considering Lap Band Surgery need Advice??

juliepoe208

I think it is a personal choice. My husband had the DS eleven years ago, lost 190 pounds and has kept it off. He can eat most things in moderation. There are some things that have been deemed too rich for his stomach since and does not stay down, so that was a learning experience (like Blue Cheese), and he cannot drink during meals (must drink half an hour after meals), and once he is feeling slightly full he has to stop or he will know about it as everything will come back up if he pushes that extra bite. But he also changed the way he eats as we as a family were eating healthy meals (homemade deer meat, lean ground beef, lean chicken and turkey meat, fish, fresh farm veggies and fruit from his parents farm, and the occassional treats). But we watched our sugar intake all the time as our kids are ADHD and both of our families have diabetes that run on all sides.
Another thing you may want to check as well is your medical issues to find out if that has something to do with your weight gains. I had that same exact issues, found I had PCOS 5 years ago, only to find out last year when they removed everything that if I had cut the sugars and calories tremendously, it would have helped me to lose weight. NO DOCTOR EVER TOLD ME!!! They just told me I should check into the weight loss surgery cause that was my only other options. Well, after 2 attempts of trying to start the process of the weight loss surgery (never made it to the table: one doc freaked out and we cancelled, the other program closed down before I had a chance); so I found MFP in the beginning of October of last year and lost 86 pounds to date. If I can, I know you can! I have struggled with weight since I was a teen, and been through every little spec of diets, fads, you name it....so it may be something else for you to consider and think on.
Also, my husband is now finding from the groups and research are starting to see possible future problems with the weight loss surgery with those that have had it now, and the life effects. So hopefully that won't happen, but you may want to check into that. It is in the Inova Fairfax Weight Loss Surgical Info area somewhere that we saw recently. Hope this helps.

ratkins811

What changed after the 50 lost and before the 25 gained back? Try going back to what you were doing when you lost 50.

Good question. I think my stress level increased due to my living situation changing. My sons moved in and the stress level increased - and I am a stress eater. Also being around my sons who eat tempting things make it harder for me to watch what I eat. :frown:

leannerae40

To each, his or her own. I had the Lap Band surgery and have been very happy with it. I still eat normally....and OMG I still have my hair!! I take normal, yes normal vitamins that everyone else in the world can also take. Two months ago I had all of my levels checked and remarkably, my vitamin/minerals levels are higher now than ever. My blood pressure is normal...blood sugar perfect...no medications daily.

There will ALWAYS be people who have problems...from laser eye surgery..botox injections. There will ALWAYS be people who say that "you can do this without surgery if you try hard enough." Only YOU know if YOU need this in your life. It is merely a tool. I still eat. I just eat less. Because of the weight loss, I feel like exercising and get excited to see what my body can now accomplish. It is by far the "lazy" way out. That hits a nerve with me everytime I see or hear someone make that comment. The "lazy" way out is to do nothing about your weight problem.

Sit down with your doctor. Investigate all the pros and cons. Do as much reserach as you can. I chose the Lap Band because it is reversible if problems arise. I'm not ignorant to the chance that I might have future problems. That is with any surgery you have..be it weight loss or even dental surgery. Do what makes you happy..as you are the one in the end who lives with it.

^^What she said times a million^^ Love my lapband and how things are working. I've spent over $25,000 so far, the most recent on a personal trainer. It's up to each of us to decide what works best for us, and for me, turning 40 this year, this was the best birthday present I could have ever given myself. You'll do what's best but know that the money ($16,450.00) includes a 2 year program AFTER the surgery, which is the fills, psychologist, exercise therapist, registered nurse, surgeon and nutritionist. I also purchased a treadmill, workout dvd's, personal training sessions, and kettle bells. It's a commitment to my health that I believe I never would have made otherwise, but TO EACH THEIR OWN. You make the best decision for you and good luck.

sammniamii

I'll also throw my vote into the "reconsider" it corner. I had a good friend do bypass - yes, she lost alot of weight. BUT... she has now started re-gaining, she has an issue w/ alcohol (which if you do research, will effect you faster) and other mental issues that the surgery by itself will NOT fix.

At one time I considered it, but now after watching her go thru it and sadly, the negative side effects it has had, I won't.

If you do go for it, remember - this is MORE than a physical change to your body. This is a life altering change that will have effects that you may not be able to plan for. There will probably be mental issues as well, so be cautious.

EvgeniZyntx

I lost 70 on my own before having my Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, i kept counting my calories and exercising and was yo-yoing 10 lbs in 3 years so that is when I decided to do the Sleeve after not being able to lose anymore on my own, but like some people say, it is just a tool. U gotta work ur tool. U gotta continue to watch ur calorie intake and up your protein and exercise. I did it for health reasons, my dad had two strokes and a heart attack and he was obese. My mom died at the age of 58 and she was obese. I wanted to see my son grow up and see my grandchildren so i did it and now i no longer have high blood pressure and am off all meds. My best friend decided to do it after I did and now she is diabetic free. I researched for a year about all the surgeries and the less evasive one to me was the sleeve, you don't get mal absorption, my hair didn't fall out at all, i can eat whatever I want just very little (so that lady that said "she wouldn't want not to eat whatever she wanted for the rest of her life" is not true with every individual). I have no regrets. I have joined my friend in selling affordable WLS at Bariatric Solutions Group if you want to take a look. It is a life changing decision and you have to be mentally prepared for it. I thank my surgeon every time i see him for saving my life. I couldn't feel better.

This!! I had VSG in December 2012... best thing I've ever done... no more high blood pressure, my AC1 is normal... I am a new woman!! My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner!!

Since your ticker says you've lost 8 pounds (a pound a month since December) is that correct? Could you let us know how you consider that loss has resulted in BP and AC1 changes. I'm not being a smartbutt, I am truly interested in the impact of this surgery on biomarkers.

Personally, not for/against surgery in general - I think it's a very specific choice best left to the inidividual and their doctor. I am concerned, given the risks, that it is a choice made sometimes without taking them fully into consideration or based on social/promotional pressures.

Anganiesta

Getting the Lap-Band or any Gastric surgery is not a quick fix. It is to help those who have tried everything and still can't lose weight. It mainly is to help those by making them feel full quicker.

As for me I went from eating say - 1 1/2 Big Mac's, medium fry, and a shake, to eating 4-6 oz of food 3 times a day. No more fried foods. No more breads, pasta, rice, cakes, muffins, pretty much anything made with flour; because it turns into a paste after digestion and is extremely painful while and after eating. So unless you are prepared to eat only certain meats and fruits and vegetables, choose to go without the surgery.

Losing weight is a life long process. It's not a diet ,it's a lifestyle change.

erikkmcvay

As many of you have been through, I have lost weight over and over. I am considering Lap Band or Sleeve since I am well over 100lbs over and high BMI. I have lost and gained weight over and over but I am unsuccessful at keeping it off. I lost 50lb on MFP but I have gained 25 back. My insurance wont cover the surgery but I may pay out of pocket or a loan.

Any suggestions?? I would like to loose it the right way without surgery but my health is declining and I cant seem to keep it off. thoughts??

I've known people to do this and with some it helps, with others the weight comes back later and still with some complications arise.

As I do often (and I hope I don't sound like a broken record) try watching 'Hungry For change' as it addresses the reasons why people gain the weight back that they lost. In a nutshell, though, you must change your life in order to keep the weight off.

NonnyMary

i have two questions - especially for those who have had some kind of bariatric surgery -

is it true that the tool that you have that i dont have is that surgery somehow takes away your appetite because of something they do as a side effect of the surgery?

And, have they done any studies on people who are over 60, who have had the bariatric surgery for a while, and are now able to chart statistics as to whether the surgery was a help or a harm? I am thinking of the malabsorption effect of bariatric surgery, if people are constantly malabsorpted of vitamins and nutrients, have they done long term studies to see how the body is at an older age when you really need your total health to deal with old age problems people generally have when they get older. I hope that makes sense what im trying to find out - or is this group of bariatric patients a kind of gunea pig and when you all get old and live your life post-surgery that is when science will be able to tell how successful/harmful the surgeries were.

trevebyn

Having a lapband may help to cut your portion sizes but it will not help you make the right choices. I have found that I am now struggling to be able to eat the healthy proteins and veggies but can guarantee that cakes and chocolates will always go down, and stay down. as others have said think very carefully about why you put the weight back on. You can always eat around the band and then you will start o put the weight back on. There is also no guarantee that your mobility will improve even if you do lose the weight.

1longroad

Why don't you openly discuss the issues here - you'll get good insights from others that might help you break a pattern.

Things to think about:

- What is your current lifestype?
- How do you prepare your food?
- What made you gain the last 25?
- What do you want to achieve?
- How are you currently working on it?

Openly discuss these, and others and people will give you good (and bad, alas) input.

I am not very active because it is so painful to move. I cook when I am up to it but not as much as I should. I think I gained back the 25 lb this last time because I got lazy and not really monitoring my food. Went on vacation, over ate etc. I'm not looking to be thin and I'm too old (53 y/o) to care about how I look in a swim suit. I just want to be albe to walk with my 80 y/o parents without getting so worn out. I really want to feel better and fit it... if that makes any sense.

It makes 100% sense! I can relate to you 100%. I will be 56 in a few days. I have been heavy since I was 10 years old. From the age of 8 I had several traumas, that I never learned to deal with or face, and at 10 I discovered the comfort of food.

I have probably lost and regained over 500 - 800 pound, yo - yoing and getting a little heavier each time.

Last year I decided that I needed to have weight loss surgery, as I couldn't lose weight or stick to a diet. I went to the seminar, as several people I work with had surgery with our surgeon at work. They were having various degrees of success. Today 1 1/2 years later, many have lost only about 20 pounds up to 100 pounds. I took a hard look at the successful losers.

They had a few things in common. They followed their post op instructions to the letter, they changed their eating habits and diet drastically, they became more active. Some are running 5 K's, some are walking, some going to the gym.

I thought, and thought and thought some more (procrastinated, which is usual for me), until March.

I had a Dr. Appt in the beginning of March. I asked about Medifast. I told my MD, that I wanted to try it. I am 5'1" and that day I weighed in at 212.6. He said, "Yes, try it! Just keep your carbs below 200 a day." Well on medifast they are more like 80 or less daily.

I was on Medifast for 1 month and started having horrible gastric problems due to all the soy. So, thought hmmm, I can do this on my own, with relatively no/very low soy, and fresh wholesome food.

Since that day in March, I have been eating 800 to 950 calories a day of good wholesome food. I don't exclude any type of food, but I do limit my carbs. My weight this morning was 166. At this point I am a work in progress.

Please forgive this novel, but I am having success and I would love to help you on your journey. The deciding point, which led me to try such a drastic calorie reduction, was looking at the calorie intake of people who were successful in their bariatric surgery diets, both nutritionally and calorie wise.

Disclaimer: I am not trying to persuade anyone to do this the way I am, and you should get the ok from your doctor before starting a weight loss plan. But, my doctor is happy so far, as am I!!

We can do this with support!! Add me if you are interested in talking!!

jennifershoo

What changed after the 50 lost and before the 25 gained back? Try going back to what you were doing when you lost 50.

Good question. I think my stress level increased due to my living situation changing. My sons moved in and the stress level increased - and I am a stress eater. Also being around my sons who eat tempting things make it harder for me to watch what I eat. :frown:

Then you have to work on how you cope with stress. A lap band is not gonna do that. It won't change the way you look at food.

phoenixgirl81

As others have said, lap band surgery will not help you KEEP the weight off. Only you can do that. If you are a stress eater, you need strategies to deal with that. Counselling, a "buddy" to call when you need them to support you not to stress eat, motivational sayings written around your house, but overall counselling (yes, I said it twice).

When I first started losing weight on MFP, I was about150 lbs overweight. I found that the biggest thing I had to deal with was the "inner voice" that was feeding me the bad habits I have dealt with all my life: you HAVE to finish everything that's on your plate, you MUST cook heaps of food to show someone you love them, you CAN'T order salad/soup when out at a restaurant because you can make that for yourself at home, you HAVE to eat that cake/biscuit/slice/whatever because that person has offered it to you ad they will be offended, you DESERVE to be PUNISHED because you have already slipped up, you DO NOT deserve health and happiness, etc etc etc. I needed to work on that stuff before I had any hope of maintaining any loss I made. 140 lbs later and I know this is for life.

I will give you another example of how restricted eating ability doesn't necessarily make you lose weight. When I was in my twenties, I had a massive accident and had to get my face re-constructed and that involved my jaw being wired shut for 16 weeks. You'd think that I would have lost HEAPS of weight only being able to consume things that I can drink through a straw or suck through my teeth...wrong. I hated myself so much that I self-sabotaged...you would be surprised how much chocolate you can shove in your cheeks, melt, and suck through your teeth. You would be surprised how easy it is to consume sugar (all types, raw, white, brown, icing sugar, etc) with a spoon in the same way. Chocolate milkshakes, lollies and the like. I put ON weight with my jaw wired shut! The same thing can happen with such surgery as lap-band or bariatric sleeves unless you get the psychological stuff sorted.

Further, I have TWO friends, yes two friends, who are currently in hospital getting their stomachs re-constructed after the band has sheared the stomach in two. I know another person through work who had major issues getting the nutrients she needed because, as someone else said, cake seemed to have no problem going in her mouth, but proteins, calcium, etc, "couldn't" get in her mouth because she was too full to eat. So absolutely no different to before she had the surgery, but she is now getting even LESS nutrients. She is currently really sick.

You have identified that it is the psychological stuff that hinders your maintenance of your loss. You just need more supports when you get there. You can lose the weight on your own. You've done it before you can do it again.

sixibabey

everyone ends up fatter then before when they do weight surgery cause their willpower is so weak they just go bk to eating sugary food only they cheat like they will eat a dozen donuts bit by bit or make them into a smoothie. I use to work at a hospital and they would go to support group and just be pulling pizza slices like out of their purses to eat

Portugueselove

I had the RNY Gastric Bypass surgery on December 5th of last year and have done very well with it.

As part of the program I met with counselors, nutritionists and several other medical specialist doctors. The program looked at the big picture and not just the surgery part. The ongoing care and support from my team of medical professionals and support group members keeps me going in the right direction and helps validate the life decisions that I have made.

Every skinny person out there seems to "know someone who has had the surgery and failed" My experience is that the people that I meet and interact with that have had the surgery are happier, healthier and wish they had done the surgery sooner.

Peer reviewed medical studies show that the success rate is better than any other diet plan out there and that fewer than 20% have any complications.

As part of the program, I have changed what I eat, exercise daily and make better food choices all with the added benefit and aid of having a digestive system that is not as efficient at processing every last calorie of food that I consume. I have no more diabetes problems, no high blood pressure issues and my cholesterol is under control. I live a more active lifestyle and feel great.

Weight loss surgery is only successful for people who take advantage of all your particular program has to offer in an effort to change your body and mind. Without change to both, you will fail.

20% complication rate is very high. 1 person in 5 has complications? Wow.

Serious complication with hip replacement is 10 times lower and we still thought it was very high.

I did not say that 20% had serious complications. Many have minor complications that require tweaking of diet or vitamins. The important thing is that the risk is lower than remaining morbidly obese.

Well, this made me look it up:

50% re-OP rates reported: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/lap-band-surgery-half-patients-complications/t/story?id=13187452
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-21/obesity-lap-bands-may-cause-more-complications-than-weight-loss.html

Late complication (serious) rate of 26%
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-21/obesity-lap-bands-may-cause-more-complications-than-weight-loss.html

Major complications range from 1% to 50% (possibly reduced to 8% due to procedure changes)
http://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/lap-band-problems-lap-band-complications.html

So, no, it isn't just vitamins and diet.

Congrats on your success but keep the info balanced.

I think the guy above was talking about the RNY. Kaiser Permanente won't even do lapbands anymore. I know I would never do the Lap Band, I know too many people that had to do a revision to the Sleeve.

Portugueselove

everyone ends up fatter then before when they do weight surgery cause their willpower is so weak they just go bk to eating sugary food only they cheat like they will eat a dozen donuts bit by bit or make them into a smoothie. I use to work at a hospital and they would go to support group and just be pulling pizza slices like out of their purses to eat

LMFAO - people that were serious about losing weight with surgery I am sure kept their weight off, but for those people that probably didn't even diet before surgery and know what to eat then yeah they will gain weight back, but i don't think it will ever be fatter than what they were before. I have a lot of friends that are WLS patients and they kept it off for years, but one of them gained 20 lbs back but she is not fat like she used to be when she was 400 lbs. Also if they ate a dozen donuts, they would freakin barf cuz of all of that sugar.

Portugueselove

i have two questions - especially for those who have had some kind of bariatric surgery -

is it true that the tool that you have that i dont have is that surgery somehow takes away your appetite because of something they do as a side effect of the surgery?

And, have they done any studies on people who are over 60, who have had the bariatric surgery for a while, and are now able to chart statistics as to whether the surgery was a help or a harm? I am thinking of the malabsorption effect of bariatric surgery, if people are constantly malabsorpted of vitamins and nutrients, have they done long term studies to see how the body is at an older age when you really need your total health to deal with old age problems people generally have when they get older. I hope that makes sense what im trying to find out - or is this group of bariatric patients a kind of gunea pig and when you all get old and live your life post-surgery that is when science will be able to tell how successful/harmful the surgeries were.

These questions should be answered by a bariatric surgeon and you have to ask specifically about which surgery because with the sleeve you do not get mal absorption. The bypass yes, dunno about the lapband.

luckydays27

My mom and sister both had lap band.

My sister was first and she lost 100 lbs in the year or so since surgery. Also she had to have hernia surgery because a piece of hot dog got stuck in the band and she could not cough it up and it would not go down. She coughed and coughed until finally, she had to go to the emergency room to get it out. 4 weeks later, she had the hernia surgery to repair the damage. She also has an ulcer caused by stress and improper nutrition to counter the stomach acids. The ulcer and stress has caused her to have increased pressure in her right eye wherein just last week, she had to have eye surgery to get the pressure down. Of course laying on her stomach all day was irritating the ulcer so she had to have all the fluid removed from her band so she could get some rest. And there have been many, many visits to the emergency room or bariatric dr office due to the lap band.

I have seen my sister stuff herself and diet herself to finny. She is skinny but fat. BF% is like 40% even though she weighs 150 or so. Now that she has had all the fluid removed and cant get it put back until August, she is going to watch her cals and exercise and see if she can maintain and get in better shape first. I hope she does, for her own sake.

Watching her struggle with this has been very hard as family member. Plus we lived together for about 4 years worth of her lap band experience so I have seen much of this first hand.

My mother has lost over 150 lbs. She is off all her medications and looks great given that she was over 300 lbs and 4'11". But she looks old, Really, really old. excess skin everywhere. We refuse to go out to eat with her because she has not learned how to eat right with this thing. For her it was a quick fix and boy could I shoot her doctor for allowing her to have this surgery. And with the lap band my mom dumps after nearly every meal. I doubt int eh two years she has had this procedure that she has gone a week without having a dumping incident.

In case you dont know what dumping is, its practically uncontrolled diarrhea after a meal. Within 30 mins of almost every meal my mom needs to use the rest room. This is mainly because she does not follow the doctors diet plan for her. But its still pretty foul to clean your mom's **** in your house because sometimes she just does not make it to the bathroom on time.

Oh, they have both lost much of their hair, my mom more than my sister but noticeable on both. Both look older than their age. My mom more than my sister as well but my mom was bigger. Both had insurance to cover the procedure so at least it was not out of pocket but I think if either had to pay for it, it would be entirely outside the realm of possibility a I have seen the invoices to from the drs to the insurance company. $$$$$$$$

If either of them or both removed the band entirely, they would both gain weight. I am sure of it. Neither of them have learned how to live at the lower weight with proper nutrition since surgery. I hope my sister takes this next month to really give maintenance a try and learn to eat better.

Neither regrets the surgery but my sister wishes she would have tried harder on her own to lose it instead.

Good luck to you though.

NonnyMary

its got to be that your body is being malnourished, literally, like what happens to anorexic people. it does not look too good.. and you still have to watch what you eat. heck someone might be able to eat an egg-size amount of food at a meal but you can pack in a lot of chocolate and liquid drinks (fattening things) if you really want to.. if you get desperate and you get those cravings.. there is no surgery for cravings except a side effect from one of the bariatric surgeries which someone explained but its too complicated for me to re-explain it.

tomander

I love my lapband.

I will be banded 7 years this week (July 6th).

The band saved my life. I started with a 54" waist.... now 30".

I can eat anything in moderation now except rice or apple skins... they just feel strange going down so I avoid them.... and NO carbonated beverages. I still enjoy all other foods (carbs) but in smaller portions.

My only regret is that I didn't have the surgery sooner.

Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 160 lbs

yarwell

I love my lapband.
I can eat anything in moderation now except rice or apple skins... they just feel strange going down so I avoid them.... and NO carbonated beverages. I still enjoy all other foods (carbs) but in smaller portions.

Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 160 lbs

Sounds good Tom. So what's your weight now - and how do you get enough calories to maintain it ?