I also had my lapband done at Detroit Medical Center on 9-18-07. We drove from Ohio and the only post-op prescription I got was for pain meds which I had filled when I got back to OH using my own insurance. I was taught to give myself the blood thinner injections and then the doc decided that I didn't need to have it after all. That was quite a relief. However, Belite had already brought me a gift package to the international hotel which happened to be enough syringes for the blood thinning injections. When I found out I didn't have to do the shots, I left the gift with one of my nurses, explaining the situation.
My surgeon was Dr. Laker who was just fabulous. I had no complications or problems of any type post operatively. I just went for my first fill on Halloween and have already dropped 3 pounds from that. My total weight loss to date is 26 pounds. I have to say, however, that I am doing cardi two times a day. I walk for at least 2 miles on the treadmill every morning (using the incline up to and past 5 degrees). At work, I walk two more miles on my lunch break (weather permitting). So, the weight does come off more quickly if you add cardiac exercise.