New to this, considering Lap Band & have lots of questions

Hi Everyone,

My name is Kara.  I've been reading many of your posts over the past week and have really been considering some type of WLS, and after reading more on the Lap Band, I'm thinking this is the one for me.  But I have soo many questions and I don't even know where to start! So I thought I'd start here.

To tell you a little about me, I've been married for 8 years now and we have have 2 awesome boys (Noah who is 4 & Adam who is 2).   I need to lose 100+ lbs.  My husband is very supportive and he is going to go with me to the doc on Friday (that's my first doc appt to discuss this with him).   I've been down many "diet" roads and have had some successes, some failures, but nothing that has been long term.   Right now I'm the heaviest I've ever been and it is absolutely killing me.  I get exhausted doing most physical activities and my boys like to just go and go!  Kinda like the Energizer bunny! lol 

Like I said, I'm not quite sure where to start, but here are a few questions.
First off. . I'm wondering about the things that aren't told to you about what happens when you have the surgery, recovery, aftewards, etc.  I'm curious to know how it affects you in a social setting, like a wedding or party or any event where there is food.  Do you take your own?  Do you just eat whatever is there?  I know that everyone is affected differently, but I'm curious about recovery...  how long?  Are you able to be up and running at like 80% or 90% within a week or two?  How about food.. I've read and heard that bread is not soo friendly, what about pasta? 
I've heard people say that they went with the other procedure bcuz this is cheatable.  I honestly don't want to know about those ways if it's possible.. but I don't quite get it.  Did you tell your friends and family?  How'd that go?  Anyone go with Henry Ford? 
I called our insurance company yesterday to find out if this is a covered benefit and found out that it is.  So with knowing that, does it still take a long time for the insurance approvals?  How about your regular doc.. anyone have battles and if so, how did it turn out?  Did you leave and go to someone else?    What about how it affects your family (husband/wife, children, anyone living with you)? 

Thanks again.  I really appreciate you reading this and look forward to hear what you have to say!

Thanks,
Kara

Hi Kara,
   I had RNY and my reasoning was, I have a couple of friends that had lapband, and they didn't realize for the rest of their lives they would have to go in and have fills.  Both of them have figured out how to work around the wonderful tool, and have gained a lot of their weight back.  They didn't have the mindset that this was going to work for them as a tool, not as a magic cure.  Bread, pasta and rice aren't friendly.  I'm not even going to try any of it until I'm much further out.  Although I've had pita bread with hummus and it settled ok.
I had the support of most of my friends and family.  They are great.  I went thru Henry Ford (HAP)with Dr.s Genaw and Carlin.  They mostly do the RNY, but some lapbands.  They prefer RNY.  You may want to look into VSG or DS too, but they don't do those at Henry Ford.  Make sure you get very educated.  Personally the last one I would do is the LapBand, but it's all a matter of personal preference.  Read Read Read.
I had no trouble being approved, went through one appeal.  I didn't have a BMI over 40 but I had 3 co-morbidities so had no trouble being approved, but there are other hoops to jump through.  If you've got 100+ labs to lose you probably have a BMI over 40 and should be approved easily.  My doc, had no trouble recommending me for the surgery.  My husband loves it, I'm now a cheap date!  We share most meals with me eating only a couple of tablespoons of food.  I still use a lot of the powdered protein shakes to get all my protein in for the day.
With the Henry Ford bariatric program you have an orientation/education class and then you meet with the surgeon twice before getting your surgery date.  I was approved by HAP for the surgery in November and finally had my surgery scheduled for August.  Luckily, my date was moved up to July 16th, so it took about 8 months from approval to surgery.  Henry Ford is a busy place.  Other people seem to have a shorter wait period. 
I'm really glad you came to the site.  again, education is very valuable.
PM me any time if you've got questions.  I'm not an expert, but I've got some recent experience.
Jan

At first, I was going to get the Lap Band. I was certain about it. Then I started doing more reading. After looking at the gastric sleeve, I decided it was for me. Not as complicated as the RNY, and no device left in my body like the band. You can look it all up. The longer process was the eight months it took me to get approved. But I did as I had to do and was approved on the first try. So far, I have been very happy with the sleeve.

I was horribly tired for two weeks after surgery. I mean beat dead tired. But energy levels have increased along with my food intake. All foods with the sleeve will eventually be OK, but not yet! It is a marathon, not a sprint, and I need to remember that even when I can have those things I want, it will only be in very small amounts.

Good luck!

 When I first looked at WLS, I planned on having the Lap Band. I knew I didn't really want the RNY, I just wanted restriction. Once I looked into it, I absolutely became convinced that the band wasn't for me. The fills, the risk of erosion or slippage, the foods that you just can't eat. That's when I heard about the VSG. I loved that your stomach still functions normally, you just can't eat very much at a time. I also love that once you are past the first month or two, the risk of complications is really low. No foreign object that can screw up. 

Of course, insurance is a concern for you. I have no experience with that as I was a self-pay. 

I've had my lapband for almost two years and have been doing very well with it. I know that the band isn't for everybody, like the RNY, DS, or VSG isn't for everybody either. It takes a lot more follow-up than the other surgeries and it also takes more conscious effort to be compliant as you can still eat sweets because you don't "dump" and you can eat high calorie foods around it.
But, if you follow the band "rules" you can be successful with the band and loose weight. But, like any other WLS, you need to do lifestyle changes like regular exercise.
I haven't had any problems whatsover. I occasionally get "stuck"-mostly due to not chewing well. There are very few things I cannot eat. I can eat pasta, chicken (moist), and almost all breads. So, my diet isn't compromised at all.....
Good luck on your journey!!
This is just my 25 cents on the band
It really does work!
Deb

Hello,

I just wanted to say thank you very much for taking the time to read and respond.  I really appreciate it!  And thank you for your kind words and for sharing your stories.  I've been reading and doing research everyday, and I think I'm still leaning towards the band.  Tomorrow morning I'm going to meet with my primary doctor and discuss this with him and take it from there.   I'm kinda nervous about it, that's for sure! LOL  But it's a good nervous too. 

Anyhow.. thank you very much!!  Everyone on here is soo awesome.. thanks for that!

Kara