anyone happy with LapBand?

THere are many happy bandsters out there. Happy longterm bandsters...........not so much, lol.

~My advice - don't expect miracles. The only thing the band will do (hopefully) is limit the amount you can eat. It's still up to you to put the right things in you mouth and to exercise. My advice - don't expect miracles. The only thing the band will do (hopefully) is limit the amount you can eat. It's still up to you to put the right things in you mouth and to exercise.

I never expected miracles. The only thing I expected is for the band to work as advertised. Full sooner, and longer. As for chooseing the right things and exercise. I have changed my diet completely! Exercise.............not so much, lol.

I am very happy with my decision to have a Realize Band.

I had no co-morbidities and was in reasonably healthy condition, in spite of being morbidly obese.
The other surgery choices seemed to be too extreme to me so I went to see a surgeon who performs RNY, VSG, Realize and Lap Band surgeries.

Honestly, he suggested (based on my previous eating habits and our interview) that RNY might be the best choice for me because I had a history of overeating sweets.
There is evidence that 30 - 50% of RNY patients have an intolerance for sweets post op (dumping).

I looked him square in the eye and told him that I was going to re-join OA and work on my sugar addiction separate from my banding surgery.  I did not want any surgery if I could not have a band.

He took me at my word, gave me both a Realize Band and a Lap Band to feel and play around with, and let me choose.  I chose the Realize Band.

I went home that day and made a plan to get back into OA.
5 days later, I made my list of trigger foods, and stopped eating them (March 31, 2009).  I have not eaten a cookie, or cake, or ice cream, or candy, or donut or other baked good since.

I scheduled my surgery for 10 weeks later, and in the interim I started to eat without liquids, eat off of small plates, take tiny bites --- all like I would have to do afterwards  -- practice makes perfect!

I started to attend the local WLS/Band support groups to get to know other Bandsters who could encourage and support me.

By surgery time, I had lost 18 pounds.
After my surgery, I went home and I followed all of the instructions my doctor gave me.

I don't know if I had restriction (I hate that word), I just know that I ate tiny portions, and I ate slowly and chewed carefully and then I stopped eating ---- and walked away.
I was able to go for 3 - 5 hours without being hungry again ------ and I lost weight.

4 weeks later, I went back to see my surgeon and we began to fill my band.
Every 3 weeks, I went back to see my surgeon --- I had free appts for the first 3 months, and had budgeted to be able to afford to see him every month if I needed to.

It seemed like every time I lost about 15 pounds, I needed a new size of clothes, and I needed a little fill.   My body was shrinking on the inside and on the outside.

With every fill, I imagined that my band was tighter and visualized it like a belt on my clothes.
I ate carefully and went back to weighing and measuring my food.

At about 6 weeks post-op, I went back to Weigh****chers to have weekly scale accountability and to have support and education.

My approach has been to attack my obesity from a physical, spiritual, emotional and psychological stance.  My band is physical, and it helps to dim my appetite --that's all.
My OA program is spiritual and helps to focus my thoughts and give me peace
My WW program is emotional -- I cried when I got to my goal weight and achieved Lifetime membership.
I now exercise 6 - 15 hours a week --- walking, running, hiking

Is my band perfect?  -- NO -- I have episodes where I eat too quickly, or thoughtlessly with bites that are too big, and I pay the price -- I sometimes have to refund the food.  Those episodes are few and far between --- maybe 3 or 4 times a year now.

Am I perfect?  -- far from it --- but, I did follow most of the rules most of the time, as prescribed by my surgeon.

We are partners --- I rely on him, he supports and encourages me and shows me off!

Would I do it again?  -- In a heartbeat

Would I suggest it to others?  --- not unless they were ready and willing to be as committed to changing their lifestyle significantly.  I would also make them aware of the risks and the rate of complications -- it is higher than with other surgeries.

I am very happy with my Lapband, so far!  No complications.  The band is designed to do 50% of the work, and you still have to do your part... no matter what you chose to do. It is only a tool!  It can be abused, as can any "weight loss" tool!  You do have to be mentally ready for the challenge, too!  Most of the battle, with any "diet" or eating plan, or WLS, is in your head.. May the "force" be with us all!   Bubbles

Thanks Kath.
You always inspire me with your honesty.  I started slipping and sliding after my one year anniversay and have regained about 20#.  I know it is all about being committed to abstinence and my band food plan. I must work on the emotional triggers that make my addiction to food a rabbit hole that is hard to climb out of once I go down there.  I am off sugar again--I can't have any in any form or I start to crave more and more refined carbs.  I am just doing it one day at a time.

I still feel great---look and feel so much better than I did at 285.  210 isn't perfect but it is better just for today as I follow this lifestyle one day at a time.

Harmony

Way to go!! Very, very encouraging. I am happy you reached your goal!

I was happy for first 7 months.

After 7 months, I started having complications, I became very unhappy.   Couldn't keep anything down without throwing up.  Had to eat around the band to keep food down.  Gained weight back and diabetes returned.

weight loss stopped after 7 months too. went from 231 to 175.

Revised to bypass and I can eat again without throwing up and lost weight.

At bypass, i went back up to 203 lbs and now at 155 lbs.

Please do research on other types of WLS..  if you have diabetes, band is not recommended.

RUN AWAY if you can at all.  Go for bypass, sleeve, or DS.   Talk with your surgeon!

 
I have esophageal damage from the band leaving me with horrific reflux.  My surgeon wants me to revise to bypass just to change the anatomy of my stomach.  No way, I'm not doing it.  I'm at goal and I'm not messing with anything at this point.

But I have a question for you.  Didn't it scare the bejeezes out of you to have another pouch and stoma?  I know bypass people don't have the same problems as band people, but I really don't understand why you don't have the same problems.  How is it different?  What does bypass feel like compared to the band?

I can't tell you how thrilled and excited I was to be carted off into surgery. I came out of surgery a mangled mess. That was over 9 years ago.

Fast forward to now: I have so many horrible lingering effects from my time banded that if I could turn back time, I'd RUN out of that hospital.

It's NOT 'less invasive' at all. It's an advertising trick to sell lapbands.
You won't be able to eat everything, just less of it. Chances are, you'll not be able to tolerate many foods... but you won't find out which ones until you try them... and then end up gagging and throwing up, sometimes for hours at a time.

With the lapband, you'll most likely end up having a subsequent surgery to repair, reposition, or revise.

There's a good chance that you'll experience the referred left shoulder pain (Google Lap band + left shoulder pain... it's insane.)  It's SO common, yet no one seems to know about it BEFORE going into surgery. Only when they're in agony afterward.

PLEASE read the Revisions forum here. You'll see that the most common denominator amongst people posting there is that they had the lapband... and are now regretful.

Good luck to you. Use this time to really search EVERYTHING. It's almost more important to know the BAD things... because your life can change in an instant.

Take care.

Like so many others I was thrilled tofinally be able to lose my weight, for about 6 mos. Then nothing else happened, no weight loss, no full feeling, no end to hunger, nada. That's when I started to realize we had all been dupped by the manufacturers into thinking this little piece of silicone could actually work. Nope it was all an evil joke, I so wish I had known then what I know now, I would never ever go for the band.

I'm happy!  I lost 100+ in 9 months and have maintained it within 10 lbs for 2 years.  I've had ups and downs, fills and unfills, but it's be a HUGE blessing for me! 

Today I wuold probably consider the Sleeve, but it wasn't an option for me 3 years ago because it wasn't covered by my insurance.  I like the idea of not having to get adjustments. 

This is a photo my surgeon is using for their television comercials.  It's very strange to see a picture of myself that I actually like!

Best wishes to you as you start your journey!

Lisa O.