Newly Banded....3/19/12

[JaimeLou113 2]

Hi! Hope everyone is doing well. I realized I never really took the time to introduce myself to the group.

My name is Jaime, and I am 33 years old. I am a pediatric ICU nurse in NYC. I have struggled with my weight for years, and finally came to the decision to be banded back in December. It was a big step for me, as I had always been fiercely opposed to surgical intervention. But, I came to accept that it didn't mean that I was a failure (weight loss being the only thing in life that I have ever truly struggled with, not to mention failed at multiple times), it just meant that I needed extra help.

My co-worker took me to lunch one day, and "delicately" steered the conversation toward losing weight. During the conversation, she shared with me that she had been banded 10 years ago, at the tail end of the clinical trials phase. She and I have similar personalities, and listening to her story of what brought her to get her band was like listening to a tape recording of the thoughts in my own head. I attended my seminar a couple of weeks later.

I had a few big things going on in my world for December and January. I made appointments with my primary care doctor, and all of my surgical consultations for the end of February. I started my pre-op diet on March 5, 2012, weighing in at 349.7 pounds that morning on my scale at home. I was banded last Monday, March 19th. It was a very quick process, and I am so thankful for that. I think I may have chickened out if I would have had to wait. My insurance didn't require additional months of monitored weight loss. I was really afraid I would have to wait until July or August to get this done, and I'm POSITIVE I would have bailed if that had been the case. Start to finish was 3 1/2 weeks.

My post-op course has been really uneventful. I haven't had any problems. The first 3 days were horrible (to me, but they probably weren't so bad), but it got better after that. I am so thankful that things went so well. I went for my first esophagram today, and things look good. Because I am doing so well, I was given permission to advance my diet 2 days early! Yay! I was prescribed thin liquids for 10 days, mushies for 10 days, and then to solids. But, I get to start mushies 2 days early, which I'm super happy about. I weighed in today at 328. That's 20 pounds in 3 weeks! So cool!

I'm really glad I found this site. Pre-op, I hadn't really found anything helpful or useful. I'm not sure how this just showed up out of nowhere, but I'm glad it did. My friend recommended www.obesityhelp.org, but I found that to be more for people who wanted sleeves or bypass. It seemed to be a lot of band bashing, which wasn't very helpful to me. Today, while I was at the surgeon, I saw a printed ad for Obesity Help, which I thought was funny, since my surgeon's practice does 80% bands. I will have to pass this resource along at my first support group meeting in April.

Anyway, that's me and that's how I got here! Looking forward to making this journey with everyone!

[kmt1973 92]

Welcome to this site! I too was banded on the 19th. This site has provided so much info. If I have any questions I just go to the different topics already listed or ask. The people here are so friendly and helpful! Hope to hear updates from you on your journey. Kelly

[morelgirl 177]

Congratulations on your banding! This site has a lot of supportive people who can answer just about any question you can think to ask. It sounds like you're doing great so far, and I'm sure that will continue with your great attitude! Best of luck!

[yellowrose88 43]

Congrats and welcome to the site. I love it and you are learning with everyone else and have access to those who have already been where you are. Keep up the great work and best of luck to the new you!!

[JaimeLou113 2]

Thanks, Ladies!

Kelly - How are you feeling?

[dropping_weight 2]

Hey I'm new to this to I got banded on 3/5/2012. I have only lost 9 pounds I haven't got a fill yet. I was wondering since you are new how much weight have you lost!

[twi 40]

Dropping-weight don't get to worked up on how fast you loose wt or that others maybe loosing faster. Everyone is different and lots of people don't really start dropping the real wt until after a few fills. If you listen to some of 3 + yrs people several say it took them several fills to really start loosing wt. just don't want u to get down on your self if and a big if you don't loose as fast as someone else. I've been at a plateau for awhile and knw it can be hard not get caught up on other wt lose.

[dropping_weight 2]

Dropping-weight don't get to worked up on how fast you loose wt or that others maybe loosing faster. Everyone is different and lots of people don't really start dropping the real wt until after a few fills. If you listen to some of 3 + yrs people several say it took them several fills to really start loosing wt. just don't want u to get down on your self if and a big if you don't loose as fast as someone else. I've been at a plateau for awhile and knw it can be hard not get caught up on other wt lose.

Thanx! I just thought I was doing something wrong!