showboatgirl

I have been banded 7 months. I have lost 65 pounds and have not had a fill yet. I just returned from a 6 night Caribbean cruise. I ate the food that I wanted--just controlled the portions. I didn't fell deprived at all and I thoroughly enjoyed my meals. Lap band is a way of life for me. I don't want to mess up all that I have accomplished. Before the band, I would diet; lose weight; and then pig out. Of course, I gained it all back plus more. When you make the decision to be banded, you must commit to a life style change. You don't follow the dietary rules until you reach your goal--you follow them for life. The band is a great tool that makes weight loss achieveable.

I am a 57 year old retired teacher. I was banded Aug. 29, 2005. I have lost 65 pounds in 7 months. I haven't needed a fill yet. My starting BMI was 40 and it is now about 29. I feel good and I look much better. I have gotten a lot of compliments lately. Everyone says that I look like I did when I was younger. So far, I have had no complications. Thank God! I had a great doctor here in WV. I was a self pay--OUCH! I thought I would be fat the rest of my life. Last year, I never dreamed that I would be wearing size 12 or 14 pants. My sister and I were banded the same day. She has lost over 70 pounds. We both are happy with our bands. I get scared when I read about the complications that some people have experienced. But, it is good to know as much as we can about the band. Read as much as you can about the lap band. You can even watch a lap band surgery on line. Educate yourself and make the decision that is right for you. Good luck on your journey to BandLand.

You have put into words, the way I feel. Isn't it great?

My sister and I just returned from a Caribbean cruise. We have both been banded for 6 months. We did just fine with our food. We may have eaten a little more than we usually do--but remember that this is not a diet. It is a life style change. Use common sense and control your portions. You will do just fine. Have a great time.

I have been shopping, shopping, shopping! It is such fun to be able to buy clothes in regular sizes. My sister (who is a bandster) and I are taking a cruise next week. We are anxious to wear our new, small, cute outfits. We have always said that we are 2 tons of fun. Since she has lost 70 and I have lost 60 pounds, we will have to figure out a new name.

My dietian told me to take a multi vitamin, 1000 mg of calcium and a B12 tablet daily (or get a B12 shot each month). I have done it since the second week after surgery. All of my bloodwork has been fine.

You look great!

I love chocolate too. I eat 2 pieces of Adora chocolate calcium each day. It is a delicious treat. You can buy Adora calcium on line and it is fairly expensive. But it is worth it because it satisfies the chocolate craving and it provides the daily calcium requirement. I think each piece has 40 calories. I like the dark chocolate better than the milk chocolate. It is a great product.

I was a self pay and it still took me 3 months to get everything in order to have my surgery. It would have been longer if my insurance had covered it.

I had a bmi of 40. I weighed 241 when I had my surgery on 8/29/05. When I first talked to the bariatric patient liason, she told me that I was not heavy enough for surgery. When I had my stress test, the cardiologist said that I was not big enough to have this surgery. When I had the upper GI, the x-ray technician told me that I shouldn't get the surgery. When the nurse got me up to walk the first time after my surgery, he put a binder around me and it fell off. He said that I was their smallest bariatric patient. My 34 year old son was totally against my having surgery. Most people didn't think I was that heavy--but at 241 pounds, I wasn't heavy, I was obese. It has been 5 months and I have lost 57 pounds. I now weigh 184 pounds. My son says that I act younger. Now people are starting to tell me that I shouldn't lose any more weight. I am glad that I didn't listen to everyone. I am still losing and loving it. It is such fun to shop for clothes now. So far, the band is working for me. The trip to BandLand is a decision that you have to make for yourself.

I'm a retired teacher. I taught 32 years. I love retirement.

I was 56 when i was banded. In 5 months, I have lost 56 pounds and I haven't had a fill. I wish I could have had this surgery when I was in my forties. I wasted all of those years being overweight.

Thanks for the info. I can't stand chewable vitamins and the regular Centrum is so big. I have even cut it in two pieces--but still have trouble swallowing it. I have been taking gummy Flintstones. But, I will look for the small Centrums. I didn't like the chewable calcium or tums either. I buy Adora on line. It is chocolate with calcium. It is a treat.

Banded 8/29/05 Huntington, WV Dr. Blaine Nease No erosion This survey is a great idea!

I was banded 8/29/05. I haven't had a fill yet because I am still losing. So far, I have lost 55 pounds. I am thrilled!

I had my surgery a week before my 57th birthday. In 5 months, I have lost 53 pounds. So far, I haven't had any problems. The amazing thing is that I haven't had a fill yet. When my weight loss slows down, I will get a fill. It is a shame that the lapband wasn't available when we were younger, but we have it now. My son says that the best thing is that I act younger.

My sister and I were banded on the same day--aug. 29, 2005. We are both doing fine. We are our own support group. By talking to each other, we don't bore everyone else. I think you and your husband will have a lot of success with your weight loss.

I did the same thing--just chew, chew, chew. I am now 5 months out, and I can eat anything now. But, i limit the amount of food that I eat. I have lost 53 pounds so far, so it seems to be working. I really think that it is the amount of food that we consume that is important. I do try to eat a balanced diet.

At my heaviest, I knew that I didn't look good, but I tried to look neat. I jokingly said that fat plumps out wrinkles. But since i have lost 53 pounds, I look at myself in the mirror and realize that I really look good. I am amazed at the change in 5 months. I love it! I look at obese people now and feel pity for them.

I spent one night in the hospital. I don't think I would have been ready to leave. My sister and I shared a room. But, we were both out of it after the surgery. I don't think I would have cared if Osama Bin Laden was in the next bed. I slept, pushed the pain pump, walked, and slept again. We acutally spent 2 days and 1 night in the hospital because we weren't released until late afternoon the next day.

I paid $16,500 for the surgery. But, I also got stuck for $2700 for the cardiac stress test. My primary care physician used the words bariatric surgery and my insurance denied the claim--TWICE! So, all together--about $20,000. But, I have lost 46 pounds since Aug. 29th. Without the surgery, I would have just gained more weight.

You are doing great! We need to stay healthy while we lose weight.

Thank you for your input. I think I will wait until the weight loss slows down. It is good to have people to talk to because my sister and I are the only people in our small town who have had lap band surgery. Thanks

I was banded Aug. 29th. I have lost 28 pounds so far. I haven't had a fill yet. I feel much better. I haven not had arthrits medicine since my surgery. I haven't had trouble with any food so far. The amazing thing for me is that I don't have the urge to snack all the time. I am starting to like my band.

My sister and I got our bands 8/29/05. She has lost 35 pounds and I have lost 28 pounds in eight weeks. We will be going to our doctor next week. We have not had a fill yet. We both think that we are still losing and we don't need a fill. Our philosophy is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." What do you veteran bandsters think? Should we get a fill? Thanks