Kareen022

I have some great advice for you. I am a daughter myself so I understand. The most important thing is to hear her out. Here are some points that might help her understand. -It's only a tool to help me be succesful in the long run -It is not like gasteric, its less intrusive -It's safe, reversable, and I can eat normally when I am done -I rather have a surgery and be down for a week, so that I can be healthy than be overweight and have years of my life taken off because of it I hope things go well and good luck. Just remember though, even if your daughter doesn't support you--you know what's right for you and you need to do whats right for you.

Howdy! Well I am 20 years old and was about 130lbs over weight before I got banded two weeks ago. I highly recommend Lap Band. At such a young age it is easier to adjust to this life change. The band is really a tool to help someone learn how to eat, what to eat, and be overall more healthy. It is very safe, it's removable, and best of all it stays in for life. So it will always be able to help her. I hope that helped, if you have any more questiosn feel free to shoot me an e-mail: kk0194@yahoo.com Oh and one more thing I saw--whoever said that the DR won't do lap band if you're 16 is wrong. My Doctor performs surgery on patcients as young as 17. So there is hope for her and all doctors will do it at the age of 18. So don't let that be a determining factor. Good Luck! -Kareen, TX

TELL HER YES MOM!!! I am 20 years old and I just got banded 2 weeks ago. The surgery was hard on me, but totally worth it. I am up on my feet and have lost 27 lbs since December 3! I know how hard it is to be overweight at our age. But lap band is such a postive life change that when you do it at twenty is the right tool to teach you to eat right the rest of your life. Tell her not to be scared mom! Here is my e-mail feel free to have her send me a message if she wants to talk or has questions. kk0194@yahoo.com And you're doing the right thing by at least talking about it. --Kareen, TX

Well Howdy from Texas! I know you're scared. I just got banded about 2 weeks ago. I was in a lot of pain at first, but now I am doing amazing! I love it and it will be worth it my friend. Now I saw you asked someone else about down time and liquids and all that. Everybody reacts differntly to pain. Some people were back to work in 3 days. I expereinced a little more pain and it took me about a week to really be able to do things on my own. But either way--I would gladly trade a week of my life to recovery than die years before I should. The Post-Op diet depends on your doctor. Typically there are 3 stages. Stage 1-Liquids (This can last for a week or 2..my doctor wants me to do it for 2) The reason for this is so that everything can heal before the pouch fills up with solid like food. Some foods I eat on this are: -My protien shakes (Adkins brand) -Applesauce -Fat Free, sugar free pudding -Baby food (banana is my favorite) -Sugar Free Popcicles -Light Yougurt with no fruit chunks (I suggest the Weight Watcher Brand) -broth Stage 2-Mushy foods (This also can last for a week or 2. My doctor also recommended this for 2 weeks for me. I haven't started this phase yet, but I do Thursday). Some foods I can eat are: -Creamy Soups -oatmeal or grits -Mashpotatoes and gravy -quiche (no crust) -Soft scrambled eggs Stage 3-Solids (Not to that stage yet :crying:--but its obvious what it is) I hope that answered some of your questions! Good luck!!! I know you'll do great!!! :frown: Feel free to message me if you have any more questions. --Kareen

Hey Darling... I am a college kid and I just had lap band about 2 weeks ago. I was scared to death too. In fact I started crying when the took me back. haha- But don't be scared, I am not going to lie though. Personally I was in a lot of pain after the surgery and really needed help from the people around me. But about five days later I felt really good. So the surgery is worth it, no questions asked. As far as making changes--that is important. What you have to realize is this isn't another diet. This is a long term life style change. You need to exercise and learn how to eat. Exercising is a lot more fun though when youare thinner. Just keep in mind when you are done losing your weight they do loosen the band and you can eat normally. So you can potentially eat anything you want again someday, but next time it will be about self control. However, if you start gaining weight, because you revert back to old habbits, then they will tighten it again. The most important part of this journey is having a strong support system. I suggest that you attend support group meetings in your area, talk to you family and friends about what you're going through, and also talk to people on this webiste!!! You'll feel wonderful when its said and done! You will look and feel like the happy person we all have hidden under all our fat! :frown: So keep it up and good luck girl--you'll do great! --Kareen, TX

Howdy Howdy! I am so excited that I found a suport group website. I just got lap band 1 week and four days ago. I am ready for this postive change in my life! If anybody wants to talk or needs support please feel free to send me a message. I am here to support everybody. It's time to be healthy, not for anybody else but for ourselves. Afterall as my mother says, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!" :frown: --Kareen