Catherine55

Hi, Scott! Congratulations!! My best advice for you is to: 1. Take before photos asap (you will want them later) 2. Take your measurements asap (same!) 3. Write out a post-op plan for success -- your plan for what you are going to do to make the band work for you. I did one b/c one of the books I bought before surgery recommended it, and I found it to be really helpful. Here is a link if you want to see what I wrote for mine. 4. If you have a lot of different sized clothing in your closet, go through it and organize it by size. That way you'll know what you have and will be able to find things you already own to wear as you lose weight. 5. Think out carefully who you are going to tell about your surgery. Some people tell everyone, some tell almost no one -- there is no right way to do it, but it's good to think out what will work best for you ahead of time, if you haven't already. I hope that helps!! Best wishes, Catherine

1. Can you really not drink Water WHILE you're eating? No -- you can, but you shouldn't b/c it washes food down your band and you won't be full as long or get full as quickly. I still have wine with my meals when I go out. This is the one bandster rule I have not followed to the letter. 1. What does PB, sliderfood, and sweetspot mean exactly? PB = productive burp (when food gets stuck in the band and comes back up. It's not like vomiting b/c there is no stomach acid . .so it's not as gross.) Sliderfood - food that slides right on down the band because it's liquid (ice cream) or crunches up easily (cookies). Sweetspot - when you are at your optimal fill level in your band. That point varies from person to person and can change over time b/c as you lose weight, there is less fat around your stomach (which may make the band feel looser even though your fill hasn't changed). 3. How do you deal with telling people in your daily life? I have kept it private from people at work and from a few people who I thought would be judgmental or otherwise annoy me if they knew. I told most of my immediate family and all of my closest friends. The thing is, you don't lose a ton of weight right at the very beginning with the band. You have to go through the healing phase before you get your first fill, and then you may need a few adjustments to get to your sweet spot and really start losing. So, if you tell everyone, you may get upsetting comments like "Why aren't you losing more weight", etc. You should really think about your privacy and who you want to tell. And, maybe you should wait to see how you feel after surgery before going public. One thing to be cautious of is people who are going to act like the "Food Police." I like being able to eat a cookie once in a while without having people say "Should you REALLY be eating that after your SURGERY??" or something annoying like that. This is a big issue, and it's great that you are thinking it through now! Also, be sure to take before photos and your measurements right away if you haven't already!! You will want them later. :biggrin: Best wishes, Catherine

I questioned my decision at first, but it is the best thing I ever did for myself! One thing I did that really helped was to make a pro/con list (here is a link to it) and to think about all the health problems I'd be avoiding (check out this diagram) by getting my weight under control. The band has made losing the weight so, so SO much easier than traditional dieting. And, I've enjoyed this process and haven't felt deprived. I actually hit my big goal yesterday (75 pounds down -- though I'm going to go for another 10). Stick with it. It is going to be SO worth it. Also, think about how much more fun your life will be if your feet don't hurt, you fit into airplane seats comfortably, you can enjoy doing athletic things, fit into clothing in any store, and look better than you've looked in years. That may help to keep you on the straight & narrow! Best wishes for your success, Catherine

Welcome!! I did my surgery in Monterrey, MX with Dr. Roberto Rumbaut. I had a great experience and was extremely impressed with the hospital and level of care. Also, Dr. Rumbaut is banded, so I liked that he could relate to me on that level. I know two other bandsters who went to him and also had very good experiences. Feel free to check out the early posts on my blog if you want to read about my surgery and see photos of the hospital. Best wishes, Catherine

Hi, KarlzMom and Sashay! Don't worry about giving up your favorite foods -- you are still going to be able to eat pretty much everything you do now when you are banded -- you'll just eat a lot LESS of it and feel satisfied! That was really scary to me when I was doing my last meals and liquid diet, but it actually turned out to be just fine. And. . . I hit my goal today! WOO-HOOO!!!! Cut to a year or so from now, and you will both be posting the same thing! Best wishes for your success, Catherine

I almost could not believe my eyes this morning!!! I finally hit my goal!! It took 15 months, a lot of diligence on food choices (without giving up any favorites or wine. . ), and plenty of time at the gym, but I'm finally here!! When I started this process at 230 pounds and a BMI of 37, I had high hopes for what the band would help me do, but it was always really hard to imagine that I'd truly be able to be a "normal" sized person again and to meet my goal. Lo and behold, it absolutely was possible, and it is for everyone else who is working this process!! :smile2: Just wanted to share the good news with you!! With best wishes, Catherine

Congratulations on your band date, Froggy!! The eating part gets easier. I still think about what I am going to eat at each meal and choose things that work well with the band, but it's become second nature to me by now. I used to look at restaurant menus ahead of time (on line) every time I was going out to eat, because it helped me out to be able to think out in advance what was on the menu that I like and can eat easily. These days, I don't need to do that -- there is always something that will work. Foods that don't work for me are gummy breads (the kind that will stick back together after you swallow it). But, I can eat well-toasted bread, the hard crust of rolls and other crunchy things. I'm generally OK with white meat chicken as well, so long as it's not really dry and has some kind of sauce (like salad dressing if in a salad, tomato sauce, etc.). Hope that helps! Best wishes for your surgery!! Catherine

Drasan -- thanks for your nice note earlier. Don't even give those photos a second thought. Just right click, save them to your computer, then untag yourself if you want. The heavier version of yourself that you see in those photos isn't going to be your reality much longer. Even a month from now, there will be a perceptable difference -- and, with each passing month, you are just going to feel and look better. One of my friends was teasing me the other day about how often I put photos up on FB. And I just laughed and said that I was making up for all the years when I cringed at the sight of my own photo! Heck. . I don't even crop my body out anymore. And, you're going to be there before you know it. Catherine

Thanks you guys!! Jillian's Mom -- 20 pounds is absolutely in your reach! Can't wait to see you post your own "GOAL!!!!" message! Catherine

Hi, Mimi! I agree with the posters who said that what you're feeling is normal. Also, I liked what Josie said about writing down your feelings. I did this pre-op by writing out a list of pros & cons about why I was having my surgery. Writing it out and reading it when I was doubting my decision or questioning whether I should try regular dieting again was really helpful to me. I posted my pro/con list on my blog -- here is a link if you're interested. Couldn't hurt for you to make your own one! :frown: Also, be sure to take some before photos right now & take your measurements if you haven't yet! You will for sure want them later! :smile2: Catherine

I started loving my band once I got past Bandster Hell. Now I really love it. All of the little inconveniences, like getting stuck once in a while and having to be careful about what I order, are absolutely nothing to me compared to how amazing it feels to have gone from hating how my body looks to actually liking it. Even though I had a lot of high expectations for the band, I never imagined that I would be able to actually like how my body looks, but I do now. It's incredible. It's like a miracle to me that I've been able to get to the point I am at right now, given how hopeless I felt before I had my band. Catherine

That is so great that you got approval!! I'd say don't be scared, but pretty much everyone gets nervous before their surgery and questions their decision. I definitely did, but it didn't alter my course, and having this surgery has turned out to be one of the very best things I ever did for myself. I say this all the time when I post, but be sure to take some before photos and take your measurements now! You will want that stuff later so that you can see how far you've come! Best wishes for your success, :w00t: Catherine

Congrats, Ruthie!! I just sent you a message -- so glad you are doing well! Catherine

Welcome! I agree with Mimi -- the time will fly by before you know it! So. . before you get too far along, be sure to take some "before" photos and take your measurements. You will definitely want them later on so that you can see how much progress you are making! Best wishes, Catherine

Welcome, Sue! I'm a lifelong foodie too, but being banded has just made that more enjoyable. What I mean by that is that now I can enjoy a reasonable amount of the foods I love and not have to feel guilty (or get fatter) as a result. And, I can order dessert now without feeling self-conscious that everyone is thinking "Um, do you really NEED that?" :thumbup: I put a few recipes for Soups and other foods up on my blog (intermittently). Feel free to check it out if you like. I also have done lots of foodie events during the past year, from the NY Wine & food Festival to The James Beard Awards and dinners at all kids of good spots (Babbo, Bar Boulud, Gotham Bar & Grill, etc). No reason you can't still enjoy these things and lose weight at the same time, as long as you largely follow the bandster rules. :smile2: Best wishes for your success! Catherine

This is such a great thread, and I'm glad that I came back to it tonight to see all the new posts. I have a sister-in-law who is one of those people who is thin (she works at it, but genetics have helped) and who just has zero understanding for how anyone could have a weight problem. She is very judgmental in general, and is nice often enough that I let my guard down . . only to have her say something rude and hurt my feelings. So, knowing all of the above, I didn't tell her about my band. And, not telling her also means that I couldn't tell my brother b/c I wouldn't expect him to (or ask him to) keep a secret from his wife. Now I'm close to goal and would like to tell my brother. But I hesitate because I don't want to hear anything she has to say about it, and I don't want her to be food police-y when I see her at family occasions (admittedly, I only see her once a year, so it's not that big a problem). Part of me wonders if I should be giving her the benefit of the doubt a bit more here, but I've been stung too many times before. I do think. . what if I have a problem and gain a few pounds. Even if that's a few years away, I don't want to hear whatever she might say in that situation. I guess I'm thinking out loud here. . . but typing it out is helpfu. Guess I'm not ready to go public with them yet! Catherine

Yes -- when I started working out, I plateaued for 6 weeks (which seems to be the norm when you're building muscle) and then started losing again really well! I did lose inches during that time. BTW -- TAKE YOUR MEASUREMENTS!! Trust me, it feels so amazing to be able to count all of the inches you are losing! I am down more than three feet in inches. How crazy is that?! Be sure to take some pictures now if you didn't do before pics already. It's so easy to underestimate how great your progress is if you don't have anything to compare it to later. :frown: Congrats on the inches lost! :frown: Catherine

I get them if I'm dehydrated -- make sure you're drinking enough water!

Hang in there! It gets a LOT better in a hurry! :frown: On the medications, is there any reason you can't crush the pills (I wrapped mine in paper, then smashed them with a hammer, stirred the powder into Water and drank it. .tasted gross, but did the job). The pain should be getting better soon, and after you get to restriction and really see some good weight loss, I am confident that you are going to feel better than you have in YEARS. You are just in the hard part right now. It will get easier. Keep us posted on how it goes! We are rooting for you! :frown: Catherine

Melissa -- congratulations! I had such a great experience with Dr. Rumbaut and was seriously impressed with the hospital, facilities and level of care. It blew everything I've seen in the U.S. away, and Dr. Rumbaut has more experience with lap band surgery than most U.S. doctors. I have not heard about Dr. Zapada, but it sounds like you have done your homework. Best wishes for your success! Catherine

The clear liquid diet was probably the hardest part of this whole journey! I feel your pain! My doctor let me have Protein Shakes during Clear Liquids though. . are you 100% sure yours doesn't? Sending you best wishes for a speedy recovery and lots of success! BTW, take before pictures and your measurements right away if you haven't already! You are going to want them later. :frown: Catherine

This is why I only told a select group of people about my surgery. Sparing yourself from this ill-informed negativity is definitely a good thing! BUT, you know why you are doing this, you know that you have tried so many times, and you know that you need this help to take control of your weight. As a fellow bandster, I totally applaud you for knowing that you need help and getting it!! BTW, hold on to your hat when you have lost enough that you and this girl are wearing the same size. . I bet she's going to have a hard time dealing with that! Then again, you guys may become workout buddies as you get more into exercise and she could turn out to be very supportive. Hang in there. Don't put any stock in anything she has to say, and stop inviting her to comment on your band b/c what she has to say is not helpful. You are going to do great! Catherine

That's what I've heard -- and experienced -- as well. Most bandsters who I know (in real life as well as through the blogging community) lose well over the average. My doctor told me that the reason the average is so low is due to people who have complications, or who do not manage their care well and get fills when needed, or who drink shakes and other fattening slider foods regularly. My recommendation is to ignore that statistic and know that you are going to be one of the many people who does much better than that with the band! Best wishes for your success!! Catherine

Congratulations on your decision!! If you haven't already, be sure to take before photos and your measurements -- it's very satisfying to see inches lost and to be able to really see your progress by comparing photos as you go! Best wishes, Catherine