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Hello everyone - My name is Jason and I'm 32 --though soon to be rolling over to the 33 year marker. I've been overweight for 24 years of my life and to this point, it's really all I can remember. My attempts at losing weight have been more than I can count on two hands and two feet and I can always succeed at losing 30-50 pounds. Anything beyond that has been a brick wall and it's been very frustrating. I work as an ICU nurse and I see so many patients that make me think "this really could be me in about 15-20 years" because of diseases that are secondary to chronic morbid obesity. I've looked into the options over the past 10 years. My first wife had a Gastric Bypass and saw massive results. My second wife also had the gastric bypass before we were married. I've decided that the LapBand surgery would be ideal for me. I am so very thankful to have insurance that includes coverage for weight-loss surgery. I have completed the pre-op paperwork to start everything and I am really going forward with it. I will be faxing the paperwork in on January 2nd, following my appointment with my PCP to start the required 3-month medically-supervised diet. I am hopeful that I can have my surgery by July. I am truly blessed to have the support of my wife. She is my rock and I know that with God's support and that of my wife, I will not fail. Though, I am doing this for myself. The comorbidies are starting to reveal themselves to me: I have obstructive sleep apnea, hypertention, knee and lower back pain... it's terrible. Weighing myself this morning, the screen told me I was a whopping 347lbs. Enough is enough. I realize this will be a journey and I am pleased to see an online support group for people like us. I look forward in reaching out to new names, new friends, and share this experience. All the best, Jason "The Night Shift Nurse" St. Louis, MO

Than you all... This website has helped me in so many ways... I have friends who have lost 100lbs by diet and exercise they are against me having it done. I have another friend who is super skinny and she doesn't want me to get it done ( but I don't take weigh loss advice from someone who's never been overweight) and I think if I sit them down like you said then they might be more supportive.

Dr. Darin Minkin recently paired up with SSM HealthCare in St. Louis and is performing surgeries at St. Clare and DePaul hospitals for Exclusive Choice Insurance. He works for Des Peres Hospital mainly and does the majority of his surgeries at that hospital. He has a wonderful bedside manner and is very experienced with lap band. He also performs the other surgeries too. He has 2 other surgeons in his office. Office staff is very informative and helpful. For new patients he charges $75.00 to join the practice. For people who have been previously banded from another surgeon the charge is $300.00 both only a one time fee. I can tell you that I grilled him pretty good with 2 pages of questions during the seminar and he was extremely patient and answered every question. He does do fills under fluoroscopy but is based on the patient and what is going on at the time. Even during my office consult visit, he was patient and answered all of my questions that I had prepared to ask. I am so glad that he accepts Exclusive Choice. St. Clare is also now starting to do the Bariatric surgeries there, which is a brand new hospital. Here is a link to his website. http://www.stllapband.com/

The first time it happens it feels like you are having a heart attack.

Good luck with your surgery. My advice would be that you must not expect too much too soon and you must not expect the band to do all the work for you. You will struggle with the liquids and mushy phases, you may regain a little weight shrinks go back onto solids, you will feel as though you can eat anything and wonder why you even got this band. But you will eventually get restriction after a number of fills and if you are following your Dr advice, you will enjoy success and lose weight.

You can buy a camel mug in sports area of department store Target Walmart ect. They are pricey 16 or up but work great no air in straw. You flip up straw and bite between teeth to release water ect. can not use for hot drink. I love it. I'm a gulped so useing this helps me drink small amts often without twisting on off caps.

This is what helps me: fill out a page of times in your word processor, like 7:00 ____7:30____ 8:00____etc. Print out several pages, one for each day. You are supposed to eat breakfast-write what you ate at that time. Wait 1 hour then drink water. Stop drinking water 1/2 hour before lunch. One hour after lunch, drink water again and so on till the end of the day. Write the amount down each time. The next day, get a different sheet of paper and start over. It gets easier as time goes by and you can look at what you've eaten and how much water you drink. If you get dehydrated, let your doctor know. Hopefully this will help you. I was banded on Dec 12 and have not had any problems. Do alot of walking. No lifting. Use a threadmill if possible or just walk while shopping or around the house. We decided to change our lives and I believe it was the best decision I've ever made.

Hello crystal I'm Jessica, I'm 16 years old lol! Ibe had alot of trouble with my weight my whole life, was always a chubby bubby. And a head and shoulders taller then everyone lol! I was something like 374 pounds? I don't know lol i was 170kg. I started my lap band journey in July this year and in the three month diet they gave me I lost 20 kg, I had my band done on the 17th September and since then lost another 10 kg. So that's 30 kg I think that's over 50 pounds? To be honest I think it's the best choice I have made, when people ask what I have done I simply tell them that I had a lap band, chances are some people already have friends who have ha it done or are bandits themselves it's not the easy way out at all! If some people are not supportive of your choice, then that's there problem! Your doing this for you, not to please them it's truly none of there business! your doing this to get your life back and to live longer. That's what I tell friends who didn't approve, now they see how happy and bouncy I am!!

Hi Crystal, I am in the same boat as you! I'm also 22 years old with high blood pressure and am a pre-diabetic.. I've decided to definitely get banded and have struggled with who to tell/who not to tell. I'm not ashamed with my decision at all but I do feel like it's not everyone's business. I chose to tell my closest friends and family, and although most are supportive I have had some pretty negative feed back from a friend and a family member. I'm past it now and know I'm making the right decision for me and my health but it did set me back for a little while. In the end you have to do what is right for you and the people who judge you for that shame on them! Tell whoever you feel comfortable with, but keep in mind you will find out who your true friends are! Good luck!

Beans are great protein as well as fish. maybe try steaming or broiling some fish?