Hi! I'm pretty new to the forum scene so I hope i'm doing this right!

I go for my first appt friday the 8th and I'm not sure why but I'm really nervous. I have been doing a lot of research but it seems now matter how much i think i know... there is something else to learn! I just read about the different brand of bands and how they vary from the thickness of them to the shape they attain when they are filled. ack!!!

I've always been a "heavy" person. At my smallest I weighed around 165 but that was back in high school when i was in a ballet acadamy! Since then I have gotten married, had twins that weighed 7lbs 9oz each! Yeah almost 16 pounds of baby there folks! (so if you know of a good plastic surgeon that might feel sorry for me and cut me a good deal cause my tummy is already shot let me know!!! :confused: )

Ok this is getting long so I will stop for now...

Welcome to the losers club!!

I have twins too! They are 24yrs old, but my belly is shot too!

Knowledge is crucial. Keep reading and asking questions, because that's how we learn. I'm almost 1.5 months out of surgery, and I feel really great! I've not lost much yet, but I'm getting there!

It's normal to be nervous, and... well.. terrified- I was. Your dr. should make you feel comfortable. If he/she doesn't.. find someone else.

Also make sure that your insurance pays for the surgery, and what the requirements are.

Huggles dear one!

Welcome to the losers club!!

I have twins too! They are 24yrs old, but my belly is shot too!

Knowledge is crucial. Keep reading and asking questions, because that's how we learn. I'm almost 1.5 months out of surgery, and I feel really great! I've not lost much yet, but I'm getting there!

It's normal to be nervous, and... well.. terrified- I was. Your dr. should make you feel comfortable. If he/she doesn't.. find someone else.

Also make sure that your insurance pays for the surgery, and what the requirements are.

Huggles dear one!

The losers club! I like that!!!

Thank you for your kind and helpful words!!! I really appreciate it!

Welcome! Prepare yourself for the roller coaster ride that is lapbanding.

The ride might start with a pre-op diet. If your Dr. requires liquids only during this time, it could be rough, but you'll lose weight rapidly and that can be a big boost mentally.

You'll have surgery and might be sore from the incisons or the gas that they pump into your belly to enlarge it so they can work inside. You;ll be on a post op diet and will again lose weight.

As you progress to real food, you might find that you can eat more than you should and you might wonder if you even have a band.

Then you'll be in the phase of waiting for fills to get your band to fit your stomach perfectly. This can take a while depending on your body, how often your Dr. fills and how much fill is given as each visit.

Then you will reach that perfect spot and you'll eat small meals, feel comfortably full and lose weight. AHHH NIRVANA! The moment we all wait for! ( I am in the phase of waiting for perfect restriction).

As you lose weight, your band might need small adjustments/fills to accommodate the weight you lose. Eventually, you'll reach your goal weight!!!!

There might be bumps in the road, a fill that's too tight, a bite not chewed well enough and gets stuck, weeks where the scale won't budge etc.

That's why this jouney is filled with ups and downs, like a roller coaster!

But what is more thrilling than a roller coaster.

Hop on, let's sit in the front seat!

Welcome! Prepare yourself for the roller coaster ride that is lapbanding.

The ride might start with a pre-op diet. If your Dr. requires liquids only during this time, it could be rough, but you'll lose weight rapidly and that can be a big boost mentally.

You'll have surgery and might be sore from the incisons or the gas that they pump into your belly to enlarge it so they can work inside. You;ll be on a post op diet and will again lose weight.

As you progress to real food, you might find that you can eat more than you should and you might wonder if you even have a band.

Then you'll be in the phase of waiting for fills to get your band to fit your stomach perfectly. This can take a while depending on your body, how often your Dr. fills and how much fill is given as each visit.

Then you will reach that perfect spot and you'll eat small meals, feel comfortably full and lose weight. AHHH NIRVANA! The moment we all wait for! ( I am in the phase of waiting for perfect restriction).

As you lose weight, your band might need small adjustments/fills to accommodate the weight you lose. Eventually, you'll reach your goal weight!!!!

There might be bumps in the road, a fill that's too tight, a bite not chewed well enough and gets stuck, weeks where the scale won't budge etc.

That's why this jouney is filled with ups and downs, like a roller coaster!

But what is more thrilling than a roller coaster.

Hop on, let's sit in the front seat!

You are SO awesome!!! I appreciate your words very very very much!

Hello! Welcome! Don't be nervous everything will be fine. I had the surgery about 3 weeks ago and it went well. I'm on my way so far I have lost about 20lbs. I've been heavy all my life as well so I'm looking forward to a new body. :-)

You are SO awesome!!! I appreciate your words very very very much!

Hi Jess, I read your response and I had surgery 3 weeks ago and it does not feel like I have a band as you mentioned......I'm not restriced at all. I go in for my first fill on Tuesday and I'm looking forward to being restricted. Glad to hear this is very normal.

Hello! Welcome! Don't be nervous everything will be fine. I had the surgery about 3 weeks ago and it went well. I'm on my way so far I have lost about 20lbs. I've been heavy all my life as well so I'm looking forward to a new body. :-)

Congrats!!! That's funny that the one thing you are looking forward to is the one thing i am MOST scared of!!! I don't think that my skin is going to be so elastic. I guess because I base it on the fact that I had twins that weighed a whole lot and I carried them a long time and my stomach didn't do so good. :eek: But ya gotta be positive right!??!!!

Hi Jess, I read your response and I had surgery 3 weeks ago and it does not feel like I have a band as you mentioned......I'm not restriced at all. I go in for my first fill on Tuesday and I'm looking forward to being restricted. Glad to hear this is very normal.

I have also heard that sometimes you feel more restricted in the morning than you do in the evening. I want to feel restriction. Because I can eat SO much at a time it is rediculous.

Hi! This is my first time here. I had my consultation in January and my insurance has my predetermination in their hands now. I'm hoping to hear by next week. Good luck!

Hi Jess, I read your response and I had surgery 3 weeks ago and it does not feel like I have a band as you mentioned......I'm not restriced at all. I go in for my first fill on Tuesday and I'm looking forward to being restricted. Glad to hear this is very normal.

Hi! This is my first time here. I had my consultation in January and my insurance has my predetermination in their hands now. I'm hoping to hear by next week. Good luck!

Oh how exciting!!! Good Luck to you as well!!!