Has Anyone Found Lap Band Happiness?

 Just met with my surgeon yesterday and he was great!! Before I met him I couldn't decide between LapBand or RNY. After talking he feels I'll be a great candidate for LapBand. I'm kind of in agreement. He says... 

1. I have a new hip and he was worried that with the malabsorption I could lose calcium and additional vitamins which isn't good. Don't want anything to happen to that new hip!! 

2. I'm not that old...there's plenty of time to lose the weight. And my BMI is as great as others. 

3. I'm already working out so that's a huge plus.

It seems like a lot of people are unhappy with their bands on these forums......soooo.... I'd like to hear from those that are happy about their bands. Would they do it again??

Thanks!  

Oh Honey please look into the sleeve if you do not like the idea of re-re-re-operation.  Be open minded.   There are a handful of ppl here 3-6yrs post-op with their bands - most have had to be 1. re-banded 2. re-"port"ed 3. surgical band repositioning 4. have had some sort of slip or dilation or leak.  Do you want to spend your time like that?  You have more choices!  Come over and see us http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/

All the Best to you.

I would never have had the lap band if I had it to do all over.  Yes it helps but you will find that the fattening foods, the high calorie foods go down so much easier than the vegetables, protein.  I have trouble with some days I can eat, other days I cannot.  I needed help with the "mind" part of losing weight and the lap band doesn't help you there.  If you still can eat fattening, non healthy foods, you will still eat them band or not until you can get control of your mind hunger.  I had to pay for my surgery as my insurance didn't cover it and it was $18,000; if I had it to do over I would have spent that on counseling and exercise programs.  I am doing Weigh****chers now and am losing and loving it.

No, I was not happy with my lap band and if I could do it all over again, I would just start with the sleeve in the first place.

If you want restriction without malabsorption, but you are nervous about the lap band stats, check out the VSG. As far as being "not that old" with the lap band just means it is extremely likely that at some point you will require re-operation(s) for repair, replacement, or removal. Multiple surgeries are not fun.

Best of luck,
Lindsey

 Love the band. I'm over 6 years out, lost half the weight, maybe a little more, maintained within 10-15 lbs, and every time I lose weight, I reach a new low. This is the exact opposite of my pre-band life. The only time I dislike my band is when it won't let me eat with abandon. It is frustrating at the time, but I am grateful usually within the hour. The uncontrollable irrational food addiction has not gone away, sadly. But I am so grateful to have my band and be happy and healthy instead of consumed with self-hatetred, outgrowing my size 24s/3x clothes, ashamed of myself, unable to be physically active, and have frequent backaches and heartburn. I was lucky to not have any complications.

 Thanks Robert! I feel the same way about my future. And isn't the point about WLS about not being able to eat with abandon. If that's what people want to do...than WLS isn't for them. Thanks, S

Guess I'll be the first!!  YES, I am ABSOLUTELY HAPPY with my band...I'm a little over 2 years out and I would ABSOLUTELY do it again.

It's not a piece of cake, it is a tool and a lot of work....but I knew that going in.

 Thanks Tooty! I'm so glad to hear of some success here. It seems like there is a lot of "unhappy's" here on OH about the LapBand. I'm still going to go thru it. If the future says I need some revisions...then so be it. But I LOVE hearing about the successes! Thanks so much! S

Just FYI...revision surgeries have much higher complication rates than initial surgeries as the band often damages the stomach and/or esophagus. This is well documented and one of the most recent studies was posted on the main board a few days ago if you are interested.

I was very lucky to have an extremely smooth revision, but it would be a good idea to try to avoid revisions at every cost. To quote some DSers, "think twice, cut once."

Best of luck,
Lindsey

I am only 5 mos out but I am very happy.  It has truly helped me to control my eating habits.