Considering Lapband surgery.. any comments?

Hi.. I am new to this website, this week I went to a seminar about Lapband Surgery, I am considering doing this, but as with any surgery having some reservations about it. If anyone has any comments about this surgery I would appreciate it . I am wondering if after you have the surgery do you still crave the "bad" stuff.. fast food , pasta, bread ect..? how was the liquid diet and the purred food stage? Thanks for your input

I was banded Aug 31 of 05. I've LOVED having my band. I've recently had my third fill and I'm pretty much not craving a whole lot of anything right now. With the band though, you have to remember that there isn't necessarily "bad" food - it's more about portion control then anything else. Though when your aren't feeling hungry you'll find that you won't necessarily have cravings either. Some banders (like myself) have problems digesting rice, soft breads, and lettuce. If you read INAMED's website, they'll actually have a more informed list of foods that can cause problems with banders (and why they are problematic foods). The liquid and puried food stages after surgery (in my personal experience) was easy because I wasn't necessarily hungry so I didn't think I was "missing" out on anything. OH has a great lap band forum - where a lot of really great pre op information is shared. Good Luck! 8/31/05 267/215/Healthy

I'm 9 weeks post-op and I love my band. I just had my first fill last week and I now have good restriction. With the restriction I've not had cravings and I feel satisfied on a small portion. Before surgery I was nervous about just having any sort of surgery -- kind of the idea that if it isn't broke don't fix it. But the surgery went well and I would do it all over again. I feel like a normal person when eating. My surgeon didn't require a pre-op liquid diet and I was only on clear liquids the day of surgery. By the next day when I went home I could have "full liquids" whi*****ludes cheese, mashed potatoes, yogurt and such. My recovery has been vastly different -- easier that is -- than the recovery of some of my co-workers who had the RNY. I'm just 30 and have 2 kids -- the RNY was never something I wanted to consider. If you asked my last October if I would ever have bariatric surgery I would have said you were crazy -- but than I heard about the lap-band. Anyhow, I would do it again in a second and I was happy with St. V's and with my doctor. It was a good experience overall. If you have more questions feel free to e-mail me or check out the lap-band board. Jennifer

I'm also a happy bandster. I have been very fortunate in that I haven't had ANY food intolerances. I can eat bread, but probably only eat it about once (maybe) a week. I "know" that I can have the bad stuff (cookies, candy, fast food, etc), but I voluntarily cut myself off and after the first couple of weeks, I don't crave them anymore. About the only fast food I eat anymore is a side salad and chili from Wendy's. McD's? Didn't like them much before surgery; haven't set foot in the place since. As far as post-surgery diets, I was only on clear fluids the day of surgery, and was released from StV's on full liquids (cheese, yogurt, creamed soups, beans, etc.) My weight loss is considerably slower than that of a RNY patient, but overall I'm losing @ 1 lb per week....which is a heck of a lot better than I ever did before surgery. Email me any time if you want more info. Also, check out the LapBand board, too. Lots of "losers" over there with great info. Bren 248/224/goal? ---------------------- Don't give up what you want most for what you want at the moment.

Sara, I don't want to rain on your parade, BUT it's hard to get a Lap Band with Aetna. Go online and look at clinical bulletin 0157. I would like to have one, but I am going for the RNY as soon as I am approved. Good luck with Aetna. If you have any Aetna questions, please get in touch. I'm not an expert, but I am going through the approval/denial game.