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Hi everyone,

I am in the process of starting the lap band procedure. I had my first appt today. I have a BMI of 41. I managed to work my way up from a BMI of 36 without even trying over the last year, so I decided I had better do something about it before it gets worse.

The process to get insurance approval is way stream lined now. 2 appts 4 hours each and a sleep study. Thats it!! Nice, huh?

I waivered and waivered on whether to do bypass or banding. Banding seems so much safer. I am a nurse and I have seen people die from bypass; its not pretty. But then I did research on banding today and totally freaked out, what if I don't lose the weight? Then I found you guys, thank god I did! I needed to hear real stories from real people, you know what I mean.

I have my second appt tomorrow and the sleep study Saturday night, then I get to see a surgeon, so I will keep you updated! Thanks for being here.

Rena

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Hi Rena Welcome to LBT, you have come to the right place to see success, there are many many successful bandsters here, there is a before and after pictures thread you can view to see first hand.

I too researched the band vs the bypass and there was no way I could do the bypass, Iam so happy with my decision to get the band. 13 months ago I was 91 pounds heavier and in a size 22, I am happy to say Iam now in a size 10 and doing things with my husband and 3 boys I have not done in years. I have my life back . I wish you the best, please keep us posted as to your progress and when you will be banded and please keep coming here to get your support and any questions you need answered here. This is a great group of caring, knowledgable & supportive people here.

Good Luck :)

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Thank you so much for your reply. I am now in my first pair of size 22's. I am so glad to hear your story. I can't wait to get there! I just had to be sized for my best friends wedding and would you believe that with these big boobs and huge waist I had to order a size 26... uggghhhh! The wedding is in september, I don't have a date yet for the band, but I am hoping we have to do some serious size adjustments to the dress. (wouldn't that be nice?)

Rena

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How do I get one of those tickers at the bottom of my page? I love that.

How do I find before and after pictures?

Thanks,

Rena

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Welcome Rena! So glad that you are here. I see that you live in Beaverton...small world. I will be moving to Hillsboro as soon as our house sells in San Diego (my husband is already in there).

My feelings were a lot like yours. As a nurse, I vowed to never do gastric bypass...way too many horror stories. I researched banding in Nov. but talked myself out of it after reading the complications on the Inamed site. It wasn't until the end of March that I changed my mind. At 292 pounds, a BMI of 45, and bursting out of 26/28 clothes, I decided enough was enough. I am so glad I did. Good for you for finding this site before your surgery. I just found it yesterday and I am already feeling so much more support with my band.

Feel free to email or pm me. Best of luck to you.

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Hi Rena,

Glad to see you found the section and how to start a thread! :)

It heartens me so to see so many nurses choosing banding over bypass. I think eventually banding will be the preferred WLS and the medical community will be the reason why. There is just no sense to going for the most invasive and damaging procedure first when there is this to try for people who are not at death's door due to obesity.

Once again, welcome to LBT!! :D

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I'm glad you made the decision to go with the band. My sister-in-law and uncle had gastric bypass and my husband and I opted for the band. Our recovery has been a breeze compared to theirs. Yes, we will have to work harder to lose the weight but when you weigh all the risks, it's worth it. Just remember that the band is a tool to help us to achieve the weight loss results we are looking for. We had our bands put on 2 weeks ago and we both feel great! Good luck with your surgery and welcome to LBT.

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Welcome to LBT! Please browse through all the older posts as well as the new ones and you will find tons of valuable information.

Good Luck!

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Welcome Rena,

I think you will be happy with reading the posts here. These folks have lots of good information.

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Welcome to LBT....all of the people here has made my choice for lapband a much easier choice and they are informative and very nice!!!! I thought about gastric bypass also, but I felt like you and after a lot of research fell this is the best way to go.

Welcome and goodluck!!!!!

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Hello Rena,

I'm new too...It looks like we are starting together, just about the same size, I'm sceduled for surgery on the 26th...Maybe we can get rid of our fat clothes together :)

Good luck,

Aileena

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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