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Guest P-38

I am just getting started in the process of considering Lap-Band surgery. At nearly 400# I know I have to do something and my options are running out.

Here are a few of the issues I also have to consider.

1. My mother died of complications from one of the early Bypass surgeries in the early 70's.

2. I'v had 6 back surgeries and live in chronic pain due to failed back surgeries.

3. IGA Nephrology limits Protein intake due to its stress on kidney function.

4. Overall health is starting to fail gradually.

5. At 50 years old I am not young any more.

Anyway, I am glad to be here and will be deciding soon what to do.

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Hi P,

Welcome to the forum. It does seem like you have a lot to consider when taking this step. I hope that you find the support and answers to any questions on this site.

It has been a wonderful experience for me. I enjoy everyone who visits this site and I love hearing about their progress... sometimes it is good and sometimes bad... but it seems that everyone is so supportive, this is the place I know I can turn to when I am feeling down.

I wish you the best and hope that everything goes well for you. Please keep us posted on your progress.

Take Care,

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I too hope that this site provides you the info you need to learn more about the lapband pro wise and con wise. Of course everyone experiences things differently with the band. I sympathize with you on your mother's loss due to weightloss surgery, and know that must really way heavily on your mind when deciding what to do. For myself, I have not had any health complications from the surgery, in fact it has cured many problems that I had with sleep apnea, female problems, IBS, and just overall well being. Sure, it's depressing when some foods won't go down, and my port area is still sensitive after 7 months but, for me it was the only thing to do. I was 282 and headed for an early grave. It is important that if you do find a doctor to perform lapband surgery to talk to him/her about your past surgeries, health concerns, what happened to your mom and to attend support groups with people who used that doctor for the surgery, long beforehand If he/she is not open enough for you find someone who will be

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Guest P-38

Thanks for the welcome everuone. I also belong to a forum similar to this for spinal disorders. They can be enormously helpful.

Sue, close. In fact I'm impressed. I haven't thought of thoise can openers for years. This P-38 was a fighter plane introduced in WWII and carried over into Korea. So, the military affiliation is there for both items.

Hope everyone is having aq great day.

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Hi "P",

I'm just starting this process as well and can tell you that many of my fears have been eased by talking with those that have been banded. I still struggle with the choice of banding or the RNY but am just so much more comfortable not rerouting my GI tract. My sister had the RNY and is doing wonderfully and without any complications but I still find I am more comfortable with the Lap Band option.

I think this is a wonderful thing for you to do for yourself... we only get one life and we all deserve to have as many of the years at the highest quality possible. Wishing you the best...

Darcy

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P,

I was 55 when I had my LapBand surgery. My surgeon had already placed a band in a 70-year-old, so he had no problems with my age.

Sue

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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