kkarryall

This is what causes the pain: **Your body will be cut open. **Your abdomen is pumped full of gas...which eventually has to make its way out of your body. Gas can be painful! This is the left shoulder pain that everyone talks about. **You will have stitches. **A foreign object (the band) is placed around your stomach which causes swelling on the stomach...you must allow time for the stomach to heal (which is why you are only allowed liquids after surgery). **Your Dr. will give you pain medication; therefore you can expect some pain after surgery. Personally I only took two doses of pain meds and was feeling back to normal after about 4 days. Went back to work in a week. Hope this helps him understand...

Honestly, if you hate Michael Jackson and wrote a post before he died....that's fine. But to bash him after he died because people/media are obsessed and giving him tons of attention...I just don't beleive it's necessary. Michael Jackson was most definitely mentally ill. I hope the media respects his family's wishes to let them grieve privately.

Today is my 1 year bandiversary. I couldn't be happier with my decision to have the lapband! I have lost 86 lbs so far...Here are some pics... In the side pics, the first pic I had probably already lost 45ish pounds. But the first shot and the head shot are heaviest to current.

Well you don't have to tell anyone you don't feel comfortable telling...I only told my family and close friends...people I knew would be supportive. Good luck! By the way, are you a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)...I am and your screen name caught my eye

Happy bday!! You have donw great! But you need a fill. I did not really feel any restriction at all until my 5th fill and once I got my 6th fill...wow!! Finally, it started getting easier for me. Right now, even if I choose to eat bad things--like a candy bar--I can't eat that much. I am at my sweet spot. Good luck!

JayTee-- As I have gotten thinner you can feel my port more but you still have to press firmly to feel it. You definitely cannot see mine yet, but I still have at least 50 lbs to lose.

That's very normal becaause you don't yet have restriction. It took me until my 5th fill to feel restriction. That's why they call this phase "bandster hell"--because it is sometimes a b it harder to lose weight because you can eat a lot. COngrats on losing 12 lbs!

No regrets with the band here!!

I had the same question during my 6 month medically supervised diet. After reading much about it, I am fairly certain that honestly that they don't care how much weight you lose. They just want to make sure you are committed to a weight loss program. The only thing I would be concerned about would be going lower than the BMI that would approve you (most likely 40). I only lost 10 lbs on my 6 month diet. I so badly wanted to get a jump start on my weight loss but I just coulndn't get my head into the game! Good luck.

Hi Fiona---yes I will answer any questions you have!! The sweet spot is just something you know when you get there...for me I get full after eating a very small amount---maybe 1/2 cup. I cannot overeat anymore---it is even hard for me to overeat icecream!! Not that I eat a lot of tha tthese days...but as an occasional treat. IN the first few months of my surgery I could eat anything, sandwiches, Cookies, etc. I really had to diet a lot and really watch my calories. Now, I still watch what I eat, but I don't worry too much if I eat something a little unhealthy because I can only eat a little. With each fill I was a little more restricted--but it was n't until the 5th fill that I really felt restriction and then the 6th fill was my sweet spot. If you are filled too much you may not be able to keep any foods or liquids down. You may throw up a lot, etc. I do throw up sometimes, but I just have to be very consious of my eating. Hi Gettinginshape! Congrats on the weight loss thus far. I love Dr. Fielding. I go to the dinners he puts on every couple of months--so much fun!! I do exercise. I go to the gym 4-5 days per week for 1 1/2 hours each day. I do about 40 mins cardi o and then strength training. I still don't love it but I do it anyway. I started exercising about 6 months after banding. I just wasn't motivated before then. Good luck to everyone!

Glad to hear you are recovering nicely!!

Hi Patsy!! I can be your metor and answer any questions you have, if you would like I was banded on June 23rd of last year!! So we will be banded one year apart. For the ticker...if you click on someone elses ticker that will take you to the website. Then once you make your ticker, you have to copy the info for a forum. Then paste it into your the "edit your signature" place. My recovery was relatively easy. I didn't even take all the pain meds. Within 4 days I really felt back to myself. The diet in the beginning (and pre-op) is hard to follow mentally. My best advice to you is togo in for a fill every 4 weeks until you reach your sweet spot. I didn't feel restriction until my 5th fill and reached my sweet spot at my 6th fill. Good luck...you wil do great!!

I am very lucky in that I have a lot of supportive friends and family. However; I have been very selective in who I tell about my surgery. I too was afraid that maybe it wouldn't work for me. It wasn't until I lost about 70lbs that I told my dad's side of the family about the lapband. Once i told them, I was very honest and siad that the only reason I didn't tell them was because i was so worried that it wouldn't work for me. My advice to you is to not tell anyone that you are not comfortable telling. Once you are successful you may change your mind. Good luck!

I too was afraid to go in for a fill for awhile bc I was getting stuck/throwing up at times. But I finally went in and it is the best thing I could have done!! It has really speeded up my weight loss and has made me more motivated too!! I honestly just got to my sweet spot 10 months out from surgery :thumbup: 81 lbs down now!

You know I never identified it as a "safe feeling" but you're right that is exactly how I feel! I just recently got to what I think might be my sweet spot and that is just how I feel! Safe...

So you messed up ONCE....get back on the band wagon!! You are pretty close to your goal. You can do it!

I am down 71 lbs now...I don't have a super recent pic; but I wanted to try posting these collages that I made....so here goes!

Here is the thing...it IS a struggle to have the band sometimes. It takes more effort to eat. It takes a long time to eat. You occasionally throw up/PB. But it is a lifestyle change...and you get used to it. You still have to put forth a lot of effort. But it is so worth it! Given your age, I think you should definitely try it! Good luck

Dr. Fielding is great!! One of the best in the country , honestly. All of the surgeons at NYU are great. I have never had any issues with NYU. It can be a bit busy...but getting fills there is a piece of cake. My mom went with me to my consult and I remember Dr Fielding saying something that really hit home with me. He said for people that are obese...the chance of them losing all the weight on their own is about 5%. The chance of them keeping that weight off is less than 1%. It hit home for me then; but honestly it resonates with me even more now after almost a year of being on this journey!

Make sure you start your 6-month medically supervised diets now. Most insurances require that...you have to go to your primary care DR once a month for 6 months and document your attempt at weight loss....

Congrats on your surgery date!! I had my surgery on 6/23/08. I don't have ANY regrets!! I also had never had surgery and was so so scared. It was not bad at all!!! Recovery was pretty easy for me...just some gas pains. What are the concerns that your mom has? Is she educated about the lapband? If she wants to talk to someone who has been through it, private message me and I will give you my email. Good luck with everything!

well it has been 11 months for me. I have 6.3 ccs in my band and I have lost 69 pounds. I do get things stuck sort of often; but it's not THAT bad. I try lots of different foods, but generally ca't eat bread or any doughy products. What's different about my life now? I began wearing a size 24 and am now wearing a 14/16. I work out 5-6 days a week for 1 1/2 hours per day. For the first time in my life, I KNOW I will get to my goal! I was very frustrated the first 6 months or so of banding. Because I was so heavy, not many people noticed a weight loss until I lost about 50 lbs. It's all about making and accomplishing small goals for yourself and allowing yourself to be proud of your accomplishments (something I am still working on!) Good luck to you!

You will probably do very well with the lapband as long as you research it and work hard. I was out of work for one week...recovery was not bad at all! The first two days were the worst--and honestly not that bad. The post surgical diet can be a pain...usually liquid for like a month I think and then purees for two weeks and finally solids. Good luck!

I'm not an "oldie"...but I truly think you are making the right decision. Just remember you will get out of the lapband what you put into it... Good luck!!

Honestly I have always been afraid of needles and shots....but my fills don't hurt at all!! I just cover my eyes and it is done in like 3 seconds. I get mine done at NYU and that is pretty much all they do...the nurse practitioner does my fills and that's all he does all day, so he is pretty good at it! I did have to drink the barium right after my surgery to make sure everything was ok...and now I have to go again in JUne because that is my one year anniversary. I also have a gag reflux. It was gross...but I only had to drink a few sips...they just wanted a video of it going through the band. Really it wasn't that bad!