Your lap-band story...

[Northwest_Nance 0]

Sorry if this is a little bit long, but for me it was all part of the process.....

I had never considered weight loss surgery. Even though my BMI qualified me, I never thought I was "fat enough" and I also thought I had to do it by myself. Then around New Year's I started having hip pain, and after going through a lot of exams, tests, cortisone shot, etc., it was finally discovered I had an injury to my hip, on top of arthritis, and that I needed arthroscopic surgery to repair the injury. When I finally got in to see the surgeon, he was quite blunt. He told me I was too fat for arthroscopic surgery. That the tools he had to use wouldn't reach through all the fat on my thighs to get to the injury. He also said my hip was in worse shape than originally thought and I was probably looking at needing a total hip replacement, but that he would not perform that surgery on me at my current weight. He explained that I'm young for a hip replacement and chances are it would need to be replaced again in my lifetime - and the heavier I am, the faster I would wear it out. Also the riskier the surgery would be and the more difficult my recovery. He said "I strongly suggest you look into weight loss surgery". I cannot tell you how shocked and stunned I was. And humiliated. At first, I thought "I'm not going to tell anyone". Then I realized... they all know I'm fat. In the end I told all of my co-workers, my boss, my HR person -- they were all SO excited and happy for me and so supportive, I am truly fortunate. My family is equally as supportive.

My insurance specifically excludes coverage for weight loss surgery so I started the arrangements for a loan against my 401K. I also started the sleep study process in motion because I knew that would take awhile and I knew a weight loss doctor would require it (the hip surgeon was going to require it too). I started my surgery research. I went to a support group meeting at a local hospital, then a seminar put on by the surgeon I eventually ended up choosing. I was all over the internet reading diaries and blogs of weight loss patients, and watching You Tube video diaries, and I watched the surgery being performed on You Tube. I went back and forth for awhile between bypass and lap band, but being self-pay, I decided bypass was more than I could afford to spend, and I couldn't afford the higher risk of post-surgery complications.

It was mid-March when my hip surgeon recommended I look into weight loss surgery. I had just missed the March support group meeting and seminar, so I had to wait until April for them. In the meantime I got the sleep study done. My appointments with the surgeon, nutritionist and psychiatrist were May 1st and 2nd. My surgery was May 15th.

I still have the hip surgery ahead of me, and in the meantime I live with constant pain, but it has gotten a little more bearable since I've lost 30 pounds and I'm really hopeful that the more weight I lose, the more the pain will diminish and maybe I can postpone the hip replacement, or possibly even get by just with the arthroscopic surgery for now.

[MizSandy 0]

Hello everyone, I'm offically one of you a (Bandsters)

My Surgery time was Scheduled for 11:00am, I went in at 10:30 am and was out of surgery at 11:30 am. On Feb 26, 2009. I was in recovery until 2:00pm and was released. I also had a Hernia my doctor told my family it was very big so Dr Cywes repaired it.

I'm taking 15ml of Hydrocodone-Apap solution Qua. Every 4-6 hrs last time I took it was at 10:00 pm last night. I also have a prescription for promethazine 25 mg Tablet. Its for nausea, but I'm feeling great.

As you no I was on the 2 day liquid diet before surgery, when they weigh me in yesterday I had lost another 5 pounds so My weight as of now is 222.00 pounds going into surgery. My doctor has me on the liquid diet for another 4 days. But so far no appetite.

My doctors office called me this morning to see how I'm doing. And so did the hospital where I had the procedure done.

I hope and pray that everyone else due to have surgery will be as smooth sailing as mine.

So Far I'm 5 days post-op a little sore still but feeling better each day my first appt is march 5th. So anyone else just recently had the Lapband done let me know how you are doing?

Original weight: 235

Weight at surgery: 222

Current: 217

Goal: 145

Banded 2/26/09

Edited March 3, 2009 by MizSandy

[brittu 42]

I lost about 40 pounds after the birth of my second son. While I was on leave I got a personal trainer and worked really hard. After going back to work I started to gain it back and regained it all in less than a year. One morning I woke up and thought "doesn't my insurance cover weight loss surgery?" and found out the next morning that they do. After much research I decided to go forward only to find out that even though my insurance covered the surgery with a 35 bmi and 2 comorbitities the clinic most people go with wasn't willing to fight for the insurance. I found someone two hours away who would. The insurance company decided they didn't think the two comorbidities were the right ones and turned me down. It was suggested that I gain weight to get the surgery and I started down that road and wrote a letter to the head of HR and the insurance company and told them that no office clerk had the right to overrule the doctor. I got a letter from medical director of the insurance company who said I was right. Voila! 4 days later I had my surgery.

It was great the first year and I lost 70 pounds but I've been stalled for awhile. I'm trying the 5 day pouch challenge eating plan and going in for a fill tomorrow. I hope I can get things back on track. I've been so pleased with the band. Being a size 14 instead of a 20 is great but I really do want to go the whole way and end up in a 10 or even an 8 and be able to finish out with plastic surgery and no embarrassement in a swimsuit. I didn't go this far to fail so I'm really hoping I can get back on track.

Britt

[WOWOX7 0]

Barbie,

I finally decided to go to a free seminar in june of 07, had my consultation with the surgeon the next week. I was self pay, had surgery scheduled for aug 31st. Pre- testing for the surgery found I had a parathyroid problem, so I had to have surgery for that before I could have the band. soooooooo... my band surgery was canceled the day before surgery and I had been on a two week liquid diet... urggggggggggg....

I had my band surgery on Jan 3rd of 08, absolutly no regrets.... I had to do the two week liquid

[WOWOX7 0]

Barbie,

I finally decided to go to a free seminar in june of 07, had my consultation with the surgeon the next week. I was self pay, had surgery scheduled for aug 31st. Pre- testing for the surgery found I had a parathyroid problem, so I had to have surgery for that before I could have the band. soooooooo... my band surgery was canceled the day before surgery and I had been on a two week liquid diet... urggggggggggg....

I had my band surgery on Jan 3rd of 08, absolutly no regrets.... I had to do the two week liquid diet AGAIN, but that is ok... It was sooo worth it.

Lois

[Wesley'sgurl29 2]

I am doing well since my surgery. I have been able to reduce my insulin and blood pressure medication significantly since 11-04-08. I do not regret my surgery and i would certainly do it again. I am a totally different person since my banding. I am excited about the changes that I feel in my body. I have more energy and stronger mentally an physically.:laugh:

[Jordangirl 0]

Im just starting my journey as well..Im afraid..however...seeing a fellow blockhead on here has put me somewhat at ease.....lol

Edited August 11, 2009 by Jordangirl
miss spell

[Wesley'sgurl29 2]

This post was an earlier post.. I am now no longer taking any more insulin and blood pressure medication. My diabetes is completely gone...........yipee! Best thing that I have ever done is to be banded....

[incolorado 1]

oops, see below...

Edited August 12, 2009 by coloradomom
duplicate post

[incolorado 1]

I first looked into the band about a year ago, ordered the lapband info kit, but thought "nah, I'm really not big enough for that." HA! Proceeded to gain 30 more pounds, try and fail WW another 10 times, Atkins another 2 times, Fat Flush once, and various other things in between.

I was looking for the next diet -- thinking okay maybe Jenny Craig? I never did that one -- when it hit me: NO MORE DIETING! That very night I told my husband I wanted the surgery, he totally agreed and supported me. Within a week I made my appointment with a surgeon for the following week. At that appointment (just last week) I was scheduled for surgery 3 weeks later. So, for me, it will be almost exactly one month from first call to surgery.

At this point, I am just wishing I had taken these steps earlier and not wasted this past year with useless, time consuming, and expensive dieting, which only served to add another 30 pounds. I have been dieting nearly 30 years of my life, non stop! I cannot wait to get off the yo-yo roller coaster!

[barbie1978 22]

glad to hear the success of everyone who's already had the surgery!

My process took a little longer...i do have it posted in another (current) thread...look in 2009 Bandsters...for July...my whole story is in there..

I will say it took me more than a year to lost the 20 pounds required by insurance so once i finally did that, i got approved in less than a week and i'm now 2 weeks away from my first fill!

Most importantly, I DON'T REGRET ANYTHING!!!!!

It's absolutely worth it...