Can I please get a happy ending to this lapband fairytale?

I'm ten months out and some of those posts still freak me out, but here's a happy during for you.  I call it a happy during not happy ending because this is a journey and I haven't reached the end

I had my band 10 months ago and I've lost 82 pounds.  The band helped me lose those pounds even though there were holidays, birthdays and five cruises along the way.  With all the traveling I have spent 64 days at sea where I was at the mercy of the available food.  The band helped me to make the right food choices and still lose while not many people lose on a cruise.  Heck, on my long cruise my mom announced to the world that she wanted to throw me overboard because halfway through I'd lost six pounds so far.  I became the most hated/admired woman on the ship LOL.

My band isn't magic.  I still have to work at the weight loss.  The band gives me the help I need.  The band has helped me to completely change my eating habits.  I'm eating in ways I never would have dreamed of before and I feel great.  As of today, my band has allowed me to stop all of my diabetes medicines, stop anti-inflammatories, stop all of my high blood pressure medicines, not feel sick all the time, get out of bed in the morning without fearing the pain of standing up and it's allowed me to grow.

I'm still a work in progress.  I'm not perfect yet.  I still have lapses where I make bad choices.  However, my bad choices are not as bad as they used to be and they do not feel out of control.  One example, last night my MIL went to the hospital.  It does not look good.  She almost bled out.  Right now she is on a vent and has had over 12 units of blood.  Needless to say last night my stress level was through the roof.  I wanted cookies.  More than anything I wanted cookies.  So I made a conscious choice and went to the store and bought my favorite cookies.  I came home and I ate six cookies.  OK, six sounds really bad, but in the past it would not have been a conscious decision because the cookies would have been here already and I would have mindlessly eaten them and I would not have had six, I would have kept going until every cookie in the house was gone.  So while it was a bad choice, it was better.  I did follow up with a brisk walk.  Of course this morning I feel like crap because my body isn't used to the wheat and sugar anymore.

A non weight happy ending from the band is that it has allowed me to get to know me.  I decided shortly after the surgery that a good part of my issues were not what I put into my mouth - heck I could write a book on that, it was why I ate.  I decided to get counseling to work along with my band.  So I'm also losing my "fat" head at the same time.  So my band is helping me become the real me.

These are some of the "deep" benefits.  On the lighter side it's a lot of fun to go clothes shopping now.  Also fun to steal my daughter's clothes.  Fun to be mistaken for her sister.  And the most fun, going on a cruise last week that was full of college spring breakers and hanging out with a group of college guys!  So even though I had a birthday last week, I feel younger than ever.  I'm not getting older, I'm youthening.  And as Jimmy Buffet says "I'm growing older, but not up."!

So don't dwell on the horror stories.  There's plenty of good one's out there.

Wendy

I am all for focusing on the positive but ignoring the negative is kind of forcing yourself to be ignorant.  It's basically sticking your fingers in your ears while chanting "LA LA LA LA LA LA..."

Omg that is so true!

I hear ya, but I've had the surgery already. The "potential" damage has already been done. Not trying to ignore the negative side effects, just wanted to see some light at the end of the tunnel. One thing I don't do is go into something as serious as surgery without researching. And although there are pro's and con's, at the end of the day it's just me and my band.... flipped, eroded, or leaking.

At only 2 months post-op, there is no way that you were not aware of AGB statistics.  They are actually a lot worse because most of us do not get accounted for by the manufacturer and whoever else gathers this info.  last time I went to my surgeons practice (3 to 4 bariatric practitioners) 2  people were in the waiting room with band issues. 1 woman was so excited calling people like crazy stating that she was finally going to get this ******g band out and revise to the sleeve.

No need to worry, work your band.  I always said that I would ride my **** until the wheels fell off and I did and they did!

All the Best to you.

Leila

me  personally  im staying focused on my progress.. i stay away from  those negative stories or from reading too much into those who seem to have no other hobby but to post up "band bashing" topics or comments all day long..or copy and paste the latest research studies, in thier own little miserable existance.. (i have no problem whatsoever hitting that block button)   this is not a competition between weight loss surgery procedures but appaerently some make it thier lifes mission to seem so

we all have a common goal  to lose and become healthy..and to support one another..from what i have seen on this forum in my short time as a member, "support"  is outweighed by alot of whining complaining and rants..  its your own responsibility to pursue your own happiness,  its good to have support from friends and family  or virtual friends.. but its ultimately up to you to do the work  and 99.85% of that work is done away from the front of a computer screen!  to me thats the key to my own path to being happy..
 
my results so far and positive feedback from people i can actually see and talk too in real life including my surgeon  confirm im on the right track!

Personally, I feel as though I am living a happy 'ending'.

I have gone from 284 pounds to 151 pounds in under 2 years.

I have an active, healthy life.

I am 52 years old (almost 53) ---- I followed my doctor's rules pretty carefully.
I was 100% ready to change my life -- and I convinced myself that the band would NOT MAKE ME EAT LESS --- it would HELP me be satisfied on less.

It makes 'dieting' easier for me -- but, yes, I feel as though I still diet.  I carefully watch what I eat at least 80% of the time ---- as most healthy eaters do.

My band makes a small amount of food be 'enough' ---- I don't try to eat to feel full anymore.  I eat -- I stop -- -and a few minutes later, I am aware that it was enough.

If I eat until I am full -- I have overeaten.   Yes, it takes some self-discipline to measure my food (at least visually measure it --- eat 1/3 or 1/2 of what I am served away from home, and weigh/measure it myself when at home) -- and to stop eating.

But, if I do that --- and I wait just a few minutes, I realize that my body is satisfied.

What a gift -- to stop over-feeding myself and understand what satisfaction is --- it is a miracle to me.

Thanks Kath....That's what I'm talkin' bout' !! I never wanted this post to be a "good band vs. evil band" I just wanted a little comfort for my developing paranoia.

Unfortunatly..........long term.............percentage wise.........there are very few happy endings with the band.

U see so many "unhappy" band stories on here b/c there are so many failed bands! It is what it is!

However u have the band now. Just follow band rules and hope your one of the lucky ones. If your not..........don't hesitate to revise to an effective WLS if that is possible for you. I see way too many ppl on this site wasting YEARS trying to make a band work that just does NOT work! I see ppl on here being cheerleader for the band and telling these poor ppl to just try harder and it will work. Well for some ppl it will NOT work! Support comes in many forms, and I do NOT consider telling ppl that are not successfull with the band that have tried to keep wasting time on it "support"!

Good luck with your band!!!