September 17th, 1st day of the rest of my life!

[starosen 5]

Hi everyone. I am so happy I found this app as I am scheduled for lapband surgery on September 17th with Dr. Ren at NYU. This is the 3rd day of Protein Shakes and I have a wicked headache and of course, I am starving, lol.

While I was at NYU yesterday ( I requested to meet with Dr. Ren one more time before I go in), there was a woman who was at reception and overheard her saying how happy she was with her results. I approached her and asked her if she got the band and she said, "I had the band taken out and had the bypass..the band doesn't work and didn't work for my friend..don't do it." I walked out of the office with tears in my eyes. I just need some reassurance from those of you who have been successful with the lapband as this woman set me back a bit.

Thanks in advance to all!

[TheProfessor 378]

I started 8 months ago at 259 lbs. One lap-band and whole lotta good exercise and careful eating later, and I am finally below 200 lbs for the first time in 15 years.

​I love my band. I am so, so happy with it! I have had no troubles at all - just fantastic results.

​Right before my surgery last December, I started reading a lot of the scary posts on this forum. I cried a couple of times as well, thinking to myself, "What the heck have I signed up for?!" Do yourself a favour, go to Youtube and search "Lapband success" and spend a couple of hours in heaven. it helped me tremendously:-)

There are bandsters on this forum that have been successfully banded for over a decade and lost all their excess weight. Alex, who started this forum, just celebrated his 12th "surgi-verssary" - the man is our collective hero!

There are people on this forum who have had the lapband fail for them. BUT there are also people on this forum for whom other forms of WLS have failed as well (bypass, gastric balloon, gastric sleeve)... so. There are failures and revisions in all methods, I think.

If you have a good, credible, experienced surgeon, speak to her/him about your concerns, about the band's failure rate, about any medical issues you may have that may complicate your band experience.

I can only speak for myself - I am halfway through my weight loss after only 8 months, and I have never felt more alive, more grateful, more wonderful (and, hello, more skinny!)

[taysidebell 176]

Everyone journey is different, I had the lapband and did very well. then had problems with acid reflux and removal of all fills. then regained and now having a revision to bypass, on 16 September talk any concern through with your surgeon it's about getting the right surgery for you x

[starosen 5]

Thank you for your reply. I wish you all the best !

[starosen 5]

Thank you for walking me off the ledge????. I am so happy for you and your continued success. You have Enlightened me and put me back on track. I am getting excited again!

[briefs199 337]

You are in good hands at NYU. I had my band placed by Dr Ren's husband. They really believe in the band and are willing to do all the follow up that is required by successful band patients. I am 11 months out and lost 66lbs. I still have about at least 45 to go or more but I am thrilled overall.

I honestly think that if you do what you are supposed to do and not do what you aren't then any WLS can be successful.

I remember right before my surgery I met with Dr Fielding because I too was not sure if I should get the sleeve or band. I asked him what do I need to do in order to be successful with the band.

He said it's easy. 1. Eat slowly and in small bites and 2. Show up for follow ups. I said "I can do that".

Now I don't always follow the rules and I can see the scale not move but I do mindfully eat now slowly and carefully. I do follow up monthly to adjust.

Good luck. You don't need it ????

[starosen 5]

Thank you for your reply and your words of encouragement. Can you tell me what the recovery is like?

[TheProfessor 378]

Surgical recovery is fairly quick. I was knocked out the day after my lap band surgery. Everyone said to get up and walk as quickly as I could to dissipate the gas, but I did NOT feel up to it.

I was up and about the following day, stitches at the incision sites were very, very tender. Made it easier if I walked around with my hands applying pressure to my sore tummy.

Lots and lots and lots of Water... sip sip sip sip sip...

The gas was the worst for me. For three days after my surgery I had unbelievable gas pressure behind my sternum and in my left shoulder. (I had a double esophageal hernia repaired at the same time, which I've heard can exacerbate the pain). The gas for me was almost intolerable, and I have a high pain threshold.

Tylenol 3s really helped a lot during this time!

Everyone has a different recovery time depending on their pre-op health status and resilience. Rest, relax, trust in the process. And get hugs from people who love you!

Be kind to yourself, get lots of rest and hang in there! Before you know it you will be feeling much better and on the road to healing and losing your excess weight.

[briefs199 337]

I was the last surgery for the day so I asked if I could stay overnight. Glad I did. As long as you are discharged before 24 hours from your surgery your insurance will pay. I was able to get IV pain relief when I needed it and was up waking the halls a bunch of times during the night. I knew I wouldn't have much help after my surgery with my kids around and my husband so keep this in your back pocket.