Hello,

I have been looking out here waiting for a fellow Minnesotan to post something, but I guess I'll do it first to see if there is anyone out there. I know you are out there, just like me, wanting to connect with someone a little closer to home. I'll be banded on Oct. 8th at HCMC by Dr. Lederer and I am really getting excited and nervous all at the same time. I start my 2 week liquid diet next Monday and I am terrified. I know I can do it, at least that is what I keep telling myself. I am so ready to lose this extra baggage I have been carrying around for all these years. I am 5'11 and 316lbs with a bmi of around 44. I'm ready to be healthy and be able to fit in that darn airplane seat comfortably (I fly alot). Anyway, I hope someone is out there.

Hi everyone, I had the band done 1/18/08 at Fariview Southdale. I have lost 32 but have started to plautau and need to get my exercie going. Glad to see there are others in MN joining the site. I went to a support group coffee meeting for the first time at Byerly's in Ample Grove a week ago. Both banders and RY. Great support and nice to meet others at difference points of their journey. Mari

I just entered the puree stage at two weeks post surgery. I am now able to eat apple sause, mashed taters, cottage cheese and such. However, there has to me more. What can you add to this list?:smile:

i have 2 young kids and am in my mid 30s and weigh over 350 and have for a long time. i'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. my ins plan says they pay half but i bet if i saw a dr. they could figure something out, my father and his family are type 2 diabetes and all on lipitor and BP meds so i am pre disposed. whats my best place to start

was anyone banded by dr. laguna at fairview southdale?

Where do you live in MN? The first thing to do is figure out where you would like to have your surgery done and call there to get information about their process. I know there are surgeons in the cities, Duluth, St. Cloud, Long Prairie and Crosby that do the lapband- I'm sure there are more too! Usually, the first thing you do is go to one of their information sessions. Good Luck!

Hey all you beautiful MN Bandsters! I'm Jo. I will be banded at Unity Hospital on April 17. I'm so excited for this next step of the journey to begin! There's a group of us that meet at the Starbucks by Northtown Mall on Cty Rd 10, Sunday nights at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to join us.

hello fellow Minnesota banders (or to-be banders)..

When I was living in MN the first time around, I was close to approval, but ended up moving out of state before I could get the surgery. This time, I'm here to stay and I'm just starting from scratch with an info session at Fairview Southdale on April 2nd (tomorrow night!). I'm so excited to get started on this process... I too have BCBS and I'm not looking forward to a 6 month battle with ANOTHER diet before finally getting banded.

For those locals with BCBS who might look at this... what has been your experience with the 6-month diet? Were you able to get banded SHORTLY after the diet ended? Meaning, did the rest of the process continue along, making you immediately ready for surgery as soon as the diet was "done"? Or did you have to do the diet, then wait another 6 months before surgery? I'm getting married at the end of November, and I'm hoping to be banded well before then so I can be on the road to recovery.

Hi Mandilou! Congrats on your upcoming wedding! You have a lot going on right now.

I had my 6 mo appt on Feb 29. I had my approval on March 12. Met with the surgeon on March 20. It's at that appt that we set the surgery date for April 17. I think I could have scheduled it earlier, but that's the best for my schedule.

Jo, your "bandiversary" is my actual birthday! Hopefully it will be a great day for you!

Thanks for the welcome, and the info. I'm going to Fairview Southdale tonight, for the information session and to set up my first appointment. We'll see how it goes!

Mandilou-you will love everyone at fairview southdale! they're all sooo nice and helpful! i have loved my experience there and they have been so encouraging! my surgeon was dr laguna and i absolutly love him! he really takes his time with you and doesn't try to rush you and he's sooo nice!! good luck tonight!

LV- thanks for the comments. I agree! I really have been happy with them so far. I asked a lot of questions at the info session (people were kinda staring at me because I knew so much - THANK YOU LBT!), and they were very patient. And I spent some time on the phone with them re: my insurance requirements, and it's amazing how hard they're willing to work to get you approved! Apparently BCBS-IL can be a stickler, and they are even willing to change their program up for me to make sure I fulfill my insurance requirements! So awesome.

Do any of you workout at Lifetime? I'm joining at the Lakeville location today with my D(future)H, and it'd be cool if any of you in the area worked out there too!

:biggrin2:Hi all I have done all but one more psyc visit and then go for approval. I will be having surgery in St Cloud with Dr Glass soon I hope.

Bob

It's been 8 days so far and am still on the creamy liquids. Still too sore to do much exercising besides walking. Still have the pain in the left shoulder. Still extremely glad that I had the surgery. I am finding that my lower stomach must have vocal cords as I can hear it talking constantly. It keeps saying to me, "Hey, what are you doing to me? I'M HUNGRY!, I WANT FOOD! I WANT IT NOW!!!!" Is anyone else having horendous sounds coming from their stomach? :thumbup:

I'm in Northern MN and have BCBS and had to be do the 6 months with the dietician and had my last appointment with her on March 3rd. I was just banded on April 16th, the first available surgery date after the hospital sent notification to BCBS that I had completed the 6 months with the dietician. BCBS called back and said, "Okay, good enough." So to answer your question, you should be good to go as soon as you complete your dietician appointments. Congratulations on you upcoming wedding!

I am thinking of going for the band surgery, I am afraid however of any possible side effects that could be very hard to deal with. I would love to talk to someone who would give me some insight.