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HI! My name is Maureen and I am 19 years old. I am from NY. I was just wondering, what is the process like? I weigh 280 lbs and I am 5'5", and I am starting to develop problems like high blood pressure, and back problems, and I want to get this taken care of when I am young. I have tried many diets, some of which have worked, but not for long. I was wondering, are there any young people who have had the surgery, and what was it like? Thanks for all of your help!

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Well if you are planning on insurance paying for it, first thing you should do is contact your insuurance company to make sure they cover. Then see your primary care physician--you may have to do a 6 month medically supervised diet. Also, choose where you want to have the surgery and go to an info session there. Where in NY are you from?> I got mine done at NYU and couldn't be happier!!

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HI! My name is Maureen and I am 19 years old. I am from NY. I was just wondering, what is the process like? I weigh 280 lbs and I am 5'5", and I am starting to develop problems like high blood pressure, and back problems, and I want to get this taken care of when I am young. I have tried many diets, some of which have worked, but not for long. I was wondering, are there any young people who have had the surgery, and what was it like? Thanks for all of your help!

Hi maureen! I am 5'4 and started at 327 pounds 7 months ago. I am 29 years old. When you say "what is the process like" that is a really broad question. Are you asking about the process of getting approved, the surgery, post op? Approval will depend on your insurance company and can be very fast for some (about a month for me) and longer for others. Some insurance companys require a 6-month diet before approval.

Preop, once you are approved, you have instructions from you doc. Everyones are different. Post op recovery time is somewhere between 3 days to a couple weeks, depending on the person.

After you start to heal, you will most likely be hungry again and want to eat everything. You have to be strong and hold on until you get proper restriction with the band. Once you get restriction, things get easier!

The band doesnt work for everyone. My doc was up front with me and told me that is his biggest fear for his patients. But if you treat the band as a tool, do your part and work with it...it works!

If you have the time, click on my blog link in my signature. Once you get to my blog, look under "Followers" and there are plenty of young bandsters. Look for Angies blog, Tiffani, Mary, Amanda, etc.

The lapband blogger community is a great way to get to know people on a more personal level!

Hope some of this helps. If you have more questions, just shoot me a message!

Amy

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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 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.
      · 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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