I'll preface this post by saying that, in my decision to get banded, I've researched every last thing about it (it's my nature) but have yet to come across the kind of honest answers that only internet anonymity can provide.

What don't they tell you about living as a banded person and recovering fatty?

Such as, after eating, do you actually feel full, or does it feel like a hotdog is stuck in your esophagus?

What happens when your friends find out you can't eat out for a full meal, or even drink beer?

Were you ever shameful about telling somebody, or, in place of that, lying about eating healthy and exercise and all that jazz?

There have got to be a hundred things that you don't figure out until afterwards, but a heads up on anything would be excellent.

-Brad

I had my surgery yeaterday! go me!!1 and i was given my asthms meds within 2 hrs of coming round. I tok 4 tablets one at a time with sios of water. had my meds again and I am just fine. Ask your doc to look in to liquid vrsions of your pills. Mine is for me.

Hi Brad,

I do understand your position on being ashamed of having to get the band. I felt the same at one time. But, after fighting and clawing my way to a 160# weightloss, and feeling good about it, I gained it all back. And I realized something. I can be ashamed of needing this incredible new tool, or I can be ashamed of the fact that EVERYone can look at me and know I have a serious weight problem.

The other question is, would you refuse to use a backhoe to excavate a work site, simply because it was too much easier? I don't think so. This is a tool. There is still some challenges involved. I would not call it "easy". It's just much more efficient!

You have already made the decision. Now, it seems, you are struggling to come to terms with your own perception of what that decision means. I would urge you to ease up on yourself. You are making a healthy choice, and giving yourself a tool that will make it possible, (not just easier) to carry it out!

If you need it to be tough...well...a couple weeks on a liquid diet, and you should be sufficiently satisfied. lol

hi Brad, i don't see this as an easy solution. i did a while back (and i've heard many people, including Oprah, hint that this is the 'easy way out') but now that i've been thru it - first hand experience - this is NOT EASY. yes, it is EFFECTIVE. but the surgery was not easy. the work up before the surgery was not easy. the waiting and anguish of should i do this? and why can't i get this done and over with (the wait was awful for me - i was in the process one way or another for 3 years), the way to eat after banding is not easy - it's a whole new world of rules and things to remember (till it becomes second nature - not yet for me). the emotional and attutide related experiences are not easy. it is actually rather drastic! not to scare any pre-ops but this is definately NOT easy. it is exciting, it is positive, it is effective if we work it right, but it's not easy.

now, because it works, does that mean it's easier than what hasn't worked in the past? maybe. i just don't see this as easy. we are allowing someone to surgically implant a device in our bodies forever. how is that easy? my sister asked me yesterday what happens if i overeat - i said i expect pain (have had that happen for a few minutes) and the food might come back up (haven't done that yet). is that easy?

easy would be to not do it and stay fat forever. that'd be easy. miserable, but easy.

i'm glad you are taking care of yourself! this is a brave thing to do - and i'm proud of us all!

Out of all the meetings I've attended, This was the Best or Worst Meeting for what they Don't Tell you here in Las Vegas last Wednesday. 1st lady rants for a half hour about the promised her weight loss and it has not happened. The guy next to her said the Dr. told him he could eat anything & as much as he wanted for another half an hour. The P.A. tried to explain that if they came in the morning she would fill their bands. They didn't want to hear this & kept ranting. It was explained that the new band needs time to set properly (time & liquids). If they kept pie holes shut & came to meetings ( not just show up at 1st meeting 4 months out), they may have learned to properly place feed bags. The P.A. was only trying to save their life. Do people like this need permission to fail. I can't figure it out. No exercise, no diet. no meetings & magic band will make weight fall off. Anyhow Dr. Soong banded me 1/15/08 With a Realize band. I told him to put Lance Burton twist on it, So No Fills Down 117pounds Hasta Pronto, George

Although i have pretty pretty honest with people about my banding, when I didn't tell someone it was out of fear that this to would be another failure on my weight loss experince. I didn't want to tell people and then gain the weight back. Now that I am down 80 pounds and feel like the REAL me has emerged I am no longer shy about telling people. In fact, I will shout is from the mountatins, because it works!!!! Nothing has worked before.......

The hardest thing for me has been not seeing myslef as a fat person any longer. i wear size 12 jeans and a large shirt and sometimes I see the physically attractive person I have become and sometimes I look in the mirror and see 255 pounds. It is so weird. I don't even know how to buy clothes anymore. DH is a great help in this regard. If he says it looks good then I wear it, even if I feel funny in it. I have even begun to wear sleeveless shirts again!!

Restriction does not come immediately. Be patient. About 2 months into this thing I decided that I had failed at something else. That this worked for everyone but me. Not true.... Bandster Hell is real and it will pass.

This is the best decision I have ever made for myself and my family. These are the biggest suprises I have had. I will try to think of more, but I love my band and am beginning to love myself again.

Just this morning, I looked in the mirror and just smiled at the beautiful woman looking back at me. She has been there all along. I'm so glad I can see her again!!

hi there renewedhope! thanks so much for your post - being almost 5 weeks out - i too wonder if this is going to really work or not. but i will do all i can to make it work - i do know that!

looks like we are/were about the same starting weight. i'm so glad to hear of your success! and i too am wondering what am i going to wear in that i've been buying 'what fits' v.s. 'what i would like to wear' for years and now the thought of what to wear is a little daunting (when i lose the weight of course - 26lbs down so far - no new clothes yet).

not meaning to complain about having to buy new clothes of course! plus my husband offerred to buy me a new wardrobe when i'm ready (how nice is that??!) but i mean just what you said - i don't even know what style to wear or anything. i get a lot of catalogs - and i look thru them now thinking, maybe i'll be able to wear that or that or that!? and what would that look like on a smaller me? i have no idea. and while exciting it's overwhelming too!

congratulations! you are at my personal goal- size 12 jeans! you are so inspiring! way to go!

hi georgebals, i too find the support group meetings that i've attended are somewhat upsetting. i'm not sure i'll continue going. they aren't a generally positive experience - tho i have gotten a few good tidbits of advice from them. i know a lot of people are experiencing frustration and me too sometimes and a support group is an outlet for that - i guess. i just think the support group experience should 'pump us up' not 'bring us down'.

what is the lance burton twist - no fills? i am not sure if that's a joke or a real thing (really i don't know)!

Dear Greyhound, That was a joke. Lance Burton preforms where I play poker everyday. Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino. Please go to meetings. You will be 3 times more successful at weight loss attending support groups. The poker room is one of my support groups. There is no smoking or eating at the table. I go to 2 meetings a month at my band clinic. I attend 1 at a shrinks office open to everyone. It's $20 but far more help to me. Dr. Segara made sure I attend her meeting pre-op. This helped me get my head where it needed to be. What they don't tell you is there are more people getting the band & by-pass surgery than should. My Doctors, Support Groups & Lance Burton are World Class ("the nuts") That means Best in poker talk. Still no fills. Hasta Pronto, George:teeth_smile:

I have a question.....i'll be alone after my surgery. What should i havew in the house to make it easier?

I have a question.....i'll be alone after my surgery. What should i havew in the house to make it easier?

I was alone too. I stocked up on Protein drinks, propel, (I had Vitamin Water too, but it didn't go down too well), chicken broth, and Jello.

But, considering two days after surgery, I flew home (12 hours) alone from Mexico, I realized it wasn't a big emergency. Recovery from this has been easier than any surgery previously. Good Luck!!