Has Anyone Found Lap Band Happiness?
(deactivated member)
on 7/12/11 3:04 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
on 7/12/11 3:04 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
You said,
" he was worried that with the malabsorption I could lose calcium and additional vitamins which isn't good. "
With my band and for the very first time in my life. I became deficient in calcium and vitamin D. I also became anemic.
If you are worried about malabsorbtion procedures and your calcium then you have another
" restrictive only " option, and that is the sleeve. Does the surgeon you met with yesterday do the sleeve ?
" he was worried that with the malabsorption I could lose calcium and additional vitamins which isn't good. "
With my band and for the very first time in my life. I became deficient in calcium and vitamin D. I also became anemic.
If you are worried about malabsorbtion procedures and your calcium then you have another
" restrictive only " option, and that is the sleeve. Does the surgeon you met with yesterday do the sleeve ?
I am almost 6 months out and VERY VERY happy with my band! I also have 2 close friends that had Lapband (one almost 2 years ago and the other about 3 years) both very happy and no problems with thier bands either. Don't just listen to people on this site, ask your dr. if they have people that you can talk with about the band that have had it done.
I don't visit OH very often. Since being banded and learning to live with it, I just get on with my life. I think a lot of Happy Banders are the same way. No need to keep coming back unless there is a problem and then looking for an answer or advice...
Cathlena - 39, 4'11" Start - 210 3/31/09 BMI Start: 42.4
I, personally, am THRILLED with my band. I love it so much and it has helped me to make the changes in my life that I had been too overwhelmed to make on my own. I would choose the same surgery all over again without hesitation.
BUT THAT SAID... I think you are treading in dangerous territory with your request.
ALL surgeries have their downsides. ALL surgeries have not so happy stories to go along with the success stories. And I think that to ask for ONLY the good information is a mistake. You have to be realitic and do your research. Nobody but you can decide which surgery is for you. The fact that you are already getting exercise is, as you said, a huge plus. Activity is VITAL for success for ANY WLS but, I think, more so with the band and sleeve because there is not a malabsorptive aspect to the surgery, they are based fully on the idea of restriction. And restriction still requires self-control.
As I said, my band has helped ME make decisions because I don't feel out of control, overwhelmed and helpless anymore. I have to pay attention to what I'm eating, how I'm eating, how much I'm eating, when I'm eating and why I'm eating. My biggest problem was boredom eating and grazing and the grazing? Well... that's not fixed by a band. A band works with meals that are dense in protein.
So for the band to have ANY effect on my grazing behavior, I had to do two things. I had to make a concerted effort to control the grazing and I had to change what was available. If I find myself snacking now, at least it is on nuts, cheese, fruits and vegetables and not chips and cupcakes and chocolate. The band had nothing to do with that. But because of the progress I was making in my weight loss due to the restriction from my band and the amount of time I am spending NOT hungry, I am strong enough emotionally to make those kinds of improvements.
I'm convinced that the band is at least 50% mental. I know that the decisions I'm making for a healthier lifestyle are all mine. The band isn't physically making me exercise or eat better. It is physically making me eat LESS. But the progress I'm making and the weight I'm losing by eating less are what encourages me to go walk my dogs or take a dance class. The progress I'm making is what keeps me from getting discouraged and sabatoging my efforts. There are many, many people who could lose the same amount of weight that I have with no band or surgery whatsoever. I'm just not one of them.
So don't discount the stories of people who weren't happy with their bands or who chose another surgery or who have had revisions. In all honesty, you can learn more from them than you can from me. I don't believe that any one surgery is better than any others. Some just are better fits for certain people. But to make that decision, you need all the facts. And I do get irritated with the way some of the facts are presented here. It's like if one surgery has failed someone, they are convinced it will fail everyone and that it's just a matter of time until it all goes tits up.
The fact is this. Everyone is different. Every doctor is different. Every individual surgery is different. Sometimes things just don't work. Sometimes there are no explanations why. Nobody goes into ANY kind of surgery hoping to fail. But a responsible person will get all the facts. Good and bad. Which you may very well have done and be doing. I'm not accusing you of trying to stick your head in the sand. Just don't discount anyone's story. As long as it is the truth, it is valid to hear.
And most of all... GOOD LUCK! And congratulations on taking an exciting and positive step in your life!
BUT THAT SAID... I think you are treading in dangerous territory with your request.
ALL surgeries have their downsides. ALL surgeries have not so happy stories to go along with the success stories. And I think that to ask for ONLY the good information is a mistake. You have to be realitic and do your research. Nobody but you can decide which surgery is for you. The fact that you are already getting exercise is, as you said, a huge plus. Activity is VITAL for success for ANY WLS but, I think, more so with the band and sleeve because there is not a malabsorptive aspect to the surgery, they are based fully on the idea of restriction. And restriction still requires self-control.
As I said, my band has helped ME make decisions because I don't feel out of control, overwhelmed and helpless anymore. I have to pay attention to what I'm eating, how I'm eating, how much I'm eating, when I'm eating and why I'm eating. My biggest problem was boredom eating and grazing and the grazing? Well... that's not fixed by a band. A band works with meals that are dense in protein.
So for the band to have ANY effect on my grazing behavior, I had to do two things. I had to make a concerted effort to control the grazing and I had to change what was available. If I find myself snacking now, at least it is on nuts, cheese, fruits and vegetables and not chips and cupcakes and chocolate. The band had nothing to do with that. But because of the progress I was making in my weight loss due to the restriction from my band and the amount of time I am spending NOT hungry, I am strong enough emotionally to make those kinds of improvements.
I'm convinced that the band is at least 50% mental. I know that the decisions I'm making for a healthier lifestyle are all mine. The band isn't physically making me exercise or eat better. It is physically making me eat LESS. But the progress I'm making and the weight I'm losing by eating less are what encourages me to go walk my dogs or take a dance class. The progress I'm making is what keeps me from getting discouraged and sabatoging my efforts. There are many, many people who could lose the same amount of weight that I have with no band or surgery whatsoever. I'm just not one of them.
So don't discount the stories of people who weren't happy with their bands or who chose another surgery or who have had revisions. In all honesty, you can learn more from them than you can from me. I don't believe that any one surgery is better than any others. Some just are better fits for certain people. But to make that decision, you need all the facts. And I do get irritated with the way some of the facts are presented here. It's like if one surgery has failed someone, they are convinced it will fail everyone and that it's just a matter of time until it all goes tits up.
The fact is this. Everyone is different. Every doctor is different. Every individual surgery is different. Sometimes things just don't work. Sometimes there are no explanations why. Nobody goes into ANY kind of surgery hoping to fail. But a responsible person will get all the facts. Good and bad. Which you may very well have done and be doing. I'm not accusing you of trying to stick your head in the sand. Just don't discount anyone's story. As long as it is the truth, it is valid to hear.
And most of all... GOOD LUCK! And congratulations on taking an exciting and positive step in your life!
Everyone!
Thanks so much for all your replies. I totally understand that this is my decision to make and I've been doing a lot of research. I've also got a GREAT surgeon and I put my trust in him.
I'm not worried....I'm just excited! It's going to be great and I'll take whatever comes along.
Thanks, S
Thanks so much for all your replies. I totally understand that this is my decision to make and I've been doing a lot of research. I've also got a GREAT surgeon and I put my trust in him.
I'm not worried....I'm just excited! It's going to be great and I'll take whatever comes along.
Thanks, S
(deactivated member)
on 7/12/11 4:18 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
on 7/12/11 4:18 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
You're very welcome,
I just wanted to tell you that I wish you much happiness with whatever procedure you choose. You are absolutely right when you say " This is my decision " We the " unhappy banded ones " wish you a very happy and successful band experience.
I just wanted to tell you that I wish you much happiness with whatever procedure you choose. You are absolutely right when you say " This is my decision " We the " unhappy banded ones " wish you a very happy and successful band experience.
Well if your only looking for happy bandsters on here u will find that. The majority of them are NEW though. Look closely.............How many LONG TERM successful, happy bandsters do you see? Now look again...........How many LONG TERM successful, happy bandsters do you see that haven't had to have a 2nd band surgery??? See what I mean!
There is a reason u see so many unhappy bandsters on here. Because in most cases the band sucks. Read the revision forum or the failed band group........u will see what I mean.
Like Kathy R., I too did not have insurance. I wasted $15,000 on this POS! I might as well have just flushed it down the toilet. I have had 16 fills in 14 mos. and never got restriction. And let me guess..........When your Dr. was telling u what a "great candidate" for the Lap-Band u are.........HE NEVER ONE MENTIONED THAT SOME BANDSTERS NEVER REACH RESTRICTION, NOW DID HE?!?!?!
So if it's only the happy band stories u want..........then by all means, read about how the newbies are so happy with their bands. However the head in the sand mentality has NEVER made any sense to me! I prefer an honest, realistic opinion!!!
Coming from not good surgeons? Sounds like he is blaming the failure on the other surgeons.
If it were me, I would ask him specifically how long he has been banding and how many bands he has placed that he has later cut out. I would also ask him if he feels he has developed a surgical method that decreases the rate of erosions, slips, etc.
Alright, I feel like I am being negative nelly all over this thread, so I'm going to leave you be now!lol Please know I am just trying to help!
Lindsey
If it were me, I would ask him specifically how long he has been banding and how many bands he has placed that he has later cut out. I would also ask him if he feels he has developed a surgical method that decreases the rate of erosions, slips, etc.
Alright, I feel like I am being negative nelly all over this thread, so I'm going to leave you be now!lol Please know I am just trying to help!
Lindsey
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