Ravyn

DanMarly - Everyone's experience is individual. Your best bet is to consult with your doctor and get your fills. You're doctor will know better than any of us. Please do not get discouraged and feel as if you're doing anything wrong. You just might not have the right combination yet. I do hear that learning knew eating habits is a huge part of this, but that the band should help to limit the actual intake, making you full sooner. Please, before you get to down on yourself, call your doctor! Best of Luck!!

Im1019 - I think your weight loss is great - 7 pounds for 2 weeks? I heard that you're expected to lose at a healthy range of 1-2 pounds per week. So girl, you are ahead of the game!! Make sure to follow your nutrition plan though. - Best of luck for continued success!

GMC - I hope your easter dinner went well. You lived one of my biggest fears today, "what do I do at the holiday dinners?" Some people say that you wont feel that hungry or even miss the food all that much. Hopefully that was the case with you :smile2: And you know you've always got your Bandster Bunnies for support! Hope the rest of you are healing well - HappyTrucker, Mamasugar and the others.

Im not sure who's up next for their surgery, but good luck! And for those few that went under the knife on the 1st and 2nd, I hope you're second day of recovery went well. Best Regards!!

Happytrucker, I'm just impressed that you're able to log on and give us updates. That's great! It also means you're feeling relatively well. Thanks for sharing your experience and can't wait to meet you on the losing side ; ) Wishing you a quick recovery!! Mamasugar, best of luck tomorrow. I hope it goes as well for you as it is for Happytrucker! Can't wait to hear how you're doing! Good Luck!!

OMG! I can't believe April 1st is tomorrow. So many of my fellow Bunnies will be on their journey to weight loss. Montynic - Best of Luck. Going to miss your post for the next few days. But will look forward to hearing how your doing within the next few days!! Happy Tucker, hope you got all the goodies you need for post-op! Best of luck and can't wait to hear how you're doing too! Warmest Regards!

Like Mimi, I go through morning phases, where I feel as though I'm losing a very dear friend-food! This thread has been most helpful as it provides with a sense of hope. I am still sad, but I am very hopeful that my experience will be like Josiebies. Thank you so much for all your encouragement. I long for the day to be out of my very tight size 14s and into a very comfortable size 6 or 8. I also look forward to the day that food is just a source of energy and not a coping mechanism. Until then I vasilate between fear and excitement which I gather is very normal. Nice to know I at least normal (LOL). Thanks sincerely, Ravyn

Dear Froggy and LingLing - Your words couldn't have come at a better time. It reminded me of my pregnancy 10 yrs ago. The hormones made me crave fresh fruits and veggies. Anything watery with very little sugar was what my body wanted and I didn't even care about cheeseburgers, fries or chocolate. I didn't want it, therefore I didn't even miss it. When others were eating it, I was totally fine with that. I hope the band creates this type of desire in me again. I was the cutest little pregnant girl ever. After my son was born my appetite exploded. It was so weird. And if I tried to deny myself something the cravings seemed to intensify. This makes me think theirs somethng hormonal going on in my body. I am taking all your advice to heart and using it to help me stand strong and fearless (maybe Im just a little scared). Once again, thanks Fellow Bandster Bunnies! Being here really does help.

Mimi thank you so much for bringing this to the forefront. I was feeling it hard-core today after I scheduled my EKG and bloodwork. I started to think about my relationship with food and how it fills a void when I'm lonely or sad. I became melancholy wondering what I would do if I can't eat to numb those uncomfortable feelings? Would the band change how I relate to food? How I use it as a copying mechanism? I got so scared today that I did consider postponing the surgery. I want to be successful with this, but I'm afraid of myself and my inner strength to embrace this new way of being. Today is a rough day for me and I'm just scared.

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Hey Bandster Bunnies. I just made my pre-op appointment for the EKG, X-Rays and Blood work. This is going to come up so fast. I'm starting to have doubts about the whole thing. I am afraid that I'll be nauseous, but unable to throw-up because the band will be too tight. I'm also afraid that I'll just fail at this, like I've failed with the trainer, nutritionist and all my other attempts to keep myself at a healthy weight. Guess I'm just in a very fearful place today because Im one step closer. I hope I'm not alone in this. Scared! Ravyn

what about Filet Mignon, mash potatos and brocolli? Are those food items easy to swallow, if taken in small bites, and of course chewed really well. I am still pre-op, but my family eats this at least once a week and I'm wondering how I'm going to turn it down. Guess my band will stop me from wanting it.

Adagray - Wow! Thank you so much. You are a wealth of information combined with the other post, I should be able to discuss this further with my doctor and come to a pretty well-educated decision. 24 days to go before I'm banded for life.

I went to my pre-op appointment today and my Dr. asked if I had decided on which product to use for my surgery. Well, I really couldn't decide. He said he is well versed in both and that it was up to me. So I beseech my fellow bandsters, "what do you think about either or? I have 3 weeks to decide. There doesn't seem to be much of a difference other than how long they've been on the market. However if you know something important that may make my decision easier please share. Much appreciation, Ravyn

My Doctor gave a demonstration on both products and didn't really have a preference for either. He felt that both were good, but then he said the LapBand seemed to help men lose more weight. Thanks so much for all your posts. I think I'm leaning towards the LapBand based on its years on the market. I'm worried about the port being visible under the skin, as the Realized port does look flatter. But honestly, no one has complained that you can see the port --yet. Ravyn

Thanks for sharing! I find this all very interesting and helpful. I'm an emotional eater and my weight is 195 lbs. My BMI is about 33, so I'm assuming that my weight loss will be very gradual, provided I can change my habits to make it happen. Luckily I enjoy fruits and veggies. Unfortunately they just don't seem to sustain me and I reach for other things that may not be so good for me. I'm hoping that the slow absorption of food will help me stay full longer with the fruit and salads, and keep me way from the candy bars, chips and ice cream. I also love to work out, but since I've put on so much weight my stamina has decreased greatly, which affects my motivation. I'm hoping the LapBand will help to jump-start me back to the way I was 5 years ago. I know it's a tool and I'm hopeful that I'll be able to make good choices. However, for those moments that we make bad choices, does it still help to keep the caloric intake down? I wont be able to cut out ice cream permanently, but I do make a lot of good choices in between my ice cream habit. Thanks for all the helpful information. I think it's important to hear the stories of those who weren't successful, as that information can help other's to make better informed choices. Thanks again and best of luck to all!! Ravyn

Monty - I keep the economy size Tums next to my bed so I can sleep. It's ridiculous. Im glad it can be fixed. Now I can save my Tums money to buy a new pair of jeans ; )

Ginger, I know it took a lot for you to finally make the decision to have the surgery. Most people don't take surgery lightly. Unfortunately you're work colleague doesn't know you or the challenges that you've experienced as a result of your weight. It's always easy for those who are on the otherside to lightly tell of how they "just don't eat fries." Well most of those people don't wake up at midnight with cravings. If it were that easy, believe me, we'd all be at healthy weights. I'm with Nayed and Catherine. Keep somethings private. Not everyone is empathetic enough to realize that we all have different challenges. Furthermore, it is not your job to help her understand, unless you want to take that on. I have chosen to tell a very select few about my decision to have the surgery. Many of my friends are healthy and active and just don't understand what I struggle with on a regular basis. Rather than burden them with my decision, which they just wont get, I've decided to relieve us all from this uncomfortable discussion. I told a cousin, who I'll need to take me to the doctor and I've told another cousin who had the surgery herself and is now about 145 pounds. She swears it was the hardest and the best decision she's ever made, after being close to 300 pounds for over 10 years. Chose your support system carefully and wisely. This is a safe place for you to share your fears and your excitement. Focus on YOU and not on people that you can't change. Warmest Regards, Ravyn

Hey Bandster Bunnies! So I met with Dr. Nazarian today. He was very pleasant and no yawning, like a few people experienced in the past. I'm glad he was attentive and made good eye contact. He was very patient with my questions and I thought it was a decent experience. I have a few tests to do before my surgery date, which means I'll be quite busy the next two weeks, with Dr. appointments and lab work. I asked about the pre-op liquid diet and he said that my weight was within a range that did not require the diet. For those with a higher BMI he requires a post-op diet. I guess I'm fortunate, because I still get to eat food up until the night of my surgery. I also found out that I've dropped 3 pounds since my last visit. That's a good thing too. I'm very excited. I hope I clear the EKG, and blood work. Wish me luck all! Hey has anyone else been told that they'll have to have a hernia repair due to acid reflux? My doctor believes I have a hernia and said he will fix it at no extra cost. I hope this doesn't prolong my recovery! Warmest Regards to all! Ravyn

Hi April Bunnies! My date is for April 18th. Don't have a time yet. I started the whole process with a phone call in February. 3/5/2010 Seminar 3/27/2010 1st Pre-op appt Im so excited that I can hardly keep my mouth shut about it at work. But I'm determined not to discuss this with anyone except for my fellow, supportive April Bandster Bunny Buddies (LOL). I'm eager for the change in life style, but I worried about recovery and adjusting to the new way of eating. I hope I'm not spitting up like babies all the time. I'll have to carry a burp clothe around and beg people to put me over their knee and pat me on the back - haha. Okay that was silly, but I couldn't resist! :Banane20:

Mimi - So how was the first few weeks of learning how to eat again? For some reason this has me a bit anxious. I liken this to being an infant and only able to take in small amounts of liquids, and just like babies, we'll be spitting up all the time. However, I'm willing to go through this process to gain control - ya know!? Best of wishes with your first fill. I hear it isn't bad at all. The needle is thin and some doctors even use a local anesthetic. Rayvn

Wow, so there really is such a thing as the "Pre-Op liquid Diet?" God I hope not. I don't know if I can handle it. How many days prior to surgery are you supposed to be on this diet? My doctor hasn't said anything about it yet, but I will probably hear about it this weekend, when I meet with him for my pre-op appt. I have to meet with a nutritionist too. I'm going to ask about the hair loss that some posted about on here earlier. That's another frightening thought! Well, I'll keep you all posted on what the doc says. I have an 8am appt this wkend.

Well, Darkangel got her band today. Wishing you a speedy recovery!! Happy Mom, you get yours tomorrow. Wish you all the best too. Don't forget to post to all of us eager beavers waiting to hear how you're doing. Talk Soon! Ravyn

I feel as though this is a decision that I did not make lightly. It takes away time from my family and my life and I don't need doubt at this time. I have decided to tell 2 family members about my decision as I will need their support in getting to and from the surgical center. As I lose weight I will simply tell people that I have changed the way I eat, which is true. I have decided that people are judgmental and often negative when you're attempting to do something positive. I have even had people make adverse comments about my decision to get another degree. Those people aren't living in my shoes or dealing with the hurt and pain that I've experienced as a result of the excessive weight gain in the course of 3 years. I feel that this is a decision that will better my life not only for me, but for my son. I will share my experience in this venue as it is anonymous and highly supportive. Unfortunately sometimes those closest to us, understand us the least in certain situations. It seems that weight is one of those situations. I wish you all the best on your journey to a healthier you and may you receive all the support you require as this is a tough and often lonely journey. Glad I have you all and my two cousins because they are AWESOME!!