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ya know Ive been reading threads for over a year now and am all ready for surgery. Hears my worry. Im self pay and its took all i have to scrape up the thousands and thousands of $ to have it. From all these threads people seem to have more problems than success. Im so worried that somethings gonna happen. Erosion, port slippage ,band slippage,infection,just to name a few. what are the chances of nothing happening and what are the chances of something bad happening. Im getting scared.and im out of $

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marmar, don't rely too much on the negative things you read here. realize it's part of human nature to pay more attention to the negative, and certainly to vocalize it.

i mean, how many people ask to speak to a manager because an employee did such an awesome job? i bet for every negative thing you read on here, there are a ton of positive things you don't read.

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That makes sense I am gonna follow everything my doc says to a T and Pray Pray Pray

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Marmar- I hear ya! I am self pay and it freaks me out to think of having to have another surgery to fix something or whatever. I cant afford it! Im already freaking out about the 300$ fills. My surgery has been SOOOOOOO stinkin smooth! No complications and not too many side affects besides gas and that didnt last long. Im 3.5 weeks post op and feel like nothing even happened! Jus make sure you have a great surgeon with a great repuation! You will be fine!

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I was banded 12/07 and I've been so blessed on my journey. I did listen to my doctor and I had a great one. As you can see, I've lost a total of 128 lbs and I have maintained that for 11 months. I recently had to go in for a slight fill because I was getting hungry in between meals. All went well and hunger is gone again. Just remember this is a change of lifestyle. Any WLS is. If you're committed to that, there is a 97% chance of no complications. Don't get worried over how long it takes to get to your "sweet spot" because it will happen and if you convince your doctor to be too agressive in the fills it will mean unfills. Just be honest with your doctor and it will happen.

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Guys, remember that the "squeaky wheel" gets the attention. You notice the negative stuff. AND for every negative poster on this or any other forum, there are hundreds of people who never, ever post on any forum on any subject; they are happily living their lives and enjoying the results of their surgeries.

Most common problems related to the band (PBing, getting stuck) are operator error. Remember to cut your food into bites about the size of a nickel, take a bite, put your fork down and chew it well, swallow and then pick up your fork and take another bite.

While the SOUND of an aggressive fill is good, the REALITY is that a very aggressive fill can likely mean that you will end up too tight and need an unfill. Go with your doctor's plan, make your regular appointments for fills and you'll get to your sweet spot soon enough.

There was one poster on this forum who had to have his band removed after just six weeks because he ended up being allergic to something in his band. How often does that happen? Even less than once in a very blue moon.

And, I hate to say it, some people got their bands expecting that they were basically buying weight loss. That they wouldn't have to change anything, just merrily go on along the road they were heading down before surgery and the weight would just magically disappear. They are very disappointed in their decisions about getting banded.

If you follow your doctor's instructions and accept that you will have to modify your bad behaviors, and regard your band as an awesome tool, you will more than likely do fine.

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In the 1980 presidential election, it was thought prior to election day to be too close to call. Turned out they were talking to the vocal minority. That can be the case in many forums.

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I had the same worries as you. I am also self-pay. I am now over two weeks out and have had NO problems so-far! I am still paranoid about a leaky band -- because I couldn't afford to have it replaced if it happened. BUT, I am not going to "borrow" trouble.

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One thing that happens a lot of the times is we spend so much time on the boards before surgery just trying to find out every little thing. Then we have surgery and come back for a little while to talk to others who just had surgery too. Lastly, you no longer really need to come back because things are going so well you don't even think about it. But, if something goes bad, you immediately come back to the board...

I hope that made some sense. My point is that a lot of people who have no problems at all (like myself after 7 months) don't come back to the boards all that often, just because there is nothing to talk about :confused:

So, don't worry too muh!

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I was just like you.......thinking so negatative that I wasted one year ( I am self pay). I was banded on July 3, 2009 and now I feel normal. The first 2 days were the only days I felt little sick but now I feel gret.

1. Find a good doctor even if his price is higher.

2. No matter what follow "orders"

Good luck,

Bindi

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I had to pay $11,000 of the $16,000. I feel it has been a great choice and am happy with the money spent. I have lost approx 48 lbs since March 3rd, 2009. I will admit there are times (very few) that I wish I didn't have the band so I could eat all I want.....but then of course that is why I have the band. I won't tell you what to do but I am very happy with my choice. Good luck!

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

    • CaseyP1011

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

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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