Hey everyone!

i was banded in June of 2010 and it's got to come out. I've hated the past year and a half of it, and with all the complications i've had, my doctor agrees that it needs to come out. I can rarely eat any solid foods without vomiting. I have back pain, digestion problems, i'm not getting nutrition, etc. In fact, i have only had 3 meals successfully in the past 5 days. This is a constant battle... i've only lost about 60lbs in the past 2 years, and i havent been able to eat normally in so long everytime i can eat my body goes into storage mode and i gain weight. Plus, despite my not eating, i havent lost anything.

anyway, i'm only 21 years old and still in college. I'm an officer in the marching band program at my school. We start back to band in exactly 4 weeks. But a week before that i will be helping my sister move 7 hours away. I only have about 3 weeks if i got it out tomorrow, but insurance hasnt come through quite yet (though we're confident it will because my doctor wants it out) and i'm afraid it wont come out until the week before i have to help her move.

I guess my question is: how long after the band is out will i be at my normal activity level? I walk a lot and jog occaisionally, but that's not as big of a deal as moving my sister and returning to marching band. How long did it take y'all before you were at a normal level of activity??

Very frustrated, as my doctor's office has yet to even file the claim. Oi. I have no clue when it will be, but i cant miss school and we start back to school in about 5 weeks. What can y'all tell me???

I'm guessing the approval for removal is just the same as applying for it to be put in- the insurance company probably has a max of 30 days to respond to the request. Good luck!

This would be a question best asked of your surgeon. I expect you will not be able to do any lifting or heavy work for at least six weeks. Better to take care of yourself in the healing phase than to overdo it and cause yourself new issues.

Your post makes me wonder about an appropriate age for obese people to have bariatric surgery? I don't think I would have been mentally ready for such a huge change at 19. Seems like most people would have to go through years and years of being uncomfortable, unhealthy and unattractive before they came to know that they needed help?

Not saying you're any of those un's but I think most of us viewed ourselves that way. It's disheartening to see someone give up so soon and of course, we don't know your entire history, but you were pushing 300 lbs before the surgery. What's next?

I wish you well and I suppose you can always come back to the band or any other surgery if your own dietary methods don't pan out. Good luck to you.

tmf

i had been in the mid 200s all during high school and got to about 260 before senior year. I managed to lose 30lbs during senior year, but freshmen year of college i ballooned to 310lbs and was in a lot of pain from it coming on so fast. so i had the surgery and now regret it. But, it wasnt a rush decision, i've been overweight my entire life.

and i will ask my surgeon and i know not to overdue it, i just wondered what other people's experiences had been like so i know better when to schedule the surgery.

I had my lapband removed in an emergency surgery on July 12. (laparoscopically) the removal wasn't bad however I am not comfortable lifting anything over 20 lbs or so. I am able to work (desk job) and do most everything. I plan to get back in the gym this week slowly.

Best of luck.

thanks! I'm actually going into surgery on thursday, so we'll see how things go! How long until you were back on normal food?