My mind is made up!!

Hello...

Wow there are a lot of people "really concerned" about you getting the lap band...LOL...

I mean come on people leave this woman alone, it looks TOO FAKE for everyone to be so concerned about the lap band "damaging her body" or her not losing weight. Has anyone ever taken a psychology course and can pick up on the "misery loves company" syndrome? Like they are jealous of anyone thinking about getting a lap band?

If they are "so concerned" about your "well being" why don't they go and "help" the people on the Weight loss Grads board that are full of RNY's and Sleevers having horrific issues, weight regain, seizures, horrible stomach pain that no doctors can fix, hypoglycemia, etc? http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/wls_grads/

Look at it this way, if she fails, at least she has OPTIONS? Like removing or replacing her band or getting another option...?

To the Poster:

Yes, it's possible to lose 100 pounds in 6 months WITH the lap band at your size, it does not matter WHICH surgery you choose, HIGHER BMI's WILL lose FASTER than someone who starts at around 240 or 250, that IS A FACT, because eating so little at that size will yield quicker weight loss IF you follow a low carb diet and walk about 1 hour each day, and keep up with your fills. Also you should learn how the band works, learn danger signs of being too tight after a recent fill adjustment, like frequent vomiting and reflux. There have been MANY successful lap banders that lost over 200 pounds and have kept it off for years, as long as you have the motivation to change your lifestyle and get active you can do this.

If someone keeps their bands too tight and vomits (Productive Burp) several times a day/week - this will cause issues, and if everyone does this EVERYONE will  eventually have lap band problems, about 50 percent of lap banders have to get their bands removed because they keep the band too tight, there are MANY LONG term lap banders that still have their bands with no problems.

Sure there are REAL lap band problems that are no fault of their own, but that percentage is small, most of the issues with the band are preventable. The older 4cc smaller bands were more prone to issues since they were higher pressure, they no longer use those bands, I had the 4cc band and it was harder on my esophagus, but the new Allergan band is much better at least for me, I have not vomited or PB once since I've had my new band or had reflux or burning or have to take any Acid Reducer, I had a hiatal hernia that was never repaired with my first band, and it eventually got bigger over the years and caused me back and chest pains with my band, and I got my old band removed hiatal hernia fixed and new band placed all in one surgery about 15 months ago and my recovery was very easy.

You need to google search how the band works and learn what the GREEN zone is and try to stay in the GREEN zone throughout your journey. Ideally you should get satisfied on about 1/2 to 1 cup of solid food, you should NEVER keep the band so tight where it only limits liquids and cause vomiting daily. Also chewing your food to mush and waiting about 1 minute before you take the next bite will be very important also, this keep from damaging your band.

I started at 326, I am 5'8 inches tall, and I lost 100 pounds in 9 months WITH my lap band and I did NOT follow a low carb diet, however I walked about 5-6 days a week for about 1 hour, and got my fills every month,  and the weight just poured off me because I started off heavy. I lost as quickly as MANY Sleevers and Bypass people.

I started off in a size 26, over 9 years ago and I my lowest size with my band was size 8/10 and that was pretty skinny for me and required too much exercise haha...now at 9 years I wear a size 10/12 most days, and I am very happy and grateful for my health and love wearing cute clothes. Most days I eat baked fish with yummy salads in lemon juice and garlic powder, I don't put fattening salad dressing and that fills me up quickly and then on weekends I eat out with my husband at our favorite restaurant's and we share a yummy desert, I LOVE my LAP BAND LIFE!! I still can't eat but about 1 cup of food and I start feeling stuck...so I stop eating.

However you SHOULD PAY ATTENTION to those who've had complications THEY ARE NOT LYING TO YOU, the lap band CAN cause slippage, horrible heartburn, and reflux -- IF YOU ABUSE IT, by NOT chewing your food, and eating too much on a very tight band and vomiting and purging, THIS behavior CAN/WILL cause you misery and possible removal.

The type of people in my opinion should NOT get the lap band are:

1. Someone who is bedridden, and not mobile, in a wheelchair

2. Someone who can't follow up with fills, fills CAN get costly without insurance

3. Someone who have a problem with vomiting, has a history of bulimia or someone who gets frequent stomach flu

4. Someone who has an intent for the band to do all the work and is not willing to change their lifestyle

You have a positive attitude and motivation, so you probably WILL succeed with your band,

I wish you uneventful journey and successful banded life!

Thank you so much!!! 

NANAB,

You state: 

"Wow there are a lot of people "really concerned" about you getting the lap band...LOL...

I mean come on people leave this woman alone, it looks TOO FAKE for everyone to be so concerned about the lap band "damaging her body" or her not losing weight. Has anyone ever taken a psychology course and can pick up on the "misery loves company" syndrome? Like they are jealous of anyone thinking about getting a lap band?"

I think personally this is a ridiculous statement. Leave her alone? She posted in a Weight Loss Forum, of course people are going to comment to her about their concerns for her choice. If she didn't want opinions she should not have posted. I respectfully applaud her for making a choice for WLS, it is not an easy one and should be taken seriously. Why do you think "really concerned"? What would be the motive for someone to give false concern based on experiences they have had?  I think there is a place for encouragement and a place for concern. There are PLENTY of people in this Forum, including myself that wish they had never had the lap-band first. I, personally, don't know how anyone would be jealous of someone that chooses to have a WLS surgery with the highest complication rate. The studies about band failures are out there, just look for them. Of course there are studies of complications from any WLS. The surgeons at my practice (center of excellence) refuse to do lap-band surgery now because of the complication rate and the fact that it is not a permanent solution, as so many people have to have the band removed and gain back all of the weight they had lost and then some.

I had a longer recovery time with the band, then with my RNY revision. I am 10 weeks post-op and have lost double what I had lost the whole time I had the lap-band. I had complications with the lap-band and I was miserable only one year in. IMHO, It is so easy to "eat around" the band. Just having band surgery doesn't automatically mean you are going to magically change your eating habits. It is a tool and is not a permanent fix especially based on the most recent data.

All people are saying is "be very cautious", read all the forum comments and even medical journals about band complications and failures. Back when I had my lap-band surgery in 2011, I wished I had known about OH. I would NEVER have had the lap-band after reading all the horror stories of people having revisions and complications. Yes, I did my research. IMHO, why take the chance of having to have a revision or removal later on down the line? IMHO, it just doesn't make sense. The complication rate of VSG and RNY are very low and leaks are possible but very rare.

Ultimately it is up to her to decide what is right for her body, but I don't think there is anything wrong with others expressing their opinions and concerns on this forum. I agree, she needs to make an educated choice. I would hate for her to have regret because a few people in her life and a few people on You-tube have had success. BTW, try to find those same people on You-tube years later still posting about their success.

I wish you all the best!

👍