hi cortney,
I am at the end stages of my lap band so i think i can help you alot. like your self i was a teenager struggling with my weight, at 18 i decided to have the lap band and it changed my life. I went from being 310 pounds and wearing a size 28 to 148 pounds and wearing a size 8/6.
it took them a few weeks to get back to me on their decision and i had to have doctors write notes about how the surgery is a must for me because of health risks. it is also good to write a letter your self to your insurance company explaning why you want the surgery and how it will improve your life. i would also suggest that you send a pic along with the letter.
I am a big big baby and i can honestly say this surgery does not hurt , yes your uncomfortable the first few days from tightness in your abdomin, and you may have sholder pain for the air they fill you abdomin with when doing the surgery. but i did the surgery over christmas break and i was at the mall in 3 days and back to school walking campus and doing normal activites with in two weeks.
the liquids are a little tough but it is worth it i lost 20 pounds right before my surgery and i have learned to eat a lot of different soups and mushy foods. if the two weeks before your surgery you feel week from not eating any solids my doc suggested having a little salad with lean turkey to re engerize myself.
I havent really given up anything i just eat it in smaller portions. steak is really difficult as are some breads but you dont even miss them after a while and you forget to crave them. I drink a lot of dite coke cause i love it and it is filling and no calories like other drinks the bubbles may be tough when the band is tight i really like crystal light for those times.
i am not going to lie there will be hard days where no food stays down but the good days and the good feelings you will feel for your self will out way all the bad days and you wont remember them.
I had my surgery almost 3 years ago and i just hit my goal weight and decided to go a little more. the first year you lose a good amount if you stick to your dite and dont cheat on high calorie drinks and snacks that go down easy. but the weight does come off and you start to feel amazing about your self and what you are doing.
I was your age and i know it is hard to eat different things then your friends when your on a dite but this is the great thing about the band you can eat almost everything they do but you can only eat little portions of it. I seceeded and am still doing it i couldnt have done it with out my friends and family they help me and encouraged me the whole way and the compliments you get and looks from guys will amaze you.
you will get use to puking when something is stuck dont try new things out and you will know when it is stuck try lifting your arms and streching it helps the food go down sometimes.
you will sleep fine go to the bathroom less because your not eating as much.
It is absoultly worth it i would recommend it to everyone and wish i knew about it in high school before college.
if you have any questions you can email me at jey501@students.jwu.edu or flyjy99 is my aol screen name feel free to ask me anything i do a lot of talks with teenagers so i am here to help and want you to experince the self esteem boost i have it is amazing i am shopping every day in store i have never been in and are much more outgoing then before. I still see a doc about my brain catching up to my body some times i still think i am much larger then i am it takes a while to get use to looking in the mirror and being like is that really me. I hope you go through with it . good luck !!!!:eek:
