can you help me?

Hello. Let me tell you a little about me first, if this is a double post somewhere, I'm terribly sorry, my internet dumped on me..I'm 23 years old and I had back surgery in Feb. 2006. I had a lot of complications and I'm stuck with even more problems now. I have Arachnoiditis and Post Ruptured Disc Syndrome. Arachnoiditis is a chronic pain condition. On my bad days, I can't take a single step without being in horrible pain. Ive gained 9 pounds since the surgery. I was 285 and have held it steady there since I was 14 years old. I've always been very active. Now, I can't really do much of anything and I have no idea how to take the weight off. I was wondering, for those of you who have had the Lap-Band surgery done, was it a success? Would you do it again given the chance? Is the weight loss satisfactory? My surgeon is hounding me to get gastric bypass but I don't want to go through that, and the risks for the Lap Band are not near as high as for the bypass. My family doctor is also ready to back me 110%, he's just waiting for me to make a decision. I'm just really scared and I know I need to make a decision soon. I know the Lap Band isn't a magical wand and that you have to eat right and exercise in order for it to work. I've read just about everything I possibly can on the subject, I just wanted to get some points of view from REAL people. Thank you very much for taking the time to read to this. ANY input at all it greatly appreciated! Thank you so much.

So sorry to hear of your constant pain. As far as surgery choices, I had originally planned on having the lap band done.  The more I thought about it, and talked it over with my surgeon, he and I both determined that for me to have the RNY after all would be the best for me. I am so glad that I listened to him too. There are several on here that have had the lap band, and have done extremely well also. It is not what the band itself does, but how YOU work with the tool that your surgeon gives you. Make sure you talk it over with both your WLS surgeon, and your PCP, because they know your body better than we do on here.  They will really tell you the best options for you, and why they think one procedure is better for you than the other.  Either way, good luck with your choice, and the whole process of getting everything ready!

Good morning and welcome to the Indiana board.  I can relate to some of what you are going through also. I have a bad back and I am in pretty much constant pain also. I have several things wrong some of which is degenertive disc disease, athritis and 2 herniated discs along with constant painful siatica. There is also more wrong but the list can go on and on. I went to the wl surgeon thinking of the lap band. He suggested having the rny and told me the reasons why he thought it would be best for me. I thought about it and decided to go with what he said and I have never regretted a day of it. Like LaChelle said, I would talk to your pcp and surgeon and take into consideration whatever they suggest. Your major thought right now is to lose weight and lose it quickly for the pain. Personally I was told that the rny was the way to go with that. Even though I am in pain every day with my back now I can walk and sit without pain. I don't spend most of my days laying in bed because of 2 reasons, one being I can get up and the other being that the weight that I have lost has helped the back not be as bad as before. I am hoping that by losing more weight down the road is going to make it better. My highest weight was 291 and now it is 196.6 and I have never felt better and keep feeling better every day.  In the end the decision is yours and yours alone. Listen to the things that the surgeon has to say with an open mind. Talk to him about the pros and cons of both lap band and rny, ask him why he thinks the one that he thinks is best for you is the one. I will keep you in my prayers and please don't be afraid to continue to post and ask questions. That is the way we learn.

My hustand is a cronic pain patient after his 5th spinal surgery they cut 2 nerves that went down his left leg and left him unable to walk.. that was 11 years ago. I KNOW about cronic pain... I think you might have trouble getting up and exercising like you should..I also think you should go with what you WLS Dr thinks is best for YOUR body and your limitations. I realize it will get easier to move as you loose the weight... just something to honestly think about...Linda kay

Hello, I'm a bander. Whether I'm deemed a success is really in the eyes of others. In mine I'm still a long way to go but in others I've done very very very well. I've lost 167lbs with the help wls. I love my band. Yet I'm quick to realize that my band.. is well... sometimes to easy to work out of. I suffer from an extreme chronic pain syndrome known as RSD (Reflex Sympethetic Dystrophy). Much like muscular dystrophy only it's of the centeral nervous system. As nerve bundles die off they are left in pain response overdrive. Sometimes not only causing severe pain, but extreme swelling that includes skin ulcers. I have had 16 surgeries to both my legs and both feet to where I have no to little nerve bundles/tracks yet still experience lots of pain. However, that's all I feel. I can't feel a sock or the ground beneath me, therefore leaving me with no sense of balance. Getting the band and loosing the weight helped with much of the degree of pain I was dealing with. But it came with the price. I argued with my surgeon over my band. I wanted it that bad. Having the band means I have to exercise in order to be successful. So even if I'm having a RSD flare up and can barely get up out of bed... that means.... I get up and I'm moving for my band to work and to keep on working. I have to constantly make a concious effort on what I'm putting in my mouth. True ---- this must also be used for ANY wls to be successful. But in my opinion, even more so for the band. If the band is what you truely want, then go for it, but... be realistic with your weight loss if you aren't going to adhere to all the post op instructions including getting up and moving. Good Luck Jodi

If you're done all your homework already, you know that weight loss is slower with the band, and you absorb all calories you consume.  Therefore, you have to be real honest with yourself ... are you going to follow the recommended diet?  Will you see the nutritionist regularly?  Will you be able to get fills regularly as needed, and can you afford them?  (Some insurers pay for fills, some don't, so try to find out now!)  Do you eat a lot of sweets now, ice cream, shakes, etc?  Because if you continue those foods after the band, you're doomed.  And you definitely have to be able to exercise, at least do some walking, maybe in a pool to help with your pain.  If you think you can commit to all this, there's no reason you can't be successful with the band.

Thank you all so much for input. I'm terribly sorry to hear about those of you who are in pain, on the other hand, I'm really glad to know I'm not alone.  That may sound selfish and if it does I truly am sorry I do not mean for it to. Yes I have done a lot of my homework, I can't say that I've done it all until I've actually talked to a WLS which I'm about to call him right now and see if I can't get this started. Yes, I LOVE ice cream. I know that by doing this, it's a whole new lifestyle and I have to be 100% committed. I know that the success depends on ME, and Congrats on losing all the weight you have lost! In my eyes, yes, I see that as a success! I'm ready and willing to do whatever I have to do. I know I have to exercise, and eat right, the eating right will not be a problem at all,  at this point, I don't care if I'm in writhing agony everyday, I'll just have to see if I will be able to take my meds normally afterwards, if I can, I'll just have to double up on them, something I'm very used to doing. My surgeon says he doesn't know if the taking the weight off will "fix" me or not, but there is a chance and as long as there is a chance, no matter how small, to be "normal" again, then I'm going to cling to it like it's a lifeline. I can not live this like this anymore. I have a 5 year old daughter and she deserves to have her mommy back. This is the only hope I have left of that.  I will continue to post and ask questions, thank you so much! I do believe I've found the right place for "support". Thank you all so much you've been a great help.

First of all, welcome and congrats on taking this serious.  It's a major step in taking control of your weight problem.  I am 39 but had back surgery when I was 26.  I had back pain a lot after my surgery.  I have permanent nerve damage from waiting so long to do anything about the back.  I too wanted to do the lapband but my surgeon talked me out of it and I am soooo glad.  I had my gastric bypass in October last year and have lost 117 lbs.  It's been the best thing I've ever done for my family and for myself.  I no longer have back pain at all!  I can do things I never could before.  I can actually get down on the floor and play with my daughter and get up all by myself without pain!  My husband was so reluctant to go with the gastric bypass.  He liked the idea of the lapband much better.  All it took was a meeting with some of the wonderful folks on here to change his mind.  He is thrilled with my success.  We never dreamed it would be this way.  Please think long and hard about what your surgeon suggests.  I was reluctant too but am better off now for going with what the expert chose for me. Keep asking questions on here.  It's a great place to learn things on the ground level.  These people are a fabulous resource! Good luck and God bless, Jacqui