The Start of a LONG Journey {Gastric Bypass, Lapband, etc.}

dawnmarieee

Hi everyone,

I've had my lap-band since March 2010. Although, it can be challenging, I do not regret it for a second. It really is just a tool to help me lose the weight, but what a great tool it has been for me.

Loveslady2

You mean people actually live a life without bread and pasta?! :P

I have the lap band and I do eat bread and pasta. Its all in moderation and smaller bites. You learn what your body will tolerate and what it won't. You won't be able to scarf it down but you won't be able to do that with any food. For instance, I can't down fries the way I used to because it makes me throw up. You won't be able to drink food with meals. If you do the lap band. Please adjust to this before you get the surgery because you will definitely regret trying it.

CajunApril

I have had the band, and I have had it for about 6 years now. I lost 75lbs. In the last 2 years I have gained some back, like some said earlier you can still cheat with the band. This was my thoughts going in for the band, I didn't want change the anatomy of my body plain and simple. I did not want anything cut out or re routed. I felt that if later in my life I have other complications I don't want to be restricted help due to already having altered my anatomy. Now I do not regret the band one bit and I will tell you that EVERYONE will have thier own experience. You cannot judge your surgery based on OTHERS experiences. You have to make the choice if you are going to do what you are suppose to do regardless of what surgery you get. I have a friend that did bypass and is now bigger than she was before because she lost it all quickly, got comfortable, and stretched out that tummy again. So like I said do not use those stories to judge, it was her bad choices that did that to her. For me, I found ways to eat things, like instead of saying ok im full, i feel full, i would just sit in front of my food for 15min with friends talking. Let the food go down for a bit and then get a few more bites in. Of course im going to gain, i have just defeated the entire purpose of my band, again my bad choices.

Plain and simple, regardless of what surgery you choose you have to make good choices and change the person you are. You have to choose to eat healthier, you have th choose to excercise regularly. These 2 things have to be done with surgery as well. Surgery is only a tool to help you loose. If you abuse the tool then it is not a positive tool. It all comes down to your choices. If you can loose 40lbs prior to getting a surgery then I would say you have proven to yourself that you can do it without surgery. I would do the band again in a heart beat if I had to do it again, but if I did have to do it again then I would have made those eating habits and excercise habits a choice earlier than now. Good luck to you and your husband, its always a hard road to go down in regards to weight loose but you can do it if you want to, and MFP, the community, and constant reminder to do good here will help you!!

beach_bum_gurl

The first year is the "Honeymoon Period and you can't stop your body from dropping weight rapidly.

Respect the tool, you don't have this surgery done without consequences. Follow your Doctors instructions to the letter during the Honeymoon period.

Seek out a therapist and find a support group in your area, this is an emotional roller-coaster.

Take all your vitamins, get your Protein in first, and drink at least 64 ounces of liquid a day!

As someone who will be 5 years out from GBS next month, I totally agree with this advice, the so-called "pouch rules". The pouch works if you work the pouch rules. I have lost 125 pounds since my surgery, gained about 10 back, and then since joining MFP have lost 8 of those 10 back, and hope to lose a few more.

Other advice that I have for pre-ops is DO YOUR RESEARCH! Decrease the chances of surgical complications by researching your surgeon- What is his/her complication rate? How many GB surgeries of the type you want to have do they do each year? How many surgical deaths have they had. I had one of the best surgeons in the country, and I have had ZERO complications. I am very grateful for this. This surgery was one of the best things I have ever done for myself.

The other piece of advice that I would like to reiterate is that finding a therapist to assist you through this journey is very helpful. Many of us have underlying eating issues that need to be addressed. Additionally, many of us have been overweight/obese for a significant portion of our lives and the therapist was really helpful to me in dealing with body size perception issues and social issues that arise when you lose a lot of weight and now suddenly EVERYONE notices you, when before, you blended in to the scenery.