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Would it be possible to have a sticky for those who are banded and over 300 pounds. My doc really wanted me to have gastric by-pass thinking it would be better for me. I was too terrified of it, and my husband didn't want me to go so radical. My BMI was 59 for a 5'4" shorty. If 60 or more, the doc would have considered a NO, but since I'm self-pay, he felt that the outlay could be my incentive. Meanwhile, I'm wondering about the struggles of the 300 plus gang. Whether you're newly banded, in between, or a success, please chime in with your issues, and triumphs. Thanks!

Are any of you speaking with your lapband doctors about this pain? This is very important! I had this same pain... turned out to be a perforated esophagus... turned out the food was going into my body cavity instead of my stomach.... this IS life-threatening. You need to see your doctor... have the reason for the pain identified via CT scan. I thought it was gas, but ended up in emergency. I just spent a total of 19 days in the hospital... had to have emergency surgery, 20% survival, 4 days in ICU, critical/stable. I had the band in place exactly 2 weeks, then I downed a 4 oz. Carnation Instant Breakfast and the pain began. Yes, only AFTER I ate. If you are having a fever, even low grade, while you are having this pain, this is an alert to you. Please consult your lapband doctor... do not see your regular doctor, he knows nothing about gastric banding! Please, please, although it may be nothing, it just may be something, and that something just my turn into something life-threatening.

I need prayer for recovery. After a picture perfect banding, 3 weeks ago, last week, I had sudden intense pain in the abdomen area under my left breast after I drank 4 oz of Carnation Instant Breakfast. That was 10/24 at 10 pm. Sticking to the schedule, I had a yogurt at 11 pm, and a Protein drink at midnight. The pain was more intense. I took 3 TUMS, and went to bed. I had a fever, 99.7. I had two Tylenol and a Popsicle. I thought I was coming down with what my husband was getting over. But the abdominal pain was odd. I figured I'd call the doc at 9 am. I never made it to morning to call the doc, the pain was too great. 7 hours later, I ended up in the emergency room at 5 am last Thursday morn (10/25), followed by emergency surgery to save my life. Seems the band was eroding my esophagus and the liquids I had after that Carnation Instant Breakfast that started the pain went into my body instead of into my stomach. The doc had never seen anything like it happen to a bander and though there's always risk of complications to any procedure, never expected a complication like this. I had to have the band removed. My survival prognosis going in to surgery wasn't good. They gave me 20%. Lucky for me, I don't have too many body complications like diabetes or high blood pressure. I'm strong and I made it, and a much more faster recovery than the doc or my family could even hope for. I was put on may prayer chains and my husband spoke the Word to me while I was in ICU. I quickly went from critical/stable to stable in 3 days. But instead of a lapriscopic surgery, I had my belly cut, so now I have tons of stitches, staples and pain. The first 5 days of the ordeal was torture and madness and intense pain. I'm out of the hospital as of this afternoon (11/2) because bed rest at home is the better healer. My back was very happy to see my nice soft bed, because after 8 days, the hospital bed just wreaks havoc on your spine. I just had my first good sleep of 3 hours straight. I'm up to eat and will be zonking again soon under the influence of a Percoset. So, I'm no longer a member of the band, but I have to be on the diet for the next month while my insides heal. AND maybe, while on that liquid diet, I can at least achieve my weight loss of 50 pounds anyway and be at 299 and going down, perhaps the hard way. I'm down 20! Future banding is out of the question. The doctor doesn't recommend it and wouldn't risk it. RNY is still possible, but not until spring 2008. I have 2 months to decide if I choose RNY to get an April surgery date..., and guess what, begin the nutritional process all over again. I'm happy and thankful to be alive. It's been a mixture of tears of joy at being alive, and sadness at nixing the great weight loss goal I had in 18 months. There is no one to blame. I keep saying Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose." God will make this "a good" for me; I've assured my doc that I don't blame him, and that God will make this "a good" for him as well. ALL THE BEST to EVERYONE! Remember, what happened to me is not the norm. Go for life every time! Live it healthier and thinner! Good bye All

Well guys, my results were more severe. I never made it to morning to call the doc, the pain was too great. After having the pain for 7 hours, it wasn't subsiding but growing worse. I ended up in the emergency room at 5 am last Thursday morn (10/25), followed by emergency surgery to save my life. Seems the band was eroding my esophagus and the liquids I had after that Carnation Instant Breakfast that started the pain went into my body instead of into my stomach (yogurt, Protein drink, Popsicle, 3 TUMs: I thought it was gas). The doc had never seen anything like it, and also, never expected something like this to happen. I had to have the band removed. My survival prognosis going in to surgery wasn't good. They gave me 20%. Lucky for me, I don't have too many body complications like diabetes or high blood pressure. I'm strong and I made it, and a much more faster recovery than the doc or my family could even hope for. But instead of a lapriscopic surgery, I had my belly cut, so now I have tons of stitches, staples and pain. The first 5 days of the ordeal was torture and madness and intense pain. I'm out of the hospital as of this afternoon (11/2) because bed rest at home is the better healer. My back was very happy to see my nice soft bed, because after 8 days, the hospital bed just wreaks havoc on your spine. I just had my first good sleep of 3 hours straight. I'm up to eat and will be zonking again soon under the influence of a Percoset. So, I'm no longer a member of the band, but I have to be on the diet for the next month while my insides heal. AND maybe, while on that liquid diet, I can at least achieve my weight loss of 50 pounds anyway and be at 299 and going down, perhaps the hard way. I'm down 20! Future banding is out of the question. The doctor doesn't recommend it and wouldn't risk it. RNY is still possible, but not until spring 2008. I have 2 months to decide if I choose RNY to get an April surgery date..., and guess what, begin the nutritional process all over again. I'm happy and thankful to be alive. It's been a mixture of tears of joy at being alive, and sadness at nixing the great weight loss goal I had in 18 months. ALL THE BEST to EVERYONE! Remember, what happened to me is not the norm. Go for life every time! Live it healthier and thinner! Good bye All

I've been feeling more than fine since banding 2 weeks ago. BUT today, a few hours ago, I had 4 oz of Carnation Instant Breakfast. I didn't do anything strenuous. Suddenly I had pain below my left breast, like I pulled a muscle. It hurts like heck to get up off the couch. Any ideas? If the pain exists tomorrow, I'll be calling the doc.

Praise God! So glad to read you are doing well. Your doctor or your nutritionist supplies the post op protocol. It's better to ask the boss what is acceptable for the first few days and weeks as they are the ones who are determining your healing time. My protocol was 3 days of Clear liquids consumed in 2oz. quantities every half hour; followed by 12 days of liquids consumed in 4 oz quantities every hour (until tomorrow when I see my Nutritionist, when I hopefully will be given the go ahead for Phase 2: mushies). Everything consumed had a purpose: for liquid reasons and/or Protein reasons. All caloric intake is counted and turned in to my doctor and nutritionist when I see them. My allowable liquids were: straw consistency Soups (but not milkshake thickness), though the liquid was allowed to coat the spoon. I purchased a stick blender and blenderized several Campbells creamy and chunky soups and the taste and slight texture was always a welcome change to the Protein shakes. I was also allowed low-fat yogurt and sugar-free Jello. I even created a dish of tuna fish or canned chicken, with half plain yogurt and half mayo, blenderized to a reasonable liquid consistency and it was OK by my bosses. I was told that my band is not restricting me to eat yet, so I have to restrict myself. The best way is to eat from sun-up until sundown, small portions, during the liquid stage and during the mushies. I haven't yet had a fill, nor do I know my solid food protocol yet, so I'm sure there will be a change in my schedule. But for now, I'm all liquid all the time. When I first began this process I thought the protocol was the same for all banders, but I've learned that it varies from doc to doc according to many people on this board. Grace and peace!

If you've never had surgery before, recovery could be quite a shock to your system. I've had seven previous surgeries, and I've never bounced back as quick as I did after my banding. I know that everyone is different, and I feel for you guys who have pain, or intense pain. I was prepared for pain and to my surprise had none at all. The exact same was experienced by my support group buddy who had surgery the same day, immediately right after mine. We were both discharged the next day, and we're both 300 plus. The only difference is the he's a he. "Prepare for the worst and hope for the best" is a good motto." Remember, this IS surgery. To expect no pain in recovery is ludicrous. It's good to know that the pain WILL GO AWAY. Just keep on top of it, take your meds, get plenty of rest, and walk as much as you are able. Get help with the gas pains... they're inevitable... I had gas pains too. (and you'll have gas pains with all surgeries, it's completely normal). Walk; get someone to rub your back; walk some more; take anti-gas meds. It may take a few days before your BM's resemble something normal. If you're blocked and still have gas, try a warm Water enema (the gas needs somewhere to go). It works wonders. Pre-banding, I reconciled this way: I can barely stand, barely walk. My body is wrought with pain every single day. What's a few days of post-surgery pain if I'm going to have my other pain subside with weight-loss? Can I take it? I'm going to have to. And I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of pain. Already my 16 pound loss has given me more stamina and lessened the pain so much, that I need my body pain meds less often. I wish you the best in your recovery!

I pretty much did the same thing. RNY scared me terribly, but I thought of it long before Al Roker did it and I weighed much less then (and had better insurance). But the mortality numbers scared me, and I put it out of my mind for years. And I kept gaining, too. When I saw that LapBand commercial I was hooked, though my research began some months later. I took the first step to go to a seminar and now I'm 13 days post-op. It wasn't until being here at this forum a few days that I feel like I made the right choice. RNY was not for me. LapBand was the safer and better tool.

Yep, same here, explosive, watery, and too often. Lasted about 5 days and then it slowly started to firm up. I think it helped after I had my first yogurt, but I can't say for certain. Meanwhile, I'm still on liquids, and the BM's are fine, though a bit soft, but not at all watery.

No one knows how it feels to lose an excessive amount of weight. Even 50 pounds is difficult. Some here like me, want to lose MORE than 150. Those whose scales have barely fluctuated believe that it's all diet and exercise. I know that something in me isn't normal BECAUSE diets should have worked. I have a thyroid problem, that keeps my weight from skyrocketing, but it doesn't keep me from gaining slowly. Once Cushings Syndrome or Cushings Disease is ruled out, it is virutually impossible to get your metabolism to where a thin persons is. Something happened in all of us, a trauma, even a long car trip without stopping could mess up your metabolism, having children, getting married: who knows what, but it did happen. Is our obesity our fault. No one wants to be fat. No one would with it. No child says "I want to be fat when I grow up". I have to take responsibility for the food I put in my mouth and for how I ate whether it was right or wrong. I now have to take responsibility for what I have learned through my Nutritionist who I believe has my success as her goal also. My Nutritionist is thin as a rail. Although she deals with large people, even she has no idea what it's like, but she tries. And that's all we'd like from our supporters... to try an imagine how hard life is, and that all we want is our health back... getting thinner, looking sexier, if and when that happens, is a bonus. And if you want just a little devilish satisfaction, no one knows what those thin people will be like after they've had their first of third child. It took 5 years before my hypothyroidism was diagnosed - 5 years of gaining weight and eating they way I've always eaten. It took 10 more years of yo-yo-dieting to get me to my weight. Now, why would I want to weight over 300 pounds! After I reach my goal, I want to stick around and be supportive to those just starting their journey. Like people who've gone through cancer treatments need others who've been on the same journey and come out the other side. That's why this forum is so important to me. There are many people here who've come out the other side.

Oops, one of my incisions got infected, so pay attention to that pain! I put some Triple Antibiotic Ointment on it and then called the doc to see if there is anything else I should do. Doc's office said my protocol was OK, but to keep an eye on it in case the ointment doesn't do the trick. Wow, when it gets infected, it sure does hurt. It's better today, but not healed.

Oh, she's probably a very good friend, she just doesn't know how to deal with "being left behind". I mentioned my surgery only to acquaintances (like my dentist and her staff, a teacher of mine, a few nurses I know) and because they did not have that "friendship" closeness to me, they were very supportive, even talking about people they knew, or articles they had read, and ever single one of them asked me to come back and tell them how I was doing, how it was, so that they can help others. But a friend, that person in your "inner circle", just doesn't seem to take it well... especially if you both are large. I'm sure they would be very support in almost anything other area except appearance. I haven't been challenged in that friend position, and though I sure would hope I'd be encouraging, if it were a year ago when I was thinking about this process, or 2 years ago, when my low was even lower, I'm sure I'd feel jealous and a bit left-behind, too. I know that in the future, I'll probably experience, "Why didn't you tell us?" questions and all I can come up with is, "I was afraid it would change our friendship." Maybe I am wrong for not saying anything, maybe my friends are different, and I'll ask for forgiveness. But seriously, my family doesn't even know, like my mother and brother. I'm sure as spit that I'd get even more heartache from them. They've never been supportive people. Most people, after the fact, would say, "but I would have been there for you"... but the real answer is, "yes, perhaps in other circumstances, but in this one, you probably would have been against me.".... "and I just didn't want to take that chance, I needed everything positive around me, so I just said nothing." AND saying nothing is not laying, it's just being private. Even though you have friends who are large, each has their own personal story and struggle. By you choosing Banding is like your last chance at life (that's where I'm at). Some large people may not be at that stage. They may have resigned to the fact that they are large and happy. That's not me. I love people who are confident no matter what they look like. We all have our own personal reasons for having this specific surgery and this specific weight loss tool. We've learned that it isn't magic either... but heck, I have to matter to me sometime,... and I've decided that I matter now and for the next year or two, I am coming first.

Me personally, I would not make a major move of leaving my husband while losing the weight (unless he's abusive that is and my life, or the lives of my children are in jeopardy). Concentrate on one-thing-at-a-time. This concentration is for you and your kids. Counseling during this time, as you journey in, could be beneficial as in: another confidante The suggestion of finding a friend in support group is spot-on. Find someone you can go out with (leave the house to have some band fun) by that I mean that food is not always central to banders who go out. You'll discover tons more of things to do that don't revolve around food. (I like to shoot pool and you can't eat and shoot. Bowling is another great exerciser and food isn't necessary there either. Many alleys don't even allow food in the bowlers area.) Join a health club or a gym. Make new friends there. Perhaps volunteer somewhere, like at your hospital or library. Do what you can to become more independent from your husband as you achieve your weight loss -- so that when you're really ready to leave him, if that is still what you want should the time come, it will be the NEXT step in your life, and you'll be able to handle it. Your new-found independence could also light a spark in your husband as well, and it's a spark you may not, or just may want to pursue. Good luck to you. Counting calories works for me, so far -- I'm only on day 13 and I don't want to be a failure either - so you've got to remove those words from your vocabulary. You ARE worth it! Your KIDs are worth it!

Anyone remember when Joyce Meyer got her facelift? She said and I heard it on TV, when she was on stage, "If you're teeth were crooked, you'd get braces wouldn't you?" So why would plastic surgery be a God no-no? Same with WLS... and WLS isn't for cosmetic reasons, it's for life reasons. The fact that we may feel a little more sexier and confident as an end result is not against God nor does it supply an avenue to sin. So when I reach my weight goal I intend to have Plastic Surgery to tuck and lift the extra skin. I also intend to have a face lift someday, purely because I want to smooth out the wrinkles when they become unbearable to me. It's just a confidence tool. (I just did a mini-study. Beware of the word vanity in the Bible.... it doesn't mean the modern translation in almost all of the OT and NT usages; and the word is context specific.).

Some people just don't take to change well. They like it the way it's aways been and when that dynamic is threatened they rebel and repel. Those who are large, seem to be definitely envious, especially those whose insurance won't cover the surgery. They want soooo much to be in your shoes, or for you guys to buddy in the weight loss... but change is happening. It's very difficult for some to be happy for others when the change is that dramatic. Like in divorce... those who used to be friends with the married couple are not split over whom to associate with... no matter how long the friendship. In weight change friendships... many people feel powerful when they believe they one-up someone else by their looks. As if suddenly, that power will either evaporate, or change, or even be transferred. That powerful one, if he/she doesn't know how to deal with that change, will live a life of resentment and that friendship may be doomed. I lost several what I thought were close friends when I started gaining weight. I lost a friend (she and I were pregnant together) and she lost her child. Though we remained somewhat friends during her next pregnancy, she ended up saying something about mine that cut through me like a knife... I asked her to clarify what she meant and she meant what she said and the friendship was over. So, I decided not to tell any of my friends. I'll just say I'm on Atkins or something and that will be that. If for any reason surgery pops-up, I can confidently say, "Of course I didn't have Gastric Bypass Surgery, that's wayyyy too radical for me." No one things of banding first! I could even say that I decided to go to a Nutritionist who put me on a diet, and I joined a gym. I'm not in the mood to be teased or to test their friendships. Maybe I'll come clean in 2 to 3 years, maybe I won't. As for banding surgery being "cheating to lose weight", HA, they don't know. They don't have a clue. Heck, I didn't have a clue and I thought I researched it thoroughly. Good luck everyone and I hope your friendships survive and become renewed. If you need a friend in Pennsylvania, I'm in South Central. Would love to hear from anyone in Maryland, too. Maybe we can be new buddies?

Please recall the joke: A man was in a flood sitting on the roof of his house. Along came a boat and a helicopter. To both he said, "go away, the Lord will save me". So the man drowns and he's in heaven and he asks the Lord why He didn't save him. And the Lord says, "I sent you a boat and a helicopter, what more did you want?" So, I looked at the surgery this way. It's a tool that the Lord has provided for me. It's up to me to use or to not use it. I'm 12 days in and I don't feel guilty in the least. Meanwhile, in hospital, I was banded the same day as another in my group who was recovering next door. His mother came to see me. Thelma is her name and all she talked about was what a gift the Lord has given. Both I and her son, Philip, were doing extremely well (I asked the doc). When she found out I was Christian, she felt free in saying that I had angels all around me, watching me and taking care of me. Both Philip and I are 300+, had zero pain in recovery, and surrounded by angels. Deu 25:15 [but] you shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shall you have: that your days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD your God gives thee. Who is to say what tool the Lord will give for you to use? If I needed heart surgery, I don't go to bed and pray for a healing and then die. I would pray the Great Physician lead my to the right physician and guide his hands. So what happens when you have friends who say that you aren't trusting in the Lord? or you are bypassing the Lord and losing the weight under your own strength? Well these are either skinny people who don't know what it's like to be obese or morbidly obese; or large people who are drinking too much milk instead of eating the meat of the word and are being held hostage by what they don't understand. If any Christian goes to a dentist to have a cavity fixed, are they're hypocrites if they are the same who keep lapbanding from you for you to repair your cavity?

I did the same thing. I joined this forum 2 days before my surgery. I was not willing to back out so I kept to the positive. I knew there was going to be pain. My biggest concern was being able to get out of bed since I have a waterbed converted to a mattress bed -- you have to roll over to get out. I used an old crutch the first two days home to help because I was afraid of falling on my stomach and hurting anything inside -- and after that I no longer needed it. To my surprise, I had zero pain -- and I had a C-section 14 years ago, and my chest cut open to remove a tumor 6 years ago, ... so compared to that pain of recovery (both took a month), this recovery was ideal.

I really appreciate everyone chiming in. It really helps for us who are starting out so high and have had beginning and radical success. It really makes me feel not only that it's possible, but that I made the right decisions. Especially when Juli puts it so perfectly. Lapband and bypass thinking have nothing in common. I too want a weapon to change my lifestyle, to re-learn new habits, and to keep it off. I'm 48 (49 next month). I'm hoping that by 51 I'm on the table to have a couple of things lifted, and healthy enough for the surgery. I've spent enough of my life being large and not living. I want to live life again and I want a full senior life. In my 50's I want to look like I'm in my late 30's... and In my 60's, I'll be trying for late 40's. I have a male friend who is 74. He's active, plays tennis, Water ski's, and still works as a post hole digger. I want to be like him when I grow up. I knew that the band was removable, that's one thing that swayed me for banding because I knew it was 'reversable'. So when my doc told me that I don't ever have to have it removed, I was convinced. From all of your testimonials, I am now absolutely certain I made the right decision: Banders Unite! ! ! That's the only place I haven't been. My current physical challenge prevents walking exercises. I sit in a chair and use weights to do arm and leg exercises, especially to make my legs stronger. My lower back and plantar faciatis on my left heal prevent me from doing anything else. But I was told about a gym nearby that has people who are trained to help those using weight loss surgery as their loss tool - so I'm going to check that out and maybe I can step it up a notch there sooner. I need back strengthening exercises to start while my front reduces the back struggle. ---- When I first joined this support forum, I was surprised that there were so many people who were under 250 and getting banding, and I felt out of place. (I wished I had banding when I weight that weight but I was afraid of it. ) To me now, they needed to lose so little while I was going for a loss of two people weighing 116 pounds each. Your success stories are an inspiration.... and I mostly thank the successes for sticking around to help others. and, Out ! Out ! Out-Standing!

Way to go... you're doing terrific! ! ! Since you're just about a month in, how's your pain? gas? mobility?

Excellent point. There's a woman in our group who had RNY 4 years ago and had regained 55 pounds. She came to group so she could try to lose again. So you've heard that long-term success is stronger for Banders than for RNY'ers? I didn't know that. Sometimes I flip-flop on whether or not I made the right choice. RNY'ers lose weight more rapidly and part of me would love that -- you know, get it over with. But I'm too squeamish about the plastic surgery that will be required later, and heard that losing slower was better for the skin (exercise required) and that the latter surgery required may not become as radical. I heard that recovery from this can be quite painful. I know I'll have to have some kind of lift here and there. I've got a personal fund going to save $$$ over the next 3 years so I'm ready for that phase.

I wish I could have done it when I had an insurance that would cover it!

Great inspiration. Thanks for sharing. Now I know that my goal is quite possible and I really needed to know that. Thank you, thank you and thank you!

I actually remember feeling OK at 255. I gave birth at 277 and actually went down to as low as 220 (in 2000). And then, and then, how could I have let myself gain more than 100 pounds? That yo-yo really is REAL! Reesh, all the best to you! I hope to be a 50 pound loser soon (at 299) so that I can be somewhat of an inspiration to those starting out where I was.

I ran into a by-pass patient in the waiting room of my docs appointment a few days ago. We actually have nothing in common because our surgeries, recovery and food-intake are so different. I had a hard time with considering my internals being rerouted. I once did consider by-pass, until I saw the LapBand commercial. That's when I knew I had my tool.

Brandy... your pics are an inspiration. -- I started the process at Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA with the first informational seminar you have to attend. The docs there actually seemed to discourage banding (I was the only one asking banding questions). I started a search for a new doctor and found one locally to me (at Lapband.com). So a few months later I gathered the nerve to make my first appt. He trained at Hershey (good gosh), and told me that I'd be his largest weightwise banding and was concerned that it would not be successful for me. I spoke to many people at my support group about the doc and came away with feeling good about my choice of physicians, but still hoping that I qualify for the banding. The ratio of GBP to LBS in my support group is like 20 to 1. So at my appt a week before the surgery he asked, "so which one do you want?" I said, "Lapband." and it was a go.