ShellyMI

Creating a new thread because the other one has gotten really long.
So, here are my before and currents to keep the topic moving.

Current as of last week:

Yesterday was 6 weeks since I became banded! I don't regret it at all!! I had lost 26 lbs pre-op by the day of surgery. Since surgery I have lost 14lbs, slightly more then 2 lbs a week so on target. I'm back to my gym and doing 45 min cardio, some circuit work as well. I was cleared to start abs today
My surgeon had put 2.5 cc in my band at surgery and I got an additional 1 cc today. Since getting my band I definitely can't eat even half of what I use too in volume! It increased some this past week so it was time for a fill. I've only had one stuck episode (boy that hurt) and seem to be doing well with eating slowly, small bites and chewing well otherwise. The fill didn't hurt, a little lidocaine and then she checked the volume and then added the 1 cc.
I'm posting this for the new people, I know I wanted to see what others were doing and how their first fill went.
I'm so happy I chose to make a change in my life for the better. Since Nov I've dropped from a size 22 to a 16-18 depending on the make. ????????

I went to my two year follow up on Thursday. My surgeon was pleased with my weight. we talked about maintenance and my obsession with food lately. I feel like all I think about is eating. He kindly referred me to the psychologist that works with his bariatric patients. I then went to speak with the nutritionist, who went over my blood work results. All my levels were normal if not slightly high. I have been taking two Multivitamins a day, so she suggested I cut down to one. I have not been taking Calcium so she advised me to start with that. My surgeon had advised I could switch to the tablet form of Vitamins, and i am so thankful. The reason I haven't been taking calcium was that I could never find a Gummy that wasn't gross.
Thursday's visit is why I am so thankful for an excellent Bariatric team and follow up care. I believe these components, plus the support I have found here, have made me successful and will lead to my long term success.
Susan

@@HappygoSusan
2+ years PO
130 lb weight loss!!!
GOAL!!!!
can't get much better than that!!!!
I agree the word support is very important
whether it comes from your docs office/ Bariatric Pal, and or family
having support from everyone - how great is that
glad things are continuing to go well
keep up the good work
for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer life
happy surgiversary
with many more to follow
good luck
kathy
congrats

Congratulations! You have done great and I too believe in staying linked to support system' I hit 3 years in December and marked the occasion with a visit to a NUT for a little tune up!
Best advice my surgeon gave me at my 1 year follow up....year 2 is nearly as important as year one, don't go back to old choices. Then on my 2 year follow up...guess what...year 3 is just as important..... I see a theme here...

Man, I love to read posts like this. Thank you for staying in touch with us. Much appreciated.

Judgmental looks from people!
Everyone telling me how pretty my face is but if I would only loose some weight
Not fitting in a chair!

I had surgery on October 13th. I had many of the same fears that you do. I had a panic attack a week before my surgery and almost called it off.
I can tell you that even though I am only 5+ weeks out I do not regret it at all. The surgery is actually much safer than we are lead to believe. It is fast. Recovery is hard for some people and easier for others, but you do recover. The things you are fearing about how you feel will go away. You just have to remember that. I know some folks who had terribler recoveries and now 4-5 weeks out they are doing fine.
As for food. It is psychologically shocking that I can eat 1/4-1/2 cup of something and be full. Seriously! You wont want more. It is a discipline to get in all the liquids and Protein and food and exercise. When people say that surgery is the easy way out I want to punch them. Many people I know who are further along than I am are eating just about everything they want to, just in small quantities.
I'm not saying it isn't difficult but for me it has been my emotional life that has been the challenge. Not being able to self-sooth with food or wine means the truth about my feelings are very present. I have had to develop new ways of coping but in the long run I'd rather deal with this kind of pain (because you do get over it) than all of the things I have had to deal with as an obese person.
My high weight before surgery was 275. I had surgery on October 13th. I know weigh 240 and am now in one size down. I can move around and exercise without pain and I am happy!!!
Your decision is personal. You are 22 years younger than me and I wish I had done this sooner. I could have had a totally different life. You have time to wait. You will likely have insurance again in the future. Don't push yourself if you are not ready. But, I wanted to let you know how scared I was because when I read your post I feeling like I was reading something I could have written.
Praying for you and your decision-making process.
Kimberly

Am I going to be able to keep up the lifestyle necessary for the next 50+ years of my life?
At least you'll likely have 50+ years of your life to worry about your lifestyle. Stay obese and your odds are pretty bad.
How will this affect me when I'm 70?
1. You'll be alive. 2. You'll eat smaller portions and take a multi-Vitamin every day. Definitely ask your surgeon about long term risks, but keep in mind the long term benefits as well as the long term risks of obesity (diabetes, death, etc.).
What if they come out with something in the future where I won't have to to loose half my stomach or deal with the side effects of a surgery?
How long are you willing to wait on that possibility? Does the quality of your life now matter to you?
These are all things I am asking myself. Not to mention food intolerances, not being able to drink or lay down after eating, tracking Protein, Vitamins, ect.
Not everyone has food intolerances. I don't have any, besides not feeling great after eating yeasty bread or a carbonated drinks. I don't miss them. I also don't miss worrying about whether I will fit into chairs, chub rub, shopping in plus size clothing stores, having out of control blood pressure, or arthritis that prevented me from walking very far. I don't miss drinking after eating. It's not a big deal, you get used to it. I do track Protein and calories and all that stuff, but not everyone does. That's a matter of personal preference, especially the farther you get out of surgery. Honestly after a year or so your life is very normal in my experience.

It varies. My pre-op liquid diet was ten days.
For the original poster, please consider that I lost my oldest brother at the age of 47. He died of a heart attack and weighed over 420 pounds. He left a widow, a ten year old daughter, an eight year old daughter, and a six year old son.
My mother died of an abdominal aeortic aneurysm at the age of 67, way too young for women in our family who typically live well into their 90s. Grandma made it to 98. Mother weighed 320 pounds and was 5'2".
At some point in time, you will have to tell your children that not every circumstance in life is comfy and cozy. True, the liquid diet and first couple of weeks post-op suck, but are you willing to trade two weeks for possibly extending your life by years? Think of the liquid diet as a right of passage.
If you are concerned about the surgery, here is the way it usually goes down. You are given an IV of something soothing before you go into the O R. After you get on the operating table,
The anesthesiologist will ask you to count backward from 100. 100, 99, 98......wake up - wake up - you did just fine. When the nurse is sure that you are ready to go to a patient room, they wheel you down there and get you situated before the anesthetic wears off.
Actually, I had a morphine pump all the next day, and then hydrocone before I came home on the third day. Yes, they had inserted a catheter after I was out cold. That was removed later in the day after I demostrated that I could walk.
This is a quality of life situation. One of the reasons that we have the three to six month supervised diet is to get us used to making sound decisions about what we eat and drink. Going it on your own takes equal dedication to a plan, but the surgery literally is a tool to help you. Sure, a farmer can hoe a row with oxen, but boy what a difference a tractor makes! Indeed, your smaller stomach will be the boss of you, and that's ok. It limits the amount you can consume, which gives you time to get disciplined to the plan your team gives you.
This is hard, but not so hard that it can't be done. I wish you health and happiness and a long life to enjoy your family.

Before and after

Hi I am considering this procedure and I have just began the process of making arrangements to go to my first seminar. I am 43 years old and happily married and I am a diabetic. The reason I want this procedure done is because I want to loose weight and began to live a healthy life for myself and family. Everyone in my family has diabetics and I want to live a healthy life as possible and see my children grow and mature and see their children do the same. I have decided to go this route because everything I have read so far seems positive., and I am hoping that by joining this forum, I will have the opportunity to meet new friends, get support, and understanding from people who have had this procedure done. So far the only person that know I am considering this is my husband and children. My family members would not understand this, and I am tired of them saying all you have to do is stop eating.