away again if I had to(but I don't). Crap, that's less than a good used car and it'll wear out in 5-7 years and you'll still put $thousands into it before you get rid of it.

tmf

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I'm not talking about being concerned with the money part. I am concerned that they want me to have the gastric and I can only afford the lapband. I'm afraid I won't get lose enough. It's not about the money!

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there are many people on here who have lost 200+ lbs! floridays is one who has inspired alot of people talk to her if you can!

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You need to have the mindset that you are going to lose weight. Let me tell you, the lapband is still work for me and a lot of other bandsters that I know. So if you aren't willing to put in what it takes to make the most out of the band don't do it. Look at Mis73. She has been super successful and down like 200 pounds in a year. It can be done if you follow the rules. Now, with gastric, you will lose a lot more quickly in the beginning but my dr says the long term success rate is still higher with the band. I have heard a few too many stories of gastric bypass dumping and I love my chocolate too much to give that up! But everyone is different. All I can is that I LOVE my band.

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You need to have the mindset that you are going to lose weight. Let me tell you, the lapband is still work for me and a lot of other bandsters that I know. So if you aren't willing to put in what it takes to make the most out of the band don't do it. Look at Mis73. She has been super successful and down like 200 pounds in a year. It can be done if you follow the rules. Now, with gastric, you will lose a lot more quickly in the beginning but my dr says the long term success rate is still higher with the band. I have heard a few too many stories of gastric bypass dumping and I love my chocolate too much to give that up! But everyone is different. All I can is that I LOVE my band.

yeah i couldnt live without being able to have a nibble of sugar every now and again and ive heard the same thing about gastric bypass and the success rate!

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Hello Alicia. I understand just how difficult of a decision this is. It has taken me 2 long years of studying everything I could find and questioning doctors and patients before I made the decision to move forth with the lapband. For me, I chose the lapband because it is not cutting away part of my stomach. I chose the least risky surgery because things can and do go wrong. I just don't want the associated chronic diarrhea nor malnutrition that can happen with the bypass. Even with the bypass, there are cases where people don't keep the weight off. I know one person who I had no idea had the bypass years ago, and she is heavier than I am now. I think people can be successful with any of the WLS options. In fact, I don't think the success depends on which surgery you choose, but rather on how diligent you are in following the plan, creating new habits and a new lifestyle. I'll admit, I'm not yet a successful lapband patient, but I will be! My honest opinion is that it doesn't matter if we need to lose 100 pounds or 200 or 300, with enough diligence and determination, anyone can be successful.

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I'm not talking about being concerned with the money part. I am concerned that they want me to have the gastric and I can only afford the lapband. I'm afraid I won't get lose enough. It's not about the money!

I went to my first seminar yesterday, and thats a good start if you haven't already, you loose weight faster on gastric, but at the end you catch up with the band.. I've heard of people loosing over 100 lbs with band, and more with a healthy lap band life style. I can't wait to get started. Good luck to you!

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    • LeighaTR

      Four days post surgery. I am sipping as fast as I can and getting NO WHERE near the goal of 60 - 80 grams of protein or the 64 oz of liquids. I just feel FULL. I don't know if it can still be the gas build up (I would think by now that would be gone) but it is a struggle to drink. And so far I have not had the nausea or spasms and don't want to wander into that territory by pushing too hard with liquids. I about passed out today as it was my most "strenuous" day. Went from second story to basement for shower and I was sure I was going to pass out. Looking back on my last few days I have had a total of less than 1000 calories. Am I just not getting enough nourishment in me? Once again a friday where I can't get ahold of the doc until Monday rolls back around so I am hoping maybe someone here has some experience on how to keep energy going. I do have fibromyalgia too and that may be where some added fatigue comes into play. How did you all fair with the goals the week after surgery?
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    • Doughgurl

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      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

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    • LeighaTR

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      · 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!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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!

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