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I wanna be a bander!



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Hi Everyone,

I have been reading this site for a while now and it is brilliant. The information and support that everyone gives eachother is amazing ;)

I am 21 from Northampton and I have struggled with my weight since I was about 9. I have tried so many diets, high fibre, low calorie, high protien, lots of exercise combined with hardly any food :cry in the end I just go back to eating junk and lots of it. I have basically put my life on hold until I lose the weight which is very annoying as I love going out but my self confidence has just gone too low. Anyway to cut a long boring story short I have decided to go for surgery :clap2:

I am booked in for my consultation on the 18th June with Mr Guy Finch at three shires hospital in Northampton. I am quite nervous but very excited at the same time as I do see this as a long term weight loss tool.

Anyway I would be most greatful if anyone could 'remind' me of any questions I should be asking the consultant or any important stuff I need to know before hand.

Oh by the way I'm 5ft and I weight 14 1'2 stone and I want to get down to 9 stone, I hope so anyway!!

Thanks

L

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Yes!

You need to ask him what band he uses and why

How many times he's done the procedure

What is included in the aftercare package

How much weight you can expect to lose in the first year

What is his attitude to fills, will you be able to get them as and when you need them

What happens if you need an emergency fill for any reason

Is there a pre op diet to follow

What does the post op eating plan look like

how long will you be in hospital

What happens if there are complications (is additional care included if you need it in the price)

I can't think of anything else at the moment, but if I do I'll post it!!!

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Hi

Im 22 and had my band fitted April 24th 2007.

Can honestly say it is the best decision I have ever made. To date I have lost a total of 17lbs. Only 72lbs to go....

I too have had a weight issue since I can remember. Things came to a head when some guy passed a comment on a night out. Cant remember the particulars of what was said but it rudely awoke me to the truth that i had been living a lie and kidding myself I was happy being this size.

I did have the wrong expectations going into the operation. I thought i would wake from having the band fitted and my life would begin. I also believed the band would do everything for me. HOW WRONG I WAS. Yes the band stops me eating huge portions but it doesnt stop me craving forbidden foods.

I have had to adjust to my way of living and my entire thought process surrounding food. Sounds so clique but the band isnt just about losing the weight it is about re-educating yourself and learning that it is ok not to eat for every occasion or emotion. food was/still is slightly my best friend and worst enemy.

I wish you all the best for the operation. I may have pointed out some negatives of the band but these are minimal in comparison to the natural high you get when people ask, 'have you lost weight?'. Plus finding a pair of trousers in your wardrobe that you couldnt look at never mind get on and fasten.

Take care

H x

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Also don't forget that the op is only the first step. Make sure you have a good after care. For the last 20 months, I thought I did and am only realising that the support was not there and I should have had more fils earlier on. food will remain your best friend if you are not restricted in the right way.

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Also don't forget that the op is only the first step. Make sure you have a good after care. For the last 20 months, I thought I did and am only realising that the support was not there and I should have had more fils earlier on. food will remain your best friend if you are not restricted in the right way.

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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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    • 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.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

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

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