Devana

Welcome to LBT and all the best with your surgery. Coming up soon!

Clara, welcome and congratulations on your decision to do this. I guess my advice would be to remember what you hear over and over on this site, that the band is a tool. It is definitely possible to make it not work if you don't follow the "bandster rules". I've been losing much slower than I originally thought I would because I'm a bit free and easy with those rules. The other bit of advice is to hang out here on LBT. Hook up with the August bandsters and the over 50's threads and anyone else you enjoy. This is such a great place for support and information. And the last thing is to look forward to your life changes as you lose weight. Life becomes so much easier when you're lighter. I'll bet this will be the best money you ever spent. Much luck with your surgery.

Welcome to LBT. One of the things that makes this site such a valuable resource is that you hear all the experiences, good and bad. The thing to remember is that actual true complications do happen but are rare. Also, there are varying experiences out there, and success often depends on following the "bandster rules". I'm losing slowly but I have only myself to blame. The band is indeed a tool and you'll hear that a lot on this site. Read it all, then if you do decide to get banded, it will have been an informed choice. This is a great place for both information and support. I don't regret for a minute getting banded. All the best on your journey.

Congratulations!! You say your life has been boring? Sounds like you've got a lot of guts, girl, to do what you've done with your business, so you've certainly got what it takes to make the band work. Come on over and join us on the over 50's thread.

Hi Nanajo and welcome to LBT. I think most of us have had that "moment" when we realized we had to do something serious about our weight. If you search this site there's even a couple of threads about it, people telling of their deciding moment. For me it was a television show as well, this one stating that only about 4 to 5% of people ever maintain their weight loss. I've yo-yo'd a few times and just faced up to the reality that I would never be in that small percentage. Keep hanging out here. Read everything, all about the good stuff as well as the complications. There's enough information here to help you make an informed decision about this. Also there's lots of support. All the best with your journey.

Wow, what a great birthday present for yourself. Good luck with your surgery and keep us posted. Also you may want to check out some of the August bandster threads here, I believe there may be two or three.

Welcome to you both! Good luck with your decisions.

Welcome col. I think if you hang out in the General Lap Band discussion area there might be some information about other types of gastric surgery. You also might want to take a look in some of the regional threads to find posters from your area. All the best with your decision and journey.

There's been a lot of buzz going on about the summer of '67. Where were you and what do you remember? I was 14 and lived in a small relatively isolated coastal town. I went on a youth trip to Montreal and was blown away. There was a big world out there! I made new friends, the music was great and I did drugs for the first time. I also had a frustration that I was so young, too young to hit the road hitchhiking, and too far away from where I perceived the action to be. It was an exciting time. A counsellor once told me that only a very small percentage of women from my strongly working class background achieved the professional level that I had. I really have to attribute it to that summer. My life changed in subtle ways that eventually led me in a much different direction than that of the rest of my family and friends. My son is 14, almost exactly 40 years younger than me. As much as I wish an exciting summer for him this year, I'm glad he's not getting into the kind of trouble that I did back then.

Yeah, yeah, I know, no drinking with meals!

I still drink the same as I did pre band. Nothing makes a couple of tablespoonsful of food go down like a nice glass of wine.

Also, I claim my fill fees, gas, ferry fee and anything I eat or drink on the way there and back.

Gurlygirl, I was banded in Mexico and have been to see Dr. Woodhead several times. (I've been trying to get to my "sweet spot" and I think I finally have it) He has always been pleasant and helpful and I quite like him. I had also investigated northwestfills but chose Dr Woodhead because I'm on the island and he's in Ladner which means I can take a 15 minute bus ride to his office from the ferry and don't have the expense of taking my car over. I chafed a bit at the $400 consultation charge, but I had my band done so cheaply in Mexico that I thought I'd just accept it gracefully. Good luck on your journey.

I know this is a fact!! But only when they're in season.

You know, I think he's right on about this. One of the final deciding factors for me getting the band was watching a documentary about three people who lost large amounts of weight and managed to keep it off. The show stated that only 4 to 5% of people manage to keep the weight off and I just knew that I wasn't one of that small percentage. Anyway, one of the things that stood out about these three people is that they did just what you described, found little ways to move more. They park a little farther away, sweep a little more often etc. I currently suffer from an economy of movement. However, I did walk for an hour this morning, for the first time in the year I've been banded. I've walked shorter distances, but I know the magic time for weight loss is 45 to 60 minutes of brisk walking and I just haven't done it till now. So here's to my hour walk tomorrow. For sure. Absolutely. No excuses.

I just noticed another August banding group here on introductions. They look like a fun bunch of people.

Way to go gbernell, it won't be long now! You might want to hook up with the August bandster threads. There's one in the monthly support area and there's one here in the Introductions site called Crazy Ates. It's fun to compare experiences with people going through the same thing at the same time. Good luck with your surgery and keep us posted.

Hi there futurbander and welcome to LBT. Well, it sounds like you're at the point that we all got to before our surgery, facing up to the fact SOMETHING has to be done. The best thing, I think, is to keep reading on this site. It's a great place for information and support. And keep asking questions. For myself, I'm so glad I went ahead and did it. My weight is coming off slowly, more slowly than I would like, but for the first time in my life I'm not yo-yoing. Good luck with your journey and keep us posted!

Hi Zuchinno and welcome. Not long till you're banded! There are many people here on LBT who have been banded by Dr Rumbaut and as far as I've heard he's supposed to be one of the best. Just look around on different threads and you'll find them. Good luck with your surgery and let us know how you're doing.

Green, I also have one of those mounted Tunisian scorpions. Big sucker. I didn't actually bring it home myself as I was a young hitchhiker when I was over there, and travelling light (well maybe not so light, I managed to bring home a small doumbek). My Libyan cousin-in-law brought it for me the last time he was over. It's a great source of interest for the kids that come over. He also brought me a case of those Tunisian dates on the twigs that I like so much. My hairdresser friend is also the focus for much social activity. However, she was finding it interfering with her life a bit in that she wasn't getting any alone time or time with her kids without others around. So this past year she has asked everyone to be sure to call first. Most people do that now, but there's still a few that persistently drop in. Last time I was there she straightened my hair with a curling iron-like device just for fun. My hair has a natural wave to it so it was quite an interesting look. It actually made me look a lot younger. It lasted until I went out into the rain the next day.

deelooka, thanks for posting. What an inspiration you are!

Hi Kero, look just below you here at Yummie T's post about the same thing. Congratulations on your banding, by the way!

Hi mom and welcome to LBT. It sounds to me like you maybe need to have it looked at under fluoroscopy to see if you indeed have a pouch distension, and maybe need a fill. I have heard of other bandsters shrinking the distension with a liquid diet for a short while. Are you experiencing any kind of band restriction or can you eat anything? As far as liquid diets go, there's lots of good Protein drinks and Soups you could try.

This just shows that it behoves us to educate ourselves before banding. I read EVERYTHING on LBT for months before making my decision and I was aware of the variety of experiences people have had post band. Getting banded is an individual learning experience. Everyone has to find their new way of eating, their sweet spot etc. I was encouraged by the fact that the majority of posters did settle down to happy band life.

Yeah, you gotta go see the dr. You'll be like you're walking on eggs, waiting for another attack.