Howdy! I've lurked around this site for a couple of weeks and have learned a lot! Thanks to you all! I am planning to "be banded" within the next 3 weeks and am very excited to begin this journey! I am self-pay for this surgery and am expecting to receive my surgery date this week. I have about 65 pounds to loose and feel like the band will be the tool that will help to allow me to finally lose this weight! I am 34 years old and am looking forward to being more active with my 4 y/o daughter. Congrats to everyone for your successes and I look forward to joining in the fun soon!

Mary

Welcome Mary

Though Im a newbie too , I have been reading and reading and have found this site so valuable .

Im excited but since my insurance is determining my outcome, im sorta scared too.

Congrats to your choice to mske this life change !

Chellie

Congrats to you both. I am just 4.5 weeks out and couldn't be happier. It was worth every dime. I hope you two feel the same.

Good luck to you.

I am also hopefully going to schedule my lapband in December. I am like you, a lower BMI patient. It doesn't seem there are that many. I am 5'5 and 185. My BMI is 31. I am 33 with a 5 and 7 year old daughters. My goal weight is about 135,so about 50 pounds to lose.

Did the doctor you are going to see say anything about the lapband and lower bmi patients? Do we lose as fast or slower?

Thanks, Audree

Welcome, Mary, Audree & Chellie (and Hi Jules!)

Not only will the band help you with the 65 lbs - but it will give you the control to keep the weight off after you lose it.

Congrats on your decision. I am a Band Believer - it is so low-stress and "dieting" with the band is basically thoughtless once you get restriction.

Keep in mind that it probably isn't going to be Instant Gratification - but it does work after you get a few fills.

Hugs and good luck!!

Thanks for the replies. It seems I am getting more excited every day! Audree, my MD has said to expect the weight loss to be a little slower since I do have a lower BMI, but I think that slow and steady wins the race and I'll take it! Good luck to each of Y'all!

Mary

Welcome to LBT! Good luck, and keep us posted!

Thanks!!! Slow and easy loss is better than slwoly gaining everyday like I am now. I can never keep it off! Audree

I too have a lower bmi (31.5). I am now 2 days out. Had a large hiatial hernia repaired. Pain is pretty constant with our my pain med. Pretty minimal with. Most pain is at port site and in my chest. Worsens when take deep breath 0r God forbid.. cough! I am getting hungry. Any help out there with the chest/shoulder pain?

Congrats on your surgery. I also had a hiatial hernia that was repaired while I was banded. My doctor gave me this thing (sorry I don't know the medical term), but I had to take a deep breath and blow into it and keep this meter thing in between 2 numbers for as long as I could. I had to do that for 5 days, several times a day. It does get easier. I remember praying not to have to sneeze because I was so scared something might pop out of place.

I am not sure what the chest pain is, but the shoulder pain I can relate to. It is gas. Yes, gas. All of the air they blew your body up with to perform the surgery is trying to get out. All my doctor said was unfortunately you have move around more to help the gas work its way out. Mine lasted for about 3 days. The first day after was the worst. I even took gas x to help relieve some of the pain.

For your port sight, what helped me was I had a small little pillow that I kept pressed against the port area. Everytime I got up that pillow and me were best friends. When I walked around that pillow was pressed against the port area to help relieve the discomfort.

I hope this helps! You will do fine!

Great to see you here Mary!

Good Luck!

I look forward to hearing of your progress

Hi all I am considering lap banding, I have the referral but have'nt had contacted them yet, am scared, I hear talk about fills can someone explain??? congrats to all that have found success, I'm very jittery about all this but I know I have to do something, my bmi is 49 which is real bad....love and luck to you all