02/26/08 Bandit

Hello all.  Having received gracious assistance, I now have my signature and ticker set up.  :)  Hope to get a photo loaded soon.  Don't like being ? mark person.  Still going back and forth with the scales.  Started back at the YMCA on Friday, hope that helps.  Would love to hear from any other new or old Bandits on how things are going for them. Blessings to all.

I'm not a bandit yet but I will  be on Friday. I'd love to know what life as a banded person is like? Have a good day

Good luck on Friday!  The surgery actually wasn't too bad.  My doctor and the nurses were very sweet.  I had to stay on liquids for 3 weeks afterwards.  That got old, but it was not nearly as hard as I anticipated.  The first week I was not even hungry at all.  I was really looking forward to starting soft foods again after my first check-up.  I had lost 26 pounds by then.  But much to my surprise, when I started eating again, I stopped losing.  Of course that made me feel awful.  But I was also going through a lot with my Mother being in the hospital and being placed in a nursing home as well.  So, I was not getting enough exercise I am sure and after much thought I decided maybe the salt in the real foods made me pick up more fluids.  Anyway, I regained 3 pounds and have now lost them again as of today.  I was able to start back to the YMCA last week and will go again tomorrow.  I exercise mostly in the pool due to my back.  I go back for my first adjustment or "fill" on April 14th.  I hope to have lost several more pounds before then.  I know we will lose more slowly than the RNY'ers, but....I can't help wishing!  Blessings. Linda

Hi!  I was banded on 3/27/08.  I have the worse shoulder pain ever, still a little sore, but nothing compared to the shoulder pain!!  I wonder if my arm was wrapped around my neck several times.  How is your journey?

Hey!  I had some pain in the top of each side of my chest, from the gas I guess.  Maybe you were not positioned comfortably during the surgery and that is why you are still having some pain in your shoulder?  I remember in pre-op being told to make sure we told them if we were comfortable or not before we went "out" for the surgery.  I had some anxiety and they had given me some oral meds early on; so, I don't even remember getting into the operating room.  I lost 26 pounds while I was on full liquids and had a good check-up.  But when I progressed to soft foods, I stopped losing.  I think it was a combination of things, salt may have been one of them.  But after going up 3 pounds, when I weighed today I was back to the 26 pound mark.  I go for my first fill on April 14th and hope that will make things easier.  Let me know how things go for you. Blessings. Linda   

2/20/08 Bandit here!  I go for my first fill Apr 11th...cant wait! My weight loss is a struggle with no restriction but it's slowly dropping.  Can't wait to work my BAND!

Let me know how it goes!  I go in on the 14th.  I have to admit it is still a struggle for me at times as well.  Anyone who says surgery is the "easy way out" is crazy!  You still have to avoid all the same old foods you always loved.  Last night we took our son to his Sunday night teen church group and they always serve dinner for the kids and parents before they break into groups for services.  Just my luck, the first time I had been back to actually go inside for a Sunday night to eat with my family --  and  I am surrounded by 50 people eating pizza.  One of my favorite foods.  That was hard.  I could hardly wait to get home and eat some healthy food.  At least it was not Ensure!!!  Good luck. Blessings. Linda

Hi: I was banded 3 years ago through Duke and as to the pain in your shoulder, it is very common. It is something about some of the nerves they have to manipulate to get the band in and positioned can be irritated, It does go away. As to life after banding, it was the most important and the best decision I've ever made for myself. I've lost 80lbs. and though I should lose about 50 more, my life now is SO MUCH better than before. Fortunately and unfortunately, I always have to be cognizant of the band. Some days the restriction is tighter than others, so just because I can eat a half slice of bread today does not mean that I will tolerate it tomorrow.  I say fortunately because in traveling this journey, I have come to believe that the major cause of obesity in America is that most people do not think about their food choices. Just drive through the McD's and order up a quarter pounder, wolf it down in 4 bites, and chase it with a Coke. Or call Domino's and order up a supreme pizza and a 2-liter soft drink. With the band, that is impossible once you get proper restriction. You have to eat very slowly, take very small bites, and really notice how your band is reacting to what you are putting in.  I said unfortunately because when I am dining with a group, others can order anything on the menu with no thought. I have to read and read and think about what I order and long after my friends have gobbled everything on their plate, I'm still nibbling. Of course, when you are dining with friends, it's not a problem bec. they know the situation but when it is a business lunch or whatever, it can be a pain. EXAMPLE: I just got back from NYC this morning with a group of 55 people and we were on a guided tour which meant that everything was planned out and all we did was follow and do what we were told. The restaurants had all been picked out by the tour folks so I was forced to find SOMETHING on every menu that I could get down with little trouble and hopefully with no PBing and to eat it fairly quickly because we were on a tight schedule. Of course, the tour guide thought we should sample "real" NY-style pizza, the rich pastries at little bakeries in Greenwich Village and try the trendy chic restuarants. I cannot eat pizza or hot dogs or the NY deli sandwiches. So I have to say that I was glad to get home and back to my own food. That experience was really tough and a little distressing but I made it without any major issues. Still, I would not change this decision for anything in the world. The benefits definitely outweigh any inconveniences the band may cause.

Hi, Thanks for sharing your info.  We have been on one of those tours and I remember how food was a central theme and the emphasis was not on salads or veggies.  So that must have been difficult.  My husband and 15 year old son have adjusted their eating habits also, which had made things easier for me than it could have been.  They both need to lose some pounds as well; so, this has been a good thing for our whole family.  I am looking forward to my first fill as I am really struggling since finishing the liquid diet and going back to soft foods.   Blessings, Linda N.  

Hey there, greeneyes -- congrats on becoming a Bandit! I was Banded about nine weeks ago and have lost 39 pounds since then -- everything seems to be going textbook-fine so far.  Thanks to this amazing site and the WonderFolks who post here for that!  It's great to get the answers from people who've been down this road before. The past couple weeks, though, I've been struggling with fatigue and exhaustion.  Just feels like the gas tank is on empty.  The good news is that I went in for my second fill yesterday but we decided I didn't really need one, as my restriction seems to be fine right now and my weight loss is on track.  I can always schedule another fill if I need one.