had my all day session

Hi all, I had my all day session on the 25th at GD. It was very informative and the lady whom had a lapband for the past year was a joy to listen to. However I am concerned after reading all the recent posts here that the band may not work as well as my expectations, particularily concerned with what I understand is difficulty in getting the needed fills. Is there usually a long wait time? I quess as more and more patients are done the wait time will become an issue , if it is already.  Do any lapbanders wish they had the other WL surgeries? 

I would not trade my lapband for anything :) I have been blessed!

It's a different experience for everyone it seems ~ I'll weigh in on the positive side. I had my first fill at 5 weeks out, second fill at about 10-11 weeks ago and then nothing for a year. When I did go back, it was a slight unfill and then a slight refill in February of this year. I have never had problems getting an appointment. I do think I am one of the "lucky" ones who got to proper restriction quickly and that doesn't happen for everyone.

Krista is right.

SO many factors come into play here. I'm new to the band, but I knew it was the right tool for me because I was a volume eater. I still haven't gotten my first fill but I keep losing. I just weighted myself and I lost 2 pounds in two days!!! With no restriction.

The portion control has really helped me.

You really have to factor in alot of things to decide with WLS is best for you. Have you lost weight in the past? with the band you have to expect to work otherwise it won't work. You have to be positive and have a positive attitude and have willpower.

Even with no restriction, I am dieting hardcore right now and it's working. It's not a magic wand and that's the main thing. You will work hard but it will be worth it.

Are you a big sweet eater? Chips, Ice cream, etc? If so, then it's probably not a good idea because these food go down very easily.

Really it's such a personal decision. You have to really evaluate the type of eater you are, the foods you overindulge on, and how much work you are willing to put into it.

I choose the band for many reasons, the first being that it's pregnancy friendly and because my problem was eating large volumes so after extensive research, I concluded the band was the right tool for me.


Good luck on whatever decision you make. All WLS are good surgeries and everyone should decide what's best for them

I do not regret my decision whatsoever. I have lost 69lbs ao far. Has it always been easy? NO. Has the loss been intantaneous? NO. I am working my a$$ off at the gym at least 5 days a week. I do not and cannot eat a lot of the foods I used to eat, but I feel and look great, if I do say so myself.

I shoot straight from the hip. The band is a tool; on its own, it will not do a thing for you. Treat the band right and work with it, results speak for themselves. Exercise is a huge component to this and all WLS, unfortunately, many people want to ignore this aspect. The truth is, if you do not exercise regularly, you will not get maximum results.

At the moment, I believe I have reached my "sweet spot". I am sticking to 1 cup of food per sitting, no drinking before, during or after meals, and I exercise regularly. I have good restriction and have figured out what I can't eat. I do treat myself once in a while, but treats are healthier options as well.

Even gastric bypass recipients gain back their weight if they do not make wise choices. My choice was based on having surgery that would not permanently change my anatomy, and was reversible if required. Ask the Dr's and WLS team's opinion, that's why they are there.

Jet

I will answer as a RnYer.

My surgery is completely reversible if required.  Completely reversible. My stomach is rerouted, not removed and can be reconnected if it were needed to be.   With RnY, if I wanted to become pregnant, ( well not me per say, I am a bit long in the tooth) it is recommended that I wait 2 years but many many RnYers get pregnant the first year and deliver healthy babies with no problems. It is advisible to wait but a lot  don't. Many have RnY because they want to get pregnant  but their obesity prevents it.

I chose RnY because I didn't want to spend the rest of my life dieting .  If I were able to diet and exercise for so long, I wouldn't have needed surgery to start with. I cannot exercise due to my back problem so any wls that required a great deal of exercise to work would be of no use to me. Of course exercise is recommended with RnY too but I cannot so I don't worry about it.  

For right now I do not diet. I dump on sweets and carbs and am lactose intolerant. I don't eat those foods because dumping is no fun. I try to eat 1200 calories or so a day. Right now if I put something in my mouth sweet, I don't like the taste of it. It is sicky sweet and tastes gross. By the time this honeymoonm phase is over I will no longer want anything sweet. Carbs are pretty much the same. I eat very few carbs and no longer crave them. I can take them or leave them. One bite too much and I will dump. For the first time in many many years I control my food. Food does not control me. It feels good to feel normal.

The lap band seems to work well for most banders. I see them all of the time on the lap band sites saying how they love their bands. Even on here there are quite a few who say they love their bands and have lost and are losing well. The band seems to be the easiest surgery wise to get. Less pain and less complications and less troubles.
 
Deb had some really bad times with her RnY and I had a big bleed post op and had a stenosis and was miserable for the first 3 months. I think it is harder to get used to the RnY because there is such a big change.I cannot speak for the band.
 
If you've done your research and chose the wls that best suits your lifestyle and you've decided it's the band, I am sure you will be happy with it. Most are.

 I am sorry but I have a crazy question...Can you explain what dumping is??