July 8th here! ..heading to Mexico with Dr. Ortiz!! (self pay) I am not fat enough (the irony):thumbup: for my insurance to cover me... I am at 31.4 BMI (I am only 5'1 and was horrified to see that I am technically 'obese')..esp when i was a SIZE 4 on my wedding day...

I am VERY excited:thumbup:, but still have SOOO many questions running through my head...esp after reading different threads on this site and others...:biggrin:

Some say they are so many weeks, even months post op and havent seen much success...that's tad scary to me!

I have done EVERYTHING to lose the weight that i regained and nothing ...thats when i decided to research Lapband...

I know it'll be HUGE adjustment..however the way I see it, if I am putting the $ into it...i better see some major results!! My husband has been SOOOO supportive. (he met me at 175lbs and I married him at 133lbs...regained back and now am at 166lbs and its killing me!) he doesnt care...he just wants me to be happy and I am far from happy. i cry alone, throw tantrums in my closet, dont feel like going out b/c "i have nothing to wear.."....well...you all know the feeling I am sure.

So after TONS of research and deciding...i AM gonna do this! It was a weight lifted off my shoulders to see ow supportive Erick (hubby) was. "i just want you to be happy", he says... and i know that getting to your goal weight will do that..":tt1:

but the LAST thing i want is for him to regret putting us further in debt b/c it didnt work.. PLEASE SOMEONE REASSURE ME THAT THIS IS GONNA WORK!! I know that you HAVE to follow the diet, and i am assuming that the people complaining are the ones eating icecream all day long and wondering why the scale isnt budging! LOL

I am not doing this for nothing! I know there will be sacrafice and there are foods that i will just have to give up (or they are gonna come back up! lol)

I have approx 50-55 pounds to lose? realistically, does anyone know fast or slow this process is? I mean, it HAS to be faster the dieting alone, right? and these refills.... why do i see people getting filled so often? Is it the more weight you drop, the more you have to fill?

July 8th cant come fast enough!! I am ready for my life to change FOREVER!!!:w00t:

Sorry for the novel.... :eek:

Agnes

Agnes,

It sounds like you have some very serious medical issues that can be controlled by weight loss - high blood pressure, high colesterol and a heart attack at 26. These should certainly weigh in heavy in your insurance company's approval. Have you tried appealing their decision?

they have a very strict policy that u must be BMI 35 and over PLUS comorbidities ...no exceptions

There are very rude people around here..... I could have easily waiting six months and I would have been at a 35 BMI, without even trying. I already have sleep apnea and reflux, so maybe in six months I wouldn't have had to shell out 15K. But, I didn't want to put my body amd emotional well being through that. Six more months of depression, no thanks. At least I have hope now.

Right now, I feel like crap...... So, I'm not all that happy about how wonderful the lapband is... But, I'm only 3 days post op.

Also, I asked my nurse and Dr. what PB was and they didn't know. They described what they thought it could possibly be... and they were right. But just because somebody doesn't know the terms on these boards doesn't mean they haven't researched the lapband.....

There are very rude people around here..... I could have easily waiting six months and I would have been at a 35 BMI, without even trying. I already have sleep apnea and reflux, so maybe in six months I wouldn't have had to shell out 15K. But, I didn't want to put my body amd emotional well being through that. Six more months of depression, no thanks. At least I have hope now.

Right now, I feel like crap...... So, I'm not all that happy about how wonderful the lapband is... But, I'm only 3 days post op.

Also, I asked my nurse and Dr. what PB was and they didn't know. They described what they thought it could possibly be... and they were right. But just because somebody doesn't know the terms on these boards doesn't mean they haven't researched the lapband.....

*

I saw someone mentione PB-productive burb

yeah, I have been told that I havent done my research when THATs ALL I have been doing! LOL But the same things I looked up, I asked people b/c I wanted to hear it directly from someone who is or has experienced it (in additional to what I have read..)

So has the first 3 days been? It sounds like people are very hungry bc you are only taking in Clear liquids...

Hey Agnes,

I wish they would have told me what to really expect post op.... I guess the Dr. and staff don't want to scare anyone off. What I was told is that some people experience gas pains around the arm or shoulder and that some experience discomfort around the port incision.

This is my reality, I wish they would have told me. Hope it doesn't scare you though.....

*I have 5 incisions, about half to one and a half inch long.... They told me I would have "piercings"..like little holes.

*I have been in pain around the abdomen.....not just like the actual incisions, more like everything underneath hurts. Like if you've done lots of sit ups.... I think that's the gas.

My shoulder has been killing me since the morphine and other pain killers that they gave me during surgery wore off. Liquid Advil and the narcotic together have helped.

* My stomach feels yucky, but I'm hungry at the same time. Very hungry!!!But whenever I drink something.... I belch and it hurts. I've been so tempted to put a corny dog in the blender and eat a few bites! But I won't, I'd be hurting for sure, then, and mess up the band or something!!

So, that's where I'm at 3 days post op. Since they emphasized walking so much, I walked on the treadmill twice yesterday (Dr.'s office recommended it) but, my shoulder is still hurting.

By the way, I have a very low tolerance for pain. I'm a wimp!!:biggrin:

How much is the surgery costing you in Tijuana? I paid 15K here in Dallas.... Just wondering, in case I need revision surgery or something. The person that posted that all lapbands have to be eventually replaced really scared me.... :confused: :blushing: not what I wanted to hear!

Good luck Agnes!

Your experience will be unique to you, but your surgeon is one of the best, I have heard (he is on my list of top surgeons in Mexico if I decide to convert to a sleeve after I am as close to goal as I can get with the band).

Dr. Ortiz does not do sleeves. He ONLY does banding. He won't even do a band on a higher BMI person. They have to lose weight to a 55 BMI and then he'll do it. Research is key in finding a surgeon. Dr. Ortiz does not do any of the more complicated procedures, he only does the easy banding.

I'm probably going to regret saying this, but I think that getting a lap bad at 166 pounds, barely 40 overweight, is a little extreme.

I think you seriously need some head work.

I'm 5'1" so I know that 166 is not Weight Loss Surgery ready.

I can appreciate your frustration and your disappointment at not being a SIZE 4 anymore, but you are not at an unhealthy weight yet, and can very much control and decrease your BMI without a lap band.

You will need to exercise and work hard once you get the band in to begin with, so all that effort can be done without the added stress of lap band surgery on your body.

But. It's your choice.

WTH? What is wrong with you? Why are you so angry at the OP? You have done nothing but belittle her and insult her throughout this entire thread.

Why is it the higher BMI folks are so angry when lower BMI folks get surgery? I swear, some people make it seem like you have to pay your fat dues before you can have surgery. Have you ever MET the OP in real time? Have you SEEN her? Her cardiologist has and he gave her a set point for weight loss. Who the heck are you to suggest that you know more than her MD specialists?

I'm 5/5 and weigh 120, is that bad too? Go ahead, bring it on. Why not start throwing insults my way, you've met your match this time. Leave the OP alone. Support is a good thing, honest it is. Insulting her because she was smart enough to have surgery before she was as big as you or I is fruitless.

The whole premise of lapband is for someone who is mordbidly obese (at least 100lbs overweight)...

Not quite. In the US the Ins Co's set the Standard of Care and THEY say a BMI of 40 or greater, normal people don't say that. Every country other than the US does WLS for a BMI of 30 or greater. We are the ones that make people be morbidly obese before we will pay for their surgery.

... and the weight loss is meant to be slow, no more than 1-2 lbs a week.

True and not true. In the beginning people usually lose very fast, the closer you get to goal the more it slows down. When I was banded I lost 33# in 33 days. Closer to goal I was losing a pound every week or two. The 1-2 pounds is the average people lose throughout their weight loss journey.

US doctors will not do surgery on someone of your size because the surgical risks outweight the benefits.

Proof?

Had I only had 40 - 50 lbs to lose I never would have had this surgery as good old fashioned dieting and discipline would have accomplished that.

So why didn't you?

If you chose to be bigger before having surgery, kewl Beans. That is your choice. Not everyone agrees with you.

All the guidelines I have ever read, and I researched and read everything I could find on the subject would NOT recommend this procedure for you.

I'd suggest getting out there and reading more.

Studies and common sense show it is far healthier to never be overweight and the more overweight you are the higher your surgical risks. It is safer to operate on someone before their BMI is way out of hand.

I am not trying to be a downer,

Well, you are.

but this is serious surgery for serious problems with weight and luckily you are not there.

How do you know? The girl had a freak'en heart attack at age 26. do tell. What more does she need before she is to be honored with a life saving surgery? Or are you another of those that she needs to pay her fat dues before she is entitled?

Ibelieve, THIS POSTER IS NOT 50 POUNDS OVERWEIGHT!

At BEST she is 30+.

I am 5'1" and "petite" == quite frankly, this is a shame and this poster needs to deal with PROPER weight loss options before she goes the surgery route, simply because being a diet and incorporating exercise isn't going to be FAST enough.

Oh hush for goodness sakes!

If you are going to give such information that might frighten new bandsters or steer interested desperate people from getting a tool that might save their lives, you need to back it up with facts and references. Do not post your opinions as fact. This is wrong and I hope people recognize it as such.........just your opinion.

What she writes is accurate.

I was wondering how you know she is ONLY 30 or so lbs over weight? I know you keep saying that over and over in your posts.

After saying that, Agnes I don't necessarily think you NEED the surgery. But of course it is up to you... There is a reason why most surgeons and insurances would approve the surgery and why you are having to go to Mexico.

True, the US is quite unrealistic about preventative medicine. All the other countries are quite more realistic. They see little need to wait for diabetes, joint damage, heart attacks and such. They'd rather prevent it.

you don't weight enough. Surgeons willing to do the surgery on you are doing it for the money.

DAMN! You people are making me angry. GET OUT! READ A BOOK! READ SOME STUDIES! LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT THE DISEASE OF OBESITY THAT YOU HAVE!

I just really hope you are not doing this because of being vain. Do you have any co-morbities, Besides you feeling fat or crying because you can't wear regular close?

WTH? How can you people be so amazingly rude to this poor girl? So what if it is vanity? I didn't have a single comorbidity when I had my surgery. Nothing. I did it for 100% pure vanity. It's okay to want to look good, that's not a selfish self centered thing.

Just remember, I said it before, you posted this question on this forum for everyone, so you actually have to respect everyone opinion. Just because it isn't what you wanted to hear, doesn't mean it doesn't deserve respect..... Jennifer

Respect is earned, you are not deserving of respect for insulting someone.

You know what? I think some of you are simply jealous because you let your own weight get very far out of hand before taking control. We have someone who doesn't want to be in our shoes, she wants control of it now and look at your behaviors! It's disgusting.

Now I know why I was baited to this thread. ;o) And I am quite glad I was.

Edited June 22, 200917 yr by WASaBubbleButt

WASA

Well said. Its good for someone with experience to come in and stand up for Agnes as the whole thing was getting ridiculous.

THANKS.

WTH? How can you people be so amazingly rude to this poor girl? So what if it is vanity? I didn't have a single comorbidity when I had my surgery. Nothing. I did it for 100% pure vanity. It's okay to want to look good, that's not a selfish self centered thing.

Respect is earned, you are not deserving of respect for insulting someone.

You know what? I think some of you are simply jealous because you let your own weight get very far out of hand before taking control. We have someone who doesn't want to be in our shoes, she wants control of it now and look at your behaviors! It's disgusting.

Now I know why I was baited to this thread. ;o) And I am quite glad I was.

Don't you freak'n tell me I am jealous. Do you think I chose to be in a car accident and have to be on bed rest for 7 months???? It was out of my control gaining the weight I did. On top of it after I got pregnant I got gestational diabetes and gained 109 lbs... DID you even read her first post. She made it seem as if she new nothing about the surgery before already planning to do it. Besides I never insulted her. Just by saying I don't think she needs it doesn't mean I am insulting her. If she wants to get the surgery, then she should do it. Just because I don't think she should doesn't mean a damn thing. If you want me to be insulting I will, but not with the OP, but with you. If you actually read all of my post instead of singling out peices, I was trying to inform her of certain things. The only reason you where baited to coming to this post was to tell everyone about your problems with the band, not to be a jerk for everyones opinions. You don't know everything!!!!!!

If you get online under the lapband.com website it says you need to be 100 lbs overweight inorder to get the surgery. I think that is why alot of people don't agree with Agnes getting the surgery. Besides its not like she isn't going to do it just because we think she doesn't need it!!!! LOL LOL

Get mad all you want but don't think you can talk to me the way you did with out a response.

Edited June 22, 200917 yr by talkalot1981

WASA

Well said. Its good for someone with experience to come in and stand up for Agnes as the whole thing was getting ridiculous.

THANKS.

Thanks for writing this.

It makes me angry when someone comes here for support and the attitude is that they haven't suffered enough with obesity yet so they aren't entitled to surgery. What a freak'en crock!

Threads do not usually make me angry but this one does. We should be thrilled someone is smart enough and capable of getting surgery BEFORE they are in our shoes. Instead I have seen more jealousy and misinformation on this thread than any other in a very long time.

Don't you freak'n tell me I am jealous. Do you think I chose to be in a car accident and have to be on bed rest for 7 months???? It was out of my control gaining the weight I did. On top of it after I got pregnant I got gestational diabetes and gained 109 lbs... DID you even read her first post. She made it seem as if she new nothing about the surgery before already planning to do it. Besides I never insulted her. Just by saying I don't think she needs it doesn't mean I am insulting her. If she wants to get the surgery, then she should do it. Just because I don't think she should doesn't mean a damn thing. If you want me to be insulting I will, but not with the OP, but with you. If you actually read all of my post instead of singling out peices, I was trying to inform her of certain things. The only reason you where baited to coming to this post was to tell everyone about your problems with the band, not to be a jerk for everyones opinions. You don't know everything!!!!!!

I wrote it and I meant it. Every word.

THIS is not supportive:

I just really hope you are not doing this because of being vain. Do you have any co-morbities, Besides you feeling fat or crying because you can't wear regular close?

But it is rude.

We ALL have our journey and you are not the only one that has it rough. You guys beat up on her before you even knew her whole story. Instead of asking her for more information you jumped on her like jealous little teenagers.

It was without excuse.

Who are you to tell her you do not think she needs surgery? When did you get your MD license? When did you examine her and read her medical history?

Now, back up your claims. Where did I post of my band problems in this thread? Show me? You wouldn't be out to redirect the topic from your rude behaviors to posts I did not write, true?

If you get online under the lapband.com website it says you need to be 100 lbs overweight inorder to get the surgery. I think that is why alot of people don't agree with Agnes getting the surgery. Besides its not like she isn't going to do it just because we think she doesn't need it!!!! LOL LOL

AGAIN....

It is the US Standard of Care that was set by Insurance Companies regarding what they will pay and what they will not pay. Since when are insurance companies the little Gods you are making them out to be?

Inamed bands were approved in Mexico BEFORE the US. Mexico Standard of Care is the same as MOST countries, a BMI of 30 with or without comorbidities is all that is needed for WLS.

They are doing studies in the US to prove that everyone ELSE is doing things right, it is us who are stupid when it comes to WLS.

AGAIN.... Get out there and read about the disease we have. Those with a BMI of 30 or more have a 3-5% shot at losing weight with D/E alone and maintaining that for 5 years. What in the world is the value in waiting for her to die of heart disease before she is "entitled" to self pay for her surgery? Seriously, answer that. Where is the value?

Here, here is a site with some great obesity research going on, it would benefit you to read up a bit on obesity issues:

Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness News From Medical News Today

Get mad all you want but don't think you can talk to me the way you did with out a response.

I don't think you enjoyed partaking in a taste of your own medicine very much, eh?

You DO NOT have to be 100 pounds overweight to get the lapband.

Go to www.lapbandsolutions.com It says on their home page:

A lap band can help anyone with a BMI of 27 or higher. And yes, this is in the U.S. They have Dr.'s all over the country.....

AGAIN....

It is the US Standard of Care that was set by Insurance Companies regarding what they will pay and what they will not pay. Since when are insurance companies the little Gods you are making them out to be?

I never said insurance companies were GOD!!!! Thats a little extreme!!!!

I don't think you enjoyed partaking in a taste of your own medicine very much, eh?

My own medicine??? Um I don't know what you mean.... I never handed out medicine.....

Look yes like you said. this is a little High School and we shouldn't be degating each other or the poster. I may have been rude ONCE(about her being vain) but if you read my posts I was trying to be informative. Lets give it a rest.....:blushing:

Ugh! :blushing: I would like to know since when 50 pounds overweight is "only 50 pounds overweight Since when did 50 become a low number This is why this country is the fattest country in the world!

People from other countries can't help but stare at overweight people in this country. Or when they go to other countries as tourists, people stare. There are a lot less number of super obese people in other countries. Not that there's any... I watch TLC. A guy from the last name of Uribe, I think weighs close to 1,000 pounds. He was on TLC. He's from Mexico. But, guess where he gained his weight?? Dallas, TX!! Right here where I live!!

My friend went to Italy and she's "only 80" or so pounds overweight. She told me she felt awful because kids would point at her, and kids and adults would stare :confused:.

Don't scold those of us that don't want to get to that point. And, I'm doing it for vanity reasons as well! I know maintaining a normal weight will help me stay healthier overall, but yes, I'm vane and don't like having to wear a size 16!!

Agnes,

I had my surgery May 15th and its gone as smooth as possible. I've only lost 16lbs, but since I've been eating healthier and excercising, my body has changed for the better. I come to this site often and also have a support group at the hospital where I got the surgery, its been great hearing all of the successes and motivating those who haven't done so well. I just hope that because of the rudeness of some you do not turn away from this site. There really is a wealth of information on here, so my advice would be to continually read the posts all throughout the site.

As for those who are putting Agnes down for doing her thing, who pissed in your Protein shake? Simmer down with all that mess and help a Sister out! If you don't like it then don't respond!

In defence of talkalot (not that I think you need me defending you, talkalot), my initial reaction to Agnes' post was 'Wow, this girl is all over the place'. Her first post, as she wrote it, seemed chaotic. And it seemed like she didn't really understand the banding process (ie refills).

Of course, that has turned out to not be the case (subsequent posts show that Agnes has thought this through, considered her options and feels this is the best for her), but that's how the first post read to me. And I'm sure others felt the same way.

I don't think talkalot was intentionally trying to be rude. Just realistic.

Agnes, this is a great community of wonderful men and women. Not everyone will agree with you but opposing opinions are not intended to betlittle or patronise you. I can safely say that we're here to support you through this journey - and that means articulating the good and the bad (however unpalatable the bad may seem).

Personally, I'm nearly two weeks banded and it's working out great. I wish I had done it when I was in your position BMI-wise. Good on you for being pro-active. I hope it all works out. :blushing:

Edited June 22, 200917 yr by Jane_S