Introduction after lurking awhile
Hi all! I want to introduce myself to the Colorado members. I've been lurking for awhile and this is my first post on the Colordo furum. I am a 54 year old male who just got banded today after a year of research and mental preparation for Roux-en-Y. Saturday night I had a change of heart (and mind?) after a long talk with the family and switched to the Lap-Band.
I checked into the hospital at 5:30am, was in surgery at 7:30am, in recovery sometime afterwards, discharged at 12:00 noon and was home by 1:00PM. I had brought my overnight bag expecting to stay, but they said I did so well there was no need. I had lost 17 lbs. in my two week pre-op diet and the surgeon was very pleased with that and said everything looked good in there (to my wife). He was already doing the next surgery when I woke up so I didn't get to speak to him myself. My surgeon is Dr. Matthew Metz from Colorado Bariatrac Surgical Institite and I don't think you could ask fo better.
I am very positive about the decision to switch to the Lap-Band right about now! They told me that they have had people switch in the pre-op room just before surgery, so I didn't feel too bad about giving them ony two days notice. I know it will take longer to lose my weight and probably a lot more self discipline with the band, but I believe I am ready. Ready or not, I'm now banded.
So I'm a little sore with some gas pain that goes from a little to a lot, but not too bad with my new friend Vicodin. I've only taken 1 so far and don't plan to get too attached. They also sent me home with Phenergan for nausea, but haven't need that yet. The hardest thing so far is the pain when getting out of bed. Still working on that routine. It does not feel like I am restricted at all, which I thought even an empty band would have some restriction. But I've only been sipping sugar free Tang, Crystal Light and a Crystal Light popsical so far, so we shall see. My diet says I can have full liquids for the next two weeks, but I haven't started that just yet.
Regards to all!
Matt
I checked into the hospital at 5:30am, was in surgery at 7:30am, in recovery sometime afterwards, discharged at 12:00 noon and was home by 1:00PM. I had brought my overnight bag expecting to stay, but they said I did so well there was no need. I had lost 17 lbs. in my two week pre-op diet and the surgeon was very pleased with that and said everything looked good in there (to my wife). He was already doing the next surgery when I woke up so I didn't get to speak to him myself. My surgeon is Dr. Matthew Metz from Colorado Bariatrac Surgical Institite and I don't think you could ask fo better.
I am very positive about the decision to switch to the Lap-Band right about now! They told me that they have had people switch in the pre-op room just before surgery, so I didn't feel too bad about giving them ony two days notice. I know it will take longer to lose my weight and probably a lot more self discipline with the band, but I believe I am ready. Ready or not, I'm now banded.
So I'm a little sore with some gas pain that goes from a little to a lot, but not too bad with my new friend Vicodin. I've only taken 1 so far and don't plan to get too attached. They also sent me home with Phenergan for nausea, but haven't need that yet. The hardest thing so far is the pain when getting out of bed. Still working on that routine. It does not feel like I am restricted at all, which I thought even an empty band would have some restriction. But I've only been sipping sugar free Tang, Crystal Light and a Crystal Light popsical so far, so we shall see. My diet says I can have full liquids for the next two weeks, but I haven't started that just yet.
Regards to all!
Matt
For me my thoughts on the bypass was that it creates a chance to stretch out your stomach over time. Especially true if you never learn how to eat properly with your new tummy through the process. However my thoughts on the band were that this would be a slow process, and force me to learn what I need to do in order to be successful. this is what I mentioned to the DR and he even said that with the bypass your are forced to comply, and often times folks reach a point down the road of not sticking with it. I want to take it slow, and get there learning as I go along.
This was my reason, not saying this to make someone's elses choice any less value.
This was my reason, not saying this to make someone's elses choice any less value.
(deactivated member)
on 6/17/09 9:29 am, edited 6/17/09 9:30 am - Westminster, CO
on 6/17/09 9:29 am, edited 6/17/09 9:30 am - Westminster, CO
Hi Matt welcome.
I too am banded, but made that decision long before the surgery. You will not feel much restriction at first, there is very little 'fill fluid' right after surgery. Stick to the menu plan (fluilds, softs, then solids) that you surgery recommeds. The restriction after a week or two will feel even less. This is due to some swelling occuring during the surgery and it goes down after a week or two. Get in to the doctor to have your first fill as soon as they let you make the appointment.
Try not to do what I did, which was wait for 4 to 6 weeks between fills. Once you get your first fill, give it a week to see how it works, and if you are able to eat without feeling more restriction than you previously did, then its time to get back in and discuss it with the nurse and get another fill. I am 6 months out and I have had only 4 fills. But I am now starting to feel the restriction I should have had 3 months ago.
Good luck to you, keep in touch.
I too am banded, but made that decision long before the surgery. You will not feel much restriction at first, there is very little 'fill fluid' right after surgery. Stick to the menu plan (fluilds, softs, then solids) that you surgery recommeds. The restriction after a week or two will feel even less. This is due to some swelling occuring during the surgery and it goes down after a week or two. Get in to the doctor to have your first fill as soon as they let you make the appointment.
Try not to do what I did, which was wait for 4 to 6 weeks between fills. Once you get your first fill, give it a week to see how it works, and if you are able to eat without feeling more restriction than you previously did, then its time to get back in and discuss it with the nurse and get another fill. I am 6 months out and I have had only 4 fills. But I am now starting to feel the restriction I should have had 3 months ago.
Good luck to you, keep in touch.
My weight loss started 5 months prior to surgery. Dr Synder needed me to lose 70lbs before I could safely have the surgery. So working with the nutritionist I basically went on the bariatric diet before even being banded. In the past 6 months since surgery I've lost an additional 40lbs. He told me the weight lose would taper off some once the surgery was done and I started stabilizing on the current diet. So far after the surgery, I've averaged the 1-2lbs/week that is targeted.
Thats an easy answer. It came down to fright. Although having surgery in the first place is a drastic measure to solve my obesity, the thought of having my guts rearranged was just not something I was ready to do. RNY is permanent and undoable. Yes, the lap-band is also a permanent fixture in my life now, but, if there ever was a serious medical reason that it needed to be removed, it can. That was something I could metally handle and work with. Yes I probably won't lose as much wieght as I probably could have with the RNY, and I won't lose it as fast. I've never been a thin/average person to begin with so I never considered that I would ever reach that "state" with whatever method I chose. So I chose the one that I could most readily work with and that worked with how I deal with things in life.
Kevin -
I guess when it comes down to it, those are the reasons I switched to the band at the last minute. Though there is a part of me that so much wants to be a "normal" weight, lose my excess weight sooner than later, and be "forced" to eat healthy, the whole permanancy thing is what freaked me and my family out. I know this will be much tougher now with the band, but I see the operation as my commitment to eat right and be healthy. Since I never ate due to hunger, the band might not have been the right choice, but I am commited to do this, regardless of all the specifics of fills, unfills, sweet spots, etc, etc. I'm sure I will use the band as a tool, but at this point I only see it as a very small tool and know that alnost all of my success will depend on me and not this new tool. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Matt
I guess when it comes down to it, those are the reasons I switched to the band at the last minute. Though there is a part of me that so much wants to be a "normal" weight, lose my excess weight sooner than later, and be "forced" to eat healthy, the whole permanancy thing is what freaked me and my family out. I know this will be much tougher now with the band, but I see the operation as my commitment to eat right and be healthy. Since I never ate due to hunger, the band might not have been the right choice, but I am commited to do this, regardless of all the specifics of fills, unfills, sweet spots, etc, etc. I'm sure I will use the band as a tool, but at this point I only see it as a very small tool and know that alnost all of my success will depend on me and not this new tool. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Matt
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