Thought I was sure about Lap Band...

Hello all!! I need some help if you can spare a minute!!

I have my date scheduled for June 15th. All testing done. I was SURE about the Lap Band until the Dr. said something to me. My reasons for lap band are:

~5'7", weight 275, BMI abt 41. I would be happy with 100 lb weight loss. I dont think I'm "fat enough" for the bypass. technically, yes- but it seems too drastic for me. If I was like 350 or something I would consider it but Im not there yet thank God.
~ 2 young children, ages 4 and 2, less recovery time
~didnt want to deal with malabsorption issue of bypass and side effects like hair loss etc.

So yesterday at an appt. the doc says there is no way I will lose 100 lbs with the band. I dont really understand why not. Am I crazy to think the Drs HAVE to be conservative with their numbers when they tell you will lose 50% of your excess weight? I was looking through posts here and see there are people who have lost 100+ pounds. is it unreasonable for me to think I can get down to 150/160 with the bands help/diet/exercise?

I am considering the sleeve but it seems so new. I will post over there too.

Thank you!!

Hi,

I think you could most definitely lose 100 or more pounds with the band. People do it all the time.


The part about the band that is most concerning to me is the need for reoperation (and it's fairly common to have to have more than one operation with banding) AND a lot of people end up with referred left shoulder pain that can be debilitating. It's a common denominator in banding patients. I haven't seen this complaint with any of the other surgeries, only banding... and it happens a lot. I personally went through horrific pain from this for years and years. It doesn't sound like much, but when you're going through it, it's horrible. Like a stabbing through the shoulder blade that doesn't stop.  It stems from the band irritating the Vagus nerve system or the diaphragm being damaged. It refers the pain through the nerves up into the left shoulder.

If you have any symptoms of reflux, constipation or other gastric disorders, please reconsider having a band placed. It seems to worsen the symptoms (it did for me, as well.)

If your only concern is weight loss, I do believe you could lose 100 pounds with the band. But, I went into surgery a relatively healthy person with a BMI about the same as yours and came out permanently damaged, so it's something to consider... the long term effects.

Read the Revisions board before you make your final decision and I wish you the very best of luck with whatever route you choose.

2 years ago when I had my surgery, my choices were the band or the RNY.  My surgeon didn't do the sleeve at that time and frankly, I didn't know much about it.  Would I choose the sleeve now?  I'm not sure, but perhaps.   I know it would be my choice should I have to have my band removed and couldn't maintain my weight loss on my own.

As to whether or not you can loose 100 lbs with the band.  Yes you can.  I've lost about 200.  The closer you get to goal, the slower the weight comes off, so it may take more than a year for you to lose to your goal and you might even change your goal, higher or lower.

Your surgeon may be talking averages.  The AVERAGE weight loss with the band is 40 to 50% of excess weight according to my surgeon.  I've always figured that I'm way beyond average.  :)

I've had more than one doctor tell me I would only lose 50lbs with the band.  They are shocked when they see me now.  :)   Most people who don't know which surgery I had think I had the RNY.  

Do consider all your options.  Best of luck to you whatever you choose.  And if you choose banding, make sure the surgeon you use is supportive of the band.  That is important.

btw:  according to a bariatric nurse that I talk to at times, the sleeve isn't new in itself.  It's new in that it's being done for weight loss, but the surgery itself has been done for a long time for certain stomach problems/issues and to treat or prevent cancer.

There's a interesting case where stomach cancer ran very strongly in a family and several of the cousins of that family electively decided to have their stomachs removed to prevent cancer.  They're all doing well now.  One woman dropped from a size 12 to a 2 and she can't run for exercise anymore because she can't eat enough to keep the weight on.  She now power-walks for exercise.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13302109/ns/health-health_care/

Go with the sleeve and if you need more reasons why then look at my failed bands group and read about other bandsters who didn't like their bands.

Hmmmm well there are certainly those who have lost 100 + lbs here ! Maybe based on your eating habits or pre op tests clued something clued him in to something that makes him think you would have issues making your goal with the band. It looks like this would have came up earlier on in the deal so you could have researched the sleeve. My Dr offered it to me right before my surgery as my ins just started covering it but I stuck with the band b/c the sleeve seemed a little too new for me at that time .(@ a year ago) There are people on here that like and dislike the band that is all good . Be very careful when you read the posts on here good and bad and research everything for yourself so that you can make the best decision for YOU!  It all depends on the surgery that you feel the most confident about ! All of them have risks and all have some level and amt of failure associated with them. Just research and pick the one right for you!

I think it's absurd to make a blanket statement like "you'll never lose 100 pounds with the band."

It's absurd to say that about ANYTHING. You can lose 100 lbs with almost any tool/plan, IF YOU DO THE WORK required.

Not only that, but thousands of people here and on other forums have lost 100 lbs or more with the help of their band. I would probe the doctor further and ask what he meant by that comment. Do MOST people who get the band lose 100+ pounds? Probably not. Because they don't always commit to the lifestyle required to do so.

The band is not magic.

Does that mean it's not possible to be a band success and lose 100 or more pounds? Absolutely not.

Please don't go by what anyone else has done or not done.

You could do extremely well with the band or it can make you miserable until you have it removed.  As far as I am concerned there is absolutely no advantage the band has that would make it a better choice than the sleeve.  I have had both, so I am not just making this up.

You will never know how you are going to tolerate the band until you have it.  Do some more research and then make up your mind.

Good luck.

Would you be happy at 175 or 180 or 185

If you are then I think your being realstic.. can you get down to 150 or 160 yes you can but it will take a lot of effort those 15 pounds from 160-175 .. it takes a lot of work and effort on your part not just the band so that's why the doctor I believe is making those statements. The band takes work there is no malaborsption so you every calorie you consume counts.. and 2 years post op approx 100 pounds down.. I lost 100 in 14 months and now I have maintained but I'm working to lose another 40 it's not easy.. the weight is not coming off in chunks like it was.. I have to make sure I'm very good on my diet and exercise so can I get these 40 pounds off yes I can do it but it will take lots of work on my part..

I love my band but I was very realistic with my goals I weight 313 and I hope to be at 173-180 range depends how I feel when I get there.. my goal was never 160 I have been heavy my entire life so this surgery was never about being a size 8 or 10 .. It was about not being 313 pounds LOL

 Dear Skinny,

I will give it to you STRAIGHT, if you are looking for a MAGIC WAND and have no intentions of doing the following in your first year I would advise you on getting a surgery that will make you sick to lose weight..aka the bypass also....some Sleevers dump too. Also if you get the Sleeve or bypass YOU WILL HAVE TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING with the band in order to lose weight, never let people fool you...once you remove the stomach  there is no returning back so think long and hard on that.

1. If you are NOT willing or able to follow post op diet instructions - DO NOT GET THE BAND.

2. If you are not willing to follow through with your AFTERCARE meaning getting fills when you need them to HELP you lose weight and unfills if you get too tight (the band is not a exact science sometimes with fill adjustments) DO NOT GET THE BAND.

3. If you are NOT willing or cannot afford to eat properly meaning lean proteins and green veggies 95 percent of the time during weight loss, you can have treats sometimes - DO NOT GET THE BAND.

4. If you are not willing or able to EXERCISE at least 4-5 days per week EVERY DAY during the weight loss phase - DO NOT GET THE BAND.

5. If you are not willing or able to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day during weight loss phase. DO NOT GET THE BAND.

6. If you are NOT MENTALLY OR FINANCIALLY STABLE - DO NOT GET THE BAND, it sometimes takes money for unforeseen problems, like emergency unfills, and Upper GIs and if you don't have a stable income or insurance this could be a disaster if you can't get it unfilled immediately if you find yourself too tight.

7. If you can't see your surgeon often for followup and aftercare WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN GETTING THE BAND PLACED or If you are not close by at least 1-2 hours away from your surgeon and able to see your surgeon every 4-6 weeks, especially in the first year. DO NOT GET THE BAND.

If you ARE ABLE  to do the 7 listed things above, then losing 100 pounds in the first year IS VERY EASY...problem is SO many people do not fit the above category and SHOULD NEVER HAVE GOTTEN the band in the first place.

Your doctor is only giving you stats on WHAT THE AVERAGE PERSON WHO DO NOT FOLLOW RULES WILL LOSE which is about 20-50 pounds the band will give you that if you sit on the couch and eat ice cream and mashed potatoes...lol. I just walked daily and lost 100 pounds easily and have pretty much maintaines my weight loss for 6 years, BUT I've HAD GREAT AFTERCARE and GOT NEEDED fills and UNFILLS as required, no complications - TO DATE.

I would not recommend the band to everyone, I am a working professional and I did not want to risk long term complications and being in and out of the hospitals with a more invasive weight loss surgery.

The Lap Band ONLY restricts the amount of food you eat to about 1 cup of food, ONLY YOU will make weight loss happen by eating lean proteins, keeping your calories less than 1200 calories per day, exercising and drinking water, the BAND ONLY HELPS YOU STICK TO A DIET and make dieting easier...THAT IS YOUR TOOL. and it is ALL in YOUR HANDS in how much weight you will lose and NOT some statistic.

If you want a band get one! my surgeon told me the EXACT SAME thing over 5 years ago that the band would not work for me, but I KNEW ME...and I got what I wanted and so far so good!.

Good luck.