Margie Smith

I had lap band surgery on July 6th and have had two fills so far. My surgeon is Dr. Ramzi Alami at the South San Francisco Kaiser Hospital in California and he is awesome!!!! I have lost around 40 pounds since this journey began back when my primary care doc referred me for the lap band last mid-February. My initial orientation appointment/class was in April. I now have 65 pounds to go. The band has been quite the adventure and I am thrilled with this new "tool". It has been quite a learning experience. I have good days and very occasionally the "barfy" days, but tje band continues to be an extremely positive choice. I am eagerly looking forward to when my fills hit the "sweet spot", when I get it all the way through my head that I have to eat slowly and chew, chew, chew, and to stop occasionally lusting after foods that are best ignored. I am amazed that before the lap band, that I didn't really understand the concept of being full and stopping eating if food still tasted good. This sensation of fullness being uncomfortable is new and I look forward to time being a friend with all the physical and emotional challenges that I am learning to live with and find joy in so many positive changes. Life IS good!!!! :whoo:

The shoulder pain will fade away very soon. I had it, too, and it finally left between one and two weeks post-op. I mentioned it to my surgeon when I went back for my post-op check up and he reassured me that it would stop. And it did.