Lap Band's Appetite Curtailment Abilities

Hi,

    I'm new to the forum and am nearing a date for lap band surgery with one big questioned still needing clarified.

I've read where Bariatric surgeons have said that the lap band does NOT have you feel full while eating, whereas many patients

have said that it does. I know the band constricts the stomach and it stands to reason the "pouch area' will fill quicker than an

unaltered stomach. So, does this translate into suppressing appetite, while eating, as the 'pouch" nears filling?

Not quite. You have misunderstood how the band works. We do not retain food above the band, to do so would in th long term damage the oesophagus. What happens is that the band slows the progress of food thereby fooling the  brain into thinking that more has moved along the oesophagus than actually has done. This makes us feel less hunger. It doesn't mean we feel full in the pre-band way. If we eat with care, we can eat more. If we sat down for a long slow meal, we could eat a lot.

but the band can dim hunger. I say "can" because it does not do so for everyone and for many people they need a physical restriction on th amount they can eat. If the band physically prevents you eating, it is too tight, either because there is too much saline in it or for another reason such as the build up of scar tissue. For me it works and has done so for over seven years. For others it is not enough, and for others there are physical problems not of their own making.

And on the flip side my band never did dim the hunger, I was either hungry or I wasn't. I had to measure out my amount and limit myself to that, but I could still be hungry after eating. I also never got a sweet spot as some call it where I didn't feel like I needed a fill. I was either too tight or too loose, never just right. So be forwarned that nearly everyone has a different experience, personally I would never advise anyone to get a band when there are better methods out there. Kate has had a great experience and would probably say it is ok to get a band so we are all very different. I wish you the best.

The band was advertised as Curtailing the appetite.  It never did that for me.  I was told the band worked just as you posted also.  The charts show and state just that.

Now the sleeve does curtail the appetite as they remove the area that produces most of the hunger producing hormone.

I was always very hungry with a band.  "Full" and "satisfied" are two very different things with a band vs. without.  There was no full for me.  There was "hungry" and then there was "one more bite and I'll puke even though I am hungry" feelings.

Remember, just because a band is least invasive does NOT mean safer long term.  The actual surgery is about 0.5% safer than a sleeve, for example.  But long term the band has more complications than bypass.  It is very uncommon to have a band 10 years or longer.  Men typically are able to buy another 2 years or so over women, but just keep in mind.  It's the NEWBIES making claims that if you follow the rules you won't lose your band.  That is a total load.  Most of the band complications you have no control over.

The band provides the slowest weight loss, the least weight loss, the highest regain, and the most complications.  If you want safest long term and FAR more effective, that is a sleeve.

For me feeling full and head hunger are very different.  A good example of this was the other day I was eating a turkey burger and I got about 3/4 done and I started to feel physically full but my head wanted to keep on going and finish the burger.  And I could have if I wanted to but I pushed the plate away.  For me the band has a lot to do with my will power and my ability to say "enough"!!!  Because I can keep on eating if I want to past the past full...but I don't let myself do that. 

But I do feel full much faster now than I used to pre-band.  Before the band I would have eaten 2-3 burgers and fries.  So the band does it's job...at least for me...I just have to do my part.   

I was one of the lucky ones and didn't feel hungry early on.  Some say that the band can press on the Vargus nerve which signals the part of the brain the tells us if we are hungry or not. (I believe this is the nerve which is removed in the Sleeve surgery).  I never felt REAL hunger because a small portion of good quality food would physically fill me up.  HOWEVER, head hunger, (thinking you're hungry when you've just eaten) is tough to battle.  It took my brain a long time to believe that 1/3 cup of food is enough to fill me and give me enough nutrition, but it does.  It's the constant battle with our head that makes it difficult.  I was very successful early on and lost a lot of weight (116 lbs) in 9 months.  The band helped me control portions and I made really healthy food choices.  But after the first 2 years I started playing games with myself.  I started eating soft foods and sugary foods which go right through the band and I started pushing the limits of my pouch to the point where I stretched my pouch and esophagus beyond repair.  I had my band removed in May because of complications with reflux.  The junction was ruined between my pouch and esophagus so everything would come right back up, especially the acid.  I don't blame the band.  It stayed where it was supposed to be in my case.  I took risks and let bad eating behaviors that got me to 330 lbs in the beginning  get the best of me.  The pressure from the band only made the situation worse.  I loved my band but the fills and constant adjustments are a pain!  If you want a restrictive only surgery  I would suggest the Sleeve.  You get the same benefits without having to get all of the fills, etc. over time. 

Best, 

Lisa O.

~~ Some say that the band can press on the Vargus nerve which signals the part of the brain the tells us if we are hungry or not. (I believe this is the nerve which is removed in the Sleeve surgery).~~

The vagus nerve is seriously important, it is a huge massive long nerve that controls most organs.  It is never removed. You know how people like Nicci refer to the left shoulder pain that is damage from the band even when it is removed?  THAT is the nerve the band damages.

The fundus (stretchy part) of the stomach is removed.  The lack of hunger is that our population tends to over produce a hormone called Ghrelin.  We produce up to 3x the amount of Ghrelin as a naturally thin person.  Removing the fundus removed the majority of that hormone Ghrelin thus.. no hunger.  Ghrelin is what tells your brain you are hungry, the vagus nerve is what tells your brain your stomach is full.