aliciab

I'm glad you're here and that you've decided to take care of you.

Good job !

You will be fine! Good luck and let us know how you feel on the other side.

I have not had my surgery yet but I totally understand where you are coming from. There will always be people who don't agree with your decisions although you know in your heart that it is the best for you. Be true to yourself and you'll never go wrong . Shortly you will be able to go out to eat with them and your new way of living will just become "the norm". You'll do great!

I'm glad everything went as planned

I like it when I hear stories like this. It puts a realistic expectation out there for people that while it may be uncomfortable you are not going to die from the pain.

How about just tell your Mom to do weight watchers herself. Sorry, I understand that we have people in our lives that influence us but this has to be your decision, not hers. If this is what you truly want, then go for it .

I vote the same. Ask to speak with the physician next time.

Maybe because I am self pay and maybe because it’s just my personality but I never loose sight of the fact that a physician works for me. If I receive poor service in any industry I move on. I’m not going to pay someone to treat me like crap. If you’ve gone through insurance to have your lap band, here’s a news flash, you’re still paying the doctor. Your insurance premiums are paying the doctor. No one has the right to treat you like you’re an idiot or talk down to you. I am by no means telling anyone to doctor shop until they find someone that tells them what they want to hear, you’re just hurting yourself when you do that. However everybody deserves to be treated with respect, even if they are telling you something you don’t want to hear. There’s a right way and a wrong way to do things. Just because someone wears a white coat doesn’t make them a freaking genius or doctor of the year.

My surgery will not be until September but I feel like I've been eating things that I normally wouldn't eat because I know they will be limited soon. I know I'm not the only one who is going through this or went through this prior to surgery. I've made a definite attempt lately to knock it off, but I surely caught myself doing it.

Yay! You're doing great!

You can do this. Thats the best part about the band, it'll always there. It's still here to help you

Pregnancy with the band is not a problem. You'll discuss it with the surgeon.

If you see Jen's "ticker" she's already lost 51 lbs.

Most surgeons want blood tests and surgery clearance within 30 days so you may have to do some stuff.

All of us can loose weight, we just can't keep it off. It's not as simple as others seem to think. You'll find support here and the best thing you can do is show them how much this changes you for the better .

Keep it going . Proud of you!

I am choosing the Lap Band for many reasons. It's safer, less invasive, reversible and much more controllable and in the event of pregnancy can be adjusted according to the nutritional needs of the mother and baby. I can only share with you what my PCP said as well as my surgeon. Mind you these are only their opinions. My PCP said that every single one of her patients that has had gastric bypass has stretched out their new stomach and regained all of their weight. That they literally ate themselves back to a huge stomach again. However all of her patients with the Lap band have done very well and maintained the majority of their weight loss. Largely because she feels that it requires much more follow up and attention to detail and can be adjusted at any time. This is only her opinion. My surgeon is a center of excellence and has worked at other centers of excellence as well. He did gastric bypass surgeries for many years. He said that there were so many gastric bypass surgeries that ended catastrophically in the industry as a whole that he had to really sit himself down and determine "If my sister came to me one day and had to have weight loss surgery would I tell her to have gastric bypass?" His answer was absolutely not and he never did another gastric bypass surgery from that day forward. Since then he's only done the Lap Band. That is only his opinion. Everybody has to chose on their own and take into consideration their own factors. Many people have lost hundreds of pounds with the Lap Band. Whatever you do just try and be sure as best as you can. I wish you luck .

Welcome back and you'll be just fine . Try having your out of pocket be about $13,000.

Lots and lots of prayers, you'll do great!

Forgive me for venting but a lot of people simply want to treat LapBand as a product they've bought and plugged in. It's suppose to work right????? My insurance paid for it and the doctor said it works! All those ads said it worked. It isn't working for me, I have the reciept can I take it back for a refund? The band is simply a piece of medical grade plastic. You will in fact have to get up off of your butt and exercise. You will in fact have to pay attention to what you are eating. If you have not come to the conclusion that there will still be a LOT of work for you to do after the band is placed and healed then you should not get the band. So many stories on here where people don't know why their not losing weight except they can't tell you what they're putting in their mouth and they can't tell you the last time they walked farther than from their car to the front door. This is not a miracle cure. If you were hoping for that - move on. Sorry - just had to get it out of my system.

You're not alone. Many people on this site are self pay, including myself. Ive been researching the Lap Band for years and while my surgery is not until September I believe it will be the best money I've ever spent. For the cost of what is essentially a used car these days I cannot fathom not going for it. But everyone has to decide for themselves. Look around, read the posts and forums. Everybody faces some challenge with their band, nothing is perfect.

My doctor does not require the 2 week protein shake diet either. Just one week of low carb and thats really it. You're not alone. I've met many people on here who have not had to do the liquid diet.