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Hi Neighbor!! I live in Loudoun County, not too far from you. I had my Lapband in Feb 2009, at Winchester Hospital. My highest weight was 294, pre surgery I was 269 and as of today I'm 205. 45 lbs to go!!!! Good luck! Follow your doctors instructions and it will work!

A great way to diisguise the taste/smell of the protein powders is in a SF/Decaf Latte. I use General Foods Sugar Free/Caff Free French Vanilla Instant Coffee.Mix 2 tablespoons with 4 oz milk, 1 scoop protein powder ( i use unflavored). Add ice, additional sweetener( Splenda) as desired. Blend - Great treat and the milk adds extra protein. The coffee taste hides the protein powder. I make these for me and my husband ( he just had the gastric bypass in June). Nutritionist at our Dr's office said we were okay with this shake - no problems.

Different companies may have different requirements. Everyone that I know, including myself that had to have the 6 months of visits, had 6 visits, for 6 consecutive months. Make sure that you don't miss a month. I missed my last month because my dr was on vacation and then I went the following month. Insurance company wanted to deny surgery and make me do the 6 months all over again. I appealed on the grounds that I had completed the 6 visits, I just missed the one month by 3 days due to my doc not being there. They did approve it finally, with a lot of pushing from me and the doctor's office.

I just joined the forum. I had my lapband Feb 2, 2009. My highest pre surgery weight was 294, My surgery weight was 269. I just had my six month checkup and I'm at 210. 50lb to go!! I had my Surgery in Winchester, VA, Dr Wiedower. Several co workers who had the gastric bypass tried to talk me into changing my mind and not have the band, but to get a bypass instead. I'm glad that I stuck to my guns and went through with the band. I'm losing about 10 lbs a month and I'm happy with that rate. I've had 2 fills, April and June. The April fill didn't help very much, but the June fill really worked and is still working for me. I eat about 4 ounces food at a time, 3 meals plus one to 2 Snacks a day. I've come off all my blood pressure medicine and I am working on getting off my diabetes medicine.