Preparing a Support Network

You Shouldn’t Do This Alone

You undoubtedly have expectations about the impact of gastric band surgery on your health. Many people think that as they lose weight and feel better about themselves their life will immediately improve. This does occur for many individuals, however, for some the experience of a major weight loss can be a more unsettling experience, with the positive feelings taking a little longer to arrive.

A team consisting of your bariatric program, family, friends, and others who have had gastric band surgery is important. The Realize mySuccess^™ tool is also a valuable part of your support.

Why You’ll Need Support

People who have gastric band surgery may experience some of the following situations:

• They may experience a lot of attention related to their weight loss and physical appearance that may make them feel uncomfortable.
• They may be upset or angry that people who treated them as if they were “invisible” before the surgery are now friendly and sociable.
• Men and women interested in gastric band surgery should consider the potential impact of their weight loss on their marital and sexual relationships. Most people would think that these relationships would improve with weight loss; however, body weight can play a much more complex role in some relationships. Some partners may actually feel threatened or jealous witnessing a partner’s weight loss. Some people may also be uncomfortable with additional romantic or sexual attention.
• Still, others may experience feelings of depression immediately after surgery. This can occur in people who have a history of using food to help cope with emotions. They often feel like they’ve lost a best friend (food).

Your support team can help you work through the situations and feelings you may experience. In the safe environment of your friends, family, bariatric program, and support groups, you should be able to talk freely about your feelings or the situations you are experiencing.

Remember, you’re not alone. Visit our Patient Stories page to hear from people who have experienced life changing weight loss through the Realize^™ Band. These stories may help you to overcome the bumps in the road on your way to your new life.

Start building your support network now. Talk with family and friends about how they can help you on your journey. Print a few copies of our “How to Support Me” tip sheet to share with your support team. This document will provide your friends and family with some helpful suggestions on how they can be supportive and empower you to succeed.