I've had a gastric (lap) band for over 10 years. Ask me anything

[GastricGirl]

My weight has been up and down all my life. Skinny, fat, skinny, fat.

Up and down, 9 stone, 18 stone, lose it again, but it on again! Since I was 12 years old.

When I hit 40, found I couldn't lose it as easy and had calculated I had lost over 30 stone over the years.

So had the surgery.

Took over a year to get to the "sweet spot" but managed to keep to 9 stone 10 for about 8 years. I'm 5' 7'.

Have had a couple of bad years emotionally and have gone up to nearly 12 stone. But still slim for my height.

Ask me anything ....

Congratulations!

Did you have much loose skin to deal with? What did you do about it?

Can you eat 3 normal sized meals a day?

Even though I was a large I still was quite fit. Swam every day and walked regularly.

So when I started losing weight I upped my exercise. So, no I don't have much lose skin. Just the normal tummy form 4 kids :)

I lost 10 stone.

What was the ‘prep’ period like just before having it, and how long afterwards was it before you could eat more normal food?

It depends what you call normal size!!!!

My portion sizes were out of control hence when I was so fat.

Food no longer rules my life, I am
Nopnget "obsessed". I'm now one of those annoying people that says "Oooo I've not had anything to eat all day"

I can't tell you the difference it's made to my "relationship" with food.

• no longer obsessed

Has having the GB fitted caused any medical issues?

How much did it cost?

I didn't prep.

I could eat normal food right away. Which tbh pissed me off. Remember going to a comedy show with dh and demolishing a packet of crips.

Took me ages to get my "sweet spot" I needed more infills. To make the band tighter.

Took a year to get it right! And at £200 a pop, a lot extra money. If I was to do it again, I'd make sure infills were included.

No medical issues at all!!

My asthma is better, my knees and hips don't ache. My depression is better.

I'm in my 50s and look in my early 40s.

I can't remember the exact amount prob about £5k, but I would pay £50k

Best thing I ever did.

Well done OP. I’m glad it’s been such a positive experience for you.

Sounds like it’s really benefitted you. Did you find any down sides? I’m seriously considering it. Thanks for answering.

Can you elaborate more on how it’s helped you to change your relationship with food?

Along the same lines of @KatzP question.

What has the surgery got to do with changing your relationship with food? It reduces the capacity of your stomach but does nothing to change your mind which is where the root of obesity really lies. So what did you do to change your relationship with food?

@MrsBungle downsides??

Walking into any shop and trying on any clothes you want ... knowing you'll look good in all of them. Downside - too much choice?

Going on holiday and wearing a bikini, not looking round to see if you're the fattest person by the pool. Downside - um none?

Not seeing the annoyance on face of the person on the plane as you squash beside them. Downside - more holidays, more money?

Not looking at a huge flight of stairs and wondering if you will make it to the top. In fact running up them like a bloody teenager!! Downside - none!

I genuinely can't think of any.

Except for going out for meals. This can be awkward before you get use to it.

Dependent where you are in your cycle can depend how tight it is. Don't think here are any studies on this but def makes a difference.

I've been through the menopause and band is more settled. Although I did have to have a huge aspiration (take some of the fluid out to make it less tight), when I started to become peri.

@KatzP and @HobbyIsCodeForDogging

I'm not sure if you're obese and have an unhealthy relationship with food so not sure if this will make sense to you.

Not sure it makes sense to me!!!

When you have a band, you prob know you can't have huge portions. So you can't overeat (in theory).

For me overheating is/was a form of self-harm. I know I feel shit after it, it's almost like a punishment. When you can't "hurt" yourself by overeating it takes the incentive away.

You don't have to think how many calories or is his good food or bad food. I stuff myself with 2 eclairs I won't be able to eat for a good few hours. So I can't force anymore in, I physically can't, I'd be sick immediately, And by the time I could stuff more in, the "feeling" has passed.

And as I got slimmer and healthier the self
loathing of being a fat, greedy, out of control person, eases and I liked myself again.

Although as I mentioned in my OP, I have put on 2 stone this year. I e had a terrible year and went back to comfort food. Although this time it's chocolate.

I suppose if you're an alcoholic and you can only have 2 drinks, then it doesn't work. Would you then stop drinking?

I don't know, I can only tell you my experience.

Do you have any no go foods or do you tolerate everything?

Any reflux?

@TheQueef I can eat anything. White bread, pasta, in small portions.

However I don't, I now only really eat meat, veg and diary. Have a very clean diet, no processed food. Well 80% of the time. Well except for the last year where I've been mainly eating chocolate :(

I use to miss drinking and eating at the same time, a big no no when you ha e a band.

I also occasionally really miss gulping down a big fizzy drink. Although sometimes I will do it, then puke it up right away!!

When you're sick with a band, it's not like "normal" sick, it's just mushed up food and a lot of saliva.

Reflux? Occasional if I've eaten too much late at night, I will get it. But during the day, no never.

That makes sense to me. I’m just obese so more like 3-4 st to lose. I exercise a lot and can go for weeks or months with good eating habits. My main meals are generally ok and I don’t drink excessively. However I eat my emotions and when I’m stressed or unhappy it’s the snacks and binge eating things like chocolate (in secret) that causes the problem. I can see that if this is outside my meals and I can’t physically eat then as you’ve indicated by the time I can hopefully the feeling has passed.

Thanks GastricGirl. No, I've never been obese but I do have an unhealthy relationship with food.

I never had a problem with food or weight and happily hovered around the midpoint of my healthy weight range. However when I went up to the top end of my healthy weight range, I was persuaded to join a slimming club. I briefly lost weight and then gained it back plus more. Then I joined another slimming club, briefly lost some then gained it back plus more. I developed very disordered eating and I can totally identify with what KatzP has said.

I do a lot of training now, so exercise is not my problem but my food issues are terrible and I don't really know how to sort that. Hence I'm always interested in how people have managed to heal their bad relationships with food.

You say you can’t drink and eat at the same time? That’d be an issue for me, I have to have a glass of water with my food or I get panicky as I feel like I have indigestion and cannot digest my food properly. Is even a small glass of water a no-no?

I ask as I am eight stone overweight and after yo-yoing in slimming clubs am seriously considering medical options.

@FenellaVelour

You only have small pouch which can't hold fluid and food at the same time. I assume because it fills it up too much.

If you have issues around actually eating, I would suggest that this wouldn't suit you.

The whole eating experience is different with a band. Smaller mouthfuls, lots of chewing. Both of which we should be doing anyway instead of ramming it in as fast as we can.

I personally can not talk and eat with my band. I end up not chewing enough and food can get "stuck". When going out for a meal like last night, I will put my knife and fork down to chat.

As you start to eat "normally" you will notice that is how slimmer people eat and talk too.

Thank you. I don’t have issues with eating as such - I generally eat small portions (though not as small as I imagine you’d have with a band) and I eat quite slowly so I’d be ok with that side of things. I just have a weird hang up about needing a glass of water with my food. I suppose that’s something I would have to talk through.

When you say food can get “stuck”, what does that feel like?