. . .about the miracle that it's been in my life.

I had Lapband surgery 4 months ago. Here are some of the things that have happened as a result:

• I have lost 66 pounds.
  
• My BMI has dropped over 10 points.
  
• My clothing size has gone from a 30/32 to an 18/20.
  
• I can cross my legs now.
  
• I feel stronger as a person.
  
• I am much more confident.
  
• I have a different relationship with food. I honestly don't miss the junk food that I was mourning the loss of before I had my surgery. On occasion I will have a little bit of something and then find that it no longer appeals to me like it used to.
  
• The post-op diet was hard at times, but nothing I couldn't handle with some planning and lots of reading around here.
  
• I eat normally. I have yet to find a food I couldn't eat as long as I'm careful in my chewing.
  
• I am rarely hungry.
  
• I eat to fuel my body, not because I'm driven to by an insane hunger.
  
• I wake up every morning grateful for the blessing that this surgery has been for me.
  
• My friends and family have all been supportive. Every last person I have spoken to about my surgery has been positive, supportive and kind.
  
• I want to cry when I look at my face in my before pictures. I didn't realize how lost I had become in my body/fat. I am almost giddy when I look at my current pictures because I see hope and happiness there.
  
• My family is eating healthier because of my food habit changes.
  
• My kids are proud of me.
  
• My husband is proud of me and thrilled with the changes in me, both physically and emotionally.
  
• I haven't uncovered any secret emotional reasons to why I overate. I'm still doing fine emotionally, in fact, I'm better than I've been in years.
  
• I have hope for a very bright future because of the changes that having the Lapband has helped me to achieve.
  

Now, I still have 77 pounds to go until my goal weight, so I'm certainly not there. But even this much of a change has done so much for me.

Anyone should go into surgery with both eyes open as to what complications you can run into, etc., but I just wanted to put my story out there, because there are some people who don't have complications. Sometimes the band is a perfect solution to why we're overweight and can be a virtually problem-free answer.

I do follow my surgeon's rules and make good food choices most of the time. You do have to learn how to eat the best way for your weight loss, but it is important and you can do it. I do use willpower at times, but it is a hugely different experience with the band than before.

Sometimes I don't post about how easy things have gone for me because I don't want to frustrate those who are struggling and trying hard, only having slower success. I don't want to come across as bragging in any way. But it's not a true picture if you don't get all perspectives, and this is my perspective. Hope it was helpful.

Speaking of meds, another great thing for me is that I'm off all meds now except birth control. I was very dependent on Nexium. I needed it for a month or two after surgery still, but now I don't take it at all and don't get any acid reflux.

I too have had a great experience. I was banded a little over a year ago and have lost almost 80 pounds so my weight loss has been a little slower than yours. I have absolutely no regrets and would do it all over again! You go girl!

What an amazing post! Congrats on your successes and please keep sharing!!!

PS Your photo is beautiful!

Melissa,

Thanks for starting this thread (and pointing me in the right direction towards it) it is just great. Can't wait to share my sucess story

hi pen,

i getting the procedure done i was wondering whats happening with you and why you are feeling yuk

susie

Hello,

I had the lap-band procedure done in 2004. I found out later that if you have major allergy problems, you might have problems with the mucous blocking the hole. Due to this problem I threw up a lot. I found that drinking a carbonated beverage helps dislodge the phlegm and allows you to eat.

If your doctor has not informed you, a girdle after surgery is very helpful. My doctor didn't tell me to wear one, but a friend's doctor insisted she wear one. After 2 days without, I got a girdle and it made a big difference.

I had a cold last Spring (over spring break of course!!) and blocked up with mucous---and the thing that helped me, was HOT tea---the heat softened things up enough to allow them to move. I was in a panic, thought I was going to have to be unfilled---when my fill Dr.'s receptionist recommended something HOT. Then one of the Dr.'s from Fill Centers USA recommended the same thing. Saved me! If your Dr. has no issue with carbonation, I can see how it might make a difference too.

I could have worn a normal girdle, and not come anywhere near any of my incisions from banding!!! Mine are all quite high--several inches above my belly button, I even had one almost between my breasts!!!

Maybe the location of incisions is a question those heading to surgery need to ask! It amazes me how different each Dr. is!

Kat

This is a great, positive post! Thanks for sharing. My story is almost identical to yours Shinyhappymommy, banded in mid February, lost about 60 lbs since I started pre-op, no complications, feeling great about myself and enjoying smaller clothes sizes.

I have a APS band with 3 cc's in it. I have almost too much restriction. If I eat too fast, or try to take too big of bites I do get stuck but I can eat a small healthy meal without problem if I eat very slowly and chew very well. No more quick meals for me. I haven't really found anything that is impossible to eat although there are several things that I choose not to eat because I know they aren't good for me and if I can tell myself I can't eat them it is easier to say no to them. Crusty bread and butter fall into that category.

I don't get that gnawing hunger I got before I got the band. I find that sometimes I go looking for food because I am bored and eating fills the time but I try to stay busy enough to avoid that.

This board has been a great support to me on this journey. Even though I have had an easy transition to banded life, there have still been questions and concerns that I have found answers to here on the board. Thanks to all of you for that support.

Thanks for the wonderful, uplifting and positive post! I was just banded one week ago today and I went through some serious emotional ups and downs over the last two weeks. Although I wanted to be positive and remain optimistic, this past week as been difficult with the healing and the liquid diet and nausea and things of this naytcha.

I was mourning the loss of so many of my bad habits, even before they were no longer allowed. I thought for sure there was a possibility that I was making the biggest mistake of my life. And an expensive one too, since I was self pay.

Your post has brightened my day and given me hope. I believe that four months down the road I won't miss any of those things that were holding me back and I'll be more than thrilled with the decision I made. Your post helped me to believe that even more.

Good luck and Godspeed to you and thanks again for the uplift, from someone who was way down.

Thanks for the wonderful, uplifting and positive post! I was just banded one week ago today and I went through some serious emotional ups and downs over the last two weeks. Although I wanted to be positive and remain optimistic, this past week as been difficult with the healing and the liquid diet and nausea and things of this naytcha.

I was mourning the loss of so many of my bad habits, even before they were no longer allowed. I thought for sure there was a possibility that I was making the biggest mistake of my life. And an expensive one too, since I was self pay.

Your post has brightened my day and given me hope. I believe that four months down the road I won't miss any of those things that were holding me back and I'll be more than thrilled with the decision I made. Your post helped me to believe that even more.

Good luck and Godspeed to you and thanks again for the uplift, from someone who was way down.

Hang in there, four months ago I was right where you are today. It does get better. As the pounds start to melt away you will love your new life.

Great post! Thanks for sharing your successes with all of us, you're such an inspiration.

Great post!!!! The Lap Band is the best thing I have ever done for myself and I don't regret it for an instant. My worst day now is better than my best day in the land of obesity. It was definitely, completely, wholeheartedly worth it.

When I went to have my first fill, my doctor looked at my file and read his notes...he basically had several sizes of bands to choose from based on the size of the stomach. My stomach was "in-between" two band sizes. I'm not sure if weight coorelates to stomach size but i was 319lbs with a realtively small (as he put it) stomach. He chose the smaller band for me because it meant less fills down road (seemed odd since thats money out of his pocket but thats make me trust that he has my best interest at heart). He put in the smaller band with hopes that I would only need maybe 1 or 2 fills. He said it was unlikely that I would need more than one fill.

Even with a small band and no fill, I don't get stuck and having PBed yet.

He then looked at my weightloss which was roughly a pound a day since surgery and asked me if I felt full when I ate and gauged my hunger. I felt full from small amounts and the proof was in the weight loss...so no fill on the first fill visit and I haven't been to my second fill visit yet but I'm still losing roughly a pound a day.

I'm glad I have the smaller band and may only need one fill.

OMG, isn't 1 lb a day way too fast to be losing? That's 7 lbs a/week & they say you shouldn't lose more than 2 per wk. Why so fast & what does you doctor say about that?

1-2 lbs a week is an average weight loss. The least that I have lost in a week, excluding a 2 week plateau, has been 3 lbs. I've lost up to 10 lbs in a week. How does one control the pace of their loss? Eat more? The band keeps us from doing that. I know that I could slow my loss by eating more but a) I physically cannot take in more than I do unless I start adding junk and b)I feel GREAT so why do that?

I lost 20lbs in one month, is it bad? I don't know, I don't feel bad I'm not hungry, I don't get hunger headaches, or cravings anymore, I don't feel weak.

My doctor did not seem to worried about it. I was very pleased. the frist couple of months was about 1-2 lbs a week. One month nothing. So I guess as long as you feel good it shouldn to matter.