Hello all,

I usually post on the PCOS boards and on the adoption boards. I am 34 and have a BMI of 38.5. I have PCOS and have never been pg (did everything but IVF over 5 years). I have a consultation on Friday with a dr about WLS - a lap band to be specific. Has anyone had this surgery? Any success? I've tried EVERYTHING else, and this seems like my only option left. I am hoping that losing weight will help with PCOS. I would love to think about the possibility of a pg result as well, but I'm not going to think about that now.

Thanks ladies!
TJ

Heyas :) Welcome to the board!

I'm actually making an appt tomorrow for a consultation. I had a consult about two years ago and was really thinking about having it done (gastric bypass), but then wanted to see if i could get pg first. Well im still here and not pg again, been ttc #2 for about four years now. So i think it might be time to try something else. We'll see how it goes. Good luck and keep us updated about your appointment.

HI Tj

There is one women here who did Lap band. Her surgery was done in November of 2004 so far she has lost 118 lbs. Her nane is suzanne. I thing she posted not that long ago. Plus another women did gastric bypass last year too. last I heard she was doing very well. If my insurance covers the lap band I would do it in a heart beat.

good luck welcome to the board.

TJ,

I had the Lap Band done in November and it was the best thing I ever did. I am down 121 lbs since then and it has changed my life. It was simple surgery, recooperation was a breeze and it will not affect me if I want another child in the future. It has changed my life!!!! If you want to know more feel free to e-mail me at sstringham@finsvcs.com.

Good luck to you.

Suzanne

Hi,
I am the one that had gastric bypass in aug of 04. I am down 126lbs and feel great. I am 5'2 and started out at 308 lbs. I am 40 lbs from the dr's goal but I would like to lose at least 60more to put me at about 125 or so. please feel free to email me although I see that suzanne is prob a better choice since you are considering lap. I just started my clomid treatments back and hoping and doing everything possible to get me that BFP this month. Keep me in your prayers as you will be in mine about your decision. Best of luck to you!
Love ya,
Denise

Thank you all so much! I am nervous / excited about my appointment tomorrow. To suzanne and denise, how long after consultation did you have the surgery? I am a teacher, and I go back to school on Aug. 17. I'd love to have it done before then. Do you think that's a possibility?

Also, did you have support from friends and family? My husband isn't saying much and my mother is worried bc of all of the horror stories that she has heard. I am going to do this anyway, but what can I do to get them to be more positive? (Mom was very much like this during both of my adoptions, so I am used to her! :rolleyes: )

TJ

Dose your Doctors have seminars if they do maybe they could go with you. I know here we have to go to a seminar first before they will consider you for surgery.
Good luck

I don't have any idea. I'll ask at my appt TODAY! Yea! I'll update you all after I get back this evening.

For me it was about a month and a half from consult till surgery. But lap band might go a little faster as gastric bypass is major surgery. I was in the hospital for a week and then off work for 5 weeks after that. I had terrific support from my friends and family, esp my husband. I had been researching gastric bypass for about 5 years and always wanted it but thought I could never afford it as I knew my ins would never pay for it. Any way it just so happened that a dr in my area started doing gastric bypass at out local hosptial. I signed up to go to the mandotory seminary that he has (free) at our local Y. Did not tell my dh. wanted to check it out for myself first. Well God does work in mysterious ways. my dh works out of town and is usually only home on the weekends. Well it rained that day and he decided to come home so i told him my plans and he was all for going with me. The only reason my dh was against the surgery in the first place is because he was scared of it cause of all the horror stories you hear and that it is major surgery. Plus he said he loved me just the way I am. Well after the seminary I think that some of his fears were set aside and he said he really wanted me to be happy with myself again and wanted me to be healthy and if this is what I wanted we would find a way to pay for it. Well just so happened my hospital was offering a financing deal for this surgery so I got it financed and since it was a check from a bank and i paid the hospital off up front I was able to write this off on my taxes. Things just really fell into place for me. Also I try to never miss my local support group which most drs require you to attend. These are people that know exactly what you are going through and can really answer some questions for you. Also I belong to about three different messages boards online. The best one I found was obesityhelp.com. You can even go to your local state and talk with people near you that may have even used the same dr and get answers from them. I hope this info helps you. Feel free to email me at any time. wallysdee@aol.com. I wish you the best of luck!
Love ya
Denise

Thank you all so very much! My appt went great! My dr was wonderful and answered all of my questions. I teach school and wanted it done before I go back (on the 17th of August), so he said that if I could really push and get things done (meeting with the dietician, getting md clearance, and seeing the therapist), I can have the surgery on August 11 - IN TWO WEEKS! :clap: I am sooo excited! The only thing I am not looking forward to is the 2 week liquid diet afterward.
Any suggestions for what to tell people?