Hello, I'm so glad I found this informative and friendly forum!! It helps to hear from you that have had the procedure as well as all the various stages.

I'm a country gal from Oklahoma, married for 37 years, 2 kids and 6 grandkiddos. I was recently able to get a small barn-like building for an art studio and I love it! Art is what helps me stay sane. Well, somewhat.

So I discussed the lap band with my husband and he's very supportive. He knows how depressed I've been because of my extra weight.

And the journey begins....

I'll be going to my first appointment with my surgeon of choice, Dr. Kirk in Owasso, OK on April 1st. That's the date of my first seminar also.

How long of a wait is there till all the tests are done and I finally get a surgery date? Just wondering. I'm so ready for this!

Oh, and call me Cindy. Barefoot Bliss is the name of my art studio.

Hello and welcome to the forum. My surgery is scheduled for March 27th! The people here are so helpful so any questions you may have ask away. Good luck to you on your journey.

Hello! I am also new! I'm going to be scheduling a consultation tomorrow.. I am wondering.. A concern of mine is becoming depressed after the surgery and craving certain foods and not being able to have them.. Has that happened to anyone or u just really don't have the urge to eat much after the band goes in? Any advice will help! Thanks in advance!

Hello' date=' I'm so glad I found this informative and friendly forum!! It helps to hear from you that have had the procedure as well as all the various stages.

I'm a country gal from Oklahoma, married for 37 years, 2 kids and 6 grandkiddos. I was recently able to get a small barn-like building for an art studio and I love it! Art is what helps me stay sane. Well, somewhat.

So I discussed the lap band with my husband and he's very supportive. He knows how depressed I've been because of my extra weight.

And the journey begins....

I'll be going to my first appointment with my surgeon of choice, Dr. Kirk in Owasso, OK on April 1st. That's the date of my first seminar also.

How long of a wait is there till all the tests are done and I finally get a surgery date? Just wondering. I'm so ready for this!

Oh, and call me Cindy. Barefoot Bliss is the name of my art studio.[/quote']

Welcome. The band is the best thing I have done for ME in a long time. I hope you will feel the same way.

Hi...I don't have to wait long at all. I'm self pay though. If you're waiting for insurance it could take longer but each company varies. Definitely give them a call. When I went the doctor said I could have my surgery in a month. There are mandatory appointments with the nutritionist and psychologist. Then a two week fast and then voila.

Thanks all!

butrflykiss - check out the rest of this website, and another I got a lot of info from is

http://www.lapband.com/en/learn_about_lapband/

I bet someone here or there has some insight to your anxiousness. Good luck!

I was self-pay... I didn't have to wait at all.

I’m going into my 7^th year of being banded and have talked about this here several times but I think it’s worth repeating for new bandsters.

Try and take it one day at a time. Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t go into this journey saying “I’ll never be able to eat this or that ever again.” I can eat ANYTHING except rice and apple skins and no carbonated beverages. Follow the guidelines given to you by your doctor. Remember… take tiny bites (the size of your pinky fingernail) and remember to finish what you have in your mouth before you take your next bite.

When I was losing weight I checked in every month with my family doctor to get weighed and measured. (I don’t own scales) I also attended two coffee groups for people that were banded. These things really kept me motivated and on track. I still check in every month with my family doctor to get weighed-in and I host two coffee groups. For me support from fellow bandsters plays a big part in this journey.

Back when I was banded my family doctor came up with something called the “Egg Timer Distraction”. It’s kind of difficult to explain here but I’d be happy to email you the .pdf document. It REALLY helped me with “head hunger”. I can’t tell you the number of people in my lapband coffee groups over the years that have said how helpful this “trick” has been in dealing with their head hunger.

Also, I’m not really a “diet” book type person but I recommend you pick up two books.

Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle – by Dr. Michelle May

I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. May speak at a conference when she came to Toronto and her book and guidelines really work well with the lapband journey.

The second book is:

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite – by David L. Kessler

Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions and also if you would like a copy of the “Egg Timer Distraction Document”. --- tomander@bell.net

Tom, Toronto

Banded July 6 06

Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

tomander@bell.net

Thank you! I've purchased these 2 books you recommended and will be reasons them with a highlighter in my hand - my favorite way to read!

Congratulations on your success! This is what gives me hope.

Stupid phone spellcheck! Reading, not reason, in above post. :0/

Went to the doctor and seminar. He does more of the vertical sleeve surgery than the Lapband. It's kinda scary to think of them just discarding the largest portion of the stomach.

Anybody have this, and have trouble with this surgery?

Thanks

It seems like you could make something out of the stomach material left over, you know, like a coin purse, or a hat. ......

So happy for you. Good luck.

Check out my lap band blog Www.biscuitsandexcuses.blogspot.com