Why did you choose lapband and how much have you lost?

Hi all, I am going back and forth in my mind as to whether I should have WLS, let alone which one.  I would really like to hear why you chose the lapband and how much you have lost.  I wish I wasn't so wishy washy about things.  I mean, I have around 200 pounds to lose so why isn't it obvious to me that I need to have surgery?  I have tried most of the diets out there and cannot stick to anything.  I just don't know what I am going to do. 

I was 376 pounds in 2003, with a fistful of comorbidities.

Had my band in December 2003. Lost 100 pounds in 6 months and 180 by my first anniversary. Developed a hiatal hernia from too-rapid weight loss, had it repaired and "new and improved" band installed in 2008. Have been up and down some, would like to lose another ten to be firmly in my "comfort zone", but I am still far more of a success than I ever dreamed. Almost 9 years out and still know that I made the right decision. To this day, I would still not be comfortable having RNY, sleeve or DS.

PS: The bald is by choice. I shave my head every spring for a charity event and keep it shaved until mid- to late summer.

Oh my gosh Bette!  180 your first year?  That's as good if not better than RNY!  I have heard so much about lapband weight loss being very slow, but that in't the least bit slow!  Can you tell me what your diet and exercise routine look like, both after surgery and nopw?  You look awesome, buy the way, and I love that you shave your head for a charity! 

Sorry! SORRY! Typo! It was 150 in a year. But still . . . !  

The first year or so, I was very dilligent following the band rules to the letter, but as I moved on in the journey, I started fine-tuning things to keep with what worked for me. For example, I was always very tight-feeling in the morning, discovered that a protein shake was all I wanted or needed until lunch time, so that was what I had.

Exercise was, for the first year, Curves about 3x/wk and then I joined Planet Fitness with my husband. Going on 9 years now, I don't go as often as I would like, and I am not as rigid with my eating as I would like, but I'm still very happy with my results and with my choice. The band is not right for EVERYONE- no procedure is! - but it was the right one for me.

Thanks Bette.  150 pounds in a year is AWESOME!! 

I was never wishy washy, I was just flat out, "no! not going to ever have WLS!"  I stuck with that for almost 15 years.  I wasn't an overweight child or teenager.  I went to WW  6 times in those 15 years.  I lost, lost a lot and then gained it all back plus more!  Still in my mind, I refused to ever even entertain the thought of WLS.  I could do this on my own!  Somehow in my mind, I related WLS to being a failure.  I was a successful nurse manager of a very busy unit!  I had no need for assistance!

In 2005, I was in an accident, was on bedrest for 6 months, couldn't return to work in a large and very busy intensive care unit full time for a year.  I became a Care Manager - and at that time, found out I was pre-diabetic.  I learned that I had 5 years to lose the weight or I would be a full blown Type 2 DM.  I was scared to death.  Still I demanded, I would lose on my own.  I weighed 488 lbs at my last WW check in.  The 6th and last time, I attended.  I lost, I lost with many diets. 

One day a friend called me told me she was going to get the LapBand.  I researched it.  I found a surgeon, went for a consult and the rest is history!  I, also lost my first 100lbs in my first 6 months.  I lost the next 100lbs by the end of the year.  I had a TT to remove 19lbs of excess skin that was causing me terrible back pain.  I went on to lose the rest in my third year.  I was self pay. United Healthcare said, I weighed too much and my BMI was too high to be a successful Bander.  I showed them!  I am off all of my meds, no more high cholesterol, no more pre-diabetes, no more hypertension!  My life has changed dramatically.  January 29, 2008, was my new birthday - the new healthier girl was born that day - my new norm!

You have to buy into the process with 1000% commitment.  It's not an easy way out.  No WLS is easy.  They all have complications, they are all a daily commitment to a healthy way of life.  For me the LapBand was perfect.  I am a happy girl!

I chose the band because I wanted have the capability to adjust my restriction forever and it was safer and can be removed if problems or complications arise. Many will tell you since you have 200 pounds to lose, the lap band many not be your best choice, and I AGREE. However, we don't know you, or your motivation, willingness to follow up with your surgeon and get needed fills or unfills for life, and sometimes this can get expensive depending on where you live.

I lost 100 pounds in my first year and 30 in the second year and maintained that weight loss for about 5 years and the I got married and I got lazy and moved and my lifestyle changed a bit and I gained some weight back but not because of the band, but you can easily eat around the band too, but one thing I like about the band is that no matter how long you've had it, you can always go back and get fills to get back on track with regained weight, to me that is the most powerful thing about the band it is adjustable forever as long as it is not damaged.

But for ME, it was the best choice, my lap band gives me the flexibility I need with my busy lifestyle, it can be easily adjusted and tighten when I want to lose weight and loosen if I get ill or want to eat more. The lap band is a GREAT TOOL if used properly and you have great aftercare and will help you lose the weight you need to lose. My analogy of the band is like a car, if you don't put fuel in it, it will not move. Your fuel is your motivation to exercise most of the time, getting fills and seeing your surgeon when needed, eating mostly proteins, drinking water and following the eating rules. No weight loss surgery is perfect, they all have side effects and issues, I chose the band because of the less side effects, no dumping, or other issues. The only issues that I've had in the 7 years with my band was reflux, getting food stuck when I goofed and ate too quickly, or spitting up when being too tight and those issues were easily resolved with removing saline from the band.

I love my band, good luck.

I chose Lapband because it was adjustable, my brother did well with it and it was that or RNY and malabsorptive wasn't an option for me.  I was desperate to relieve my constant back and knee pain.  I've lost 75+ lb and gone from size 26 to 16 and no longer have to shop in the plus size section.

Unfortunately I had to have a complete unfill in June due to motility issues and scar tissue causing tightening with only 3.5 cc in my 11cc band.  I have lost over 8 lb without fill, but still having some issues.  I'm thankful for my band, but realize it might have to come out if scar tissue continues to develop.

I chose the lap band because I liked that it was adjustable and I bought into that "less invasive" storyline. I also have to admit that I did not take the time to educate myself on the other procedures available besides RNY or the real statistics on the lap band. I was presented with one statistic that showed weight loss with the lap band was similar to that of RNY by 5 years out and I thought that was true.

I had my lap band for just under 3 years. The first year, I thought I did pretty good. I lost about 65 lbs (my starting weight was 314 and I'm 5'11"). In the beginning of my second year, I began to have complications with my band including random tightening. I spent the next year and a half getting adjustment after adjustment, but my band continued to slam shut frequently. I never knew what I would be able to eat and what would come back up. Healthy foods (like dense protein) became more and more difficult to eat, while slider foods usually went down fine. During this time, I began to regain weight as my band was either completely closed or wide open.

It was very frustrating to think that every thing seemed to change my band tightness...and I mean everything! Time of day...time of month....time of year....mode of travel....weather...location...etc. etc. I was exercising regularly (personal trainer 3x per week and swimming), but the truth of the matter is that diet is 90% of weight loss.


After struggling with this, my surgeon suggested revision and I finally agreed. At that point, I chose the VSG or Sleeve. This was the best decision I have ever made for myself!

My sleeve worked like I thought the band would. I was able to eat everything, but feel satisfied with less. I lost all of my excess weight in my first year. My ticker below reflects all weight lost since my revision, so you can see I had regained nearly all of my weight by the time I revised.

Now I'm very happily maintaining my weight loss of 140+ lbs. I have never vomited with my sleeve (a frequent occurrence with my band) and I do not have any food intolerances. 

I wish you the best of luck in whatever surgery type you choose. It was impossible for me to envision myself as a normal weight. I remember telling someone that 210 was a good weight for me because I was so tall. I just really did not think I would ever see a normal BMI. I also remember saying that I would be happy if I was the largest size in the regular stores, just so long as I could shop in the regular stores. ... The other day I wore size 6 jeans. It blows my mind and it feels so great. 

This is getting long, but if you are still reading, you deserve to be a healthy weight. Check out the stats on each surgery type and stack the deck in your favor. Also consider if a surgery is really "less invasive" if it frequently requires follow-up surgeries for repair, replacement, or removal.

Best of luck to you in your journey. It's going to be so exciting! Come visit us on the VSG board while you are in your decision making process!

Lindsey

Same here!  All the above.  I was banded at 257  at 2.5 year out 261. 
I went thru a process of trying to save my band.  Spent the last 18 month unfilling and filling and ppi's.  The last year we unfilled untill I could get in dense protein.  I would lose and instead of it getting losser it would get tighter.  Than we unfilled until I could eat again than as I lost it still got
tighter.  The band had to come out.  I'm still trying to follow the eating
plan, dense protein first veggies.  I'm still losing as the band was steadly emptied and removed.

I too don't see where it is "less invasive"  The photos they took of my guts sure didn't look less invasive.  Also the scare tissue they removed that the band cause was really alot.

There are good and bad with all.  Just try to make sure you know what all of it is.  Good luck with what ever you choose.