trying to decide if i should have the lap band, need help

I think you should look into any of the other 3 WLS types. The lap band has the poorest stats on EWL and a high rate of post-op complications. It also requires follow-ups and adjustments.

To me, the lap band would be the poorest choice for you. Your BMI appears to be over 50 and with the traveling, I would think it would be a nightmare.

What if you were on the road and changes in altitude or humidity caused your band to tighten? Would you want to deal with vomiting while on the road? Or having to turn around to run back to your surgeon for an adjustment? It would be a mess.

Please do your research. Consider the VSG or anything else before agreeing to a band!

Best of luck,
Lindsey

I don't drive trucks but can share my experience.  I had the band in 2007.  I can not recommend it to anyone, won't knock it but won't recommend it.

I had a good doctor that was really upfront with me but I lied to him and myself about what I was willing to do and give up to have the band.  Of course I didn't really know I was lying but deep inside I was. He pointed out that until I face whatever was causing me to overeat to begin with it would not matter which surgery I had if I lost weight it would only be temporary, boy is that right!  He also said if I was a carb addict that I wouldn't keep it off with the band and to go with the other.  The reason being is, the band does NOTHING, not one single thing to keep you from eating carbs.  You don't get sick, don't puke, don't get dizzy, don't get full, nothing happens but weight gain with carbs.  I could eat candy, drink milkshakes and starbucks coffees from the day after surgery just about.  So if you are a CARB freak, just know the band is NOT for you.  The band forces you to adjust the amount of chewing, size of bites and amount of solid, fiberous food you eat.  You learn quickly what will not go down and when to stop.  I wish the lesson I learned was "dumping" from RNY or the sleeve.  Then I wouldn't still be a carb freak.

I am my own worst enemy, always have been, hopefully will not always be so but in the end the band has not been successful for me to keep off weight and few things are harder to deal with than gaining weight AFTER having weight loss surgery, especially if you tell people you had it done!

Look into other WLS too.  There are issues with the port and the lifting you'll do and all of that may be irritated sitting for hours and hours at a time on the road. I don't think the down time on surgery is any worse with the other surgeries.  I had had 4 C-sections and a hysterectomy and the laproscopic surgery for the band had me down longer than ANY of the others.  Longer term I recovered qucker but the 1st week was far worse.

Laurel

This happened to me when I was out driving far away from home through the higher elevations.

December 26,2007 I was out of state staying at my sisters house. I had stayed behind while everybody else had gone onto the ski resorts. (Everybody except for my daughter who was banded on the same day as me.)

We were both obstructed,both of us were unable to swallow any water and for me this was bad because I was taking morphine 3 x a day for my back pain from a car accident. Anytime I tried to swallow water it just sat at the back of my throat and never went down. 
I only had to bend forward over the toilet to let it back out.

By night time on the 26Th when my husband and other kids got back from the slopes I was beside myself in pain. We made the decision to make the 10 hour drive back home that night.

2 hours into the drive and after being in such horrible pain as well as sliming all day my mind had had enough and I started to have an anxiety attack  right there in the middle of the mountains and it was snowing. 

I actually thought at the time that I was having an asthma attack . My husband pushed the ON STAR button and we were directed to a hospital 5 minutes away.

2 hours later after being re hydrated and given IV pain meds we left the hospital against their advice and continued on home.I left because they couldn't do anymore for me and I needed to be seen by my band surgeon. Regular E.R. doctors can't do anything about band related pain. They can't un-fill a band.

It took us a total of 13 hours to get home.

I don't drive a truck, but I was larger than you (383), 5'5" and 51 when banded.

I've had good success with the band, very little issues, but then again, I have little concept of the trucking life.

Exercise is what you make it.  It doesn't require a gym membership (although if you think you'd like something like that.. you might consider a nationwide chain like Anytime Fitness that you can go to in many cities), just moving MORE than you did pre-WLS is the main thing.  And it can be broken up into short segments, you don't have to devote 30 minutes to it all at once.

Just wanted to let you know that we're here to support you whatever choice you make.  Feel free to ask more questions. 

thanks for the help, my doctor is the one pushing the lap band. I am going to put things on hold until I can check into other options.

Actually your Dr. is probably pushing the band b/c it can be a real cash cow for them. They get paid for the surgery............then the fills.............then there is often a slip or port problem, so that's often another surgery............then it can get too tight for no reason, so then an unfill............Then many ppl end up revising or just getting sick of it and getting it removed, so that can be a 2nd or 3rd surgery. Some bandsters even end up with 4 surgeries!!!

Please research ALL 4 WLS's! I have the band, but had I known then what I know now.............I NEVER would have gotten the band!

Another point is, many Drs. don't want to take on someone else's bariatric patient. And not all E.R.'s are in a hospital where they have a bariatric program. This can be a problem if u are on the road and the band gets too tight and need an emergency unfill.

Good luck!

I haven't met the surgeon yet, my dr is pushing it because I have a few health issues and she knows that  my license could be on the line so I need to loose the weight. I plan on doing more research, I'm not going to do anything until I figure out will be best for me. I didn't really know there was different types of wls. thanks

Please take the process slow and make sure you research all your options. Don't let anyone push you into a surgery. Once you have decided on a surgery take your time and make sure you are ready for it and are comfortable with your choice. Don't be rushed!

I will, thanks

I know you said that you are going to look into other options, but I just wanted to elaborate on something Maria said to you.

I was banded on June 19Th 2006- That band slipped

I was re- banded on December 28 Th 2007 - That band slipped and eroded.

I revised to the sleeve on May 25Th 2011

All in all I have had well over 15 -20 E.R. visits and that doesn't count all the visits to my band surgeon, PCP, and specialist's I have seen or multiple hospitalizations....... As you can see. My band surgeon has made a fortune off of me. I cannot imagine how much worse my pain would have been had I been " out on the road."

Keep in mind that these WLS seminars are just ways for your surgeon to sell you whichever surgery he performs. If your surgeon doesn't do the sleeve he will talk you out of it. This is their business and there is nothing wrong with them wanting to earn a living, but it doesn't mean they have your best interest at heart.

Pick the surgery you want first, then choose the surgeon.