Hello Everyone!

I'm Ruby, 35 years-old, weigh 225lbs & 5' tall. I've been married for 2 years now & although he loves me for me he still supports MY decision on this new journey . My start weight at the beginning of all this was 253lbs. My highest history weight was at 267 lbs about 6 years ago. I've always been overweight. As a baby it was "oh she's so cute" as child it was "it's baby fat she'll grow out of it" well as a teenager it turned into "she needs to get on a diet". Well by the time I was 15 I was in a major self hate state, & developed very bad eating habits. Between binging & purging I became an emotional eater. At 18 I got pregnant and had a beautiful baby boy. He was a gift for someone who felt so alone (although you would never know it by the guys I hung out with :phanvan ). I gained so much weight & I suddenly felt like there was no hope :think. I jumped from 187lbs to 240lbs at full term & only lost 20lbs after that. That was 1991 & I've been over 200lbs since. I have been dieting all my life. Tried it

Lap-band:

Someone suggested having my thyroids checked to see if this was the cause of my weight. After reading about it on line as a possibility, I made an appointment to see a Neurologist on July 3,07. Dr.T took tests & everything came back normal. He mentioned the surgery & recommended I make an appointment to meet with the specialists (Dr.Sherman) at the Baylor Clinic. I managed to get into a seminar the following week. The start of my life changed from that moment on. Once I talked to my insurance I was at it hard and started following everything Dr.T & Dr.Sherman asked of me.

Well now it's 6 months later, I have all the documentation Aetna requires. Dr.Sherman's office is reviewing everything & hopefully I will get a response soon. I've already started drinking the Protein shakes for Breakfast so it won't be a shock when I have to drink it as my only meal!

I'm so excited but at the same time I'm VERY scared!

Any suggestions or advise for someone who is pre-op??

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!!!

Hey there! I am from Conroe (just North of Houston) and awaiting my insurance approval as well. I am glad you made the decision to go forward with being banded, I know it is the right decision for me. I can't wait. Maybe we will be banded close together - I will be banded by Dr. Speigel.

Keep us updated with your insurance progress!

I live in Missouri City. I recently received approval form Cigna and I will be banded by Dr. Sherman.

Well, I can barely stand myself. I will be banded on Friday the 11th as things stand right now. Also a self-pay since this is considered an exclusion with BCBS. Oh well, as long as I have it, I don't care how much it costs me. The bennies much outweigh the costs. I am a married mother of a 6 1/2 year old boy (world revolves around him). I am just over 260 and am 5'3" tall. BMI is over 47. Went for diagnostic evaluation at True Results, they set up the pre-op with Dr. Hollis just 5 days later and the surgery just 2 weeks after my 1st visit. I am so excited about this and just wish my husband was on the same page. He is looking for something negative about the banding procedure, just so he can shoot it down too!! He eats 1 meal a day and weighs what he did in high school and that just makes me sick!! He just doesn't get just how much he will benefit from me losing weight, he is only thinking of how much this is going to cost and he is not even paying for it. I have just been day dreaming of getting back into the closet full of clothes that I have outgrown over the years. Wish me luck on my new and wonderful life!!!

I live in Missouri City. I recently received approval form Cigna and I will be banded by Dr. Sherman.

How long did it take for Cigna to approve you? Did you have to do the 6 month thing with your PCP?

Hello! I am from League City, really close to Houston. I am 5 days post op from getting my band on and I feel pretty good!

Hey guys....just thought I would drop in an say Hello. I am also from the Houston area. I was banded on New Year's eve and am feeling great.

I was banded by Spiegel and it took 8 long months to get apporved by Cigna. I did however get approved on my first try.

I am excited to have lost 13 lbs in 8 days, but I know I cannot keep that up for long.

Hi guys my name is Vinnie and I will be getting my Lap Band on 1/14/2008......... I am 6,1 345 and just ready to change my life. Scared to go under but I know its for the best. My wife is 30 weeks pregnant with our twins and all I want to do is be there for them. I know this is going to hurt but the question is to everyone is that I know I will be on liquids for a week or two what was the best thing to drink.

I hope I can give comments on 1/15/2008 and tell everyone that the sergery went well...

Vinnie

You are in my thoughts and if it helps, it wasn't that bad. I stayed overnight @ UGH and I had a pretty easy time at it. The trick is to get up and moving. I walked the halls as much as I could that night in the hospital.

I am still on liquids and I drink a lot of Water, and several Slim-Fast's everday. broth is also good. I could finally add creamy Soups this week and that has been a God send, I was starving!!!

The first week drink drink drink so that you can hydrate. Hope to hear from you on the 15th that everything was well.

Gingerbug, I am from League City too and had my surgery on the 4th by Dr. Garth Davis. Who did yours? Are you still on clear liquids and shakes? I am looking forward to the mushy stage. I was 237 but haven't weighed since the surgery. I go in to see the Dr. on Thursday.

Vinnie I agree with Bandme. I had my surgery at UGH too but I didn't stay overnight. The key really is walking. It will dispel the gas and you won't be as sore. I am five days out and not too sore at all. I didn't really have pain except for right after the surgery I was just sore. I crush the chewable GasX and take two of them a day but I haven't had to take anything at all for pain. I have a big full bottle of liquid vicadin I didn't need. My biggest fear was I wouldn't wake up after surgery and I told everyone that I came in contact with at the hospital. They assured me I would be fine and that was so, so common. Anyway good luck with my experience it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I am looking forward to hearing what the dr. says on Thursday. Hope everything underneath the skin is ok. Take care and good luck to all.

Hello Houstonians,

My name is Tonya, I live in Katy, Texas. I was banded on July 9th 2007. I've lost 57 lbs. since January 07, 27 lbs. of it before my surgery just trying another diet (nutri system). I have not ever been obese in my whole life with the exception of the last 6 years, and never thought I would have problems that would make me obese. I started gaining weight so rapidly, and knew something was wrong, but... you all know how medical dr.'s can be, if they don't see something. Your too fat, because you eat too much. Well, I ended up with 100 lbs. extra before they found out what my problems were.

Its been like looking at someone else for the 6 years. Inside I'm still the same, but on the outside I refused to see how I really looked. Long story, and lots of weird hormonal things, but nonetheless, the end result was fat and lots of it.

In July my life changed for the better, and I'm not looking back (only at pictures :0) My husband and I had been discussing some sort of surgery for a few years. He was willing to pay for whatever was needed because my insurance as good as it is, DOES NOT cover anything related to these types of surgical procedures.

Ironically, I had listened to much to other people who warned me against having surgery... and it always stopped me. My husband was in Sugar Land having surgery on his nose and we saw the LapBand signs all over the place... "Join the Band". So...he looked at me and said, we need to do this for your health.

Right before he went to surgery we were asking the Dr.'s (anestheseologists, his Dr.) and they all referred us to dr. Ponce de leon and said he was one of the best for the laprascopic procedure.

Needless to say, the head of surgery who does seminars sat with me and gave me a one on one seminar (which he requires) before I made my appointment with him. After that, I went to see him, and he said that I could have the surgery, and I started my liquid diet. My nutritionist put me ont he EAST AdvantEDGE Carb Control, 17g Protein, 2 net carbs only. They were and still are a part of my day everyday.

I want you all to know that my surgery was a breeze, I did not tell anyone at work and they still do not know that I had the procedure. The procedure was done at 7:00 a.m. and I was at home resting that afternoon. Never took one pain pill, or had any of the symptoms associated with anesthesia.

I believe that I was so positive about having the surgery, and changing my life that is why my experience was so wonderful. I have never thrown up either. Dr. Ponce is great at learning about you and your eating habits. I've had two fills, my first one 8 weeks after surgery. I was in a size 22/24 and now wear a 14/16 so I've lost more inches than I even imgained so if you don't loose a lot of weight up front, watch your clothing size as well. We all loose differently. I'm going for another fill this Friday, I've gained a couple of lbs. and can eat more so I know its time to get a fill.

Please let me know if you have any questions, you will be so happy you did this if you are determined and ready to do this. Everyone has a little bit of the jitters because of the unknown, but we are in the best possible technology for help, unlike people before us who were tormented from this problem.

Gingerbug, I am from League City too and had my surgery on the 4th by Dr. Garth Davis. Who did yours? Are you still on Clear liquids and shakes? I am looking forward to the mushy stage. I was 237 but haven't weighed since the surgery. I go in to see the Dr. on Thursday.

I went to dr hollis and my surgery was on the 3rd. I get to start phase two of liquids tomorrow so I will be able to have cream Soups as well as clear liquids. How are you feeling?

I am feeling pretty good. I just went to Barnes and Noble (Tuesday after Friday surgery) and I am tired now. I also put a load of laundry in this morning. I am taking it easy now. Today would have been to early for me to go back to work. I think Friday will be ok. I look forward to hearing what Dr. Davis has to say on Thursday. I just want to hear - you are doing well, your incisions look good and your port is in the right place. I can't feel my port so I guess I just want reassurance from him.

I have BCBS and Atena and both excluded the lap band or any other weight loss surgery. We had to self pay too. It was a sacrifice for our family but my husband was 100% behind it. I am blessed.

Hi Everybody!

I ma from pearland, just south of the Med Center. I was banded by Dr. Spiegel about 20 months ago. To date I have lost 62 lbs. and I feel great. I still have a long way to go, but the band truly changed my life!!!! If I can help any of you, just let me know! Best wishes to every one of you!:clap2::whoo:

Calanne Choate

713.254.8392

Calanne I would love to meet with you sometime and pick your band brain since you were banded 20 months ago. Pearland only takes a little bit to get there. My best friend lives there. I go 518 or 45 to Dixie Farm Rd or Beltway to the exit by the golf course. Depends on where I am going. We will have to plan once I get settles and can eat "food". Phyllis