slm2007

VERY helpful, thanks! I'm hopeful the band will be helpful......and I'm not stuck in that cycle.....

I'm getting my BAND on Monday (4/18) and I'm here to read your stories....thanks everyone. I'm scared...not of the surgery but the "after life." I'm sort of mourning things already if that makes sense...I'm scared of how I'm going to feel when I wake up and I'm scared of how I'm going to react to these new changes that MUST be made. I feel pretty ready and prepared, but can we ever be. Thanks for the inspiration...these are good stories to hear when you need them.....

Thanks for the response and this is why sometimes I feel like I was just given a label......I got off birth control and was pregnant the next month. No problems getting pregnant. I've never had a problem with not having a monthly cycle or anything like that either. I had sonograms, no cystic ovaries. I have an extremely difficult time losing weight and I think that is my only symptom for PCOS....which is why I question, can you have PCOS with only one "symptom."? I just find that strange. And, it's not like I haven't tried and worked hard in the past to lose weight but when you are going to the gym 4 or 5 days a week and working out for an hour or two and you live on Lean Cuisine....I lost 7 pounds in 3 months. I quit because it wasn't worth it to me. I was killing myself and getting nowhere. Anyhow, back to the point.....I wonder about the insulin resistance for me, but no one ever told me for sure and I just hope this band will help me even if I really do have PCOS? Thanks again.

Good luck with your surgery and congrats to you on the weight loss...that is fantastic. Sending prayers your way for a safe surgery and quick recovery. Staci

My endocrinologist told me that I had PCOS years ago and that is probably why I have a difficult time losing weight. To be blunt, I'm ignorant to exactly what PCOS is for the most part and felt like I was given this "diagnosis" because there was no other reason for me not to be able to lose weight. I got pregnant very easily and did not have any diabetes issues with my pregnancy. I do get the shakes if I don't eat every few hours so I don't know if that is the insulin resistance I read about? Again, I'm not exactly sure what this PCOS is and how it affects my ability to lose weight. She put me on Metformin and I didn't know what it was to do and just took it because I was supposed to. When I got pregnant, I never went back on it. Can anyone explain PCOS to me? If you have this syndrome, how will the lap band help me lose weight if it is a "syndrome" keeping me from losing. Even when I went on a low calorie diet, my weight loss was so, so minimal...will the lap band be worth it? Does losing weight help with the PCOS? Curious? :thankyou: Staci

This might seem like a silly question, but did you get a Lap or Realize? The reason I ask is that I've heard that since the Lap is sutured to the muscle it is a little more sore than the way they put the Realize port to the muscle. Just something I read, not sure how accurate it is. Kind of like the sutures need to "relax" a bit where the Realize is just clamped on so there are not "strings" to loosen, that is the only way I can describe it. Hope you feel better. I'm going in on the 18th.....hopefully....because I'm getting a darn cold! can you believe it....8 months later, I'm scheduled and getting a cold!

Amen....thanks for the kick in the butt...I needed that.

Wow....have you really lost that much weight in less than a year! inspiring. Then I read further down in this post and see more great weight loss stories. That is what I needed to hear. I know it CAN be done....thanks everyone

I think it depends on what you are having. I had an Upper GI and I had no problem driving home...no sedation for that but if they do the endoscope thing, I would recommend getting a twilight sleep vs. relaxation drugs. They put the tube down your throat and I've heard it is not pleasant. They try to control your gag reflex but it is usually not fully successful so you are fighting it back...if you are knocked out, it is nothing to deal with. However, back to my upper gi...they do this to see if you have a hiatal hernia and other problems, I guess. When I had mine, they just made me sip on this icky white chalky drink and a pink chalky drink, roll around on a table and coat my stomach and do some more sips and took a bunch of x-ray pics of my throat and stomach. I was okay with the sips, it was when they told me to drink steadily through the straw I thought I was going to "lose it." They try to make it "sweet" but it is just nasty. It's not painful just icky. I have heard that the one they are going to make me do after surgery is worse tasting than the one I've already had done.....I can't imagine.' Oh, and don't be far from the bathroom afterward either.....

I start my 5 day liquid diet on Wednesday (4/13) and surgery is Monday 4/18. I'm already dreading the 5 days but feel lucky after reading some are two weeks or more! No food at all...just 3 shakes a day and the rest is "clear" liquid. Good luck everyone!

~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Good vibes and prayers sent your way! Good luck and keep us posted.

My husband is totally against this surgery, but I read this post to him over the phone and I think now he is really coming over to my side.....

Hi, I'm Staci. I'm going to be hitting the big 40 in June so the band is a birthday present to ME! I live in Pittsburgh...Steeler Country and hope that someday I can retire in warmer weather. Love to move to Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head...but I'll probably stay here forever. I work for the courts and used to work for family law attorneys. I really like my job and love the people I work with. My husband and I have been together almost 17 years but we have only been married for 4 years this coming May.....can't say we rushed into anything. We have an amazing and beautiful son, who is the love, love, love of my life. :heart: He will be 3 at the end of April. And, we have my daughter, who is a spoiled pit bull named, Roxi.... I've been battling my weight what seems like forever. I weighed about 140 in high school and thought I was huge....went on a "diet" and in the school year dropped down to a pretty low weight which wasn't a pretty sight. I gained some back and maintained around 130 for years. THEN, I hit 21.....late nights, drinking and eating late and a really, really bad breakup....on came the pounds. I woke up one morning and was no longer shopping in the regular clothes section and I swore those darn aliens came and stole my body and gave me a loaner...I still have the loaner and it's getting bigger! I've been considering WLS for about 5 or 6 years but never was comfortable with bypass which is why it has been being "considered" for so long. Then I learned more about this band and thought....hummm, maybe this is my answer. I started the process once before but started a new job and quit because I didn't think it would be appropriate to take time off for surgery the first year at a job.....this time I've stuck to it and I'm getting banded with a Realize band on April 18th, 2011. I'm hoping that by my birthday, I'll be at least 20 pounds lighter. After having my son in APril 2008, I've decided enough is enough. I'm going to be here for him and I'm going to be able to enjoy him. I'm not going to sit on the sidelines while the other moms are involved because I'm too tired or to darn fat! I only have a few pictures of him with me in the first three years of his life because I'm humiliated to have my picture taken...that is not cool! I'm so scared of these changes coming ahead, but I've read so many posts on here from a bunch of wonderful and inspirational people that I know I have to roll the dice and try it. I know I'm going to "regret" this for the first month but the first time I buy that smaller pant size or notice that my face isn't as fat....it is all going to be worth it. I love reading the great posts of success and that "you" would do it all over again.

I've told my husband, my MIL (because she will be watching my 3 year old) and a few VERY supportive friends at work and my parents/sisters. The ONLY ones that are supportive are the girls I work with. Everyone else doesn't want me to do, doesn't feel I really need it because I'm not "that" big, and tell me that I can do it on my own because I've done it before. I'm doing it because I finally admit that I can't keep it off. I've lost weight before, a bunch of times. This is NOT something I've recently just thought about and said "hey lets do surgery." No, I've been thinking about this for probably 4 or 5 years. At first it was by-pass, hence the reason I was still thinking about it because I wasn't comfortable with the cutting and reworking of my insides. BUT, the band was introduced to me and I thought....ah ha...that is something that might be great for me. I started the process once before and honestly wasn't "Ready" for the changes that came after. THEN, my son came along.....he is the reason I'm ready. I hate the thought that I only have a few pictures of us together in his first 3 years...because I am embarrassed to be seen in them! I want to do fun things with him, I don't want to be an embarrassment to him and I want to be here for him. SO, this time, I'm ready. NO ONE is going to talk me out of this...not even myself. You need people who can be supportive, you need people who are goign to understand and I think I am slowly bringing those around me along for the ride. They see that I'm serious and I"m not turning back - despite being a bit scared of my new life afterwards - but I'm doing this. I'm not sharing this on my facebook page or anything like that but if there are people who ask me how I'm losing weight, I will share my experience because maybe, just maybe, I will help someone with their decision and it may help them gain control of their lives too. Good luck to you and I truly hope that you share this with others who will be supportive.

LOVE YOU for this! I'm due to be banded on 4/18, freaking out and small panic episodes, not of surgery but the "after life" ..... this was so wonderful to read. You have done amazing and I hope I can do as well. THANK YOU AGAIN

My doctor said Tylenol only......which makes me sad because it doesn't work as well for me as my Aleve or Advil.

Geesh, this is what I have to look forward too, huh.....yikes. I know this is hard, for all of us. I'm even dreading the 5 day liquid before surgery, I'm grateful that it wasn't two weeks like some I've read about. I don't know how I'm going to make it through two weeks of liquid....seriously! I'm going to try my hardest but I have a feeling that I would also be one of those posting "guess what I did" posts. I won't do anything stupid but if it is a choice of killing the next person who tells me to "shake it" or having some cottage cheese (which I also despise but will adjust too), then I'll opt for some really soft food to avoid a jail sentence. Good luck, hang in there and don't over do......We can do this and we will stop the cycle...food won't win in

This may be totally off subject but I have a question in anticipation of my upcoming surgery. Heregoes... I'm getting a Realize band and there is no "stitching" involved to place the port.....people that are experience a lot of port pain, is this the Lap Band because that is stitched in? I've read and others have said that there is a little less pain with the Realize port because it is sort of popped and clasped into place vs. stitching. Just wondering.... I really hope you are feeling better and everyone says the first few days are the worst....stay ahead of the pain by taking your medication...that is why they give it to us...pain is expected. Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing.

We are sharing butterflies - believe me! I'm breaking out in sweats etc. I'm not scared of the surgery part...that is nothing...I'm scared of my life after. I know it is for the better, BUT......we all know the "but" part. It's a great thing we are doing and it is going to be worth it. Good luck to you and we'll all say prayers for each other. Keep me posted on progress!

Oh, NO WAY, are my pics going to be nude either, I was just saying that despite him seeing me that way (ick), I couldn't bear him taking pics of me in my stretchy pants and t-shirt as a "before" - - - heavens NO will there be "necked" pics of me EVER - geesh!

I don't know if what I like has the "least" of anything but it is one that I like and will actually drink. I'm to be banded on 4/18 so I've been trying some. I am particular about it because I'd rather have something that might be a few calories/carbs more if I can get it down....if that makes sense. Powders that I like are the Dessert line. I think they are BSN. I don't care for anything with cinnamon in it but that is just me. I haven't gotten into the whole mixing this and adding this yet, because I'm just trying to figure out what I can drink and won't drink. As for ready-to-drink....I really really like the Oh Yeah brand. Cookies and Cream is really good and the chocolate is very chocolate (actually too sweet for me, which is unbelieveable) so I mix 1/2 of the chocolate with 1/2 of the vanilla. This is actually almost milkshake good for me. I am really going to rely on r-t-d shakes because I commute so long to work and my "time" is so limited during the morning. I can't bother with mixing shakes during the morning because I dont' have time and #2, the blender is so noisy for 5:30 in the morning. I didn't like the Pure Protein line but I've heard that costco has a brand that people are recommending. I would suggest (this is what I did) going on to www.vitalady.com and purchasing a bunch of samples. She charges $1.99 per sample and it is good for one shake. There are a ton of different Proteins to choose from. I ended up spending $30 just for samples. I tried the Isoflex, Gaspair and the IDS Multipro and they were pretty okay for no "extras" being added.

I said something like this to a friend of mine when I told her I was second guessing myself and I said "after all this is an elective surgery and not something I have to do" - she freaked out on me. She said to me (cutting and pasting her email to me)......"This is not "just" an elective surgery! This is a life altering surgery. You have struggled with this since before you and I became friends. You are a beautiful young woman and your weight has effected every part of your life. This is not only a good thing to do it is a wonderful thing to do. You will find your entire life changed and only for the good. Okay?????" Don't necessarily agree with the "beautiful young woman" but do agree with the "life altering surgery" vs. using the term elective surgery! I think that we second guess because everyone is usually against us and it is such a "stigma" with WLS.....yes, it is considered elective, but sometimes even "elective" is necessary.

I am due to be banded on 4/18....you are NOT alone...here is my conversation with myself last night while drying my hair: I'm looking at myself in the mirror....... "are you sure you want to do this? This is going to be such a huge change to your life, are you sure you are ready for the 'after life'. Can you handle the pain, the changes? Are you ready to give up your lifestyle as it is. What about all the food you love? Why are you putting yourself through this. Everyone tells you that you can do it without the band. Maybe give it one more shot that way and not resort to surgery." I say back to myself "NO, jackass (that's what I call myself when I'm mad at my thoughts), you can't do it alone. You've lost the weight time and time again only to gain back more and more and more. You can lose it but you can't keep it off. Look how hard you have worked to get to this point. You had to dedicate yourself to changes. Why did you even start this if you aren't ready to do it. DO you want to look like this forever? Don't you want to be IN the pictures again instead of being the one who takes them all the time. Are you happy with how you are? Are you happy with who you are? Are you happy in general? Do you want to be healthy to play with your son and be around for your son? Do you want to make him proud to call you his mom? Why does food have such a meaning to you? What makes it so special? What is more important, a stupid hamburger or fitting into a rollercoaster seat so you can enjoy the amuzement park with your child. What is more important, stuffing yourself at Thanksgiving or having a healthy heart so you can see your child graduate high school, get married, raise his own children? Don't you just want to get out of the ugly fat clothes!" I know what I must do and I'm going to do it. Yes, I'm scared, not of the surgery but my life after. But I know that I must do it for ME and I'm finally, finally ready to gain control. I need to do this to be healthy and HAPPY again. I think that part of the reason I love food so much is because it is my comfort because I'm fat and unhappy....the cycle, If I were happy with myself maybe i wouldn't need to the food to make me happy, and the food is making me fat which causes me to be unhappy! I'm tired of making jokes about myself so that others don't do it first.... You have to be ready, and if you have done the work then most likely are. It is scary and I probably bet almost everyone who has had any surgery second guesses it at some point (before and after), but a lot of them would do it all over again. I'm excited for my new healthy happy life to begin...it's going to be hard getting there but this life isn't working for me anymore and probably it isn't working for you if you are even considering the surgery. This is a huge decision.....and people who think we just decide one day to have surgery to have an "easy way out" have NO IDEA what goes inside of our hearts and heads and how much we struggle before (and after) surgery. This is huge....and you wouldn't have come this far if you weren't ready. I had my surgery scheduled for May, and they had to reschedule it because the surgeon was going out of town. They moved it up to April 18th - a month earlier and I literally had a panic attack. I was sweating at the thought of getting it done sooner. I guess it was because I had less time to mentally prepare....although I've been preparing since July for this....I'm still scared and I second guess it all the time but I'm going through with it....start my liquid diet on Wednesday.... Good luck to you...good luck to all of us.

I'm not a smoker and I wish you the absolute best of luck on quitting before your surgery. I know that my surgeons office will test the patients urine before surgery to see if there are any traces of nicotine or the by-product in the urine...(they both take a certain amount of time to get out of your system, so they know how long you have "quit"). They will not do any surgery if they find any trace in the urine. Just an FYI, I don't know if your surgeon will do that or not. As for the surgery and being put under.....easy pee-zie. Nothing to worry about. The only thing is that when you come out of it, you might be sick to your stomach so make sure you let them know so they can give you medication. I remember when I had my gallbladder out, I had the most amazingly attractive anethesiologist (sp?).....he gave me some good stuff to "relax" me and I started the stupidest conversation with him. When I woke up...the first thing I realized is that he saw me naked! I'm glad I never saw him again (not that he'd remember me anyhow but I'd totally remember him!). Getting put under is nothing to worry about, you won't remember a thing and it is amazing how that stuff works.

I have an "apron" that I know is going to stick with me even when I lose weight. I dread it and can already see it starting to sag more and I'm not even banded yet...this is just with my slow weight loss over the past few months. I KNOW I'll be applying for financial aid somewhere along the line for a tummy tuck because I know that apron is going to want to "Hang" around......I don't think any amount of exercise is going to help that! Maybe I'll put a collection jar on my desk and ask for donations for a tummy tuck? Although my insurance does pay for tummy tucks if they are deemed to be "medically necessary" - - I'll have to see what is considered medically necessary when the time arrives.....Good Luck to you and congratulations on losing 80 pounds...that is AWESOME!