New Girl

Hey all! Just discovered this awesome website. I'm a 25 y/o female who is married with no kids. I'm 5'7" and 300lbs. Love all the support and advice available here. Looking for people to visit with. I'm going to be self pay for the lap band procedure. Hope to start the whole process in the next couple of weeks. My theme question: If any of you could have been given a piece of advice at any point throughout the entire process, what would it be? Amber [email protected]

Welcome Amber! I too am 25 and was at 315lbs. when I had my surgery and I was self pay too. Not to scare you, but I wish someone would have told me how bad the first few weeks of being PostOp really was. Now, I am almost 2 months out and feel great. My scars are almost not visable now, I have not belly pain, I have tons of energy, etc. But the first few weeks out of the hospital I kept thinking that maybe something was wrong with me because it really was hell. I had zero energy, I was extremely sore, etc and everyone else preteneded they were just fine when they were new post ops... but then I asked around and people said they too felt like crap too but wanted to focus on the positives of the surgery so never mentioned how bad it was. Which, dont get me wrong. I would go through it time and time again, because it only lasted like 3 weeks and now I feel fine and am on my way to a HEALTHY life. Not to mention I am no longer obssessed with food. I just wish someone had told me so I knew that what I was feeling (both physically and emotionally) was *normal*. P.s. I had VG, which only is an 1 1/2 hour opertating time proceedure, and a 1 night hospital stay... the interworkings are different then LapBand, but from what I understand, the recovery is simular.

Hey there! I would say the one piece of advice I wish I would have gotten, would also be how hard the first couple monthes was going to be. It has been hard for me, but getting alittle better.

I agree that the first couple of months are hard. I would say that my advice would be to get your mind set for after surgery. That's the hardest part. The physical stuff is easy compared to getting your mind set changed for life. I would say find a support group and start going now. This is a great place for support, but meeting people face to face is better. Also finding a good friend who has been through it helps. Amy