Newbie from South Africa, banded 2 years

Sherbrooke · September 18, 2008

Hi there,

In October 2006 I went to see my GP for a minor problem and he told me about the gastric banding operation and how it worked. He scheduled an appointment with the surgeon and I was booked a month later for the surgery. I weighed 187kg.

I looked up everything I could on the internet and was fully informed by the time I entered the hospital for the operation. I had to undergo a series of tests to see if I was suitable to undergo the operation. Heart tests, blood tests and even a psychological assessment. Everything was fine and I was given the go-ahead. I would have to pay for the operation myself as my medicare considered this "vanity surgery". I had to take out a loan but I reckoned it would be worth it in the end.

On the 6th November I had my operation. Everything went fine, no complications. They didn't fill my band at that stage. That would happen 6 weeks later. My 5 small incisions healed quickly and painlessly. Apart from some minor post operative pain which lasted a few days, the procedure was a success.

I found no difference in my eating habits after the operation and looked forward to my first bandfill, scheduled for the week before Christmas.

My weight loss began almost immediately after my first bandfill. The port, just under my skin on the left hand side of my upper torso, just below my left breast was easily accessible and my surgeon just did the fill in his rooms. He didn't charge me once for visits or bandfills for a year as he considered me to be his "experiment".

I was put in touch with a support group called "the Bandits": People who had had the operation and who met once a month to commiserate with each other!! Some had lost up to 100kg. They are a wonderful group and I don't know what I would have done without their support.

After my first fill, I found the restriction had halved my intake. At that stage, there was no food that I couldn't eat, I could just eat less of it. My weight went down very slowly - about 3-4kg per month. This wasn't quick enough for me and so I went back for another fill in February. That was better. Suddenly things changed. There were certain foods that I just could not get down. meat was one of them. I couldn’t eat any meat, chicken or fish. OK, so I was destined to become a vegetarian. Not a problem. I didn't like meat that much anyway. (Gross part coming - skip this if you are sensitive) I also found that if I ate something that didn't agree with me I would produce a lot of "slime". A mucous like substance that would make me be sick. It was not like a proper vomit, but rather just a regurgitation. It didn't hurt, but wasn't nice to deal with. These episodes lasted anything from 5 -15 minutes. It helped me decide what was easy to eat and what wasn't. (Gross part over).

I had no problems with dairy products (cheese, cheese and more cheese), carbohydrates (biscuits were wonderful), bread was OK, and vegetables. Some fruits worked and some didn't. Ate a lot of pulses (Beans, lentils etc). By the end of February I had lost 22kg.

Then I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour and had to undergo brain surgery. After a few months recovery from the surgery I didn't go back for my fill. I regained about 10kg.

I must at this stage say that the band never gave me any pain or discomfort. The port was inconspicuous and didn't even feel it. The whole procedure was painless and the fact that it was reversible gave me confidence that if anything got stuck or did cause pain, I could go to the surgeon and he would just unfill me until it sorted it self out. I haven't had to resort to this yet, but the knowledge that the option is there made me feel better.

In March 2008 I thought I had better go back and get filled again and made a conscious decision to make this band work for me. A fill took me back to the level I was before my brain op and I began losing about 3-4kg a month again. Not quite satisfied with that I went for another fill in May and at last I got my "sweet spot". I went on a liquid diet for about 2 weeks before I began to eat soft solids and gradually moved onto harder solids. Once again no meat. I have had the slime episode a couple of times but know now how to deal with it. I also get wind that appears to be trapped in my stomach below my band. A few tummy pats usually dislodges it with a burp. The secret is not to eat and drink anything until you have dislodged the wind, or it traps the food in your pouch and the wind cannot escape. This can be painful. This time around I did get bad heartburn (which I hadn't had before). The other girls in my support group recommended a small pill that helps control the stomach acid and that has worked well.

You learn what you can eat and can't eat and it is not the same for everyone.

I have had my band in for nearly 2 years now and have never had any ill effects. I have a surgeon who is supportive and offers his assistance whenever he can, sometimes free of charge. I have a wonderful support group, some of whom have become good friends. I have lost over 50 kg. That "magic number" of 150 kg on the scale has finally been broken and I weigh less now than I did 10 years ago. I feel so much better, so much more active and my self esteem has risen tremendously.

I am still losing and all I can say is that anyone who is considering this method of weight loss and for whom nothing else has worked. GO FOR IT!!! It's worth it.

Bianca

(Sherbrooke)

sil · September 18, 2008

hello what a story, you been through an came out stronger than ever, god bless you, i haven,t been banded yet, haven,t had my evulation it,s next week, for you to be so brave. your story gave me such inspiration.good luck on your well deserve journey in life.sil.

HeatherO · September 18, 2008

It sounds like you are doing wonderful after 2 years. I love that your band is always there for you , even if you decide not to use it for a while when life throws something unexpected at you.

It looks like you are halfway to goal . . . I wish you the best of luck in attaining it. I am sure you can do it if you work your band :0)