slm2007

Feel so much better after reading these...thank you (again)......I know this is the right decision for me and it will help me be here healthy and happy for my son.....not sick, tired, achy, uncomfortable, full of medication and FAT........I should tell her that women also can die from giving birth but she took that risk three times!

GOOD LUCK........here is to a new you..............

I really don't have advice on the surgery itself because I'm going through the pre-process. I will tell you how I came to my decision....I'm turning 40 this year. I've been struggling with my weight for 20+ years. I'd lose 40-60 pounds to gain it all back plus more. I had a son at age 37 and now that he is so active, I decided I needed to get this done. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I want to be around for my son, I don't want to be an embarrassment. I've stopped and started this process probably 3 or 4 times and was originally going to go with bypass but the whole idea of them cutting my stomach and reducting my insides, freaked me. Permanent freaked me out. The band is such a great tool, I think. Am I worried about complications, yes. BUT, what about the complications from our weight issues? Am I worried about death? Yes, but what about dying from a heart attack at age 45 (for me). I think the risks are worth it. I have really changed things about myself just preparing for this surgery. I know if I would stay on track with the changes I have made for myself, I could probably lose the weight alone but I know it would come back on quickly and the lap band will help me maintain control.. I am a frustrated dieter/life changer. I am able to diet and lose but I get so frustrated when I'm living off of raw vegetables and lean cuisine and not seeing that scale move. I get mad and quit....and the cycle continues. I'm hoping this band will help control the hunger so I'm not "starving" and getting frustrated. I've researched, and weighed my options. I can remain overweight and risk the chances of diabetes, heart disease and cancer to name few or I can gain control of this weight and gain control of my life. I want my son to be proud to call me his mom. I want to take pictures with my son so he has memories of me, but I wont' do it now because I'm humiliated with my appearance. I'm done living in the shadows and I want to be healthy. I'm not saying I want to be skinny...healthy. I've told my surgeon....If I could get to 165 and stay there, I would be thrilled. I want to be able to shop in the normal clothes section and not have to shop in the chubby chic section where they only sell clothes with big flowers and fish on them! In my opinon, you have quit smoking....great move to improve your health and kudos for your decision. Losing weight will only add strength to you and make you feel better, inside and out. I am excited about my decision and will eventually look and feel on the outside like I do on the inside. Do the research.. try www.lapband.com - I got a lot of information there. Go to the surgeon and ask tons of questions. I probably call the nurse at least once a week with a new list of questions and they gladly answer them for me. There is a lot of information here too, just don't listen to the horror stories, because they are with every situtation. Some people have horrible pregnancies, gall bladder removals, perms.....but it doesn't stop other people from have successful perms and births....

Thank You.

I asked this same exact question to my doctor. I was told that this does not matter, it goes by your initial weigh in amount and your consultation weight. They want you to lose some weight to show that you are going to make the effort...the more weight you lose the better because it brings your BMI down and makes the surgery safer.

I choose my doctor and filled out the form they required to see if I "fit" for bariatric surgery, i.e. BMI, co-morbidity issues etc. Once I was "okay'd" by them, they contacted me and I scheduled my consultation with the surgeon. At that appointment I was give a book of instructions, prescriptions for testing, and the steps to follow. I have to do a six month (consectutive) weigh-in with my PCP or you can do six months of "lifestyle" visits with the surgeons program. I had to see a nutritionalist and get a psych evaluation. I also have to see a pulmonolosist for clearance for surgery (some do, some don't). Once I get my sixth weigh in from the PCP and since my nutrition and psych eval are done, the surgeons office will submit paperwork to insurance company. WHen you have your consultation, they are pretty knowledgeable of each insurance companies requirements and will help you out. After paperwork is submitted, I sit and wait. If I'm approved, I schedule my blood work and ekg....and off to surgery I go.... Start with the surgeon and consultation....they should be really great at guiding you (mine has been). Good luck

I might be stupid here but I'm going to ask.... because it seems like everyone here is talking about the pre-op diet. My surgeon never mentioned this to me and probably because I haven't been approved yet (I have one more month of weigh in before submitted). Anyhow I guess my question is...how much weight do you need to lose or do they want you to lose to be "safer?" I've lost about 22 pounds now and will hopefull lose a little more before the surgery. I'm down to 245 and my goal is to be at least 240 before surgery (hopefully lower). OR, is the "shrinking liver" diet something they do just before surgery to really get it smaller and that is what the liquid diet is about...no foods, no fat?

I am a pre-bander and I'm posting here because I'm reading and reading about all these issues everyone has and I'm really wondering if it is worth it? I know this is a tool and not a miracle, but I also know my personality and if I don't see something coming off that scale, I'm going to freak. I know the "rules" of how the band is to work and I know there are success stories but I'm questioning...(1) do I do bariatric surgery at all or (2) should I go with gastric as it is more effective at teaching you how and how not to eat? Also, the whole port sticking out thing is creeping me out. I know the weight loss would be so much more beneficial than to worry about a stupid port but it freaks me a little. How/what is the process/procedure to get a smaller port? Is this something that you can request or is this something that is only done if you have a tummy tuck done? Also, can you really never sleep on your stomach again....I'll never sleep. Would you do it again? Was it worth it? Stories/sharing......

There is so much information the dietitian gave me. I went into the appointment thinking it was going to be a huge waste of time and it was a stupid requirement that I had to check off my list for surgery. I was so wrong! I highly recommend seeing someone who specializes in the banding diet and can give you so much valuable information. It is so confusing...how much to eat, what to eat, how much to drink, when to stop and start drinking....how much Protein, how to get it, how many calories etc. I understand that you are self pay, but I truly believe this would be a worth while investment if you are going to invest a lot of money in a surgery. You really should know all the information you can get. With that said I think the previous posters gave you terrific information!!! Best of Luck to you on your journey! We are totally worth it.

AWESOME...thank you thank you thank you. I needed this! Really needed this response to my question. With these words I have more faith in myself that I can be successful. I'm not a junk food junkie (Cookies, cakes, ice cream, chips etc) so I don't think that is going to be my problem, my issue will probably be really cutting out fast food because it is so easy and accessible at work. But I've done much better and I think that I've already become pretty good at limiting my food and making really good choices. If I'm hungry I've learned to drink something or munch on peppers, celery, or other veggies. I've lost 18 pounds on the six month medically supervised diet so I'm doing well without the band. I just now hope the band will help me continue my success thus far! Now if I could just get myself to kick the exercise into gear.....ugh, I hate doing it but I'm going to get a Wii for home and I think that doing something "FUN" will get me motivated vs. spending 45 minutes on a treadmill, eliptical or lifting weights. Thank you again....losing 35 pounds in 10 weeks is so much motivation. That has always been my problem. I would be starving myself and lose weight for about a month and then it would stop....why even bother and bam, I'd be right back where I was started or worse. If I see progress, I can do it...I know how my mind works and as long as I'm seeing something I can stay motivated. I've lost the 18 pounds and honestly before I was determined to get the band, the 18 pound weight loss in 6 months would not have kept me going....but now that I know I'm going to get this tool to help keep me "losing"...I'm doing well. I feel better, thanks. If I'm NOT hungry....I'm good with not eating.

Thank you, but just to clarify so you didn't think I was being stupid...when I said about "teaching"...I know the lap band is a tool and I know the rules on how to use it, what I was referring to is that the bypass has that awful dumping syndrome which I think if I experienced it once or twice, would totally "teach" me quickly what to do and what not to do again. I guess the same things could happen with the lap band...getting stuck and this thing I'm reading about called sliming...gross. Anyhow. I totally agree that it is up to me and it is my actions that will determine whether I'm successful or not. I know it is going to be difficult but my main point was to see if some people wish they went with bypass vs. band. The reason I have chosen the band is because I'm afraid to lose quickly ....I've seen it really age people, and the idea of the doctors reworking my insides, freaks me out. I'm guess I'm just getting really scared because it is getting so close and I've started and stopped this process before and now "I"m here" and it is right around the corner and I'm saying "I'm really going to do this." Yeah, maybe I'm just getting a little scared about this life changing decision. Scared of what I'm going to experience and not experience. I have high hopes for myself but I've failed so many times at "diets" that I'm putting a lot of hope into this tool to help me. I know it isn't going to be easy. I also think that the band is better in the long run because you are keeping that restriction where the bypass, I've heard that people can really learn to eat around. Thank you again and I hope that I clarified myself...maybe not because sometimes I just babble.... I was also glad to hear about the low profile port, I'm going to ask the nurse about that today.

I am currently going through the process and was wondering how much time I would really need off of work. I don't have a lot of vacation and/or sick time to use and since I'm getting this done mid-year, I need to make sure I have some time for sick days etc., if my son gets sick or I get sick and my doctor visits after surgery. My plan was to have surgery on a Wednesday, and go back to work the following Thursday (the day after my post-op follow up). I have a desk job so there is no physical issues, but I really don't want to miss a bunch of work and am even trying to schedule it around a holiday so that is one less day of vacation/sick that I need to use. So what is the reality of what I need.

CAN you REALLY request a smaller port? I never heard of such a thing? What do you say? How do you go about this because this is definately something I'd like to learn more about.

Okay...ewwwwwwwwwwww, but I'm so glad I read this.

Thank you for the info. It sounds like I should be able to trudge through the day after my post-op appointment and I'll only have to miss 5 days of work with the way I have it worked out. It seems like being tired may be my biggest issue. Maybe I'll just leave early those days? I also will have a 3 year old to contend with when I'm home....maybe staying at work would be better I'm open to stories and experience .... so keep em' coming.....

I went to the seminar in July 2010. I have to do six months of weigh in's with my PCP. After 4 months of weigh-in's I had to see the nutrionalist and have a psych evaluation. Also, my insurance changed the six months of weigh-ins to six months consecutive...so I had to start in September all over again because I didn't get weighed in August. Anyhow, I have my last weigh with my PCP this month (February) and have to get a letter from the doctor to submit to insurance and then they say it is between 4-6 weeks for approval. I spoke to the nurse and she told me that reality is the surgery could be scheduled 4 weeks after my last weigh in with the PCP.

Hello everyone. I must say I'm thrilled to find this site. I am currently going through the process to get approved. I'm going for my psych eval and nutrition tomorrow (pending a snow storm that is scheduled) and only have one more month of weigh in's. What can I expect? Isn't that a broad question? I know that it is surgery and it is going to be a bit painful at first and I'm going to need to adjust to this new lifestyle. From what I'm gathering from lerking on the Post-Op board, it is tougher than I expected. I guess you are hungry at first, until things get adjusted to where you need them to be. I didn't know they put you on a liquid diet pre-op...that was a surprise to me. When can you start exercising again (not that I'm loving that idea but I'll do it). I know that everyone is different and I know the weight loss is different for everyone, but what are your experiences. My problem is that I'm an "instant gratification" person. I'm totally not expecting to see the weight dropping off but is it unrealistic to hope for a pound a week to be gone? My problem always has been, I'm starving myself on diets and going to the gym, and the weight is not coming off...or I lose a little and it stops. I get frustrated when I'm starving and nothing positive is happening. I know this is work and it is a tool, I'm not expecting it to do all the work for me, but I just want to know that there is a light at the end of my tunnel. ANY advise from beginning to end would be appreciated. I also don't really have a goal weight but I have a goal size. I'm not looking to be skinny, I'm looking to be healthy and not have to shop in the chubby chic section anymore. I also think that losing it at a slower pace is more healthy for a person and I'm afraid that I'll look old if I lose it super fast like with gastric. My aunt had gastric done and I didn't even know who she was at my sisters wedding. She looks better now because I think her body has adjusted but I think that gastric ages a person. Anyhow, back to my original thought.....any advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

THANK YOU! Very informative and very helpful ... and honest.

OMG....this is totally me! I can't wait to be able to buy more than one style of jeans because they are the only "stretchy" ones that fit! This post has really lifted my spirits

Congratulations. I haven't been banded yet, but I'm lerking on the "post" area to see what to expect and this has given me hope. I'm currently between a 20 and 22....and sometimes even a 24 depending on what it is. A size 12 is my goal. I don't have a goal weight but I'm shooting for a goal size. I just don't want to have to shop in the chubby chic section anymore and I want to be able to wear something besides horrible flower shirts and fish shirts...why do they make fat lady clothes so ugly? Anyhow, I'm sending you a sincere congratulations and thank you for sharing because I'm starting to get scared after reading posts from people just a few days post-op.

I read your response to this question and it made me laugh. I'm struggling with the pre-op diet right now and find the WW/LC meals to be easy "portion control" but I'm starving all the time and for you to put the "portion is big- I usually only eat 1/2-3/4 of one" - I cracked up. I can't even imagine calling one of those meals "big" - this gives me hope!

I'm glad this was posted. I've seen and read all the "flowery" posts about how wonderful this is and I've really really wanted to see someone tell me the nasty truth. I've been going through the pre-surgery approval process and do not have it scheduled yet. I've been tossing back and forth the band or bypass and don't think I can put my body through by-pass.....the idea of them redoing my duct work freaks me out. I'm afraid of the surgery and that it won't work. I didn't realize this was going to be that painful. I figured I could get it done on Wednesday and be back to work by Friday? Is that unrealistic? I have an almost three year old, so should i hold off on this if it is that painful, because I have to take care of him....yeah, husband is there, but my son is definately "mommy do." I'm glad to hear what it is really like. I'm afraid that if I get this done that I won't lose weight and I'll get frustrated. I'm afraid that I'll regret my decision. I'm NOT looking to do fast weight loss like the bypass....because I don't want to look old. I know that is really snotty of me, but my aunt had bypass and she came to my sisters wedding and I didn't even know who she was because she aged so much from it. It was almost scary. I often said to myself "do I want to be fat and youthful looking or do I want to be skinny and old looking." This is why I think the band is my best option because it does it slow enough that you can see results (I hope) and yet your body won't go into weight-loss-shock. I like hearing the Truth about this surgery but it makes me even more on the ropes about it. My family tells me to do it the "healthy" way and they just don't get it...I've tried for 20 years of up and down diets. I can lose weight but I can't keep it off and when it comes back it is twice as much. At this point, I'll never stay motivated enough without help to lose the 80+ pounds I need...not want...but need to lose. I want to be Healthy and be around to raise my son. I'm not looking to be skinny. I have a goal size and I just don't want to shop in the chubby chic section anymore. I want to buy normal clothes even if they are a 12 or 14! I'm an more than willing to hear more truthful post op stories because I want to go into this with my eyes wide open.......you always hear the success stories, which are great motivation, but you never here...the adventures to success. So, it is painful huh! Yikes.

Hello everyone, I'm so glad I fell upon this site. I'm currently going through the process for the insurance company and I'm into this since August 2010. THe insurance company changed its criteria a month into it so now I'm another month behind but I'm cool with that. I'm looking at all this paperwork and appointments that I have to make and the diet after surgery etc and honestly, I'm quite overwhelmed and terrified at the same time. I love to eat...and not that I love to eat so much that this is why I'm in need of surgery. If you look at my habits I don't think they are much worse than some skinny people but for some reason my bad habits love to stick to my butt and thighs. I'm not a huge over-eater, I don't endulge in a ton of sweets (although I do have my moments during that time of the month) but I do love my Mt. Dew and McDonalds Sweet Tea...yep, hard for me to give those up but I'm doing well. I'm afraid that I will lose my love of good food....I'm scared to give up food??? Does that make sense? I love the festivities around the holiday dinner, I love to cook etc. how did you deal with not being able to eat!!! I can't even imagine. At least on a diet you can splurge once in awhile. I'm scared that maybe this is the reason I'm not ready for the surgery. I desperately want to be healthier (skinny is not my goal...healthy is my goal) because I don't want to be an embarrassement for my son, I want to be around to watch him grow up and I want my husband to be proud to call me his wife. he has NEVER said anything to me about my weight...this is all on my, but my son is 2 1/2 years old and we hardly have any pictures together because I'm embarrassed. Perhaps that should be motiviation enough to stop eating???? How did you deal with the changes? HOw did you adapt to 6 weeks of liquids, pureed food etc.? How do you adjust to a normal life with the lap band? How are the fills? Does anyone regret this decision? I'm not looking for instant gratification and I know that by-pass isn't for me - - I don't want my insides re-routed - - I'm scared of the post-op life????? I told the doctor that I'm not looking to be a supermodel thin person. I'm looking to lose about 80 pounds and I'd be happy. If I could have a final weight of 155-170 that would be great. I don't want to have to shop in the chubby-chic stores anymore. Can you feel the port under your skin? That kinda freaks me out. Advice, stories, words of wisdom are welcome. Thank you in advance.