Northwest_Nance

Good luck! It's very exciting! I felt great the first day, had my surgery at 1:00 p.m., was home by 4:30. I stayed up that night until 11:00 p.m. walking, watching TV, playing on the computer. I should have taken pain meds before I went to bed though - I woke up in the middle of the night feeling really sore. Pain meds work best if you take them BEFORE the pain is bad. I was up early the next morning and not feeling too bad at all. But around the middle of the day it all caught up with me and I felt very sleepy. I slept a LOT for the rest of the day and the 2nd night. My surgery was on a Thursday. I woke up on Sunday and realized I felt absolutely wonderful. I think part of it was just relief from the stress of researching the surgery, making decisions, arranging financing, etc. etc. I could easily have traveled 4 days after surgery. I took more than a week off from work though and I'm glad I did. I found that I got tired pretty easily for a couple of weeks after surgery.

I was self pay too, and when I first started doing my research, I "knew" that I wanted bypass surgery; I thought of the lap band as the little step-sister of bypass. But the more research I did, the more I realized how serious bypass surgery is, and how much higher the risk of complications was. I began to fear bypass surgery. And being self pay, I knew that if there were complications, those would be self-pay too, and if worse came to worse, they could bankrupt me. So I began looking more and more seriously at lap band surgery. Eventually I wanted lap band surgery instead of bypass, even if I wasn't self pay. But. For weeks and weeks I was changing my mind every 30 minutes! I pretty much drove myself crazy. My brain was overloaded with research and I couldn't stop going back and forth between the two. Finally I came to the decision that lasted a lot longer than 30 minutes.... to go with lap band. Once I made the decision, I never looked back. That being said.... since I got the band on May 15th, and have been introduced to the world of bandster hell and going for fills and waiting to reach the "sweet spot", and seeing the weight drop slowly since surgery.... I've had a moment or two where I thought about the fact that with bypass surgery I wouldn't be going for fills and I would have lost a lot more weight by now. But, I still wouldn't go back in time and make a different choice. Lap band surgery was a simple surgery for me, with a quick recovery. In the long run I'll be glad I lost the weight slower -- I don't see myself able to afford plastic surgery to get rid of extra skin, so the slower I lose it, the healthier for me, and hopefully less sagging skin. In the end, I'm really happy with the path I chose. You shouldn't feel trapped into a procedure you're not 100% sure you want, just because you have a surgery date..... do more research and soul searching and decide what you really really want before you take the plunge!

It's easy to snack all day even if you have restriction - I think that's what they refer to as "eating around the band" and you will not lose weight that way, in fact, you might gain weight. You're going to be able to eat a lot more that way, as opposed to sitting down to a healthy meal, eating your protein first, no between meal snacking, etc.

I did the same thing Trishadish said.... I reminded myself that I had surgery to help me get healthy! I spent $17,000 of my own money and will be making monthly payments for the next five years. In more ways than one, this is an investment in myself and I need to be true to that. I think of this surgery as my last chance out of misery, and if I blow this, then I truly am lost. The real me that is hiding under the fat, will never emerge. Another thing that really helped me, it might not work for everyone.... but during my research before surgery, I watched the surgery being performed on You Tube. I was shocked when I saw that our body fat doesn't just rest neatly under our ever-expanding skin. It crawls all over our internal organs and clings to them like moss. To me it seemed like all my fat was smothering my stomach, my liver, my heart. I couldn't get that image out of my mind when I would think about eating fatty things. After I'd been back on "normal" foods for about a week, I decided I wanted to do some baby back ribs on the grill. One of my favorite foods. So I grilled them up and sat down at the table and when I looked down at those ribs, all I saw was how full of fat they were. I'd never noticed that before. And I just couldn't eat them. I thought.... I just had surgery to help me get rid of fat. I can't sit here and deliberately put more fat in my mouth. It's totally a head game, not a hunger game. I've been losing very slowly since surgery... I've had 2 fills and still have very little restriction. But I made up my mind before surgery that I want this, I'm ready for it, and I don't have time to wait for full restriction. I know it's very very hard. But this is a journey we chose and we need to do our best to stay on the path that takes us where we want to go.... and we're all going to detour at times, cuz we're human. Just try to pause and think before choosing what you eat.... we're all so used to blindly eating whatever we want, it takes some time to change that automatic behavior! I wish you all the best, I know you can do it!

Unfortunately I don't know anything about doctors or support groups in the UK. I do know $6300 USD is a very very good price, but it's crucial that you check out the surgeon and the facility very very well. For me all of the information I was learning in my research was extremely overwhelming. It's my nature to research everything very carefully so I went to support group meetings, a seminar, I was all over the internet for DAYS reading the diaries and blogs of people who had had either bypass or lap band; I watched the video diaries of patients on You Tube, I watched the surgery being performed on You Tube; I read forums like this one. My brain was completely overloaded. I spent the first several weeks changing my mind every 30 minutes or so about whether I wanted bypass surgery or lap band surgery. My brain was tired! As I sifted through all the information and slowly started making some decisions, things calmed down and finally I was at a point where I knew what, who, where, when, and why! I know I haven't really addressed your specific question, but I wanted to share with you that the overload of information, the confusion, and feeling overwhelmed, is part of the process. I wish you the best of luck!

Just like the above noters, my doctor said that as soon as I was off pain meds, I could drive. My car has an automatic transmission and I had no pain from driving or from the seat belt -- although I do seem to recall that the waistband of my jeans was hitting near my port site and caused some pain, and I was sorry I hadn't worn something looser!

I am very short-waisted, which my surgeon commented on when he was estimating where he expected my port to be. It ended up being about 2 or 2-1/2 inches above my belly button, and 2 inches to the right of center.

I think physically you could do it, it really just depends on how you feel and how energetic and basically healthy a person you are. How are you traveling and how long of a trip is it? Personally I wouldn't want to go on vacation that soon after surgery. I only get a few vacations a year (if I'm lucky!) and I want to be feeling my best and able to eat and be active on vacation. At 8-10 days post-op you'll be on a restricted diet, you won't be able to swim, and chances are that you will get tired easily. If it's the kind of vacation where none of that matters, I'd go for it.

I am hoping to start dating again eventually; I have just assumed that if I have more than a few dates with someone, the story of my surgery is going to be a part of a conversation at some point, and it would definitely have come up as part of the "getting to know you" process before I'd be at the point where I"m ready to let them see my body. My weight struggles and the surgery are just a part of who I am..... But I also don't want that to define me, so I wouldn't blurt it out right away while someone is forming their first impression of me. I'm older though, and people my age just expect that by now you've gone through some ups and downs, including physically (at least I hope they do). So maybe it's a little different for me than for someone in their 20's or 30's. Gah..... I haven't dated in so long, I'm not really going to know what the heck I'm doing! I'm scared! LOL

Oh I'm so sorry to hear that! I didn't get any paperwork like a warranty with my band, I would think the doctor could help you with that? So if Allergen has to replace the band.... who pays for the surgery?

It's been really nice reading this thread and seeing everyone stay calm, and not get hostile or defensive about liking or not liking one particular band! I've seen a few threads where people got pretty worked up in favor or against one band or the other and in the end, I don't think it's a huge difference. Both bands have been used for years (Realize has been used in Sweden for a long time) and both bands have their fans. NewHere, hope your surgery today is going really well.... let us know!

When I clicked on the image it enlarged it for me.... that is pretty cool, I've never seen one of those. You will have great "before" and "after" shots!

I play WoW too.... wine and WoW can be a pretty dynamite combination.... and you know, it's funny, but I seem to lose weight a little bit faster when I have a glass of wine or so. I haven't had any wine in 2 weeks now and I've had my slowest rate of weight loss yet!

This issue has been debated a lot in this forum. I was banded on May 15th and I chose the Realize band, partly because it has been used very successfully for many years in Sweden before being approved by the FDA for use in the U.S. late last year. My doctor also felt there is virtually no difference between the two bands. I did check out the Realize website and didn't really find much that interested me there except the daily food journal, but after a few days I gave it up in favor of TheDailyPlate. I found the Realize food journal page loaded very slowly and their database of foods was very small. But, a good or bad website is not a basis for selecting a band, in my opinion, so it really wasn't a factor for me. I honestly think I could have gone either way, I just liked the fact that the Realize band has been used in Sweden for so long, and I have a respect for the reputation of the Swedish medical community.

I'm so glad you are ok. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. How long after surgery is clotting a possibility?

Wow, I can't imagine why he placed it there. Maybe he'll have some explanation for it. My doctor showed me at my pre-op approximately where my port would be, but he seemed to imply that it was different for different people depending on their body. He said something like "I think your port will probably be here". I feel badly for you, my port sight was uncomfortable enough for the first month just being near my waist band, which is a lot easier to control than a bra.

Oh I feel your pain. I love food too, and I always responded to every emotion by wanting to eat -- sad, depressed, angry, frustrated, lonely, happy, excited, something to Celebrate -- food was the answer. I went through the same soul searching before my surgery too. I had a friend who told me about a friend who had lap band surgery and then just about freaked out in the first week when he realized he couldn't turn to food the way he used to. He wanted to remove the band, and it took his family and friends sitting him down very firmly and telling him "you can do this". He's doing fine now, but I wondered if I'd freak out like that too. I haven't even come close to freaking out. I'm so excited about the band, and my attitude towards food really is changing. I've had it for 6 weeks now and I get my second fill tomorrow. Even with only a little bit of restriction so far, I've done really well at making healthy choices and watching my portion sizes. I haven't had a potato chip or a between-meal snack in MONTHS. I never thought I would be able to say that. I haven't even thought about it. The band is a tool that works on your stomach, not your mind.... but for me, the psychological advantage of it has been a tool also. You're going to do great.... good luck tomorrow!

Congratulations! I have to say one thing about the band.... I've noticed a number of people who fall off the wagon at a certain point, and gain a few pounds back..... and then they grab hold of themselves and get back on the wagon and lose it! Speaking from my own personal experience over the years, I have never known how to stop and get back on the wagon after gaining back just a small amount of weight. I simply went into denial and didn't look back until I'd gained it all back, or more. It seems obvious to me that the band is helping people grab hold of themselves and turn it around when they slip up.... and that's wonderful! Really gives me hope that I'm not only going to lose it (again), but I'm going to finally keep it off. Good luck to you, I know you can do it!

I had my first fill four weeks after surgery and I was nervous about it because I was still having some tenderness around my port site. It didn't hurt a bit (and my doctor doesn't numb the area up either - he said the shot to numb it up is more painful than getting the fill itself). My doctor didn't have me sit up with the needle in. Just had me lay down, lift my legs straight up a little bit, and reach behind me to grab the end of the table and raise my head a little bit, sort of like a modified sit-up to make it easier to find the port. It was over before I knew it. I have my 2nd fill tomorrow and I'm counting on it going just as smoothly!

It's great that you're sleeping through the night and feeling well rested... that's encouraging! We can wake up quite a few times during the night from sleep apnea and never remember it. In my case, it had gotten to the point where I woke up just about every 90 minutes, by the clock. When I had a sleeping partner, he said he would hear me stop breathing, I'd lay very still for a minute, and then my body would almost convulse and I would sort of "snort" and shake as I quickly took in a big breath. I also had issues with anesthesia when I had a hysterectomy 5 years ago. In the recovery room the nurse kept having to slap my arm and say "Breathe, wake up, breathe"!! At my sleep study I was allowed to take whatever medication I needed or was used to, they just wanted to know about it. In fact for my second sleep study when they were going to be trying me with the face mask for the first time and I was afraid I wouldn't even sleep enough for them to get the test completed, the doctor prescribed sleeping pills for me. This forum, Sleep Apnea Support Forum Index, is wonderful for providing information. Once you learn just how severely sleep apnea can affect your body, you'll be amazed. It can contribute to heart problems, diabetes, it can slow your metabolism and make it difficult to lose weight, it can cause short term memory loss. If it's severe enough, you can die in your sleep from it. Anyone who suspects they have it should have a sleep study!

Just keep in mind, those are averages. Lots of people have reached goal, and then there are those who don't work with the band, and they don't lose much. I believe you can lose as much as you really want to lose with the band! Also, statistics show that bypass patients lose weight faster in the first year, but at the end of 3-5 years bypass and lapband patients have lost the same average amount of weight.

I chose the Realize band because I liked what I read about it. My doctor told me in his opinion there was virtually no difference between the two of them. On the one hand the Lap Band has been used in the U.S. for a long time; on the other hand the Realize band has been used in Sweden for a long time before it was approved for use in the U.S. this past year. I suspect my doctor is right and that it doesn't make much difference, but since I had to choose one or the other, I went with the Swedes.

I am no expert but I think you don't need to worry too much about what you're going to say to the doctor. His job is to help you, and it's going to be obvious that you need help. I think I'd focus on just expressing to him your repeated failure at losing the weight on your own, your concern for your health and quality of life, and especially, your understanding that the band isn't a magic wand, it's a tool that will help you do this, and that you're ready and willing to do your part. I think it's true that you only have to have the co-morbidities if your BMI is under 40. I wish you all the best!

I was banded on May 15th and had my first fill June 12th. I get my second fill in two days. I have lost about 33 pounds since my highest weight. I don't have much restriction and I've been "on plan" most of the time since surgery, but I've indulged here and there too, which I know has slowed down my weight loss, but a few times, I fell into the trap of telling myself.... "I should have a sandwich because once I'm restricted I won't be able to". The restriction I feel is when I try to eat a full sized meal, like a restaurant meal of salad, 8 oz. prime rib, baked potato and veggies. Then I can't clean my plate as I used to (well I could, but I listen to what my tummy is telling me and I stop eating). I'm looking forward to a level of restriction that will allow me to safely eat smaller meals and feel as satisfied with the smaller meal as I do with the restaurant meal. I'm working out with the Wii Fit and using my treadmill. I've been going for walks in the park near my office at lunch time on pretty days. I feel really really good. I was walking with a cane due to a hip injury and arthritis at the time of my surgery, and I've already been able to give up the cane. And by the way, what are NSV's? It's great to hear from all my fellow May bandsters!

Orea, I am in a similar situation. I have a tear to the labrum of the hip, and arthritis. The surgeon said I have almost no cushion left between the ball and joint of my hip. I need hip replacement surgery but he doesn't want to put me through that until I lose weight, which is how I ended up at weight loss surgery. In mid-May at the time of my surgery I was walking with a cane and couldn't walk very far either. After just losing 30 pounds, and walking as best I can, and working out with the Wii Fit as best I can... I am already walking without my cane and people are commenting on how much better I'm walking! I still have pain.... it's not quite as bad as it was before but that's all relative, it's still very painful.... but I'm really hopeful that with every few pounds that I lose, the pain will diminish some. It won't go away completely until surgery but if it reaches a level I can live with.... and sleep with.... I'll be so grateful. I just wanted you to know that there is hope... keep up the good work and hopefully your pain and walking will get better too!