To have Lap Band or not????

Kimma34
Kimma34 Posts: 66 Member
edited September 27 in Introduce Yourself
Anyone have any thoughts or opinions on Lap Band Surgery? I'm so torn about this. Sick and tired of being fat and I have tried every diet over and over to no avail. Please help!!!


-Kim

Replies

  • talysshade
    talysshade Posts: 273 Member
    I think that surgery should be your last resort. Nor is a diet the solution. Have you tried yet to use this site, not as much as a diet, but just to track your intake? I've found that after many times trying to lose weight this website has helped me greatly. Simply by putting in what i eat and trying to plan a day ahead and staying under the calorie goal given by the website, i'm actually losing weight!

    I have 100% faith that if you stick with it, and be sure to stay under that calorie goal each day (though not too far) you can lose weight and fat without the surgery. Many others have done it before you.
  • admmommy
    admmommy Posts: 143 Member
    If I were you I would really pay attention to the food intake and exercise. My MIL did the lap band and it gave her problems and she had it taken out and got the gastric bypass done and now she is having problems with that. I cannot stress enough that traditional diet and exercise is the best option.
  • Hedone
    Hedone Posts: 92
    It works, my sister got it and she was almost 300 lbs and now she is down to 150. I think that she could have done it with just exercise and eating right, but I do have to say it works, but it is expensive. Good luck in your decision.
  • rosieflo
    rosieflo Posts: 218
    My dad has gastric bypass surgery 2 years ago. It is a great tool, as long as you realize that is what it is...a tool, and not a quick fix. I have considered it myself, but I know that I have not got my emotional eating under control enough.
    I am doing the 17 day diet...which is not as hoaxy as it sounds by the way...and I really believe this could be the guidelines I need to change my life around.
    Talk to your doctor, your family members, etc. IT takes a lot of support. :)
  • jenniferg83
    jenniferg83 Posts: 278 Member
    I think that surgery should be your last resort. Nor is a diet the solution. Have you tried yet to use this site, not as much as a diet, but just to track your intake? I've found that after many times trying to lose weight this website has helped me greatly. Simply by putting in what i eat and trying to plan a day ahead and staying under the calorie goal given by the website, i'm actually losing weight!

    I have 100% faith that if you stick with it, and be sure to stay under that calorie goal each day (though not too far) you can lose weight and fat without the surgery. Many others have done it before you.

    agree
  • Gennawest
    Gennawest Posts: 171
    my PERSONAL opinion, and i rarely put it down unless I am asked for it, as you did here. I was thinking about getting it too. Then i decided I would give a "diet" a try again. And now I am so happy that I didnt get it. In a lil over 4 months, I have lost 61 lbs. When I see advertisments for the surgery, they say you lose and average of 1-2 lbs a week. I lose an average of 3-4 lbs a week eating correctly and working out (a lot). I am satisfied with the results because my body is shrinking in proportion. Often time when people get a surgery like that, their stomach will shrink but the other parts of their body (typically arms and legs) remain chubby. Plus, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I did it myself. That I can actually achieve what I set my mind to. Whatever you decide to do, I hope that is works for you.
  • SpaceMarkus
    SpaceMarkus Posts: 651
    Try changing your diet and upping your exercise first, for a set period of time (say three months). If you still don't like the results you get, go talk to your doc about it. Surgery should always be a last resort unless medically necessary.
  • rfcollins33
    rfcollins33 Posts: 630
    I would say you should not try to "diet," but try to change your eating/fitness lifestyle. Thats exactly what MFP is all about, not dieting. Not dieting AT ALL. And as far as people saying it works, it works if you work as well. I know a girl who had it, but stuffed herself until she was full, waited until she could fit more, then stuffed in more. So, I think it can work (coming from me who has not had it) if you actually put in the work and have willpower. But, look through these forums, you will see people who have lost all the way up to 300 lbs!! No joke. I'd be willing to bet most of them did it through hard work, changing their bad eating habits, and becoming active. Good luck, and remember it is NOT about dieting. :)
  • Driagnor
    Driagnor Posts: 323 Member
    Not a fan of surgical procedures unless they're 100% necessary. What nutrition / fitness plans have you tried, how long were you on them, and what were the results?
  • catcrazy
    catcrazy Posts: 1,740 Member
    The choice can only be yours but...


    How much do you have to lose?

    Do you think that you have an eating disorder, obsessive eating when you know you are full is an ED too


    I had 100lbs to lose when I started, i'm just over halfway there, it can be done, its not easy but then I don't consider bariatric surgery easy either.

    I'm not for or against surgeries, I believe there is definitely a place for them but I also think sometimes the medical profession push them because its easier and cheaper for them.
  • AngelaPowPowPOW
    AngelaPowPowPOW Posts: 293
    I know that it works for people and they lose weight quickly and look great...BUT...let me tell you a little something people don't talk about:
    As a dental Hygienist, I had three patients who had either the lap band or gastric bypass. Their teeth started to become brittle and decayed, and their breath was horrendous and a never ending battle to fix. Their hair started to become brittle and two of the ladies had skin that started to yellow. What's worse, during procedures, they would have to use the bathroom once a half hour/hour. The smell from the bathroom was so bad, so raw and unprocessed, that I couldn't schedule anyone in the building for an hour following their appointment.
    Why?
    They would eat and nutrients would be *kitten* right back out within minutes. Nothing was going to their teeth, hair, or skin. They were thin, they rocked the size 4....but it was disgusting to be close to them and they knew this.
    Do it the right way and the healthy way.
  • heatherseona
    heatherseona Posts: 49 Member
    I had been thinking about the lap band for almost two years now. I went to a seminar back then and didn't think I was ready yet. But now two years later I went to another seminar and to my first consult. I have decided on the gastric sleeve because I really don't have any other problems medically except for knee pain. I didn't want to cause myself more medical issues and have the nutrition deficiency with the regular bypass and with the lap band it bothered me to have a foreign object in my body long term. But if something falls through with the insurance with the gastic sleeve, my second choice would be the lap band.

    Good luck with whatever choice you make but make it your choice.:smile:

    Laura
  • TaneeisFitforLife
    TaneeisFitforLife Posts: 433
    I considered having the lap band done before I started my weight loss journey (just celebrated my 3rd anniversary of starting yesterday!) and came to the conclusion that I would have to change the way I eat no matter what & to give it one more very honest try at losing it on my own. Which the "last try" seemed to have worked lol

    Like others have said, it's a tool and if you choose to get it then take advantage of all the education that is out there to use it effectively :smile:
  • Dtho5159
    Dtho5159 Posts: 1,054 Member
    My opinion is weight loss surgery should be only used as a life or death issue. If your dr said you'll die within 6 months if you don't drop 100lb then Id say go for it.. I started here at 298. By tracking every bite I put in my mouth and exercising, Ive made it down to 254. Now thats not a lot compared to a lot of people but its a start for me. I still have a little less than 100lb to go but this works. Its not a diet. You have to think of it as a lifestyle change.
  • texaslady9376
    texaslady9376 Posts: 7
    that is crazy!!! i never heard it put like that..i wanted to get it done but at 5'3" and 200lbs, they said i didnt qualify because was obese, but not obese enough!!! (go figure) still a little tiffed about that one, but hey, what can u say? wow!! nice to see an honest side-effect of the surgery discussed...
  • Kimma34
    Kimma34 Posts: 66 Member
    I just want to be thin, look and feel good for once in my life!! Is that too much to ask?????

    -Kim
  • flutterqueen04
    flutterqueen04 Posts: 278
    This is one of those things that you need to do the research on and talk with your doctor about to see how and if it will work for YOU. Honey we ALL want to be healthy and thin and beautiful, that is why we all joined this site. You are NOT alone!! There is no quick fix to weight loss. Every way there is to lose weight has some positives and negatives and needs some work in order to make it work. All weight loss boils down to one simple equation that people always want to avoid, but you CAN'T. Its the "burn more than you eat" equation. You simply have to burn more calories than you eat. That is how you lose weight and keep it off. Not by cutting out food groups, not by taking diet pills, not by cutting out fat, not by surgeries. If you want to maintain and keep your weight off you have to follow that equation. You have to be more active and eat better.

    I know someone who had this surgery. She did lose a ton of weight the first 2 years but then she started having complications. Another thing that happened to her is that she eventually started to eat more and thus her stomach started to be able to hold more so she eventually got back to eating a lot more than she should. Now she is back struggling to lose weight. She is by no means as big as she was so the surgery did help but she didn't realize that there will come a point where she would have to start moving more and eating better/less calories.

    Also if you get the surgery remember to still do strength and toning. The surgery will help you lose weight but you want to avoid the saggy extra skin look. So not beautiful. Just something to keep in mind :ohwell:
  • SabrinaJL
    SabrinaJL Posts: 1,579 Member
    There is no quick fix to weight loss. Every way there is to lose weight has some positives and negatives and needs some work in order to make it work. All weight loss boils down to one simple equation that people always want to avoid, but you CAN'T. Its the "burn more than you eat" equation. You simply have to burn more calories than you eat. That is how you lose weight and keep it off. Not by cutting out food groups, not by taking diet pills, not by cutting out fat, not by surgeries. If you want to maintain and keep your weight off you have to follow that equation. You have to be more active and eat better.

    Very much that. And no, looking and feeling good isn't too much to ask, but you have to work for it, whether you get the surgery or not. A friend of mine had weight loss surgery, lost the weight then gained it all back by going right back to his old habits. I figured, if I was going to have to learn to eat right and start exercising anyway, might as well just do that and see how it works before even considering surgery. It's working.
  • jennro7781
    jennro7781 Posts: 208
    Kim,
    I have seriously thought about the Lap Band surgery myself. I have several close family members who have had either the lap band or gastric bypass (depending on insurance coverage). Only 1 of the 4 women had extraordinary results. She lost close to 150lbs and has kept if off. The other 3 lost somewhere between 30 and 50lbs and gained at least half of what they lost back again within the first year. :( All of them have had negative side effects including constant vomiting, constant nasea, nutrient defiencies, bad breath, dehydration, and the list goes on. As others have said, it's truly a "tool" for your "toolbox" and not a quick fix.

    If you have throughly researched it, checked with your insurance and decide it is the right choice for you...I wish you the best of luck! It is not easy but it can be done! I know how you feel; wanting to feel thin and healthy for a change. It's not to much to ask of yourself. That's why I'm here, on MFP and heading to the gym 6 out of 7 days because I deserve more than this body I am [not] living in. Good luck to you and if you are looking for a friend in this weight loss journey you are more than welcome to request me.
  • jeffrodgers1
    jeffrodgers1 Posts: 991 Member
    I think that surgery should be your last resort. Nor is a diet the solution. Have you tried yet to use this site, not as much as a diet, but just to track your intake? I've found that after many times trying to lose weight this website has helped me greatly. Simply by putting in what i eat and trying to plan a day ahead and staying under the calorie goal given by the website, i'm actually losing weight!

    I have 100% faith that if you stick with it, and be sure to stay under that calorie goal each day (though not too far) you can lose weight and fat without the surgery. Many others have done it before you.

    agree

    TOTALLY AGREE... getting surgery does not change the habits that put you were you are today. A Lifestyle change needs to happen... that includes eating healthy choices and exercise.

    I have two friends...one went the route of bariatric surgery and the resultant infection almost killed her. The other has over time suffered numerous health problems related to nutrient absorbtion.

    There is no silver bullet solution for weight loss...its about choosing to live better and losing weight in a healthy and safe manner. What ever you do, please, Please, PLEASE make an informed decision and weigh ALL of the potential side effects and risks.
  • Chasy21
    Chasy21 Posts: 19
    My mom had gastric, and she told me that I should me my last resort. She lost alot of weight and has keep most of it off. She does not really have a appitiate and is always aware of what she eats. She looks great and loves the way she looks
  • jonikeffer
    jonikeffer Posts: 218 Member
    I realize lap band is reversible and different than the bypass surgeries, so I can't speak to lap band specifically. But I can speak to what happens with a bypass surgery, and it has many negative side effects, some of which people never realize before they get it. Most are not aware of the fact that different sections of our intestinal tract are the only areas on the intestines able to absorb different vitamins and nutrients. So when you cut a section or sections out to do the bypass, your body LOSES it's ability to absorb those vital nutrients entirely. This can have extremely severe consequences.
    I'll give just one example - thiamine. When you get too low on thiamine (which can also happen from excessive drinking when paired with not eating much/well, such as in alcoholics), you get something called Wernicke's or Wernicke-Korsokoff's Syndrome. Check it out online, it includes peripheral nerve damage (extremely painful and not responsive to normal pain medications) and dementia. Surgery should only be used when every other attempt has been made to avoid it AND if you will surely die without it anyway (due to having extensive other health issues that need to be solved by losing weight).
  • lreedcm
    lreedcm Posts: 5
    I had gastric bypass surgery 3 months ago and so far haven't had any problems. I work with over 25 people who have had some form of weight loss surgery. Of the 25 people none of them have had the lap band so I can't speak of the good or bad on it.. We did have 1 person have the sleeve and she had problems only because she thought she could eat and drink what she wanted right after surgery, which you can't do.

    In reading the comments before me I find it very interesting how everyone is against the surgery and stating you are able to lose the weight by changing the way you eat and exercise. I have watch what I have ate and exercised for years, but was not able to loose the weight I needed too. Sometimes your body just won't let you complete that goal.

    Since I work with over 25 people who have had the surgery, I do agree with the statements about the smells of the restroom, but it all depends on what you put into your body that causes those smells. As for the nutritional intake of food. Yes, you do have struggles with that. I have to take a multivitiam, calcuim and B12 on a daily basis, but these are all items that a person would need to take normally.

    I am not saying that you should have the surgery as it was a decision I struggled with over 4 years. Once I made the decision to have the surgery I was scared all the way up to the surgery time. I broke down several times before the surgery asking myself did I make the right decision. I started out at 326 lbs and I am now down to 244 lbs. I lost about 35 lbs prior and have lost the remaining since my surgery. So far my decision has been the best decision I have made in my life.

    I just want you to know there are people on your side with the surgery. I wish you the best in making your decision. If you have any additional questions I would be happen to answer them for you. Just make me a friend.
  • kareterra
    kareterra Posts: 8
    NO NO NO NO NO. I have one - got it about 3 years ago. Think about this - when you eat something that doesn't agree with your band, you throw up. Not when you've finished your meal but two or three times DURING the meal. I got to the point that I kept a cup close by and could throw up without anyone realizing it. What do you throw up? Just about everything that might be considered healthy - vegetables, fruit, cereal, meat, bread, rice, fruit, yogurt, even milk. So then what do you eat? I could eat oatmeal, chips, candy, nuts, ice cream - and i felt like I deserved to be eating this stuff because I had to eat SOMETHING. I ate a candy bar every day because I would get so hungry. I know three other people with a band and they've had the same results. One person actually lost some weight, but she's got to keep her cup by her side. not worth it. Last summer I had issues with my band and had to have it opened all the way up. I can now eat healthy again - and have never appreciated vegetables more than I do now. I've lost 54 lb since I had my band opened up just by eating right and exercising. There IS a better way.
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