Ready for Lap Band

Seeing my surgeon for the first time tomorrow for Lap Banding! All pre-op tests, clearances,etc done.  Excited, kinda scared too!  any advice out there?

Advice... talk to your surgeon about other options as well. Make sure you read on here if you have not already about the issues that people that are now 2,3,4 or more years out are having.
Make sure how much financially the band is actually going to cost YOU, not the insurance company. Making sure that if you for any reason lose your insurance, you are in the long term going to be able to maintain the band. What are you going to do should you never be able to reach "restriction". What are you going to do should you come out of surgery and not be able to swallow your own saliva because even with 0 saline in the band, it is too tight.
Make sure your insurance does not have a "once per lifetime" clause. Because if they do, and you have issues, you are stuck with it as a self pay.

Make sure you ask about complications after being banded as opposed to bypass or sleeve.

 Have you done the research yourself or have you just trusted what your doctor has told you?  I was a fool and believed what my DR. said would happen.  I wish I would have had the information then that is available to you now.  Please consider another wls.  Complications, no weight loss, lose insurance and have to self pay for fills and unfills?  I had to self pay for my band removal to sleeve.  I'm happy now, and no longer that that torture device dictating my every meal.   

 Congrats on working on getting where you want to be with your weight :)   I remember that stage :)
It is important to do your research and make sure you are getting the choice you want. :) I am quite happy with my band and the results I have received but it isn't a fix all :) I go to the gym and have fixed my food choices.  Do you have a date set  yet? Congrats and keep me posted.

just keep swimming,
Swoosh ;)

Have you read the Revisions forum here on Obesity Help? If not, I would advise doing that to get a clear picture of what kinds of things can happen after banding.

I'd also really advise against the lapband, personally.

However, if you've made your decision and plan to proceed with banding, I wish you the best of luck.

Here's a link to the revisions forum:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/a,messageboard/bo ard_id,5360/

Congrats!  I was scared too before surgery, it is normal to be scared.  I have had my band for 3 1/2 years and have not had any problems.  There are lots of people out there that have not had any problems, they don't post because they are going on with there lives everyday.  The band is a commitment that you will need to decide if you can make that commitment.  The sleeve is newer than the band and does not have enough people that have had it to say there won't be problems long term with the sleeve.  Most insurances don't cover the sleeve because it is so new some insurances are just starting to cover it.  All WLS have risks so does having a high BMI!  The commitment to the band is are you going to not drink when eating, eat slowly, exercise,and not keep the band to tight follow Dr. orders completely measure all your food?  If you don't see yourself following all the above steps you should look into another surgery.  Research and ask as many questions as you feel comfortable with this is your body nobody else is.  Good Luck with whatever surgery you choose!

Nance

 SUPERIOR POST Nance!!!  

Very well said :)  

just keep swimming,
Swoosh

The sleeve is not newer than the band. Gastrectomies have been performed since the late 1880s.  It's now being utilized as a weight loss procedure... because one of the side effects is weight loss.

 

Couldnt have said it any better. Thank you for saying it.