Northwest_Nance

Sounds really good, congratulations! It's always amazing to hear how different things happen in different facilities and with different doctors. I definitely got weighed before surgery, because my doctor cancels surgery if you don't lose the weight he tells you to lose before surgery! My regret is that I didn't weigh myself at home the day after surgery. When I went for my post-op checkup 8 days later, I was up 1.5 lbs. from surgery day and I don't know if I had actually gained the mysterious 10 pounds some people gain during surgery and then lost 8.5 lbs. of it during my week on liquids, or whether I really gained weight during the week on liquids. Also, I expected to have trouble getting up and down off my couch but didn't. I slept in my bed on the same pillows I always use, and got up and down with no problem. And what I really want to complain about is I didn't get any relaxing drugs before surgery! Waaah! LOL Get well soon and have a happy journey!

I was banded 3 weeks ago and I was also self-pay. It's a big decision on several levels, and it deserves a lot of thought. I haven't even had my first fill yet so I am hardly the voice of experience, but from everything I've read (and I've read LOTS over the last few months), you have to want this. You have to be absolutely ready to take control and get in shape and change your life. We have to be at a point where, if it means we can't have bread or Pasta, well, we'll miss it but if that's the price we have to pay to get healthy and come out from under the dark cloud of fat we've been living under, we're ready to do it. We have to be ready to confront the fact that all that bread and pasta and eating out is what got us to the miserable state we're in now. All of that being said.... I've talked to plenty of banded people who are able to eat bread and pasta in small, controlled amounts... and yet by some miracle, they don't seem to want it. And I've also talked to plenty of them who go out to eat, but they eat much smaller portions than they used to eat. I think it just comes down to choices. Is being able to eat whatever we want, in whatever quantity we want.... as we've been doing for years, and that's what got us where we are now... more important to us than gaining control, getting healthy, looking good, feeling good, cute clothes, getting off blood pressure meds, getting rid of painful joints, etc. etc. etc....

What a powerful story! Thank you so much for sharing. I've just begun my journey -- at 55. My mom died at age 56 of alcoholism and I made up my mind I didn't want to die at age 56 of my own addiction. It sounds like you have worked very hard, and you have found peace -- and health. I'm so happy for you. Thanks again for sharing.

When I change my diet, increase or decrease my calories, I will weigh every day to try to get a feel for whether the change I've made is good or bad. I really don't want to live by the scale -- I mean, yes, I need to keep track of whether the scale is going up or down but I want to just be in the habit of making healthy choices and know that as long as I do that, the weight will come off at its own pace without me obsessing about the scale. Of course, that's easier said than done. Most of the time I try to weigh just once a week, but I find that I sneak in one or two extra times on the scale during the week. I never weigh myself at night, I figure there's too much fluctuation there depending on what I've eaten that day, how long ago I ate, how long ago I had a bowel movement. I trust that first thing every morning, stark naked, is the most consistent weight I'm going to get.

Hey Mackie! You've come to a good place, and welcome! I'm 55 and not a grandmother yet but I sure have thought about when that happy day comes.... I'd like to enjoy those babies too, and be able to keep up with them. I was banded 3 weeks ago today and am looking forward to my first fill in one week. I've learned a LOT from everyone here. Looking forward to hearing about your journey!

I'm in a similar situation and I have to say, misery loves company -- not that I wish it on anyone else! I need a hip replacement, but the surgeon doesn't want to operate until I lose some weight. He's the one who suggested I look into weight loss surgery. I have a tear to the labrum of the hip, and also bad arthritis, the surgeon said I have almost no cushion left between the ball and joint of my hip. My hip is very painful (and since I didn't know this until it happened to me, you probably don't know it either -- that means the pain is in the groin muscle that is on the inside of your leg near your crotch, and also all along the front upper part of the leg). Walking is painful for me but I am determined to work out at least some. I got the Wii Fit and I absolutely love it, so I try to do 20 minutes a day on that, plus walk rather slowly on my treadmill. Every day I'm afraid I'm going to wake up and discover that I pushed it too far and simply can't do anything because of my hip but, so far, so good. I'm hoping that with every few pounds that I lose, the pain will get a little more bearable! Good luck to everyone!

I'm not sure if my seminar was required or not -- but I wanted to go. I did so much research about gastric bypass surgery and lap band surgery on the internet before making up my mind, but I wanted to talk to some real people -- a doctor, and to other people who had had the surgery. I got a lot out of the seminar and also met 5 of my doctor's patients who had all lost weight with the lap band. Each of them told us a little bit of their story, showed us their before & after pictures, let us feel their port site, and answered any questions we had. My thought at the time was that by attending a seminar, we are already somewhat educated before we go to see the doctor, and he doesn't have to keep a room full of patients waiting while he answers all the questions that would have been answered at the seminar. Making the decision to get the surgery is a huge step and we have a responsibility to learn as much as we can about it -- I think it's worth the investment of an hour of our time. I wouldn't go if I had to pay for the seminar though.... I've never heard of anyone charging for it, so I'd find one that is free!

I know that all those things ~can~ happen when you lose weight, but they don't necessarily HAVE to. I lost 100 lbs. three times over the years (yeah, I know, you'd think at least one of those times I would have kept it off) and I never had any of those symptoms. I lost the first time on Jenny Craig, the 2nd time on a low fat diet, and the 3rd time on Atkins -- very low carb. Kept all my hair, never had any negative symptoms, loss of memory, change in personality, job problems, etc. Can't speak about the gallbladder though because I had mine removed years ago (at a time when I was not dieting and was pretty heavy). Maybe I'm just lucky -- I'm sure hoping I don't have any issues this time around either! I'd still talk to my doctor about the issues you're experiencing.

Please don't be afraid to ask your doctor about sex, and don't be embarrassed! For one thing, they are doctors -- they see lots of naked bodies, they hear all KINDS of things you wouldn't believe -- they can't be shocked. And sex is a natural healthy thing, they do know we have sex! They do too! My doctor also said we can resume having sex whenever we feel comfortable with it.

When my surgeon first examined me, he told me I would lose weight first around my abdomen, and that it would take longer to lose in my thighs and breasts. So far, I'm noticing the same thing you mentioned -- my pants are looser around my rear end and my thighs, but the waist bands are just as tight as ever. But, my surgery was 3 weeks ago tomorrow and I've been assuming my stomach is still swolen. I'm going to start doing crunches soon.... which I hate... but I think they're a necessary evil. My doctor said I can start doing them whenever I feel like it (I read somewhere on here that someone's doctor told them no abdominal exercises for 3 months, but my doctor told me he has no restrictions on exercise unless it hurts -- "let pain be your guide, if it hurts, don't do it"). Problem is, I just don't feel like doing them yet! And I think that's because I'm still having some port pain, rather than it being an excuse for not doing them!

I chose the Realize band but it doesn't mean I would diss anyone who doesn't like it, so I don't need to be lumped in with that group. On the other hand, I am sure I'd get a little defensive if someone was hostile when stating their opposing opinion. We all have an obligation to do our own research in preparation for such a big step as gastric surgery, and to choose a doctor we trust and then follow that doctor's advice. This forum is a great tool for support and comparing experiences, but at the same time, most of us aren't doctors so when it comes to medical opinions, we are pretty much just repeating what we've heard, what our doctors have said, or what we discovered in our own research and all of that is a very individual thing. I am very comfortable with my own research, and I trust my doctor implicitly. I wish that same level of trust and comfort for everyone! In any case, there's no turning back for me now, I've been Realized and I hope to stay that way for a long time to come!

My doctor didn't instruct me to give up coffee, but I gave it up during the pre-op liquid diet phase, and for the first week or so after surgery (May 15th). I've had my usual one cup of coffee every morning since. As tired as I am today though, I'm really thinking about having that rare mid-morning cup!

I think a lot of us are in the situation we're in today because we are emotional eaters. Same for me -- eating has been my reaction to everything.... Sad? Depressed? Hurt? Lonely? Angry? Tired? Bored? Frustrated? Happy? Need to Celebrate? Special occasion? EAT!! I get around it by trying to focus more on what the bad foods and the over-eating are doing to my body. Watching You Tube videos of lap band surgery (and other surgeries) was a huge wake-up call for me. When I saw how all that fat grows around our organs like moss, I was stunned. Somehow I always pictured fat as these ugly blobs growing right under our skin. I never imagined them covering, suffocating, all my organs. I also try to ask myself.... is that (insert *bag of chips*, *roast and gravy*, *pizza*.... your food of choice here) going to solve my problem? Make me feel better? Make me feel good about myself? Do I really want to wake up one more day asking myself why the hell I blew it the night before? Why did I, once again, make such bad choices for myself when I know that in the end, they make me miserable? Of course it doesn't ~always~ work. The biggest challenge for me is learning that I am human and this is not a computer program. Food is to be enjoyed and I intend to enjoy all my favorite things... when the right occasion calls for it. NOT every day as I always thought I was entitled to. And I will slip up. Because I am human. Because sometimes we do things for the wrong reasons. And I will try not to beat myself up for it. Because today is a new day and I'm going to make better choices today.

There are quite a few recent threads on here with people asking the same question. If you do a search for "Realize" they probably will all come up for you and you can access a good variety of responses. But to make it easy..... my doctor gave me a choice too. He said there is virtually no difference between the two, so he had me check out the website for each one. Realize has a website designed to let you use it along your weight loss journey and it's a pretty good site, although I found I prefer to use the food diary on The Daily Plate. I went with the Realize band partly because, well, I had to choose one or the other. And even though the Realize band was just recently approved for use in the USA by the FDA, it's been used in Sweden for many years and has a good track record.

I was banded on May 15th. I didn't have that issue, but I thought a lot about it ahead of time and wondered if I would. I have a friend who was banded last year and he just about freaked out in the first week, he was ready to have the band removed. Several of his family members and good friends got together with him, kind of shook him a bit (figuratively, not literally) and emphatically told him.... YOU CAN DO THIS! He did calm down, got over his anxiety, recognized that it was just a symptom of his unhealthy relationship with food, and now he's doing great. But it is a struggle that I think a lot of people go through. I'd recommend therapy to help you deal with your issues about food. But then, I think we can all benefit from therapy.

I had my gallbladder removed about 11 years ago (I only got my band a few weeks ago). It was done laprascopically and was an even easier surgery for me than the lap band was. I don't know if the fact that you have a lap band in your body makes any difference to the surgery process though, I wouldn't imagine it does but I'm not a doctor.

Nesser, does that mean you can eat bread? After hearing that we can't eat bread after lapband, I've read of several people eating sandwiches so I'm just curious. My doctor didn't give me a card that allows me to order off the children's menu in a restaurant - I'll have to ask them about that. I just got off mushies on Friday so I've been slowly adding "normal" food to my menu. I never got my "last supper" before surgery so I'm toying with the idea of going out to eat this weekend before I get my first fill next week. I think I do have some mild restriction and I have been making very healthy choices and eating small portions, so I'm doing very well.... but maybe a very modified "last supper" this weekend is in the works. Funny though, I already have lost interest in over-doing it so I am not concerned that I'll suffer a diet setback if I do choose to go out!

I had my surgery on Thursday, May 15th and I took off all of the following week. Then it was a long weekend for Memorial Day, so I was off 2 weeks. If I really had to I could have gone back to work earlier but I have a habit of pushing myself and rushing back before I should. I decided this was a big step in my life and I wanted to give myself time to heal and be good to ME. About 7 days after surgery I went out and pampered myself -- bought a couple of new outfits (I was careful not to spend too much - I don't expect those new clothes to fit me past the summer!) and I got a facial. It was wonderful. I was still having port pain and I was getting tired easily, so I think I was justified in taking that time off anyway. (I am an executive assistant too). I say take whatever time you can -- you've made a huge decision to do something so positive for yourself -- and this is your time to be good to you!

When I started looking into surgery I just got on the internet and did a Google search for "lapband surgery", "lapband diary", "lapband blog", etc. I loved reading the online diaries and blogs of people who had the surgery. On You Tube I did a search for "lapband" and found videos of people talking about their surgery, and even videos of the surgery being performed. I learned a LOT that way. Also just read a variety of posts on this forum. Some quick answers to your questions.... It's up to your doctor what kind of pre-op testing needs to be done. It's not unusual to have to have a sleep study to test for sleep apnea, sometimes a visit to a cardiologist, a visit to a psychiatrist... bloodwork, various other tests depending on your doctor, your age, your medical history, and your general state of health. Many doctors put their patients on a liquid diet for a week or two before surgery. This is to lose weight quickly to shrink your liver, which helps make surgery go better. The length of time from your first appointment to surgery depends on your insurance company. It goes a lot faster if you are self-pay. I had my first appointment 2 weeks after I attended a lapband information seminar, and my surgery was 2 weeks later because I was self-pay. For some people, it can take 6 months or even a year. Good luck! This is a great place to come for information but also do your own research online, it helps a lot.

Congratulations, that's wonderful, and inspiring!

Hi amsderb! I'm not aware of having gone through any different protocol for pre-surgery with the Realize band. In fact the doctor didn't even need to know which band I'd chosen until the day before surgery. Also, it's my understanding that my port IS sewn in. I'm curious where you learned that it isn't -- I'd like to check on that!

Oh, I know just how you feel! I have struggled with my weight my whole adult life. I lost 100 lbs. three times and always gained it all back. This past year I have been miserable as I wallowed in my fat, outgrew my clothes, cut myself off from a social life, and watched my fat start affecting my health. Then my hip started hurting (which actually means the front of the top half of my leg hurts) and when I was finally referred to a hip surgeon, he told me he could not do laporoscopic surgery on my hip because I was too fat. He said the instruments would not reach the injured part of my hip. Not only that, he said my hip was in worse shape than my doctor thought, and I really needed a hip replacement, but that at my current weight the surgery would have more risks. And, hip replacements don't last forever. At 55, I am young for a hip replacement, and at my current weight, the "new" hip would wear out faster than it should, and would need to be replaced at least one more time in my lifetime. So, he said "I think you should look into weight loss surgery before we consider hip surgery". I was SHOCKED. And very embarrassed and humiliated. My first thought was "I'm not going to tell anybody". But after sleeping on it, I realized.... they all know I'm fat!!! Long story short.... I ended up telling my boss and my co-workers, and everyone was SO supportive. And for the first time in my life, I could talk openly about this problem. It was no longer the elephant in the room (no pun intended) that everyone saw but nobody talked about. I think that alone was a huge step towards changing my life. I was banded 2-1/2 weeks ago and I'm already losing weight. I am SO excited about this journey. You will be too!

I didn't have one, which surprised me a little bit. Five years ago I had a hysterectomy (warning -- TMI ahead!) and for some reason the doctor did catheterize me but didn't give me an enema or anything beforehand..... and I had a bowel movement all over the operating table in the middle of surgery. What a nightmare for the doctor and nurses!!! And a very near-nightmare for me.... talk about contaminating the operating field. The doctor was extremely worried that I would get an infection, and for 5 days they gave me 4 different antibiotics intravenously. I was lucky -- no infection. But that experience did make me ask the bariatric surgeon about precautions for the lapband surgery. He said he was very surprised my gynecologist didn't give me an enema before surgery, but that it wasn't necessary for the lapband and neither was a catheter. My surgery was at 1:00 pm and I hadn't had anything to eat or drink since midnight the night before so I guess my system was pretty well cleaned out by then!

I would strongly encourage you to put yourself first. Think of your health and what is best for you. It's disappointing that your husband isn't putting your health first, but you have to make this choice for you and a longer, happier future! Standing up for yourself and doing what you know is right for you, will make you feel great too. I think it's natural to have second thoughts.... most of us go through a time where we wonder if we're making the right decision, but I think that just shows that we're being realistic about it and thinking it through carefully! I was banded on May 15th; I was self-pay too and one small consolation is that the cost is tax deductlble, so I'll get a small portion of the money back in early 2009. Good luck to you! I am sure if you have the surgery, you will be very glad you did.

My doctor wanted me to lose 10 pounds in 7 days by having 4 MediFast drinks a day and one Lean Cuisine or equivalent. By day 5 I was in a panic because it didn't look like I was going to make the goal -- I was several pounds away from it and wasn't even losing anything on some days. Then I switched from four to three MediFast a day, and I switched from the Lean Cuisines to a very low-carb dinner for the remaining 2 days. I not only made my goal, I ended up losing 12 pounds instead of 10. Low carb saved my surgery date (my doctor is famous for postponing surgery if you don't lose the weight he asks you to lose)!