Tirnanog

Hi, I was banded last Saturday - so I'm only 6 days out. I did a LOT or research ahead of my op and decided on a band mainly because of the lower risk associated to it at the surgery stage. But now that I am a fully fledged, post op, bandit, I am engaging in a more real way with the lap band comunity and unfortunately this is leading me to believe that I have made a mistake. I have joined some face book groups which are fully of awful stories of day to day difficulties. Pain and bringing food back seems to be a daily occurrence for many. I knew that I would not be able to eat Pasta,Rice Bread with a band (Good!) - but eggs chicken and prawns - a big part of my post op diet plan, also seem to be a problem and in lots of cases a complete no-no for some. Add to this the frequency of stories about slippage and being constantly in the red zone AND some reading on the BP group Lapband revision to sleeve - and I have just got myself into the mindset that I have made a terrible mistake and that I should actually have gone for a Gastric Sleeve. I think I need to hear some positivity about the band! I want to be able to eat healthy foods (as I pretty much did pre-op) but much less of them. I want my weight loss to be 2lbs a week at the start - not excessively fast. I want to be able to live life day-to-day knowing I have a restriction -working with it, but not being a slave to it. Is this possible? It would help a lot to hear some positive stories from fellow banistas. People who have a good life with the band and who can still eat (20/20/20!!!) chicken, eggs, prawn etc etc. Sorry for such a panic post - but I have got myself into something of a tis - it would be great to get your opinions/advice - even if it is to confirm that maybe sleeves are better. Thanks

Hey - thanks everyone for you great replies - didn't get chance to read/respond yesterday, but really wanted to thank you for taking the time to give me your help and advice. I've stopped freaking out now and have accepted that this is a pretty normal response in the emotional fall out after the op. Social media is great , in some ways - but it can also create a wrong impression sometimes, at the end of the day it is impossible to know the route causes of the issues that people are complaining about. Bandista - you star xxx My greatest fear is that I wouldn't be able to eat the healthy diet I have always had - Protein, salad veg etc (although clearly I over ate on these and added bad Snacks at night ) I feared that I would resort to eating sliders - thereby having little success with the band. But your description of how you eat is really heartening and very different to some accounts I've been reading over the past few days. With everyone's help here - I realise once again that there is lots of band success out there and that has made me feel like I can be one of the success stories - I was losing faith...but I'M BACK!! I have revisited my original reasons for going with a lap band. Not wanting the higher risk or invasiveness of the sleeve, enjoying the control over adjustments not losing weight too quickly and hopefully being able to control my eating and appetite in the LONG term. I feel good! I know there can be issues, slippage etc but I hope I can avoid that by treating the band well, I know it can happen anyway - but the sleeve is not issue free either! Thanks again for all the great info, and for 'talking me down' It's been an emotional week! Back to work tomorrow and genuinely feel I am starting a new life - helped along by that fact that I have lost a whole stone since start of pre-op!!My Pants are definitely loser! Love Tirnanog xx

Thank you so very much for your responses and for the good advice. It has really helped, I feel ridiculous feeling like this now - when I deliberated for so long over everything before making a decision. I think I will certainly feel better once I move on to eating real food again! Gowalking - you've lost 143 lbs I see - amazing! and great proof for me that I have made a positive change by getting my band. Thanks so much for your words of encouragement - it's great that you can eat most things. During your pre-op wobble - did you consider getting a sleeve as an alternative? The idea of only eating a little appeals greatly to me. The idea of not being able to eat chicken does not - but time will tell. I will stop being glum! And focus! Thanks Tir xxx

Hi November Banditas, Glad to hear every one doing well. Skinny 46 - sounds like you've been through the mill - hope you are OK Britabroad - yes I'm looking forward to moving on fro liquid - albeit to sloppy food but hey it's progress! Aies 477 not long now - Pre op diet is hard....I found myself lacking concentration and fantasizing about tastes and textures of food - completely involutarily!! J

Hi, Any November banders out there? I'm having surgery on Saturday 7th November. Would love to hear from fellow November -ers. xx

Hi Everyone - I've made it through!! and i'm still alive...in fact I feel this might just be where I really start living! Band inserted on Saturday - I'm not gonna say it was easy - in fact the first day was a lot harder than I was prepared for - everyone is different I suppose. However I'm amazed how much i've improved in just 3 days I'm up and about now, but taking it easy. Just sipping liquids so far, had some tomato Soup last night - went down ok. My surgeon put 3 ml in my band straight off so I'm dealing with some restriction already. I get pain if I take too big a mouthful or try to swallow to quickly - but hey....better get used to it! All normal I'm told! How are you other November banders doing?

Hi, Yes I've had shoulder pain after a gyno procedure in the past Very painful. Hope it is easing for you. Not too bad on the nerves front - but have been extremely anxious in the run up xx

Hi Everyone, What a great site this is, I wanted to say thank you to all the contributors – your stories and advice have really helped me on the first leg of this journey. I am due to have my Lap Band fitted this Saturday, so I thought I would stop being a forum ‘lurker’ and write a little post myself. I am currently on the two week pre op milk diet – which has been hard – but not too bad. Thankfully I really like milk – so drinking 4 pints a days was fine for me. Resisting the temptation to eat has been very hard – Top tip – don’t offer to have a Halloween Party in your house when you are on a pre op diet..ha ha, what was I thinking?? The house was full of sweets and hotdogs and, well....you get the picture. I had 1 hot dog – no bread and a small Krispie cake – that has been my only cheat. So – just a couple of days until surgery – I’m excited – but I’m also ‘bricking it’ – as we say in the UK! I have a little girl and the fear of not waking up has consumed me. I have never been afraid of surgery before, but this feel s different as this is elective and linked to my weight – which has been a source of guilt/shame for so long. I haven’t really not slept properly for a week. I’m committed to the long term plan and I’m trying to focus on that - i just can’t wait to be on the other side of surgery. It would be just great to get some words of advice/encouragement about the surgery – getting through it, how you feel when you first wake up/first day/first week etc – alongside any tips you have for helping the band to bed in dealing with the liquid diet. I plan to live on Protein shakes and chicken broth and thin soups- does this sound about right? Thanks in advance for any advice anyone can give me - this site has helped me so much so far. There are some negative stories , but they too have helped me go into this with my eyes open. I just hope I am one of the lucky ones who will be saying – my only regret is that I did not do it sooner! Respect to you all xxxxxxx

Hey - thanks a million for your reply - all these positive stories help. Just packing my hospital bag now - feeling ok- will be glad to be out the other side (fingers crossed!) . I hope you get your approval soon xxxx

Oh Bandista - your post was SO nice it made me cry...in a good way! (feeling mega emotional in the surgery run up!) Thanks so much and happy anniversary...I think you might be my lucky star! You have made me feel SO much better and very VERY positive. Britabroad - so nice to have a band buddy xxx How are you feeling - I hope all has gone well and that your recovery is coming along nicely. I will definitely stay in touch. Good luck x

Hi Everyone, Many many thanks for all your replies and advice, it is so greatly appreciated. My research continues......and all your advice and hearing about your experiences is a great help. Thanks again! Balfin xxxxx

Hi, I’m brand new to this site and I wanted to say thanks to all for the info and helpful advice within. It feels like a great support. I am at the start of this journey –made the decision to have bariatric surgery about a month ago and since then have been speaking to the a UK Centre – they have been very helpful and I had more-or-less settled on a gastric band. I’m fit and healthy – just very over weight – about 20stone and BMI of 41. Yesterday I have my first consultation with a surgeon and sadly it was very disappointing. His first question was ‘why a band and not a sleeve’. Then followed a power point presentation about why obesity is a worldwide problem (errr – thanks I kinda know all that already!!) and a helpful run through the band surgery and the sleeve surgery – with some rather gory – but interesting videos of his work. The surgeon is a sleeve evangelist and was very negative about the band. He explained that it is has a 40% success rate compared to 89% with the sleeve (this doesn’t really feel correct) and that there are lifelong complications with the band. He also said the NHS do not offer the band due to the low success rate. At the end of one hour – he quickly ended the meeting – saying he was needed in surgery – leaving me no time to ask questions. I am left in a total state of confusion. Is the sleeve a better option for me? I had discounted the sleeve previously because I feel it is so much more extreme and invasive. I have a little girl, so risk is a very big factor for me (as I’m sure it is for many on here). Will I fail with the band and/or have lots of complications – or have I just had a rather one-sided, biased consultation for a surgeon who has made up his mind that bands are not a good option? I haven’t spoken to the Obseity Centre councillor yet, but though I would ask a few questions on here first. I can see this is a thread is about the band – but did anyone else face a similar dilemma – Band or Sleeve? Has anyone had a band, but wishes they had a sleeve? Also- how did my first consultation compare to your meetings with doctors – I thought I would be coming out of that better informed and with the next stage of my plan – instead I am more confused than ever and somewhat disheartened. I'd be very grateful for any advice or help that anyone could give me.

Hi Everyone, A big thanks for all your posts and for some very constructive feed back. It means the world to me to be able to speak to people who have been through bariatric surgery and through similar issues with obesity - it can feel like a lonely old road sometimes! So really - thanks a million xxxx I will keep an open mind on which direction (band or sleeve) I take - but right now I am definitely in favour of the band. It's great to be going into this with my eyes open and to understand the pitfalls through other people's experiences, rather than just the statistics. Today I had a chat with a lady from the centre I have been speaking to, she had a band fitted 6 years ago - she has had a very positive experience with her band and it was great to be able to ask her some very direct questions. Thanks again all - I'll keep you updated on my progress - so that hopefully I can pass on some of the generosity that you lovely people have shown me, to other people who might come looking for answers and advice. Balfin xx

Hi, I’m brand new to this site and have been following this thread – which has been VERY useful – I wanted to say thanks to all for the info and helpful advice within. I am at the start of this journey –made the decision to have bariatric surgery about a month ago and since then have been speaking to a UK Obesity Surgery Centre – they have been very helpful and I had more-or-less settled on a gastric band. I’m fit and healthy – just very over weight – about 20 stone and BMI of 41. Yesterday I have my first consultation with a surgeon and sadly it was very disappointing. His first question was ‘why a band and not a sleeve’. Then followed a power point presentation about why obesity is a worldwide problem (errr – thanks I kinda know all that already!!) and a helpful run through the band surgery and the sleeve surgery – with some rather gory – but interesting videos of his work. The surgeon is a sleeve evangelist and was very negative about the band. He explained that it is has a 40% success rate compared to 89% with the sleeve (this doesn’t really feel correct) and that there are lifelong complications with the band. He also said the NHS do not offer the band due to the low success rate. At the end of one hour – he quickly ended the meeting – saying he was needed in surgery – leaving me no time to ask questions. I am left in a total state of confusion. Is the sleeve a better option for me? I had discounted the sleeve previously because I feel it is so much more extreme and invasive. I have a little girl, so risk is a very big factor for me (as I’m sure it is for many on here). Will I fail with the band and/or have lots of complications – or have I just had a rather one-sided, biased consultation for a surgeon who has made up his mind that bands are not a good option? I haven’t spoken to the Obseity Centre councillor yet, but though I would ask a few questions on here first. I'm particulary interested in hearing from members who faced or face a similar dilemma – Band or Sleeve? Has anyone had a band, but wishes they had a sleeve? Also- how did my first consultation compare to your meetings with doctors – I thought I would be coming out of that better informed and with the next stage of my plan – instead I am more confused than ever and somewhat disheartened. Thnaks again for all the useful info people have shared so far. I'm so pleased I found this site! Jx