Just starting the lap band process

Just found out my Ins will pay @ 100% for the lap band.... I have a app on the 10th for a Information session. kind of scared about the hole thing but am pushing foward. has anyone been banded that could tell me how they felt before and after ? how long out of work ? I have many questions ..

Tracy, there is a Lapband forum here on OH that is very informative. I believe most people take 1-2 weeks off with Lapband. It isn't as hard to recover from as RNY. I have my consultation on the 24th and can't wait Teresa

Thanks so much .. and congrads to you to .. everyone seem like a very supporive group of people. I look forward to getting to know everyone. Tracy

Everyone is different but here is my surgery rundown...I had my RNY surgery Wed. Dec. 6th...got out of hospital Friday Dec. 8th...only walked around in my room...they didn't make me do the hallways... Saturday Dec. 9th I went to Walmart and Dollar Store and to moms. Sunday Dec. 10th I went to a christmas party. Yes I will admit I did get tired after a few hours...but I really didn't have any problems recovering. Jennifer

Congratulations and good luck with the lap band. I know you will do great.

Thank you so much .. look forward to getting to know everyone.. Tracy

Wow Jennifer! You were a lucky girl!! I hope whichever surgery I have I can do that well! Teresa

Hey Tracy, I was banded at MUSC with Dr. Byrne. Is this who you are using? Anyway, I was only his 4th patient. I got pregnant 4 months out so my weight loss has been at a stand still but I've only gained 2lbs in 5.5 months. I lost 23lbs before I got pregnant but I was not eating perfectly and not exercising--bab, bad, bad! I felt fat and miserable before my lapband. I felt controlled by food and head hunger and now I am really not having a lot of head issues with food anymore. I feel hopeful!!! I was out of work for 3 days. I had surgery on Friday morning, overnight stay, and left Saturday night. I was back to work that Tuesday with no problems and noone knew I had even had surgery! But I do have a desk job. I had never had surgery so the general anesthesia kicked my butt and the muscle soreness at the port sites hurt. It was hard to get up the first day but everyone handles pain differently. I'm a wimp! Just please know that the lap-band will not work with out good restriction which may take up to 3-4 months to get. I am at 2cc in my 4cc band and I am feeling not so tight but I am pregnant and need to eat more. You will be starving for the first 4-6 weeks before your first fill. This is when the swelling goes down and your stitches holding your band in place are healing. Slow weight loss is the norm with most lap-banders and a lot of people just are not prepared for that. Don't compare your loss with any other WLS patients, even other lap-banders. Everyone is different! My RNY friend has lost 75lbs in 6 months and I am so proud of her. I chose the surgery that was right for ME. Even though I knew it was slower I love my band and would not have it any other way. Please feel free to contact me with any other lap-band questions. There is no local support group for bandsters that I know of but there are a few more local lap-band pateints that post here and on the lap-band board. Not everyone over here is RNY so keep posting to the SC board, I love the local support.

Hey Stephanie.. Thanks for writing me back I go for a informaion session on May 10 the Doc is Dr Eric Bour he is in Greenville SC. I have never had anesthesia either and it scares me to death .. not even when I had a c-section with my daughter. I work in the health care profession and everyone said to go for it .. best sleep you will ever have (doesn't help me being a chicken) but I think the lap band is the best choice for me I here that it only take 1 to 1 1/2 hours to do and you are in recovery. I also would like to have another child and I wonder about having the lap band and having a c-section .. I also would love the support. Tracy