jojo

I am considering lapband surgery and am worried it will be another failed attempt at gaining control of my weight. I am afraid that I won't be able to take another failure. With my need to lose 45 pounds I am also worried that the local lapband clinic wont help me and that will be more devastating that actually trying to do it. Is there anyone else out there that is in my situation? Will I be able to get the proceedure when I'm not considered obese? Should I even try? Help!!!:help:

Thank you for answering me. I have been so upset thinking all the weight was coming back. It never occurred to me that I needed another fill until this morning. Problem is it took 6 fills for me to find my sweet spot and I am up to 9.25cc of a 10cc band. Although I have not had a fill since then I don't know how much more they will put in. I will make the appt and go see what they say. Again thanks for the info I feel better already.:confused:

I was banded almost two years ago and lost 40 pounds in a year. Recently I put on 12 pounds and feel like I can eat things I couldnt before ie bread, muffins etc. Could it be possible that my band has stretched and I need a fill? I was never warned this could be a possibility so I'm not sure what is going on...please help. I am so worried I am going to gain it all back.

I was banded may 2007 and lost 40 pounds over the first year. I have now gained 12 pounds and have noticed that I can eat things I couldn't before ie bread, muffins etc. Has anyone else experienced this and if so could it be that my band has stretched? I am wondering if I need to have a fill which I havent done for over a year.

I was banded on Thursday (May 24) and would like to thank all those who spent time talking to my husband in the waiting room. He was very worried and was so grateful to the women who spoke to him. I felt bad for him worrying all alone and was happy to know that he had friends while he waited. The info and support you all gave him helped him understand what was ahead for me and how he could help me. So I would once again like to say thank you. With more people like this in the world, it would be a much better place.

Forgot to add that I was banded at TLBC. Dr. Yau was great.

Congrats on your quick decision. I did the same thing. Walked into the TLBC sat down and was booked for surgery three weeks later. There were days when I was shocked that I had done that but most days I was glad. I had my surgery two days ago (May 24) and am feeling pretty good. Dr. Yau was great and even found and repaired a hernia I never knew I had. I would like to thank anyone who was in the waiting room that day as my husband was sitting worried while I had my surgery and he said that the women he spoke to were wonderful to him and it helped him get through. Miranda, hang in there. It is quite a journey but one worth while.

I need to lose 45 pounds. So maybe that is why my pre-op is short. However, 45 pounds is still a lot of weight and I can't wait to get it off. Wow you have done so well. I was getting nervous reading some of the posts by people who have recently had the proceedure done, so I stopped reading them. I hope I dont have some of the same issues they have had. I think its better not knowing some things ahead of time and just deal with them when or if they happen.

I am scheduled for surgery this week and although I have researched the proceedure for over a year, I just watched an actual lapband surgery being done online. I didnt realize that they stitch the stomach up over the band to hold it in place. Is this always done? It is the first I have heard of this and am wondering if all doctors do this or not. I cant believe that I was never told about this part of the proceedure. Can anyone fill me in on this?

I dont know why its only 3 days, but Im glad. I was expecting a couple of weeks of the pre-op diet. Hopefully it will go quickly. I'm not sure how they decide how long to do the pre-op. I'm pretty healthy, no diabetes or high blood pressure, so maybe that has something to do with it.

Thanks JLB I really need the encouragement right now. I am so nervous about my new life. Only a few short days to go and I am a whirlwind of emotions. I start my pre-op diet today and that has made it real to me. I change my worries hourly and at this point just want it over with. You are a few weeks ahead of me and I appreciate any advice you have.

Yoda thanks for the reply. I am goint to TLBC and I am confident they will do a proper job. I'm sure they thought I knew about the stitching and didnt mention it. My husband and I were surprised when we saw it online recently. It does make sense and at least I know it will have less of a chance to slip.

JLB, thanks for the encouragement. I have considered this proceedure for some time and I guess I am just getting a little nervous as the date approaches. Of course it makes sense that they would stitch it in place it just wasnt mentioned at my consult as they probably thought I knew. Just four days to go! I am excited yet scared all at once. My main concern is how will I cope with life without food for comfort. What a crazy thing to worry about eh? But then this whole journey I've had with food seems a little crazy.

I was told at TLBC that any problems were included in the price except for erosion. It is $2500 to replace an eroded band.

I had my consult on the 2nd and am scheduled for the 24th. Happy to join all the May bandsters. Nervous and yet excited as my journey now begins. Good luck to everyone

Wow what an ordeal you are going through. I had my consult on Thursday and it went very well. They booked my surgery for May 24th. I have been going back and forth on how I now feel. Sometimes I am so relieved and excited to be going ahead with this and other times I am scared and wonder if I am doing the right thing. Hope things progress well for you. Hang in there.

Bashful...good luck on your consult. I too have the same fear that I will be denied. My consult is on May 2 and I am holding my breath. Once I made the decision to have this done I wanted it right away. The waiting is hard. Once I have an actual surgery date I think I will feel much better. Hope all goes well for you tomorrow.

I have been reading and researching and am ready to start on my band journey. I have my consult appt on May 2nd and cant wait. I am so ready yet so scared. I hope everything goes well. All of your advice I have been reading has really helped. I was wondering though if it is better to be up front with people and tell them what I am doing or just keep it to myself and avoid any weight loss questions when I start to lose after surgery? Any opinions?:rolleyes

Mr. Yoda and Susie, thanks for the advice. I am going to keep this to myself as I really feel it is an extremely personal matter and one that is no one's business. I just hate being deceitful, but have come to the decision that telling someone I am losing weight by eating less and moving more is exactly what the truth will be. Besides, I think a great part of why I am so big is because I never put myself first. It is time to worry more about what I think and much less about what others think.

Thanks faithmd for responding. I dont want to be watched as to what I eat or dont eat. I just want people to accept me for me and not what I eat or weigh. I have to boys and dont know what or if I should tell them. I dont want them to worry or think they arent acceptable if they arent thin. I know this is usually a worry when you have girls, but I think more and more boys are suffering with eating disorders and low self esteem due to body image. I dont want to pass on my issues to them but I also wont lie to them. I guess I will just decide what to do when or if it happens. I dont even have a surgery date yet.:omg:

Thanks for your input. I think I am just embarassed that I need to do this surgery. My husband is very supportive but I find it a really personal thing and not sure I want to tell others. Most people around me are thin and cant imagine why I am not.

It's like you all are in my head saying exactly what I am thinking. I am going to go for it. See if I can also use this as a tool to help me live a healthier life. My mother and grandmother suffered from being over weight and had heart attacks. I am so afraid of that for myself. I need to take this step. I am just so afraid. But I will trudge on and see where this new journey takes me.

I know exactly how you feel. I too am struggling with the decision to go for the proceedure. I need to lose about 45 pounds and am looked at as not big enough to need this. This adds to my guilt and dilemma. But I see it as a tool and a change of life pattern. So I am leaning towards going for it.

Thank you for your reply. I too am going to self pay and that is not my worry so much as being turned down. I think I am going to make an appointment for a consoltation and hope and pray that they will take me on. I have alot of heart disease in my family due to weight and am terrified that I will follow in the same steps as my family members. Hopefully the medical profession will take pity on me.

Thanks, I have read up on a clinic in my area that will do the proceedure for patients that are in need of losing 20 pounds. I am talking to them tomorrow and hope they will help me. If not I will be looking outside of canada for help. I am determined.