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Hi! I didnt have my surgery at Del Sol. I had mine done by a very rude dr. in Lubbock TX. I waited 6 mo's for my first fill cuz he wouldnt do them in office; only in the lab. My ins. wouldnt cover lab and he flat out told me he doesnt make enough $ doing them in office... so I switched drs. I see Dr. Lara at Del Sol. He is great. His recept. is a little ding-y, but his nurses and dietician are wonderful. Do you live in NM? I use to travel to El Paso, but he opened an office here in Albuquerquer and comes every 2 months. Sure is nice not to have to drive 8 hours every few months! Are you getting the lap band? I meet many of his patients and very few are getting banded. Most have the gastric bypass. When I went to the orientation with the pre-op patients (I was a new patient, even tho I was 6 months post-op), they really pushed the bypass. My surgeon in Lubbock didnt give me the choice. I was happy that I was approved for anything! Ha!

When is your surgery scheduled?

I would like to find out if the band is effective tool for weight loss kaiser is more for the gastric bypass, or the sleeve i'd rather have the lap band since it has less complications any suggestions?

Hi Shasta1

I feel much better now that I have lost over 100 pounds in 1 year. I started looking into weight loss surgery over 10 years ago but my insurance would never cover it. Once I had a BMI over 50 they finally did. I was 5'6" and 375 pounds. I still hired beliteweight.com to get me through all the red tape with bc/bs insurance. There was a lot more of a wait for the gastric bi-pass surgery. I was in a hurry and opted for the gastric lap band. I was chicken for the drastic bi-pass. There was less of a wait for the band. I could always opt for the bi-pass later if the band didn't work. They put me on a liquid protein diet for 3-4 weeks prior to surgery to shrink my liver.

The lap band and gastric bypass has a diet to stick with so it is not easy and dieting free as I thought it would be. I automatically eat smaller portions of what I did eat before. It is a lot like the South Beach one with mostly protein, vegetables, low carbs and no "slider foods".

toosywoots

Hi, Thanks for the sweet comments and Bandiversary Wishes. I feel so blessed, and I love this site. Ya'll really inspire me!!! I just turned 58 and sure wish I had done something in my 40's too. The band was not available in the US and I did not want the Gastric Bypass it was so dangerous at that time. I would love to have enjoyed more activities with my children, that being heavy prevented me from doing, or I was too ashamed of my body to do with them. I was an active Mom with them, but reserved. I feel so glad that I have a chance to do some of those things with my grandchildren, they will think I am a silly granny, but fun here I come! Have a wonderful day!

Sorry about your loss. I loss my brother 14yrs ago in an auto accident and I still think of him daily and then it will be 2yrs ago in november when I loss my mother....going thru the loss and trying to also feed your own emotional well being is a very hard struggle. I pray for you and you will be in my thoughts! Take care!

Was you scared anytime during the pre op journey??? When did you start the diet to lose weight without the lap band?? I am full of questions. I just started and I hope to have my surgery by the latest November.

22lbs thats great! I am from MD too, not banded yet keeping my fingers crossed for a November surgery date. Keep up the good work.

Hello - I never thought I would be wanting this ...been on the million different diets all my life which of course have all failed - or, have I failed ?

I am in so much pain that I have to get the weight off because I want to live my life full - and it is not full right now !

I also have Crohns disease - so I don't know if anyone will do this sx - I know I cannot have the bypass - which is disappointing because I think it works better - but I will take what I can get - I welcome conversation with anyone else that has Crohns; who has had or is getting this done : ) BUT I welcome conversation with anyone too!

I've had my Wii fit since November. I love it. I haven't played online with anyone yet. I usually don't really wok would much on the wii because I go to the gym 3-5 days a week. We'll have to see how it works out. Carefull iwth the the hoola hoop. It killed my hip for about a month!

kendallsmeme,

I am curious to see how things are going for you. I know we were both suppossed to be banded on November 19th. My surgery was moved to december 3rd. So far, I am doing okay. I have had two fills and have lost 15 lbs since surgery. This second fill is sooo tight. I got it on the 19th of Jan. and I still can't eat solid food. I am going to wait a week to see if the restriction gets better.

How was your surgery? How many fills?

Hi,

I was also banded in November & just curious how things are going for you at this stage?? Have you had any fills? Your weight loss is amazing so far.I'd love to hear any advice or tips you have.

Thanks,Teal

Hey Jane,

how ya going? Im from Perth. my band is going good.

ive lost 10kg so far. i was banded in November 08.

How is your band? have you had any probs at all with it?

bubz

Hi there

Wow our stories are similar & I am thinking about converting to RNY. My port site is poorly placed & has been painful from the get-go. I havent lost but 9 lbs in 7 months. I dont think mine has ever worked properly. I'm looking for a new surgeon. I hope your removal went well & good luck w/the bypass.

hey Jacqui,

I have been thinking of you and hoping all went well for you. I see you haven't checked in since November and I hope it means all is going well and you're busy recovering. xxx

Hello everyone, i've been reading all of your posts and have just booked with dr chris for a band on 30th november. can't wait! Do any of you take a supplement liquid/capsule?

I'm not doing bad at all...gas is all gone (thank the baby jesus) just a little more sore than usual had a hiatal hernia & they repaired it and that is on the mend. Down 19 pounds from nerves 1 week pre-op liquid diet & 1 week post-op diet. See the doctor on the 2nd of november & hopefully I graduate to baby food...LOL!

Thanks for asking

I'm back to being 100%...piece of cake right? LOL I'm assuming you're doing well. Hope everything went well. Did you stay overnight?

Oh btw, I went to the support group last night (at Fair Oaks), it was a little better then the one in Woodbridge, a lot more people. There were still some of the bypassers that thought they were the end all be all but I guess that comes with the territory. Dr. Halmi actually went and talked to us, which was cool.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

I remember when I decided banding was the route I wanted to take. The clinic I chose was booking for July 2008, this was in May of 2008, and I had to wait until November. I thought the wait was going to kill me, haha! It really is beneficial though, gives you so much time to read and prepare and get as much weight off as you can. I had lost 45lbs pre-op and still had issues with my liver. Fortunately though the surgery went a-ok. Now I'm amazed it has been two years! It seems to take forever to get there and then the time flies once you're banded! I guess that's part of the band-lifestyle though - you lose weight, get more active and start really living!

Lol. I need to start too, haha, i've been doing some things in my school work room, but I pulled something today, so i'm kind of backing off a little lol. xD Wow, that's a lot of walking lol. I like to walk too, and in school, I do a hell of alot of it. In my class we can't sit down for over 2 hours, and were always running back in forth on a time schedual to get everything perfect. =.] I went down 2 pants sizes since school started lol! Zombie prom?! That sounds awesome! Wish we had one of those lol. Haha, awe. =.] I wish you luck with him. My boyfrend and I just had our 2 year anniversery. . The mini bypass is as effective as the band, and yeah it's a small bit. I believe she lost over 200 pounds. I have bad knees too, but it runs in the family. Yeah, shoes are important when working out. I learned that the hard way. Lately my hip has been acting up, and popping out. xD So it affects how fast I can move, lol.

I know you are getting close, my daugter and you are about due the same time. I am keeping my prayers going up for a speedy and smooth delivery for you. My daughter in law just gave birth to our fourth grandson last Monday, he was 8 lbs and l oz. Michael Wesley, just a little doll. Now I am looking forward to our second granddaughter from my oldest daughter. She had PCOS and tried for 8 yrs. to conceive now AVA will be here in a few day. God is so Good to us. My daughter in law had gastric bypass several years and has had two children, she always loses right back down. God Bless You.

Hello DebWS, just checking in. I have responded to your November Post Op thread, how are you feeling? I too have snuch a few tiny bites. My doc said I could after 7 days. Can't wait to see the weight come off.

I am doing great! I am down almost 30 pounds and very happy with it so far! I feel great and can see if a huge difference in my body. I am on mushies until November 23rd and then I go for my first fill! I still do not feel hungry.....lovin my band!

Lets see I started out at 386#, I'm 5"9'. My staring BMI in apri; was 57.1 and in Nov. was 42.87. I've lost 3 inch. in my upper arms, 1 inch in my wrist, 6 1/2 inches in my chest, 9 inches in my waist, 7 in. in my hips, 4.5 in my thigh, 3 in. in my calf, 1 in. in my ankle. 8 1/2 in. in my adbominal area.my fat weight # was 169.8 and was 88.5 in November. I know I am going to need plastic also. I hope to lose another 68# or more still. I'm 6 mos. banded now and hope to lose another 40 to 60 lbs before my 1 year date..I know it is going to be hard.

Hi Tamisu,

Its great to hear from someone in my timezone. What is your pre-op diet? I am supposed to start mine tomorrow and I was given VERY little specific guidance. The few people I know here who had weight loss surgery had the bypass. I think I am the guinea pig for this particular proceedure. What doctor are you going through? My doctor is Dr. Weinar in Frankfort. I get back to the states next Sunday and have the surgery on Thursday.

Heidelberg is amazing. We have been here here for 9 months. We live in St Leon.

If you don't mind sharing your liquid diet, I would really appreciate it! Good luck you you to!

Happy Chanukach!! Sorry,....didn't even know that you wrote back. Anyway, I had absolutly nothing before. I went in and talked to my doctor about it. She referred me to my surgeon and when I went to see him, that was when I made the decision to have it. I was placed on his waiting list. My first visit with him was on October 6th,and I got a call from his scheduler the first week of November and was scheduled for the 24th. I had pre-op at the hospital the week before, checked into the hospital the night before the surgery, and was wheeled in to the OR at 10:30 in the morning. They discharged me the next day at 12 noon. I boarded a bus and headed home to Eilat.

I was born and raised state side as well. I too have dual citizenship.

Have you had your surgery? Or at least is it scheduled? I had my first fill yesterday.......was interesting. Good luck and hope to hear from you soon.