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I just joined this forum. I really would like to know all the negative stuff that might happen during the lap-band process. It seems to good to be true at this point, but that might be because I'm a natural pessimist.

This all started about 6 months ago when I went in for a doctor's appointment. Instead of my regular physician (who was out of town that day), one of the other doctors in the same clinic saw me. During the visit, he told me that I would probably be the perfect candidate for a lap band procedure. I had never heard of this before. I assumed what he meant by that was an old-fashioned stomach stapling procedure, which I'd heard so many very bad things about, so I basically dismissed his advice - partly because he wasn't my regular doctor.

However, over the months this kept popping back in my mind, what he had said. I later asked my regular doctor about it, and she concurred that I would probably benefit from a lapband procedure. This still didn't convince me.

After waiting for many years to become a father, at age 46 I finally had my dream come true. I am now the father of a wonderful little two-year-old boy, whom I love more than anything in the world. This past Fathers Day (in June) I had a most wonderful day celebrating being a father. But the whole day long I kept thinking: "I need to do something about my health to make sure I'm around to help raise my son." All day long this was very much on my mind. I do not want to have my son grow up without a daddy...

So, after that I began to dig around on the Internet, and discovered to my huge surprise that the procedure my doctors had been talking about was *NOT* the old-fashioned stomach stapling surgery where they hack off part of your intestinal tract, but instead was this very simple, very amazing procedure of the lap band. I was absolutely stunned about this. I still haven't gotten over it. It seems too good to be true.

So, I've made an appointment to start the process next Wednesday. I'm going to go in and discuss it with my doctor, and get the ball rolling. I'm doing it for me, but I'm also doing it for my wife and son. I want to be around to watch him grow up. I have some health problems associated with my being overweight such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea, difficulty walking, etc. that I hope will get better if I can drop the pounds.

So any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening. :)

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My advice is to get all the information you can. This site has tons of information to help you decide. I tell people, I will give you all the information, good or bad, that I know. I will not tell you it will work for you. That part is up to you. The band is not magic. It's worked for many of us, but it definitely works better when the bandster does his/her part. The band has been part of a big change in my life and has the potential to do the same in yours.

Good luck!

Bruce

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
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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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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