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I feel a little nervous too, but I'm also just more nervous about how I'm going to fit this into my schedule. I love reading all these comments, it's making me feel so much more at ease! Hugs friend, you'll do it when it's right for you!

I don't remember a thing i was knocked out before i made it to the OR i woke up ALL done .....i'm surprised how it was'nt painful at all...

Try not to think of it as surgery. I kept telling myself its a 45 min procedure! You should go home a few hours later.

I've been banded a little over a month and can honestly say it was one of the best things I've ever done for my health. I only wish I'd done twenty years ago. It's the safest WLS, fewest complications and about the same weight loss after a year or two. My doctor directed me to a Center of Excellence and I had a great experience, excellent surgeon and a terrific staff. You need to do a little research, find a hospital with a good program and you're sure to have a good experience. After surgery, weight loss isn't automatic, you still have to work at it, but the band makes it much easier. Best of luck and I hope it all works out for you.

I felt the same way but I did it! I wasn't afraid of going under the knife but I was more afraid of this not working but I did it. I can honestly say I'm not 100 percent sure if i'm happy yet its only been 11days I have lost 14 pounds already tho. I'm not happy of the hunger that I feel I can't wait for my fill then maybe things will get better... As far as the surgery it self it wasn't painful at all so if that's what u afraid of don't worry...

Hi Dandeegan, I can easily appreciate your desire to get back into things, and hope I can offer some ideas. First things first: Read up on, and then do the "Five Day Pouch Test." It will basically test your pouch, and give you a solid baseline to start from. By the end of it, you'll know if your pouch is working right. If your pouch IS stretched, all it means is that you have a larger pouch than you used to have. Regardless of whether it goes back to its correct size, as I see it, if you use portion control to regulate how much you're eating, you can still eat a bandster-sized meal. And if you don't eat more than you know you should, things should take care of themselves. Here is the text of a recent LBT thread about the Five Day Pouch Test: ********************************* Day 1 & 2-The first two days are all liquids. You can have as many low-carb Protein shakes as you like to satisfy hunger or cravings. In addition drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of Water each day. The purpose of all liquids is to break any snacking, grazing or processed carbohydrate habits. In addition the liquids will work to cleanse your system and prepare you for the following three days. Try to reduce your caffeine intake as well, but do not stop caffeine cold turkey or you will feel sick and frustrated potentially losing the desire to continue with the pouch test. It is very important to drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day. This will prevent dehydration, will help curb cravings and will flush your body of toxins and fat. Sufficient water intake improves kidney function and cell processes. Day 3: Soft proteins- The next three days you get to eat as much as you want as often as you want! But there's a catch: it has to be solid protein and you only get 15 minutes each time you sit down to eat. No drinking 30 minutes before or after meals and no drinking with your food. A dry pouch will hold your soft protein longer helping you to feel full and fed longer. Protein Recommendations: canned fish ( tuna or salmon) mixed with lemon and seasoned with salt and pepper, eggs cooked as desired seasoned with salt pepper and/or salsa, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy), baked or grilled, and lightly seasoned. This starts your program with "soft" protein. Measure your portion (1 cup volume or 4-6 ounces weight) and eat only until you feel full, not overfull. Remember, no water for 30 minutes before or after your meal, and no fluids with your meal. We are going back to the beginning and fluids will prevent you from feeling the pouch. If you need to add a moist condiment (Miracle Whip or mayonnaise) to the canned fish I understand, but keep it to a minimum so the meat is not too moist. One reason we lose the sense of tightness in our pouch is that we eat "slider foods" -foods that are too moist and do not stay in the pouch very long, they slide right through the stoma. Cottage cheese is a good protein and you can include it on Day 3. To firm it up a bit you could add a chopped hard cooked egg to your cottage cheese. And yes, during the liquid phase chicken boullion with added protein is great. Day 4 Firm Protein- Protein Recommendations: ground meat (beef, turkey, lamb) cooked dry and lightly seasoned, shellfish, scallops, lobster steamed and seasoned only with lemon, salmon or halibut steaks, grilled and lightly seasoned. By now you should be experiencing that familiar tightness that will reassure you that your pouch is working. Remember to drink plenty of water between meals. Take some time to meditate and rediscover the wonder of your pouch. Often we don't like that uncomfortable tightness of the pouch, which is why we gradually move toward slider foods that don't make us uncomfortable. It is always my preference to eat moist protein so I don't get uncomfortable, but doing so allows me to consume more than I should. Rediscovering the pouch with this 5-day plan reminds me of how the tool really works. I hope by now you are rediscovering your tool and enjoying the hope and excitement because your pouch still works. Day 5 Solid Protein- Remember to chew chew chew. Measure your portion (4-6 ounces) and eat only until you feel your pouch tighten. Remember, only 15 minutes per meal, so you'll have to work fast to chew your food completely. By now you should be out of any carb cycle you were in and perhaps you have lost a pound or two. You will have new confidence in your pouch and your ability to work the tool for your health and emotional well being. Don't go hungry! Remember, you can eat as often as you want as long as it is solid protein, consumed without liquids and measured in 4-6 ounce portions. ********************************* After you've determined whether your pouch is working right, and you have your food portions back to the correct bandster-size meals, the next thing to consider is WHAT you're eating. If your weight loss is stalled, then you need to figure out why. Are you tracking HONEST calories every day? Are you eating junk food, slider foods, empty calories, or snack foods, instead of "real" food? I follow a modified South Beach Diet kind of thing - higher protein, lower glycemic carbs, and avoiding fried food, fats, and sugary foods. For me, it's all about moderation, and trying to get roughly 10% of my daily calories from protein. So if I'm eating 1200 calories a day, I try to get 120 of those calories from protein. I try to make sure I eat more protein grams than carb grams in a day, to keep my diet balanced. Every time I put something in my mouth I make sure I'm eating because it's right for me, and not just out of habit. And probably the most important thing you need to figure out is how many calories a day you're burning off. If you're not burning more than you take in, you won't lose weight. It's that simple. You have to get out of your chair and move. Even a little at a time helps, but the more you can do, the better your weight loss will be. You have to take charge of your band, and work it like the tool that it is. Are you working out regularly, are you trying to stay as active as possible, and are you proactive in your band's performance? Or are you someone who expects the band to do all the work? If you balance eating right with proper exercise, drinking enough water every day, and getting enough sleep every night, you WILL lose weight. Hope this helps, and gives you some ideas of things to try. Good luck! Dave

Well looks 189 is my number! Im ok with that for now as long as i dont get back in the 200's. BLAH!!! I got down to 160 a few months ago and ballooned right back up to 189 and hanging out there. My mom and I started a at home buisness. Im very excited about it. If you have a facebook acct. check us out search: Lavish Bliss' tell us what you think. Maybe with keeping myself busy with everything i will lose a few pounds if not its still ok. well good luck to all. Peace & Love<3

Hi Guys I have now broke the 6 stone mark - woo hoo. It has gave me a real boost. I am now in Size 14's and feel great, the only downside is I am bloody freezing cold and feel quite tired but I know it will pass. Band is still quite restricted and only managing a cup a Soup and 1 cracker at lunchtime and a few spoonfuls of my meal at night, which I know is not good enough but can't seem to get anything else in. Tried making smoothie but couldnt get that down either. Was thinking of buying some Protein shakes and see how I get on Hope everyone is well Kerry x

DID YOU READ ALL THE POSTS UNDER THIS TITLE. JUST SAYING,, I HAVE A FEW HERE. ALSO WENT TO A FILL CLINIC, AND THEY DISCOVERED THE BAND WAS EMPTY BY THE SECOND FILL 1 WEEK LATER. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOTES ALSO. STATE IS MICHIGAN. SHIRLEY.

I do not think you are ready for this surgery. It is for people who are at their wit's end, IMO. You're not there. You still enjoy being obese. I don't think you would be cleared by the Psych Eval.