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It's Done, Banded At LAST

JohnC

By JohnC, in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

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JohnC    31

JohnC
Posted (edited)

I am now the proud owner of a Realize Gastric Band.:cry_smile: Surgery started at 1205p. and ended at 1225p. I don't remember a thing. Feeling pretty good so far, not much pain to speak of. Not hungry at all but trying to get in my Water & Protein. I'm so glad that I went through with this so I can finally start my new healthy life.:rolleyes2: Will keep in touch.

Edited by JohnC

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yvonneb3    0

yvonneb3
Posted

Hi all,

I was banded on Wed 4/23rd, everything went quickly and I was in my room recovering by 1pm. I had a bad time with the pain meds making me nauseous and after trying several different types, I said forget it and just have been on Tylenol. The stuff you have to drink so they can xray you and make sure there are no leaks was pretty horrific and almost made me puke. Came home yesterday and just took it easy. The pain from the surgery is not that bad like John says below. I get Migraines and for some reason had 3 in the last 2 days so I am dealing with that too. Feeling ok at this time and I am on stage 2 diet already as of today and had some thin Cream of Wheat, oh it tasted so good. Had about 10 baby spoon fulls and was full..... I don't want to get on the scale until I go to the Dr's on May 2nd for my post op. I am glad I did this and would do it again. Take care all.

Yvonne

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Charlene K    1

Charlene K
Posted

Congrats! to both of you! Hopefully, I will get banded in May. I attend my last nutrition class on Monday. I will be watching for a progress report.

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isabelle290    0

isabelle290
Posted

Yea! I have a Realize Band too. I've been doing great with mine! Good luck to you. Keep up with the forum. It will keep you motivated when things get difficult on the liquid/ mushie stage. We are all your support! Let us know if you have questions::thumbup:

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MacMadame    81

MacMadame
Posted

I wrote this really long post about it and of course I was too dumb to save it. I'll try to find it and post a link.

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MacMadame    81

MacMadame
Posted

Well, one difference is that the Realize band is made from a softer plastic and is wider than the Lap band AP. This is supposed to help with erosion and slippage. In fact, the AP band was made wider for the same reason.

Another difference is with the port. The Realize port has these little claws that make it stick to the stomach muscles instead of being stitched in. (However, the surgeon can choose to stitch it instead.) This is supposed to help with port flipping. It is also a "low profile" port so when you lose your weight, it won't stick out as much. The Lap Band has a low profile port option but you have to ask for it.

The buckle is different too. I have no idea if it matters though. I just noticed that watching lap band surgery videos. :smile2: The Realize buckle is big and it scared me a bit.

The Lap Band AP has its reservoir divided up into sections ... it's like it's pre-creased. The Realize band does not. It does crease when it's filled with liquid, but ends up with less creases. The sections in the Lap Band AP are supposed to help with slippage.

The older lap bands had a reservoir that did not go 360 around while Realize does. That's why the AP band was changed. 360 around is better.

The Realize band is not put in pre-filled with saline. Sometimes the Lap Band is. From what I've seen here, it's completely variable how soon and how easily someone gets to restriction so I don't see that it matters much.

So there are some differences just off the top of my head.

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yellowroseaz    0

yellowroseaz
Posted (edited)

My surgeon uses both bands a lap band and a realize band. McMadame put it very well. I went to a class last week ABCs of Lap Band. At the class they showed us both bands and it is true the Realize band is bigger but the port is smaller. And I was told that the Realize band comes with a computer program that is very helpful. So I think I want the Realize band.

GoodLuck in your new bandster journey JohnC. Keep us posted on your progress.

Edited by yellowroseaz
add more text

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Go To Topic Listing LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

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    • Alisa_S

      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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      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

        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

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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      1. This update has no replies.

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