chasingadream

Congratulations...what a wonderful success story so far....i am not banded yet and stories like this make me not second guess myself!!

Thank you all so much for helping me get a handle on all this new information that will soon be a reality for me....i hope!!! You all are such an inspiration and I have learned so much from you!

Good luck to both of you!!

Im going thru all the appts. now...so far one with primary, one with surgeon, one support group, one dietician support group, one with pulmonologist they did breathing tests, that one led to 2 more one for chest xray and one for sleep study, one with cardiologist where they did ekg that led to two more, one for echocardiogram and one for pharmacological stress test, of course i had to have a follow-up with pulmonologist to discuss sleep test study, blood work at lab, and I still have to go for my upper gi series, and one appt with the dietician and psychologist.....this was all on top of 6 mos supervised doctor visits....

...after all that is complete i need to see my primary again for clearance (like all of the above wasnt enough....lol) Then i will submit to GHI, my insurance, and hope for approval...

Alot of work...but it will all be worth it if I get approval and get banded as soon as I can!!

Good luck to you!!

Congrats on your decision....i am finishing up the testing required so I can hopefully get insurance approval as well. Good luck...it is a wild ride so far and im not even banded yet! Looking forward to good things to come!!!!

Congrats to you and thank you for sharing your experiences....im working on getting banded soon...hopefully sept....seems soooo far away....keep me posted! Looking forward to following your progress!

I have been banded since June 6th, and I can tell you what it feels like to me.

Normally I don't feel anything. I feel fairly normal.

I do feel hungry, but when I eat which is very very freaking slowly, I start to feel very full.

That's what my ''restricted'' feels like.

If you get very full you feel very restricted.

If you get over full you get sick, and it hurts.

I have never gone to that point, just to the point of feeling satisfied and not hungry anymore.

But I can tell you feel like you do NOT want to put another bite in your mouth. Not because you are overly full, not because you feel stuffed, I cant explain it but I just dont want to eat anymore. I feel comfortably full and saited.

Thank you SOOOO much, that does help! Just trying to prepare and wrap my head around all that is going to happen and change but guess I REALLY wont know until I'm there.....thanks again!

Thank you both...im not banded so maybe im not getting it....i understand the band is not restricting what you eat etc...i guess im asking is that "restriction" they talk about feeling over and over in the book.....is it a describable feeling or do you have to be banded to truly understand it...forgive my ignorance on this....

Ok...so I've been reading "the BIG book on the lap-band" and I'm learning so much from it.

As I read and read....they keep talking about "feeling restriction". Now I know from being all over these boards that you dont actually feel your band inside of your body (except the port) but can someone possibly describe what it means to "feel" restricted.....

Is it possible to put it into words.....

All of you are a great help...receiving such great ideas and support for whats to come....

Finishing up all of the testing needed and my 6 mos supervised diet...hoping for a sept date...seems sooooooo far away! Oh my!

Thanks!!

What success...congrats to you....you look fabulous!

Sooo I just picked up my medications and am trying to relax, but I am SO anxious. These past two weeks have been such a roller coaster! As of this morning I've lost 14 lbs. from the liquid diet. Looking forward to that stage being over, but I made it. It's been so difficult to make the decision of who to tell, did ya'll make it public knowledge or keep it more private? I've told my parents, fiancé and best friend. I'm just going to leave everyone else guessing, I just don't think it's fair to myself to have to share my most personal struggles. Gotta admit though, feels weird going into surgery. I've calmed my "are you crazy for subjecting yourself to all of this electively?!" thoughts by reminding myself that this is not in fact elective. I'm so grateful for this forum!!!!

Wishing you the best of luck....im still in my pre-op phase and would love to hear how you make out......

it has worked well for me so far

my dr advised me that even though i have this extra (tool to help aid the band) it was still up to me to eat good food and to exercise) or no WLS would help. my own personal opinion is that it does help me feel fuller quicker and does not allow me to overeat. i am working it the best i can. ..it has literally saved my life and gave me mobility again...it works if the person works it.

Thank you as always for your help and input...i really enjoy reading your blogs. I am learning so much from everyone here...

I also opted for the added plication, and I'm glad I did. I can't say what the band would be like without plication, but I do know that the times I've tried to push the amount of slider type foods, my smaller stomach stops me from going out of control. I'm pretty good about sticking to my program, but the days when I veer off path, the plication stops me from eating too much......of anything!

You're not finding a lot online, because the long term studies aren't there. The procedure is still considered investigational, and won't be approved by the FDA until there is long term data; at least 5 years. From what I know, banded plication has only been done for about 3 years, but so far it's looking very promising.

Good luck!

Thanks so much for the feedback and your experiences....I am leaning towards the plication as well and appreciate your input......

Hello all,

I am in my pre-op testing phase, finishing up 6 mos dr supervised diet and have the option of Lapband alone or Lapband with plication....

I've been reading and researching and have found tons of stuff on the lapband alone....and not much research on it WITH plication.

Soooo....I'm reaching out to anyone who has had it done! Your overall experience and any extra information you have on the procedure would be greatly appreciated!

I've learned so much from this site...hoping to learn lots more!

Thanks!

You are truly an inspiration!! I am just beginning this wild ride with the beginning of my testing phase. I can't wait to get the band and begin the journey. I see from all of you what hard work it is but i am ready, willing, and thankfully able to begin this amazing journey and transformation.

Stories like yours fill me with hope and excitement about what may lay ahead for me. I know everyones' journey is so very different but I like to hang my hope on those successful stories such as yours.

Congrats and thanks again for being an inspiration....you look amazing...love your pics!!

Had my consult and even went to an informational/support group- it was good. Am beginning all of the testing. Definitely getting the band just trying to decide if I want it with plication which my doc is offering me- like the sleeve but they dont cut your stomach-they fold and suture it to make it smaller. Im a bit obsessed with researching and reading all that I can.

Everyone here is such an inspiration and I am getting such wonderful information! Im looking forwad to learning from everyone here

Seems like you and I are close to the same place in our journey. Tawnya has been a major inspiration to me. I assume you've had *the class* by now if you're on your way. How was it?

Linda

You are all very inspirational. Hi, I am beginning all of my pre-op tests and unfortunately have the 6 month supervised diet with my doctor. I've been researching and researching and researching and have been spending alot of time here seeing what people's experiences have been.

You are doing great...I am hoping to have the band as soon as I can...

Looking forward to following your progress and to continue to be inspired by you!

Thanks!