Lap Band/Realize Band Questions Please help!

What the surgery itself was like?  easy -- surgery at 7am , home before noon
What process you had to go through to get the surgery before hand?  I had to have a psych evaluation, some bloodwork, an EKG/Cardiac workup -- -then writing a big fat check -- I was self-pay.
How did you feel after surgery?  I felt great.  No pain meds, just Liquid Extra Strength Tylenol -- driving myself to the grocery store the day after surgery -- back at work after 9 days.

How you live after the surgery and keep the weight off?  I diet -- and the band makes dieting easier.  I planned my meals, I ate PROTEIN at every meal, no liquid calories, followed my surgeon's rules 95% of the time until all of my excess weight was gone.
How do you eat day after day on a regular basis?  Today -- for maintenance, I eat a yogurt for breakfast, and a banana for a mid-morning snack.   I eat protein/produce and a grain for lunch and dinner.  Snacks in the mid aftenoon and evening
Does it conform to your lifestyle?  (meaning social settings and get togethers... do you feel as if you are constantly dieting or can you truly live with this??)  I travel on business about 50% of the time.  Tonight, I had a piece of deep-dish pizza, and 2 glasses of wine while I watched the Crimson Tide roll over LSU!
Is it hard to stick to(the diet)? It wasn't hard for me at all after I got restriction.  Not for me -- I followed my doctor's orders from before day 1 --- I ate like a banster starting about 6 weeks pre-op.
Do you feel full most of the time? 
No -- not full--- but I feel satisfied most of the time -- I had to learn what 'satisfied' feels like.

 Does it truly help you and how?  I can eat my set portionk and STOP -- I am sometimes not satisfied -- but I stop anyway -- and 15-20 minutes later, I realize that I am satisfied.
Do you feel as though you are starving most of the time since you eat such small amounts of food?  I took the word 'starving' out of my vocabulary.  Sometimes I am hungry, but I live in America and I have eaten within 24 hours, and I am not starving.  I learned that the words I use to describe my hunger are very powerful --- and I needed to take some of that power away ---
Do you experience many side effects and if so what are they and are they worth putting up with to be rid of the other health issues you had before surgery?  If I eat as instructed, I don't have any issues.  If I overeat or eat too quickly, I have discomfort --- user error, that I have learned to avoid.
If you had it to do over again, would you still have surgery or would you just commit stronger to eating healthy and exercising without it? 
I would do it again -- but knowing that I can afford (easily) to maintain my band, and I can afford to remove and replace it if I have to.  I have seen (and commented on) some of your other posts.
You need to be sure that you completely understand all of the costs associated with banding --- it is not cheap to have fills and unfills.,

I pay 100.00 per fill (which is VERY cheap)) -- and I have had probably 8 - 10 in the last 30 momths.  Now, I am scheduled for 1 per year -- but that can change at any time if my band suddenly feels tight -- or feels loose.

It sounds to me like you are only willing to hear positive posts about banding --- please know that there are positives and negativesl

I have had GREAT -- even amazing results with my band -- and still, if I had to start over again, I would go for VSG in place of the band because of the maintenance costs and the risk of problems/failure with the band.

I will say that Nana paints too rosy a picture (in my opinion) and Maria paints too bleak a picture (in my opinion) ---- somewhere in the middle is probably the average experience.

Thank you Kath for all your input and taking time to answer all these questions.  I am slowly but surely learning more and more about this procedure.  Good... bad.... as there is in all things... just takes deciding if it's worth the risks and if this procedure is the right one for me.  I am learning more and more.  

Thanks for all the info on the fills.  That is what I really want to know is what life is basically like living after the band.  In real terms... I don't mind knowing the good and the bad... I want to know... I just don't want to be told in a rude way like I was in some posts and for people to come down on me because I am considering it... On the other post that I had I felt very attacked by a few people for some reason... and all I want is some help.  I don't mind kind advice... I do mind rudeness.  I just felt a few people were less than kind on the other post, especially for it being my very first time to even post on OH.... it was a very rude welcoming and I wasn't even sure I'd come back!  But here I am ... because I really need to know alot more about this from actual people...... and yes the whole of it... good, bad, ugly... whatever... but not to be just bashed and insulted as I was before. I want to know the pros of it and the cons..... other wise I wouldn't be able to make an informed decision.  Which is why I said on the other post that I wanted to know as much about  it as possible.  

But yes, money and insurance will unfortunately play a role in helping me decide too.  So yes, I need to know all of the information about the fills and all of that and the other costs.  I appreciate you sharing those details.  So do you think that the sleeve would be a better fit for me or the gastric bypass?  I know alot of insurers do not cover the sleeve yet and that will be an issue for me... And bypass just seems sooo much more risky.  But I could be wrong.  But there's also life long supplementation involved there too.  

I will be attending a seminary sometime soon and then a consult and I'm sure that my surgeon will help me decide what is right for me.  Though should we really trust the surgeon to decide that for us??  Will they be out for the money??  I am in the process of looking for a good surgeon too.... but I trust no one 100%... so I don't think I could let the surgeon decide for me either.  But definitely listen to their advice and take it into consideration.  

But yes there is alot to learn and research.  I so wish I knew more about all the technical terms and things too.  Just still have a lot to learn.  =)  But I'm working on it.  =)  But I do know that no matter what I am talking major lifestyle changes and major change in the way I look at and relate to food.  Definitely.  Which sounds HUGE but also good and necessary for me too I think.   Maybe WLS is the tool I need to finally make me do that!  Then on one hand I think... why not just eat like a bandster without doing the surgery??  Would that work???  Sure would save money and hassle too... but if I could do that... would I be over weight right now??  And is it healthy to do that without the band?  And further more is eating so little healthy even with the band?  Just alot of questions still.  Thank you for giving me so much information and I am open to advice.  I appreciate your response.  Thanks for taking the time to share.  Have a wonderful day and congrats on your success!!!  Many blessings!!  

Some other questions I have been thinking on.... or at least one more... but I'm sure there will be alot more to come... lol.  But I was wondering, do you eat less with the band because you HAVE to (as in it won't let you eat more or you get sick) or do you eat less because you can??  So I mean do people just end up hating eating because there is so much that they can't eat and that's how they lose weight??  And is it the ones this happens to that have the most success with it?  It seems some do have this happen and others don't???  I know it will change how I look at food and how I eat.  It should do that.  But will it make me hate to eat??  I guess that is always a possiblity... then you end up never being able to really enjoy eating again.... without being sick.... just another thing to wonder about and think is that what I want and is it worth all of that to be healthy again??  I apologize for asking stupid questions... but please bear in mind that I do not know much about this....  I guess this happens for some... and for others maybe not.  

Also, I would love to know what to expect from the seminar and the consult and any heads up I might need for those.  And to know the lingo... like fills, cc's, mL or whatever it is... and how much is good and how much is best or whatever and do I need to ask for a certain amount or are these things the surgeon takes care of??  And I hear some saying... they were 'empty' as in they had no fill or no cc's in the beginning after surgery until they got their first fill.  Is this how it usually goes?  If not, is it best to ask for it that way or to have a little cc in there?  I mean what is the best way to ask for it to be done?  Or do you even ask for a certain way or is it just according to what the surgeon's preferences are?   

 Hi
I had a band for 2 1/2 years so I can answer some of those questions.

"do you eat less with the band because you HAVE to (as in it won't let you eat more or you get sick) or do you eat less because you can?? "
The lucky ones eat less because their appetite is smaller then it was before. But most just diet, just like they always have. Some can't eat more then a few bites without PBing (vomiting), some have trouble getting passed the first bite, causing lots of pain and then need to vomit to make it come back up. Many can not eat dense foods (which is the food to eat ) like protein so they "eat around their band", but have no problems with junk food, very ironic.

"But will it make me hate to eat??"
hard question to answer, it will really depend on how the band would react inside of you.

"what to expect from the seminar and the consult"
I know people keep saying to find out what your surgeon recommends, I think that's backwards. How can the surgeon tell you which surgery to have if he does not know you or your habits or your lifestyle, or does not do "all Weight loss Surgeries" that are available. The seminar is almost always done to "sell" whichever procedure the surgeon does. So if he does the lap-band/realize band and RNY then that is what he/she will have the seminar about. So the seminar and consult will be a "sell" nothing else.

Terms: A fill is when the doctor put saline into a syringe and injects it into the port under your skin, it is attached to the band by a small tubing.
cc and ml is a measure of liquid that is injected into the band. It's a tiny amount.
When its added or how much depends on the band on the surgeon and on your restriction.

Please educate yourself on all the wheightloss surgeries not just the band. The band is not the "least invasive" surgery like advertising would like you to believe. It is easier for the surgeon to do, it's quick and less fuss for him/her. Any time you have to be cut open, laproscopic or not, it is invasive.

Oh, and for me...... I still have referred pain in my shoulder from the irritation the band caused to the diaphragm. Also still have pain from scar tissue where the port was on my left side below the ribcage. So once the band is in it can cause a lot of damage to your organs, not just stomach, but also diaphragm and liver etc.
With what I know now......I would not get the band, but hindsight is always 20/20. This is why many ex-bandsters come here, to educate and inform, no one wants you to go through what they went through.

Whatever you decide on I wish you luck with it and good health.

Inge 

Thank you Inge for answering those questions and taking the time to fill me in....  I have been doing some research on the other surgeries now since I've heard so many complications with the band.  What would be some other sites with WLS info for each one?  I really need to get my research done before a seminar or consult because that was sort of what I expected of the seminar (them doing a sales pitch really more than anything).  So I'd rather have all the info on each surgery that I can get so I, myself, can know and choose what I feel is best for me.  I need to know more websites to get more information though.  Any suggestions?

Do people have any complaints about the VSG, Gastric Bypass, or DS that you have heard on here?  So far I haven't heard about any problems with either of those procedures, only the band?? 

Thanks for the well wishes! 

I don't know of any Websites except for the ds one, that one has the best info, plus it does have a comparison of all the surgery, the OH boards do have plenty of people that could point you in the right direction too. Ask lots of questions, and the answers can help just remember there again it is just one persons point of view and "their' experience. 
My biggest questions after the lapband where ' how would I honestly do with "this" or "that' rule, constraint, problem, with how and how much to eat, what and what not to eat. Can I really live for the Rest of my life with those rules, constraint etc. 
You see where I'm going with this............. we all would love to think,
I can exercise like I need to......... really? for the rest of my life?
I can do without eating certain things......... really? for the rest of my life?
I can follow those rules .............really? for the rest of my life?

My problem with ALL weightloss surgeries was "I love food". I'm not addicted to it, I don't eat mountains of it, but I love food and I like to eat a normal portion of it, not 1 spoonful of it.
And I want to be able to enjoy get to gethers where food is a big part of life. Doesn't mean I need to pig-out but enjoy it.
So, for me, and I mean just for me, keeping in mind how and why I like to eat I picked the surgery I had.
All those questions and tons more can and will apply to everyone including you. So if you can (it helps) make a pros and cons list for yourself for the different surgeries, pick the one that fit YOU, not joe blow down the street or chatty cathy around the corner. IT HAS TO FIT YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE (or it won't work for you). To many people forget or don't want to think about that part and go into surgery with their heads up in the clouds, and then when the restrictions/limitations come they can't or don't want to do it. The rest of your life is hopefully a long time.

Okay now that I've written a book here, lol. (sorry)  Do your homework. Good luck.
 http://www.dsfacts.com/index.html
http://weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi?

That is excellent advice!  The best yet!  I had allof these questions and thoughts as you mentioned about can I do this for the rest of my life??  If I didn't have those questions, I would not be on the fence about what to do.  So yeah, just not sure what to do exactly yet.... I had originally thought lap band was what I was going to do... and wasn't even sure if I wanted to do WLS when I was researching that... and then all of these other options out here and so much to consider about the lap band that goes wrong.... Really has me researching... and I 'm asking myself those very questions you mentioned... Just had not had it explained that well to me yet... even though it's what's been on my mind... what's making me doubt/wonder about it all... that's why it is soooooo important for me to research each procedure and life after and let how you live AFTER be what really helps me decide and as you said... WHAT I CAN LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE DOING.  That is about as bottom line as you can get it!  Otherwise... none of them work!  Absolutely right!  That is exactly how I'm trying to look at it... to make the decision.... if I'm going to make this investment and commitment... I better be SURE I can stick with it the rest of my life....or it is a waste of time and money... I need to know what I have to give up and change PERMANENTLY and decide if I can fully commit to it... That is why I am here... to find out what exactly it is like after surgery and IF I can do that or not.  I feel I can... but... I do not really know... until I have heard from ppl what it is really like after... and now I have to find out what it's like not just after lap band... but after the other surgeries too.  So wish me alot of luck finding all this out... I'm going to need it.  Plus evaluate my own eating... and see which one works for me... Oh dear that part sounds hard... How do I know which eating behavior or style I am?  I need so much help!!!  LOL!  And don't apologize for the book... LOL!   All I know how to do these days is write books as all of my questions and emotions are coming out in my posts!  

Thanks again for your EXCELLENT POST!  I'd give it 5 stars if I could for best advice I have heard!  Thanks so much!  If you don't mind... add me as a friend... and maybe you could help me with the finding what kind of eater I am and all that part.  ??? 

Off to do MORE research sometime today!  Best wishes to all for continued success!  God Bless all of you!  We all certainly need it!  =)

Check out the other forum pages here by clicking on these links  VSG, RNY, DS (although most of the DSers have moved to another site.)

You are asking the right questions...........keep asking and really listening, not just for what you WANT to hear.  Reading the boards will give you a good indication of the issues faced with each WLS and the frequency of those issues.  Take your time to make an informed decision that is right for you!

Good luck.

At least I am finally asking the right questions... lol.  My thinking is starting... STARTING to go in the right direction thanks to help I'm getting here.  Yes, I will keep reading and reading.... It's so scary reading some of the posts... but I guess that's what I need to know... exactly what I'm up against and if I' m willing to take the risk... and know what exactly those risks are.  And then to know what changes I will have to make for the rest of my life for each one too... and if I can do that.  So learn the risks and changes for each one... decide if I'm willing to take those risks and make those changes.  

Looks like I have some posting to do and questions to ask on each board.  =)   Plus another huge deciding factor for me will be what my insurance will cover and the cost of each procedure.... and the costs for follow up and how much follow up there is and all the costs involved.  Much to ask... and much to learn... finally getting down to why I came here.  

I will go to each surgery forum and ask all 3 of these questions for each one I guess... how does that sound??  Ask what risks were involved and what complications did they have after if any?  Ask what changes they had to make and live with afterwards?  What costs they have had afterwards and if insurance covered them?  3 separate questions on each of the separate boards.  Wish me lots of luck!!!  =)

Thanks for the help!