blacdimin

Samia You are histerical I love the way you tell a story. Though I am not banded yet when my date comes I kind of hope sneaking in a few cookies makes me feel so bad I wont ever want to do it again. Now thats what I call restrictions.

Congradulations! I wish you all the best as you heal and as you take on this new life after banding. I have not been banded yet but I do have a surgery date. November 28th is quite a ways down the road but I look at it on the positive side. I am practicing cutting my food into small bits and taking 20minutes to eat as opposed to the 10 it usually takes and not drinking during meals. Anyway I love hearing the highs and lows of those already banded please continue to share your journey and good luck on that journey. Brandy

[Hi NYU My name is Brandy and I have had mixed reviews just like you. I barely made the BMI of 40 and I have no current medial conditions that I know of. I am scheduled for November and I have come to the ultimate decision that this would be my own personal plight. I told 2 people and based on their feed back I decided that I would not seek out anymore friends or families advice. That ultimately it was my decision and my life so I am going with whats in my heart. I am 5ft 9 and 272lbs because I am built very solid and wear it well (if there is such a thing as wearing 272lbs well). To look at me most people would be shocked to learn my weight because most people say I pegged you to be 220 or 230 maximum. So of course when I told a close friend of mine she called me an extremest "oh come on develop more discipline and lose about 50 pounds you don't need a major operation such as this" she even said "this kind of operation is for people with hundreds of pounds to lose you are taking the easy way out and in the process making a very risky decision" Ok I have been researching for almost 6 months and have spoken to a few people who have had LB, easy way out, I dont think so. I tried to shake off her comments and look deeper within and ask if there was some truth to what she had said but ultimately my answer was no. I still felt I was making the right choice. Then the 2nd person I told was my boyfriend who had the same comments as she had. You are beautiful the way you are, it's to risky, alter your eating habits a bit I think you can do something about those few extra pounds on your own. (few extra pounds was his exact words, that funny a few is 5-10) Ok so at this point I am feeling like no one is behind me whole heartedly. The 2 people I have told are in the nay pile and in the yay pile there is only me. So I made the decision not to convince my friends and love ones that this is a good decision but instead to just go with what feels right in my heart. I have decided that this will be my private journey. PS I did tell my supervisor at work becuase I will be needing to use a lot of my personal days for pre-surgery screening, and a few days off after surgery. I told him for that reason and that reason only. In other words I was not looking for his approval or disapproval. Guess what he instanly became my own little cheering squad. That shocked me but made me feel really good at the same time. We sat down in his office and talked for almost an hour he congradulated me, wished me well and offered an ear if I needed to talk as I get closer to my surgery day and even after. So you see Others opinions may feel very relavent but in the end it is your opinion that counts the most. It is at this time that you should do some soul searching and make the decision that is right for you.

I wish you well on your journey. I am presently going through the pre-op testing. I am scheduled for November and I am being banded here in New Jersey. I do hope leading up to my surgery date I meet someone in my area who also will be banded so that I can have someone I can talk to and swap experiences. I think having someone who is going through it to makes it easier. Keep us posted I love hearing about everyones experience it helps me keep an open mind about my own journey. I have some emotional support from a close friend of mine but the one person who's support I want more then anything is not fully on board. That is my boyfriend he thinks I am beautiful just as I am and he thinks my intentions are purely cosmetic, which I have explained they are not, I have many health concerns now & in the future. He thinks just becuase I don't have diabettes, and heart troubles I am perfectly healthy but being 5ft 9 and 272lbs is not healthy. I am giving him time to understand and grow into the idea because face it this is reality (its gonna happen). Brandy

Don't just assume that your insurance won't cover the band. It will not hurt to inquire first. My surgery is scheduled in November. There were a few stiulations handed down by the insurance company but they will pay for it. I have AETNA they required I make one last attempt over a 3 month period assisted by a doctor, get a letter from my doctor saying he would suggest this procedure for me and of course undergo all of the pre-op testing. I mean yes it has pushed my surger out by 3 months but I feel its worth it not to have to come out of my own pocket. The 3 month diet attempt (not really doing it).

Hi John I am new to the forum as well. I have quite a stretch in front of me. Mine is scheduled for November 28th, thats because my insurance required 3 months of medically assisted diet attempts before they will give thee approval. So in the mean time I am getting all my pre-op tests out of the way so all will be a go in November. I have researched this process for so long another 3 months wont kill me.

I am new to the website, not banded yet but on my way. Just in the begining stages and always very curious, therefore I often skim over comments of those who have had it. In the back of my mind the thought of sagging skin has been weighing heavily. One of the questions I wanted to pose was " exercise does that make the difference between a firmer weightloss or not?"

It seems like everyone is going to Mexico I am just at my very first stage which, is the consultation and the pre-surgery exams. Is there a reason everyone is chosing Mexico? I live in New Jersey and they have a Beriatric Center @ Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, NJ. This is where I intend to go. Are there more benefits in chosing Mexico?

Hi I am a few days from my initial consultation. I have been researching the Lap Band for almost 6 months and I think I am ready. The question I have for those who are 9 months to a year and over post op. Do you find that after your weight loss you are left with unwanted sagging skin? I have a fear of losing the weight and being in a situation where I am even more unhappy with unwanted skin. I have not put aside any money for skin removal but if this is problem that I might have to face I really may reconsider. Because that would be like fixing one problem only to gain another really big one. I am presently 275 at 5ft 9 I know according to the ideal weight chart I should be somewhere between 150 and 160 but realistically I am aiming for 180 or 190 therefore I would be happy with a 80-85lb weight loss. I have heard excess skin is something even working out can't get rid of so of course I am scared of having this happen. Can anyone who is very close to their ideal weight shed some light in this area?