I was banded in Mississauga (Toronto) on December 18th, 2014. I am 11 weeks post-op and down 37 pounds.

It may not be a ton of weight lost, but its all gone, gone gone forever, and I am losing slow and steady. As I lay in bed last night, I touched my ribs (I have ribs?!) and reflected on how things have changed for me since being banded two and a half months ago.

I realized last night that I am totally, completely, madly in love with my band. Here's why:

• My size 22 pants fall down to my ankles if I don't wear a belt.
• Even when I do wear a belt, my size 22 pants look like I'm wearing a parachute.
• I can put on my "old" jeans without unzipping/unbuttoning the fly.
• My tummy scars are a proud (and only slightly scary) red/purple, and serve to remind me every day of the commitment I've made to myself.
• My College students talk about me when they think I have my back turned/can't hear them and say things like "Damn, she's looking GOOD".
• I no longer have to use a "bath sheet" sized towel. A regular sized one wraps around my bod, thanks very much.
• I am no longer winded when I climb a set of stairs.
• People at work tell me hair looks AMAZING. What they are actually saying doing is choosing my hair as the way to give me a "YOU LOOK AMAZING!" compliment without verbalizing my obvious weight loss. This gives me JOY.
• I can no longer feel my thighs pressing against the sides of my office chair.
• Truth: In the shower, I no longer have to lift stuff up to wash other stuff. Seriously.
• When I get up to pee in the middle of the night there is no pain in my body. Anywhere. The aches are gone.
• My favourite LL Bean down jacket from before I chubbed out FITS ME and I can zip it up easily.
• I proctored an exam the other day sitting cross-legged on a desk.
• My herniated disc (due to obesity) has resolved. I can now roll over in bed pain-free.
• I can sleep on my stomach again. This is also something that gives me JOY.
• I sat on the floor with a group of students the other day, and realized I had gotten up again with absolutely NO EFFORT.
• I can chug water! I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do this after being banded. (It's the little things...)
• I have been watching my cheekbones emerge. Wow.
• Our grocery bill has gone down dramatically. I eat 1/3 (if that) of what I used to eat. My husband says with the grocery money saved since being banded we could buy a cottage in Muskoka. (lol!)
• Speaking of my husband, I weigh less than him for the first time in a decade.
• And more about my husband: I've noticed him touching my bum. A lot. And smooching me up. And hugging me close. He's proud, I can tell.
• My band gently (and sometimes not-so-gently) reminds me to slow down when I eat. Thank you, dear band.
• I have learned what freedom from the hunger monster feels like, and MAN OH MAN is that ever sa-weet.
• I have a constant backdrop of satiety. I no longer think about, or worry about, my next meal. Love those band adjustments!
• I am looking forward to getting into my MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op - the Canadian version of "REI") 'Rad Pants' I've kept from 1994. They are red, they are a size 10. The summer is almost here and with it comes a canoe-trip. I will be wearing those pants.
• I feel like a I have a new lease on life. Woo hoo!

It's okay to stall. It's ok to have the occasional chocolate banana fritter. (Whoops - damn it was good). I am in a love affair with my band, but more importantly, with myself.

THIS is why I am in love with my band.

Happy happy!

Thank you so much I feel more at ease i was worried maybe i have choosen a specialist whom is dodgy.

@@bel1995 Hmmmm.... if you get the sense your specialist is 'dodgy' it could well be a strong and correct instinct. Maybe see if there are other options out there.

When I first considered weight loss surgery I contacted and had a consult with an Agency in Toronto. High pressure sales tactics led me to actually book a surgery date and pay a deposit.

In the weeks that followed, something wasn't sitting well with me about this place. I started doing intensive research on the web looking for evidence to support my gut suspicions that this was a sketch organization, and WHAMMO did I ever find the info I was looking for.

Long story short, I ended up jumping ship and going with a private medical clinic with a stellar reputation, superb surgeons and a terrific track record of lap-band success. Making the tough decision to abandon a poor provider for a good one was the greatest act of self care I think I've ever committed.

No regrets!

Thanks for your reply. maybe i felt this way as his bedside mannerisms wernt as good as some but those that have had surgery seem happy with him. hes got alot of experience and masters in it also a lecturer at university so the surgery experience is well up there. i do thi k theres a small part of me that is abit concerned.

surgery is tomorrow i am scared. is there a sore throat afterwards? and the port hole? i am so scared of needles.

@@bel1995

That's exiting!!!! The only thing I would recommend is to ask for stool softners they should give you that anyway but incase they don't ask! You will be sorry if you don't use them. Also you're going to have gas pains buy gas x and walk. Walking is the only thing that makes it go away. My left hand hurt after surgery but it went away within a couple of hours. Also, you will need someone to help you get up from bed make sure someone is available to help. I wish you the best of luck it's so exiting! Let us know in your progress!

Thank you so much Am feeling so nervous and scared

You'll be okay the worst part is getting up but as long as you have someone to help it'll be manageable. Let us know how you're feeling once you get out.

Oh I didn't have a sore throat afterwards I felt fine the port feels weird. My port never hurt. The fills don't hurt either they're uncomfortable but they don't hurt. The worst is the first 3 days after surgery because of the gas but you need gas x and to walk. I'm telling you walking is the only thing that works. I wish I would have known about walking when I had the surgery it would have saved me a lot of headaches and tears. Good luck on your big day!

Thank you so much will let you know how i go

Good luck bel1995! Did you watch the "All of me" movie? It can give you so confort and straingh. My feeling is "I don't want to be one of the girls that cannot even walk and I will pass through whatever is needed to change the direction of my journey (that today is in full speed up)". I am going for my first consultation on 2/2/16 and I can't wait to get over it. Everything will be allright. Focus on the result.

@@bel1995 So?! How did it go?

Sorry I didn't respond before now - ! By now you are on the other side - - welcome to a whole new chapter in your life. Be good to yourself over the next few days as you do the hard work of recovering from the surgery and getting rid of that gas. Yes, this too shall pass - !

Be careful with your incision sites. As for Water, keep drinking constantly in tiny sips. sip, sip, sip.... and be sure to have someone by your side to help you get to and from the toilet, help you with your meds.. whatever you need, Gas-X did the trick for me - dissolvable strips. Very helpful indeed...!

Also, pillows. Tons and tons of pillows in my bed. I slept almost sitting up the first couple of nights and that helped was e the discomfort. Walking is great advice (I simply couldn't but I know it worked for others!) so if you can, do.

Welcome to the rest of your life... it all starts now. So excited for you! ((HUG))

Hibthere

No i havent seen that movie or heard of it will have to look it up. Good luck with your consultation

Hi there

I Am finding this site confusing sometimes so just replied to someonw in this post above lol.

I am alive! The surgery went well & surprisingly the surgeon said i had a hiatus hernia which would have caused severe heart burn with the band so he has fixed it

You are certainly not wrong about the gas pain omfg! Was radiating bad through my shoulders back and chest that us more painful than the incisions!

Following surgery most uncomfy was the gas pains they are still there but slowly going. A hot Water bottle has relieved it tremendously. Its the medical gas that they put between your organs so much longer to bring up. I have not felt nausea at all not even after surgery which i am happy about.

Could you please help me i have lost mu post op liquid diet sheets. For the first two weeks what should i eat? So far today i have had broth, diet jelly, coffee, herbal clear tea & water. Just took it slowly with each. Hopefully i havent had too much as i dont know how many mls i should have.

In my freezer i made up very thin vegetables and chicken Soup and froze them pre surgery - is it ok to have the chicken and vegetables soup its water thin as i am confused when they say no meat or vegetable.

Thank you so much for taking the time to contact me and share your experience i really appreciate it.

@@bel1995 Yes, I had the same repair done while I was getting banded. A had a massive double hiatus hernia that has caused me brutal heartburn for a year... i never knew.

Over a year now of being banded and my heartburn has completely disappeared. Yay!

Do NOT rush solids... stay on clear fluids/full fluids... whatever you were told. Contact your surgeon asap and get the staff to email you the post-op instructions as it is vital that you don't do things out of order.

You are healing right now, so you want to limit the peristalsis (contractions) of your lower esophagus as much as possible. As soon as solid hits the band, you will automatically begin those contractions to push it through. This is great once you have healed enough to reach that stage, but right now it's a no-no. No matter how small those vegetable or chicken chunks may seem, you do NOT want to put your surgical site through contractions as it is still healing.

Best thing - get in touch with your surgical team and get your hands on another copy of your post-surgical diet.

Yay for you!

I think after surgery I waited a week for solids and when I began eating solids I wasn't 100% sure I felt okay so I went back to liquids for another 4 days. Like the Proffessor said don't rush into solids let your band heal and you'll avoid unnecessary problems. When I was on the liquid diet I would have sugar free jello, liquid sugar free yogurt, broth (chicken, fish, beef). Take your time I know it's so frustrating to only be on liquids but it's for your own good. People that struggle with the band didn't follow the directions and had complications. You went through the hard part already just make it easier on yourself and avoid slowing down your healing processby eating solids. In the grand scheme of things what's another week on liquids. Right? When you call your dr ask about your vitamins when is it ok to start on them. I am sooo exited for you!!!

Thanks so much for your replies.

I have phoned the doctors rooms and emailed the dietician whom will be in on Saturday to re send me a copy.

I best clarify i didnt mean eat solid foods there is no way i would risk that especially with this type of surgery. I meant where they say soup could that be Water thin vegetables and chicken soup as i have that in freezer. But i wont touch it.

Till i hear vack from dietician i will stick to diet jelly, Optifast and broth. Does that sound ok?

Thank you so much ladies i appreciate it. Am kicking myself for losing this paperwork as its not like me to lose things especially something so bloody important!