My name is Coney.

I am going to get lap band. I do not have a date to be banded yet. My parents want it to be as soon as possible, hopefully before 2008. Does it take a long time to get the date set? - we are not going through insurance because I am still pretty young (18 in January).

I used to be very thin before my parents sent me to an all girls boarding school at the begining of highschool where they fed us large amounts of weight gainer, fattening foods, and did not allow us excercise. I gained 70 pounds while I was there. I went from weighing 140 (a little chubby) to 210 pounds! I was released from the schol but have found it nearly impossible to lose the weight. I gave up and now I weigh 230 pounds at 5'4.

Does the lap band make you lose hair?

Does it make you depressed?

Is there anything I should know?

Thanks for the support

My name is Coney.

I am going to get lap band. I do not have a date to be banded yet. My parents want it to be as soon as possible, hopefully before 2008. Does it take a long time to get the date set? - we are not going through insurance because I am still pretty young (18 in January).

I used to be very thin before my parents sent me to an all girls boarding school at the begining of highschool where they fed us large amounts of weight gainer, fattening foods, and did not allow us excercise. I gained 70 pounds while I was there. I went from weighing 140 (a little chubby) to 210 pounds! I was released from the schol but have found it nearly impossible to lose the weight. I gave up and now I weigh 230 pounds at 5'4.

Does the lap band make you lose hair?

Does it make you depressed?

Is there anything I should know?

Thanks for the support

Coney

You can lose your hair some do some don't - depressed ??? losing your best friend "Food" is hard and even now I miss eating sometimes. You need to read read read everything on this board good & bad. The band is not the magic cure to your food issues - it's only a tool - you will have to eat healthier and exercise - the tool part is that you feel full faster once you have proper restriction and that can take a while and for some the band won't let them eat certain foods - such as bread, You can eat around your band - this means things like ice cream, milk shakes, Cookies and chips to name a few - go right threw and these are high calorie foods.

As far as how long does it take - you are self pay so as soon as the doc has an opening. For me even with insurance it only took about 2 weeks to get approved - I had surgery 6 weeks after my first visit with the suregon.

Good luck on your journey...

Oh, there is all sorts of stuff you should know. Read everything about the band that you can find. How long it takes depends on your Dr and how many tests and the amount of testing he has you do. At your young age there shouldn't be much. It seems like the better job they do at pre surgery teaching, the better they will do with follow up. Try not to go to a surgeon that only sees you for surgery and offers no follow up. Be sure you can get your fills in a timely manner. No the band won't make you loose hair, but not getting enough protien and vitamins will. It is extremely important to learn how you will need to eat. And no it won't make you depresses. Many people feel much happier after weight loose. It depends too if you eat to live or live to eat. If food is your best friend, you might miss it and feel sad. I think you will be too busy buying your skinny clothes to feel bad. Good luck hon.

I've taken all my tests, and I've been approved for the surgery, but the doctor hasn't gotten back to us for setting the date.

I am really determined to change my life and not just expect the band to do it for me. I've even got myself a gym membership

Anyhow, thanks for the advice.