Shauna80

Its great to see people in my same situation! I just had surgery last thursday Sept 18th, and have lost 11 pounds so far!!! I am loving my band, but am ready for the constant uncomfortableness to go away!!! Good luck to everyone, and lets keep in touch with progress:thumbup:

Hey everyone!! I'm here in Buford Ga and just had surgery on Sept 18th! I am doing great, and so happy I found people from GA~ I hope everyone is doing great and look forward to talking with all of you!!!

Thanks and good luck to you! I will let you know...I am only on full liquids for 1 week then weeks 2-4 are mushie stage then week 5 on is solids!

Thank you for all the support. My doc is keeping me on full liquids not Clear Liquids for 7 days...so until this Thursday. Then I can have applesauce consistency type foods. What happens when you eat something like saltines when your newly banded? I do chew them until they are liquid in my mouth. I am just suffering from severe headaches and the crackers are what seem to help them go away. Its not that I want to eat bad foods, or large amount of foods anyways, it just the shakes are not making me full, and I seem to have to add a 4th shake because if I didnt I would have anything after 5pm, then I get a headache from not "eating" because of my sugar. I am so confused!!!

So I got banded on Thursday, and I feel great! Gas pains are not that bad...just a little incision pain. The Doctor has made me stay in the hospital the last 2 nights because my oxygen was low and i'm a cardiac patient...but i get go home today and im looking forward to my new life!!!!

I am hopefully leaving the hospital later today...I am ready to be home. I have had no problems keeping anything down...I really dont feel any different except for the slight gas pains, and the incision pain. I did the swallow test yesterday and I thought I was going to puke! That stuff tasted like liquid dish soap!!! I cant wait until I can really start living my new life, with my new eating habits...I am SOOOO excited for this new journey! Thank you all for your encouragement and responses~

Trauma of any sort can cause this...also the hormone changes your body is going through can cause this...but its mostly the fact you have lost weight fairly rapid, and surgery is considered a trauma to the body...It should grow back or thicken in the future...Good Luck

I had to get cardiac clearance because of a heart problem I had after my daughter was born. I too get palpatations or PVC's which are Premature Ventricular Contractions. PVCs can be caused by anxiety which is the most common cause. Increased levels of adrenaline are thought to play a role, and it can often caused by caffine or exercise. Some antidepressants can cause them too. But if you have a previous heart condition or problem it can be associated with that...I would see your cardiologist to get cleared and let him know about them...but they will probably see them on an EKG when they do one. GOOD LUCK!!!

I'm not telling people unless they are close friends or family, and trust that they aren't judging me. People are so quick to judge without understanding. I feel its none of their business...and when I start dropping weight...its because I've been working out and eating right...thats all they need to know. People are ignorant, and fear competition by nature...they are more worried about your succeeding and looking better than they do! Keep it to yourself and tell others who you TRUST!!! And enjoy getting skinny!

I'm really sorry to hear the bad stories...its frustrating being overweight, but its also a place where a lot of us have been comfortable. Going through WLS is a HUGE change, and I would say that 95% is a MENTAL CHANGE!!!!! If you do not change your thought process, and how you look at food and why, this tool will not work with you. All the doctors I saw told me that there will be foods that you wont be able to eat anymore, and there will be ones you still can eat...but the fact is that the band is NOT gastric bypass, and the success ratio or statistic is only 50-60% of weight loss on average...where as the gastric bypass is 80-90%...they say it can take an upwards of 2-3 years to lose that 50-60%, and that is usually for the people who work with the band, eating right and exercising. Not to say that these stories of people haven't done that, but in general this is all stuff we knew going into this journey...this is a life long work in progess, and that is the way it needs to be looked at. You spend years hiding behind food, then one day make a personal decision to do something positive to change your life...these changes will not happen in 1 or 2 years when the average overweight person has been heavy for their whole life. You have spent your whole life with bad habits, that wont change overnight, or even in a couple of years. This mental change has to be realistic and gradual for it to work. I know that going into something like WLS, I have to know when I wake up off that surgery table I am a new person, and my life from that moment forward is going to be different...I'm going to be different! Good luck to those having problems, and I hope you find a great doctor to help you...just know there is tons of support on here and dont give up!!!

I would say the key is to work out 4-5 days a week and drink TONS of water! It's all about toning while losing, and remember this is a lifestyle change and this should be your long term goal as well. Its somewhat genetic, but your young still and I think if you eat right while losing and weight train you'll be fine. Good Luck!

I personally would say NO until your scars are healed. UV rays will discolor your scars, and possibly could raise them. You just spent all the time and energy to get this surgery, and because you want to look tanner is not a reason to possibly add problems to your scars, or the healing process.

A personal trainer can cost anywhere from $40 to $65 an hour....its about 300-400 a month. If you belong to a gym they have them there, or you can look up for ones that come to your house, but those are usually a lot more.

Im getting banded Sept 18!!!! I am starting the liquid diet next week...I am ready for this change!!!

I found out today...only 6 days after I sent in for the approval I was APPROVED!!! My surgery is Sept 18th!!! I am so excited and ready for this change....

I found out today I was APPROVED....and my surgery date is September 18th!!!!!

I wanted to find out the other side of the story...I want to know if you regretted getting the lap band and why? I would love to hear everyones stories. Thanks

I was wondering how long it took you to lose your weight? I have about 90 pounds totaly to lose to be at 130 (goal weight)...I work out 4 days a week with cardio and weights. I was wonder what kind of expectations to have when I get banded. I do have PCOS, and became overweight the past 6 years ...and I am finally ready to have my old self back! I am starting out pre-band at 215 and want to get back to 130....Any advise would be helpful! Shauna

I have been reading through these posts and its really irritating that people are making judgments based on whether your 300 pounds or 205. I'm 28 years old, and I weight 218 and I'm 5'4, but I have serious health issues. I had post partum Congestive Heart Failure at 25 yrs old, I'm insulin resistant because of my PCOS, and I have high blood pressure. I may only be 37% BMI, but I have health conditions that have prevented me from losing weight despite everything I've tried. I am not someone who has eaten themselves to being fat, or overweight, but have had health conditions that have contributed to my weight gain and my weight retention. 6 years ago, I was competing in Figure Competitions, and was at my peak fitness and health until I was in a severe accident, then taken off my birth control...that became my downward cycle of my PCOS symptoms and the weight started piling on. Now I'm 85 pounds overweight, and despite my efforts I can not lose it. My doctor says I am a perfect candidate for this type of surgery because I have good eating habits and I work out 5-6 days a week. I think that WLS is for all types of people, not just the 300+, or for the people who have been overweight their whole lives. All of us have different reasons and stories as to why we are chosing to take this route, and I believe that if you have weight issues and have been fighting it for 6 years or your whole life you shouldnt judge why others are making the same choice as you to better their lives. There's enough judgment in this world, and if you dont like being judged by your looks or weight, then you shouldnt judge someone for making the same decision as you, but their weight is not where YOU expect it to be to qualify!

Hey everyone, I am curious if there is anyone who has been banded, and ever competed in a figure or fitness competition after their banding? I used to about 6 years ago, until I started gaining weight from a medical condition, and someday would love to get back there again. I was just wondering if anyone has ventured here after a procedure like thing, and whether their port is a problem. Thanks

The weight I want to be or decided was my goal, was my previous weight that i was happiest at. This is a personal goal you have to make yourself, your dr really cant do that for you. He can suggest a healthier weight for you...but you have to have your own personal goal. I would recommend setting small goals....if you have to lose 100 pounds set 10 or 20 lb goals and reward yourself. Because if you go into this saying I have a 100 pounds to lose it sounds like a mountain to climb...so start with a mole hill! Good Luck

This shouldnt be confusing. If you have PCOS, your body does not function the way its suppose to, nor does your body process food the way they are suppose to. So the idea that high protein low carb is bad is wrong...its not as healthy for someone who DOESNT have PCOS, but with PCOS, carbs are the devil!!!!!!!!!! Carbs like breads, Pasta, rice...things processed are bad for PCOSers, but good carbs like squash, zuccheni, and veggies/fruits are the way we get our carbs. You have to understand, that if you are overweight because of the help of PCOS, that your body will not function properly until the weight is off, because you have an influx of hormones and insulin ravaging your body. Thats why eating low carb high protein is usually the only way people will lose weight....but, people dont know how to eat carbs properly for PCOS, will not lose weight. Just know that we are hurting ourselves more being overweight with too many hormones, and being insulin resistant, than any low protein high carb diet will cause.

Sounds like you are losing enamel on your teeth and probably have receding gums...This can be caused by vomiting excessively, and if you already have weak teeth, or are prone to tooth decay it will be affected easier. Make sure you brush immediately after vomiting, and and don't eat things like lemons, or anything really acidic. Hope this helps

Look under the pregnancy forum. There is a lot of people who have been pregnant after banded. There is a lot of great information on this blogs. I would either search pregnancy and band, or there is an actual forum for it.

I know after any kind of trauma (surgery) this can happen. I would recommend seeing your dermatologist, and they usually will have an idea of what you can take. This should stop, and your hair will grow back....it will take time though. Good luck.