I had my surgery in Conroe, Texas. I am 3 days post-op and I am so glad that I found this site yesterday! I've already had several of my questions answered just by reading other peoples' posts. Yesterday I was feeling really stressed and alone in this but today I am feeling a lot better about it. BTW, how do you get the weightloss ticker on your page?

I'm new too.

I have been going thru the process for several months, have met all the requirements and meet with my surgeon on Jan 30th to set a surgery date. I'm so excited!!!!!

I'd like to know how to get that ticker, too. It's cool.

I am so glad I found this site. I have so many questions to ask. How long did the process take before you got scheduled for the surgery. I've already gone to a seminar. I have a nutritionist appt on 8 Feb, but I still need to get labs done, see a shrink, and attend a support group meeting before I get my final consult with the surgeon. It just seems like its gonna take a long time. I've been looking into the band for a while now but I was having a hard time getting a referral, my previous doctor didn't think I was heavy enough (5'2, 215lbs, BMI 36). What kind of preop diet do you have to follow and for how long. :rolleyes2:

Welcome and Congratulations on getting banded. Glad you found us.

I'm new too.

I have been going thru the process for several months, have met all the requirements and meet with my surgeon on Jan 30th to set a surgery date. I'm so excited!!!!!

I'd like to know how to get that ticker, too. It's cool.

amm.imperial,

Congrats on getting your approval. You can get the ticker by going to Weight Loss - Diet Ticker and following the instructions. It is pretty cool!:rolleyes2:

I am so glad I found this site. I have so many questions to ask. How long did the process take before you got scheduled for the surgery. I've already gone to a seminar. I have a nutritionist appt on 8 Feb, but I still need to get labs done, see a shrink, and attend a support group meeting before I get my final consult with the surgeon. It just seems like its gonna take a long time. I've been looking into the band for a while now but I was having a hard time getting a referral, my previous doctor didn't think I was heavy enough (5'2, 215lbs, BMI 36). What kind of preop diet do you have to follow and for how long. :rolleyes2:

Bertie22,

I had to follow a 3 month regimen to get approval from my insurance company. Once I had all my paperwork turned in to the surgeon, it was less than 2 weeks before his office called to say it was approved and to set the date. My bmi was 41, but on my insurance, if you have a bmi of 35 and comorbidities such as diabetes, sleep apnea and hypertension, then you qualify. As far as a preop diet, that was just the 2 weeks immediately prior to surgery to help shrink the liver to make it easier for the surgeon to place the band. It wasn't bad, I got to have real food for Breakfast, a Protein shake at lunch and 1 lean meat and 2 green veggies for dinner and another Protein Shake before bed. (In fact, being only 3 days postop and still on the liquid phase, I kinda miss that diet!) Hope this helps you. Good luck!:hurray:

I wanted it to be a long process. Might sound crazy, but my brother had the gastric bypass several years ago and failed.

I wanted to make sure I was going to make it 3 years out, not just immediately. The program I am in has a lot of people that meet once a month in all stages pre-op, post-op, just thinking. Some for LapBand, some for bypass. It's a support group I can go to for free for life. My first appointment with surgical intake was in mid Sept., then behavioral, physiological, nutritional classes, and exercise classes. During all those, they monitored my weight. If I had weight loss, then I could get my papers sent up to surgery. That took a couple of weeks. From what people are saying in these meetings most people take at least 6 mths, some over a year. Depends on the person's behavior changes, and insurance, and past medical complications.

Everyone says it is worth every day!!!

Don't be impatient, it took a long time to get as big as we are, and it will add years to our lives to take off the weight.

checking out my ticker

hey lucyb, I'm in Conroe too, actually, outside of Conroe off 105 toward Cleveland.

Congrats on your surgery, sounds like your doing great! My mom used Collier as well, I'll hopefully be using Wilkenfeld. Nice to have someone so close! Will be watching your ticker!

hey lucyb, I'm in Conroe too, actually, outside of Conroe off 105 toward Cleveland.

Congrats on your surgery, sounds like your doing great! My mom used Collier as well, I'll hopefully be using Wilkenfeld. Nice to have someone so close! Will be watching your ticker!

Hi jenniferann6,

Yeah, it is nice to have someone so close! How is your mom doing? When did she have her surgery? Good luck with your surgery! Do you have a date yet?

Hi Lucy,

I'm new here too. I will be having my lapband surgery in Apr so I am still in the progress of getting my initial consultations out of the way. Go to Tickerfactory.com. Good luck

Yvonne

Hi Lucy, Yvonne and Jennifer. I am in Conroe as well. Dr. Wilkenfeld did my surgery in June 07. It's one of the best things I have done.

Good luck with your surgeries!

Hi Lucy, Yvonne and Jennifer. I am in Conroe as well. Dr. Wilkenfeld did my surgery in June 07. It's one of the best things I have done.

Good luck with your surgeries!

How have you done? I hear it takes about 6 months to get "mature" with your band?

I've done great. 60 pounds and counting. I have had 3 fills so far. The hardest habit that I've had to break is eating too fast. I have had some difficulty with the protein shakes. They have started making me gag. I've had to be careful about choosing the right foods so that I can get the recommended amount of protein in per day.

Hi there everyone, I am also a newbie to this site! I had my band done Sept 18 2007 I have lost 31lbs. 40lbs. since my first consult wiyh my pcp. I just wanted to know if anyone out there has had to wait at least 4 months like I do to get their first fill! I only lost 1 lb this month and was wondering if i should call to get a fill now or not. my surgeon's office is not really helping me with my progress. any advice? Thank you much!

I definitely did not wait 4 months. I was in the office, I believe within 6 weeks. The only requirement for fills, as far as time restraints, is that you have to wait 2 weeks in between fills.