lisacaron

Thank you for sharing your stories. You are right when you say that is what they are, YOUR stories. YOUR experience. I am living MINE as is each person on this site. Please don't cloud the issues with your issues. We are all aware of the risks vs. gain in getting banded today. There is extensive research that can be done and that is provided by health care practitioners who are still placing bands today. Are you a surgeon or medical doctor? Do you have a degree in the medical field or technology field that produces bands for WLS? Do you work in the OR / ER as a registered nurse for any of the hospitals you mentioned? Or did you gather that information from Google or Wikipedia? No matter if you are new, just banded, about to be banded or banded for 10 or more years. Your experience is always going to be just that. YOUR experience. You can be a statistic if you wish to be. You can be 1 in 10 or 1 in 5 but I suggest you just be you. If WLS surgery is an option you or a family member is considering, please do your due diligence. Research reputable surgeons and speak to your doctors. Get out and see for yourself meet people talk to surgeons check out the manufactures of bands today gain some firsthand knowledge, and then choose to walk the path or not without judgment. That is where this thread falls short, it's passing judgment on those before and after, and the last time I checked no one asked for that. This is an open forum to share your story and for others to share their stories and their onions not to judge, disillusion or harm others as you do when you make broad statements that are not matters of fact and cannot be substantiated by more than your individual experience. Good luck in whatever path you choose, and I hope that you have a much better experience in the future with no complications.

Thanks for sharing CG. I have to say I am blessed to have the support of my family and friends. I have not had to hide the fact that I have been banded and for that I am truly grateful. Everyone in our family, our co-workers and friends have been nothing but supportive of my husband and I we are very lucky and in turn try to be supportive to everyone as we can be.

First of all please let me say that I am sorry that you have suffered such a loss. I'm sure that this last year has not been easy, but please don't make things any harder by beating yourself up. All of us here have had our share of good bad and ugly eating habits. We were not always athletic, or even knew where our sneakers could be found! (Ok I'm guilty of that So you my friend have found yourself in good company here, and there are a lot of people in the group that can give you great insite and information about the lap band and you can find all kinds of sites and information online, but your right the only one who can make the choice is you. About a 2 years ago, I went to see my Dr. I thought I was ready to do this! I'm tired of being overweight, I'm tired of being tired and feeling sick! I'm going to get the band! Then I got home and started reading about all the tests and Dr.'s I would have to see and then I started thinking… if I could stand on my head to do all that then I could just lose the weight on my own! Now I know I wasn't ready to commit to all it would take to have the surgery, or all it would take to be succesful after it. If you're on the fence give yourself some time. Your still healing from all the emotional trauma you have experienced in the last year and you need to be sure that you are 100% committed to this life style change. While the band is reversible, it's not recommended you view it that way. So take some time, join Weight Watchers or a similar program on a month to month or week to week basis and see how you feel about it in a few weeks/ months, and revisit the idea again. For me, it took 2 years to fully commit to having the surgery and committing to all the changes I had to make in my life. It's not easy to face your food demons or the other things that can drive right back to your bad habits and food choices. Once you embark on the WLS path that is exactly what you will have to do every day to be successful with it. I wish you all the best, and please come back and ask as many questions as you need to. There are a lot of very supportive and helpful bunch of people here.

Please do not use mederma or anything else in that area. Just keep it clean with soap and Water. The incision looks good and the area that is open will heal. Try to keep the area clean and if it rubs against your clothing just put a simple gauze pad over it with nothing under it. If the skin around the incision site gets red or feels hot then you need to get to the Dr. because you are brewing a possible infection. The wound is still open so mederma, or any other kind of cream could result in getting bacteria into the wound so steer clear of those things until the wound is fully closed and healed. Trust me this is coming from experience with wound and incision infection.

I feel like I am the shortest one here at 5'1". I started this journey at 260 and I am not 232. I'd like to lose 100lbs more though I am happy at every weight I am at as long as I am healthy! I have not always been healthy so for me that is my goal. Healthy and happy. The lowest weight I have been was about 24 years ago before I started having children and I was 110 lbs. I don't think I will ever see that weight again, but I never like to say never

Woo Hoo! Keep up the good work!

First of all don't feel like a failure! You just had a baby, your still nursing and you need some time to heal. Your body has just been through one of the most dramatic and traumatic things a woman can go through and you have a beautiful baby now. I have 3 sons and 2 step sons so I know it can be so difficult to get any time for yourself, but when you can take it. Even if you are going for a stroll with the baby on a beautiful summer morning. Running after the kids is going to help get you back into shape. Add them into the routine, make them part of it with you they will love it. I would wait on the fill till you are done nursing because you need the extra nutrients to pass along to the baby. Just watch the things you are choosing to eat larger portions of, and once you are done nursing make an appointment for a fill. Most of all be kind to yourself, that is the first step in getting back on track to take care of yourself. Congratulations and Best of Luck to you!

Ah my friend I am all too familiar with family issues and STRESS. It can really take a toll on you and weight loss is not the only way it can get to you. Though it is much easier to say then to do, please for your own sake take care of yourself. Give yourself a break and show yourself some love. Even if you have to take a moment or two and lock yourself in the bathroom to take some deep calming breaths, it helps. Best wishes for you and your family. Stay strong, keep breathing and this too shall pass.

Both my husband and I were given one after surgery. We were both banded in May. However my father had curated artery surgery and he was given one as well, so I'm thinking this might just be something they do for any extensive surgery where the patient is intubated and sedated to open up the lungs and clear them of fluid after surgery.

Best of wishes to you and your family. Keep up the good work you're doing great!

I think your right on track. Clear liquids are usually only for a couple of days before you can progress to thicker Soups and Protein shakes. Pumpkin soup sounds amazing wish I had thought of that when I was hungry after my surgery. By the end of the week you'll move to mushy or purred foods. If you put them in the blender that will make them soup like and smooth. I've had chili from Wendy's and put that in the blender and it was delicious after weeks of sweet shakes and pudding, and I'm not a big chili eater never would have thought to eat it before surgery. Now we make turkey chili all the time, add lots of vegies to it that I put in the blender so they are in there but don't get stuck and I love it. I'll have to try the Pumpkin soup next time I have fill and need some soup! You're doing great! Keep up the good work.

My friend plan to be off at least 2 weeks. If you are not telling people at work about your surgery it's going to be hard to go back and be able to do all the things you normally do. Your stitches will take at least 4-6 weeks to heal and close so you want to be careful. You don't want to be lifting things that could cause a hernia where the incisions are or anything else. I have a desk job and I went back to work after 10 days. While I was feeling great, and was ready to get out of the house, it wasn't the best choice for me. The seat belt in my car and the edge of my desk line up with one of my incisions and it ended up getting infected from being rubbed against and it was uncomfortable for a while and took longer to heal and drained for a week straight. I should have stayed home another week. My husband is a fire fighter and he had surgery 2 days after me, he was home for the full 6 weeks + until he was able to lift things without injury. If you have the time take it. If you are able to use FMLA use it, if your job has short term disability or light work apply for it. If you have to tell them you're having surgery tell them it's abdominal surgery they don't need to know it's weight loss surgery it could be anything. Female problem, or gallbladder or anything really. Give yourself the time to heal. You are doing this to make your life healthier, so start off on the right foot and give yourself the time to heal before getting back to work if you can. Best of luck to you!

I have heard about this before, and some advice that was given was to try something warm. Sounds like you might be a bit tight, if you have a cold or something that could make it more so in the mornings. For me the mornings are a bit tighter, and I usually start the day with a cup of coffee or tea before eating anything. It really does help. Hope you feel better soon.

Banded May 6th. Down 27 pounds. I think that's pretty awesome for less then 3 months. I would have never been able to do that before. I've had one fill, pretty sure I need another, but I'm working it! Keep the calories low and hitting the gym at least 5 days a week. Feeling good!!

The gas pain can be uncomfortable, try the Gas-X and walking. Try a heating pad or hot Water bottle to see if it helps move things along. If you are still in alot of pain don't hestitate to give your surgeon a call. Better safe then sorry is my motto. Feel better!

Thanks still going strong! I made it to the gym 5 days last week. 40-45 minutes on the treadmill. I upped the MPH from 2.5-3.0 and do that at intervals. Not ready to jog just yet, I have short legs so going any faster would be a jog for me. Maybe next week I'll push it a little faster...but I am feeling better about it and making it part of my routine. I think a little core work out and toning is in order to start working on building some muscle as well.

I am truly bummed today… I have had my first fill, and I am going to the gym 5 days a week. I'm really working on choosing and eating the right foods to work with the band. I'll admit I don't always, and there are days like today when I am so frustrated not seeing my numbers go down and I wonder what I am doing wrong…? Or am I just being impatient? Then I get that discouraged feeling that drives me right back to my old habits. So I spend the day fighting myself trying to convince myself I should not gorge on those fudge pops, it's probably better for ME not to even have them in the house and even if I have a headache I should put those sneakers on and go to the gym anyway! I should close my eyes and get some sleep at night and stop beating myself up, I'm tired, I need to get to the Dr. my blood pressure meds are probably keeping me even more tired..yet there are those excuses and bad habits of mine again. So I called and called the Dr.'s office only to keep getting the machine to leave a message and they will call me back to make an appointment, and guess what I did that last week when no one called me back! So I tore them a new one..sent them a mean spirited e-mail about their staff and office practices…and low and behold the office manager called me up! That was a first, usually people just run and hide from me when I am on a roll but this time they called me out so now I'll have to play ball and get my butt to the Dr. at the pre-set time. Sorry for the rant, thanks for being there…I was just feeling truly bummed today Maybe I will take myself to the gym anyway and work some of that frustration away.

Try Muscle Milk Light and just tell everyone you are on a new fitness program. This way when you start looking and feeling great they won't have so many questions they will just think it's working for you. I didn't hide my surgery but there are times I wish I had when people keep looking at me wondering why I am not 100 pounds lighter in only 3 months! I went back to work after the first week, and really I wish I had stayed home for 2 weeks. I was a bit tired getting back into work even though I sit behind a desk all day, you can't sleep there. The drive, the seat belt and my desk kept hitting up against my incision and I got one of them infected about 3 weeks out, and it took longer for it to close up. I made it through no pain just a bit of discomfort, but I would definitely recommend taking the extra time home, or starting back half days if you are able. Best of luck to you!

I agree, the title of the post stating band failure was meant to lure people in thinking that something happened to the band and since most of us here have one or will have one soon so our interest is peaked to read the post. If something works for you by all means share away. No matter what it is because even under Water basket weaving techniques might help out someone who is looking for it, but be authentic in your statements please. You didn't have 100% band failure. Even if you think that is what it is, it is not. If your band there it's functioning then it's not failed. Everything takes effort and commitment. If using the band as a tool didn't help you I'm sorry to hear that you chose to give up on it. It was meant to be worked not just implanted like a magic bean stalk bean and poof you lose 100 pounds. If the diet is working for you keep at it. If your reading this post and you’re a bandster new old or yet to be, find what works for you and use your band in tandem as the tool it was meant to be.

Don't be nervous it's nothing. The Dr. or PA will put a needle in the port, you will hardly feel even the pinch of the needle. My Dr. extracted all the primer Fluid that was put in the bad after surgery and then replaced that fluid and added just a bit more. They gave me some Water to drink to be sure it didn't get too tight and I was fine. You will be on a liquid diet for a couple of days after just in case any swelling happens, and the you will be back to a normal diet again. If you have any trouble swallowing, or symptoms of being stuck you may be too tight and need a small unfill but I didn't have that problem. Best of luck to you on your fill!

Sad to say but people can be very insensitive when it comes to each other. I'm sorry that your daughter is not supportive of your decision but she doesn't have to be. It's not like you're taking her to the surgical ward. This is something you are doing for you and that is wonderful. Sometimes the focus needs to be on us. We need to take the time and the energy to make an investment in ourselves for our lives and our future and for our families. Your daughter will come around, she may just be worried about you not knowing all the facts, or even jealous that you are doing something so monumental for yourself. Take care of you, recover from the surgery feel better and don't focus on any negative stuff. This journey is difficult enough without adding other people's fears to it even when they are our children. Best of luck to you!

Sometimes when we make changes in our lives it shifts everything. Our perspective on life and food and our relationship with food and even the people that surround us can't help but change and shift with us. Sometimes there are growing pains, and eventually we all adjust to our new position and way of being and we shed that old skin discard it and keep moving forward. It's not always the easiest thing to do, and I commend you for taking care of yourself and reaching out to share your story and your feelings. I know it really helps me too when I am going through changes and challenges to be able to reach out to others who are understanding. Feel better and keep taking care of you.

I think your right about the interval training. I was trying the couch to 5K and it was giving you that interval training I think I will go back to that. I can start low and work up toward a full run. Once upon my 20's I was very fit, but add another 20 years and a desk job, not so much at all. Starting back slowly I know I'll hit my stride I'm not giving up!

I had my surgery on May 6th and so far lost about 24 pounds. I've had one fill so far, and think I could use another one. I see the Dr. in August and will find out then. Weight loss has been stalled for me since right after surgery, I am eating well tracking calories and exercising…I see some change in weight distribution and inches, so I'm staying positive and hope to see those numbers go down!

You have all of us!!! Reach out…it really helps me on days when I feel the same way. I am only a couple of months out from surgery but I have been using that myfitnesspal app and it helps me to track my calories Protein etc. I must admit I don't do it all the time like I should. The weekends are the worst for me, I'm great during the week very disciplined but the weekends send me for a loop. My husband and I did the surgery together, and even though we are together in the struggle it's different for me then for him. He is losing weight faster than I am, and he's not going to the gym like I am every day. He needs a full hip replacement and mobility for him is tough, so we have issues where I want to be fit and he can' t be doing what I am doing and yet I am still not losing the weight as much as he is, don't be discouraged look up that my fitness pal website and get the jump on your husband!