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I'm a mom, grandma, and wife who has weighed over 250 for about 18 years. I'm 48 and now weigh 265. I chose that lap band because I don't want to be unhealthy when I loose weight. I want to continue getting all my nutrients from the things I consume. I have several co-morbidities such as, diabetic for the last 15 years, high blood pressure, proteinuria, probably sleep apnea, (haven't been tested yet), high cholesterol (when I don't take meds) to name a few. I'm really tired of taking meds and I realized that I could stroke out, or have a heart attack or something and I want to be around for my kids and my grandkids. So that is the gist of my reasoning for the surgery. I hope to loose at least 70 pounds. 80 or 90 would be great. I would jump for joy. I don't want that skin hanging thing though, but I'm 5-8 so perhaps it will be minimal with the exception of my tummy. I think that's unavoidable. However, I will do what I can to alleviate as much as I can. I don't care how fast I loose, except at first I would like to quickly knock off a chunk of my desired weight loss at least 40 of it, then 1 to 2 pounds a week would be wonderful. I'm going to try my best. I have mononucleosis right now so hope that won't hinder my surgery date. I'm pretty well over the main outbreak so I'm just weak and tired all the time. That slows your metabolism, and I can't exercise without getting a sore throat and fever. Weird I'm a music minister/Psalmist. The Lord gives me songs and I sing them all over the place. My music is on www.breadsite.org in the mp3 section. Free downloads. I need to loose some weight so I'm not so reluctant to go and sing places where they ask me. Most of the time right now I think, "I'm so tired". I want to be able to keep up and LIVE!!!!! Garden, decorate, paint, sing, pack my keyboard (musical) and go wherever, chase after my two toddler grandchildren!!!. That's my goal. More than numbers my goal is to LIVE! Blessings

Wow I just noticed that you JUST had your surgery...you already lost over 30lbs!!!! That's amazing. Wow! I hope I can do as good a job. I am such a slow loser - I usually quit diets at about the third or fourth week when I start losing .25 of a pound - at least this is something I can't quit! How long until you were up and around like your old self? I anticipate returning to work the following Saturday - will I be able to? Amy

Hello all, I thought it was about time I made a post. I have been looking on the site for a few weeks now. My name is Chastity, and I live in Florida. I am 26 yr old, happily married to a very support husband. I started thinking about the band 1 ago, but changed my mind (thinking I could do it with just self control). Well I weight even more now. I had my first appointment with the surgeon today. I am starting opifast in the morning(Tuesday). My surgery is going to be November 18th. I am going to be self pay :tongue:. I feel ready this time. I really enjoy reading about everyones journey, no matter where they are in it. I am 5'4 1/2 ( weird I know) and starting weight 286lbs(SHH). Hoping that the Optifast will taste ok:w00t:

Hey. I am one week away too! I am so ready but so nervous too.

I am early in the process still but this is such a crazy emotional journey! I went to my first appointment with the surgeon at the end of February and so far have had 1 sleep study, 1 nut appointment, blood work (9 vials), upper gi/barium swallow, ultrasound, psychiatric evaluation and information session! I have done all of this still with the fear that I may not be approved! I have struggled with my weight for 20 years (and I am 33). I have lost and gained so many times over those years I am surprised that my body has survived! I have never had a problem losing it just doesn't stay off and when it comes back it usually comes back with some extra "friends" (more pounds). Right now I am 245lbs (5'7" tall) with a BMI of just under 40. I found out I do have sleep apnea and will be going for my second study next week. I am a mixture of emotions. I want this surgery! I NEED THIS SURGERY! I am sick of being fat. I am sick of not having enough energy to play with my kids. I am sick of constantly thinking and worrying about my weight! I have a few more steps, last one being my final nut appointment on May 21st and they we will submit to insurance! Fingers crossed! I love this board it has given me so much knowledge on what to expect! Look forward to sharing my journey with all of you!

I am only 6 weeks post op...so I really remember that feeling: excited AND nervous! This surgery is the best thing I've ever done. I have done EVERY diet and gained and lost the same 20 lbs for the past 20 years. My surgery went really well...and I healed very quickly. Some of the things I did (not necessarily on my surgeon's list...but I did them anyway!) I drank organic aloe vera juice 24 hrs post op and continued for 30 days. It's VERY healing. If you buy the EXPENSIVE brand, which is George's (available at health food stores) it tastes just like water. I also started taking arnica immediately after surgery. Great for healing and not bruising! It's difficult to get your water in, but it's very important. I couldn't handle the broth (yuk) but I ate sugar free jello and popsicles that were fruit...with no sugar added. It was good to get my first meal 10 days post op!! Now, even if I try a bite of something I'm not supposed to have....I know how limited I am for space in my new small stomach, so I can't try much more than a bite of any forbidden food!! I'm eating breakfast: either an egg, or a protein shake, or a half skinned apple with peanut butter. I LOVE soup for lunch and I make a chicken tortilla soup with lots and lots of beans and some salsa and spices (great protein) and for dinner I usually have fish, or chicken or turkey with a little cooked veggies. In between, I'll have a small amount of protein shake or some peeled fruit. My clothes are getting baggy....which I love. My only worry is because I'm in my 60's I'm already noticing some extra facial wrinkles and sags I've lost 39 lbs in 6 weeks (no required loss pre-op). Good luck to you....I know it will go well!

It's fairly common to feel listless and unenergetic and just downright uninterested in many things for the first week or so of the liquid diet. This happens because your body is switching from using carbs/sugar for energy to using fat for energy. It takes several days for your body to make enough of the enzymes and other things it needs to be able to burn enough fat. After a week or 10 days on the liquid diet, things will probably get back to normal.

Now that I am "approved" for surgery and this is becoming a reality, I figured NOW is the time to post my story so far. I am 49, 5'7 and 235 at my highest weight. (Can't believe I actually wrote that down for public consumption!) That made me a BMI of 36.8. I had considered weight loss surgery off and on throughout the years of yo-yo dieting. My last good weight loss was about 30 pounds back in 2009 and I was lighter then. So that means I have put on about 40 pounds in four years. (Less than a pound a month, not too bad, right??!! Ha!) I have some lung problems, high blood pressure (if you would only lose weight, you wouldn't have to take these pills anymore....) and hypothyroidism. Too much for someone my age I decided and started considering the lap-band. I am a nurse and considered that to be "least invasive" and "easiest" to have done surgically. On November 28, 2012, I signed the hubby and I up for an informational seminar. While hubby wasn't interested (I'm hoping to change that), I listened to the doctor present the band, sleeve and RNY options. To his credit, he didn't try to sway anyone to any one procedure, but I had changed my thinking from lap-band to sleeve. I submitted my "insurance verification" form and left. In lateDecember/early January, I was contacted by the doctor's office and told that my insurance (CIGNA) did provide WLS benefits. I had started a post-holiday "kind of" diet about mid-January with Weight Watchers. I saw my surgeon for the first time on January 28, 2013. We discussed all the usual things and agreed that the sleeve was a good procedure for me. My only beef with the process was that the coordinator told me "All your insurance needs is the evaluation and 3 months of diet history. Just print out Weight Watchers and it will be ok." More on that in a minute.... From there, I had: EGD (endoscopy) on 2-4 and found to have a small hiatal hernia. Psych eval and nutrition eval on 2-13. In the mean time, I had researched CIGNA's bariatric policy and found out that I needed a lot more than "Just 3 months of Weight Watcher history." Rather than chance it, I went and got clearance from my PMD and met with a nutritionist for 3 months of a supervised diet. (2-20, 3-16 and 4-20...boy am I glad I started that "kind of diet" back in January!) Am now at 222 (fluctuating pounds.) My coordinator submitted my packet on about May 10th with a comment of "everything looks great...should be no problem." On May 17th, I was notified of denial...based on two points. My physician had failed to state that he BOTH recommended me for the surgery AND cleared me (he only recommended me....despite the fact I had asked him to do both.) The nutritionist did a summary report that detailed all three visits, with all of the components required, but CIGNA wanted it in three separate notes. At least it wasnt because of medical criteria! So...my coordinator got all that together and on May 21st, she submitted again, stating it could take up to 90 days, but probably not that long. The waiting is the hardest part!!! Well, today I got the news I was waiting for...APPROVED! It took 7 business days for the appeal. Now we are in fast-forward mode: 6-10: Pre-op meeting with surgeon to sign consents, etc... 6-15: Start of pre-op diet! (Not looking forward to it....) 6-17: Pre-op lab/x-ray work at hospital 6-25: Surgery I travel for my work (I am a healthcare consultant) and will be out of town three weeks between now and then, so it will fly by! I am so excited. I think now that it's a reality, my husband is concerned. I got the "If it makes you happy, it makes me happy" but I am not convinced. I know he is supportive of my decisions, but probably a bit insecure at the same time. food has always been a big part of our life and I have been slowly withdrawing from that over the last few months. Thanks for listening! I am so darn excited I just needed to share it with someone. I have told very few people. I will update after the surgery.

Hello I'm a young 32 year old woman who's battled weight my whole life. After starting a journey towards weight loss surgery in 2008 I have finally achieved it just past a week ago. Got RNY, laparoscopically, finally getting back to feeling human again. I'm down 5lbs so far and feeling good. I've had a difficult time healing due to a hysterectomy and bypass in the same surgery. So ready, and happy to have finally started this chapter my book of life!

I'm not going to Emory either, but I'm here if you need to talk. I've only got another week and I thought I'd be a lot more nervous than I am.

Hey everyone! This is my first post even though I've been reading avidly here for months. I am so happy I found this site, because I have learned tons and it helped me really make the decision to pursue Lap Band surgery. I found out a little over a week ago that I was approved by Ins. and scheduled for surgery on May 16th. I was thrilled that it is was happening so fast, but now that it is only days away, I'm absolutely terrified and having second thoughts. I'm not really sure what it is I'm afraid of. I'm frightened of the actual procedure, simply because I'm not great with anesthesia, but I don't think that's my real fear. I really think my underlying panic is the fear of failure. I've tried so many diets, and the weight always comes back. I just want to be healthy and look decent. I think I have gotten to the point of giving up that anything can fix this. I am praying that this is the real solution for me, and that I'm strong enough to use it to its potential.

Hi my surgey is on November 10th. My starting weight when I entered the program was 216.4. My doctor who's name is Dr. Im from Kaiser, wants me to get down to 130 lbs. That's fine with me, I look at it as pre baby having days... Lol. Good luck on your surgery. Keep in touch. Let me know how your doing after surgery so that I can get an idea about how I might be feeling afterwards since we are having them the same week

Mine lasted off and on for a little over 3 weeks.

I was 8 weeks before this stopped. It wasn't constant for me but would hit me like a brick. I was the type that couldn't nap or close my eyes in a crowd , but soon I found my self sleeping in a store parking lot in my car , I'd just get so sleepy. Or I had to pull over driving into town (1/2 hr drive). Getting better now. At 2 months post op.

It happens, just start fresh , have you tried dividing the shakes through the day ? like a half pack 6 times a day instead of three?

Hi I'm Lisa going for my surgery this wed June 22nd, I have been on liquids and soup for about a week and I think i lost about 8 pds. Anybody else going this wednesday to Syosset Hospital? Wish me luck

Greetings world! Long time lurker, first time poster - go me. I figured it was time to get in on in and do the support thing early to prepare, so here I am! I got the call about an hour ago that I officially, really, truly, no-foolin, have a real surgery date. I'm going in on June 13th with Dr. Hart (Atlanta Bariatric Center / Emory Hospital Johns Creek). I was originally going to go band back in January but backed out of it to give it more thought (a lot more thought) and landed on the idea the sleeve would be better for me. And now, here we go. Whew ... yikes ... what have I got myself into?! I'm scared, nervous, excited, thrilled, and a little nauseous at what I've got myself into and I know I have to get my big girl undies on and face it head on but wow, now that I have a date I'm a bit scared of having a real date. With real people. With real people who really are going to cut into me. Yeah, I'm tripped a bit, but very excited. I think what I'm most scared of (other than the whole notion of being put under), is that I can't for the life of me visualize success. Is that weird? I don't know. I can't picture myself thinner - I can't picture myself doing athletic type activities - I can't picture myself literally as a smaller person, but I know it's going to happen. I start my 2 week liquid diet on Friday (joy, just in time to miss Memorial Day bbq.) Does it count as a liquid if I drink a bottle of bbq sauce?

Hello! Im Maggie. After my three month medically managed diet i was ready to submit for insurance (bcbs). They then informed me i had to completevsix months as their requirements had changed. Needless to say ive jumped through all the hoops and will be having Surgery in less than two weeks. Glad to have this forum!

I was lucky in that it has never really given me munchies...doesn't now. It was fine for me. I smoked it sometime around my second week post-op.

I have BCBS of MN. Had no issues at all getting approved. I had six months of nutrition visits, two years of weight history. They submitted and a week or so later I was approved. Keep in mind you have to go to a Blue Distinction Center or they don't cover. Closest one to me was three hours away. So worth it.

My name is LaQuita and I had my first appt on Feb 22nd. Was so blessed to find out that our ins Co did not require any "hoops". No pshcy eval, no nut, no 6 Months waiting, nothing!!! I was SO excited. We have BCBS of TN BUT through my husbands Co there is a special provision for WLS so that none of this is required. Just a BMI over 40 /35 with Co mobidities. I' fit in the over 40 bmi. And proof of 5 years being "obese". I really don't like that word! I called yesterday and as of Friday the paperwork had been faxed over to BCBS for pre cert so I am waiting on them now. Aa of yesterday it wasn't showing up 'in the system, so I could not get an update from them. The surgeon won't see me and set a surgery date until he has surgical clearance from the ins. Co. So I'm waiting.......... I know after reading alot of others posts that this wait time is nothing compared to so many others. I just pray that the rest goes as smoothly. I've enjoyed reading all the tips / suggestions / and ideas u all have posted and I look forward to joining this 'club. Oh I forgot, I have had lap and surgery 2 times prior. First in 09, then I got food poisoning one time, started throwing up band prolapsed. Had to have it un-filled, then removed. Had 2 nd one put in in '10 then 8 months later I got the flu, it prolapsed too. It took several months to get it out. This was in Dec 11. I wanted the sleeve to start with in 08 but the insurance Co. Didn't approve them yet. Then in 10 when he took the first one out, he would only revise with a band not a sleeve. At the time I did not realize that other doctors would revise someone else work! You live & learn. Thankfully the Lord had lead me else where and Lord willing I will be having it within the next 4-6 weeks. Thanks again everyone for making this such an inviting & comfortable place to come! Blessings to u all!! First visit: Feb 22nd Faxed to Ins co March 2nd Waiting on pre-cert approval _CURRENT!

I am almost 4 weeks post op, and I had a big BBQ at my house tonight which I do regularly during the summer. I thought I might be miserable, cooking all this food and not being able to eat it. I actually had a great time. I was able to take a few bites of some things I enjoy, but I didn't miss the rest as much as I thought I would. I had about 40 people over, and it was nice to be able socialize without constantly sneaking in trips to the buffet to shove my face full. It gave me a lot of confidence that I can do this!

At 3 weeks, I was about where you are...slow and steady is perfectly OK. First, try not to compare your journey with any one else's...It's not healthy. I know it's not easy, but this is your journey and they are all like snowflakes - they are all different. We all got to our high weights differently, we're all going to lose differently. Second, my suggestion is to stop weighing every day (or multiple times daily). Your body is still recovering from major surgery! Your body is trying to figure out what you just did to it...you've restricted your calorie intake about 1/2 or a 1/3 and you altered a major organ. Weight once per week or once every two weeks (I had my husband hide the scale from me and he brought it out on weigh-in days). You didn't gain your weight overnight, please don't expect to lose it overnight. If you are following your doctor/NUT plan, you will lose weight. Just be patient.

I was banded on June 6, and have lost only 14 pounds since then. It seems as though I have been at the 14 pound plateau for the last three weeks. I exercise, make sure I get plenty of Protein, but I am definitely doing something wrong. Suggestions? Anyone else experiencing this? Am I expecting too much too soon? Thanks,

:sad_smile:Hi my name is Gabby, I was banded on Nov 1, 07 by Dr. Nazarian in Ca. I was loosing about 7-9 lbs per month for the first three months. After February 08 I would get filled and loose complete restriction after 2 weeks. I finally realized that there could be a leak somewhere. I was supposed to have a flouroscopy done with contrast to see where the leak was, but ended up getting a 5cc fill that left me unable to eat or drink. I feel like crap and the worst part of this is that I cant get saline out because the doctor is able to inject, but unable to draw saline back. Has anyone been through this and if you have, What do I do?