Thought I was sure about Lap Band...
Thanks that was so helpful. I originally wanted the band but I know so many that haven't done well on them. So I changed to the bypass but now I'm having second thoughts especially about the malabsorption. it's scary. So I'm reconsidering the band. I don't need to lose as much as some other people so maybe the band is the best. I've lost 12lbs on pre-op diet and only need to lose 85 more. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Joanna
I am 12 days post band surgery and doing well. You need to listen to your doctor, and then decide what seems right for YOU. Reading lots of info from many people can be discouraging and confusing. You might want to get a book like "Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies" that compares the various surgeries so you can be informed of the differences and make your decision. Good luck.
Ms. Cal Culator
on 5/8/11 4:25 am - Tuvalu
on 5/8/11 4:25 am - Tuvalu
On May 5, 2011 at 1:07 PM Pacific Time, ~~Nana ~. wrote:
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.
And there you have it...another LONG, incorrect post. There is apparently no end.
So, this: "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."
...should probably be addressed by what the pros say. Here are the results of ONE search on ONE complication of the band:
- Hp26 pseudo-achalasia following a slipped laparoscopically placed adjustable gastric band: a case report. N Al-Mozany and M Booth We report a case of a 67 year old female with a complex medical history who developed secondary achalasia from a slipped laparoscopi... ANZ 77 Suppl 1:A46 (2007) PMID 17490170 Email - Log in to bookmark - Z
Pseudo-achalasia following laparoscopically placed adjustable gastric banding. W Wiesner, M Hauser, O Schöb, M Weber and R S Hauser 9/120 patients developed pouch dilatation, esophageal widening and esophageal dysmotility as a late complication, despite normal ban... os 11:513 (2001) PMID 11501366 Email - Log in to bookmark - Z - High resolution esophageal manometry evaluation in symptomatic patients after gastric banding for morbid obesity. Claire Cruiziat, Sabine Roman, Maud Robert, Philippe Espalieu, ... Francois Mion Our aim was to assess esophageal motility and clearance in symptomatic LAGB patients using high resolution manometry (HRM). Twenty-t... Dig Liv Dis 43:116 (2011) PMID 20943447 Email - Log in to bookmark - Z
- Esophageal Dysmotility Disorders After Laparoscopic Gastric Banding-An Underestimated Complication. Naef : This study demonstrates that esophageal motility disorders after LAGB are frequent, poorly appreciated complications. Despite adequ... Ann Surg :1 (2010) PMID 21169806 Email - Log in to bookmark - Z
- Morbid Obesity with Achalasia: A Surgical Challenge. Monika E Hagen, Micheal Sedrak, Oliver J Wagner, Garth Jacobsen, ... Santiago Horgan We report the case of a 69-year-old female patient with early achalasia and obesity who underwent simultaneous laparoscopic gastric... os : (2010) PMID 20373048 Email - Log in to bookmark - Z
- Esophageal motility disorders in the morbidly obese population. J S Koppman, L Poggi, S Szomstein, A Ukleja, A Botoman and R Rosenthal Despite a high prevalence of esophageal dysmotility in our morbidly obese study population, there was a conspicuous absence of sympt... Surg Endos 21:761 (2007) PMID 17285388 Email - Log in to bookmark - Z
- Recurrent aspiration pneumonia after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. M Hofer, C Stöllberger, J Finsterer and S Kriwanek We report a 44-year-old female suffering from dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia 2 years after adjustable banding. Her esophagus was... os 17:565 (2007) PMID 17608276 Email - Log in to bookmark - Z
- Avoiding complications after laparoscopic esophago-gastric banding: experience with 400 consecutive patients. Sergio Boschi, Luciano Fogli, Rossana Daniela Berta, ... Francesco Domenico Capizzi The technique herein presented is effective and useful to prevent postoperative gastric slippage. It does not induce pseudo-achalasi... os 16:1166 (2006) PMID 16989700 Email - Log in to bookmark - Z
- Preoperative esophageal manometry and outcome of laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding. J I Lew, A Daud, M F DiGorgi, L Olivero-Rivera, D G Davis and M Bessler Preoperative esophageal manometry does not predict weight loss or GERD outcomes after LASGB in morbidly obese patients. Postoperativ... Surg Endos 20:1242 (2006) PMID 16858533 Email - Log in to bookmark - Z
The rest of the thread is about diet and exercise (how's that worked for you so far?) and fills...lots and lots of fills. Naomi has had about 70 of them. I could do searches on other complications, but if this doesn't get you asking the EXPERTS instead of the randoms successful cheerleader, then at least you know what you are likely to encounter.
Sue
In any group of a hundred people, there are probably 2 or 3 sociopaths. In a group of a thousand, more like 20-30. They function very well in "affinity groups," where people have things in common and tend to trust strangers. I am NOT saying not to trust anyone. I AM saying that there are probably two dozen sociopaths hanging out here and looking for victims. Most are NOT serial killers.
Read: www.sociopathicstyle.com/traits/classic.htm
You can do anything you put your mind to.........I have lost 90 pounds and hover around 163 (on a good day LOL) started at 254 I will tell you though that I have been trying to get to the magic number of 150 for a long long time. Now granted mostly my fault I don't have the motivation I did the first year and a half and I haven't really addressed my food addiction issues so the battle between my idea weight and food continues.
I personally think the way they get the stats are screwed up..........they take into account those that haven't lost anything on the band also..........Another thing for instance my surgeon picked 123 pounds as a goal weight prior to surgery for me.......123?? WTF that is what they are going by when they calculate my % of effective weight loss..........in other words most of the time they aren't looking at what weight the patient wants to be or feels comfortable at they are going by a standard that they pick...........
Just my opinion but I think they do that to set a realistic expectation and might even be bound contractually by the makers of the band.
The band helps but it takes work..........heck any method of weight loss surgery takes effort so if you are ready to tackle it do so knowing that you can if......you put the effort forth and the band works the way it is supposed to.
Michele
I personally think the way they get the stats are screwed up..........they take into account those that haven't lost anything on the band also..........Another thing for instance my surgeon picked 123 pounds as a goal weight prior to surgery for me.......123?? WTF that is what they are going by when they calculate my % of effective weight loss..........in other words most of the time they aren't looking at what weight the patient wants to be or feels comfortable at they are going by a standard that they pick...........
Just my opinion but I think they do that to set a realistic expectation and might even be bound contractually by the makers of the band.
The band helps but it takes work..........heck any method of weight loss surgery takes effort so if you are ready to tackle it do so knowing that you can if......you put the effort forth and the band works the way it is supposed to.
Michele
He is basically saying that the band alone will not aide in successful weight loss. It is up to the individual to initiate some positive behavioral change. If the patient is not in control of their eating habits prior to the surgery, he or she may experience some difficulty after. Its truly up to the individual because weight can come back on. For example, if u are a person who consume alot of liquids such as soda, juice ..., it will be very easy to regain the weight as the band dose not restrict liquids. if you have a habit of snaking and binging-- weight loss will not be as successful as you would like. I was banded last Feb.
Hi Krissy
I think your surgeon is talking about final end result of the lap band. That does not mean you couldn't lose the 100+ pounds, the important part is, you have to is keep it off. So the 50 pounds your surgeon is talking about would be the overall end result, not about short term.
For most of us it was always possible to lose weight but we just could not keep it off, it always came back.
So, not to make any ones opinion unimportant, but you have to also check how far out someone is when you are taking their answer serious. The people that have been doing it long term like 5-6 years and longer would know a bit more about the weight loss with the band then, say, 6month-2 years out. Many do wonderful the first year or 2, it's the real "long term" that should matter.
Please check out the revisions forum to see which surgery is revised most often. Also all the other boards are great info, not necessarily for the surgery, but for how many have revised from the lap band, you are more inclined to get a better picture of how successfully the band is.
Think about it carefully, because it does affect you for the rest of your life, not just until you've lost a few pounds.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
I think your surgeon is talking about final end result of the lap band. That does not mean you couldn't lose the 100+ pounds, the important part is, you have to is keep it off. So the 50 pounds your surgeon is talking about would be the overall end result, not about short term.
For most of us it was always possible to lose weight but we just could not keep it off, it always came back.
So, not to make any ones opinion unimportant, but you have to also check how far out someone is when you are taking their answer serious. The people that have been doing it long term like 5-6 years and longer would know a bit more about the weight loss with the band then, say, 6month-2 years out. Many do wonderful the first year or 2, it's the real "long term" that should matter.
Please check out the revisions forum to see which surgery is revised most often. Also all the other boards are great info, not necessarily for the surgery, but for how many have revised from the lap band, you are more inclined to get a better picture of how successfully the band is.
Think about it carefully, because it does affect you for the rest of your life, not just until you've lost a few pounds.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
I was 51 years old, 5foot 6 inches tall and 284 pounds when I had my Realize Band.,
I, too, did not think that I needed RNY ---- seemed too drastic to me.
I have lost 135 pounds with no ill effects from my band (almost 2 years out).
I don't know if I have been lucky, or if it was more surgical skill, or what -- but I do know that I went into this surgery 100% committed to change my life.
Some people have issues (reflux, band slippage, port flippage) --- for no reason except for 'it happens'
Some people never adjust to 'bandster eating' and they overeat the band
As a self-pay patient, if I were to do it over, I would give VERY serious thought to the VSG --- same or better results as the band, no mal-absorption and much less follow-up care.
I am lucky that (so far) I have had a very accessible surgeon -- he is affordable, and my husband and I can afford for me to self-pay for all of my follow up appointments.
If you read here --- almost every day you will see someone who is struggling because their insurance changed, or their surgeon changed -- and they can no longer afford their followup care.
I, too, did not think that I needed RNY ---- seemed too drastic to me.
I have lost 135 pounds with no ill effects from my band (almost 2 years out).
I don't know if I have been lucky, or if it was more surgical skill, or what -- but I do know that I went into this surgery 100% committed to change my life.
Some people have issues (reflux, band slippage, port flippage) --- for no reason except for 'it happens'
Some people never adjust to 'bandster eating' and they overeat the band
As a self-pay patient, if I were to do it over, I would give VERY serious thought to the VSG --- same or better results as the band, no mal-absorption and much less follow-up care.
I am lucky that (so far) I have had a very accessible surgeon -- he is affordable, and my husband and I can afford for me to self-pay for all of my follow up appointments.
If you read here --- almost every day you will see someone who is struggling because their insurance changed, or their surgeon changed -- and they can no longer afford their followup care.
See the problerm with the band is that it MAY help you lose 100 lbs. but it may not work at all either. It seems like either it works very well or hardly at all but you won't know that until it's in you. If it doesn't work then you are in for yet another surgery if you are lucky, but many ins. cos are now limiting people to 1 WLS in a lifetime. With the sleeve you know it will work because the stomach is so small. It is definately not a new surgery it has been done for over 50 years for stomach cancer. Any surgeon that can do an RNY can do a sleeve. In fact the sleeve is easier for them. You can eat around any surgery but if you work at it with the sleeve you should have success.
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