shanatx

I did it because "my mind out talks my body". A friend of mine said that to me about why she had surgery. I thought about those words over and over all the way into the O.R. It is SO true. I am no "vet", and I'm still in recovery (1-month post-op) but I can tell you I'm still happy with my decision. The first week I was happy, the 2nd week not so much, and each week I am working through the emotional more and more. Strangely enough, the closer I get to being on regular foods again, the more scared I am. This forum is a FANTASTIC resource - WAYYY better than watching YouTube! Before surgery, I was concerned about the caution foods...that's what they are, "caution" because some people can eat them and some can't. Now, those foods scare me enough that I don't want to find out. I haven't thrown up and I don't want to. I've taken getting to food VERY slowly so as to heal fully. Good luck! This is YOUR journey!!

I did it because "my mind out talks my body". A friend of mine said that to me about why she had surgery. I thought about those words over and over all the way into the O.R. It is SO true. I am no "vet", and I'm still in recovery (1-month post-op) but I can tell you I'm still happy with my decision. The first week I was happy, the 2nd week not so much, and each week I am working through the emotional more and more. Strangely enough, the closer I get to being on regular foods again, the more scared I am. This forum is a FANTASTIC resource - WAYYY better than watching YouTube! Before surgery, I was concerned about the caution foods...that's what they are, "caution" because some people can eat them and some can't. Now, those foods scare me enough that I don't want to find out. I haven't thrown up and I don't want to. I've taken getting to food VERY slowly so as to heal fully. Good luck! This is YOUR journey!!

Sounds to me like you are feeling deprived of your old life. Unfortunately, after living however many years doing what we did before, of course it's near impossible to just stop. My dietician reminds me constantly about "moderation". For me personally, if I REALLY want the junk or not to workout one day - OKAY. But just once - whether that's one meal or one serving or one skipped workout. know I will feel guilty immediately and that will be the end of it. As long as you give yourself permission, I think you will bounce back better than ever.
Lapband is the tool - not the cure. Just like all the diets we have ever been on, we have to find what works for us.

I did it because "my mind out talks my body". A friend of mine said that to me about why she had surgery. I thought about those words over and over all the way into the O.R. It is SO true. I am no "vet", and I'm still in recovery (1-month post-op) but I can tell you I'm still happy with my decision. The first week I was happy, the 2nd week not so much, and each week I am working through the emotional more and more. Strangely enough, the closer I get to being on regular foods again, the more scared I am. This forum is a FANTASTIC resource - WAYYY better than watching YouTube! Before surgery, I was concerned about the caution foods...that's what they are, "caution" because some people can eat them and some can't. Now, those foods scare me enough that I don't want to find out. I haven't thrown up and I don't want to. I've taken getting to food VERY slowly so as to heal fully. Good luck! This is YOUR journey!!

Sounds to me like you are feeling deprived of your old life. Unfortunately, after living however many years doing what we did before, of course it's near impossible to just stop. My dietician reminds me constantly about "moderation". For me personally, if I REALLY want the junk or not to workout one day - OKAY. But just once - whether that's one meal or one serving or one skipped workout. know I will feel guilty immediately and that will be the end of it. As long as you give yourself permission, I think you will bounce back better than ever.
Lapband is the tool - not the cure. Just like all the diets we have ever been on, we have to find what works for us.

Sounds to me like you are feeling deprived of your old life. Unfortunately, after living however many years doing what we did before, of course it's near impossible to just stop. My dietician reminds me constantly about "moderation". For me personally, if I REALLY want the junk or not to workout one day - OKAY. But just once - whether that's one meal or one serving or one skipped workout. know I will feel guilty immediately and that will be the end of it. As long as you give yourself permission, I think you will bounce back better than ever.
Lapband is the tool - not the cure. Just like all the diets we have ever been on, we have to find what works for us.

Sounds to me like you are feeling deprived of your old life. Unfortunately, after living however many years doing what we did before, of course it's near impossible to just stop. My dietician reminds me constantly about "moderation". For me personally, if I REALLY want the junk or not to workout one day - OKAY. But just once - whether that's one meal or one serving or one skipped workout. know I will feel guilty immediately and that will be the end of it. As long as you give yourself permission, I think you will bounce back better than ever.
Lapband is the tool - not the cure. Just like all the diets we have ever been on, we have to find what works for us.

HealthyNewMe: For me, it's that first burp!
When I was researching doing the band, I went to YouTube before finding this forum. Several people on YouTube discussed "Soft Stops". The most common "thread" was that first came a burp but if you continue to eat then hiccups and if you don't stop at the hiccups, WATCH OUT!

I know several people who graze all day, or at the least have 5 tiny meals a day.....I always look at the big picture...how much did I actually eat in a single day? Which adds up to how much in a week? and so on...and realize, as a whole, I eat considerably less that what I did before surgery...adapting a new lifestyle.

remember what you felt like 60 pounds ago?
did you have to wear bigger clothes? did you feel horrible? horrible enough
to seek WLS for assistance? ..........losing 60 pounds is terrific.......and if you
want to continue to get well by losing weight (eating great foods, exercising and living),
you will keep on doing what you are doing.......because if you dont, you will slowly but surely start regaining what you lost......you have come too far to go backwards.....
did this help?

Sounds to me like you are feeling deprived of your old life. Unfortunately, after living however many years doing what we did before, of course it's near impossible to just stop. My dietician reminds me constantly about "moderation". For me personally, if I REALLY want the junk or not to workout one day - OKAY. But just once - whether that's one meal or one serving or one skipped workout. know I will feel guilty immediately and that will be the end of it. As long as you give yourself permission, I think you will bounce back better than ever.
Lapband is the tool - not the cure. Just like all the diets we have ever been on, we have to find what works for us.

Yes I would talk to the nutritionist... it seems quite depressing to hear that you guys are stuck at a certain weight for such a long period of time with the band!? I realize that this process will not necessarily happen over night and it takes hard work and effort for the band to work properly. But I cannot imagine that if you are following the diet/calorie intake and working out that much and seeing no result in years? There must be something missing here...

Several years back i had to get another wedding band because my original one from 34 yrs ago was too small. Well now the bigger one along with my other ring is starting to slide off. Thought I'd try my old band knowing it won't fit yet and omgosh it slid right on. So now I wearing my original wedding band again. oh what a feeling!!!

Have fun in Hawaii!

Y'all are MUCH more encouraging than YouTubers! I'm feeling much better about flying now and I will stick with light foods, maybe just soup! The other tip I have received is not to get a fill 6 weeks prior. I'm not sure how that would make any difference though.

Has anyone had any issues with flying?
I've seen some videos on YouTube where some banders have commented they have extreme tightness when flying.
I asked my doc about it prior to surgery and he said he hadn't heard of any complaints.
My plan is to visit my son in Hawaii mid-April so I'm wondering if there's any do's or don'ts.
Thank you in advance!

All of you just nailed everything I feel and have gone through these last several months. I was banded 12/18/2013. I'm still in the recovery stage of surgery, still have port pain when I bend over even slightly, still have major stiffness if I don't move for long periods (like sleeping or working at a desk). I keep thinking this pain will never go away but it's you-all that remind me that it's just a process. Thank you for this forum and speaking up...it REALLY helps others in this new journey like me!

2muchfun: THANK YOU for the graphic! I have had moments where it felt like my ribs on my left hurt and/or all of a sudden someone punched me in the lungs. Those feelings have begun to subside some but now it makes sense as to why my ribs feel sore!

2muchfun: THANK YOU for the graphic! I have had moments where it felt like my ribs on my left hurt and/or all of a sudden someone punched me in the lungs. Those feelings have begun to subside some but now it makes sense as to why my ribs feel sore!

Many bandster's underestimate the trauma done to our bodies during surgery.
So I'm sorry to be too graphic here but remember, someone filled your body cavity full of gas, they pumped fluids, medications, antibiotics and anesthesia into your body. They punched 5 holes in your abdomen, moved all your inner body parts around, shoved a tube down your throat, took an electric scalpel and burned away excess fat and tissue wrapped around your upper stomach, the surgeon then wrapped a plastic strap around your stomach just below the lower esophogeal sphincter, stitched it in place with 5-6 sutures bringing your lower stomach up and over the band suturing the band in place and then snaked a tube out of your body and then sewed another plastic piece to the muscle tissue on your rib cage
I know we were all told this was a minimal invasive surgery, but it's still very traumatic to a group of organs that have lived the good life for years and years.
tmf

Thank you - I'm just praying nothing has happened with my port! Unfortunately, I don't know how I would know.

I was banded 12/18/2013. I still have pain at the port area when I bend slightly. Just brushing my teeth can spark pain. All incisions seem to be fine.
If anyone remembers, how long did it take for you to have no more pain at the port area?

That's GREAT! I think he's pretty smart coming up with that!!

Thank you - I'm just praying nothing has happened with my port! Unfortunately, I don't know how I would know.

I was banded 12/18/2013. I still have pain at the port area when I bend slightly. Just brushing my teeth can spark pain. All incisions seem to be fine.
If anyone remembers, how long did it take for you to have no more pain at the port area?