Lap Band

Hi. I've recently won a "contest" for free lap band from a very reputable doctor here in central Illinois. I have yo-yo dieted for a few years, losing 40, gaining 20, losing 10, gaining 30. You know the drill. I entered this contest figuring there was no way in heck I'd win, so when they called me to tell me I was a finalist, it blew me away. Then to find out 2 days later I was the winner, I think I'm still in a state of shock.

I go in for pre-op today, and surgery is scheduled for the 3rd. I would appreciate any words of wisdom, advice, good or bad anyone
would please share with me.

My goal is to lose at least 90 lbs, no more than 100lbs.

Thanks for any help.

I hope that appt goes well for you.

I would want to know a lot about
~the Anesthesiologist
~pain medicine after the surgery

In one of your posts your mentioned "removal."
Talk to the MD about that. I am pretty sure that it is considered permanent.

Also ask about side effects of living with the lap band.

Good luck.

Wait...what? A contest?? Red flag! Red flag! Your insurance should cover it if you're eligible, and if you're not eligible, maybe you don't need lap band surgery in the first place. Just how overweight are you? They already scheduled surgery for you without ever having met you???

I had lap band surgery two years ago, but not before months and months and months of counseling, medical screening, nutrition classes, a workout routine, etc. I worked (and still work) with a therapist, a dietitian, a physical trainer, and my surgeon. You can't just walk in for a pre-op, ask a few questions, and waltz into the operating room!

If I were you, I'd cancel the appointment and do some research...and then do some thinking...and then more research and more thinking.

^^^^^^This ...... Also remember all contest winners in the US need to pay tax on the value of their winnings. You also have the option of taking the cash value normally. Anyone I have ever met or heard of that had WL surgery had extensive therapy and medical services before the doctor would schedule surgery. Not trying to be a downer, but this has red flags everywhere. You say you want to lose 90lbs. I thought you had to have over 100lbs to lose, if wrong sorry.

I have to agree with billieljaime on this one. What I just don't understand -- and maybe someone who has had WLS can explain to me -- is how many people state they lost like 15-20 lbs on a restrictive diet PRIOR to surgery to prepare for surgery??? uh... if you can lose weight by dieting, why the surgery then?

I have not -- nor will I ever contemplate any WLS-- I've known too many people who have either gained all their weight back plus more, have had lifetime complications set in, or are dead because of this surgery... it's not worth risking my life over. Just because you have this surgery does not mean you have a free ticket to weight loss... you STILL have to learn behavior modification. And if you learn behavior modification, you lose weight... and THAT is something I DO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT.... I weighed 270 lbs (5'3") at my all time high... I would guess I am now about 1/2 that size -- don't know since I don't weigh myself... but I have gone from a size 26 to a size 4... all because I learned portion control, food group choices, and exercise. It's all about lifestyle change and no surgery in the world can teach you lifestyle change...

I can't speak for everyone, only myself. So to answer your question about why, here is a post I wrote about a month ago:

I had lap band surgery two years ago and I'm happy to share my experience. Keep in mind that everyone is different, though, and surgery may not be the best route for your sister.

I tried many diets over the years, including severe calorie restriction, weight watchers, and Meridia. They all worked to a point, but eventually the weight always came back plus more. Eventually I realized my overeating had little to do with my love of good food. I still love good food. I'm a pretty good cook and I love going to good restaurants. I've never been a junk food junkie. My overeating was directly related to depression. I was on antidepressants for years, but was still unable to control the emotional overeating. Finally, I started to understand that I needed to learn new coping mechanisms to deal with stress, depression, life, that didn't involve food. I've been working with a therapist who specializes in eating disorders for over two years now, and I've made great progress.

NONE of this is thanks to my bariatric surgeon. He's a nice guy, but he's a surgeon, not a therapist. The reason I decided to go with the surgery...well, several reasons, and they're complicated. I had tried and failed so many times before, I didn't think I could face failing again. I was terrified of trying and failing, and my weight kept going up. I was fortunate not to have any other health issues, largely because of my active lifestyle and the fact that I never ate much junk (and genetics), but I knew it was just a matter of time before the weight would catch up to me. When I finally sat down and face reality I was about 120 lbs overweight and the thought of losing all that with no help was just so daunting I wanted to give up completely. If not for my kids, I might have ended it all at that point. How in the world do you lose 120 lbs???? It was just too much...I couldn't face it. My husband is a physician and read up on the medical literature, and weight loss surgery has a great success rate. Yes, people can and do re-gain weight after surgery. Everyone knows someone who has. But a meta analysis of the literature shows that *statistically* it's more successful than any other method of weight loss.

I decided on the lap band vs gastric bypass or sleeve or the other methods because it's the least invasive and can be reversed. My band is pretty loose these days, so I can *almost* eat like "normal." The other surgeries can cause malabsorption issues and you can't drink alcohol or sweets, and I wasn't about to give up any one type of food (or wine!). For six months to a year leading up to the surgery, I had to undergo a whole battery of tests (cardiac ultrasound, endoscopy, blood work, sleep study...can't remember what else) to make sure I was healthy enough to take the surgery. I was also required to lose a certain amount of weight (10% of my weight I think...can't remember now) to prove that I could make healthy choices. I also had a fitness test, treadmill stress test...can't remember what else. Anyway, my point is, you can't decide one day to have the surgery and then go and do it the following week. They put you through so much, that you have plenty of time to think it through and educate yourself before you actually go through with it.

Finally, and MOST IMPORTANT, I would not have had the success I've had if not for my therapist and a LOT of hard work on my mental and emotional relationship to food. I'm happy to say I've been off antidepressants since last summer and I "manage" my depression with exercise.

I still want to lose a lot more weight, but I can honestly say that I've reached my "goal" of having a healthy relationship with food and I'm no longer terrified of failing.

That's my story.

Welcome to the internet where people have varying opinions

good on y ou for having surgery instead of will power
thanks for raising our insurance premiums because you lack self control

Also the surgery is DIRTY

they cut you open and tamper with your insides. Personally I think it is SELFISH for anyone to do it.

I need bewbs, do i go get a boob job?

NO because no one is tampering with me in such a way that could cause complications for me later. PEOPLE DIE from WLS surgery, there are LIFE TIME side effects.

But hey do you, I am more than happy to count calories and do things the right way.

And yes u did cheat, u created a calorie defecit by re arranging your insides, and that quite frankly is gross.

almost Frankensteinish.


I am anit WLS all the way and there is no eveidence that you could EVER present to me that will make me change how I feel about it.

See you in ten years when u wonder why the weight came back on.

I will be munching on my carrots and sitting in my bikini while i respond to your dilemma.

speechless. I'm glad I don't have to meet you face to face because you're a b.i.t.c.h.

Perhaps I am when it comes to this subject.

but a ***** in a bikini at least, hows the WLS working out for you? Wheres your bathing suit pic?

Honestly I went from morbidly obese to bikini ready all on my own, alot of people have done it, as u could have.

But u didnt, u chose to cheat.

I appreciated all of the input I got. So if anyone is interested, here is an update. I have decided against the surgery. Several reasons played a part in this decision. One was that I was losing sleep over it. My biggest thing was that my husband did NOT support this. At the time when I signed up for this free surgery (come to find out I would have to pay for the protein shakes, blood work, chest x-ray AND an EKG) I did not mention it to him. Guess I never thought I would win, so it was pointless to tell him. So I went to the pre-op appointment, and the nurse who did vitals and stuff asked me what meds I was on. I said none. She said, all the prescription meds you're on. Again, nothing. And a third time, all the "prescribed" medications your doctor is giving you. (like I was too stupid to understand the question the first time!!) I told her once again, no meds, and so she said so where is your cpap? I don't have one, I tell her. I had surgery for a deviated septum in my nose. She then take my blood pressure which was an amazing 110/65. She looks shocked, and says this is the first time I've had a patient that didn't have a multitude of conditions as well as high blood pressure. This kind of nagged at me a bit, making me question the reason for this surgery. I am very healthy, with the exception of my weight. I have perfect cholesterol, blood pressure, sugar levels are normal. So why am I doing this? I talk to a friend, who advises me against it, as his wife is a surgical nurse. Came home and started having the same conversation with my husband, and he snidely says, "why are you asking my opinion now? You haven't cared about my thoughts up to this point." That really hurt. So we sat down, and talked, and talked!! He said he would like me to lose weight for my joints, feet etc..but not because I want to look good in a cute dress. He said he'd rather work with me and lose weight himself and we could do it together. I asked if I could have his and our kids' complete support, and he tells me I've always had it.

Just knowing that my physical appearance isn't the most important thing in our relationship has made a huge difference in my decision to not do this. Now I feel I have a new lease on life, and am recommitting myself (and him!) to getting HEALTHIER!!

Thanks to all who were honest with me, and gave your input. Thanks for reading.

ADVICE?!

DONT DO IT

it is a dirty surgery, a cheaters way to weight loss, an american made "quick fix"

Do you now almost all WLS patients GAIN their orignal weight back plus more after about 5 - 10 years?

And why? Because they did not incorporate a life style change!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

DO NOT

tamper with the beautiful body God gave you, fix it on your own through will power and nourishing foods, and learning to live a healthier lifestyle that will take through the rest of your life...

please dont do this..........

that is my advice.

Hi. I've recently won a "contest" for free lap band from a very reputable doctor here in central Illinois. I have yo-yo dieted for a few years, losing 40, gaining 20, losing 10, gaining 30. You know the drill. I entered this contest figuring there was no way in heck I'd win, so when they called me to tell me I was a finalist, it blew me away. Then to find out 2 days later I was the winner, I think I'm still in a state of shock.

I go in for pre-op today, and surgery is scheduled for the 3rd. I would appreciate any words of wisdom, advice, good or bad anyone
would please share with me.

My goal is to lose at least 90 lbs, no more than 100lbs.

Thanks for any help.

I hope that appt goes well for you.

I would want to know a lot about
~the Anesthesiologist
~pain medicine after the surgery

In one of your posts your mentioned "removal."
Talk to the MD about that. I am pretty sure that it is considered permanent.

Also ask about side effects of living with the lap band.

Good luck.

I agree about being informed re: the anesthesiologist, considering a small mistake can make you dead.

As for pain meds, I was offered percocet but I never took it. I filled the script just in case, but the pain was so minimal that I never felt the need to take it, or anything else for that matter. I left the hospital the same day as the surgery (granted, they said that was unusual) and I felt normal within a day a or two. Of course people have different reactions and thresholds to pain, so...