beabenitez1978

Reading everyone's experience about the lap band and the "stuck" face - it's like we were all twins. I just met with a new surgeon to get my band out. I have the option to go with the sleeve or bypass. I'm glad I'm not the only one experience all the problems this piece of junk has caused me. All I can say now is don't ever go to True Results. I'm going with a top notch surgeon, and the difference is night and day.

There is no comparison. I was banded in 1996 and struggled every day for 20 years. I threw up daily and struggled mostly with healthy foods like fruit, veggies, and meat. I had RNY on 4/6/16. The doctor found that the band had eroded my stomach and adhered to my spleen and liver. 3 months later, I am eating veggies, fish, and fruit. No throwing up and no pain. I've lost over 40 lbs and have 60 more to go.
I weigh all of my food but I can tell I'm full because it feels the same way as when you eat a huge plate. So...stuffed.
If I'm eating in a restaurant, I don't weigh my food but I know what 4 Oz looks like and I know when I've had enough. I only eat at places I know I can order something that works for me. I suffered for 20 years and I regret every day of that band. The past 3 months have been awesome.

Yes...losing is so much better than picking up around or 2 every few weeks....and I don't miss any of the torture of the band.I can eat anything but I have been real strict...no breads,no starches,no rice or potatoes,pastas etc.I only have organic steel cut oatmeal in the morning.Otherwise,protein and vegetables.About once a month I may have a serving of Beans or lentil soup....I have started incorporating nuts but this is no easy task....very disciplined....actually my struggle is with water... Slow
Loss
But glad to be losing!

I am trying to prepare myself mentally. I still don't know what my family is going to think of me. I know my fiancé doesn't want me to get it. My sister doesn't feel like I need it and has reservations about me doing so, but ultimately my sister said the decision is mine to make and she'll support me with whatever choice I decide. I haven't told my mom/dad. I'm sure my dad will support, but my mom might have something "negative" to say about it.
I went through this process before and I ended up not going through with the surgery because of what people were saying about it and fear. All I kept hearing and sometimes still to this day "you're taking the easy way out, you don't need to do that you can do it on your own". Which led me to believe otherwise.
I am doing this for me and only me. I've tired so hard and for so long just to not be successful. This is my life to live and I am taking it back.
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So I have my date set for the 22 of September and Im a little bit nervous. anyone out there a September bro or sis that we can encourage each other on this looser path LOL.... This is the Looser path cause we are going ot loooooooooseeeee all of theweight that have hold us in doing a lot of things in life. The tool given to us is to have a better quality in life..... Lets get this party started....!!!!!!!!!

Bostonbritt ....me too! I am scheduled for the 4th of August, and needless to say I'm pretty nervous, not to mention kinda scared too.... Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App
We are surgery buddies!! August 5th, 8am!!! Congrats to us both!! Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

Bostonbritt ....me too! I am scheduled for the 4th of August, and needless to say I'm pretty nervous, not to mention kinda scared too.... Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App
We are surgery buddies!! August 5th, 8am!!! Congrats to us both!! Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

It is official, my surgery date is August 3rd! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!

The whole process is very emotional, but yes, the pre-op diet is very hard at times. You are grieving a way of life that just won't be the same after the surgery (at least for a very long time, and hopefully never, if you put your mind to it)... and let's be honest... you are HUNGRY.
I found myself pissed at the world about food. Every commercial with food in it irritated me. Watching my family eat ticked me off, made me sad, and at times I even teared up.
I'm not that far along. I am 3 weeks post-op on Monday... My surgery was a textbook case, I am healing well, and have been able to introduce pureed/soft foods into my diet. I had a little hiccup with that yesterday and found myself frustrated and in tears again.
I know some Vets will come along, and I know they will tell you great things about their journey! Really, I found that pre-op diet to be the most torturous! But you can do it, and the part that's hard to wrap your mind around is that, every pound you lose now is part of the big picture... it's not going to come back in a month! Remember that!
Good luck!

@@BigViffer,
Thanks for sharing your experience! You are right that it can be really helpful for newbies and veterans alike to know that someone as successful as you still makes mistakes and recovers from them.
I think the occasional … um… poor decision … can be very helpful and even necessary, too. Sometimes, for me, I get into a pattern of feeling a bit like I have to say “No” to so many foods. When I finally give in and have something junky, I realize it really wasn’t all that great.
You handled it perfectly, in my opinion, by recognizing it and moving on. I think it is also worth noting how far you’ve come. 42 wings??? Somewhere around 4,000 calories? And now your big splurge is 600 calories? Nice.

Hello! August 17th will be one year since my bypass. I was certainly nervous before surgery! Not just nervous, by impatient, excited, and generally just in a state of overexcitement for weeks leading up to it. You'd be crazy if you were utterly calm! I dealt with it by being as prepared as I could possibly be. I watched probably hundreds of hours of videos on youtube by people from every stage before and after surgery. I read basically this entire site. I participated in discussions, asked questions. I made sure I had all my shakes/vitamins/etc prepared. That not only kept me busy but really soothed the intense emotions I was dealing with leading up to surgery. You've got this! Hang in there, soon you'll be on the other side, and soon after that you'll be a year out and living a normal, healthy life. Feel free to stop by my page and message me if there is anything I can help you with.

Good morning everyone. I was wondering if anyone nerves started getting to them before surgery? The closer I get the more anxiety I'm having. My official date is August 11. Just about a month out.. I'm not having second thoughts just very very very nervous. Not sure why or what to do. Any advice???

Bea lets keep in touch! Would love someone to navigate this with!
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Hello all! Well..just got my surgery date...August 4th...and needless to say I am actually nervous. This will be a band to bypass revision, and it seems no matter how much research I have done, I find myself very much scared and nervous... it'd be nice to find some that are going through the same journey!!
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As of yesterday, I have lost 134lbs and now weigh under 200lbs!!
I had my surgery January 11.
Start weight was 333.1
Yesterday's weight 199.1
As someone who has spent the majority of my adult life weighing well over 300lbs, this is a huge accomplishment for me. I never thought I would get to this weight. I cried when I saw the scale yesterday.
When I had wls, I never really picked a number I wanted to get to as a goal weight....all I wanted was that number to start with a 1!!! Now that I'm here, I feel there's nothing I can't accomplish. I'm still not sure where I want to be yet, but my next goal will be to get to 180lbs. 
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@@sarcruze
Thanks for the kind words. Yes, my weight loss has been very quick.
I've stuck to a very low carb/low sugar diet, and thankfully have not had one stall....knock on wood...
And yes, I exercise a lot...swimming, yoga, bike riding, walking...I've been working very hard.
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I totally understand new confidence and an absolute love of the new attention. Here are my thoughts about this situation:
- if you're this close to straying, maybe your current girlfriend is not the best match for you.
- would this new girl you like have been interested in you however many pounds ago? Would she have given you a second look before? Is that something that would bother you?
- the attention you're getting now is utterly superficial. the attention your girlfriend gave(gives) you is not.
the bottom line is that if you are able to seriously lust after someone who is not your so and are even contemplating leaving her for greener pastures, you're really not doing you or her any favors by continuing this way. You're just limiting yourself and you're making her watch as you slowly slip away from her, who loved you before you dropped weight, to other people who are only interested in you now that you're more conventionally attractive.
Good luck to you. These are the issues no doctor ever mentions, and no one can really help us with after major weight loss. We have to recreate entire new self-images and identities. Just make sure you're keeping a little perspective while that's happening.

Firstly, you look great.. But secondly, remember who's been there when you were bigger and loved you regardless. Remember who helped you through surgery and recovery.. And has put up with this process and held your hand every step of the way. New attention is good, but remember who was there and what that means.
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Bostonbritt ....me too! I am scheduled for the 4th of August, and needless to say I'm pretty nervous, not to mention kinda scared too.... Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App
We are surgery buddies!! August 5th, 8am!!! Congrats to us both!! Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

My name is Diane and I'm in CA. I'm guess I'm what would be considered a lightweight at 5'4 and 220 lbs. I have considered bariatrics, like most of us I imagine, off and on over the years but rejected the idea due in lieu of trying harder to do it "on my own." What has brought me to this point now is that I have tracheal stenosis (where my trachea becomes narrowed due to scar tissue and inflammation). I also have severe LPR (a form of gerd) which I believe is significantly exacerbating, if not downright causing, this issue. The shortness of breath had been going on for 3 years becoming progressively worse before I was diagnosed. I had a laser surgery and dilation on my trachea in April, at which point my airway had been 50-60% closed. Within 5 weeks I was already having new inflammation in the area.
So, I am having a roux en y with slight modifications to strengthen my upper sphincter and hopefully relieve me of the LPR. Between having less acid, making it more difficult for existing acid to get to my airway and by reducing intra-abdominal pressure with weight loss we are hopeful. Otherwise, I could be looking at repeated dilation procedures for the rest of my life.
I went to my first seminar in February and had an appointment with the surgeon a few weeks after. We decided that after I met the conditions of the surgeon's office we would submit to the insurance as a general surgery for anti-reflux purposes to avoid having to go through the 6 month diet requirement. We both fear a restenosis in my airway the longer we wait. Fortunately, I had already met most of the requirements having seen several specialists recently.
We submitted to the insurance on the 23rd and I called this morning and they said it was approved! I am quite in shock actually. They apparently approved it the very next day, but the surgeon's office didn't even know about it yet. So my surgery has been set for August 8th.
Like most people, I am simultaneously excited and terrified.

I started preop diet today. So far it hasn't been too bad. Surgery is on the 6th so hopefully I make until then.
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I'm August 11
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Im August 3 and very nervous and excited at the same time
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Hello All! I'm August 4th and I'm probably gonna have some kind of panic attack before then. lol! I've switched surgeons and subsequently procedure type all over the last month. It's been a long time coming I'm just ready to get this chapter of my life rolling.
~Tori~

I am doing a lap band to RNY revision on August 24th so excited and nervous!
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