Calling all Bandsters. I need your words of wisdom!!

Ok. I have gone to the Lab Band Messageboard and it is way to busy and I don't feel at home there. So, I would like anyone that can give me some words of wisdom My surgery is 11/20. I just found out a few days ago and I don't really have alot of time to freak out because I know there is alot to do. I am sure that it is normal to question the type of surgery that you are having and be afraid that you will fail. I am sure that everyone, regardless of the type of surgery feels this way. What I want to know is: 1) How hard has it been to lose weight? 2) How hungry or starving do you feel? 3) What is the hardest part of living with the band? 4) What have you learned that no one told you before having the surgery? 5) How much weight do you expect to lose and how long do you expect it to take? 6) How do you feel about the band (love it/hate it)? 7) Would you do it again or would you have RNY? 8) How often do you have fills? 9) What does restriction feel like? 10) What is the key to success? These are the questions that plague me. I want the good/bad and ugly. I know my decision is the right one. I just want the truth and to really know what to expect from those that have done it.

Mimi, Go over to the Lap Band forum and post this, you'll probably get a lot more responses! Dr. C

Duh, sorry I didn't read the first line that said you have already been to the Lap Band forum... Also try www.lapbandtalk.com Dr. C

Thank you so much Dr. Curry. I took your advice and posted out there. I have received many responses and alot of good information. I feel very informed about my decision and know that I have made the best one for me. I recently read a profile about a lady that....get this...would DEFILL herself and promise herself that she would PUT IT BACK IN. I was totally freaked out by this. To no surprise, the band "failed her". Well DUH!!! She had RNY 4 years later. I am dedicated to make it work. I am just afraid to be the 1 person that does what is supposed to be done and fails anyway. Thanks for your advice. I will check out other boards as well.

Good luck Mimi! Dr. C Cincinnati, Ohio www.TheBandDoctor.com 877.442.BAND DISCLAIMER: I am not your surgeon, any comments made by me are not meant to be taken as medical advice, just general guidelines. Contact your surgeon about your specific problem!

Mimi, Don't fret, just because you're not on the lapband message board doesn't mean there are no bandsters out there watching. 1-At first, it wasn't hard at all losing weight. Once the majority of my weight came off, I kind of stalled and there I've stayed. Everyone's journey with lap band is different, so I can't say the same will happen for you. My advice, follow the rules and do your best to stay motivated. 2-I don't feel hungry hardly at all. The only time I felt really hungry was when I was on the pre-op liquid diet. Immediately post op I kind of had to force myself to eat because I didn't feel hungry at all. I NEVER feel like I'm starving. It's nothing like before. I eat to live, I don't live to eat. Don't get me wrong, I get hungry now, but it's not the ravenous hunger like before. 3-HMMM, nothing's really hard about it now. It's a part of me. I had to adjust my eating habits, make healthier choices, eat smaller portions and don't drink with my meals. But all of that is who I am now. So I can't say as living with the band is hard at all. I suppose the reflux I have now is hard, but that's due to being a little over filled and is easily remedied if I just get my butt to Dr. Curry for treatment. 4-Everyone told me that "everyone's different" and "the band is only a tool" and yada yada yada. I was really surprised to find myself using those same phrases because they really are true. My reaction to the band and how I feel is different than how you will feel. Yes, there are similar experiences, similar things to expect but everyone's journey is unique. 5-I have lost 75 lbs. I lost that in the first year. I have at least 40 to go and I'm hoping for closer to 50. I've been holding steady for the last 11 months. As long as I don't gain, I'm O.K. with taking another year or more to get that 40+ off. I've seen devastated individuals who gain and so holding steady is a good thing in my eyes. 6-I'm very happy I got the band. It's the best thing I did for myself. I'd be lying if I told you I never had regrets, but generally I'm very in love with my band. 7-I would do it again and again. I would not have RNY, I feel the malabsorption aspect is too much risk for me, personally. 8-My last fill was 5/06 and I got too tight. I needed an unfill and probably need a little more removed due to reflux. Fills are supposed to be very individualized based on your individual weight loss and needs. If your surgeon has you on a fill "schedule" run for the hills. 9-restriction is also very individualized. To me, restriction is feeling satisfied for at least 3 hours after I've eaten and not feeling hungry in between meals. It's feeling satisfied on my smaller meals and not having that deep desire to continue eating past my limit. To others it's more of a feeling WHILE they're eating such as they can actually feel their food pass through their stoma/small opening made by the band. Personally, if I feel my food passing then I'm too tight because that only puts me at risk for the sliming and PBing you may have read about. 10-You have to make the change yourself. The band won't do it for you. It only makes it so you eat smaller quantities. So, choose quality food. Exercise. Drink plenty of fluids. Follow the bandster rules. Think like a thin person and don't dwell on the food. It will come. Be patient. You didn't become obese overnight and you won't lose the weight overnight. *I didn't look for your post on the lap band message board to see the responses you got, but I thought I could add something here. Hope this helps.

Dawn Thank you so much for replying to my post. I did get alot of good information on the Lap Band board. I have received different answers to my questions and I am very happy for that. I asked for the good AND bad. I appreciate it all! I feel very ready and informed. I have saved your advice so that I can refer to it when I really need it. Besides, I know there are other bandsters out there that are asking these same questions. So, you haven't only helped me but the others out there that were wanting this information too. I really think the moral of this story is: FOLLOW THE RULES!!! I really believe that if I do that...I can't be anything other than successful. Thank you again!!!