serenity55

Mickenut, it's so true that no matter how well meaning friends and family are there's really no way for them to know exactly what it's like. , It is an exciting, nervous time, but it was the best thing I could have done for myself. I hope you feel the same way. Good luck on your journey, it's going to be quite a ride! :-) Debbie

Linda, welcome to band land! There is quite a lot of information here, and friendly people willing to share and encourage you, if you need it. Feel free to ask if you have questions, or just post to talk. That's what keeps me coming back here. May you have lots of success with your band. Debbie

Hello Fresh, and welcome to the forum! Congratulations on making a choice to get banded. I'm sure you will find lots of people with your surgery date, and lots of others with lots of knowledge and support and encouragement to share. Please keep us posted on your journey! We're all here for you! Debbie

This is fantastic! I'd love to visit everyone! Thank you all so much for responding. I especially love the quiet and peace, something you don't get much of here in the city. There is a difference between living on a residential street in a city as opposed to where Humming Bird, or Annette live. It all sounds wonderful. Thank you all so much. Debbie

Hi Alainajoann, First of all, welcome to lap band talk, and congratulations on your weight loss so far! I think what happens after the first fill is different for everyone. You may not feel any restriction, although some people do. If you don't, don't be discouraged; sometimes you have to have several before you reach your sweet spot. My surgeon has me have liquids for at least the next 24 hours after the fill. I don't leave his office before drinking Water to make sure everything is all right. I hope some of this helps, and again, congratulations! Debbie

Hi Celialou, The advantage you have is that you are young, and by getting banded you will avoid any possible problems that might pop up as you get older, not to mention the possibility of more weight gain. As someone told me when I first joined this site, it's better to have the risks with the band, than the ones you might have without it. I am not where I'd hoped to be but I have been taken off a couple of blood pressure medications, and have more energy than I have for a long time, not to mention all the things I can do that I couldn't preband. Please keep us posted. I hope you go through with it, and as others have said, you may look back on this in six months and be as happy as so many of us are. Good luck! Debbie

I'm a city dweller, and have always been fascinated by people who live in small towns, in the country, or in other countries. I've been to England twice, and had a chance to walk in the English countryside, which was a dream come true for me. So ... are you in a city? Small town? Village? Out in the country with no neighbors for miles? Do you live where the seasons change? I would love to hear. Debbie

Way to go, Catherine! You take your thread back, girl! When a friend of mine was in elementary school she had a "friend" who was a bully. This girl threatened to tell on my friend because she'd kissed a boy in the coat room, you know kid stuff. Well, it escalated from there. Fast forward to adulthood, and that kid is now a heroin addict with kids of her own who have done a geographic, and don't even live in the state any more. It was another case of someone with a visual impairment who wanted to fit in with the "sighted" kids, and tried to make my friend feel bad for not acting the way she did. I have quite a few stories like this. Debbie

Congratulations, Dana, and welcome to band land! Now, get ready to enjoy the journey, and the love and support of your bandster family Debbie!

The first time I had surgery I cried for days before. No matter how much I talked to people it didn't lessen the fear. The same thing was true this time: Though I didn't cry, I was terrified the day I got my band. Congratulations to you for going through with this. It makes you one courageous young woman! I believe that courage means feeling the fear but going through with whatever scares you, anyway. We're all proud of you,, Dana, and we're going to be cheering you on your lap band journey :thumbup:! Debbie

Hi, and welcome to LBT! I'm terrified of needles, but the first thing I learned about fills is that they don't hurt. The second thing I learned is that I haven't had anything get stuck. My doctor is pretty cautious, I guess, and I'm going for another fill soon, but I haven't had any nasty things happen. The first fill I had was six weeks after my surgery, and then I didn't have any for a while because I was losing weight. I too was afraid of yucky things happening once I got a couple, but so far, so good. Good luck. Let us know when you go for that fill. Debbie

My first consultation with my surgeon went very well. I met the registered dietician, patient liaison, and one of the other doctors in the office before I met the surgeon. I think it varies. He didn't try to persuade me to have any other kind of surgery. His partner asked questions that I can't even remember now. I met everyone but the psychologist, but I came away feeling taken care of and informed. I think some surgeons may do some kind of exam of the stomach. I remember having to fill out forms, and when I saw the dietician she had a model of the lap band and how it looks when it is around the stomach. I may have even had to watch a short film. . . I hope your consultation goes well. Be sure to let us know. Debbie

Yes, you will be intubated, but you really won't know. I didn't even have a sore throat when I woke up. I'm afraid of that too, but it's so worth it to have the band. The longest I've heard of is six months for weight loss before being approved. .

I'm assuming you have to join yahoo groups to read the messages, so unfortunately I can't. What I can tell you is that I have had no problems with my band, nothing has gotten stuck, I can eat anything I want, in moderation, and didn't have any problems immediately after surgery. It's true that most people who are doing well don't bother to come back and let those who need that assurance know. But there are quite a few people on this site who are success stories already, or in the making. It isn't easy. The emotional part is the hardest for me, but the band is fantastic, and I would do it again. And I HATE needles! Debbie

Hi JazzyRayne, congratulations, and welcome to Lap Band Talk! I remember how excited I was, when it was coming down to the wire, so I know exactly what you mean. I hope some June 3rd bandsters come along. In the meantime, good luck, please keep us posted. It really is an exciting time! Debbie!

Hello, and welcome to LBT! From what I've read, ports seem to be placed in different areas, below the skin. Mine is on the left side and, though I'm not good at guessing these things, it's a few inches above my navel. There may be threads on the location of ports if you do a search. Hopefully others will come along, including someone who may be able to shed light on the kind of work you do and the port. Your surgeon will be able to provide information as well. Good luck! Debbie

Rene, like so many others have said, this tool keeps me from eating the way I used to. It is for that reason that, even though I am not where I'd hoped to be, I'm not where I was, and I don't believe I will ever go back to my highest weight again, because I have this band. I too wish you much success on your weight loss journey. Debbie

Hi Wynter, It may take some time before you get to your sweet spot, but don't be discouraged. 52 pounds is fantastic! Congratulations! You will get there. I find it really helpful to come to this site when I'm struggling, and if you can find someone to whom you can talk on a daily basis that might help to, sort of a buddy to whom you can commit what you're going to eat that day. Whatever you decide to do, know that there are a lot of us who are dealing with the same thing, making the right choices when it comes to food, myself included. Good luck. Debbie

Hi Beth, Right after surgery you may be required to be on liquids. The length of time varies with each surgeon. I had to stay on liquids for two weeks after surgery, followed by two weeks of soft foods--mushies--and gradually introduce solid foods back in to my life. For the liquid stage I had Protein Shakes, sugar free puddings and Jello, fudgecicles, Soups. Your surgeon's office should give you a list of the things you can have. Good luck. Debbie

I grew up with a lot of physical neglect. I went to a school for blind and visually impaired children. There was a girl there who was cruel beyond belief. She said some very hurtful things about me. She went away for a while, had surgery, and got a good deal more vision. She came back to my school for awhile, but her attitude hadn't changed. I guess she felt superior to me, and others because she could see and we were blind. A few years ago I heard that this person had lost all her sight. She is now totally blind. . I couldn't help thinking, Payback is a bitch! Ha!!

Thank you Leigha and Humming Bird. I couldn't help laughing at her, because her reaction was just so unnecessary. She must be a very unhappy person. Debbie

My best friend and I went grocery shopping yesterday. She is visually impaired and I am totally blind. We have a shopping cart which folds, which we use to carry things home in, since neither of us can drive. It was folded up, and I was carrying it, holding it close to my right side. We were walking down an aisle, I forget what we were looking for, when a woman started pushing past us. She hit our cart, not hard, but she kept trying to get past. My friend said, "Hey, lady, cool it!" She snapped, "I wasn't going to run you down!" "It sure looks like it," my friend answered, to which the woman responded, "Oh, f*** you!" I turned then, and said, "Hey, watch your language." And she told me to shut up. I asked her what her problem was, then asked if she'd had nails for Breakfast. She said something I can't remember, and somehow managed to get past us. I think she must have gone around on the left, which let me know she could have done that in the first place. . My friend followed her, saying she should be ashamed of herself for talking to anyone that way, let alone someone with a disability. The woman spat out her apology, which I said Ididn't want. She didn't have to say what she did to my friend. I can use that kind of language with the best of them, but that was totally unnecessary. There had been a similar incident with a cashier at the same store, with that same person. She told the cashier she was no good, and that if she'd been in charge of things, the cashier wouldn't have a job. My friend had been present for that, and spoke up in defense of the cashier, who wanted to just let the incident pass. . I don't like to play the race card, but the cashier was black, and so am I. I started a thread about racism on the LBT Rants and Raves, and don't want to repeat that, I simply wanted to vent. I laughed at the situation, because it amazes me that someone who sounded as old as she did, seemed to just want to fight. If you've read this far, thank you. Debbie.

Do you still check to see how long it takes you to eat? Do you calculate the hours between meals from the end of Breakfast, for example, to the beginning of lunch? Or from the beginning of breakfast to the beginning of lunch? ? Do you just eat when you're hungry? Does any of this make sense? LOL Debbie

Don't feel defeated. I've been told that sometimes we can gain weight before the first fill. You're not going to have restriction this early in the game, and I don't think you can stretch your pouch. These are all things I've read here. Sounds like you're right on track. Hang in there! Debbie

Dianna, I went to my doctor again about two weeks ago, and she sent me for ultrasounds on both legs. She told me I might have peripheral vascular disease, and gave me antibiotics for the itching, which I haven't used, though I know I should. The itching, she said, could be a skin infection. . The results of my ultrasound are negative normal. I received a call from my doctor's office today, and that's what the message said. I have an appointment to see her in May. I weighed myself last weekend, and had lost a pound. My legs do feel better with the combination of the support hose, and the increase in a diuretic combined with a blood pressure medication I have been taking. I still want to find out if this has affected my weight at all. I feel like I've lost some since last weekend, but haven't checked. Thank you for responding to my post. . Debbie.