Rmomm3

That's awesome. I have also made the decision to lose weight with eating better and exercising more. I also have decided not to undergo surgery. For me personally, I just don't want to go through all of that gassy, bloated, nausea, vomitting, severe heartburn, bad breath, burping, dumping and whatever else may come along. Also the fact that I am very limited with food, like rice, Diet soda, not being able to take any motrin for a headache, that to me is awful. I want to be able to eat anything (in moderation) and not be miserable even though I am losing weight. I would rather work hard in the gym and go home feeling great (physically and mentally). I know all that stuff might not happen to me but it is definitly a risk I have to take. No thanks. I don't have any major health problems, just high cholesterol, but I know what I need to do to lower it. So to all the of you who have had or will have the lap band, may you be blessed and I hope all go's well for each and every one of you.

For those of you who have had the surgery, I have a couple of questions. Do you have a lot of nausea and vomitting? If so, is the nausea caused by the band itself around the stomach or is it because you eat something wrong, the same question for the vomitting, is it from the band or is it what, and how much you put in your stomach? Also, has anyone experienced severe heartburn, and how often? What is the "Dumping" mean?

Thank you all so much for your words of advice. Right now I have decided to wait on the band and try to get back on track with my eating and exercise. The most common complaint with the band I have heard is nausea and vommitting, I really can't handle that, then I would really be miserable, thin but miserable. I can't stand to be sick and definitely throwing up, the thought of it kills me. I have lost weight in the past (LA weight loss) which I did really well on (lost 60 lbs) but I got pregnant and gained the weight back, I have three children and with every pregnancy I gained a lot of my weight. If I ate one m&m I gained 5lbs, terrible. recently I have lost 15lbs but then I started getting off track again now I am back on, so with all that said I can do all things through christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13. I have to stay focused continue to workout and trust God to give me the strength I need to do this. I wish you all the best and God bless you guys.

Has anyone decided to get lapband and after the orientation decided not to get it because of all the risk factors?

Yes my BMI has been 40. I have high cholesterol and very high triglycerides, which I need to get under control. I had a baby in october 2007, then in March 2008 I was 226lbs, which put me at a 40 BMI, so I changed my eating and started exercising, lost some weight, but unfortunately I got sick a couple of times and it threw me off. I need to just stay focused and work really hard to continue to drop the weight, that is why I am looking into the lap band, a little help would be good. I am currently 213, my goal is to hopefully reach at least 140. I'm 5'3" tall so even 130 would be good, according to bmi chart I think 130 is where its supposed to be.

thank you so much for all your help and info, I really appreciate it. Yeah I wish I was already approved but the letter I received specifically said "This is not approval for surgery, it is just an approval for further consultation and evaluation. I am really hoping I get approved, even though my BMI is not 40, it is like 37.5 or something like that, but I will find out for sure on 12/14, thanks again.

So at the orientation, do they let you know whether or not you can have the surgery, or do they make another appointment for that? And also what does the orientation consist of, and is it ok for my husband to come with me, they said you can bring someone with you to appointments except the pshycological evaluation, was it the same for you.

What was the process after approval from the surgoens, and how much weight do you have to lose, before surgery.

I am going to Fremont, do you have Kaiser?

I am located in Modesto california

Hello to everyone. I am 29 years old and I have an awesome supportive husband and 3 beautiful children, two boys and 1 girl. They keep me pretty busy. I currently (about a week and a half ago) went to the doctor to inquire about the lap band. At first I was skeptical and basically kind of scared, but I have been overweight all my life, I have high cholesterol and very high triglycerides and I realize I need to do something, for me and my family. I want to live to see them grow and get married. I have Kaiser Insurance, and I have been approved for an orientation next week, and from there they will let me know if I am a good candidate. I am praying I get approved. My BMI is 37.5, so I'm not sure, all I can do is try. My biggest fear is getting Diabetes. My grandmother had type 1 and my mother, uncles and aunts have type 2, I will do everything with Gods strength to help prevent myself from getting it too. I was just curious what the steps are and how long it will take after approval from Kaiser to have the actual surgery?:thumbup: