Are you really happy with the Realize Band?

I haven't had my surgery yet.  It is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, October 7, 2008.  I chose to have a band surgery as I didn't like the possible effects and problems with the more radical surgeries.  Also, I am so scared to lose the weight too fast so that my skin will have time to shrink itself and be in better tone with consistant workouts.  I am a 2nd degree Black Belt and my husband, the trainer, will be by my side, pushing me every step of the way, after my new birthday.  I then chose the Realize Band due to the website that helps you maintain your progress and the ability of my doctors being able to access the information.  Also, the effects of this new type of band seem a lot less and/or better.

I am just so concerned about having all of the "baggy" skin that people talk about and having the weight come off more slowly should help this situation quite a bit and even more so with consistent workouts.  I have already been working diligently on weight training for the past month and was advised that I would be able to continue this with my arms just a few days after surgery just as long as I do not lift anything over 10 pounds.

So, it is mainly a personal choice depending on your lifestyle.  You will need to gather all of our answers to your question, discuss everything with you doctor and try to make the best decision you can.  Just pray to God to help you through your decision process.

For some reason I just knew that RNY was not for me.  My mom had about five years ago and has lost about 130 lbs. with very minimaly complications.  She has done great.  It just wasn't something that I wanted to do.  I had my band done on June 3rd.  I had no complications with the surgery, quick recovery and no complaints about the procedure.  I have lost 50 lbs. so far, but let me tell you it is not a quick fix by any means.  It has been hard work on my part.  I have had two fills and have 4.5 CCs in my band.  I have a little restriction at this point, so most of it is on me.  If I chose to overeat, graze, and eat poorly, I would not be losing this much.  I also exercise 5 to 6 times per week.  For the first three months I was HUNGRY!!! 

I am very happy with my band and do not regret my decision.  It is a lifelong tool but it takes dedication and motivation to stay wtih the program.  I think if you follow the rules you do just fine, but in some cases I see people that are doing everything in their power and are not losing.

Good luck with your decision!

Hello,

You seem to have done really well with the Realize Band.  I am scheduled to have it placed in November, but I am having second thoughts.  I was planning to have gastric bypass after attending a seminar, but my insurance approval came back for banding.   I need to loose 100 pounds at least.  I have diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol.  

Honestly, if given the opportunity to do surgery over again, would you have the band or would you choose gastric bypass?

I understand this is a "tool" to help me and that it will be a slow weight loss process.   In the past with "diets" I would get so discouraged because the weight was not coming off.   Do you feel discouraged and wish that  the pounds would just fall off quickly?  In my thought process for the banding is that I will gain control over my eating and become healthier, but then I read about those who are having revision surgery three and five years later.   Did they just stop trying or did the band really not work.? 

Maybe, I am just getting nervous because this will be a life changing event for me, and I know more people who have had the bypass than the band and yes, they have had some minor complications, but they do not regret the drastic decision.   I am looking at the three and five years down the road.  

Thanks for your encouraging post.  

Hi, I was just checking to see how you are doing since having your surgery? 

I am doing better today.  It has been a rough week.  Trouble getting all my protein and liquids in daily.  I am finally hungry today and everything I smell, I want to eat.  Not a good thing, though.  Right now, I am trying to get down some cream of wheat, which tastes good.  All of the protein supplements that I bought before and liked, now no longer taste good to me at all except for the New Whey Protein Bullets.  I am now stuck with all of these protein powders and have wasted my money.

Pain wize, it is subsiding and am able to walk about a 1/2 mile a day now.  I have started lifting some 2 pound arm weights and simple leg stretches.  Am still really tired.

I had the Realize band placed on June 25th and love, love, love it....now that I understand how it works...that is!  When it's placed, there is no saline inside of it so restriction is minimal...it is now, several months later loaded with 6.5 ccs of saline and I am at a sweet spot....I have lost 40 pounds and 6 inches in each my hips and stomach....that's 3 sizes, not bad eh?
The band is a lifetime of control...I went to two different seminars and met several people that had RNY and are now seeking a conversion to banding because they lost a lot of weight with RNY only to gain more than they lost, two different people I met are now too large to set in a chair with arms on it.  I know that doesn't happen to everyone and that many people have success with RNY, but for me the lifetime of being able to control my appetite was the seller.  My inability to walk away from good food and all I want is the stumbling block which led me to where I am today.
Good luck to you! 

Oh and yes, with lapband...you can drink a little wine....there is no dumping with the band.

It is so good to hear from people who have gone through this and been successful I really appreciate your information. Does a doctor do the fills? Very glad to hear about the wine. I have my endoscope next week and then the psych eval and I will be ready to submit to insurance. Any good suggestions of must haves for the hospital?

Yes, my surgeon does my fills and it doesn't hurt.  He uses a mild local anasthetic and I've never felt the fill needle, which is rather large, when he punctures my skin.  As for the hospital, a good pillow with the microbead filling is an absolute necessity because you will be made to cough to prevent pneumonia and holding this pillow close to  your tummy makes it easier to deal with. 
Lotsa luck to you, keep me informed!