DeeT38

:straight Hi Everyone, I have a concern I would like to ask about. Some of my friends had the bariatric procedure and well ended up w/flabby skin. I'm hoping the chances are smaller of that occuring w/the Lap Band as I hear you do not loose as fast as bariatric patients. I already have a stomach that hangs a bit which I hate and really hoping it won't get worse. In the past I have lost substational amounts of weight but at a slow progress and stomach seemed to adjust but I'm older now so don't know if that will make a difference. Have any of you in your Lap Band journey had problems w/excess skin?

Hi everyone sorry I would have liked to responded to ea of you individually but, my son has been sick the past few days but, took him to doctor and he should be alright soon. Thankyou all for responding back to me it was helpful. You all seemed to have different opinions but, somewhat similar. I guess it really all depends on the individual and their skin tone etc.. By the way reading where you have been and where you are now gives me inspiration and I am so looking forwarded to getting my operation now. I guess takes a few days and talking to you all to really think about it and I guess when I really think about it. I guess I would rather have some skin flab then well to have diabetes or a heart attack for instance. So weighing it out now. If the operation helps me I am blessed. Just hope if I have to get a tummy tuck I can afford it. Better start saving my pennies now just in case who knows and hmm if I dont have to pay for a tummy tuck then thats just the more money I can save and get a whole new wardrobe. Thnks,Hugs,Diane

Hi my name is Diane 38yrs.old married w/5boys and living in Massachusetts. I have been reading so much about the lap band particularly have learned alot on this site. I have not been banded yet but,looking so forward to it. I have been very worried about my health at this point as it seems to not be doing so well due to my weight. Ive reached an all time high for me 300 pds. and it seems that my metabolism has slowed as I have aged. The battle to loose is even harder at this point. I just want to feel healthy again. I have already met w/my surgeon and she is great. I am going tommorow to have all the necessary tests done and referrals when that is finished which seems like it will all be done w/in the next two weeks she says they will book the surgery. My only once concern after all this is the insurance denying me but,I am trying to be hopeful. I have MassHealth,which is like Medicaid and the surgeon has had no exp w/them so she is not sure they will ok it,but i hope so we shall see. One thing I would like to ask how hard was it to change your style of eating especially the chewing part. and does this mean in the future that a person can never have certain foods such as Ice Cream an occasional sweet? Look forward to talking to you all. Take Care for now..:)

Oh by the way I picked the lil dancing guy to represent me Lol when I finally get banded. That will be me dancing to that oldie song "I feel good,I knew that I would" LOL:cool: :guess

Yup Marie, I am definatley doing my homework have been for the past few mnths and most of what I have learned has been from you folks on here. Making sure I get all my referrals also. That is so wonderful that you are out riding a bike and enjoying life. That is what I am hoping for someday. Thankyou for your support. I'm sure it is like a whole new life. Congrats... Kiley, Oh yah thats ok you can vent. Thats why I had to come here today to vent on this one myself. I was really taken back by the way she was talking to me. I guess I didn't expect to put her opinion out there like that. I just switched primary care docs and this doc he is good I like him. It's just he recently hired this Nurse Practioner and well she is nice but yet I feel a little to opinionated. Thanks for your support. Other then that I feel I'm in good hands. LOL I will just slip earplugs in when she enters the room.

Thnks for your response. I know what you are saying. I'm going to try and quit or do the best that I can possibly do to stop. I am seeing the doctor next week to try and seek help w/that. I know what you are saying as far as does she realize the risks w/being overweight. Which I stressed to her my concern for because I am just starting to have problems but,thank god nothing serious. All in all I felt she was trying to turn me off to it and trying to encourage me to give dieting a go again. In which I responded by saying I have tried diet after diet and now at this point to no aval. I loose but end up putting it back on double. LOL oh well I am still going for this becasue I talk to others plus you folks on here and I want what you all have to be happy and healhty. Right now I always feel run down and just dont feel good alot of the times and I contribute it to my weight. I think someday she will get someone who will need surgery really bad and she will scare them out of it,its a shame. TC,hugs,Diane

Hi thankyou everyone for responding back. Wow and that was quick thats a plus. When I mentioned a style of eating and chewing etc.. I guess I just mean I've always been a fast eater just a little concerned about how easy it will come for me to get used to eating slower eh,but there are harder things in life so I'm sure I can do it. I went to the doctor today to do all my pre-op testing and well the nurse practioner there was very nice but, also seemed to be trying her best to talk me out of doing this. I'm 5'5 296pds.as I was weighed today. Well some of the things she said to me blew me away bu I have my mind made up and am going forward. She says for my weight,being a smoker and all that if they had to incubate me on the operating table they will not be able too as they wil not be able to get the tube in casue of my weight etc. Also she said gee you know you can only eat 1 tbs of food,i contradicted her by saying not forever and she agreed. She also went on to say how hard I am going to have it recuperating and that I will be in alot of pain. Its the way she said it you would have to be there but she was definatley trying to turn me off to it. Saying I wasn't overweight enough either. Ok so now yah she does have me a little concerend w/the anesthesia saying I am high risk for dying and then pointing out a few death cases we have had w/bariatric here in Massachusetts. Could you all give me your opinon or what your doctors might have said in reference to anestheisa. Thankyou for your help. TC,Hugs,Diane:)

:straight Hi everyone I'm new and hoping before long I will also be able to share a success story w/you all. I am really impressed w/this site it is so imformative. Im 38yrs.old in MA have 5 boys yeehaw:D Overweight mostly all my life. Tried every diet under the sun and to no avail. Seems as I age the pounds keep creeping on. I have yet to get the lapband done. I have a new PC and I ran it by him that I will need a referral to see the surgeon I have chosen to do my procedure I see her on the 21'st of this month. The way she works it I guess is you go for 3 visits then she schedules surgery. Now he knows I have to go in a few weeks his response was that I should go see a fellow physcian he knows at another hosp who does gastric bypass only he said for an opinion. I feel I really do not need an opinon as I know what I need to do for myself to feel better. To make a long story short the PC seemed to be more in favor of the gastric bypass which I am flat out against. I suppose there is no getting around the PC is there if he disagrees? Financially I wouldnt be able to afford it. I hope he doesn't get in the way currently I have swollen feet and have to stay on Fluid pills,acid reflux,asthma,sleep apnea etc etc.. Thanks for listening.

Ooops my mistake,I guess what I meant was the port opening itself. Where the needle goes in. LOL i'll get it right as I learn.

Hi Everyone, Thanks for your support and imput everyone. Ruthy I am not sure actually the exact cost I think it is about the same here. I am trying to go through my insurance in which they told me that I need to get a refferal from a surgeon before they would allow it. So I'm hoping that will be a go and not long and drawn out. I hope you get to have your op soon as it sounds you have been waiting awhile,must be frustrating. Here I guess it depends on the insurance. Some people I know have to go to Mexico while others don't. Alexandria thankyou for the link I did print it and plan on bringing it to the doctor,hopefully that will make him more comfortable in his decision. Thanks New Hope I have been reading alot and printing anything that will help me achieve this as it seems new to alot of people. I have one question Ladies:) the stoma can that be covered w/a bandage its not the best looking thing. Just thinking what my husband is going to think of it.