lap band questions

I am considering lap band surgery sometime in the fall.  I would like to ask questions of someone who has had the lap band about eating and drinking.  I would like to know different stages from 1 mo., 3 mo., 6 mo., 1 yr., 2 yrs. and more.  I am a little apprehensive about having surgery.  I know I don't want gastric by pass or the sleeve. Thanks

There are different forums for lap band & RNY as well. If I were you, I'd study each of these. I like you decided about 1 year ago that I wanted the lap band done and was very excited about the procedure. However, when I learned of the lap RNY. I decided on the the lap RNY. I know that I'll cheat if given the chance and espically if I don't have any consquences for my actions. With lap RNY you will learn what you body likes & doesn't like. With the lap band, I know that if I wanted Dairy Queen, all I would have to do is drink water while eating whatever I got....and the lap band would act like a funnel. You would still get the calories. This is just my opinion.

Hi...Thanks for the info.  I haven't heard of lap RYN.     I'll have to research that procedure.  How long have you had your lap RYN?  Can you drink when you eat or do you have to wait an hour before and after? Thanks again!

I haven't had my lap RNY surgery yet. But, I have researched the lap band for about 6-8 months and during that time, I went to a seminar and realized that wasn't the surgery for me. I talked to my doctor, nut. & psych. about the differences and that is when I decided that lap band wasn't for me & that lap RNY was. I need to have consquenses for my actions (vomiting or dumping), in order to teach myself that I don't want whatever food that I'm trying to cheat with. It's not that my food choices are out of control, I just love sweets....and they love my body. Therefore, that is why I look how I look.

I haven't gotten my band yet, but I hope to within the next few months. I frequent the Lap Band forum. I don't post often but I have learned a lot from other people's posts.
As far as eating after drinking is concerned, like many other things, it depends on your surgeon. I'm not sure yet what mine says, but my nutritionist says no drinks 15 minutes before and after eating. It's mainly because it will wash the food through your restricted stomach to the big stomach below. This takes away the "full" feeling and makes room for more food. It's one of the ways you can cheat the band.
Everyone loses at a different rate. If you go over to the Lap Band forum you'll see a bunch of people who have lost a significant amount.
Lap RNY is Laproscopic Gastric Bypass. It stands for Roux-en-Y.

Good luck!

-Robin

Thanks so much for your reply.  I learned a lot from it.  I will check out the Lap Band Forum.  Is that on this website?   I am thinnking of the lap band this fall.  My husband had gastric by pass Nov. 11, 2007 and has lost 144 lbs. I hope he doesn't lose anymore.  He's too skinny now.  I want the lap band because I see all the suffering he goes through.  He is still adjustiing.  He can hardly eat anything without feeling sick.  I don't want to live like that.   Thanks again, Dena  St. Augustine, FL

I'm not trying to change your mind but.... Your body is completely different from your hubby's. What makes him sick, might not make you sick at all. Yes, the lapband forum is on here also...goto select a forum.

Glad I could help.
You can find the Lap Band forum under the "forum" link towards the top of the page.

-Robin

Lap RNY is just like regular RNY but its done laproscopically like the lap band.  Most bypass surgeries are done this way. Unless your liver or any scar tissue is in the way. The only difference is how long your out of commision after surgery

I glanced at your reponses and thought I'd chime in. Do your homework.  You have to find the right surgery and the right surgeon for you.  I'm banded but that's not for everybody.  RNY was the only other choice at the time I had my surgery but I didn't want anything "bypassed" so I went with the band.  The sleeve is the newest thing and I have concerns about removing 80% of your stomach.  "Removal" scares me because if you needed it "undone"......  But that's just me. If you ask 10 people the same 1 month, 3 month, 6 month, one year, 2 year or more question.....you'll get 10 different answers.  We're all different.  I can tell you that I had one pain shot after surgery and never took another thing for pain.... not even aspirin.  My sister was banded at the same day, an hour after me and she lived on pain meds for about 48 hours.  I've always had a problem with bread, she never has.  She can eat very small amounts of pasta and I can't.  We're all different. As a support group leader, I see lots of people and hear lots of stories.  Bottom line is we're all dealng with eating issues and what works for us.  So we all tell our stories but I make sure that everybody knows "that may not be the case with you".   We're all a bit apprehensive because we're all worried this won't work for us.....not to mention the apprehension of surgery.  Some of us don't tell friends and family about our decision to have surgery so they don't look at us with that "oh, another diet program" look.  But that's a personal decision. With all the apprehension, all the problems, all the new experiences, all the new eating habits, and all the life changes, it will be the best decision you ever made.  Few people with regrets out there, but there are some.  My only regret?  This surgery wasn't available to me 30 years ago. La Wanda