second thoughts: advice/info requested

Brian,

I won't comment on the NYTimes articles other than to say I look to medical professionals for medical advice, not the media.

The no carbonated beverages and no ice cream treats rules are no surprise to me. The thinking is that carbonated beverages can stretch the stomach pouch - no matter what kind of bariatric surgery you have - and in my own experience (only 3 yrs & 4 mos), carbonated beverages like diet sodas cause me extreme discomfort. And ice cream? That won't kill you if it's just an occasional treat, and if you can be down & dirty honest about how occasional that is. But the problem with ice cream (again, no matter what surgery you choose) is that even in "healthy" versions, it's a high-calorie, low-nutrition substance that provides absolutely no satiety. Only SOLID food provides satiety. And - again, in my mere 3 yr +4 mo post-op experience - it's just as easy to binge on "healthy" ice cream as regular ice cream.

When I was about 9 months post-op and feeling mighty proud of myself, and having a stressful day dealing with my 89 yr-old mother (in the grips of advanced Alzheimer's), I stopped at Baskin Robbins and ordered a caramel coffee blizzard or something like that, just as "a treat". It tasted great and I felt proud of myself for getting a pre-portioned treat instead of bringing home a gallon of ice cream, until I went on the B&R website and discovered that my treat had 800+ calories of sugar and fat. And an hour after slurping it down, I was hungry again.

Jean

Thanks for the warning, Jean--and I will check out your book, which another poster referred to,

My personal opinion is the band only works if you are a volume eater. It has done next to nothing for me, because I never was a volume eater. My weight gain came from immobility which will never change because of my health situation. I already ate 800-1000 cal. daily before the band so the band didn't change what or how much I ate consequently my weight has not changed but by 20 lbs.
Actually I ate more healthy before the band because now I can't eat whole grain bread or pasta, veggies are iffy and nothing fibrous like broccoli, fruits are also a no go because of seeds and skins. Meat is difficult without sauce or gravy.
If given a do over I would definately go for the sleeve or even RNY over the band.

Thanks--I *am* pretty much a volume eater.  I hope you can find a way to improve your situation.

I am a newly banded person but I did want to add this Brian.  

Any weight loss surgery you choose is a big commitment.   That means lifestyle changes and diet changes.   If giving up carbonated drinks for your health means  you will live longer , and going through a surgery to get healthier is what you choose, then is the soda worth it?   I know for me I gave up all sodas, smoking and caffeine to have this band put in.  Yes it was hell  , but in the long run it will save my life.

As far as the ice -cream.. I have it now and then.   Of course its the sugar free/ low fat kind.  But I know that after having my body cut up and have a band inside me to keep me under control, I try not to eat the bad sugary things anyway.  

Each surgery is different. I have a friend who had the bypass done and cannot eat ANY sugar, sodas or beer.  No carbonation at all.  

Good luck to you in whatever you choose to do.  Glad you are doing research on it.

Thank you!  I know I have to change bad habits.  What I don't like is the idea that I can *never* eat a particular food again.  But I was able to make the switch from sugared (or corn-syruped) sodas to diet 14 years ago, so I should be able to get off the stuff completely.  I'm already drinking more water.

What I don't like is the idea that I can *never* eat a particular food again. 

Me neither! I've never liked sauerkraut, but if my mom had told me, "You're not allowed to eat sauerkraut," I would've eaten it for breakfast, lunch and dinner out of sheer defiance.

One of the things I like about living with my band is that can eat a wide variety of foods I like - just not in huge quantities.

Jean

Tell me about it - 5 years, no bread or bread related foods, sometimes even breading on chicken or fish was a no-no. Dry meat, reheated foods, etc....there is quite a longs list of ifs with the band.

Howdy neighbor, I used to live in Lake Ridge off of Old Bridge Rd, I think I can give you an honest assessment of the Lap band and its effectiveness and longevity with no bias.

I got my band placed over 5 years ago, I lost about 130 pounds with it, I was my surgeon's 10the patient so we were BOTH learning at the time and the band was pretty new at the time I got mines placed. So during this learning process I had MANY MANY fills and a few unfills, which were needed since about every 10 pounds I would lose required me to get more saline added to my band since when you lose weight the fat pad shrinks requiring more saline to tighten the band. The fill process is NEVER AN EXACT science so sometimes it takes a little bit of tweaking to get to the "sweet spot" and sometimes this process involves getting too tight and being RESPONSIBLE to go back to the surgeon to get a little saline removed if we find ourselves too tight which is the number one cause of avoidable complications with the band if we stay too tight too long.

That said, I have NEVER been hospitalized with my band going on 6 years, I ATE TREATS WEEKLY while losing weight with my band, but I allowed my self a "cheat" day and I still lost about 10 pounds per month, BUT I exercised DAILY I took long walks in my subdivision of about 2-3 miles per day and this allowed me more wiggle room to have any treat  I wanted as long as it was not daily.

Regarding sodas and carbonated beverages, I RARELY drink sodas, every once in a while I may drink a ginger ale or sprite, but this is definitely NOT regular, there have been some evidence of those that drank sparkling beverages FREQUENTLY such as beer, alcohol and sodas were linked to band erosion or band slippage so I avoid doing those thing on a regular basis. Also use common sense when losing weight with the band, IT DOES NOT WORK BY ITSELF, you have to WORK IT to get good results, you can LOSE JUST AS QUICKLY WITH THE BAND THAN WITH RNY OR THE SLEEVE, I lost AS QUICKLY AS SOME RNY PATIENTS IN MY SURGEON'S OFFICE simply because I followed the plan 90 percent of the time and I NEVER DIETED, I just ate lean proteins and veggies 90 percent of the time of my weight loss and the band restricted my meals to about 4-5 oz per meal THIS IS YOUR TOOL, the band does NOTHING ELSE, it does not make you sick or choose what you put in your mouth.

Those that looked for the band TO DO MOST OF THE WORK HAVE COMPLICATIONS, you cannot look for the band to do all the work and sit on the couch and keep a too tight band and vomit the weight off, this will lead  to unnecessary complications and possible band damage and removal or a revision surgery.

I am going on 6 years and I still have great restriction and my band IS STILL EFFECTIVE, the only thing I would STRONGLY ADVISED YOU ON IS CHOOSE A SURGEON THAT DOES BANDS ONLY, DO NOT GO TO A SURGEON THAT DOES OTHER TYPES  OF SURGERIES AS THE SLEEVE OR RNY OR DS, THEY WILL NOT FILL YOU PROPERLY and I find these surgeons are not dedicated to band patients and the AFTERCARE it REQUIRES and probably HOPE the band does not work where they can revise you at a later date,  and you may NEVER get to a sweet spot and you may not have great results. If I were you I would look at Dr Pinnar, they ONLY DO BANDS, and they have the specialized equipment and needles to fill the band properly, they do dynamic fills meaning a process where you slightly stand and they fill the band while you drink water -- and I got to my sweet spot in the second fill with Dr Pinnar and my old surgeon I NEVER GOT THERE....I changed from my original surgeon because I NEVER got to my sweet spot, I was always either too tight or too loose, I was about to give up on my band at one point, until someone suggest I see a BAND SURGEON ONLY and I have been the happiest I've ever been with my band, I have been at my sweet spot now since I changed surgeons for about 9 months and my restriction is perfect and I am losing weight again.

I STRONGLY FEEL the band is the SAFEST and the MOST effective surgery LONG TERM IF you have  A GREAT BAND SURGEON AND AFTERCARE those are the key to your success and of course walking and eating right most of the times, even now at 6 years post op as long as I have good restriction and eat junk all the time I will NOT gain weight.

I love my band, I even thought about if I would choose a band TODAY if I had the choice, I looked at the Sleeve Plication it's a brand new technology and surgery type and it is being advertised safer than the Sleeve since they don't removed the stomach, but I am not so sure about now since it causes a lot of heartburn and reflux and there is no evidence of long term restriction like the Lap band has.

Good luck

brian - i have not read all the responses, but did want to offer my perspective.

when one plugs their stats into a BMI calculator & you hit over 30.....your obese.
it's not really surgeons & drs that are against performing WLS @ that BMI - it's the insurance companies wanting to PAY for anything under 35.    

i had a BMI of 32 on day of surgery - needed 70lbs to lose.    i got there well before my first yr, however in the last 3yrs - did have 2 slips.    corrected, band fine - - i eat ALL foods.   there is nothing i can't eat - i was a volume eater alone.   if it was good, i wanted more.
regarding insurance, i knew my exclusion going in that i needed a BMI of 35 w/2 comorbids - i went self pay.

since banding - i have changed insurance, one that will cover a revision should i need one in the future.    part of that one time WLS policy, i've already confirmed my eligibility after my last slip this past fall.   

my surgeon will not perform the lapband on someone who needs more than 75lbs to lose & even then, he prefers the sleeve - but will go with what the patient wants.

don't be in a rush - scan all the forums here on the different surgery types.
i have no complaints w/my success with the band - the aftercare & complications have been a tad annoying.