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Hi everyone --

I was just banded yesterday and am doing okay. The pain is completely manageable.

I was actually wondering if anyone here was banded with the Realize band? I didn't know that my surgeon was going to use Realize band, but I found out after surgery. I actually wanted the Realize band (I like the 'claws' in the port that hook onto the fascia, and I like the low profile port) but for some reason I remember talking about it with him and deciding on the Lap Band. Anyways, I am not unhappy with the Realize band and I just wanted to see if anyone else was banded with Realize.

Im so excited to start this new phase of my life!

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My dad had the Realize band "installed" last month. I'm having the one with the pillows.

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Realize on Apr. 29th and no issues so far. I was a little suprised to find out I had the Realize, but it did not bother me at all.

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I was also banded on Thursday, June 18th with the Realize band. The pain really isn't bad at all. But I'm not having any restrictions...did anyone else feel that way at first?

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I chose the Realize band after my consult with the surgeon and doing some research at home. I liked the shape and the low-profile port, as well as the idea of the port attachment prongs. I wonder if those prongs make any difference post-op? I know everybody is sore around the port, but I think I might actually have tweaked the port funny yesterday. I had a sharp pain as I rolled over, and today I have a fresh bruise and new swelling around my port. I can just imagine those little teeth biting into my muscle all over again, and I wonder if that happens with the stitches that are used to secure the Lap-Band port. Even if this isn't something that would happen with the Lap-Band, I would still choose Realize again. I really like that smaller port.

I think there are getting to be more and more Realize people here as more Realize bands are used in this country.

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I also have the Realize Band... It's only been a week but I am glad I have it. I don't find the website to useful though... I doubt I will use it. I am having trouble sleeping... I hate sleeping on my back. Is it going to do any damage sleeping on my side or stomach?

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I was banded with the Realize-C band on May 20th. I have had no issues. I didn't know I had gotten the "C" until after surgery. The "C" is 11 cc versus 9 cc for the "non-C". My surgeon said that he liked it for the pre-curve of the band. My incision scars are minimal. I have a one-inch scar at my belly button and 2 inch-scar at the port. The other 3 are like a thick pin point. I don't know if that is because the "C" is easier to put in or if it is just my surgeon's touch.

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I think they are both good. I got the one with the pillows... There's a thread on this site with someone that is a major advocate for the lapband and not the realize band... maybe you can do a search.

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    • Doughgurl

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      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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    • 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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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

        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.

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