mvande123

Wow, yeah, sounds like way too much and way too soon! I agree, if you can still feel it today, you might want to give your doctor a call. Something may be amiss with the band.

Hi, I can see why you might be nervous, this is a life-changing experience! That's a long way to go for surgery, but if you have done your research and you're pretty confident that the surgeon is a good one, then you should be good to go. Of course there are physicians with whom you can follow up when you get home, and this forum is great for finding answers to any kinds of problems you might have, as well as wonderful support. I think it's pretty normal to be freaking out at this point. I wish you the best of luck on your adventure!

When I was looking for Jax folks, I just typed in Jacksonville in the search box and it brought up all kinds of different groups, a lot of them just for Jax folks.

First of all, here we have to go through a six month medically supervised "diet" to get it covered by insurance, but that may not be an issue with you. Two weeks prior, I had the choice of either a liquid diet or a very low carb diet - I chose the liquid and would not do that again! Yuck! It did give me some pre-surgery weight loss, though, and the purpose was to shrink my liver because apparently, obese people have larger livers and that makes more risk for nicking the liver during surgery. Everything seems to have worked out well so far....

I'm in Jax - I lost 10 pounds the first week and nothing since, but I am doing all the right stuff so I'm sure it will come off. It's 23 pounds total since I began the 6-month diet and the pre-op liquid diet....but I think I will definitely need a fill the first chance I get, because I can feel the potential there for eating too much. Sounds like you're doing great!

Hey Mini Me, I work there too and went through the six month medically supervised diet. Just had the banding on 11/19/08 and I'm doing well so far. How did yours go?

Hi, I had my banding on 11/19/08 at Mayo and I have to say, it has been much easier than I expected! My husband stayed home with me the next couple of days, but he really didn't need to, I was able to get up and do what I needed to do alone. I had prepared all the liquids I would need to drink for a few days so all I had to do was get them out of the fridge and warm them or drink them cold. I didn't have a lot of pain and even the gas pain was tolerable, but walking helps that. Learning how much to eat and drink is a challenge, but it's doable. I'm very glad I did this. I'm back to work and rarin' to go!

Hi Julie, a friend of mine had surgery with Dr. Webb a year ago and he's doing great - lost over 100 pounds. He liked the entire program. Aetna might waive the 3-month supervised diet thing, call them and ask! You have to have proof from WW that you attended, though. I was just banded at Mayo on 11/19/08 and it went really well, I would do this again. I haven't had too many problems so far - although I have learned not to eat too much and not to drink too fast! Good luck!

Hi, I'm from Jacksonville too! Wow, there are a lot of us around. I am being banded next Wednesday, 11/19, and I am so very ready! I've been overweight for a very long time. I'm excited!!!