Hello everyone. My name is Jennifer and I am a complete and total newbie at this. I've just now started thinking about Lap Band and it all seems kinda daunting. I don't even know where to begin, so any advice would be appreciated. Here is a little info about myself:

Height: 5' 5"

Weight: ~290 lbs

BMI: ~47.4

Insurance: Aetna Choice POS II (Open Access)

From what I have read so far it sounds like Aetna is going to be a pain in the butt.

~Jennifer

JenniferZ,

I am using Dr. Vadim Sherman. He is with Baylor.

Do you have any ideas of who you might use?

I have no idea who to use. I am in the early stages of this and really don't know where to begin. I've heard some good things about Spivak and Spiegal (sp?).

Hi JenniferZ- I am from Dallas area. I have Aetna POS II also. My stuff will be submitted Jan. 21, 08. I will let you know how it goes to give you a heads up with them. Just start working on fulfilling all their criteria, take one thing at a time, get it done, move to the next. Each step brings you closer to banding and your new life!

Hi JenniferZ- I am from Dallas area. I have Aetna POS II also. My stuff will be submitted Jan. 21, 08. I will let you know how it goes to give you a heads up with them. Just start working on fulfilling all their criteria, take one thing at a time, get it done, move to the next. Each step brings you closer to banding and your new life!

Thanks! Where can I find the criteria?

I called member services way back when and they immediately faxed me the whole section of our benefits that applied to wls with all the criteria listed.

Well ya'll I'm feelin a little better today. I guess it gets better everyday, I just wish the days would hurry up and come on. So I am on day 5 and still sore. I have to go to work tomorrow this will be interesting. Did anyone have any problems loseing wieght right after the surgery? I lost 15lbs during the 2 week liquid stage pre-op. But am 5 days post-op and have gained 3 lbs what the hell is going on?????? Please help.

Hi I understand I was banded on 12/19/07. I was not on a diet before surgery so I ate everything up until 24 hrs before. I know you will be fine and keep your head up we are going to do well. I am from Houston

Hi

I am a school teacher as well and I was banded 12/19/07 the last day before Christmas break. I am feeling o.k now and think you will be fine after spring break. I am from Houston and work for Fort Bend District who do not pay for the surgery. What district are you in and will they pay for yoyr surgery.

Welcom aboard Jennifer.

I am from Harker Heights/Belton area in Texas, about 1 hour north of Austin. Had my surgery done in Austin with Dr S Ganta. He is just wonderful. Anybody else from the Killeen, Copperas Cove, Temple, Belton area? Lets get together.

Hello,

Hope you are doing well. Kind of hard to stay away from all the goodies during this season, but at the end it is worthed. I am off 2410 and had my surgery 27 July 07. I am losing very slow, but I am OK with it. Perhaps we can meet. I know there is a support group here somewhere, for all WL surgery patients. Take care.

Hey this is Monica from Killeen. If yu dont mind me asking how much have you lost since July?

Hi. I've been banded over a year. I went to Spivak and adore him. You won't see complaints about him anywhere. I have firends who went to Speigel and have ongoing concerns about his bedside manner. But both are accomplished lap band surgeons. Go to the free opening seminar for each of them and then decide! You'll learn a bunch!

Welcome to this site JenniferZ!! You will find this site very helpful and make lots of friends at the same time. I am a total newbie also havent even spoken to a doc yet, I'm waiting til after the holidays are over to get this started. I know I wont be able to get through the holidays with just a Protein shake and still maintain traditions that my family has especially me making my FAMOUS ham that they cant get enough of....but I will be contacting a DR soon. I'm still in the search for just the right one....and now yesterday I seen about this realize band and I really want one of those...but there is no doc's in this area that do it yet Hope to become friends and HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS!!!

BLESSINGS

Well ya'll I'm feelin a little better today. I guess it gets better everyday, I just wish the days would hurry up and come on. So I am on day 5 and still sore. I have to go to work tomorrow this will be interesting. Did anyone have any problems loseing wieght right after the surgery? I lost 15lbs during the 2 week liquid stage pre-op. But am 5 days post-op and have gained 3 lbs what the hell is going on?????? Please help.

Monica,

It's not uncommon to gain a couple pounds the first few days. Your digestive tract is in a little bit of shock and takes a few days to completely wake up. The other things that can make you gain a little bit of weight are increased sodium intake from the broth and reduced Water intake. Water is a diuretic - the more you drink the less you'll hold onto. I ended up going to get some IV fluids on the third day, because I couldn't get enough by mouth. Once I started getting enough water, it started coming off pretty quickly.

Also, I'm sure you've heard it before, but walk, walk, walk. I walked about 5 minutes out of every 20. That will wake things up, clear out the gas, and also kick your metabolism back up.

Hang in there,

B

Hello all. I'm in Arlington and will be having Dr. Carter do my lapband. I have BCBS TRS/Activecare, and am into the 2nd month of my 6 month supervised diet. That puts me past Spring Break, so I might schedule my surgery in June right after the school year is over. I've learned many things from reading the posts here, but haven't posted much.

I lost 9 pounds my first month, and I can't remember the last time I lost that much weight! I'm not as good this month, but I'm thinking if I maintain in December I'll have accomplished something!

Hi this is my first post or reply. I just had my band on Dec. 21st. Having trouble getting down the 3 shakes a day that my dr. recomends. I lost 16lbs pre op and I think I've lost about 5 more since then. I am already fitting into some jeans that I hadn't been able to wear. I'm a hairdresser and went back to doing hair on the 26th. A little sore but not too bad, mainly where my port is. I'm in North Texas Also.