New here! Researching and Learning!
I am new to this site. I am very interested in getting the lap band. I have been doing a lot of research, trying to really learn the in's and out's of the procedure, both short and long term effects, and all the work that needs to be put into it. I am not interested in a 'quick fix', or anything overly invasive like the gastric bypass surgery. But I am very open to the lap band and look to it hoping that it will help me with my portion control and also help to curve my hunger. At 24 I am 5’4 and 300 pounds, and I am ready for change. Living in Hawaii rice is a everyday food but I am already cutting down on my carbs. I am ready for a change, and want to make sure that the lap band will really be beneficial for me. I am not interested in losing tons of weight quickly to look good but rather I am looking for something that will help me long term so that I can live a healthier life and be more active for myself and especially my children. I tire of losing my breath just from walking up a flight of stairs, and am looking for a change J If anyone has more insight or experiences and would like to share that would be awesome. I am trying to learn as much as possible, the good the bad and the ugly of it all. So please share your lap band wisdom! Mahalo!
I think you are a perfect candidate for the lapband. You know it is not an instant fix, just a tool. I think it will provide what your looking for interms of a reduced appetitie- eventually that is. Be aware it usually takes people a few fills to get restriction- seems like often it's 3 or 4 that does it. Until then, you will be hungry. It's known as "bandster hell".
Thats great you already started reducing your carbs. I swear by a lowcarb/lowfat/high protien diet. Starting a little excersise would be great too. Start out slow and gradually increase your intensity and/or duration. Walking woud be great. It's fine to start at a slow pace and not go that far, just so you can get moving. You can then gradually work on increasing your pace and/or the distance you walk.
Again, I think you are an excellent canditdate, you are very realalistic in what the band will provide for you.
Keep us posted on how your doing! Best wishes!
Thats great you already started reducing your carbs. I swear by a lowcarb/lowfat/high protien diet. Starting a little excersise would be great too. Start out slow and gradually increase your intensity and/or duration. Walking woud be great. It's fine to start at a slow pace and not go that far, just so you can get moving. You can then gradually work on increasing your pace and/or the distance you walk.
Again, I think you are an excellent canditdate, you are very realalistic in what the band will provide for you.
Keep us posted on how your doing! Best wishes!
Looks like you are on your way to making a healthy decision. You are too young NOT to get a surgery to help you with your life goals. And this is a tool, not a quick fix. It will help "police" your eating but you have to want to make the necessary changes that go along with a healthy lifestyle. You will definitely need to watch your portions, follow the band rules, and get your exercise.
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
(deactivated member)
on 6/14/11 2:03 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
on 6/14/11 2:03 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
Have you considered having the sleeve ? It's restrictive like the band and there is no malabsorbtion like the RNY and DS.
Please visit these forums for more information.
Sleeve Forum
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/
WLS complications Forum
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/complications/
Revisions Forum
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/a,messageboard/board_id, 5360/
Failed Lap Bands Forum
www.obesityhelp.com/group/failed_lap_bands/discussion/
Please visit these forums for more information.
Sleeve Forum
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/
WLS complications Forum
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/complications/
Revisions Forum
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/a,messageboard/board_id, 5360/
Failed Lap Bands Forum
www.obesityhelp.com/group/failed_lap_bands/discussion/
(deactivated member)
on 6/14/11 1:51 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
on 6/14/11 1:51 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
I was banded with my first band on June 19Th 2006. This band caused me to vomit multiple times per week, and suffer from severe esophageal reflux every night when I went to sleep.
I had to sleep in an up right position....Yet still I would awake with a mouthful of burning acid.
The acid was so hot that it actually burned the back of my throat and that lasted for a few days. My PCP had me on a PPI and even that did not stop the acid. There were many times I was unable to swallow my own saliva and/or swallow water. Even unfilled I suffered from the acid reflux and band tightening.
I experienced left shoulder pain from day one and it never went fully away. I listened to those on this very board with their well meaning advice telling me it, " was just gas " or that I was eating too fast, or not chewing my food well enough. I followed their advice and still I kept experiencing esophageal reflux every night.
Left shoulder pain can be considered normal under certain cir****tances. For example :
After abdominal surgery ( WLS ) you will experience trapped gas in your shoulders, but that gas usually dissipates within a week or two MAX.
The only reason someone with a band would experience left shoulder pain months/years after surgery is because they are experiencing diaphragmatic pain. The diaphragm cannot feel pain and refers the pain to the left, right, and sometimes both shoulders, as well as the chest and neck.
This pain can be confused with cardiac symptoms and anxiety attacks. Your left shoulder, arm, back,throat,neck and/or chest will hurt like you are experiencing a heart attack.
If the band is not removed in a timely manner the damage to your diaphragm may become permanent.
My daughter who was banded the same day as myself had to have her first band removed for the same exact reasons I had to have mine removed.
Our bands had slipped.
I was banded with my second band in December of 2008. This was an unplanned emergency surgery, so I was not prepared to revise to another surgery without being fully informed. I regretfully chose to have a second band placed, as well as my daughter.
At this point I had loss 70 lbs the hard way. From 2008 to the time of my second revision. I was still able to maintain my 70 lbs loss. This was not because of my band. It was because I was determined to not gain any of my pre-op weight back. I had been through enough and I wasn't going to allow myself to gain any of that weight back.
I experienced even more left shoulder, back pain, now was experiencing a whole new set of problems. Esophageal Motility Disorder & Dysphagia.
"The esophagus functions solely to deliver food from the mouth to the stomach where the process of digestion can begin. Efficient transport by the esophagus requires a coordinated, sequential motility pattern that propels food from above and clears acid and bile reflux from below. Disruption of this highly integrated muscular motion limits delivery of food and fluid, as well as causes a bothersome sense of dysphagia and chest pain"
I woke up with my air passage fully obstructed one night. I tried very hard not to panic and ran across my room to the bathroom where I was able to bend over the toilet while using both fists to press in on my stomach. I was able to successfully dislodge the object from my air way. I could have died right then and there.
I knew my problems with the band were becoming worse, so I had to do something about it. I called my surgeon and was able to get in that very day. I was directly admitted to the hospital where I stayed for six days. They removed my lap band and performed a VSG on me.
My band had slipped again.
There are many who have been programmed into thinking by the makers of the Lap Band, Realize Band, and The O band that the band is " Minimally Invasive & Reversible " That is complete brain washing and anyone who chooses to go forward with having a band implanted for these reasons, need to research more because as you can see just by mine and my daughters experience alone.
That our surgeries combined totaled altogether SIX ' Minimally Invasive " surgeries.
My band was not reversible....it was removable, but not until it had already caused severe nerve and thoracic pain which just may end up being permanent damage.
Only time will tell........
I had to sleep in an up right position....Yet still I would awake with a mouthful of burning acid.
The acid was so hot that it actually burned the back of my throat and that lasted for a few days. My PCP had me on a PPI and even that did not stop the acid. There were many times I was unable to swallow my own saliva and/or swallow water. Even unfilled I suffered from the acid reflux and band tightening.
I experienced left shoulder pain from day one and it never went fully away. I listened to those on this very board with their well meaning advice telling me it, " was just gas " or that I was eating too fast, or not chewing my food well enough. I followed their advice and still I kept experiencing esophageal reflux every night.
Left shoulder pain can be considered normal under certain cir****tances. For example :
After abdominal surgery ( WLS ) you will experience trapped gas in your shoulders, but that gas usually dissipates within a week or two MAX.
The only reason someone with a band would experience left shoulder pain months/years after surgery is because they are experiencing diaphragmatic pain. The diaphragm cannot feel pain and refers the pain to the left, right, and sometimes both shoulders, as well as the chest and neck.
This pain can be confused with cardiac symptoms and anxiety attacks. Your left shoulder, arm, back,throat,neck and/or chest will hurt like you are experiencing a heart attack.
If the band is not removed in a timely manner the damage to your diaphragm may become permanent.
My daughter who was banded the same day as myself had to have her first band removed for the same exact reasons I had to have mine removed.
Our bands had slipped.
I was banded with my second band in December of 2008. This was an unplanned emergency surgery, so I was not prepared to revise to another surgery without being fully informed. I regretfully chose to have a second band placed, as well as my daughter.
At this point I had loss 70 lbs the hard way. From 2008 to the time of my second revision. I was still able to maintain my 70 lbs loss. This was not because of my band. It was because I was determined to not gain any of my pre-op weight back. I had been through enough and I wasn't going to allow myself to gain any of that weight back.
I experienced even more left shoulder, back pain, now was experiencing a whole new set of problems. Esophageal Motility Disorder & Dysphagia.
"The esophagus functions solely to deliver food from the mouth to the stomach where the process of digestion can begin. Efficient transport by the esophagus requires a coordinated, sequential motility pattern that propels food from above and clears acid and bile reflux from below. Disruption of this highly integrated muscular motion limits delivery of food and fluid, as well as causes a bothersome sense of dysphagia and chest pain"
I woke up with my air passage fully obstructed one night. I tried very hard not to panic and ran across my room to the bathroom where I was able to bend over the toilet while using both fists to press in on my stomach. I was able to successfully dislodge the object from my air way. I could have died right then and there.
I knew my problems with the band were becoming worse, so I had to do something about it. I called my surgeon and was able to get in that very day. I was directly admitted to the hospital where I stayed for six days. They removed my lap band and performed a VSG on me.
My band had slipped again.
There are many who have been programmed into thinking by the makers of the Lap Band, Realize Band, and The O band that the band is " Minimally Invasive & Reversible " That is complete brain washing and anyone who chooses to go forward with having a band implanted for these reasons, need to research more because as you can see just by mine and my daughters experience alone.
That our surgeries combined totaled altogether SIX ' Minimally Invasive " surgeries.
My band was not reversible....it was removable, but not until it had already caused severe nerve and thoracic pain which just may end up being permanent damage.
Only time will tell........
I am soooo glad that you're reaching out and asking for advice.
I was you except 320 lbs at 5'4.
I was not approved for anything else but the lapband as I had just finished treatment for cancer. I was so desperate to be healthy and live normally that I took the chance on the band even tho I was going into being told that my metabolism was shot from being so heavy and it most likely would NOT work. Again, I was desperate.
I had the band for 3 years and the only thing I lost was 3 years! Oh and the health of my esophagus, lining of my stomach and over all health. I finally was so malnutritioned and dehydrated for the final time and hospitalized for 13 days where they removed the fluid from my band and started me on my way to health. 6 months later I was finally healthy enough to have the only Bariatric surgery that would work on metabolic issues-the DS. I've never looked back and am soooo thankful, grateful and loving life.
Please reconsider and check into either the sleeve or DS.
My story is not unique or individual-I'm one of three in my personal group of friends that have had the band and had it removed.
The lapband is a good concept and I'm not disputing that but it does not work for many. It's a foreign item-it does not belong in your body in my opinion and our bodies know it.
Please please my friend, don't take the chance.
I was you except 320 lbs at 5'4.
I was not approved for anything else but the lapband as I had just finished treatment for cancer. I was so desperate to be healthy and live normally that I took the chance on the band even tho I was going into being told that my metabolism was shot from being so heavy and it most likely would NOT work. Again, I was desperate.
I had the band for 3 years and the only thing I lost was 3 years! Oh and the health of my esophagus, lining of my stomach and over all health. I finally was so malnutritioned and dehydrated for the final time and hospitalized for 13 days where they removed the fluid from my band and started me on my way to health. 6 months later I was finally healthy enough to have the only Bariatric surgery that would work on metabolic issues-the DS. I've never looked back and am soooo thankful, grateful and loving life.
Please reconsider and check into either the sleeve or DS.
My story is not unique or individual-I'm one of three in my personal group of friends that have had the band and had it removed.
The lapband is a good concept and I'm not disputing that but it does not work for many. It's a foreign item-it does not belong in your body in my opinion and our bodies know it.
Please please my friend, don't take the chance.
Ronda-SURVIVOR
starting wt-320
pre op-312
current-256
starting wt-320
pre op-312
current-256
hello!
I originally came to OH thinking about having lapband and read on this forum quite a bit. I was especially interested in people's experiences with fills since I needed to estimate how many I would need and have to pay for.
what I found that worried me: some people never got the right amount of restriction, they were always too open and could eat too much or too tight and had trouble getting down anything but liquids. no matter how many fills & unfills they had!
eventually, I found the VSG forum and read about the sleeve. it took me months of reading and researching but I finally decided the VSG would be a better surgery for me: no fills, just the right amount of restriction from the first.
you will find many people here who are happy with their bands. please also pay attention to those who had to have theirs removed and why. gastic banding is major surgery & you need to be aware of all your options
good luck!
hugs
Jackie
don't miss talking to these people; I was so glad I did.
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/
I originally came to OH thinking about having lapband and read on this forum quite a bit. I was especially interested in people's experiences with fills since I needed to estimate how many I would need and have to pay for.
what I found that worried me: some people never got the right amount of restriction, they were always too open and could eat too much or too tight and had trouble getting down anything but liquids. no matter how many fills & unfills they had!
eventually, I found the VSG forum and read about the sleeve. it took me months of reading and researching but I finally decided the VSG would be a better surgery for me: no fills, just the right amount of restriction from the first.
you will find many people here who are happy with their bands. please also pay attention to those who had to have theirs removed and why. gastic banding is major surgery & you need to be aware of all your options
good luck!
hugs
Jackie
don't miss talking to these people; I was so glad I did.
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/
once upon a time I had a group to talk about Binge Eating Disorder, and later one about Clean Eating.
PM me if you are interested in either of these.
size 8, life is great
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