Looking for a positive support buddy

I got my lapband about 5 weeks ago.  I started posting and reading forums pretty regulary, but also found a lack of support. As a new bandster I found all the negative forums and comments not very helpful.  I would love for us to be a support system for each other. 

 Congratulations of your band!  I hope your journey is a very positive one. 
My band has helped me immensely. Not everyday is a walk in the park, but it sure is better for me than per-band. 

All the best-
Susan

 Hey Sue, where in N Fl are you?  I may be down in N Fl for business in a few weeks.  It's a very Big if though.  I have been trying to get an appointment with a specific company for over a month.

Good luck with your journey!  

I am looking forward to joining a gym near my house to take yoga, cardio and weight lifting group classes.  That will be a positive change over what I have been doing since I moved to my house Ina rural area 2 years ago.

I am in the Jacksonville area. Just let me know and we can meet up!

 Hi Ann!!

Thanks for the note.  You are right, but I just don't have time to weed through the BS, and I imagine a number of people feel the same way.

All the best-
Susan

You are being incredibly insulting and hurtful to those of us who were damaged by our bands. Isn't it at all possible for both happy bandsters to post side by side with bandsters who have been seriously injured by their bands ?

I would also like to point out how incredibly selfi**** is of you to want this board to reflect support in the way you define what a support board should look like. PLEASE just take a few hours and really think about what you just asked, and put yourself in my position. it would be mean to deny bandsters like myself a place to find support, if this board were to only reflect what it is you are wanting it to.

What is the definition of success mean to you ? If it means losing a lot of weight with the band, then I am exactly the kind of bandster who should be posting here right ?

Success should be defined not only by amount of weight lost, but by obesity related risks and quality of life too right ?  Didn't those of us who had our insurance pay for our surgeries have to meet a certain criteria to be considered a candidate for WLS, and didn't that criteria state certain NIH guidelines which put us at known risks for obesity related diseases and conditions ?

Today my total weight loss is 92 lbs, but my BMI is currently 28.1
Here's the truth, weighing 164 lbs with a BMI of 28.1 would indicate that I am still overweight and, according to the NIH (National Institutes of Health), being overweight or obese have known risk factors for.:

• diabetes
• coronary heart disease
• high blood cholesterol
• stroke
• hypertension
• gallbladder disease
• osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and bone of joints)
• sleep apnea and other breathing problems
• some forms of cancer (breast, colorectal, endometrial, and kidney)

Obesity is also associated with:

• complications of pregnancy
• menstrual irregularities
• hirsutism (presence of excess body and facial hair)
• stress incontinence (urine leakage caused by weak pelvic floor muscles)
• psychological disorders, such as depression
• increased surgical risk
• increased mortality

I think it's important that all of us, at the very least, redefine our definition of success.


One of many things I try to warn/educate pre-op bandsters about is " Medical Necessity. "

They will NOT remove the band unless it's "Medically Necessary."
When I complained of  reflux.
When I complained of vomiting almost everyday for a couple of months.
When I complained of burning and bee stinging like sensations near my post area for MONTHS
When I complained of esophageal spasms
When I complained of nutcracker esophagus
When I complained of dysphagia.
When I complained of esophageal motility disorder
When I complained of nausea
When I complained of severe pain
When I complained of chronic shoulder pain
When I complained of nerve damage
When I complained of inability to swallow liquids
When I complained of inability to swallow my own saliva
When I complained of back pain
When I complained of anxiety attacks
When I complained of loss of quality of my life,
they ( My insurance company ) denied my appeals for lap band removal, because I was considered a success, and all the above mentioned complaints were considered,
" Not Medically Necessary " for my band to be removed.

My point here is that it's incredibly hard and in some cases impossible to get your insurance company to remove the band once it's placed, and that success should not only be measured by amount of weight lost.

We must redefine our definition of success.

Lisa

Hey Pump, just for the record, Jazzysgirl or whatever her name is has blocked me now, so when she inevitably wants to join the failed band group, you know not to add her until she unblocks your admins.

I am waiting for my approval but also am in need of someone to give me a positive attitude about this surgery. 6 years is a long time and i hope you are very happy with it. so send some encouragement my way. lol. thanks

 Hi Nana-

I still love my band.  I would do it again if I were in the same situation.  

Just follow the rules.... I wish I had had a support group near my town when I got banded.  I think it would have made a big difference In being able to solve the issues that got me fat in the first place.  I have not worked on those issues and I still like to eat.  That's not a Good combo.  

I wish you much success with your band surgery!  Again, my advise is to follow the rules.  :)

All the best,

Susan

8+ years and I'm still hanging around!