Flowering man

I decided I would't tell anyone - solves a lot of issues. My wife know obviously and so does my mother in law and sister in law but no else. My mother would be very critical and not understand so I haven't bothered to tell her - saved a lot of hassle.

Hi Sounds to me like you're in the difficult 'decision' zone. A BMI of 34 is light for a band. I was 38 and got loads of flack for being too light. Ultimately the band is a pain up the ass. If you think you can loose the weight without it - don't band. For me - I just over ate. I exercised a lot but just over ate. The band stops me from overeating but its not an easy option - its takes years to get used to living with a band, its expensive and it could go wrong. So ideally if you think you can loose the weight without a band then just loose the weight - but thats also a lot easier to type than actually do. I would never be down to a BMI of 25 without the band. Also by losing weight a lot of the medical issues I had (leaky bottom, asthma, acid stomach, snoring, tendinitis in my feet etc) that I didn't link to be overweight, have gone. My health is dramatically improved. But life would have been easier if I could have lost the weight the normal way and without the band. So ultimately its your decision and your cash and you have to live with the consequences. Just make sure you're doing it for the right reasons and maybe get some counselling or therapy first? especially as you have other issues as well such as recovering from divorce etc. good luck with whatever you decide

Hi I'm Patrick and I was banded almost a year ago to this day in Peterborough Since Jan 2013 I've lost 35.4kg / 78.04lbs / 5.6 stone My BMI has gone from 38.5 to 25.9, so I'm still fat but close to being the ideal BMI. More importantly the weight related problems I had ( but didn't know were weight related) have gone / so goodbye snoring, asthma, acid stomach, bad legs, leaky bottom etc. So although I was on the border line of getting a band it's changed my life. I worked a lot last year near Brno in the Czech Republic. They do a lot of gastric band surgery there and it's say 20% - 30% cheaper than having it done in the UK. However, in my opinion, getting the band fitted is only the start of it. If you're having a band fitted abroad then you MUST find a local practitioner that can provide you with regular support / filling / refilling you band. This is critical. The post op support is ultimately why I choose to have the op done in the UK rather the Cezch Republic. Knowing the Czech's a bit and the fact they 're more fastidious and careful than the Germans meant that I had absolute faith that operation in the Czech Republic would be 100% fine. Is was the post op care I was worried about.The practitioner I see does give advice to people who have had the surgery abroad too. Having the band fitted is the easy bit really. To make the band work you have to follow strict rules and change your diet. I found I needed constant advice / support / encouragement post op. The weight doesn't really disappear until the band is set ideally for you and in my case it took 6 months to get to that point - with a lot of post op care. I'm gone from eating meat to eating fish (because I find it difficult eating steak - which I used to adore). Be prepared for the fact that it will take time to actually start enjoying eating again - I'm still on this journey! To anyone just about to have surgery - all the very best. I haven't regretted it and I can honestly say it's changed my life but it is tough - it's not an easy fix. You will need plenty of post op support

I've lost circa 78.04lbs since January - very happy about that. But I suffer from cold hands and cold feet. Is this normal? Does it get better?

This is a good article http://www.livestrong.com/article/305720-how-come-when-you-lose-weight-you-feel-cold/

Has anyone experienced bad back issues after losing weight? I've started running again and although I'm running faster than before I'm really suffering from a bad back. Is this normal post band op? Any ideas on how to prevent bad back pain?

Thanks everyone for your posts. Yes I think I will get checked out. I do get my feet checked out regularly when I buy a new pair of running shoes. Actually with all the weight loss I need less correction in my shoes than before. I am 3 weeks into doing a core training session each week and there is no doubt that this is helping me reduce the back pain. I'm swimming 3-4 times a week and this helps too. I think the running really brings on the back pain. I did a 5k race in 24 mins this week and I was in agony afterwards for a few days. So I think I need to concentrate on the core training and the swimming and scale it down a bit on the running for a bit. Thanks for all your help

Has anyone suffered increasing ED issues since banding? My sex drive wasn't great but I'm experiencing ED issues and off to the Doctors next week. Just wanted to know if there is a known link to ED and banding?

No I'm not on any meds. I have had the blood tests and all is well. So at a bit of a loss

I've had the band for 8 months and I've tried fizzy drinks and they just don't work for me. I feel uncomfortable almost straight away. So no Coke, lemonade or larger. Also remember that sodas are empty calories anyway so even if you could drink then you shouldn't if you are serious about weight loss

Since being banded I've stayed clear of eating fruit. Grapes just don't agree with me anymore and you see advice saying stay clear of citrus. I'm ok with blackcurrents. Can anyone give me some fruity advice??

I found doing the calculation below really useful and motivating Weight loss Starting weight 112kgs / 17.6 stone / 246.9lbs Banded 12 Jan 2013 Weight 16th June 2013 90.6kgs / 14.26 stone / 199.7lbs Lost 21.4 kgs / 3.34 stones / 47.2 lbs Lost 57% of target weight in 5 months Target 75kgs / 11.8kg / 165.34 lbs From beginning weight needs to lose 37kgs / 5.8 stone / 81.5lbs 33% reduction in overall body weight From 16th June 2013 need to lose 15.6kgs / 34.39 lbs / 2.4 stone to get to target weight So 5 months in I'm over half way in the aim to reach my target weight. I've gone from a BMI of 38 to 31.6 - very nearly 'fat' rather than overweight. I think that the final weight gain will be the hardest but if I can lose a kg a week (2.2lbs / 0.57 stone ) I could be at my target the 10th Oct - my 46th birthday. It's been far from easy but to go from a waist of 40 inches to 36 inches is really great - extra large to large - it's really good to see such distinguishable changes. So yes I think the final weight gain will mean really tight discipline ( I have a soft spot for crisps, chocolate and red/white wine) and continuing my gym / running but seeing what I've achieved in the past 5 months has made me super motivated.

I'm now at 8ml - fills been taken very slowly because I fly a lot due to work and the Dr says its better to take fills very slowly. I'm losing weight slowly even though I haven't concentrated too much on my diet. I've lost 40lvs since January. My BMI has gone from 38 to 32 So the band is not a miracle device but it does work I'm still able to eat anything? Does anyone know if what you can eat as you get more fills??

I'm 45 and these issues can kick in from 40. Thanks for all the comments

Does what you can eat change with the amount of Fluid in the band I.e as you get more fills you can't eat as many different foods. I've just had my fourth fill - now up to 8ml so it will be interesting to see if what I can eat changes

Thanks all. Having blood tests next week

Yep you'll eat less and you basically have to find out yourself what you can and cannot eat - its so personal to you. The main thing is to eat slowly - a minute between bites and to chew chew chew. Stick to these two rules and you'll be OK

I agree with all the Jack has posted. My main issue is eating too fast. Talking while eating is hard work. White bread is a no no. Pretty much everything else is OK. Chinese food can cause accidents but rice and popcorn no problem. I now rely like fish. It's a delight to eat

As its been said in here already chewing is key but also eating very very slowly. Buy a one minute sand timer and make sure you take at least one minutes between chews. My main issue is eating too fast when I'm hungry - this can often lead me to be being sick.I'm finding I can eat most things including rice and prawns as long as I chew, chew and chew and take it very very slowly.

I think it's normal to have a freak out post surgery It does get a lot better. I'm 3 months post surgery and I've lost 38lbs so far - the weights dropping off now. So don't worry about the post ops 'WTF's' - if is worth it and it does get better.

I had a 3 day interview in Spain (I live in the UK) in the middle of my 2 week pre op diet. As it was basically a 3 day interview, i didn't want to arouse suspicions by not eating the amazing spanish food and the great spanish wines. so i I was allowed to revert back to a normal diet and drink a few glasses if wine. I didn't go overboard and reverted back to the pre op diet as soon as I could. The pre op is to shrink the liver but you can also loose shed loads of weight so I would say if you don't need to drink alcohol during the pre op diet don't. Rather than seeing the pre op diet as a pain I would recommend it as seeing it as a great kick start to your new life

I had the band on the 11/1/13 I lost about 12 and then put on 2 before my first fill if 4ml which takes my band to 7ml. So I was also thinking that it was a bit disappointing that I had started to put on weight and it was almost as if the band was not there. But I've been told this is normal and that its just time for me to have the 1st fill after surgery. I have to say that I haven't been able to keep anything down post the 1st fill yet except cold liquids so my stomach must be quite swollen. I'm hoping that it gets better

Hello Everyone, This is my first post. I go in for a band on the 11/01/13 so I brought the 'Big Book on the Lap Band'. Its a great book, not always relevant for me in the UK but still very good! The advice the book gives about eating and drinking at the same time (i.e don't) is different to what the nurse has told me. Apparently there is now new research that shows that you can eat and drink at the same time, but you have to wait at least a minute after you have swallowed food before you drink. Has anyone else heard about this research? Here is a YouTube video explaining that you can eat and drink at the same time Sorry if this has been posted before. P

Thanks everyone I'm now nearly 5 weeks post surgery and I'm sticking to my Drs orders i.e no drinking before or after a meal. But once I get back onto solids and I'm comfortable I will try the new advice on eating and drinking. If it doesn't work I'll go back to no drinking before, during or after a meal.

Yep I wondered what the FCUK I'd done immediately after the Op but it does get better