HAL380

Hello Kitty Kat; I am so sorry about your dad's reaction. I was banded 7/1, and still have no restriction, and my weight loss is only from my new eating pattern. I have only told my wife, and would not have told her if I could have driven myself home from the hospital. I have been reading the forums for over a year. From all my readings, I see no benefit from telling others of our decision. I realize we want suport and affirmation. However the uninformed judgements made by our "Loved Ones" and Well intentioned (????) co-workers are not worth it. Since you have done a proper job of research, and have submitted yourself to a psych and Nut. professional assesment you have been found sane and able to make informed decisions. Have confidence in yourself and go forward with head held high. Few things are more attractive in a person than self assurance. Warm regards Hal

Whom to tell???? My advise is tell no one. I have read too many posts here, where someone told a "TRUSTED FRIEND" only to have that "Friend" accuse them of taking the easy way out etc etc. Everyone who subsequently knows will feel obliged to give you "Good Advise" or stories of someone who knows someone who had a bad outcome. If/since you have done your research, you know what is best for you. Try to avoid seeking support from uninformed well wishers. Alittle story: I only told my wife, (cus i needed her to pick me up after surgery). Then from guilt, I called my elderly mother, and told her because we have an agreement not to keep heath secrets from each other, (mostly so I can keep track of her health). Well, donchya know, when I did not call her immediately after surgery, I was in recovery, she became terribly worried, and called my sister to say that "Hal is in the hospital and I don't know how he is". Well you can guess the rest. There is more unhappiness from telling people than there is from not telling. Just my not so humble opinion. Warm Regards Hal I

Good luck Newbie; I was banded 7/1, weight loss is progresseing ok, I have had one fill and still no or very little restriction. Any weight loss I have is 99% due to my eating habits, vs band activity. Now to the point of your post --- There are more females here than males. There are many many sucessful females. Don't look too much at your family members. The male may have been highly motivated and the female, perhaps less so. Even if men lose more easily than women, so what? It just means you have to work harder, maybe not fair, but life is not fair. Not being harsh, but lets look the truth in the face and then we can deal with it. As I said -- Good luck to you Regards Hal

Hello Lovely; Sometimes men tend to be too much of the problem solvers, while women are better at "Understanding" things. That having been said, here is what I would do if I were you. Take a piece of paper and make a list of all the things you are worried about. Try to be very specific. Don't say, "I am worried I might fail". - Too general. Also make another list of all the good that you want from the band. Now that you have a list of the things you are worried about, you can ask specific question of others who have gone before you, and ask them about their experiences regarding the things you were worried about. I have been reading this forum every day since january. I have not read of anyone who wishes they did not have the band. Yes I have read of people who have had pain, getting stuck, have had friends and family criticize them for the "Easy way out" etc. I was banded 7/1/10. My trip has been very easy. No pain, I am losing weight, I don't have hungar, and my blood sugar is much lower than before. Even now with only less than a month into the trip, I can notice that I can move better, I see in the mirror that my face shows some weight lose. Naturally you are worried or concerned, it is only natural. I am sure you will be just fine. Maybe you should post a request for others who were worried or scared to tell you how they feel now that they have been banded. I have read of several who were really stressed, but now are so happy they went ahead. I know this has rambeled a bit, but just think of the guys giving you a smile, and how you will look and feel in all your new clothes. Regards Hal

Hello Feel :smile: The 850 is approximate, but very close to real. I have had no hungar at all. I have been watching my Protein very closely and am always above 55g's. Could I eat more? -- Yes, but I generally don't. Sometimes when I am in the kitchen, I will open the cottage cheeze and take a tea spoon snack - not for hungar, but for taste. I was banded 7/1 and have absolutely no restriction. I have not tested my limits, but can drink liquids in gulps, and my scramble eggs go down like before the band. Hope this helps. Hal

Hello Sheesh825 Thanks for the reply - I believe I am getting enough water/vitamin water/coffee(decaf)clear Soup etc. The Miralax seems to have solved the problem. Regards Hal

Good Morning; I was banded 7/1 and have been following my Dr's eating plan. This has resulted in constipation with no movement for 3 days at least. I tried prune juice, xlax tabs and chocholate. No help. I finally tried Miralax. This is a powder when mixed has no taste. I mix mine with Chystal Lite and I don't even know its there. I don't want to do TMI, but it works just fine. When I was only a few days old with the band I didn't want to strain, but I also didn't want to get bound up. This may be "Old News", but I wanted to pass this along. Regards Hal

Good Morning Everyone; I have been banded since 7/1 and have learned a lot from the experience so far. One of the things I have picked up was the need to journal my food and weight. There is a free site that allows you to do just that. Its called Fitday. Try this link and check it out. Protein. It also graphs your weight loss. It makes the trip much easier to follow. So if you are pre-band or post, this is a good site. Hope this helps Hal

Hello 2beskinny; I have not worked out at all before the surgery. Not bragging, but I am a real estate appraiser, and that is a very sedentary work. I dont believe it is anything I did in preparation, other than a very positive attitude. The positive extends to admitting the truth that I really regretted that I had to resort to this operation to gain control of my life. I told my wife that I wanted to be the poster child of LabBand surgery. I intend/ed to follow the Dr's orders to the "T". I believe in research. One of my "sayings" is "If you don't have the answer yet, you need to do more research" I keep reading about people who are anxious on these forums. I have also said elsewhere that knowledge dispells fear. We only fear the unknown. There is so much information out there about this operation, there is nothing that should remain unknown. I am sorry "2", you asked a simple quick question and you get a sermon back.:thumbup: Regards and best of luck Hal

Good Afternoon; I have had an amazing week. Surgery Thursday AM, overnight at the hospital, and home Friday afternoon. No Pain, just gas discomfort. Took naps friday, saturday & Sunday. Was able to sleep on my side friday night - no problem. I now have no gas probs, and I have sneezed several times with no pain. I can bend over and tie my shoes etc. I am not bragging, but it is so opposite of what I was expecting. I hope this is an encouragement to anyone who is contemplating this surgery. Stay positive and follow the rules. Regards Hal

Hello Layla's Grandmother; My name is Hal and I was banded last thursday, 7/1. This has been a piece of cake. I know you cannot talk someone out of a fear. But knowledge eliminates fear. I don't know how long you have been reading the forum, but I read it since january. I read almost post. I read the surgery day stories. By the time I went in I was prepared. As a matter of fact I went in alone. My wife dropped me off on her way to work and I just went in. Here is an assignment for you if you care to accept it. Make a list of each of your worries, concerns, fears. Write them down in the order of importance. Then read the forum and research as much as you can about each issue you have. Yes you can post for input. Then pretend your fear becomes true - for example you get stuck. What is the outcome? You caugh, it hurts, and it comes back up. You won't do that again. There is nothing about the band that is dangerous - even the surgery. It is minimally invasive and is considered routine. Now make a list of all the advantages you will gain. No. 1 is that you will live long enough to see Layla's school plays, graduation, wedding and her own children. You would run into a buring building to save Layla wouldn't you? So now you have to do something else hard for her. If you do it for her and you it will give reason and strength to you. Warm Regards Hal

Good Afternoon All; Banded 7/1 in Yale New Haven Hospital. No real pain, gas under control, sleeping alot, can sleep on my side. Been losing some weight but that is cus I am not getting many calories, its not the band yet. First NSV - my swelled ankles are back to normal already, wow, been years. 2nd NSV blood sugar is now below 100. Regards Hal

For those who weigh multiple times per day, just say you are getting your step exercizes. Regards Hal