Were you 'sick' going in?

[sherilynn 1]

What I mean (more pre surgical jitters)...did many of you have health issues prior to the band? I'm going into this with High BP, Diabetes II, and aches and pains, sometimes a hip, sometimes a foot, the back, whatever the flavor of the day is. Recently, I'm tired...just tired to the point where I want to nap.

Just seems that no one really comments on what has been eleviated with the band, such as those pains.

I guess I'm just really looking forward, and HOPING the weight coming off will help me rid myself of this 'stuff/comorbidities'.

[lianna 3]

The weight loss has helped many issues for me. I was taking Benicar for borderline high BP and am totally off it now. Blood Pressure is very good now. I still have to take Metformin for Insulin Resistance, but my sugars stay under control now. I no longer get edema in my ankles. The difference in the little aches and pains is amazing. I wear heels to work every day now, and before my poor feet would just kill me by the end of the day. My energy level is so much better! I guess I didnt realize just how hard it is for the body to carry around all that extra weight!

[Jachut 487]

I was tired too. I had only gotten to a BMI of 35 but for my body, it was about as much as it could take without beginning to break down. I have friends who are way more obese but much more active and healthier than I was feeling at a lesser weight.

I had a really bad problem with chronic bursitis in one ankle - totally gone. My ankles/heels will always be a weak spot for my body, they were before I got fat. If I'm going to get injured from playing sport, it will be my achilles tendon, no doubt about it. But I can now run up to 50km per week and my ankles stand up to it. That is totally as a result of the weight loss, less burden on them and that has meant I can exercise more to strengthen the area which was getting weak from me favouring it all the time.

I was getting so lazy. Because I was walking with a limp and my ankle really hurt, I'd even drive round to the bank on the top level of the shopping centre if I was on the bottom. I was avoiding lectures at uni because it hurt to walk up and down all the steps from my car. I didnt do any exercise, and the house was a mess. I needed a nap every afternoon - never got one, but needed it. All I ever did in the way of a hobby was sit on my fat bum at the computer.

I didnt have diabetes or high blood pressure or cholesterol problems or anything like that becuase I actually ate fairly well - I just ate more calories than I burned, and I seem to pack on weight very very quickly when I'm breastfeeding, which I'd done 3 times in my life, and that did actually account for about 75% of my excess weight. So I wasnt gaining and gaining quickly, but I couldnt lose it and my body was not coping with the burden of 35 extra kilograms too well.

So yes, I feel like a completely different person a year or so after my surgery.

[ralheit 1]

I also suffered from fatigue and have severe osteoarthritis in my legs, especially my knees. I had to walk with a cane for quite some time and have been able to toss it finally. I still have pain, but I'm getting around much better now. I also got off my meds for reflux. I am still taking BP meds, but hope to get off of them in the future. I also have sever apnea. I'm still using my mask. I just hope that once I have a really significant loss that that will also be gone.

[susannah 2]

Gday. I am getting banded in less than 2 weeks. I have Multiple Sclerosis which is a disease of the nervous system. Funnily enough I do not have high blood pressure, high blood sugar or any other problems.

Susannah

[lisah25 3]

What I mean (more pre surgical jitters)...did many of you have health issues prior to the band? I'm going into this with High BP, Diabetes II, and aches and pains, sometimes a hip, sometimes a foot, the back, whatever the flavor of the day is. Recently, I'm tired...just tired to the point where I want to nap.

Just seems that no one really comments on what has been eleviated with the band, such as those pains.

I guess I'm just really looking forward, and HOPING the weight coming off will help me rid myself of this 'stuff/comorbidities'.

I was borderline high BP, I'm normal now.

I had hip pain, when I got up to walk the first few steps were bad. I also couldn't sleep on my side anymore, my hip aching would wake me up. That is gone now. My knees don't bother me hardly at all, just a twinge now and then.

[gretchens4 0]

Hi,

I'm new here and am scheduled to be banded on 2/23/07. I just introduced myself yesterday and asked a similar question. My house is a disaster, I can't keep up with my kids and everything is such a chore ( I have to talk myself into doing a load a laundry and then rest). I'm glad to hear it does get better, I can't stand being this way, but it's so gradual, you almost can't remember it being different (although I know it was). How much weight did you lose before feeling better? I'm around 290 now and have put on the last 40 in just the last 18 months.

Gretchen

[Jachut 487]

Hi Gretchen, I really feel for you, that's how I was. I was living in utter chaos, I was just so lazy and tired I never did anything around the house. Looking after 3 kids was just a huge task. I reckon it got better almost immediately becuase my attitude was so positive following that first quick weight loss and that made a big difference. I had about 35 kg to lose (80lb or so) and by the time I"d lost 10 of those I was feeling really good.

Once I started running and got really fit - look out! I'm a human dynamo now :-)

[Cindybear1 0]

I'm curious too, my BMI 38.8, I have sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, borderline diabetes.

I have been told that there is no statistical evidence that banding helps fibromyalgia, but I would imagine that weight loss would at minimum help with the symptoms of fibromyalgia like aches, pains, fatigue, just because I am carrying around less weight.....

[gretchens4 0]

It's good to know it could get better quickly. I don't even think I was near this "lazy" 30 or 40 pounds ago. I feel now like I did at the end of pregnancy (or worse). It's so hard, b/c mentally I want to do things, but physically I just can't. I make it to all my kids activities etc., but I just always feel like I'm thinking about my physical issues and how I'm going to make it through etc. I basically do only what I HAVE to.

Thanks for the support!

Gretchen