CTJohn

Hi all
Been awhile for me... but wanted to post an article recently written in my band ‘experience’. Very pleased.... honestly, never an issue and pretty simple overall. If I can do it, you can too. Give it a thought. If I can help, let me know!
http://www.townvibe.com/Ridgefield/September-October-2018/Worth-the-Weight/
john

Before, obviously 🙂
Post lap band

So, been awhile since I’ve been on... happy to report everything is good (3 1/2 years out)
Can’t believe I actually did it.... but last week had my eyes fixed up (excess skin on eyelids and bags under eyes) and extra skin on my neck removed. Sorry, can’t remmeber official procedure names.... 3 hour surgery, all good.... never took a pain pill
How long should I expect to look normal? Well, like I didn’t have surgery. Ha
i have little swelling, stictches out Wednesday which is cool. But the incision on my neck is pretty obvious right now
Thanks!

Thank you for your well wishes!
I had originally gone for eyes - the extra skin made my lids droopy and I always looked tired. Dr said both could be done at the same time.
Btw. Of course, insurance didn’t cover it, I didn’t even ask Lucky enough to be able to private pay. I asked doc if he could do anything on price since I was doing eyes and neck, and he did eyes for half price. Doesn’t hurt to ask!

So, been awhile since I’ve been on... happy to report everything is good (3 1/2 years out)
Can’t believe I actually did it.... but last week had my eyes fixed up (excess skin on eyelids and bags under eyes) and extra skin on my neck removed. Sorry, can’t remmeber official procedure names.... 3 hour surgery, all good.... never took a pain pill
How long should I expect to look normal? Well, like I didn’t have surgery. Ha
i have little swelling, stictches out Wednesday which is cool. But the incision on my neck is pretty obvious right now
Thanks!

Ok, for those who do not know me, a little background.
Was banded Jan 2011....met my goal weight within 12 months. Have been 100% successful and as happy as can be ever since, the band did everything I had expected to. I will also add I never had a single problem. If you call getting stuck, regurgitating a problem, well good luck with that.......I call that a learning curve. Stop doing what caused those issues.
Toughest Part?? Letting the band make the rules, and me changing, adapting to get along with what the bands demands. That meant giving up a lot of things I used to enjoy.
Today...went back to my surgeon (and office staff) who I have not seen in a few years......Reason? To discuss having the band removed. Why? Not that there are problems, not that it does not work, but because it did work...for years. I figure by now I have learned new habits....eating small portions, abstaining form certain foods such as meat, flour based products, etc....learning Protein and Water is a daily given. I feel I can survive with out the band. So they removed ALL the Fluid from my band, 8cc's. Will go back in December and start planning the pre-surgery clearances and decide on a surgery date. probably Jan-Feb.

It's been a very rewarding experience. Best decision I ever made. Literally saved my life.

Now for the fun part.....My surgeon and the weight loss center, stopped doing bands altogether.
I asked why, and was told, with a few exceptions such as myself, there is a high failure rate. Now I know this has been a topic here, and I did not have an opinion, until today. I trust these people whole heartily. I asked if the band was no good? Answer was the band is just fine...it's the patients who get the band who are the problem. The staff just could not "Babysit" anymore.

Sorry, many did not want to hear that...but take it from me who is successful..there is nothing wrong with the band.

I had lap band. No,longer diabetic. A1c was 10.1, now (14 months later) 5.6. Thrilled.
Good luck

Not judging. But I'm surprised you qualified for surgery at your weight and height.
Sounds like you're well on the road to recovery!

Not judging. But I'm surprised you qualified for surgery at your weight and height.
Sounds like you're well on the road to recovery!

George Fielding at NYU. The best! Plus, he has a band himself!

Big fan of that practice

Can speak only to the band. I wondered.... No more Bagels, turkey clubs, Reuben sandwiches.... Bacon wrapped filet. You know what?
I haven't missed anything. No interest at all. And better yet, no feeling of being deprived.
Hang in there!!

Today I went back to NYU for my one week post op appointment
I had an X-ray done and met with the nurse practitioner . All went perfectly. .I'm down 40lbs and I can have puréed foods. I ran over to whole foods and got mashed potatoes and chicken salad. It felt so great to be able to put real food in me. Granted I could only eat very little but it was great.
Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I was lucky in that I hardly had any pain. I can relate to a day of uncomfortable Constipation - after only one half dose of pain killer. Give that up if you can
Celebrated two year with band a few weeks ago. Down 143lbs. No longer diabetic and no longer high blood pressure. Life is good!
Hang in there!

I was lucky in that I hardly had any pain. I can relate to a day of uncomfortable Constipation - after only one half dose of pain killer. Give that up if you can
Celebrated two year with band a few weeks ago. Down 143lbs. No longer diabetic and no longer high blood pressure. Life is good!
Hang in there!

Interesting. I'm contemplating it - around abdomen.
Any other guy have it done?

I was the only heavy one in both my immediate and extended family. No one ever really petered me about my weight (to wouldn't have worked - stubborn Irish here)
All were very supportive. Two sisters were at hospital, even though I told them wasn't necessary for the hour surgery. Totally supportive the whole journey!

I was lucky in that I hardly had any pain. I can relate to a day of uncomfortable Constipation - after only one half dose of pain killer. Give that up if you can
Celebrated two year with band a few weeks ago. Down 143lbs. No longer diabetic and no longer high blood pressure. Life is good!
Hang in there!

Pasta with meat sauce - hold the pasta

Pasta with meat sauce - hold the pasta

Pasta with meat sauce - hold the pasta

Congrats on starting your weight loss journey. Just so you are aware, everyone loses weight at different rates. There is no 'normal' except to say that 1-2 lbs a week is considered a good loss. Also..you're likely not hungry because you may be swollen from the surgery. Your hunger can come back very quickly which is why you have to have those fills till you really feel the band kick in like it's supposed to.
Oh, and if you think your face looks thinner, than it probably is. Be aware that the scale can be a dangerous thing. Yes, it tells you if you are going in the right direction but it's a fickle piece of equipment and you can fluctuate constantly. Many folks don't bother with the scale and track themselves based on things like how clothing fits, or other ways besides the number that the scale provides.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

I smoked up to about a week before surgery and a week afterwards, My surgeon is a cigar smoker so can relate.

Dr. Fielding... i couldn't agree more with your 13 points... they are spot on. Thanks for writing this.
Banded 11/09..... What is this hunger you speak of... i never feel hungry. I wake up, wait about 30 min and have a cup of coffee, then another when i get to work at 7am. I fix myself a 1/2 cup of plan yogurt with some granola in it and eat on that till about 9-10ish... depends on how busy i am it sits on my desk and i eat a bite.. work.. bite...work. lunch comes around and i normally eat tuna or chicken salad with half of avocado... that normally takes me till 1ish... again depends on work. I normally have a snack of nuts or cheese. I cook supper... last night was Crawfish stew, rice and potato salad... (its a Louisiana thing)... i had a glass of wine while i cooked... ate my cup of stew with out the rice and two tablespoons of potato salad... The end. I eat slowly.. very slowly and i find im never hungry....
I saw my dr. every month for the firs 1.5 years.... some were for adjustments some were for just advice. I have been able to maintain an 80-87lb weightloss and could not be happier with my band.... I pray every night that the band gods keep me in there good graces....
Thanks again.....

Your Mrs. did my lapband surgery a little over three years ago and about six months ago, she had to move the port under the muscle as it stuck out like a golfball...which she said was because I had no fat anymore.
She's a great doctor and the office and those who work there have been great as well. I lost all my excess weight and got my life back thanks to your wife and the office that supports her.
Many thanks to both of you.