I’ve had a gastric band - Ask me anything!

[Mooey89]

As the title says. Don’t know if it’s interesting for anyone but I was desperate to read stories before I had mine so ask me anything!

Ooh!

Do you mind if I ask your weight/clothes size before and after?

Why did you decide to do it?

How much was it?

What’s the recovery like and do you have to stick to certain foods etc?

How long have you had it for?

Do the risks for the band in particular concern you? I’ve heard numerous issues that can come about years after of slipping/failed bands.

What made you decide to get one?
How do you feel around food emotionally now? Do you still think about it all the time but just can’t eat as much as before or has it changed your thought pattern/mindset at all?

Do you have to be really careful about eating a balanced diet - so you get enough vitamins, nutrients etc.

Is it easy for you to only eat the small amounts you are able to or do you still crave food?

How long have you had it? Any regrets?

@OhCaptain

Ooh!

Do you mind if I ask your weight/clothes size before and after?

Why did you decide to do it?

How much was it?

What’s the recovery like and do you have to stick to certain foods etc?

I was handed in July so not at goal weight yet. My starting weight was 21 stone 8 and BMI 43. My current weight is 18 stone 13 and BMI 38.

I’ve yo-yo’d for years, I thought about food constantly and I felt so out of control. I felt like I needed to take the control back.
It was 6k
Recovery was easy peasy. I eat meals off a side plate and there are some things I find difficult. I can’t have fizzy drinks. I have to eat veryyyyy small mouthfuls, chew lots and break in between bites. They call it the 20-20-20 rule.

@HyaluronicHippo

How long have you had it for?

Do the risks for the band in particular concern you? I’ve heard numerous issues that can come about years after of slipping/failed bands.

I Have heard these too and honestly they did make me worry in the run up. However I trusted my surgeon and from a LoT of research I came to the conclusion that slippages seem to come about when the rules for the band aren’t followed correctly. For me, the band was by far the best option, I didn’t like the permanency of having part of my stomach removed, and I like the flexibility of fills/refills incase of pregnancy, for example.

Will you always have to restrict your eating or does that change over time?

@riotlady

What made you decide to get one? How do you feel around food emotionally now? Do you still think about it all the time but just can’t eat as much as before or has it changed your thought pattern/mindset at all?

I had been losing and regaining the same 2-3 stone + more for years. I had started to worry about not being able to fit in the aeroplane seatbelt, and I had stopped taking my son on rides incase I didn’t fit. I needed to do something drastic. I have really tried to focus on the psychological stuff. The band stops the physical hunger but the emotional drive to eat is still there. I really think I was/am addicted to sugar/food. That is getting a lot better and I don’t feel like it rules my life anymore.

@Wheresthebiffer2

Do you have to be really careful about eating a balanced diet - so you get enough vitamins, nutrients etc.

I try to always eat protein first, then veg so get the important bits in before I’m full. I also have iron prescription from GP and a multivitamin. I’m supposed to have yearly bloods to check levels.

@FractionalGains

Is it easy for you to only eat the small amounts you are able to or do you still crave food?

It’s getting easier as I’m learning what the new ‘full’ feels like. It’s not like before, more like pressure in the middle of your chest. Really odd!

Which instrument did you play or were just a vocalist?

@Cribbins

How long have you had it? Any regrets?

Only 2 months and so far no regrets at all but I’m still very much in the honeymoon phase.

@ChalkDinosaur

Will you always have to restrict your eating or does that change over time?

Always, I think. And I’m ok with that.

What is your goal weight? How long do you think it will take to achieve it? I’m also a yo-yo dieter and a sugar addict and tend to “celebrate” when I’ve lost weight...which inevitably leads to weight gain. Do you have a plan for how you will celebrate achievements/special occasions?

Did you have to lose weight before the surgery?

@Cribbins

What is your goal weight? How long do you think it will take to achieve it? I’m also a yo-yo dieter and a sugar addict and tend to “celebrate” when I’ve lost weight...which inevitably leads to weight gain. Do you have a plan for how you will celebrate achievements/special occasions?

I’m not sure about goal weight, but I’ve set myself a first big target of BMI 30. I want another baby and we tried for ages, so healthy enough to get pregnant/access IVF is the goal.

To be honest right now my celebration is buying the next size down of clothes! I’m trying not to buy any until I really need to but I’ve dropped 2 sizes so far so will need to soon.

I'd like to congratulate you on having the guts ( for want of a better word ) for going ahead with such a life changing ( hopefully for the better ) op.
I've been a yo-yo dieter all my life. At my biggest 15.10 and smallest 7.8 ( I'm short )
I hope you get to where you want to be and remain able to maintain that.

@roadsurvey

Did you have to lose weight before the surgery?

I went private and I didn’t need to lose weight per se but I did have to do a liver reduction diet for the 2 weeks before and everyone loses significantly on that because it’s no sugar low carb low fat low kcal and hARDCORE!

@VictoriaBun

I'd like to congratulate you on having the guts ( for want of a better word ) for going ahead with such a life changing ( hopefully for the better ) op. I've been a yo-yo dieter all my life. At my biggest 15.10 and smallest 7.8 ( I'm short ) I hope you get to where you want to be and remain able to maintain that.

Thank you so much. It definitely feels like the right thing for me.

What is a typical daily menu for you now?

Can you eat out? Does it affect socialising?

Does it affect your daily working life? I've heard horror stories about dumping?

Do you feel ravenous from eating so little?

How long did you wait for the operation?

Are there any foods you can't tolerate now?

Thank you.

@WildWaterSwimmer

What is a typical daily menu for you now?

Can you eat out? Does it affect socialising?

Does it affect your daily working life? I've heard horror stories about dumping?

Do you feel ravenous from eating so little?

How long did you wait for the operation?

Are there any foods you can't tolerate now?

Thank you.

It’s difficult to say. I’m quite early on and have only had one fill so not quite at restriction yet. I eat small portions and feel full after. When the band is working I shouldn’t be hungry at all for a good few hours, that’s the goal. At the moment I can eat larger portions than I should, but I aim for around 1,000-1200 per day.

Dumping is really something associated with Bypasses and Sleeves, I think. My friend had a bypass and struggles with dumping when eating certain foods but I haven’t experienced it and I think that’s because I have a band.

I don’t feel ravenous. I do feel hungry before my next meal but I am satisfied on much smaller portions. I have a small side plate which I always eat off.

I waited about 6 weeks from paying the deposit. About 3 months from initial consultation. This is longer than usual, because of COVID.

I really struggle with chips! I don’t eat meat but I hear tough meat like steak is a no go. I can’t have fizzy at all now.

Why a band and not a sleeve?

I’ve looked into this and was told a sleeve was the more up to date and preferred option now.

Sorry, I missed the bit about eating out.
I can eat out! I sometimes ask for a child’s portion or just accept that I’m paying to leave a lot of food 😂. Tapas type food is the best for me!