Just wondering what misconceptions, misunderstandings, etc. people who know you are banded have? Here are some of the questions/comments I've received (I tell everyone it comes up with that I'm banded).

Yeah but since the band is inside you, you have to have another operation each time it needs to be tightened, right?

I've always heard those make you sterile...

Doesn't it get absorbed by your stomach and just force your whole stomach into a smaller shape?

You can only eat a couple pounds of food a day right?

What ones have you received?

My mom's favourite: "That's more than a cup!".

And: "How's your stomach?" ... eeeh, fine thank you...why???

And: "When last did u weigh?" ... in other words....

Hubby: "Remember to eat slowly. Chew, chew, chew!" and five minutes later..."I'm going for a smoke - can't sit here all day." ...eish...

My mother-in-law living with me since surgery and having explained the rules 100 times - directly after supper - EVERY DAY: "Would u also like some coffee?"....no thank you...sigh...i don't eat and drink but thanks for offering...again...hehehe!!!

This one is my favourite.....and the most annoying:

"how's it working for you......ya think it was worth all that money?"

Carol

I think those of you who only told one or 2 people are smart. I wish I would have done that....ish. We had lunch at my in laws yesterday and they hadn't seen me for 2 weeks and mil said...you don't look any thinner. I should have told her she didn't look any younger. Way to state the obvious. :cool:

Got this one this weekend, it was great. Someone found out I had lapband and they'd heard of it, but didn't understand it. "That's the one that they don't have to cut you all up for right?" Sure... "It's adjustable right?" Yep... "I know they stick stuff in you with a needle, but what do they stick in?" Just saline... "How does squirting saline on the band make it shrink? Like it shrinks when it gets wet? Then how come it's not shrinking all the time, because we're wet inside..."

A friend said she could never do it because she couldn't stand having an open wound on her belly. She really thought they just left an opening, until DH showed her his port. Or more accuratly, where it is.

The absolute funniest was my SIL, who when we called to tell them DH came through surgery well wanted to know how much fat they cut off him. She was totally clueless about WLS in general.

Some folks, assume the port is on the outside! Sort of something that you "gas" up when needed. Hehe. I guess I can't blame them as it is a foreign surgery that many have never heard of...

Shawn

I've tried to explain it to my sister a number of times, but she just doesn't get it. She asked something about the surgery that implied the bypass (or maybe she was talking about having told one of her friends I had it, I forget) and I said "I didn't have the bypass, I had the band" and she says "It's basically the same thing, right?"

*sigh*

I carry a pamplet with pictures of the Lapband showing how and where it is placed. I pull it out and show those who don't know or understand what it is, so there is no miss-understandings. Especially when my Best Friend who is banded tries to explain it to someone...she makes me confused and I know how it works.

My sister wants to have the band done but my BIL says I am too sick all the time for her to consider it. Since being banded I have had 2 surgeries one for my gallbladder (hers is gone already) and my foot from an exisiting problem. Other than that I have takes 2 trips, bought a new home and painted and decorated all by myself. I worked with special ed kids at the local elementry school last year and have worked with my daughters preschool. I have more energy and stamina than I ever have, I feel great. I guess I must look like crap or something cuz he says I am soooo sickly since surgery. Oh and she wants the band but is totally grossed out that you can see the outline of my port and forget about asking her to touch it. LOL ~Mandy

My fiance thought that I was getting a zip-tie put around my stomach... He was sitting in the next info session with me before he knew what hit him! Lol...

When a co-worker found out that I was banded, she was horrified. "How can you eat with that band around your waist," she asked me. Snork.

I get the question so much Are you feeling OK? A Hispanic friend of mine wants a band but she says some of her white friends told her to buy burial insurance first before she gets the band. As one of her white friends I told her to buy burial insurance if she didn't get the band. She thought that one was funny.

Lol, this thread is great

And this is why I have told NO ONE

Well, my roomate, good friend, sister, mom and dad

That's it

I mean, if I told one of my grandma's(dad's side) she would understand, be very supportive, not talk about it alot, she just might ask what's best for me to have so if she haves me over for dinner, she could make things that would work for me. And everytime I'd see her she'd tell me I was looking good(even if I wasen't)

But if I told her, I'd have to tell the other(mom's side) who would be the "you haven't lost enough weight yet" or "should you be eating that?" or "Maybe you should go get it fixed, your still fat". Yeah, she's called me fat to my face mulitple times. She....the whole family thinks she's missing part of her brain!

When I told a thin friend, she said, "Oh, that makes you throw up if you eat too much. I wish I could have that." Um, okay, you can actually throw up all you want, I, on the other hand, think I'll just opt not to eat too much (or too quickly, etc.)...banded or not.

And, I've been really surprised by the number of thin people who say, "Oh, I wish I could have that." I think that's actually an underhanded way of implying that WLS is the "easy way out." But because I know there is nothing easy about it, I don't let it bother me. They can kiss my big fat ass now, or they can kiss my skinny little ass in a couple of years, I'll let them decide which they prefer. :heh:

Oh, and the WORST response I got from anyone when I told them was, "Well, kiss your boobs goodbye!" What could I say to that? I just laughed and said, "Oh, did you lose a lot of weight at some point?" while looking at her chest. :biggrin1:

<p>Did you lose alot of your hair yet? Weird question coming from people who see me regularly before and after band. My hair is the same style, length, and color. </p> <p> </p> <p>Sorry if this posted twice, the first one wouldnt post</p>

My mom's friend (75 yr old) thought that the band was on the outside and I could tighten it like a belt.

Another misconception is about the term being "banded" among those who raise goats, means the tying of a male goats' testicles tightly so that they turn black and fall off (a form of neutering).