Lap Band

Hey everyone, I have a friend that is looking at having the lap band procedure done. Could any of you that have had it fill me in on some of the pros and cons. Thanks...........Kris

I am new to this site, and went to the support group for the first time last night. I had the lap band one year ago today. I lost 40 lbs in the first 4 months, then plateaued. When I had my surgery, there were no groups or counseling required, and I slipped into some old habits....grazing mostly. I've gained a couple of pounds back, but last night's group gave me some new motivation, and I'm recommitting to the lifestyle changes on this first anniversary. I would like to lose 40-50 more pounds. I'd be happy to answer any questions that I can! Brenda

Kris......There is also a lap-band forum on here......and the main board...both of those places will have a lot more people that have had one! Good Luck to your friend! Jesi

I had a vertical banded gastroplasty, which is quite similar to the lap band, i think. I had this surgery 7-8 years ago. i lost 62 lbs and over the next 7 yrs gained it all back. i had a revision to the RNY gastric bypass on july 10th of this last year (8 months ago) and i have lost 101 lbs and feel GREAT! I am soo very happy, healthy, and and...it's almost undescribable the difference in the surgeries. with the band, you are constricted on the intake of food into the little pouch, while the rest of your stomach is SCREAMING in hunger...i started drinking with my food, and eating soft high calorie food and mushy carbs to get the food through my band and into my stomach to stop those hunger pains. It was terrible. I vomited from getting so hunger and not chewing well enough. I ended up rupturing my staple line, but would have gained back the weight reguardless as i wasn't constricted as far as what i could eat. Now the fear of dumping, and the no no - shame on you for breaking the rules- stomach cramps from the eating of too fatty foods keeps me in line and has changed my whole diet and outlook on eating. I haven't even TRIED sugar, because i dont WANT to know if i dum*****t on it! I really would discourage the lap band for anyone strongly. The feeling of failure i felt when i spent TONS of my families money and all the risks and worries i gave them only to have the surgery fail...well...it was very painful emotionally for me...and almost broke up my marriage, not because of how my husband felt, he was soo supportive and still is...but because of how much of a failure I FELT LIKE. Feel free to give your friend my email and i can share as much as she'd like to know about my experience. ~Dawn Phillips phillips@lvcta.com