Support for Post Surgery Lap Band Patients
Lap band surgery is a fairly drastic measure for overweight people to take and it requires discipline to stay on top of your weight loss after the fact. Post-surgery support is immensely useful for lap band patients and can help them get through the difficulties they may face after having the procedure done.
Why Patients Need Support
Having surgery, even a minor one like lap band, can be traumatic and scary. Afterwards, a patient may wonder if what they are feeling and experiencing is normal. They can ask their doctor, of course, but many people also like to hear from peers, those who have already gone through the same thing.
Lap band patients who have varied means of support are almost always more successful than those who try to go it alone. This is simply because it can be difficult to motivate yourself at times and having others around you to rally and give a boost is a huge help.
Support comes in many forms. Having someone to talk to about food and diet is very helpful for someone who is new to the lifestyle. For those who aren`t used to working out, having others to go to the gym with can be a great motivator. Often, family and friends just don`t work out as the best motivators, since they will tend to be more forgiving of behavior than those who aren`t emotionally attached to the patient.
Where to Find Support
Part of the weight loss process following lap band surgery is having someone to be accountable to. This might be a friend or family member, but often, people do best when they have a support group of people who understand what they are going through, other patients, for example.
Many hospitals that offer this type of weight loss surgery will hold support groups where those who have lap bands can meet and discuss their experiences. It can be very helpful for a newbie to hear what others have gone through and how they dealt with things like diet restrictions and exercise. Everyone has been through the same thing, so this can be a very useful type of support.
Another kind of support that can be very useful is a partner or partners in training. Since exercise is a vital part of losing weight even with a lap band in place, being motivated to go to the gym or head out for an hour of jogging every day can be difficult. That`s why it is very helpful to have an accountability partner to share ups and downs with. Simply knowing that someone else is going to know if you don`t work out is often enough to keep patients on track.
Online groups have formed for post-surgery lap band patients, as well. These should not be used to diagnose problems, but they can be very useful for patients who aren`t sure if what they are experiencing is normal or not. Discussing this with others online provides an arena for support that doesn`t require face to face interaction and is available 24-7, and anywhere in the world. Online groups are particularly popular for those living in more isolated areas or people who don`t have many friends to interact with face to face.
It`s important to have people that have been through the same experiences after a procedure like lap band surgery. There are many options available to the post surgery patient who needs someone to talk to, but perhaps the best thing to do is research these options before the surgery so as to have them at the ready afterwards.
My doctor’s office does have a support group. But I liked the online groups at lapbandtalk.com. The groups created there are varied and include recipes, exercise,etc. It was also fun to help people considering the surgery and those asking questions after I had some experience under my belt!