MusigalF

It went away in about a week, never to return. It seems to be pretty common-- and seems always to be the LEFT shoulder. Hang in there, Anne! Flora

Wow! After reading the wish lists (bikinis and all!) of you younger folk, here's the wish list from a "close to Social Security" lapbander ( surgery was on 11/19/07) 1. I want to have less joint pain, especially in my knees. 2. I want to play tennis again. 3. I want to go swimming ( I live in south Florida) any time an not be embarrassed to wear a nice one-piece bathing suit. (I haven't ever been in the condo swimming pool or gone to the beach because I cannot wear a bathing suit in public.) 4. I want never to ask for a belt extension on an airplane again. 5. I want to comfortably cross my legs. 6. I want to feel healthy and strong. 7. I want to enjoy traveling and sight-seeing again ( see HomeExchange.com) 8. I want to "feel pretty". 9. I want to feel in control of food, not vice versa. 10. I want to play with grandchildren without getting exhausted. Cool New Years Resolutions, eh? Flora, age 61 -42 today!

I'm another Curves veteran ( 3 years) who has finally found exercise that I enjoy. I work hard on the machines, get the blood pumping and the muscles burning. It's a nice community of women who support each other and make everyone feel welcome. I go daily and always feel better after I do the workout. My Curves is also big enough so that a lot of us walk around the machines and 40 times around the circuit is a mile.

Hi Heather, I think that we all know that there are dangers in any surgery; any time someone cuts into your middle and puts stuff in or takes stuff out, there is risk. Anesthesia has risk all by itself. My doctor's nurse read me all of the risks, and the percentages of surgeries in which these irregularities occur. The risks of morbid obesity, however, are far greater than the risks of lap band surgery's complications. Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney failure, etc.. are just the most obvious results of morbid obesity. The depression and insecurity are also terrible costs. We have made this choice to have surgery for obesity because we truly have no other realistic alternative for success at weight control. Diets haven't worked for us -- we're tired of the yo-yo dieting and the cycle of diet failures. You must decide for yourself if obesity surgery in any form is what you need. If you can lose weight and keep it off without surgery, go for it. If you can't, and you're tired of not living the life you want, you will come to the same conclusion that thousands of us here have done. If you go to a reputable doctor in a top tier medical facility, follow directions and set your mind to success, the surgery will be well worth your time and effort. Good luck with whatever choice you make. Flora Flora

I, too, was banded on 11/19/07. Tomorrow will be two weeks exactly. I feel great, have lost 43 pounds ( since the pre-surgery diet begiinning in October) and no longer have any pain. ( The WORST pain was in my left shoulder--it lasted for a week!) No more blood pressure meds, and my arthritic left knee is sooooo much better. This has got to be the best thing I've ever done for myself! I feel so much more focused and capable of success. And it will be the first Holiday Season in my life that I don't gain weight!! That, in itself, is a feat.

I'm a 61 year old retired teacher from New York's beautiful Long Island, who has relocated to Naples, Florida. I'm married with a grown, married son and two grown step-children, one of whom has two little children... so I'm a granny. After a lifetime of feeling guilty every time I ate anything and battling pounds daily, I had the lap band surgery last week because the co-morbities were beginning to emerge: Gradually higher blood pressure, sleep apnea, and finally a bad left knee. My mother was morbidly obese and died at age 62 of kidney failure from diabetes. So I had the lap band installed on November 19, just 10 days ago. I feel wonderful and have my first fill scheduled for Decmeber 21. Everyone has been most supportive, while a bit worried. I'm thrilled at my success thus far, and I'm committed to make this work. I have a friend who had the surgery at 72! She is 75 now and looks and feels fabulous-- has lost 100 pounds and maintained it for over a year. So for all the "oldies" out there, it's never to late! Flora

At the tender age of 61, after an entire lifetime of weight issues, I believe that environmental factors (fast food, garganuan portions), coupled with poor personal food choices, just learning to eat past the point of a "sated appetite", and lack of exercise contribute greatly to obesity. There may be underlying emotional issues of comfort, control, food/love connection, but...... With that being said, I look at photos of my mother and grandmother and realize that I am genetically programmed to carry extra weight in their image, as are all my maternal cousins. ( I have no siblings) They didn't exercise either, so that was pre-programmed in us as well. ( What women exercised in the 1940's?)And until the 2nd half of the 20th century, women who were overweight were considered "healthier" than those who were thin. Marilyn Monroe was a size 14. Genes have a HUGE role in determining who fights weight and who can eat and not gain. Nature/nurture are definitely partners in weight traits. Three other points that have not been discussed are: 1. The nature of food as fuel: any other addiction ( drugs, smoking, gambling), once recognized and treated, can be totally avoided, given the conscious effort to do so. Food must be faced several times every day, and without adequate preparation for the daily barrage of choices, it is much easier to fall into the old habits or give in to temptation. Therefore lap bands and gastric bypasses.... what they do is make it IMPOSSIBLE to eat the old way without DIRE physical consequences. I am so thrilled that the lap band is a tool that exists for me! If my mother had had the opportunity to have one, I know that she would have lost weight and stayed alive longer. 2. Menopause and what it does to the metabolism ( and shape) of women. I used to be able to "get serious" and lose 50 pounds in 4 months with Weight Watchers or Diet Center ( remember that one?) Once I reached 50, I would have to eat under 1000 a day or less to lose ANYTHING. It was outrageously frustrating and the pounds kept creeping on, despite my best efforts. 3. To those of us who have fought weight, much like other addictions, we must work VERY hard to assure that our children do not inherit bad eating habits, food-love connections, and "finish everything on your plate" training. It's no accident that obese adults tend to have obese children. It's up to us to learn nutrition, portion control, and exercise and teach these things to our children in order to try to control the "nurture" aspects of the problem that we inherited or learned. Our children will have to learn to deal with their genetic predisposition to gain weight. We must give them the tools to fight and win in childhood.

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I was banded 6 days ago. The left shoulder pain was worse than the belly pain immediately after surgery. Each day it has gotten better and better, but I can still feel it a little. It feels like a muscle pull. My surgeon told me that it is from the gas that is pumped into the body for the surgery that allows room for the surgeon to find what he needs to find easily. After the surgery is over, some gas remains in the muscle tissue and seems to rise into the shoulders and that it takes time for it to dissipate. He said it would be gone in a few days. I go back to him on Tuesday for staple removal and I'll try to get more information. I hope I don't still have it months from now. Flora

As a "this week Newbie", I'd like to add my voice to discussion, Molly. Everyone has fears before the surgery. It's natural and necessary to fear the unknown and certainly to fear surgery of any kind. There are dangers, and we are aware that there are sometimes complications that we didn't predict. With that said: If you had a ruptured appendix, and had to have and appendectomy -surgery to save your life, you would just do it. You wouldn't think of not having it because you were scared of how it would be afterward. So,,,, Consider the lap band surgery to be an "emergency fatectomy", surgery to save your life by allowing you to lose the excess fat that WILL end your life early and ruin the quality of it before it kills you. And.... remember that after the first few months of your "baby stomach" adjusting to food gradually, you will be able to eat delicious. satisfying foods, but in quantities that will allow you to live well while becoming fit and healthy. The pre-surgery liquid diet is by far the most difficult portion of doing liquids. When my Dr. told me to stay on liquid Protein for 2-3 weeks before surgery, I replied " Doctor, if it was possible for me to stay on Liquid Protein for long periods of time, I wouldn't NEED the damn surgery-- I would have lost this extra poundage long ago!" I will say that it helps if you clean your home out of things that will throw you off easily, and if you have support from your family. I went to bed super-early to avoid the nighttime urges. So, Molly, hang in there -- think positively. Think about the amazing gift you will give yourself by putting yourself in control of your life instead of letting food control you. I wish you all the best. Flora MusigalF Banded on 11/19/07 Dr. Liberman Naples, FL ( I'm so new that I'm still figuring out how to get a ticker to work..., but I've lost 22 lbs pre-surgery and have lost 5 more since surgery on Monday)

I am 33 hours from surgery! Monday at 6AM, I report. I'm impatient, excited and a little scared. So count me among the November newbies! November 19 is my band rebirthday! Flora in Naples Dr. Mark Liberman at Physicians Regional Medical Center ( formerly Cleveland Clinic, Naples)