Lap Band and "noise in your head" - need advice!

sharifit53

Surgery people please reply and talk to me so I don't have to listen to the noise in my head!

Kateland said: "Everyone's different in their weight problem causes. My trigger is hunger. I'm unfreakingreasonable when I'm hungry. For me the band not only stopped me from being hungry, but it shut up all the noise in my head. I didn't realize until I got my magic fill how literally obsessed my brain was with my body, other people's bodies, how I compared, how ugly I was, how obsessed with calories, counting, and self worth were tied up in a scale. "

Yahoo, this is so encouraging! My therapist is recommending an increase in my depression medications because of the "noise in my head" over self esteem and relationship issues. I haven't had the surgery yet. What request from my medical Dr. next week? To wait and see before increasing meds, or to increase meds now with the hopes of reducing later?

McKayMachina

I hope you will reconsider. You can lose weight without a dangerous, life-altering surgery.

MissingMyOldSelf

From person experience, the band is NOT a be-all/end-all of food problems and solution to weight loss. My band has hindered a lot, causing me to STILL have many days (even after being completely unfilled) of under calorie goals, vomiting from foods that STILL get stuck, and just a lack of major disappointment from having a leak in the band.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have asked around, found this site, and saved myself a few hundred dollars because I've had more success doing THIS PROGRAM than I have with the lap band, that I got in 09.

But if you're still wanting the surgery, please do your homework and find a good, reputable surgeon. If you have any questions, feel free to message me!

CharlieBarleyMom

I considered the lap band. Went to see the doctor to get answers to my questions. The only answer he had was "as soon as it's done you'll feel better."

I gave up the idea because if I could cut my food down to 1 oz. 3 times a day, I could lose the weight on my own.

Then I found MFP (2 years later).

Now, 6+ months into it, I'm so glad I didn't have the surgery. Too many people that I've met, too many people that I've spoken to, had problems with the surgery, the recovery afterward and most of them gained the weight back because they didn't learn about food, they just stopped eating because they were forced to... when normal eating is back... the weight is back.

Good luck in whatever choice you make, but please get all the information before you make such a committment.

MlleDee

Lap Band doesn't stop you from being hungry. Other gastric surgeries like the sleeve, or bypass, do actually help with hunger issues, by cutting out portions of the stomach. The Lap Band simply restricts the amount you can eat, by causing pain and discomfort in instances of over eating.

If hunger is your biggest problem, talk with your doc, and make sure this is the right surgery for you.

sunkisses

Unless your weight is a currently life-threatening issue, I discourage surgery for weight loss. "Kateland's" story sounds like nonsensical babbling to me. Everyone has discouraging thoughts about themselves, some more than others. That is not what makes people choose to overeat.

The best thing you can do is deal with your "demons", self-evaluate, get therapy, try to understand yourself and why you make the choices you do. Then you will find healthy and permanent ways of dealing with it instead of consuming food. Count your calories even when you overeat. Reduce them by 500 and you'll be able to lose a pound a week.

sharifit53

Getting lots of good advice but what I am looking for is.... what kinds of psychological changes can I hope for after surgery and should I request my Dr. to up my medication (upon the advice of the therapist)? Can I hope to get off the meds after weight loss.

I don't consider myself severely depressed and some that meet me would not think I was depressed at all. But internally, there are a few issues that bother me a lot, so I showed kinda high on the psych eval.

At this point I have so much invested in the idea of surgery that I'm not looking to back out.

So if I could re-title this post it would say: Depression meds and Psychological changes after weight loss... what do you think?

LTGPSA

Haven't had the surgery and wouldn't ever consider it. I know a friend and a family member who have both done it. They both continue to struggle with food and their weight went down at first (obviously - because you basically can't eat anything) but they haven't kept it off. To me, it is not normal to go to such an extreme measure and put your body through something it wasn't intended for. The problem is not the capacity of one's stomach - the problem is something(s) that has to be worked out within ourselves. Get right in your head that you are really read to kick your demons and begin to respect yourself and treat yourself right, get a plan for routine exercise, healthy food choices and plenty of water. That's what's working for me in conjunction with this website. Just sayin...

MlleDee

Getting lots of good advice but what I am looking for is.... what kinds of psychological changes can I hope for after surgery and should I request my Dr. to up my medication (upon the advice of the therapist)? Can I hope to get off the meds after weight loss.

I don't consider myself severely depressed and some that meet me would not think I was depressed at all. But internally, there are a few issues that bother me a lot, so I showed kinda high on the psych eval.

At this point I have so much invested in the idea of surgery that I'm not looking to back out.

So if I could re-title this post it would say: Depression meds and Psychological changes after weight loss... what do you think?

The best advice I ever got was weight loss isn't everything. If you don't deal with the underlying problems that caused you to gain weight in the first place, they just become more evident as you loose weight. For most emotional eaters, food is used as a coping mechanism for a larger underlying physiological problem. Losing the weight might make you feel better about yourself, but if the issues still exists all you have done is strip away your coping mechanism, and left yourself even less prepared to deal with your emotional issues.

So get help, don't expect weight-loss to solve everything.

ChrisStoney

I think it is better if you and your Doctor talk about this issue. Soliciting advice on this site will not help you, as most of the posters here are not mental health professionals and if they are they do not know your history, diagnosis, etc. If you don't think your doctor is helping you get a second opinion from a different doctor. It's encouraging that you are focusing on positive solutions. I know several people who had the lapband done and it is not pleasant to eat after that procedure.

Kermit1976

I think it is better if you and your Doctor talk about this issue. Soliciting advice on this site will not help you, as most of the posters here are not mental health professionals and if they are they do not know your history, diagnosis, etc. If you don't think your doctor is helping you get a second opinion from a different doctor. It's encouraging that you are focusing on positive solutions. I know several people who had the lapband done and it is not pleasant to eat after that procedure.

I agree with this.. go talk to your doctor...
also i found with depression got to get that sorted so then you can make the right choices for you.. whilst you depressed you can make all sorts of decisions and some later may regret. and yes i have had depression and yes i have worked through my issues. hence why i now can be on a site loosing weight but first and foremost go and see your doctor....

mrsmellymac

Ah yes, the vicious cycle of:

"I eat because I'm sad; I'm sad because I eat."

That screams: see a psychologist! Really, talk to a doctor.

If your unhappiness is because of your image, then you will never be happy. Once you fix something, you will always find something else to "fix." and it won't end and you will be unhappy about it. Surgery is a quick fix, but if you don't learn to eat healthy and eat RIGHT, it won't help you at all. I don't know your background, etc. but If you are going to spend money on a surgery, please also alter your lifestyle for it.

My first time losing weight, I lost 50lbs. I had severe depression, but I wasn't on medication (i don't like meds). I was unhappy with myself. I started altering my food choices and EXERCISING. Every morning, I'd wake up unhappy, work out, and be extremely elated all day! And when the pounds melted away, so did my depression.

sharifit53

So for you... weight loss did improve your depression.

My depression is over more things than weight loss but I am hoping the weight loss will improve my ability to cope with the other things. Yes, I will be seeing a therapist who is experienced in weight issues and will also attend support groups, Dr. appointments, and church.... if all those things do not help me overcome depression, then I will have to believe it is medically caused. I hope that is not the case.

Thanks.

poisongirl6485

Getting lots of good advice but what I am looking for is.... what kinds of psychological changes can I hope for after surgery and should I request my Dr. to up my medication (upon the advice of the therapist)? Can I hope to get off the meds after weight loss.

I don't consider myself severely depressed and some that meet me would not think I was depressed at all. But internally, there are a few issues that bother me a lot, so I showed kinda high on the psych eval.

At this point I have so much invested in the idea of surgery that I'm not looking to back out.

So if I could re-title this post it would say: Depression meds and Psychological changes after weight loss... what do you think?

My mom still has issues with cravings and self-control. The only thing stopping her from over indulging and binging on certain foods is that fact that her stomach physically will not allow it and results in her vomiting if she tries to overeat what the band allows.

She has had the lap band for 2+ years, and has had success in the form of 100 lbs lost. But she still has issues with the band being too 'tight' to where foods that should be able to go through get stuck. When foods get stuck or she overeats, it results in a lot of pain until she purges and throws it all up.

mrsmellymac

So for you... weight loss did improve your depression.

My depression is over more things than weight loss but I am hoping the weight loss will improve my ability to cope with the other things. Yes, I will be seeing a therapist who is experienced in weight issues and will also attend support groups, Dr. appointments, and church.... if all those things do not help me overcome depression, then I will have to believe it is medically caused. I hope that is not the case.

Thanks.

hope its not as well! good luck with your journey!

Ilovepeppers

Please skip the surgery. Follow the same post surgery guidelines without the surgery. This will allow you to eat more on special occasions, prevent discomforts, no risk of surgery related problems.

Talk to your doc. Up your meds if needed. But please dont do surgery.

4mydogs

Please take this with a grain of salt, as other posters have mentioned this sounds like a serious issue that you need to consult your Dr. and therapist about. Medication and dosage amounts are totally improper for any of us to comment on as we probably are not health care profesionals and even if we are we only have very little information so it would still be inproper.

That being said, what I know personally is that chosing healthy foods and excercise are really the only magic I know of to safely lose weight, yes its hard work and yes it takes time but it is totally worth it. I have lost 30 pounds so far and have about another 100 to go and working thorugh the food issues I have are part of this process. I honestly have never felt better in my life and working on the reasons why I gained so much weight and how to deal with these emotional issues has been part of my journey.

McKayMachina

Your perception is very "TV-doctor". Despite what Oprah, Dr. Phil, The Doctors, Dr. Oz (and whoever else makes a living off of ratings) says, you don't need to spend your ENTIRE life being "sick" and "suffering" from one disease or another. Stop being a victim and take control of your own health. You have a lot "invested"? Well, learn to cut your losses. You have all sorts of INCREDIBLE information at your fingertips telling you why lapband is an AWFUL idea and will NOT help you in your long-term weight loss goals but you're ignoring it all.

Seriously. Take some time to consider the facts. You don't have to do this to your body.

Good luck.

sharifit53

McKay, Love it that you are losing weight without doing something drastic like surgery. I'm probably about twice your age and have lost weight several times, never more than 30 lbs all by myself but as much as 127, 75, 50, with the help of a medical weight loss clinic. The director of the program, the educators, my personal physician, not to mention my husband, have been through this with me multiple times. I am no longer willing to wait and see if I can do it myself. I am hoping to gain at least 20 productive years by doing this compared to what I would otherwise have. That is worth it. I'm not going to go back and tell my doctors that after all the visits, all the education, all the tests the insurance company has paid for, that I'm ready to give it a go by myself because I am suddenly capable.

There are lots of horror stories out there, to be sure, but I have also been talking to successful people who no longer need to visit these boards and who did not have major problems. I have hope that I can be one of them, and hope is a good thing.

You have good ideas and I wish you complete success and a happy 70 or 80 years coming up.

RAQUELINATOVAR

i think you look great. maybe you just have anxiety. you don't even sound like you would need meds for depression.

AmythistRae

I have considered the gastric sleeve, only because the lap band tends to slip..I haven't yet because at a point of desperation I found green smoothies...but...no one here will understand what you are asking or answer it the way you are looking for hon...the weight loss will not help your depression...unless you work on the fat girl inside you the skinny girl you will be outside won't matter....Often is the case that with weight loss we have this expectation that it will be better if we lose weight but the reality is you have to love yourself...Yes surgery is a way to save your life it is true, that is the reason it exists...and trust me most of us know the feeling of emotional eating...if you try to eat to much with the lap band you will get sick...think about getting council while you lose the weight after surgery...the self loathing does't go away honey...

good luck..If you need a friend I am here....guys stop telling her don't do the surgery..You don't know her story you know your bias on the surgery....it just makes her feel more alone...You don't listen to people when you think you know what you need...why would she listen to strangers...the noises in your head, they aren't going to go away with the surgery angel...losing weight will come from surgery....but remember the eyes see what they want to see...a smaller stomach can be stretched...hypnotherapy while you are recovering might help....journaling...might help too...I wish you luck on your surgery....

clarech82

Hi I know I haven't had a lap band but I just wanted to say that weight loss doesn't cure everything. In fact when I started out I was very depressed and thought that if I was thin all my problems would be gone even the ones that had nothing to do with weight. You hear everyone say that they lost the weight and how happy and confident they are so I thought it would be the same for me.

As I've lost weight ive found that a lot of the problems and feelings I was covering by eating came out more the more I lost and that ive actually found them very difficult to deal with. It's taken me a long time to get to this point where I can face my demons but they are still there and I still have bad days. I also still have pretty bad confidence issues which over time I have come to realise have always been there even before the weight.

Sorry for rambling on and good luck with your surgery if you decide to go with it. I just wanted you to know it probably won't solve everything. One thing I have found to be a massive help with the depression is exercise I just started off going for walks and it made such a difference.

Take care c

ajanmillie

Hi, definitely get the surgery if you need! This is your life. But I agree with the last poster, I have anxiety and "issues" that came out more when I began to lose weight. I don't think it ever goes away. Sometimes I crave cheetos and feel insanely hungry too. I deal with it day to day but exercising helps me quiet the noises. Even walking. Maybe it will help?

snordstrom

I know I am a little late replying here. I agree that you need to talk to your doctor. I have the band and it is absolutely the best thing I have ever done. I tried continuously to get the weight off to no avail. I exercised, watched calories, watched carbs...nothing worked. Please don't take the advice of people who "know someone, who know someone" who had complications. I have not had any issues with eating at all. When people talk about getting stuck it is because A: they did not chew their food well B: they ate too fast C: their band is too tight. The band is adjustable therefore if you are too tight, you simply have to go get some fluid removed. The band is a tool only and will not solve all your problems. Yes, there are some people who do gain back the weight but that is because they didn't deal with their eating issues, it is not the bands fault. I will say it again, it's only a TOOL!! Someone commented that the band is a "dangerous" surgery. I disagree. If anything, it is the least risky of all weight loss surgery's as your internal organs are not being re-routed or changed. The band is completely removable. Feel free to send me a private message if you need to talk.

ff731emt

Hi, I had my lap band in May of 2011. Since my surgery I've lost 89 lbs. I will agree with some of the earlier posts that unless you are prepared for the recovery process, relearning your body, and understanding how you should eat then it is very difficult. If you are at a place where you are willing to learn, and your surgeon will give you the necessary tools to educate yourself, then you should check out at least two Bariatric Surgeons in your area and take a look at Allergan's (the makers of the lap band) website.

My surgeon stresses lean protein, green veggies, exercise, and daily vitamins & minerals. None of these things were a problem for me. I now run 3 miles a day, 4 days a week with my daughter; and I practice softball with her 5 days a week. I go to the gym with my husband 3-4 days a week or work out at work. I carefully track any food that goes into my mouth (now that I've found mfp that should be easier), and I drink 80 oz of water everyday. My starting weight in May was 257lbs.

If you need any advice, please feel free to pm me. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. :happy:


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MzBug

I'm probably about twice your age and have lost weight several times, never more than 30 lbs all by myself but as much as 127, 75, 50, with the help of a medical weight loss clinic. The director of the program, the educators, my personal physician, not to mention my husband, have been through this with me multiple times. I am no longer willing to wait and see if I can do it myself. I am hoping to gain at least 20 productive years by doing this compared to what I would otherwise have. That is worth it. I'm not going to go back and tell my doctors that after all the visits, all the education, all the tests the insurance company has paid for, that I'm ready to give it a go by myself because I am suddenly capable.

I am not trying to talk you out of the surgery in any way. If you feel you need it, go for it. You have lost weight multiple times in the past, and evidently gained it back multiple times. If the re-gain was due to a psychological issue in the past, what will be different this time? Have you taken care of those issues? Sometimes it is an issue of medication adjustment, sometimes not. If you honestly feel that medication and surgery will solve your problem, then do what you feel is right. If you can honestly look yourself in the eye and even think that MAYBE medication and surgery ISN'T the COMPLETE answer.... I would suggest that you delay the surgery until you at least get started on handling the psychological issues. Further discussion with your doctors is encouraged.

mandy_lee86

I have a Lapland and it helped me lose 80 pounds very quickly. But, guess what? In the last six months I gained 30 of it back. After my surgery I did not work out and I thought this "tool" was supposed to make me lose everything. As with gastric, you can eat as much as you want. The band does have issues with leaking, etc. Looking back on it, I woudn't do it again because it did not change my mind set of being addicted to food. The change your mindset on food you have to put i the sweat and tears and work through every pound. The lapband is a major "cop out." I would not suggeste it. I would suggest everyone to put in their sweat and tears into every pound so that you don't have the same issues down the road once you'ved reached your prefered weight. You will never get to your goal unless you have the mindset. When you finally have the mindset, you know deep down inside that NOONE/NOTHING is going to stop you from reaching your goal. I realized this a few weeks back and I've been full force since then. The pounds are coming off and it makes me realize that I was an idiot for putting it off for so long. Just my two sense... Good luck to you, whatever route you choose