I am in the process of researching/consulting/etc... and am wondering...

What is the one thing you wish someone had told you BEFORE you got your LAP-BAND®? :smile2:

Thanks so much for any information/help/support!!

Jen

Honestly I feel as though I was well informed. AND I know myself well.... I even started seeing a therapist just before my first consult because I wanted to have every advantage. I knew this wasn't magic, but I knew that having the cop in my stomach and a medical team to back me I would have the best chance at success.

I am so pleased with my after care etc. Reading this board before surgery really helped too. Continuing is a great advantage... I can't imagine fending for myself after surgery.

This thread is specific. What you wish people would have told you before you were banded. I am saying from my very own opinion what I WISH someone would have told me.

The amount of pain shocked me. Yes, pain is relative and everyone is different. But no one, but no one, told me it might be as painful as it was. I wish someone would have told me it might be.

The amount paid by my insurance shocked me. I do not know of any complications during surgery. The huge extras were not doctors fees, they were hospital incidentals. How in the world I used over $140K in incidentals when I was only in there a couple of hours is beyond belief.

And I did chew, chew, chew, chew, chew my 2 green Beans as was evident when they came up. They are still very fibrous and may cause trouble, as I learned the hard way.

So before you accuse me of being negative and not being able to see the positive, please understand why I am answering specificly to what was asked. If someone started a thread of all the good things you band has done, I would have listed the things I love, but that isnt want the poster asked for.

You might want to ask the hospital what they are charging you for? I've heard that it's very possible for hospitals to tack on some things you might not have used.

Hi, I am only 4 days post surgery, but very surprised how painful the trapped wind around my chest, shoulders and back has been!! Even so, if I am lighter at the end of my journey , it will have been worth the pain!!! :thumbup:

Agreed! I'm four days out now and there are times when the trapped gas is brutal. But I don't think it would have changed my decision.

Also- be aware that fullness does not feel the same as pre-band. It is actually a somewhat uncomfortable feeling- a pain in your chest kinda like heartburn. At least that's been my experience. I am glad I did it though. Down 40 pounds in about 10 weeks.

The key is to learn when to stop eating before the uncomfortable/pain feeling. It takes awhile to learn it.

It could be just one tiny bite difference.

I was griping about the slow weight loss then reading about everyone else griping about the slow weight loss ---- we all had 1 thing in common. We didn't exercise! People think this is a magic wand where you will instantly lose weight easily without weight loss. I haven't met anyone like that...you have to get your ass moving and exercising otherwise you'll have an expensive plastic thing around your stomach.