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yay! Thanks Bedhead for that answer. I'm excited about that.

This is scary to me. I assumed I would feel restriction right after the band is installed.

I am hoping to be banded next month. My goals are: To wear a size 9 jeans. To JOG at least 3 days per week. (I don't even walk that much now) To feel proud of the way I look instead of wearing sweats and scrubs all of the time. To not have to run from cameras so people don't see my fat face.

When I first decided to get the band I only talked about it with people whom I see me every day. Because we are a military family I am far from my actual family it would be easy to keep my surgery from them. But I really felt I wanted to tell my brother and sister in law that I was going through this process. I finally talked to both my brother and his wife this past week. I am so glad I did. I really needed to tell people who truly care about me and my well being. They are concerned for my health but they are happy that I am making an educated decision on something I want to do. I received my sleep study results yesterday and I am in the clear in that respect. It looks like all I have left are 2 nurtritionist meetings and 1 support group meeting due in February. I'm getting very close to the end!!! So very excited!!!!!

I'm sorry you are having such trouble. I look forward to hearing your progress really soon.

I'm sorry maybe I was not clear. My REGULAR doctor, not my bariatric surgeon told me that 50% of his patients who have had bariatric surgery have gained the weight back after 5 years. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Today is January 27th. I am very close to being finished with all of my prerequisites involved with getting the Lapband. I only have remaining: 2 Nutritionist Meetings 1 Support Group Meeting I have been reading these posts for awhile now. I am just as determined as I was before joining this website but I do have a better knowledge of the fact that this is not a "sure" thing. When I first knew I was qualified for this surgery I began eating whatever I wanted and stopped exercising altogether. There was a large part of me who said, "you will have surgery soon, eat and do whatever you want". That attitude has lead me to more weight gain and left me feeling very down. Plus, none of my clothes are fitting. But things have been different this week. I have begun to make some small changes. I met a friend who needs to lose weight even more than I do. She refused to even walk as far as my house, which is only a block away from hers. I have inspired her to start walking with me. We have begun to walk from here to there and even went to the gym together this week. I hope that helping her will help me to help myself as well. I saw the same doctor earlier this week. He repeated what he had said before about bariatric surgeries, "I would guess that 50% of patients who received bariatric surgeries gain the weight back after 5 years". I told them that his words have made me more determined to make lifestyle changes which are necessary to keep the weight off. I pray I can do this. Cynthia

Thanks so much for your story Tat1. I am weighing carefully.

2 questions: What is peristalsis? And how bad is the shoulder pain??? like....I can't work I have to stay in bed pain? Or..I can take some meds and make it through work type of pain???? Just curious

Which insurance company are you with? I am with Tricare and your story scares me.

Tat1, I am so sorry that you are having such a hard time with your band. I feel really bad for you. I can only imagine the torture you go through daily. I pray that you find a way to get it removed. It's like a nightmare many of us can only imagine. Cynthia

I am so glad to read this about the band. Yet another opportunity to learn about the possibilities of life after being banded. My regular doctor has twice told me that over 50% of his patients gain weight back after 5 years of being banded. Does that number scare anybody else reading this????

Okay, THIS has been the most interesting and informative thread I have read on here yet. I am going through the process of getting the band right now (nutritionist meetings, sleep study, etc..). After reading so many positive things about the band I was wondering if these posts were being sensored. I have received completely unrelated surgeries before and have gone in knowing that there is a possibility that the surgery will fail. NO surgery is a guarantee. Fluffy, I am glad that you finally told a part of your story on this thread (though it took some prodding from others). I knew from the doctors and this webpage that it is possible to never lose and even to gain weight after being banded because of my own failure. I had never considered that the LapBand may not give me restriction at all.

Mountain Cedar is thick in the Texas air this week. I have been miserable, sneezing, coughing, throat itching and eyes watering and itching. I finally broke down and got an appointment with a doctor (not my regular dr.). He saw in my file that I'm seeing a bariatric doctor. After a brief discussion he said, "Many of the women who get those surgeries end up putting the weight right back on in 5 years." I was totally shocked. I wouldn't say that his comment has made me change my mind about the surgery....but it is making me think hard about the usefullness of it.

Today is January 5th. My height is 5'6" and I weighed in today at 217 lbs. I believe my BMI is around 35 right now. Honestly, I'm glad that LapBand is my only option. I believe that the LapBand can give me the tool I need to finally beat the fat. My eating habits have gotten so bad that I hide the amount of foods I eat from my husband (who is also my best friend). He and I have different sleep schedules. Because he goes to bed before me I'm free to make grilled cheese sandwiches in the middle of the night and hide the evidence. My husband is a great man who, honestly, wouldn't deny me a grilled cheese....but I know my ever growing waistline is starting to bother him. My husband tries to get me to the gym. But my asthma affects the amount I can do on the elliptical machine and my knees hurt when I ride on the stationary bike. The worst is feeling so fat next to everyone else who seems to zip through a 90 minute cardio routine without a problem. In order to receive the lapband surgery at Brook Army Medical Center's Bariatric Clinic I must jump through these hoops: 1 - informational meeting (done) 2 - 3 hour in depth informational meeting (done) 3 - 2 nutritionist meetings in December (done) 4 - 2 nutritionist meeting in January (1 done) 5 - 2 nutritionist meetings in February 6 - Psychiatrist meeting 7 - Xray of upper GI Tract 8 - Laboratory Blood Work 9 - Sleep Study Many of these appointments have already been scheduled. I hope to be banded in early March. Please keep you fingers crossed for me. I am tired of the ups and downs of weight loss. I am ready for something that will help me to change my life permanently.

While we're on the subject of fills..... Do they hurt? Is it traumatizing?

SecretBeauty, Thanks so very much for posting as you go along. I am totally interested in everything you are experiencing. It's such a good pre-view for me. Cyn

I am expecting my lapband surgery sometime in March. I have so many questions...of course. But I'm most worried about the 2 week liquid diet I will be expected to follow. Did ya'll have the same diet? Was it awful? What types of things did you drink? Also, has anybodies doctor said anything about consuming alcohol after surgery? Thanks for any info you can give.

For those who have done the liquid diet pre-op.... Were you able to eat as much of the liquids as you wanted? I heard someone saying that she strained out the chunky stuff from regular Soups (like clam chowder). Did any of you try anything like that? Thanks for the info. Cynthia

Thanks ya'll. I have serious doubts if I can complete 2 weeks of a liquid diet. I mean, self control is not my strong suit. That's how I got in this position in the first place. I am so afraid of it. I really appreciate your encouraging me.