danaclark2

Hi, all! Today I went for all my preop tests at the hospital: chest x-ray, EKG, bloodwork, etc. The preop nurse screening me said she has not seen much success with the band. I asked her what that means--not much success. Did it mean that they have not lost 100lbs in six months? They've only lost 30lbs in a year? What? She just said that they had lost some but not a lot. I told her that studies show that it takes a good 2-3 years with the band to be at the point where the gastric bypass folks are in six months to a year. "Oh," she said, "Oh, yeah. That's true." So--I've had the leader of my support group and the preop nurse be quite discouraging about the band. I might be crazy, but I think if I lose ANY weight with the band, it'll be worth it. To say that people aren't doing well with the band because they've only lost 30lbs in a year--well--that's better than staying at the same weight--and that's certainly better than gaining 30lbs. Why are we as bandsters (or future bansters, in my case) seen as "failures" or "not doing so great with the band" if we don't lose 100lbs in a year. Don't you think that any weight loss is better than nothing? My lap band surgery is this coming Tuesday, the 18th at 8:00am. I hope that it's worth it--but to me getting just 20-30lbs off will be worth it--hopefully that weight loss will encourage me to do more and more...Prayers for this Tuesday would be greatly appreciated!

Congratulations! It's a great feeling, isn't it?

Just wondering the amount of weight loss I can expect. Of course, there are so so many variables that would influence weight loss/stall/or gain like my effort, genetics, thyroid, etc. I guess I just want to be prepared for the best and the worst and be content with the in between. OK--I've heard that the average weight loss/year with the band is 50-60lbs/year. I would be absolutely thrilled with that; however, honestly, right now I think I'd be relatively happy with a 30lbs. weight loss, as long as I continued to lose the next year and the next. In your experience (personally or from others you know or heard of), what is the most weight lost in a year with the band and the least amount lost with the band? I've heard of people not trying much and losig 70-80lbs in a year, and I've also heard of people faithfully following the rules, exercising, etc. and losing very little in a year. I just want to be mentally prepared for anything. Right now, when I cut back on calories, I lose relatively easily--even with a thyroid problem. I'm hoping my weight loss woes are mainly due to overconsumption of calories and not a physical, metabolic problem. I'm hoping the band will help me with calorie control. I'm to be banded on April 18!!!

Congratulations!! I hope I do as well as you did/do!

Congratulations, Shontel, I know you're excited!!! I have just a little more than a week to go until I enter bandland. Can't wait!! I'm happy for you.

Good luck, Lisa. I'll be joining you soon in bandland on April 18.

Welcome home, Audra!!! So glad you're home and everything went well. ***Also--could you all add me to the list (danaclark2 to be banded on April 18).

Goodbye to: 1. not looking on the outside how I feel on the inside 2. rolls, rolls, and rolls of blubbery flab 3. my little boy calling me a "circle" (fat people are "circles" and thin people are "straight"--up and down like a line) 4. any clothing size starting with the number "2" or the letter "X" 5. Lane Bryant, The Avenue, etc. 6. being branded "Morbidly Obese" 7. any weight in pounds starting with the number "2" 8. ugly, ugly clothing 9. obsession with food 10. not feeling my best--the best I know I can be Saying hello to: 1. life 2. health 3. energy 4. looking cute in my clothing 5. normal size clothing stores 6. being proud of myself 7. a better sex life 8. a better self-esteem 9. more years with my family 10. the best me

That's awesome!!! I can't wait to join you there...

Audra, Oh--you learn something new everyday. :confused: My brother has Type I Diabetes, and I didn't know that-- You sound like me, though--but my knowledge is with my thyroid. I have hypothyroidism, and I'm always asking what my T3 and T4 levels were--and what my TSH level was. Many people will take, "Your levels were in the normal range," and leave it at that. Me? I want to know the exact number. I think many people don't know enough about their own health, etc. Doctors are not perfect. They make mistakes. We need to always be on our guard and know what's going on... Anyway--Monday's the big day, huh? How are you going to get through this weekend??!!??? Are you doing well with your pre-op diet? ***I guess I could have PM'd you all of this.

Audra, I'm so happy for you. Please come back (when you feel up to it) and let us know how everything went. I have my pre-op tests on April 5--by the way, what is an hA1c? I feel dumb. :confused: Good luck!!!

Audra, girl, I know what you mean. I have just been ravenous--I think it is psychological. Our brains know that something major is about to occur--whoo--Lord, just let me get through the next three weeks. :confused: You don't have much longer, do you, Audra? I bet you are so excited.

Praying for you a quick and full recovery!!!

Oh--must have missed this thread. Count me in--I'm to be banded April 18, 2006!!! Can't wait. My doc. has me on a 30 day liquid diet. I have not done so well, but I have 20 days to go. I will try harder on these last 20. Good luck to all of you April Bandsters!!!! Hopefully next spring there will be a whole lot less of us.

Oh--if it were that easy: Having the knowledge of how to lose weight=weight loss. I really think that many of us obese know more about health and nutrition than most nutritionists, dieticians, etc. I know the caloric information of most foods--besides casseroles, etc. by heart. I know how many calories I burn in 30 min. withalmost all types of exercise. I know, I know, I know what it takes to lose weight. It's all in my head. Ahh--I'm rambling. DeLarla, I wish you the best tomorrow. Maybe you'll learn something new tomorrow that will change your life forever. If it does, please let us now. Have a great day!!!

JenWillwin-- Your post is exactly how I feel---I've been thinking the same thing. How could this not work if we eat significantly less. I'm really not into sweet drinks--I'm more of a cookie person, but I'm willing to do away with them (for the most part) to reach my goal. 70 lbs. in six months--I could only dream... Here's my truth as I see it now: I HONESTLY DO NOT CARE IF I ONLY LOSE 30-40 LBS IN ONE YEAR--AS LONG AS I'M LOSING AND AS LONG AS I CONTINUE TO LOSE THE NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT. OF COURSE, I WOULD LOVE FOR IT TO BE QUICKER--BUT BEING 40 LBS LIGHTER IS BETTER THAN BEING 40LBS HEAVIER THAN I AM NOW--OR STAYING THE SAME. I'M ABOUT 27O LBS NOW--IF I AM 230LBS ON APRIL 18, 2007, I'LL BE SINGING FOR JOY--AND THEN IF I'M 190LBS BY APRIL 18, 2008, I'LL BE JUMPING FOR JOY. JUST LET ME MAKE PROGRESS, PLEASE. I'M REALLY HOPING THE BAND WILL GIVE ME JUST THAT--THE EXTRA PUSH TO ACHIEVE MY WEIGHT LOSS/HEALTH GOALS.

I know EXACTLY how you feel--I'm in my pre-op diet phase--supposed to be a 30 day deal. Well--I'm going to be banded on April 18--just about 3 weeks or so away. I did not fair so well with my first week of this liquid diet thing. Days 1,2, and 3--great job--then days 4, 5, and 6--hog city. My daughter's 1st birthday was day 5--and I just went crazy. I feel really gross now, but tomorrow's another day. I really hope the band helps me pull the reigns on my galloping hunger. Chin up, we fight on...never stopping for better health and freedom from the obsession with food.

Well--today is day 6 of my 30 pre-op days of liquids and one small meal. It is also my darling baby girl's 1st birthday. Boy, did I blow it. I ate and ate and ate--potato salad, ham sandwiches, deli cheese and strawberries, chips, deviled eggs--and cake--and icecream. I feel like a big fat cow--but I am near my period and I do tend to have a hard time with food around this time of the month. I plan to go all force 14 days before my April 18th surgery. I just hope this one day hasn't caused my liver to swell like a whale! Ahh--c'est la vie. All I can do is wake up tomorrow and start again--and try, try, try. I really hope the band helps me to pull the reigns on my galloping hunger...

I hope that I never come across to anyone here or elsewhere as judgmental towards a person for what surgery he/she has chosen. I am certainly in NO position to judge anyone about weight, etc. I have gone back and forth in my mind on which surgery is best for me--I really don't know which one is--I've never had WLS. By faith, I choose the band. Who knows what will happen in the future? What upset me the most at my support group meeting is that the leader pretty much said banding was for the birds--and even said that "most people will eventually convert to RNY." That wasn't exactly the most encouraging pep talk right before my Lap Band surgery. Ahh--who knows...I know this--I feel peaceful in my spirit about getting the band--at this point in my life. God may direct me in a different direction in the future. Let us all support each other in this battle against obesity--no matter what weapon we choose.

Hey, all! Just wondering what your pre-op diet was like. My surgeon has us on a modified liquid diet 30 days before surgery. I'm about 26 days from surgery and have been trying this diet for five days. The first three I did VERY well--yesterday and today--not so great. Just wondering if I stick to it hard core a week to two weeks before surgery, will I be ok? He has us on like two protien shakes and a sensible dinner--like SlimFast--drinking sugar free liquids in between. This is soooo hard.

I would love to find a "Just Bandsters" support group--I wonder if they have one in Nasvhille? I just live about 45 min. from Nash., TN. Perhaps as the lap-banded increase in my area, there will be interest in starting a meeting just for the banded. I am more and more confident everyday with the decision I've made to be banded. Just 26 more days!!!

Nanster-- Thank you for your story and your comments. I feel confident in my decision to get the band--I feel peaceful about it. I just couldn't get the--real peace about getting the bypass. That's just me, of course. I don't expect a miracle cure--I fully expect to work hard for my weight loss. What I am hoping for is help with the gnawing, physical hunger that accompanies me now as I venture forth with this liquid pre-op diet. That's really all I expect--help with the physical hunger. Everything else I'm willing to work on--emotional hunger, head hunger, exercise, etc. I am going to go all out--full force--when I get the band so that just in case it is removed shortly after getting it--I will have made a big dent in my weight loss--and hopefully in changing my former bad eating habits. Marching on for a better life, I happily and peacefully choose the band over the bypass.

3loves, I'm glad you had a good experience. My experience wasn't all bad--it was mainly the leader of the group who was so persistent in her opinion of the band. One girl (who had had the gastric bypass) who I spoke with said that her sister had the band around the same time that she had had the bypass and that her sister had lost 160lbs in about 18 months. I know the band is the best decisions for me. I'm so excited!

I had my first at 26, my second at 29, and my third at 30. My mom had her last (and fifth) at 36. I certainly do not think early to mid--or even late thirties is too old to become a mommy! Enjoy the rest of your 20s--relish the time alone--just you and your husband because once the babies come, "alone" will be a word of the past. It's great having children--just takes so much energy--and patience.

Awesome--and congratulations! I know how you feel. I am looking forward to being banded on April 18. It's like a dream come true...