Sorry guys, I need to rant about something and get it off my chest!! Usually when I go in for a fill, I actually look forward to sitting in the waiting room and talking to the other people there, trading stories and progress with them. It's my only chance to talk to other people face to face that have a band. When I went in for my last fill not too long ago though, I was biting my lip and had to tune out the conversation that was going on around me. I know I shouldn't be judgemental but there were some ladies in there talking about how they eat big bowls of spaghetti, one lady was talking about drinking beer and soda all the time, one was saying she was there for her first fill and didn't think she really needed it because she had only started out with thirty pounds to lose anyway (I still don't beleive that because I don't think my doc would band someone with that little to lose). What made me the most angry was this one lady said she didn't care if she only lost a little bit of weight with her band, it wasn't like she was going to be out any money since her insurance paid for it. She flat out said she wasn't going to change WHAT she ate for ANY reason, she like the kind of food she liked and that was that. I was sitting there thinking to myself that if she had to spend her entire savings like I did she might have a different attitude about it. It just frustrated me to no end. I don't understand why people would have this kind of attitude towards this wonderful tool and chance they have been given. Ok, now I'm done, I feel better now that I have vented!!

BrandyK...

After the nurse called your name to go back, I think you should have rolled up one of those magazines in the waiting area.. and 'cuffed them up-side the head'... and then just walked on as if nothing had happened.

They're stupid ungrateful pathetic good-for-nothin' gravy-suckin losers.

(or am I being too easy on them?)

i remember the first seminar i went to...it was during the question and answer time, a lady behind me says "what about bread? i gots ta have my braaayud!" over a year ago and my wife and i still laugh about it!

I wonder if she ever got the band???? LOL

LOL!!! You guys are all too funny!! It's nice to know I'm not the only one who gets frustrated with these people sometimes!!

I hear you all!! I also get really pissed off when I overhear people not taking it seriously. For me, it was one of the most serious things I've undertaken, you know, last chance.

So to hear people "cheating" and laughing about it, although its their loss, it makes me MORE irritable and grumpy LOL!!

I have sometimes wondered if, sorry, WHEN, I am a happy size, if the newly banded will glare and think, or say, "Why is SHE here???"

BrandyK...

After the nurse called your name to go back, I think you should have rolled up one of those magazines in the waiting area.. and 'cuffed them up-side the head'... and then just walked on as if nothing had happened.

They're stupid ungrateful pathetic good-for-nothin' gravy-suckin losers.

(or am I being too easy on them?)

:eek:

i think you were being way too kind!!

My husband is a very successful bandster. Lost over 140 lbs in two years. He can eat smaller portions of what he ate before and lose weight. He's a guy, so he can get away with more and his problem was more quantity than quality to begin with. Keep in mind, he loves the proper foods, meats, fish, veggies, fruit etc. and always has eaten that kind of food. We've been pretty much sugar-free years for years. He drinks (diet) soda once in a while. He doesn't eat much Pasta because it sticks sometime, but he does eat it once in a while. He also eats some (whole grain) bread. He's never once slimed or PB'd. But he knows when to quit eating. He gets a couple of hicups if he takes an extra bite; and he hates that (it hurts) so he's learned to eat one less.

Everyone is different. Some people can lose by just eating less of what they used to eat. DH has low carbed (Atkins style) and lost 100 lbs. (several years ago, regained it of course), and if he had to do that to lose, he would. We do eat "mostly" low carb" but not nearly as strict as we had to be without the band. It just gives us a little "wiggle room." Now it remains to be seen how strict I will have to get to continue losing.

I am so totally with you Brandy--I'm one who can't just think "Well, that's THEIR problem"--I get MAD!!

I'm sorry to say that even in here, LBT, I get upset when people start a thread about how they (1) are preparing for surgery (2) just had surgery or (3) are supposed to be on soft food and they have eaten everything in the world and now they want forgiveness and for everyone to tell them that it's perfectly okay to do. I always feel if we support them, they will just continue on--so I'm always the straight (blunt) talker who gets right to the point. I don't think I win friends when I do--

But darn--our middle names should be DISCIPLINE, because that's what our Band is about: a tool to help us make great choices for ourselves!! And when she made that crack about the insurance company paying for it--I'd just like to smack her upside her head!!

Lucky for me, my surgeon does General Surgery, so I'm usually sitting with a variety of people and don't have to listen to it.

You go, Brandy--you have the right frame of mind!!

I am much like Ellisa's DH---My issue was equally how much I ate as it was what I ate. And the only reason I ate the bad foods, was convenience and that I was starving, I wanted instant gratification. So once I was banded, it was much easier--I had control, I was not starving, so made better choices 90% of the time instead of 50% of the time. Quantity was my biggie! And the band has definitely changed that!

I have issues listening to my SIL go on about how she is at goal, and I am not. But she throws everything she eats up--she leaves the table 3 & 4 times a meal, to "PB" then comes back eats another couple of bites, and has to "throw up" she says. Now she has someone not of a medical background filling and unfilling her right and left, and still making herself throw up---and it makes me crazy!

I may not be at goal, but my band and I are healthy, and we are not skewing the complications rate by screwing up our bands knowingly. She may be a size 8 now, but she is not well either, it is scary---I seriously believe she has developed a bulimic attitude, and that can be deadly....of course her being sick is because of the band.....just ask any of the family.....

Kat

I had Lap Band Surgery in Aug. 2007, it took 3 fills to FINALLY get any results. After my last fill, I began vomiting frequently and had epigastric pain. On New Years Day 2008, I had the most excrutiating pain of my life starting in the middle of my chest extending down my left arm and back. I immediately contacted my Surgeon who informed me this was just related to somethng I ate. The pain did subside some with pain medication. The next day, the pain continued despite the fact I didn't eat anything. I went to the ER, an abdominal CT Scan was done which showed fluid collection. The next day I had my band removed due to infection. My Surgeon said I had a horrible infection related to the band. I still have questions I hope someone can help me with. I never had a fever or a change in my white count and the cultures were negative. My Surgeon said the fluid inside of me was lime green. Does anyone have any feedback for me, has anyone experiene a similiar situation??? If so, did you have any further weight loss surgeries. THKS.

RMG,

You might want to start a new thread and/or go to the Lap-Band Complications. I doubt many will see your post on this thead that can help you.

I'm so sorry you had to go through that.

I find people are always complaining about their bands, one way or another, in the waiting room. I try to be really positive and vocal because if I were a new patient listening to all that, I'd be scared to death. And, for most new patients sitting in that waiting room, the band is their best shot at good health, so I want them to want it.

I agree totally Julie! I never try to tell them it is all easy and all fun, I am realistic, but I also let them know that I would not give up my band without a helluva fight!!!! It has given me back my life, and given me hope again, something I know they need when you hit the point of visiting with a surgeon!

Kat

Wow, that would be quite discouraging. I think you did the right thing by not saying anything. We all have our own journey in this lapband world. Its just too bad when you make a drastic decision you can't change your attitude or behavior. Keep the faith.

For me, the weirdest thing about this thread is that the original poster and all of the responders TALK with other people in the waiting room.:scared2: I don't think I've ever even overheard conversation in the waiting room, let alone spoken to other people about the band. I don't know if it is a cultural difference or not, but I don't think it is lap-band related, as I have noticed the same thing in any GP's waiting room for all of my life. It's like it is a library or confessional or something - everyone reads the magazines, keeps their heads down and, if eye contact is accidentally made, a small nod is all the communication allowed.

For me, the weirdest thing about this thread is that the original poster and all of the responders TALK with other people in the waiting room.:scared2: I don't think I've ever even overheard conversation in the waiting room, let alone spoken to other people about the band. I don't know if it is a cultural difference or not, but I don't think it is lap-band related, as I have noticed the same thing in any GP's waiting room for all of my life. It's like it is a library or confessional or something - everyone reads the magazines, keeps their heads down and, if eye contact is accidentally made, a small nod is all the communication allowed.

I was wondering the same thing Fanny. I wonder if Aussies are more hesitant to talk to others in the waiting room. Or maybe that is just a Perth thing. The surgeon I go to does different surgeries apart from the LB so I would never presume that anyone else in his waiting room is also there for LB related visits unless they mentioned it first.