How did you decide

Thanks Michael!   What do you mean by "fooling" the band?  Just curious

Hi:

By fooling the band ... It is too easy to cheat ... to take in MilkShakes and other very high calorie and high sugar types of foods that will limit or stop any weight loss ... where with the RNY you begin dumping immediately and once that you have been through that then you will never want to do it again!!! Its a great learning lesson (not for those around you but to teach you). Some people that have the band also react this way to high sugars ... but not as many. I think that it is very important to attend support group meetings ... I dont attend Bertha's meetings as they are too far away for me to be convenient ... but I go at least twice a month in my local area to volunteer support groups and once a month to a doctor sponsored local group. I do not know what area you are from in NJ but I am sure that there are meetings close to your home base. If you wish you are more than welcome to attend our meetings in Toms River at Community Memorial Hospital on the First Friday of the month (tonite) at 7pm in Auditiorium A or the 3rd Monday of the month at Kimball Hospital in Lakewood, NJ at 7pm which will be on 3/1****ch this board for more information on these two and other groups that meet. It will give you a lot of direction and answer many questions for you without the bias of a particular doctor.  These meetings are very important to me to keep me on the right path and keeping off the weight ... it is great to meet with lots of people that have so mu*****ommon to discuss. Good Luck!! Michael

Hi, I just wanted to let you know what my experience has been.  I had lap band performed on 10/2/07.  It was a same day surgery.  My BMI was 40.  My weight was 259.  Since that time I have lost 36 pounds.  I have not been exercising and have been loosing.  When the weather gets warmer, I hope to start walking, bike riding and kayaking but right now with two kids in lots of activity and a full time job, it's not happening.   All I can say is, the lap band was the best decision for me.  I was scared of the other procedures and this was the least invasive and was the most comfortable decision for me.  I am also utilizing weigh****chers to make sure that I am eating the right foods and am accountable to someone else's scale on a weekly basis. My doctor is pleased with my weight loss, I have had two fills (2ccs in my 5 cc band).  It is slow but steady.  I don't feel deprived because the band controls my hunger.  Ultimately, I hope to loose a little over 100 pounds. Feel free to contact me. Lori

WOW - thanks for sharing!  I hope to be active as soon as I can - I feel that once I start exercising with out the issues that I have now, I will be back in no time!   Michael - thanks for the clarification about the milkshakes - I know what you mean now!  I don't drink them now and don't plan to anytime soon, so hopefully, it will be OK. Thanks again, everyone!  I am still leaning towards the band, even though it has a bit of maintenance that it needs.  I don't want to be out of my life for two to four weeks!  A c-section ruined me and I can't go down that path again.  The least invasive and the quicker the turn around time the better for me. I will keep posting on my journey and progress, though - I like it here I also like knowing there are so many of you here! Jen

Hi, I got a lapband in December 07.  I'm down about 35 lbs.  I have been exercising, and I think t hat's why I've been doing pretty well.  I chose the band because my problem hasn't been so much the taking weight off, but the keeping it off.  I thought the band would be the tool to help me keep it off. Life with a band so far is dieting.  But it's not as hard as dieting without it.  I also chose it because of the downtime - my kids are 8 and almost 3, and the lower risk (the kids).  I had 2 c-sects and for me, the pain of band surgery was comparable for the first 24 hrs, but tailed off much quicker. One thing I will say is check with the insurance people about how often you can get fills.  I can only get one every 90 days, which means that I haven't had a fill yet.  The last month has been tough, as I have minimal restriction.  I have to remind myself that this was not the magic wand and the weight does not fall off.  There's this subconscious expectation that since I had the surgery, the weight should just leave... all of it.... now.  Obviously, that doesn't happen.  With any surgery. Hope that helps somehow. Eileen

Hi Eileen, It does help - thank you for your honesty.  Also, thanks for the heads up regarding the fills - i will add that to my list of questions. I can't wait to get this done already! Jen