Your reasons, experience - lap band
I've seen where a number of you have had lap band performed. I'd like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind sharing a little bit of your reasoning and experience.
1) If you had to lose X lbs prior to surgery, what prevented you from thinking that you could continue to do so without the operation?
2) How has the lap band helped? If you were losing weight prior to surgery without it, what was the point?
I guess I'm trying to understand the motivation. I was very successful when I worked with my dietitian. The personal accountability is what I believe was the key. I went from 265 to 213 is little over a year. When they closed down the center, I lost that accountability and slowly put the weight back on over the last almost 2 years.
So, I know weight loss is something I'm capable of... I just don't feel sold on it as something that would be beneficial for me and whether or not it is successful long term. It's losing weight that can be easy... keeping it off is a whole other story.
3) A number of you have said that 'my only regret is that I wish I had done it sooner.' Why is that?
Thanks for your help!
Jonnelle
Hey Jonnelle,
I did not have to lose a certain amount of weight before surgery, I did have to do a 6 month weight documentation with my PCP.
I was always able to lose weight on my own before WLS, but like many others I would also gain it back with a little more.
The LapBand has helped me in so many ways. I was to the point to where I could hardly walk at all, I could not drive, I had to take disability from a job that I had worked at for 31 years, I had so many comorbities (sp) it was unreal. I was told in Nov'04 that I had cancer. That is what finally done it for me. After that we when I started checking into the WLS. I was scared to death with all the information that I was getting. I didn't know which hospital,doctor,surgery type. It was very overwhelming (sp) to say the least. The first seminar I went to was with Dr. Morton, but I went to them all and some more than once. But the very last one I went to was again with Dr. Morton and when that one was over I knew which way I was going with WLS.
This surgery has changed my life in so many ways. I am actually starting back to work on Sunday. I feel so much better, I can do more stuff, I can drive again, the seat belt fits now. I am off of my diabetic meds, and just about off my BP beds. I don't have to have my legs wrapped any more for lymphodemia (sp), my legs/ankles do still swell some, but nothing like they use to. I am some what a little more confident around people. I guess you could say that I am slowly coming out of my shell. Use to I would stay in and hardly ever venture out. The reason I say I wish I had done this sooner, is because I know now what all I missed out on before WLS. I missed out on so much with my kids and family.
I have had my little ups and downs, but that is part of this process. But again I would do it again in a heartbeat. I could not have done this without the support of my wonderful DH (who is having his Lapband on 11/11 with Dr. Morton)and other family, and of course my OH family and support groups. This board rocks, they will listen to whatever you say and yes they will comment, weather you want to hear it or not.........lol.....but sometimes you NEED to hear some of this.
I hope this has helped with some of your concerns, for whatever my 2 cents are worth......lol So just jump right in and post, ask, post, ask. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk further. Hope to see you posting often and joining some of our get togethers that we have. Jus****ch the board for all the details.
I will be meeting one of my goals tomorrow. I will be walking in the Walk from Obesity. I am not going to be able to do the whole mile, but I will be walking. If you can, come out and join us, you can register at the Walk. It is going to be at Centennial Park .The registration is $25 and children walk for free. Everyone that is registered will get a t-shirt and a goody bag. If you are not able to walk, then we could use some volunteers to help out with stuff.
Cheryl
Hi Jonnelle,
1. I was not required to lose a certain amount before surgery. I think the reason most surgeons or insurance require a specific amount of weight loss is for the patient to prove they are serious about the surgery. I did lose some weight but I knew it would come back on just like before. From your post and your profile, I'm guessing you know that losing weight isn't nearly as difficult as keeping it off permanently.
2. One of the most important things for me is the band requires you to "think" about what you are eating. If you plan out and think about what you are eating then you will do better. You have to have self control and not purposely try to defeat the band, but it does make it easier to follow the rules of healthy eating. If I mess up and eat very badly one day there is none of the thinking that “Monday I will do better”. With the band, I start right then and to a certain point, it forces you to. I should have done that in the past, but obviously never did or never would have.
3. I wished I had the band sooner because at first I thought I just wasn't trying hard enough, but now I realize the band has helped me more than I would have ever helped myself.
I too could lose weight when I was being watched over. But take that away and it wasn't long before the weight came back. You have to look at the lap-band like this. It is not a solution but a tool. Like anything else you have to know how to use the tool right. Going to your doctor for check-ups and fills are very important. I found that out. I thought that once I had my fill to a place that I felt would control my appetite forever was wrong. I didn't know that over a period of time you would need to get your fills checked and increased to maintain you weight loss. I just found out that I have a leak and that is why I haven't been losing. Once I have that fixed then I will start to lose again and this time I will make sure I go for regular visits. I was thinking about having a revision to gastric bypass but after a lot of research I know that the band is for me. Remember, the band is a tool to help your control what you eat and how much. I lost 60lbs the first year. My brother-in-law lost 95 and my niece 65 before she became pregnant. With the band she was able to keep her from gaining a lot of weight during pregnancy and after she lost 25lbs in 6 weeks, all with the approval of her ob-gyn. Using the band has helped me more than any other diet program I have been on, including the time when I did nothing but drink a protein shake for 6 months. Now that was a mistake. I sounds like you are strong when it comes to control with the help of someone else. Just make that someone else your doctor and the lap-band. It sounds like ya'll would make a great team. Just do your research and go with what feels right for you
