Thinking of Lap-Band Surgery - Introduction

Hello,

I am 290, about 100lbs overweight, with type II Diabetes.

Very interested in Lap-Band surgery.

A couple of questions:

Difference betweeen Lap-Band/Realize Band (would love to hear personal experiences of both).
What can one expect in weight loss during first month, months to follow?
Any discomfort when moving, exercising etc?
Any foods you just can NEVER EAT again, foods that are just problematic etc..?
Anyone have issues getting onboard planes/cruise ships (scans/wanding) - do you carry Dr Card??

I have a physical for Thu this week, and have been gathering information from other sites, literature, but would like to hear it from people who have experienced the surgery.

Hello to all and look forward to losing with you :)

Damon

You will hear a lot of poitives and negatives about the band on this board. Take what you can, do your research, and remember this is your journey.
Personally, my stomach could not tolerate the band, and I had to have mine removed less tahn 2 weeks after I got it because I couldn't keep anything down (not even water). My reaction is not typical, and my doctor had never seen anything like it (his partner had, but his solution did not work for me).
My husband has had the Lapband for 3 years. He has lost over 200lbs in that time (his start weight was much higher than yours), but he also have up all white bread, all rice, and has to be very careful about what and how he eats. some days one thing will go down and stay down fine, the next day the same food will come right back up.
He does occasionally have a little pull in his port area when he moves a certain way, but it is rare. He sometimes gets discomfort when he eats, usually caused by gas.
My doctor never said anything about getting on a plane or ship, but I did get a card from him that I could present at restaurants to allow me to eat from the kids menu or share a meal with whoever I am with.

 Thanks for your reply.  Definitely keeping my mind open :). 

DAMON,

welcome, i have had lap band for 4 months now and i started at a higher weight then u. First few months you will lose a good amount of weight because of the diet you will follow as u go along it will start getting a little more difficult thats when exercise plays a big role. I was 4 weeks on liquids and dropped around 25 pounds which is amazing.  I dont have any disconfort sometimes u feel some pulling at the port area idk y! As for the food you cant eat for me it is rice, gives me a choking feeling lol rice is not good anyways!! i try to limit the amount of bread i have not 4 slices anymore just 1 slice of whole wheat per day and no pasta. focus on protein intake and water very important!! as for boarding a plane? havent traveled but havent heard of anyone having a problem with that. keep researching remember the surgery you chose is with you all your life!!! it took me bout 8yrs to decide on surgery but i am so glad i did it!!! It is not an easy road but you have to keep yourself pumped to get good results.

Its actually cool to be at the losers bench :)

Hi Damon, I have had my band 10 years. I have been on cruises and flown and have never set off any alarms. I do carry the card given to me from allergan. They make the lap band. The lap band has a better track record than the realize band. Everyone has their own tolerances and intolerances to food. The biggest offenders are bread, pasta and rice. Sometimes dry meat is also a problem. I can't eat bagels, flour tortillas, white meat chicken or turkey.
Men lose weight faster than women do. As long as you are losing and following your surgeons program you will do great. Good luck.  Mona

edited for typos!

Difference betweeen Lap-Band/Realize Band (would love to hear personal experiences of both).
For the patient, none at all. It is basically just a different brand. some docs like one, some the other, for the patient there is no apparent difference.

What can one expect in weight loss during first month, months to follow?
No more and no less than you would lose if you followed Weigh****chers. The band does nothing to cause weight loss, it just helps you stick to healthy eating

Any discomfort when moving, exercising etc?
Not once you are healed, a pulling feeling sometimes.

Any foods you just can NEVER EAT again, foods that are just problematic etc..?
Some docs forbid carbonated drinks, these days most don't. Nothing is forbidden. I can eat all foods, some people have foods they cannot eat. Trial and error!

Anyone have issues getting onboard planes/cruise ships (scans/wanding) - do you carry Dr Card??
I travel extensively, short and long haul flights, ships, cross continental (European) trains. Nevef the slightest problem.

I love my band and have had it for well over 5 years. But you need to be aware of the negatives as well. Do check out other wls types. This is a big decision. The band gave me all the help i needed and all I expected. But for some people, it simply isn't enough.

Kate

Damon,

Glad you are doing research. I am 3 1/2 years out of my Lapband surgery. I think the more time in research you do the more informed you are to make the correct decision for you.

I can't speak to the difference in band  manufacturers.

My surgeon tells me that the Lapband has a very small amount of metal on it and the port. It never sets off a detector. It's never been an issue on planes, cruises, and security checkpoints; even with full body scanners.

What can't I eat? Well, I would say that you can eat just about anything in moderation, but  everyone seems to have something that "bothers" their band. For me it's broccoli, pasta and bread. For some reason broccoli has been a nemesis ever since surgery. I tolerate bread and pasta when I limit it. The interesting thing is that once you stop eating these carbs, you stop craving them and wanting them. 

Good luck!
Tom 

 Thanks for the info everyone!

I got the Allergan lapband in 5/2001.  Had great success for many years.  Loved my band and couldn't talk highly enough about it until I encountered problems about 7-8 years out.

I could indeed feel my band especially when sleeping on my stomach and exercising, but it wasn't painful.  I traveled extensively with my career and never once encountered any issue arising from having the lapband, so that need not be any concern.

I could literally eat anything, but I chose not to have fills for about 7 years because I wanted to be able to eat normally which essentially equated to eating halve portions of anything order in a restaurant.  No intolerance whatsoever.

My weight came off sort of slowly within the first year (like 1-2 pounds per week), so it wasn't super fast weightloss, but fine with me, nonetheless.

Good luck to you...

Difference betweeen Lap-Band/Realize Band (would love to hear personal experiences of both).
*There is not much difference. One works about as bad as the other from what I have observed.

What can one expect in weight loss during first month, months to follow?
*The band manufacturers CLAIM 1-2 pounds/week is the average. I had one of the staff from the Drs. office tell me that they have had bandsters that "never lost an ounce". It really depends on IF your band works, and if you diet and/or exercise.

Any discomfort when moving, exercising etc?
*I am cautious about my movements. Bending over can be a problem.

Any foods you just can NEVER EAT again, foods that are just problematic etc..?
*Foods that you can NEVER EAT? No. Problematic? Rice, pasta, potatos, bread. Those are problematic on a consistant basis. Now that being said.........what can be problematic can change from day to day, minute to minute with the band. Chicken may go down one day...not the next. Steak may go down at lunch. Yogurt won't go down at dinner. U get the picture.

Anyone have issues getting onboard planes/cruise ships (scans/wanding) - do you carry Dr Card??
*No problems with that. Card? Yes.

would like to hear it from people who have experienced the surgery.
*Having experienced the Lap-Band has been about as productive as experiencing a swim class in an empty pool. I have had 17 fills, NO restriction. So in essence.........it's just like trying to lose weight with NO band. It has been a complete waste of time and MONEY! I would not wish the band on my worst enemy!!!

Hello to all and look forward to losing with you :)
*I'm sure you do, but remember, with the band..........you could get it an not even lose an ounce!

CHOOSE YOUR WLS WISELY!!!