New to all of this!

[kaylz12 1]

Hey! So iv only just started my journey and spoken to my dr now I'm waiting to see specialist and get the ball rolling!

I'm very nervous about a few things ;

1. The actual procedure and the 1 in 2,000 people can die?

2. How do you cope after with the emotional eating/boredom eating? Learning to say no?

3. I eat quite healthily anyway but I like pasta/rice am I still going to be able to eat carbs?

4. How long was the change in portion sizes and feeling full so on?

I'm sure there are loads more questions but these where few if any of you could help at all?

Thankyou

[2muchfun 8,927]

Hey! So iv only just started my journey and spoken to my dr now I'm waiting to see specialist and get the ball rolling!

I'm very nervous about a few things ;

1. The actual procedure and the 1 in 2,000 people can die? Don't think it's this high but as a patient population, we're right up there in the stats as the group most likely to kick the bucket for any reason. If you look at our overall stats with diabetes, heart conditions, stroke exposure, any one of us could be one of the stats prior to or during surgery.

2. How do you cope after with the emotional eating/boredom eating? Learning to say no? If you're being banded, this can be a problem. But the band dims those desires so we can control them better. If you feel like you can never control yourself, the sleeve or bypass would be a better choice.imo

3. I eat quite healthily anyway but I like pasta/rice am I still going to be able to eat carbs? Don't mean to be snide here, but if you aren't losing or maintaining your weight now by eating a lot of carbs, why would you want to continue with a destructive behavior? Carbs can be crack to many obese people? But, yes, you can have these but if you follow the rules, in very small quantities?

4. How long was the change in portion sizes and feeling full so on? We don't look for the full feeling. If you're full you've eaten too much. I'm not sure I understand the rest of this question??

I'm sure there are loads more questions but these where few if any of you could help at all?

Thankyou

[rayanne 283]

you will do great...we are all nervous don't let it get the better of you! I still fight with boredom eating...its a learned thing I am still learning. I eat a bite of rice and Pasta just to get the though out of my mind. the portion size is so true I really can not eat much at all. Just breathe and take one step at a time Good Luck

[Jim1967 3,569]

I would like to recommend this link to Dr Simpson's explanation of how the band works . I think it will help you immensely! Even two years post op I still revisit the page often.

http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

[enjoythetime 1,457]

Kaylz12 are you getting the lapband procedure? Sorry I didn't see anything specific in your profile.

Hey! So iv only just started my journey and spoken to my dr now I'm waiting to see specialist and get the ball rolling!

I'm very nervous about a few things ;

1. The actual procedure and the 1 in 2,000 people can die? There is a risk with any medical procedure we do. This is a very small percentage but yes just like with anything the risk is there.

2. How do you cope after with the emotional eating/boredom eating? Learning to say no? Drink a glass of Water, tea or cystal light then you need get up and start moving to get your mind off of it whether that means going for a walk, cleaning the house, running in circles, whatever it takes to get the head hunger to go away. I find that head hunger typically lasts about 5 min. so if you can keep yourself busy for just 5 min. the sensation should at least ease up. You will get through it and once you do you will feel so much power and control that the next time it comes around it will be a little easier to over come.

3. I eat quite healthily anyway but I like pasta/rice am I still going to be able to eat carbs? The band will not stop you from eating anything. With that said just because you can eat it doesn't mean we should. Everything is ok in moderation but if this type of food is a trigger for you to binge eat then I would stay away from it.

4. How long was the change in portion sizes and feeling full so on? The portion sizes change when you change your mindset on this is a new healthy way of life. I suggest talking with your doctor regarding his recommended portion sizes and calories for you since everyone is different. Until your band is properly adjusted it may take some time for you to feel satisfied (not full, you want to stop before you feel full) but either way you should ONLY eat the amount your doctor tells you to even if you still feel hungry you have to train your body and your mind and take responsibilty for what we put into our bodies.

I'm sure there are loads more questions but these where few if any of you could help at all? You will have a lot more questions as you go and that's why were're here! This forum is a great source of support.

When is your surgery? Have you started the pre-op diet yet?

Edited April 23, 2014 by enjoythetime

[kaylz12 1]

I'm in the very early stages here in England and have been told it can be up to 18 months on the NHS.

The main reason ( Aswell as loosing weight ) is I suffer from severe Crohn's disease and they feel this will benefit me in controlling food and triggers to how poorly I can be.

I have a few unhealthy things that need to be changed! Saying no to sweets & crisps! But my actual meals are healthy it's the snacking Inbetween and missing breakfast!

But I have decided to go with the band instead of bypass, to help control everything and stop me from doing yoyo diets!

Thankyou for all your comments

[lisacaron 5,075]

@@kaylz12 Lots of good questions and you got lots of great feedback. Please share the details of what type of WLS you are looking into as information can and does vary depending on the type of surgery your contemplating.

There are a great many people here from all sides of the WLS journey and you are sure to get lots of feedback and great support as well.

[lisacaron 5,075]

I'm in the very early stages here in England and have been told it can be up to 18 months on the NHS.

The main reason ( Aswell as loosing weight ) is I suffer from severe Crohn's disease and they feel this will benefit me in controlling food and triggers to how poorly I can be.

I have a few unhealthy things that need to be changed! Saying no to sweets & crisps! But my actual meals are healthy it's the snacking Inbetween and missing breakfast!

But I have decided to go with the band instead of bypass, to help control everything and stop me from doing yoyo diets!

Thankyou for all your comments

As a fellow Crohn's sufferer I can tell you that the band really has helped me by slowing down my digestion through the band and since being banded I have not had a flare.

There are a few things I will say, and that is the band is NOT going to stop you from eating sweets or crisps. It will help you to not "crave" them as much and perhaps help you to eat less of them but you really need to work on that before being banded.

I gave up soda and certain foods prior to my surgery and I have not gone back since. Once you are on the path you will meet with a nutritionist and they can be a big help to figure out what is best for you to eat for optimal nutrition and to avoid flare ups.

Also meeting with the psychologist will help with any issues you might have when it comes to emotional eating but as they say..the band does not go around your head, so your going to have to work on changing your mind set to make the band work for you.

It's not an easy path, but no WLS surgery is, they all require commitment dedication and work to achieve your ultimate goals. Stopping by this site often with questions and comments is a big help as you get support from those who are going through similar experiences.

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

... the band does not go around your head....

@@lisacaron, I love this!

[kaylz12 1]

Thankyou for your info about crohns with the band!

I'm fully aware il have to change few things such as cutting out any sweets & crisps! Hopefully if I start now cutting the odd bit out and doing it slowly it will become a easier transition

[2muchfun 8,927]

Thankyou for your info about crohns with the band!

I'm fully aware il have to change few things such as cutting out any sweets & crisps! Hopefully if I start now cutting the odd bit out and doing it slowly it will become a easier transition

Yeah, my daughter found out recently she has Crohns and she too is in mourning over all the foods that she can no longer eat which is pretty much everything right now. I get why you might miss some of your comfort foods but since you'll only be able to eat them in small quantities, flare-ups can be managed with some smart planning. Good luck!

[lisacaron 5,075]

Thankyou for your info about crohns with the band!

I'm fully aware il have to change few things such as cutting out any sweets & crisps! Hopefully if I start now cutting the odd bit out and doing it slowly it will become a easier transition

Definitely starting out one thing at a time makes it smoother. The hubby and I did that to "train" ourselves for the pre-op diet we though that would be the worst thing ever. It wasn't we were ready when the time came for us to do it because we prepared and started slowly and early.

What I find helps me because I still want those sweets and salty...is that I try to substitute for them when I can. Sometimes that just doesn't' work but most times it does. I'll have a Protein bar when I'm craving some chocolate or chewy something, when the salty craving comes along I try to grab some salted pistachio nuts or something along that line so I steer clear of the potato chips

[kaylz12 1]

I forgot to put another huge worry is excess skin? How many of you suffered from this? Was/is is bad?

I'm worried il loose all the weight and end up with excess skin that will never go and il hate myself even more?!

I'm 240/50 pounds yoyoing between, I'm 6ft1 so I carry it fairly well and I'm worried my mid section will be covered in excess skin after? Iv recently started doing half hour intense workouts every other day with a brisk walk on the other days,I'm full committed to starting to work out but I'm doing it slowly and manageably so that I stick at it, does exercise help with the skin afterwards?

Sorry for all the questions x

[enjoythetime 1,457]

I forgot to put another huge worry is excess skin? How many of you suffered from this? Was/is is bad?

I'm worried il loose all the weight and end up with excess skin that will never go and il hate myself even more?!

I'm 240/50 pounds yoyoing between, I'm 6ft1 so I carry it fairly well and I'm worried my mid section will be covered in excess skin after? Iv recently started doing half hour intense workouts every other day with a brisk walk on the other days,I'm full committed to starting to work out but I'm doing it slowly and manageably so that I stick at it, does exercise help with the skin afterwards?

Sorry for all the questions x

Everyone is different but overall I think we all have this to some degree or another. The amount depends on the elasticity of your skin, how much you work out, what kind of exercise, your age, sex, etc., etc.,

But no matter how much skin you do or dont end up hanging around its crazy to think you're going to hate yourself or that you're going to be disappointed I mean you just lost a TON of weight which more than likely means you just lost a TON of serious health issues, your energy will be through the roof. So if you have excess skin and you're unhappy with it, get a Tummy Tuck, buy some Spanx or a gurdle to hold it together;), tuck it in whatever works;)

[pink dahlia 2,513]

Everyone is different, but I found that the less I ate carbs and crisps ( potato chips in the US) , the less I craved them. Now I might have a bite or 2 of bread once a week, before being banded it was several times a week or more. Still working on eating less sweets, its a work in progress. Yes you have to make changes with WLS, but the changes ive made are only negative 5% of my day. ( small bites, chew well, Protein first, etc)

The rest is 95% positive !!!!!! No more digestive problems, no more sleep apnea, cute clothes fit well, lots more energy, look and feel 100% better, etc etc..........good luck to you !