Hello Everyone!

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to post to introduce myself. I have been "stalking" this website for weeks now, and officially signed up yesterday.

I am 34-years-old, 5'10" at about 295 pounds and size 24/26. I have been heavy my whole life, but I am at my largest right now. I have done every diet and some worked, but never for a long time.

I am also a single-mom-by-choice to a 1-year-old son. He rocks and I want him to be super proud of me...as his healthy-weight mom! He's not walking quite yet, but as soon as he does, I'm in trouble. I at this weight, it is very hard for me to chase him.

I have always been athletic and strong and active, but at nearly 300, it's hard. I chose the band because it's less invasive. Portion control seems to be my nemesis, so I feel like the band would be a great tool for me.

I'm only in the begining of this process. I went to a seminar last Monday, and I'm waiting for the staff to get back to me about insurance. The waiting is killing me!

While I was reading some of the posts, I noticed there were lots of negative posts. Please tell me it's not all negative!! Are there any positive and long-term results??!! Please introduce yourself!! I don't want to hear from the negative nellies!

Thanks for reading!
Megan

 

Megan no it's not all negative. If you look at the stats...........about 50% of bandsters are able to keep their band 6 years. So if all you need is help with weight loss and maintaning your weight for just a few years then the band might be for you? Some of the lucky ones have been able to revise after having the band.

Now as far as me, I've had my band 2 1/2 years and mine has never worked. You might be one of the lucky ones though! :-)

HI Meg

Your stats sound similar to mine. I also lurked on this site before joining. And like you noticed alot of negative.  As adults, we know good and bad happens with all WLS and not just the bands. I know you will get postings saying dont get the band, but you do what works for YOU.
Research it and ask alot of questions. My ins didnt cover the sleeve and I was not comfy with the bypass. 

There are many successful people on here. I can only hope they respond to you. I was contemplating not answering but I saw myself in your post.



 It will all work out. Am here if you want to chat.

Hi Meg, I have been here about 7 months and post op for 6. You will hear from everyone, both sides. The decision has to be what is right for you. My surgeon suggested I have the sleeve because I was native at the time and with the band you have to exercise. I told him that I had always been an athlete until I had a sports I jury that helped me gain the rest of my weight and become too sedetary. He told me that if I could be active he would agree with my decision for the band.

I had my surgery 1/30/12 and really started exercising a lot about a month out, although you will need to be up and moving day one!

I am down 84 pounds now, the last 10 have been the hardest, but not because of eating the wrong things. Just a two week stall.

I too ate way too much and also was a snacked and boredom eater. Now I eat three small meals and am doing great. I had one fill and do not get hungry for 6-7 hours.

Remember, everyone is different and the band seems to be different for everyone. I am very happy with my choice to have the band.

Good luck to you and welcome!

Hi Meg,
Welcome. I am glad you are at the point of asking questions as that is a very good thing. There is no wls that is one size fits all. Each have very good points and each have bad ones. You should read the forums for each, and especially ask for negative comments about that procedure. That is where you will learn. In addition, do much research on your own. You must not allow yourself to be spoon fed. this is a major step and must not be taken lightly. I literally had months of research and still did not find all I needed to know. Learn as much as you can about each type of wls before you make a decision. There is much to consider.

I know this is not what you were asking for but I want to give you an over all perspective to go from. From here you need to examine your expectations of wls and then you will be ready to go forward.

For example; Some lose very well with their bands and keep it off long term. Others never lose much or regain. Some find it difficult to find a restriction point that fits them and works, sine never do. Some have absolutely no problems wi5th their bands and go on to live well. Others begin to have complications and have to have theirs taken out, sometimes with serious repercussions. The band is the cheapest to have done, but the fills and unfills get to be very expensive. Honestly, I don't recommend it to anyone that is self pay or could lose insurance covering the ongoing care. Count the costs too if you should be one of the unlucky ones to have to have theirs removed. Another surgery means more co pays and deduct ables, at the very least.

Gastric Bypass has been the gold standard for wls for years now, yet many, many people regain their weight and more. The body figures out the malabsorption thing and quits malabsorbing calories but never quits malabsorbing nutrients, hence the handfuls of vitamins. I have seen many lose all their weight, never regain, and are the first to tell you that it was the best thing they have ever done.

DS is another malabsorptive procedure. It has the lowest need for changing habits, the lowest statistics for regain and the best for loss. However, it honestly has failed for some. It is a very involved procedure and while your body will always malabsorb calories the vitamin regimen must  be continued for life.

The sleeve was thought to be the new gold standard but has also shown some weaknesses. Some are asking right now for revision due to very little weight loss or weight loss stopped long before goal is met. There can be surgical complications, as well. I heard someone say recently that getting her sleeve was the worst thing she ever did. Others love theirs and are thrilled with their decision.

Now that I have scared you away from ANY wls I want to tell you a few things I have learned along the way. WLS is not and end all solution to your weight problems, it is a tool only. If you (or anyone else) thinks wls will be the end I am here to tell you that it is not. You will have to change everything about your eating or you will fail. Period. If you don't you will find yourself among those who don't lose or regain. You will have gone through a life threatening surgery with possible life long implications for nothing. It is up to you.

I am eternally grateful that I was able to get a tool to help me with my chronic obesity. However, I was the one who did all the work, and it was and is very hard. My band allowed me to lose 64 pounds, eliminate comorbidities, and improve my quality of life. You can't ask for better. I am currently having some issues, though. I had hoped I would never have to face them but I have. I am waiting to see what will happen. Even should I lose my band I am very glad I got it. No other surgery was available to me when I chose it so I don't know what I might have decided if options were there for me.

You and only you can decide what is right for you. Know all you can and make the best choice you can. Be prepared to work hard for life and you will come out ahead. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to ask questions if you would like and I will try to answer as best I can. 

Sue

There are not positive long term results. But I hate to ruin your excitement with facts.
At this point in time, there is SO much information out there about lapbands and the failure rate. If you can't research thoroughly, you shouldn't go through with surgery of any kind. 

Good luck to you. Since I'm a "negative nelly," I'm going to cease posting to you. I'm sure there will be plenty of others who can tell you all the good stuff you need to hear. I do wish you good luck, no matter what. 

Rather than "negative nellys" I think it would be more appropriate if we were hereby known as "Realistic Rachels".

Hi Megan! Welcome to OH!

I'm Lindsey and I had the band for just under 3 years. I'm 5'11" and was a few pounds heavier than you when I started the WLS process. The first year with my band I lost about 65 lbs, but then spent the next nearly 2 years dealing with complications as my band would just randomly tighten up on me and I would be unable to eat (sometimes even drink). I had to have numerous adjustments and complete unfills. Over those 2 years, I regained nearly any weight I had lost with the band. But, then I was able to revise to the sleeve and lost all of my excess weight.

I agree there are a lot of sad stories on this board regarding band complications. In fact, the negative stats on the band are pretty daunting. This is a great time to educate yourself on the long term results of the band. And when you're reading, remember that even the group that is considered successful with the band long-term only has to lose 55% of their excess weight. So, if the lap band only helped you get down to about 230 lbs, it would count you as a success.

While you would definitely be healthier at 230 lbs and feeling a lot better, I do have to confess that it is pretty awesome to be able to shop in regular stores, think airplane seats are roomy, and everything else that comes with shedding that "Obese" title.

Even though I wish I had not wasted time on the band, WLS is the best thing I've ever done for myself. Life is a lot different at 165 lbs v. 300+.

Why not stack the deck in your favor? There are definitely options out there that offer more positive long-term outcomes statistically. Make sure you look into all the options available: VSG, DS, and RNY too.

To me, when the band so frequently requires follow-up surgeries for repair, replacement, or removal, it loses that "less invasive" title.

Anyway, just some food for thought! Best of luck in your journey no matter what you choose!

Keep us updated,
Lindsey

Hi, I am so glad you are doing your research and that you have been stalking the site.  That is a good way to learn.  You say you want to hear from everyone about their results, however, you say you don't want to hear from the "negative nellies".

Like Maria put, maybe we are not negative nellies, however, realistic rachels...

I wish you success in whichever decision you choose, however, if you want ALL the facts, you need to take in ALL the advice.  I was really happy with my lap band, lost 80 pounds the first year.  Was the ideal patient.  The doctor said I was doing fantastic and told me I was the 'perfect' patient.  Followed everything to a tee..

However, then I developed a hiatal hernia (to no fault of my own).  They had to remove ALL the fluid.  Would NOT remove the band at that time. 

Fast forward 3-1/2 years, during which time I constantly had problems with an unfilled band and could not find any relief.  My doctor had moved 4 times to 3-4 different states.  I lost my insurance.  No other doctor wanted to touch my doctors work since he had moved around so much.

I had a slip.  Okay, we all hear about these.  No big deal right?  Go in, have them readjust it....
WRONG...  My slip cut off ALL the blood supply to my stomach.  By the third night, fourth morning, I was in emergency surgery where they removed the band along with over half of my stomach.  I was in the hospital for a week, had a jejunostomy for the next 2 months.  If you are looking into the band, look into ALL aspects of the band.
I was just diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ulcers, and may also have Fibromyalgia and/or Lupus. 
How is all this related?  My doctor says because of the trauma that my body went through with the band, it developed or "awakened" the Ra.  With the ulcers, well, with the removal of over half of my stomach and the stress, I now have ulcers (bad).

I am not trying to be a negative nelly.... I want you to REALLY look into what can happen.  If you choose to get the band, then I wish you the long term success.  The only thing that I ask is instead of calling "US" names because we did not have the long term success, put yourself in our shoes.  We are really just trying to help you to know the things that we really did not know when we went into this journey...  We are not negative, we are truthful.  We are here trying to help people, not condemn them.  All we ask for is the respect back...

Hello Welcome,

I have had the band over 3 1/2 years and have lost 80 lbs.  I have stayed at a eighty pound lost because I was not exercising.  Two weeks ago I had a fill and lost another 10 lbs I still need to lose about 60 LBS to be at goal. I had the band because my insurance would only cover two surgery's lap band and RNY.  I did not want RNY.  Gastric sleeve is also a new procedure, that they do not know long term results and insurance is just starting to cover it.  The hardest part I have had with my band is I am a fast eater when I am extra hungry i eat to fast, and get first bite syndrome.  I have to remember to chew and chew which is still hard to do after 3 1/2 years.  I would do my band again in a heartbeat but, if I had a choice for the sleeve and the band I would have to research both and pick what would be right for me. 

NANCE