papaya

I had my band surgery 7-17-2006 from NWWLS - Dr Montgomery and have been very happy with the clinic and the results. Their entire staff has been great and I do not regret it for a minute. Glad your mother is now supporting you. I have been quite private over the years and was very hesitant to tell friends and family about the procedure. For me I considered it a last effort after being extremely overweight my entire adult life. Much to my surprise family and friends have been extremely happy I had it done, including the skinny and beautiful people all us heavies seem to know. In fact the person who started pushing the idea first and my biggest supporter was one of those skinny beautiful folk. At 63 I certainly wish that the procedure had been available years ago. The clinic uses your BMI and general health risks to determine whether or not you need to have the procedure done at their clinic or the hospital. I believe they use a BMI of 50 and over as their cut off point. Fell free to write any time for details about the clinic or procedure. Best of luck - papaya banded 7-17-2006 60 pounds lost first fill 9-7-2006 2nd fill 11-15-2006

I am from San Juan Island and had my lap band installed July 17. I know the NW Weight Surgery Center does fills. They are right off interstate 5 in Everett. One a month they do fills in Bellingham. there number is 866-350-2263. I will get free fills for 13 months and then they will cost $150. I was released the same day as my opertion. I could have been in overnight but did not wish to do so. The biggest problem following the surgery was the gas pains that is the result of the gas they fill your stomach with during the operation. Otherwise I had no side affects and I am doing fine. These pains vary from person to person but mine lasted about 2 weeks, longer than most people. Good luck with your operation

How lucky you are at 22 to have this procedure as an option. I am 63 and was banded 7-17-2006. My high weight was 478 in April of 1988. Since then I have lost some weight and controlled gaining any more weight but it was a battle to loose a whole lot. Over the years I averaged a 1 pound gain per month but that small gain per month turned into a huge gain over the years. Don't wait for the extra pounds to add up, do it now and avoid all the negative affects health wise and socially that go with carying all that excess weight. The procedure is a wonderful tool and far easier than you are probably imagining. There was discomfort for a little over a week but I am now feeling great and loosing weight (about 35 pounds since my first appoinment with the surgeon). Don't get caught up in all the negative stories that are posted. Of the people I know who have been banded all are doing well and are extremely pleased with the results. Good luck and if you want details e-mail me and I will be happy to relate my experience and additional information. weight at first visit 445 banded 7-17-2006 by Dr Montgomery in Seattle weight at surgery 435 weight now 8-2-2007 is about 410

I was banded July 17, 2006 and have a lot of bloating and severe shoulder pain as well. Nice to hear it eventually goes away. How about the bloating? I am 63, I would guess that does not help! The bloating gets worse whenever I take in any liquid and I simply don't want to drink anything because of it. There also seems to be an aftertaste in my mouth that is quite unpleasant. Any tips out there from all you banded folk. Thanks so much - Papaya Starting weigh 478 banded weight July 17 435 today July 22 430

Thanks Three Gloves I will try heat on the shoulder. I see you had your surgery done in Carmel Indiana. I was raised in Hammond and attended IU in Bloomington and now reside in the San Juan Islands north of Seattle. Papaya

Hi Doty The type of gas problems I am having are the result of all the gas that is pumped into your body at surgery time. I have gotten rid of most of it but still have some residing in the area of my left colar bone. Whenever I start moving around I hurt like heck. The rest of my aches and pains are subsiding. Any hints as to how to get rid of the gas anyone or does it simply take time. I am two months younger than you Doty, age certainly makes the operation more difficult but like you have said, I would have done about anything to get this "installed". My wife just came into the house. The smell of bacon followed her. She was cooking it in the garage hoping I would not smell the aroma. Amazing the feelings aromas stir up. :update: band installed July 17 by Dr Montgomery - Seattle, WA </A"> :update: :update: banded July 17 in Seattle by Dr Montgomery

I Am Just A Year Younger Than You And Assume Part Of My Extreme Soreness And Beat Up Fealing Was Because Of Age. I Did Have Major Gas Pains, I Never Realized I Would Be Blown Up Like A Balloon. It Has Taken Three Days For The Gas Pains To Subside.

HI ALL I was banded this Monday, Jult 17, 2006. I was extremely sore Tuesday and Wendsday but feel much better today. Any movement of any kind hurt. I was slow in starting the pain medication and I know I would not have been so sore if I started the pain meds when I walked out of the hospital. I delayed starting the pain meds when I left the hospital because I had a 5 hour trip in front of me and was worried about the nausia that is a possible side affect of the medication. When I got home fell asleep for about 10 hours. The pain meds have made me very sleepy but the worst is now past. I certainly am looking forward to a new smaller me. Top weight 478 Weight at surgery 436 Banded by Dr. Montgomery, Seattle, WA

Hi All I am a new member going through the insurance approval process. Apparently, GEHA requires a 6 month doctor approved diet with monthly visits. I have a very high BMI and have succesfully controlled my type II diabetes by greatly reducing the amount I eat and eliminating as much as possible refined carbs. Hopefully, the insurance co will take this into accountand wave the 6 month diet requirment. If not it will be at least 6 months before I get approval for the procedure. I certainly don't want to wait. :phanvan Any words of wisdom about the insurance isue would be appreciated. papaya

I live in the Northwest about 75 miles north of Seattle and am going to the Northwest Weight Loss Surgery center. There are many Montgomery Counties so I am not sure what part of the country you live in. As for GEHA insurance, I am severely overweight (a BMI of over 60) and have many of the problems associated with severe obesity. I also have been closely supervised by a fine family doctor for about 5 years and have been on a low glycemic index diet which has helped control my diabetes. When applying to GEHA all this supervision was documented by my family doctor and he wrote a letter as well explaining my medical need for the Lapband and the fact that I had done much in the way of diet to control my weight and my Diabetes. The effort was successful in eliminating the need for insulin (I still take oral medication) and bringing my diabetes under control but resulted in very modest weight loss. Fortunately, by documenting my efforts diet wise and my need I was approved for the procedure the first time I applied and am now going through the pre surgery hoops. Good luck in your efforts Papaya

Lifestyle more than anything else has been my problem. I had a wonderful childhood, great mother and family. Up until the last few years I have been very active, played lots of golf and worked 100 hour weeks for 30 years. I was able to do so because I required little sleep and in general was in very good health considering my weight. . I strongly feel that my problem was that I was on the road a lot and relied mostly on fast food (about 2/3 of all meals). I graduated from high school weghing 180 pounds From 1965 to 1988 I gained about 250 pounds. Since 1988 I am down about 30 pounds from a high of about 475. In retrospect I was gaining about 1 pound a month, that's a little over 100 calories a day. I have a wife who also is heavy and loves to snack at night, an additional problem since seeing her eat triggered my appetite. Looking back it seems that it would have taken so little to avoid my tremendous weight gain, eliminating a piece of bread, soda etc daily would have made a huge difference. Since 1988 I have needed to change eating habits to keep from gaining and aditional weight. At first it was eliminating the soda, then late night snacking etc. Now I eat a very heathy diet with very few refined carbs and that is what is required simply to stay even. I am due for lapband surgery soon and hopefully I can drop enough weight to start exercising so I can increase my metabolism. As you would expect I have constant back pain and joint problems. Moving from the midwest to the Northwest has been an eye opener. There is no question that there is more emphasis here on a healthy life style. People are far more active and make better eating choices. I also now have many neighbors from their 40's to mid 80's who are extremely fit. My friends back in the midwest were all heavy, ate lots of unhealthy food and exercised little. For years I passed the buck and simply blamed genetics and thought that poeple who were thin were simply born with "skinny genes". I am sure that helps, but my neighbors are all very disiplined about exercising and they eat very healthy diets, that more than anything else accounts for difference between us. So friends, in my case lifestyle and lack of self disipline has been my downfall.

HI Ellen The NW Weight Surgery Center in Everett has an excellent reputation. Most of the support staff has been banded and they are very helpful and can provide first hand information. Their address and phone numbers are as follows: Everett office: 125 130th Street SE Everett, WA 98208 (425)385-2263 (BAND) Toll free (866)350-BAND (866-350-2263) (425)385-8476 (fax) info@thelapband.com I have talked and read quite a bit about the different weight loss procedures and I strongly believe the lap band is the best. It is adjustable, reversable and has far less side affects than bypass surgery. The cost is more than is Mexico but 1 year free support and adjustments are part of the price.

Thanks Elisabethsew. My doctor has already provided a letter of medical need and also stated that I have been on a low glycemic index diet for 5 years. During that time my need for injected insulin was eliminated. My eyes were also in bad shape when I went on the diet (I needed two laser eye surgeries) and my eyes have dramitically improved as well.

Thanks Barb for the reply. I was hoping that given my medical problems and the fact that I have been on a doctor supervised diet for 5 years that that could suffice. Since being on the diet, I have eliminated the need for insulin. I also had laser eye surgery twice in the past and my eyes have dramatically improved since being on the diet. At 63 and being morbidly obese most of my entire adult life, I am very anxious to get on with the procedure. I have lost a little weight in the last 5 years but not much.

Has anyone had experience with GEHA since Jan 1, 2006. I have a BMI of over 60 and am waiting for approval from them. I have been on a low gkycemic index for several years and hope this will suffice for a 6 month diet program. I have been very succesful in getting type II diabetes under control but have had only minimal succes taking off weight.

I am in the process now with this clinic. I have heard nothing but great things about them and my experience so far is extremely positive. The Doctors have extensive experience and are licensed to do the surgery for several of the large insurers in washington. You can check them out on the eb at http://www.thelapband.com/ They have opened a new facility in Evertt just off of interstate 5. They perform surgery there and at the hospital in evergreen.

the program with the two doctors basically discussed the types of foods we should avoid, like enriched flour, animal and hrdrogenated fats, etc. The program on the health channel followed the tranformation of a women who had terrible eating habits and what she did to change things around. The two doctors have a book out about the information in the two shows that would be very helpful to anyone interested in betterhealth.