Hello! Last week I felt like I finally had enough of my weight and I'm looking into the LapBand surgery. I've tried different diets and I'll lose about 30 pounds, then gain it right back. I need to lose about 100 pounds and I'm tired of playing yo-yo with my weight, so I'm really looking into this as a permanent solution to my weight problems.

I was hoping those of your who have had the surgery could answer some of my questions to help me make my decision. How did you feel right after the surgery? How do you feel now? What to do find is most difficult about living with the LapBand? How did your friends and family react to you having the surgery? How did they react after the surgery? Any answers anyone has would help me so much!! Thanks! :biggrin2:

I was hoping those of your who have had the surgery could answer some of my questions to help me make my decision. How did you feel right after the surgery? How do you feel now? What to do find is most difficult about living with the LapBand? How did your friends and family react to you having the surgery? How did they react after the surgery? Any answers anyone has would help me so much!! Thanks! :biggrin2:

I had a very easy recovery. I know it's not as easy for other people. I think it's because I was already exercising every day so I was in good shape. I never had any pain what so ever. I had it on a friday and went back to work on mon. I have a desk job. I feel great now! I love being about to wear cute clothes. I am sure the reason I have such a great boyfriend now is band related. He is very into fitness.

I don't find it difficult at all to live with a band. The first few weeks are difficult when you are on a liquid diet. It's very important not to cheat while you are on your post op diet. Your stomach has to heal without digesting foods that make your stomach move so the band can heal on the stomach properly.

My daughter has had gastric bypass so she was all for me getting the band. I never told my dad because I didn't want to tell him I paid ten gran to lose weight. Most people don't even know I have a band. They can tell I have lost a lot of weight, but I tell them I changed my portions, gave up junk food and exercise a lot. All of this is true.

I love not feeling hungry all the time.

Hope that helps!

Hey there! Welcome to the board. :eek:

I was in the same situation you're in. I would diet and lose (at the most) 50 pounds over the course of a year, but as soon as I stopped being 100% strict on myself and counting every calorie or obsessing over working out for 2 hours a day, I would begin to gain again. I could never keep it off. I finally had enough of it and decided while I was still young enough with no high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and no real health problems aside from joint pain from the weight, I would fix it. I had my surgery on 12/13/07.

It's only been 7 months for me, but I'm still very happy I had the surgery. I've only lost a little over 50 pounds since then, but I'm excited because I haven't gained any of my weight back at all. I've never had that happen before.

Honestly, there's nothing that's really all that hard for me. There are days when I don't feel very restricted and I want to have something I shouldn't, and those are the times when you have to use willpower. Even then it's not so bad. I don't buy foods I know I shouldn't eat, and when I'm at work, I don't keep cash or change around to hit the vending machine, and my closest friends at work know about my band, so when there's cake and take-out, I don't partake and they don't push the issue of joining in. I can only speak for myself, but it's not so bad.

I will say that if you're really considering the band, do as much research on here as possible. I found this board right around the time I attended the initial conference to hear my surgeon speak to an audience. By the time I went for my first face-to-face consultation, I already knew what to expect to some degree. It also gave me the opportunity to really weigh the pros and cons of the surgery and make sure that it was something I was willing to go through.

I hope you stick around! Good luck!

All of this information is really helpful! Also, how did you find your surgeon? I live close to Chicago, so I'd like to go to a doctor there, but I'm not sure how to start looking. Any suggestions?

I think the worst part about finding this site is that it's making me too eager to get going and get my own band! lol But it's been really helpful so far.

There are several threads related to Chicago. (my home town)

Up to the right, use the search feature. Just search Chicago and you'll probably find a bunch of people who can steer you in the right direction.