Hi, Kim...

You think 9 pounds sounds like a lot? At my post-op checkup (10
days out), I ran into a man who had surgery the same day I did and
he had lost 26 pounds! I was so impressed....but my surgeon said
really big people lose faster, as do men, and this guy must have
been about 6' 5" and weighed at least 400.

There is no history of brittle bone disease in my family - just
osteoporosis in the females. My grandmother was crippled with it
the last 12 years of her life. My mom had very painful compression
fractures in her spine and lost all the bone in her lower jaw -
couldn't even wear her dentures by the time she was 70. And these
women experienced menopause naturally and quite late...my mom was 55
at the onset of menopause and continued to have periods off and on
until she was 60. My mom also did the hormone replacement therapy,
but it did not help that much. I understand there are now daily
shots available to help stave off osteoporisis, but I'd rather not
do that.

I was very nervous about the surgery and am still wondering the same
thing as you....will I be one of those who doesn't experience
success with the band. I think that depends more on ME, however,
than the surgery. There are people who have failed with the RNY,
too. If you make up your mind (subconsciously or consciously) to
defeat the procedure, you certainly can.

I was on a liquid diet for one week following surgery, then a week
on mushy stuff. I did not mind at all, as I had virtually no
appetite the first 7-10 days.

Since graduating to "real" food, I have learned that even an empty
band gives restriction. Yesterday I ate a tiny bit of chicken and
most of a medium size sweet potato for lunch. It was too much
(should have cut the potato in half) and I had issues for the next
45 minutes or so. At dinner my 12 year old granddaughter and I
split a cheeseburger, except that I only ate the meat and cheese
from my portion, plus about 6 fries. It was the perfect size meal
and I was not tempted to eat again before morning.

The best of luck to you...

Carlene